Whitefish River Like the heroes in the cartoons

Every morning, she woke amazed that she could possibly still be getting bigger. She couldn't be sure when exactly the pups would come, but she just had a feeling that their time was fast approaching. She had picked out a den in the caves shortly after the meeting and every day, she added more things she thought she might need for when the babies came. She had gathered the soft branches from the willow tree and made a bed so that the pups wouldn't get cold on the stone and dirt floor. She had started gathering herbs she thought she might need and storing them inside the den, as well as making sure the communal herb den started to collect various important herbs. She knew she would be unable to do much once the pups were here, at least not for a little while, and she wanted to make sure everyone would be okay.

Today, she had been collecting moss to bring to her den so that anyone that might check on her in the first few days after the pups were born would be able to use it to bring her water. It helped to keep busy; it distracted her from how guilty she felt and how much she hated herself for what she did, not to mention she was terrified of giving birth. What if something went wrong or something happened to one of the children? It all made her feel like she was going to explode, so staying busy helped distract her mind.

She was carrying a mouthful of moss back to her den, and she found herself needing to stop once again and catch her breath. She could feel the pups moving around, and they were taking up so much room that she often felt out of breath, especially when she was moving around too much. She dropped her bundle at her feet and sat down to draw in a few slow, deep breaths; it would soon pass, and she could be on her way again.