New Life

The child ran through the long grass with surprising speed and agility. Thick golden hair billowed out behind her as she bounded and leaped towards the clearing in the woods. Despite her speed, she barely seemed to need to take a breath and as she darted out into the open sunshine her energy was boundless. She ran towards the trickling music of the pool and its constant flow over the rocks piled within, gazing at the strangely glowing waters. Then she stopped dead in her tracks, barely needing to catch her breath. Beside the pool stood a massive, dark coloured wolf. His eyes were closed, huge clawed paws held before him and lips moving wordlessly to reveal rows of razor sharp canine teeth. The sight should have brought terror to any child's heart, but not this one. With a huge smile she ran excitedly towards the wolf.

"Daddy! Daddy! Naia said come get you! It's Momma... she needs you. The pup is coming!" She danced around his feet, dainty fingers burying into his thick dark gold fur and tugging gently."Daddy!! Hurry!" she urged with the irrefutable insistence that only a treasured child could. The massive wolf bent with a growl and a feigned frown and scooped up the tiny child. "Hush Graea. I am coming." he rumbled softly in their feral tongue, hugging the girl to his chest. She curled up in the single enormous muscled arm that he used to hold her, hands clinging to the fur of his chest as she rested her ear against him and listened to the calm rumbling. He knew how to keep his daughter in check. "I like this sound Daddy." she reminded him as she did every day. "Do you think the pup will like it too?" The old garou male chuckled and gave the golden haired child the gentlest of squeezes, but his expression held a touch of apprehension that went unnoticed by the excited four-year old in his arms.

He padded along at a gentle trot towards the den, holding little Graea close until they neared the cave. Lowering her to the ground he hooked a huge clawed finger tenderly beneath her chin. "Stay here, and be safe." he growled softly before hooking her blonde locks behind one ear with a careful movement of a single claw. His gentleness with the child was at odds with his appearance. Standing 12 feet tall, massive and muscled, the garou had dark golden fur, speckled grey around his long muzzle. His head was huge and his eyes dark. To the unknowing he was a terrifying sight, rarely leaving his crinos form whilst performing his duties as Lunar Guardian. He almost never left the pool he was appointed to protect. This was a special exception though. He turned from the child and padded into the cave, drawing the skins back over the entrance. Growled voices came from within as he and his mate spoke in hushed tones.

Graea was not to be put off by such attempts at secrecy though and scrambling onto the rocks beside the den entrance she perched with her ears pricked. She could hear a quiet whimpering, the hungry yelping of a new pup. She could also hear the voices of her parents heavily laced with concern.
"He seems fine." her father's deep voice mumbled.
"He is perfect, Grae."
"Can we be so lucky twice?"
"I don't think so... but it matters not. He is our son and to us he will always be perfect. Come what may."
Graea slipped from the rocks with a frown and skipped off towards the shed where her older sister sat. She slumped cross-legged on the ground, clearly worried by what she'd heard. Naia gave her a concerned look.
"What's wrong Graea?" she asked kindly, aware that the child had been snooping.
"It's not fair...." the little blonde girl began, sulking and pouting. "It's a BOY!"