Mikael watched Clay gently drag Star into his den, and he licked Em back before agreeing that they should visit Moon. They left Dove with Makayla and they set off, somewhat slowed thanks to Em being pregnant, but it did provide time for them to talk before they reached Star's Lightbringer friend. "I really hope Star pulls through, Em. I'd feel bad if she got very sick thanks to her not eating." Mikael said, his head slightly lowered. "Dove looked so worried."

" SHe must learn her mistakes. Thats why im focusing more on our unbor child, Mikael. And she will pull through. She just needs to get used to feeling the pull of the Darkseekers rules and laws. Thats wats taking a huge toll on her." She then lifted her nose and smelled her." I smell her.. shes this way"

Em slowly but surely, followed the scent and it came to a river. But it wasnt emoty, a lone female wolf was drinking the river water.

" Moon?" Em asked stepping forward.

Moon jumped back at the sound of Em " Yes Ma'am? Oh... Hi guys.. Is Star around? I told her to meet me here a while back and she never came.. Did something happen-" but Em cut her short

" Yes something did happen. Shes sick. Dealing with the punishments that my Alpha is teaching her and not eating as muh as she used to.

" I need to see for myself... please" Moon said stepping towards them

Em snarled " no. Aloha would punsh me if I brought you to our home. And Im nor risking it. Go back to your home."

She didnt sound lik the Em that Mikel used to kno. She was really moody now. " Dont come after us. You cant see my daughter any more. Now git"

Em turned around slowly padding away somewhere to be alone. She had such a hard time dealing with her children and now a new on on the way. Then dealing with her alpha was a dfferent problem. she had bossed him around so much, it was begining to get to her.

Moon stood their looking at Mikael, wanting to say soemthing, but she soon turned around and padded back home.

Mikael was surprised that Em was as aggressive and as moody as she was. He figured he'd go overboard with the threats and Em would tell him to go easy on her, but instad Em was the bad cop. After watching Moon walk away, he decided to walk over to Em and see what was bothering her. He sat down beside her and looked into her eyes. "What's wrong Em? You snapped at Moon pretty good back there. Is Star stressing you out, or could it be something else?"

" Its not just Star, Mikael. Its the baby as well. Soemthing is different. I just cant put my tail on it... " Em sighed as she refused to look at him " I feel like im failing my girls, you , Hunter and myself. I never felt like this since Lilac killed my first litter... and I keep imagining Stardust turning into the vile creature Lilac is... I cant take it. I dont want to resort to banashing or disowning her. Dove would hate me if I did that. Im sorry if I sounded really mean to Moon though. I had to get it out before I hurt someone in the pack itself. "

Em finally looke dup at Mikael " Im trying so hard to be a wonderful mother and mate, I just... cant take this burden any more.

Back at the den, Clay began to see that Star was waking up " That a girl, Star, come on wake up"

He howled for Hunter, Em and Mikael to come in and see what they could do now.

Mikael got up and nuzzled her, trying to calm her down. "Em... I'm so sorry you feel this way. I'm sorry if you having another litter of pups is causing you to feel like this Em; but you're not failing anyone honey. Star may be rebelling right now, but I know that Dove thinks that you're the best mother in the world. And you aren't failing me either; you're a sweet, beautiful, loving and caring mate, and you've been going through the pregnancy without complaining once. I know that you aren't failing Hunter either; he originally thought that you were an Alpha having an affair, but now he's trusted you with having a pup for him and Daria since they're having troubles themselves. You haven't failed anyone Em, I know that for certain." Mikael continued to nuzzle her, trying to lift her spirits. Meanwhile back at home, Hunter walked in and checked on Star. "So? What's wrong with her?" Hunter flatly said. "She's been weakened thanks to not eating enough food in the last few days. Star needs to eat more and reduce her physical activity for the next few day until she regains her strength." Hunter nodded and ran out of the den, only to come back with a rabbit some time later. "Eat" was all Hunter said to Star, who came out of Clay's den to eat the rabbit, so that the blood didn't contanimate any of his medicines, before heading back in.

Star thanked Hunter for the rabbit. And thanked Clay for helping her

" It was rude and selfish of me to act the way I did" she said to both of them. But it was mainly for Hunter to hear. she was on her side, eyes open. On Hunter. she was sittin gup, licking her paws, unsure of how to communicate at this point in her stage

Em wasnt doing any better either. Her bellly had gotten slightly bigger, but things were getting harder. She padded up to Mikael and nuzzled him " seems to me Star will live. I overheared that Star hadnt been eating . I knew that already. But I think not seeing her girlfriend also took a huge toll on her. She's finallyunderstanding what its like to live in a Darkseekers pack."

Dove then woke up and walked up to her parents. " Morning" she yawned nuzzling both of them " Mom.. can i go explore around? I wont go far."

|

( I was thinking Dove should have her first crush XDD)

(Well, Dove is a year old, so why not?)

Mikael nuzzled her back and looked at Em before turning to Dove. "I don't mind if you explore around a little bit, as long as it's okay with Em." He looked over at her, awaiting a response. Elsewhere Makayla was watching over her pups. "When can we go out and explore?" Othello asked as Eric and Abby wrestled each other. "When the snow melts and leaves return, that's when we can go out and explore together, I promise." Othello's mother replied, having to break the scrum between Eric and Abby after it was getting a bit intense. Meanwhile Hunter was talking to Clay about Star. "So... what happens if Star continues to not get enough food?" Hunter asked him, slightly worried about Star. She may now be an Omega, but that doesn't mean that i shouldn't worry about her. She's still a member of my pack, after all. "Well, she just needs to rest and continue eating so she can get her strength back. If she continues to not eat, then she could start losing weight and grow weaker and weaker, and that's worrying in of itself." Clay scratched his ear before sighing and looking at his den. "Probably should lay off giving her work for right now Hunter. I know she's dodging her punishment this way, but I don't want to endanger her health more than it already is."

Em sighed " Dont go far. And no going past the border, young lady"

" Yes mother." Dove said running off to find some sort of adventure. SHe hadnt made any friends yet, so she had in her mind, to find a friend she could call her own.

Star was able to finally walk about, but with another pack member beside her since she was able to run off back to her girlfriend.

She spotted Hunter, but looked away after what he said to her. " I know I know.. Im punished still, Alpha.. I havent forgotten."

Hunter nodded as he walked over to her. "You need to eat Star. I can't have you becoming sick while we're still in winter. This is the worst season to fall ill." He said, looking into her eyes. "Clay will be watching over you while you recover your strength. Please eat." He finished, before looking at Clay. "Did you hear that Clay?" The Beta Male nodded and Hunter walked back to Daria, who was lying down, cleaning her pelt. "How are the pups doing?" Hunter asked his mate. "They're fine Hunter; quit worrying so much about me. I could go for a walk, though." She got up, having to adjust her stance for her growing belly. "I'll go with you." Hunter quickly ran back to Clay to tell him what he and Daria were doing and that he was in charge, then left with Daria as they went on a walk together.

The one I hate the more is the one watching me She thought as she looked over at Clay but he is the healer in the pack.. so I might as well give him some credit for helping me. she gave him a small smile before laying down, watching everything going outside. " Does the actions of what ive done show, Clay? I feel like Im turning into Lilac.." she didnt look at him when she spoke, she was too tired and too hungry to do anything.

As Dove walked through the territory, she came across another wolf ( could be one of yours XD). she gasped but didnt hide. She just watched him curiously, wondering what a male was doing out here alone.