2 hours later

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Small squeaking can from the den. "Hondo you can come in, its okay." Cinder barked to the male who was outside. She nuzzled the five pups. There were four males and one female. The female looked just like Hondo and the males looked like Cinder.

Hondo walked in, seeing his new pups. He layed down next to the pups. Sheilding them from the worst of the cold. "They are beautiful." He told Cinder. He licked each of their heads and then his mate. "You'll be a great mother," he said smiling.

Cinder groomed the pups who were making little squeaks. "What shall we name all of them?" she looked at her mate her tounge lolling happily.

"We must give them their pup names, then when they turn six months they'll pick their own." He looked at each pup. The female pup that looked like him squeaked the loudest and the most often. "We'll call her Squeak." He said. Then looked at his mate.

Cinder chuckled, "Yes, and the males can be Maple, Oak, Fern, Cresent, and Holly." she looked at Hondo and smiled.

"Those are beautiful names." He said looking at Cinder. "I'll go fetch some more food and water, I'll leave you with the pups." He got up and left searching for food.

(I am so sorry! I was out on vacation.)

Cinder watched as Hondo got up and walked away on the hunt for food. He was going to be the best dad, she nuzzled the pups who hadnt opened their eyes yet. Cinder whined to them saying "Its okay little ones, me and your dad are going to keep you safe.". She cleaned them and let them drink her milk.

He went to a different Warren, as he could hunt the other for a few days. As he got there, there was a tension in the air. He could see rabbits, but they looked alarmed. Anyway, he hunted them. He caught a few and started heading back. He smiled at Cinder as he dropped the rabbits. A slight feline growl came from behind him. He turned around hackles rasied and giving an alarmed snarl. The sandy coated feline stood there growling. A cougar!

Cinder seeing the cougar hid the pups under her fur protectevly, she snarled at the cougar and then looked at Hondo nervously. The pups were squeaking, they didnt know that their lives where in danger. Cinder continued to nudge the pups under her, after she knew they were pretty safe under her she looked up at the cougar and growled in looked like it was a youngster, it would be pretty easy to scare off and keep it off their territory.

Hondo rose to his full height, the hair along his spine was sticking straight up. His lips curled, revealing his white teeth. His tail stood straight behind him. He growled a warning. The cougar seemed to be young, about two. But he was still dangerous. Hondo stepped forward causing the cougar to be startled. The cougar growled and pounced. Hondo, startled at its bold move, didnt have time to respond. But pain raced up him as the cougar body slammed him, teeth and claws raking into him.