#at this point tanana is basically xaasas best friend alright

[shapes-den]

Coal Valley Lore: Growing Up Fast (pt2)

(Content warning for mentions of animal/puppy death. Tanana and Xaasa are both mothers now, although each have their own struggles. This story is set a small time skip from part one, but before "Aruthe's Choice".)

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The happy barks and yips of her pups greeted Tanana, as she and Ourkan trotted into the den.

"So, how did she do?" It seemed her sister Ourara had been eagerly awaiting their return too, as she was thumping her tail loudly and vigorously against the ground.

"When the puppies are weaned she'll join us full time." Ourkan said, crouching to fuss over his nieces and nephews.

"That skilled already?" Ourara looked up in awe, as Tanana awkwardly wagged her tail a little.

"Well, I did manage to snag us a grouse for dinner, but I don't know if that counts as skillful."

"No need to be humble. Those birds always go for the eyes." Her brother had his head pinned to the floor at this point, tongue lolling goofily to the side as two pups chewed on either ear, and was pretending to be completely helpless.

"Well if the pups can best you, Ourkie, there's little hope for the pack." Their sister said, and Tanana couldn't help but laugh as she nudged her children away from their uncle.

"Enough now, pups. Your Auntie Xaasa won't be happy if you eat Uncle Ourkan's ears."

"At least I won't be able to hear Ourara bullying me." Her brother drooped sadly, putting on a show for the young wolves, "Poor, poor me! With my ears talked off and then eaten up, how will I ever face the pack again?"

Almost as if summoned by their words, Xaasa barked a greeting from outside the den.

"Anyone home?"

"Yes, Xaasa, come in!"

"Ah, Tanana, how did your hunt go?" Their lead wolf seemed a little disheveled, and behind her stumbled a very small brown puppy, catching Ourkan's eye immediately.

"Quohau'ru!" He exclaimed, wiggling his whole body in excitement as he licked his pup all over. Xaasa smiled at her mate softly, as the other wolves greeted her respectfully.

"The hunt went well, Ourkan chased down a grouse perfectly, and I managed to finish it off." Tanana couldn't keep the pride out of her voice as she spoke, something that Xaasa's picked up on immediately.

"Well done! I take it you and Ourara will be working together once the pups are older?"

"Yes!" Ourara piped up cheerfully, "We can't wait, can we Tana?"

"I'm sure we'll do well together."

"Of course we will, if Aruthe joins too we'll be unstoppable!" Her sister laughed nervously as their leader flinched.

"Well, we'll need all the food we can get, so I hope your very loud claims turn out true." Xaasa sighed quietly, and turned slightly to avoid her mate rolling on the floor with the pups, "Ourkan, will you and Ourara take the pups to play? If you don't mind of course, Tanana?"

"Not at all, Xaasa" The young female smiled, as Ourkan gently herded the pups, as well as Ourara who clearly hadn't gotten the hint, out of the den.

"Now that it's quieter in here, we can talk" Xaasa said, flopping to the ground. With their packmates gone and her leader fully relaxed, tanana could see just how exhausted she looked.

"Are you alright, Xaasa?"

"Hmm? I was just going to ask you the same thing. You seem tense lately, has anything," she glanced to the entrance of the den, "or anyone, been bothering you?"

"Ourara never bothers me" she laughed "I'm just a worrier from a whole pack of worriers."

"I see." Xaasa raised her head " And what's got you worried this time?"

Tanana paused, not knowing exactly how her leader always managed to read her perfectly like this, and tried to think of a way to explain without making herself look bad.

"Perhaps it isn't a big deal.. They aren't even weaned yet, but..."

She glanced at Xaasa, who was waiting patiently. The older female had a way of making her ramble out exactly what was on her mind, and it seemed like today was no exception.

"Go on"

"Your daughter already has a name, but my pups are getting older by the minute and... I have no idea what to do. I'm worried they'll be adults and still nameless..." Tanana pinned her ears back sadly "I'm a poor mother. All I've done for my pups is feed them and chastise them. At least Ourkan makes them happy..."

"Oh Tanana," the older female got up and nosed her gently, "Those pups love you just as much as they love my mate. Just because he plays the fool and makes them laugh, doesn't mean you're a bad mother. Who is the one teaching them their first words?"

"I... I am."

"And who was there when they opened their eyes? Who warned them about the dangers of the world? Kept them clean? Encouraged them to walk and play?"

"I did..."

"You see? You're a great mother, how could your pups not love you?"

"But..."

"Don't worry about their names. Names take time."

"But Xaasa, how will I know?"

"Know what?" The leader cocked her head to one side quizzically, as the younger female cut her off.

"How will I know if I do a good job? How will I know when to give them the right names, or... or if the names will suit them, or if I'm waiting too long, or..." Tanana whined softly, overwhelmed, as Xaasa leant against her.

"The truth is, you won't know," the older wolf cut her off as she began to panic again, "But, we can only do our best. Where I came from we never named our pups early."

"Then..."

"Ourkan and I made a promise, after we..." The older wolf paused, taking a deep breath, "After the accident, we vowed to keep our last puppy safe. That meant giving her a name."

"Oh... So..."

"You shouldn't be worried about waiting. As pups grow, their names become obvious. As their mother, you'll know them the best, but as your leader I'm always here to guide you, if you need it."

"Thank you, Xaasa." Tanana whispered.

The loss of her nephew had been a sudden and shocking one. Now she was thinking about it, it was obvious. The way Ourkan joked with the pups, doted on his daughter, tried to make time to spend with his siblings, he was simply putting on a brave and happy front for all his family. She could see the grief in Xaasa's unkempt fur, her tired eyes, the constant patrolling, the way she carefully made sure to praise every wolf of the pack each day.

Tanana suddenly felt very silly comparing her mothering choices to Xaasa's.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" The older wolf looked genuinely confused. "My job is to advise you, and besides, you're a saint compared to your siblings. I love our family dearly, but I never have to worry about you scaring the pups with ghost stories, or trying to get yourself killed by a porcupine, or barking me awake in the middle of my nap." Xaasa laughed. "Perhaps you should be in charge for a day or two?"

"No thanks, I don't want to be the one to tell Aruthe she has to pull spines out of Ourkan's rump again." They both snorted, remembering how Ourkan had looked like a sad oversized pine branch.

"Yes, I don't think she's forgiven me for assigning her that duty yet."