"Well I guess Bill won't be a problem anymore" Walter joked to Grace trying to make light of what had happened the past week.
"I still don't know where I stand in all this. The town feels a little darker now than it did before and I am considering that maybe it is time for me to move"
"He was not a good man, Grace. He also was responsible for the death of the sheriff's brother. I understand why you feel the way you do, but give it a little time to heal out. There has been a lot of good that has happened too. Those two outside have you to thank for being here."
Grace's thoughts returned to her two guests outside and how beautiful they were. Helping them made her feel alive. "She will be giving birth soon. She looks so heavy and has been fretting about the hay and how it is all arranged. She may not even know what is happening since it is her first birth, but she knows what to do, her instincts are so amazing."
She looked at Walter calmly. "They have you to thank as well, we work well together." It was then that they heard a commotion with the wolf howling in the back so they both raced out to find the wolf frantically darting around with concern over his companion. She was barking and looked to be in pain. Grace placed her hand on the wolf's head, something she would not have done before, he allowed it as she stroked his thick fur. She told him "she will be fine, she is giving birth and you are going to be a father."
He did not understand the words she spoke, but they calmed him as he settled down and let her take control of the situation. "Please help her" was all he could think.
Grace knelt down and stroked Nibelski's fur gently talking to her. "You will be fine, this is all new to you, but your body will help you through it. Just relax and let it do the work it needs to." Nibelski did not understand, but the voice was calming, soothing and the touch felt nice so she relaxed and focused on the soft voice. She felt immense pain as blood shot out of her and she looked at the human terrified, yet she was still calm. "It is fine, this is normal, you are giving birth, I am here for you. She tried to relax but the pain was intense as she felt her insides being squeezed out. Then she saw them emerge, one and then another one.. She had babies. Garius' babies as well. The feeling was so overwhelming as she began to clean them one after the other.
Grace turned to Walter and asked him "bring me my bag that is on the table" as Walter ran in and rushed it out to her. Grace began to help as much as she could cleaning them, tying off their umbilical cords and cutting them. She helped her new babies find the milk that they needed to drink. There were more than enough places to feed them and more than enough milk for all.
As the two worked together to help these newborns, Garius just stood there in shock. He understood what was now happening, he understood he was the father. He never dreamed of being a father, but as he saw them his whole world lit up. This one looked like her, that one looked like him. They were so small and fragile and, just like for Nibelski, he would give his life to protect them. So much responsibility, yet so much pride.
Over the next few hours the birthing process went on and Grace had to stop Nibelski from eating the placentas, getting Walter to take away them in the rags used for cleanup. Grace made sure she had plenty of dry towels throughout the whole process while she cleaned the pups. There were five beautiful newborn pups all clean and feeding from their mother. She lay there exhausted and deeply breathing. She felt tired, yet so alive. She was a mother and so proud that she had Garius as the father. Some pups looked like him, some had her different fur coloring, but they were all beautiful. Grace checked her over and everything went well and all the pups arrived just fine.
Garius lay down beside her and looked her in the eyes. She asked him "Did you know?"
"No, I had no idea."
"I had an idea. They were always moving, but I wanted to be sure."
"Well now you are sure." He said looking down at them all, "I can't believe this is real"
"It is and it is the most amazing experience I have ever had. We have much responsibility now, my beautiful Nibelski." Garius let her rest and feed her pups. He was glad he trusted the human for her help and he realized now that she must have known too which is why she showed no fear when dealing with Nibelski. He still did not trust humans, but these two he vowed to trust for the rest of his life and how that life had changed.
It was within that moment that Augustus arrived landing on Grace's rooftop as he cawed to get Garius' attention. He had just returned from the human's house he had left a long time ago to find it now a heap of ash and the forest burned all around. He had been flying and scanning everywhere with the habitation of humans being the last spot to check. He heard the commotion and flew over Grace's house to see his friends down there. He was in shock to see Nibelsk with pups and Garius keeping her close like a good protector would.
"Well, you have been busy. I thought you were in trouble, I scanned this whole area and after seeing that fire I thought you were dead. Are you a father now?"
"I am, but I was not expecting it."
"Not expecting it? Do you not know how these things work?"
Garius sighed back at Augustus "We've been through a lot while you were gone."
"I can see. Amazing to see how far you two have come. A lot has happened over these cold days elsewhere as well, caw, and I need to talk to you privately."
Garius looked lovingly at Nibelsk, "Will you be ok for a bit?"
Sleeply she responded "Of course, besides the humans watch over me and I need rest"
He licked her head a little then walked around to the quiet side of the human habitation while Augustus flew down to talk with him.
All the while Walter was watching their interactions amazed by how they all got along so well. He whispered in Grace's ear, "Are you seeing this?"
She responded "Did you see this Walter?" she motioned to the newborn pups. "This is a miracle and is not supposed to happen in nature. Her pups are beautiful and so healthy. I don't know how this can be. I must contact some of my professors about this."
Walter put his hand on her shoulder. "How about we just let them live without a bunch of noisy people getting excited about this. Who knows where it could lead if this got out?"
She looked up at him "Agreed, you are right. Let them have their privacy, it is for the best. I need to wash up"
"And I need some of your great coffee..." Walter told her as they both wandered back into her house with Walter sitting at the table by the window to keep an eye on the new mother resting in Grace's back yard. "We need to keep watch for hungry eagles as well. We can't have this new mother lose any pups."
Garius made his way to the outskirts of the town and sat under a tree still trying to take in all that had happened in the past few days. Augustus landed on a branch above him and as he looked down his countenance fell. "I lost a family member, Garius, someone close to me".
"I am sorry to hear that, my friend."
"It was your wolves that killed him." Garius was in shock and could not respond. "I stopped at the cave where your pack rests through the cold season and a wolf tried to kill me, my good friend stopped him, but it cost him his life"
"What? How? Who was this wolf? Do you know?"
"I do not know his name, but I know he does not like me, or you. He always was mean to our kind....he also had a bear helping him"
"Siphel", Garius groaned. "I should have put him down or cast him out a long time ago. He will pay my friend, he will pay. You stay here and watch over Nibelski for me, I do not want my pups carried away by anyone."
"I will see to it, you please be careful"
Garius ran off in the direction of the cave. He planned to make it there late in the evening, rest close by then see what Siphel had destroyed and try to see if he could restore order. He thought about the bear as well and what it would take to bring him down. He remembered the last bear that almost killed him, when he had clung onto its neck he had noticed much warmth and blood close by where he held on. He would look for that spot on this bear and this time he would win this fight.
Augustus landed close to Nibelski and did his best not to wake her. She was there half asleep with her pups feeding and whining all while they dug under her fur. He thought about how so much had changed in such a short time for them all. Angus was gone, but here he was looking at new life and it made him feel warm inside. There was so much pain in this world, yet there were still good things like this. He would watch the skies and let nothing get close to her while she rested.
Augustus realized that they were family too as he began to worry about Garius. He had sent him off alone to deal with the pack, yet there was no way he could help him. Garius was right, it was best for him to stay here and watch over Nibelski. Who else could do that but him? He would keep her safe and her little ones as well. He thought about the nasty wolf and knew that Garius could handle him, but it was the bear that worried Augustus. The last time he met a bear it did not end well for him and he would be dead if not for the help of others. This time he was alone and Augustus worried for him. Still he looked stronger than he had before and Nibelski looked so much larger now, almost like a wolf. They had kept busy while he was away, his eyes looked now at the sleeping pups. "Very busy" he whispered with a chuckle.