he laughed and groomed her more.

Shanti laughed too, and then suddenly, her eyes widened. Whisper had gone too close to the waterfall, and had fallen in the pond. She streaked out of the cave, through the waterfall, and landed in the water, created a huge ripple effect. she grabbed the scruff of Whisper's neck, and returned her too the cave. She dropped the dripping pup, and looked at Thowra sorrowfully as she panted hard.

he licked whisper and lay her down with the other pups.he went to shanti and put his head around her neck."it's okay,i will watch the pups more closely it's my fault,i wasn't the father i should've been.

Shanti frowned. "It wasn't your fault. And you, Thowra, are an excellent father. I guess I should blame myself for not watching them more closely." she said. She went over to the pups, who were scwualing in hunger. They rushed to her excitedly, and settled down to 'eat'

"hey, it was both our faults,we both didn't watch them."he watched them nurse.

Shanti nodded. "Alright." She said. She smiled, watching the pups curl up to sleep. She herself was tired, and she fell asleep curled around their children.

he stood outside and watched for danger.

Shanti woke a short while later, feeling a little more refreshed. She saw howra guarding, and walked up to him. "I'll take over. You go and sleep." She whispered.

"but,but...."he said and looked at the pups.

She glared. "You need sleep. Go sleep with our pups." She said, a little harshly. She didn't want to sound mean, but she wanted him to get rest. She licked his muzzle, and once again told him to get some sleep.

"alright,i suppose your right."he lay down beside the pups and tucked his body around them keeping them warm.

She smiled at gazed lovingly at her family, before taking her place to guard.

he slept,dreaming about the pups all grown up,and then rival packs flooded their land.they took the pups and shanti.he looked behind him and..he woke up still in the cave.he looked at the pups and then at shanti,finding out is was only a dream.

Shanti turned, and saw Thowra wake up, looking worried. "You alright?" She asked him.

"yeah just a nightmare."he sighed looking at the pups one more time,yawning.

She frowned. "You poor thing." /she said, a little more sarcastically than worriedly.

he got up and wrestled her to the ground."yes i am a poor thing."he laughed.

She laughed, flipped so she was on her stomach, and crawled out from under him, then tackling him.

he fell backward and bit her paw gently.tongue flopping out.

She yipped excitedly and nipped him back, gently.

he growled playing and bit her ear.then tumbled down a hill shanti with him.

She got up suddenly. "The pups!" She said. She ran up the hills, but still barked playfully. "Tag!" She said, nipping him, then running up the hill.

he bounded after her and caught up,"tag!"he panted then got to the pups.

She laughed. It was almost morning so she didn't thing it would be too much trouble if she and Thowra got some sleep. "C'mon. Let's get some sleep." She said, and she curled around the pups.

"ok."he also curled around the pups.