Firevik Babes!

It was another chilly day outside in Nome Alaska. Yet the husky pups that were entering the world found their home to be warm, dry, and welcoming. Their scar-faced mother greeted them, licking each tiny body until the wet fur was dried and soft. Their eyes were sealed, their ears folded tightly against their heads. The first pup was a large male, stocky in build that probably would result in a very powerful and strong dog. His fur was light red like hers, though she noticed the slightly darker stripes that scored the colored parts of his body. Firestorm didn't doubt that the little guy would take after his father, how much...well they would see. Her gaze drifted to the pup who was nestled beside the large red pup, his paws kneading at her belly as he filled his own with milk. He looked a lot like his father, Viktor, but had more gray. His facial markings reminded her of her sister, Shade, but there was a large black patch around both eyes. Moving her eyes once more, Firestorm looked down at the smallest and most peculiar of the litter. His fur was a lighter gray that reminded Firestorm of the color of ashes, but his was spattered with splotches of light red and brown. There was white on his belly only and a dark brown patch around one eye. The lead dog had never seen anything like it before, but maybe it was just an odd result of Viktor's unusual coloration. No concern obviously, the pup was feeding just fine and she left it at that. As Firestorm laid her head on her paws, she caught a glimpse of Viktor out of the corner of her eye. The striped husky had stopped by to check up on his heavily pregnant mate, more so than usual since Claudette had put her on maternity leave. But then her pains began and Firestorm had ordered Viktor out of the room, males weren't allowed near the whelping box until after the puppies were born and her mate, arrogant as he was, had wisely heeded her first warning. Viktor limped into the room, cautiously making sure that Firestorm was ready for him now. The exhausted husky gave him a brief look but made no threatening gestures, taking that as the 'okay' the huge husky padded forward until he stood beside the whelping box. As father to the three boys, Viktor was the first to welcome them into the world. Firestorm watched as emotion flashed into Viktor's normally cool eyes; pride and joy. "They are lovely, strong like their father but shall also be swift. There could be no finer pups than these." Firestorm said nothing, but Viktor had turned and limped outside, his voice raising a howl of triumph as he told the world the news. I am a father! Viktor returned almost instantly, the desire to gaze upon his spawn was too much to resist. But he paused just outside the doorway that led to the room where Firestorm was laying. A new smell greeted his nose, different from the smells that he had quickly labeled as his pups. From his place by the door, Viktor could make out the three furry bundles lined up along their mother's belly. They were nursing vigorously, intent on their first meal. Viktor's tail went into motion at the very sight of them. But Firestorm was busy doing something else. A pup? Was she washing another pup? Yes. This one red like her mother, dark coppery red with black stripes. Viktor crept forward to check his daughter himself. He sniffed the pup from nose to tail and back again, then pulled back slowly. The dark red-striped pup was small. Much too small. And she was not yet breathing. Runt... Viktor's eyes went wide in horror. There was nothing worse than having a runty pup, well other than having that pup be a mutt. "Firestorm?" Claudette's voice filled the room and for a moment the woman stood in the doorway, startled to see her lead dog with three smaller husky pups curled at her side. But then she spotted the rear end of the pup that Firestorm was still persistently licking and knelt down. Claudette gently took the still limp pup, wrapped it into a towel, and began to rub firmly. Firestorm and Viktor were silent, watching the woman. The three pups who had been squeaking had also go quiet. One minute passed, then two, four, and then... The limp bundle let out a shrill wail, squirming blindly in the musher's hands. "There we go," Claudette said with a smile as she gently placed the runt with her littermates. "Four beautiful babies, Fire-girl," Firestorm's tail wagged in pleasure at her mistress's warm words. "Well done. Now then...some good names for them." The firstborn pup was named Ivan, a name that Viktor obviously approved of for the striped dog had let out a massive bark that made the puppies briefly flinch, then relaxed into sleep. The second pup was named Mishka, then Tack, and finally...little Rumpel. Four Firevik babies were born on that chilly day and they were going to take Nome by storm.

Momma and We

The front door of a house opened and a nose poked its way out, sniffing around. The collie mix pushed her head further out of the door; looking one way then the other before it vanished back inside. The door swung open as Fenodree walked out onto the front porch, sniffing around as her gaze scanned the area. All was well, clear for a puppy field trip. Not only was there no trouble, the air was mild, so no cold little puppy noses. "Come on out, little ones," Fenodree turned her head back to the house, sitting down as she waited. Four pups carefully crept to the doorway, three eyes, as the fourth was sightless, peered into the outside world, blinking their eyes before they crept out to join their mother. "Stay close to the porch, now," the Mother-dog told her pups. Fenodree carefully stepped off the porch and turned to assist her little ones as they made their descents. The biggest pup leaned over, stretching her head out to grab a mouthful of snow. "It's cold," she yipped.

"Yes, snow is quite cold. But it actually is water."

"Water?" Bumble asked, tilting her head. "You mean you can eat water?" Peep's eyes widened in awe. The dark-colored pup scrambled off the porch, sitting up with a big glob of snow in his mouth. Lick let out a high-pitched yelp as she jumped off the porch, landing on her brother and pushing Peep further into the snow drift. Bumble watched them with a lazy smile, seeming perfectly content to sit there. Fenodree gently shoved her off with her muzzle, then turned to the last pup. Blink was sitting with his head tilted. His ears twitching to pick up the sounds and the nostrils of his nose twitched as he sniffed the air. "I'm right here, just follow my voice," Fenodree encouraged the blind pup, temporary paying the three scampering furballs no mind as she slowly guided Blink within reach, then carefully helped him down from the porch.

All four pups were waddling around, sniffing at the snow with curious noses. Fenodree was sitting on the porch, keeping a close eye on the four collie mix and also on the surrounding area. There was no danger and no hint of bad weather, she was glad for that and moved to lay down, watching her litter explore the world. Lick kicked snow at Blink, the blind puppy paused to sit down. His head turning back and forth as he tried to pinpoint where it came from. Peep suddenly launched himself at Lick, and the two pups rolled in a ball of dark and light fur, letting out loud yelps and squeaks of excitement. It didn't take long for Bumble and Blink to join in the game. All four pups were chasing and wrestling in the snow, under the proud gaze of their mother.