Redtail Rise long long time,

backdated to when she’s still in heat! aw but you can assume @Mountain Boulder is just around the bend

 

She and her man had coupled several times; there was no reason to think that they two had failed in their endeavor to bring more fresh blood to the Rise, as each year they had succeeded. They were never apart—even now, Mountain Boulder was nearby after a particularly voracious affair, removing something from the cache to fulfill their other appetite. They oft hunted together, but in these early days hunting prey too soon turned into the pursuit of hunting one another.

It was difficult to control for the feral woman when she saw his strong limbs in motion, churning the snow and making space for her to follow after him. He was a good provider, a good father, and a good mate. And good was putting it too lightly, but her own vocabulary was… well, quite limited. 

An ear flicked as she heard him dig, and while she was inclined to watch him New Snow instead went to relieve herself. Her scent was now likely to only be within the depths of the Rise, thanks to her season. Squatting, New Snow peered around herself as the snow beneath her changed its hue.

mountain boulder was never far. his goals had lately turned toward the discovery of more densites for his mate. each year new snow had chosen a fresh whelping-place, and he kept these memories to pinpoint where she might wish to deliver these pups.

he trudged ahead and in time tasted the air. he would not leave new snow alone for any amount of minutes. tall man still lurked, and while she had chosen the huntlead, men often pressed their advantage in these times.

when they were ready to set off again, mountain boulder indicated that they should turn toward the burned place. he had found the roundness of a broken tree. its bole was misty with moss and the entrance was smaller than he might have liked, but it would suit new snow even if he could not enter.

the second was upon the western flank of the rise, tucked among a stand of pines. it was a pleasant cave, not too large but not small, with a trickling stream in earshot of whoever might camp here.

the third was more toward the central portion of redtail land, another massive tree. this time it was alive, its evergreen branches spread against the grey sky, and a great hole in its belly which led down and deep into the earth below. again, it was not a place mountain boulder could fully follow, but this did not matter, so long as she was safe.

the fourth, well; he would lead new snow to where flame stalker and moon runner had been born, simply to see whether or not she wished to resume her denning there this year.

There was no instinct in her for this quite yet, but New Snow followed along happily, keen to keep close and to nip at the ends of his tail for attention. All that consumed her was him, not the pups-to-come themselves. New Snow would pause at every sight he brought her to, sniff around, and then place herself in an enticing position to see what locale she enjoyed the act of creating these children best. 

To start: the first New Snow did not particularly enjoy, because while they could begin in a way that many-an-inappropriate flick had begun (help me, I'm stuck!), he could not enter the den to do any further consummating with her and as it turned out, that would be something she had enjoyed but... only the one time. Still, the location had been beautiful. New Snow by the end of it sniffed around and mouthed at the moss, and took some with her for the road. 

And then they came upon the second, which she enjoyed! It was spacious, and comfortable for them both—and by the time they two had arrived, New Snow gave him the eyes and low woofs that demanded they test out this place, too. Growing children could be rowdy—was this place built for such behavior? New Snow would let herself and Mountain Boulder test it first, for safety! It became her favorite of the day, then.   

The third was nice, but New Snow did not appreciate that Mountain Boulder himself could not come in. There would be times where she needed him to, even to exchange places so that she could use the bathroom or run for a time. But it was comfortable, and roomier than the first... well, she approved of the thoughts of it, and for that, the fire in her was renewed and she burst out of the den with a yearning whine. 

When they came to the last one, New Snow recognized the place. Old scents were enough to distract her and set her sniffing, and memories flit through her mind of their two daughters with younger faces than the ones they had now. She did not know she had missed those days until she could smell and remember them—New Snow was often a wolf of the present, and did not think of the past much except for when a current event might have inspired it. 

New Snow looked to her man with love plain in her eyes, and more wanting, too. She stepped toward him slowly with a wagging tail and crooned to him a note of pride for the things they two had created. Another softer series of barks that said, you are a great hunt-lead, and a great father, before her nose touched softly against his own.

silently did mountain boulder follow as his mate investigated each of these densites, exploring and rejecting each in turn. 

it seemed the second to last ...? but at each he was attentive, and laved her with kisses, and took great pleasure in her praise of him.

and when new snow went to their courtship, he eagerly attended her in all ways, christening this patch of earth or another, circling back to explore yet another den.

his, hers, eternal.