The wolf lay stretched across the porch boards, her thick fur matted with dried milk. Her dark eyes, sharp despite exhaustion, tracked the flurry of tiny legs scrambling in the dirt yard below. Three pups tumbled over each other, yipping, their eyes still milky-blue. They were hers. They'd lived. Two girls, one boy – still nameless, as was the way. Proof came first. Names came after survival.
Inside the ranch house, sophia and carl played with the toys glenn bought back from the town. the werewolf pups where still in wolf form so they could only chew on the new toys and carl and sophia didnt like that and shoo lily's pup outside were the played rough with each other chasing each other around, lily watch saila lay beside her and push her own cub to play with the werewolf pups, lily shift back to human form and pick up her pups and feed them milk from her breast while saila watch her cubs play with sophia and carl, lily smile and watch her pups drink her milk and she think of names for them, she think of names like river, rain, and raven for her pups, she think those names are good names for her pups.
after the pups eat she let them play again before calling inside to check on sophia and carl, the two was not hers. carl was loris son, and sophia was corals daughter. lily was an omega wolf, she was not alpha like rick or beta like coral, she was omega the lowest rank. she was happy to be omega, she didn't want the responsibility of alpha. she was happy to watch the pups and cubs. she was happy to be the one to feed them and care for them.
daryl and fen came back with a deer, they had skinned it and was carrying it back to the ranch. they had been hunting all morning. they had been hunting every day for the past three months. they had to feed everyone. the ranch had a lot of mouths to feed. there was rick and Isabella, Marcus and tessa, jacob, coral, merle, shane, glenn, fen, saila, lily, sophia, carl, and the pups and cubs. and the horses. the pregnant mare had given birth to twins a colt and a filly. they were healthy and strong.
saila saw fen and daryl and she ran to greet them. she was happy to see fen. she was always happy to see her two mates. she was lucky to have two mates. fen was her alpha mate and daryl was her other alpha mate. she was happy with both of them.
" rick asked that you too come to town when you can, they start the fence going up around the town." lily told fen and daryl before kissing them both " we also need to name the triplets"
fen grinned as he slung the deer carcass over the porch railing. "Fence'll help. But names?" He nudged Daryl with his elbow. "This one's been muttering 'Raven' for the girl with the dark fur that takes after him since dawn."
Daryl grunted, wiping blood off his forearm onto his pants. "Wasn't muttering." He crouched, letting their pups sniff his calloused fingers. The smallest one—the boy—nipped playfully. "This runt's got teeth. Call him 'River'. Fits."
"River?" Lily traced a finger over the pup's muzzle. He licked her knuckle. "And the girls?"
Daryl scooped up the darkest-furred pup, her eyes already sharpening into amber. "Raven." The pup wriggled, nosing at his jaw. He held her firmly, a rare softness in his eyes. "Fast and clever."
"The last one?" Fen leaned against the porch post, watching Lily cradle the remaining girl pup. This one was paler, almost silver-dusted, quieter than her siblings. Lily hummed softly. "She's… gentle. Like rain on dry earth." She glanced at Fen. "Rain?"
Fen nodded, scratching behind Saila's ear as she pressed against his leg. "Rain suits her." Saila nudged Lily's knee gently. "They're strong names. River, Raven, Rain." Her voice was low, warm with pride. "Solid. Like the fence."
" speaking of fence we should go help rick like he asked of us " fen said " stay safe lily, keep our son and daughters safe"
" I will" lily smiled " rain river raven" she said softly " my little pups"
fen and daryl left towards town, the dust kicking up under their boots. Inside the ranch house, Coral was scrubbing potatoes at the sink, her sleeves rolled up past her elbows. Sophia tugged at her apron. "mom? Can we play with the lily's pups now?" Coral didn't turn, her voice tight. "Later. Those little werewolves chew everything. Glenn's bought them a new rope toy and its already in shreds."
Outside, Lily settled Rain against her shoulder, patting her back gently. The pup burped softly, milk-drowsy. Raven and River tumbled past Saila's legs, chasing a fat beetle across the porch boards. Saila watched them, her tail thumping slowly. "They're quick," she murmured. "River's already trying to stalk like Fen." Lily smiled faintly. "Raven watches everything. Like Daryl." She didn't mention the quiet pride swelling in her chest—*her* names, accepted. Proof.
Sophia's face appeared at the screen door, her nose pressed against the mesh. "Lily? Can Raven come inside? Just for a minute?" Coral's voice snapped from the kitchen. "Sophia! I said *no*!" The door slammed shut. Lily flinched.
Beside her, Saila sighed. "Coral still sees teeth, not children." She nudged Lily's shoulder gently. lily was they only werewolf that can hear a normal animal like a dog or wolf even cats can communicate with lily, white werewolves where different than other werewolves, lily was a white wolf meaning she was rare and she had a gift to communicate with animals. Saila was a wolf, not a werewolf, but Lily understood her perfectly. Saila's low growl carried words only Lily caught: *Stubborn human. Pups mean no harm.* Lily scratched Saila's ears in silent agreement.
Inside, Coral's voice rose again. "Carl, put that down! that not for you guys but for your father rick and everyone that helping make the town safe"
Sophia's muffled protest followed. "But Mom, Lily's pups get toys!"
Coral's reply was sharp, brittle. "Those aren't toys, Sophia. They're tools. For grown-ups." The clatter of a knife hitting the sink punctuated her words. Lily winced, Rain stirring against her shoulder. Saila's low rumble vibrated through the porch boards. *Tools? Like thirty-second thoughts tossed at pups? Stupid.*
Sophia's face reappeared at the mesh, cheeks flushed. "But Raven's *clever*, Mom! She fetched Glenn's dropped wrench yesterday!" Coral didn't turn from the sink. "And chewed the handle half off. No." The finality hung like a slammed door.
lily usher the triplets off to the barn to play behind the barn where she didnt have to hear carol yell at sophia and carl. rain river raven chase each other round the barn, nibbling at each others tails. lily lean against the barn wall and watch them play. she feel a pang of worry. carol didnt like the pups. she didnt like lily. she didnt like anything that wasnt human. lily didnt blame her. she was scared. they all were scared. but the pups were innocent. they didnt know anything about the world. they just wanted to play. lily sigh and look up at the sky. the sun was high and hot. she could smell the dust and the horses and the deer carcass on the porch. she could hear the pups yipping and the horses snorting and the wind rustling the grass. she could feel the rough wood of the barn against her back. she could taste the salt on her lips from her sweat. she close her eyes and try to push the worry away. she had to be strong for the pups. she had to protect them. she had to make sure they were safe. she open her eyes and watch them play. they were so happy. so carefree. she smile despite herself. they were her little pups. her rain river raven. she would do anything for them.
the farm has been walker free for the last three months and she loved it the pups could be kids and have fun with out the fear of death.
The pups' laughter echoed behind the barn—a bright, yipping sound that cut through the afternoon heat. Lily watched River tackle Raven into a patch of clover, their small bodies rolling in a tangle of dark and silver fur. Rain sat apart, paws delicately batting at a dandelion puff. Saila nudged Lily's hand with her wet nose. *They grow fast,* the wolf's low growl translated in Lily's mind. *Soon they'll be climbing fences.* Lily smiled, scratching behind Saila's ears. "Too soon," she murmured. "Let them be small." she laugh " where is your cub at saila, is he around" lily asked about pike she 5 month old wolf was always running around the ranches woods chasing rats and birds, lily had to tell saila to punish him once for chasing the livestock on the ranch.
A sudden crash shattered the quiet—glass breaking inside the ranch house. Coral's voice rose, sharp and strained. "Sophia! I told you to stay away from the window!" Carl's wail followed, high-pitched and scared. Lily's shoulders tensed. Saila flattened her ears against her skull, a warning rumble building in her chest. The pups froze mid-tumble, ears pricked toward the noise. Raven crept closer to Lily, pressing against her leg. Lily scooped her up, the pup's tiny heart thrumming against her palm. "Shh," she whispered. "It's just grown-ups being loud." But the lie tasted thin. Coral's fear wasn't just noise; it was a storm brewing.
Saila nudged Lily's hip urgently. *Pike. Close.* Lily scanned the tree line. There—a flash of tawny fur darting through the tall grass near the paddock fence. Pike, Saila's cub, was stalking something. Not rats. The pregnant mare stood rigid, ears pinned back, nostrils flaring and other mare and her twin foals huddled behind her legs. Pike crouched low, predator-silent, eyes fixed on the colt's trembling flank. Lily's breath caught. "Pike!" she hissed, but the wind snatched her voice. Saila was already moving, a gray streak blurring across the yard.
Inside the house, Coral's shouting reached a fever pitch. "Carl, get away from that window! Sophia, don't you dare—!" Another crash—porcelain shattering. Sophia burst through the screen door, tears streaking her cheeks. She stumbled toward Lily, ignoring Coral's furious call. "He's gonna hurt the baby horse, Lily!" she gasped, pointing at Pike's advancing form.
Saila hit the paddock fence like a gray thunderbolt, snarling. Pike froze mid-crouch, startled. The colt bolted behind its mother, hooves skittering on dirt. Saila snapped her jaws inches from Pike's muzzle, a guttural command ripping from her throat. *Prey is family!* Lily felt the words like a physical blow. Pike flattened his ears, whining, confusion warring with instinct. pike knew when his mother meant it, and this time she was not happy with him.
Sophia clung to Lily's leg, trembling. "Is he gonna bite?" she whispered.
"No," Lily murmured, watching Saila herd Pike away from the paddock with low, disciplinary growls. The young wolf whined, chastised. Saila's message was clear: *Foals are pack, not prey.* Pike slunk toward the barn, tail tucked. Relief loosened Lily's shoulders. "He's learning."
Sophia sniffled against Lily's leg. "Mom says wolves can't learn." Raven squirmed in Lily's arms, licking Sophia's tear-streaked cheek. Sophia giggled, a fragile sound. Lily knelt, letting Raven wriggle free to nuzzle Sophia. "See? Gentle." Sophia hesitantly stroked Raven's dark fur. "She's soft." sophia was 14teen but acted like a child sometimes while carl was 12 and acted like an adult. Saila trotted back, Pike slinking behind her, tail low. The wolf nudged Pike toward Sophia. *Apologize,* Saila's low growl commanded. Pike whined softly, bumping Sophia's hand with his nose. Sophia gasped. "He says sorry!"
Coral stood rigid in the doorway, Carl peeking around her skirt. Her knuckles were white on the doorframe. "Sophia. Inside. Now." The command cracked like ice. Sophia flinched, pulling away from Raven. "But Mom—" "Now!" Coral's voice was raw. Sophia shuffled toward the house, shoulders slumped. Pike whined again, confused. Saila sighed, a puff of warm air against Lily's arm. *Stubborn.*
Lily scooped up Rain, who'd been quietly nibbling clover. "Sophia meant no harm, Coral. Pike didn't either—he's young." Coral's gaze snapped to Lily, sharp as broken glass. "He stalked that foal." Carl piped up, "Saila stopped him! She's good!" Coral didn't look at him. "Wolves hunt. That's what they do." Lily kept her voice steady. "He's learning pack rules. Foals aren't prey." Coral's laugh was brittle.
Behind Coral, Glenn emerged from the kitchen, wiping grease off his hands. "Fence crew's back early. Rick says they hit bedrock—can't sink posts deep enough west of town." Saila's ears pricked. *Trouble.* Glenn added, "Daryl's bringing the eighteen-wheeler to haul gravel for a new trench. Needs Fen's help with the rig." Coral whirled. "And who watches these *pups* while Fen's gone? That thing's a death trap!" Glenn shrugged. "Rick's orders. We need that barrier."
Saila nudged Lily's arm urgently. *Pike. Barn loft.* Lily glanced up. Pike crouched on the loft ledge above Coral, tail twitching like a metronome. Coral followed Lily's gaze and froze. "Get that beast down!" Pike's ears flattened. Saila growled low. *Stay.* Coral backed toward the door. "Sophia, Carl—inside!" Sophia hesitated, staring at Raven. "Mom, Raven didn't—" Coral grabbed her arm. "Now!"
" you need to stop treating sophia like that, she 14, you keep that up and she will never learn to become an adult, your treating her like she 5" lily said. " and sophia you need to start acting your age if you want to be treated like a teenager"
Sophia froze halfway to the door, her cheeks flushing crimson. Coral's grip tightened on her daughter's arm, knuckles whitening. "You don't tell me how to raise my child," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. Carl ducked behind his mother's skirt, eyes wide. Pike whined softly from the loft ledge above, sensing the tension thickening the air like summer humidity before a storm. Saila pressed against Lily's leg, her growl a steady vibration. *Den mother. Protect cubs.*
lori watch as carl hidding behind lori as lily and carol got into it.
Coral's knuckles tightened around Sophia's arm, pulling her toward the door. "We're done here," she snapped, her voice cracking like dry timber. Sophia stumbled, casting one last desperate glance at Raven, who whined softly from Lily's arms. Carl clung to lori's skirt, his eyes darting between his mother and Lily. Saila's growl deepened, a low warning thrum against Lily's calf.
" no you need to listen the only way we survive is working together and treating each other right and what your doing to the others and your own daughter is not going to help anyone coral, sophia is old enough to help out around the ranch and town and play with my children, you need to treat sophia like a teen and not a 5 year old" lily said " and sophia you need to act like a teen and not a child"
Coral's face hardened, the tendons in her neck standing out like taut ropes. "You think you know parenting?" Her voice scraped low. "Sophia's safe because I keep her away from things that bite." She jerked her chin toward Raven. "That includes your… pups."
" that not the same and my pups never bitten anyone, you are being a bitch, i can show you bite if that what you want, or start letting sophia be a teen." lily showed her teeth, her omega status momentarily forgotten in the heat of protecting her pups and Sophia's stifled childhood. Coral flinched back, pulling Sophia roughly behind her. Saila pressed closer to Lily, a low growl vibrating through her ribs. *Careful,* the wolf warned silently. *Den mother angry.*
Inside the doorway, Lori stepped forward, placing a hand on Carl's shoulder. "Coral," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Lily's right. Sophia's fourteen. She helped Glenn fix the solar panels last week. She's not a little girl anymore." Coral's gaze snapped to Lori, betrayal flashing in her eyes. "You're taking *her* side?"
Sophia wrenched her arm free. "Mom, stop! Raven's never hurt anyone! Pike didn't mean it—he's a *baby*!" Her voice cracked with frustration. Above them, Pike whined again, tail thumping nervously against the loft ledge. Saila nudged Lily's hip. *Too high. Scared.* Lily whistled sharply—a soft, descending note. Pike scrambled down the ladder, landing with a thud beside Saila, pressing close.
Coral stared at her daughter, shock replacing anger. Sophia stood taller, fists clenched. "I'm not five. I helped Glenn with the truck battery yesterday. Lily lets Raven help gather eggs." Raven trotted to Sophia's feet, sitting neatly, ears pricked as if listening. Coral's gaze flickered between Sophia and the pup. "Eggs?"
"Unbroken ones," Sophia insisted. "She carries them in her mouth gentle." Coral's shoulders slumped slightly. Lori squeezed Carl's shoulder, stepping onto the porch. "Sophia's earned trust, Coral. We all have to adapt." Glenn emerged behind her, wiping grease from his hands. "Kid's got steady hands. Fixed the solar controller wiring when I fumbled it."
Coral stared at Raven, who tilted her head, amber eyes bright. The pup nudged Sophia's ankle softly. "See?" Sophia whispered. Coral's rigid posture wavered. She looked away, toward the distant town fence line where dust plumed from Daryl's eighteen-wheeler. "Fine," she muttered. "But no pups inside. And Sophia—you help Coral with supper prep tonight. Like a young woman, not a child."
" my pups sleep with me and my mates, they will not be treated like animals, they are human too, they will take their human form soon" lily growled out she will not let carol treat her children like livestock.
Coral's jaw tightened. "Fine. But they chew through everything." She glanced at Sophia, who stood straighter now, Raven leaning against her leg. "Sophia helps me with supper. Properly." Sophia nodded, relief washing over her face. "Yes, Mom."
Saila nudged Pike toward the paddock fence. *Show,* she growled softly. Pike trotted forward, ears perked. At the fence line, he sat neatly, watching the twin foals. When the colt ventured closer, Pike lowered his head submissively, whining softly. Coral watched, arms crossed. "See?" Lily murmured. "Pack rules. the wolf cub will learn what he can and cant do, that what his mother is teaching him."
Sophia knelt beside Raven, scratching behind her ears. "Can Raven help me gather eggs tomorrow? She's careful." Coral hesitated, then gave a stiff nod. "Fine. But if she cracks one—"
"She won't!" Sophia promised, hugging Raven's neck. The pup licked her cheek, amber eyes bright.
" kids come follow momma" lily said to raven, rain, and river as she lead them into the woods for a run, she shift into her wolf form, she could smell rain on the wind this would be the only time the pups could run before the storm, saila and pike was following her and the pups.
Sophia watched them vanish into the trees, Raven's dark tail flicking like a farewell flag. Coral cleared her throat sharply. "Egg baskets. Now." Sophia hesitated. "But Mom... Lily said—" "Sophia." Coral's tone brooked no argument. Carl nudged her. "C'mon. I'll help." Inside, Glenn was elbow-deep in the guts of a dismantled PlayStation, capacitors strewn across the kitchen table. "Found it in the attic," he muttered. "If I can salvage the laser..." Coral slammed the egg basket onto the counter. "Focus on supper, Glenn. Not antiquer junk."
lily ran through the woods at pups speed so the triplets can keep up with her saila and pike did the same. The damp earth smelled of pine needles and impending rain, cool against Lily's paws. River nipped playfully at her tail, Raven darted ahead with Pike, while Rain trotted steadily beside Saila. The wind shifted, carrying a sharp, sour tang that made Lily freeze. *Death,* Saila growled silently, hackles rising. Pike whimpered, pressing close to his mother.
Ahead, Raven halted, ears pricked. Three figures shambled between the trees—rotted clothes hanging loose, mouths slack. Walkers. Lily snarled low, nudging River and Rain behind her. Raven didn't retreat; she crouched, mimicking Pike's hunting stance. *Too close.* Lily lunged, snapping the lead walker's knee with a crunch. It collapsed, writhing. Saila tore out its throat with a vicious shake. Pike circled the second, distracting it while Lily ripped its jugular. The third stumbled toward Rain—but Raven intercepted it, darting between its legs and tripping it. Saila finished it swiftly.
the first three walkers in months just wonders into the woods near the ranch, Lily's hackles stayed raised. She nudged Raven away from the twitching corpse with her snout. *Good hunt,* Saila growled, licking blood from Pike's muzzle. *But bad sign.* Rain whimpered, pressing against Lily's flank. River sniffed the air, tail stiff. The sour rot hung thick here—older than these three. Lily caught the trail: trampled ferns, snapped branches leading deeper into the woods. Too many. good thing they are just passing the three were probably the last three in the group and they just happen to cross paths with the three. lily told them that enough and herded the pups back to the ranch the would have to go through the town to get to the ranch they ran father then she tended to.
Lori met them at the pasture gate, shotgun loose in her grip. "Glenn heard growling," she said, eyes scanning the treeline. "Walkers?" Lily shifted to human form, pulling her pups close. "Three. Dead." Raven trembled against her leg. "They came from the west," Lily added. "Through the bedrock trench Rick couldn't fence." Coral appeared behind Lori, Sophia peeking around her. Coral's gaze locked on the blood smudging Lily's forearm. "Sophia, inside," she ordered, but her voice lacked its usual edge. Sophia didn't move. "Did Raven fight?" she whispered. Lily nodded. "She tripped one. Smart." Coral's jaw tightened, but she didn't protest when Sophia stepped forward to stroke Raven's damp fur.
Daryl's eighteen-wheeler rumbled into the yard, Fen riding shotgun. They jumped down, faces grim. "Found a breach," Daryl spat, wiping grease from his hands. "Whole herd must've crossed that shallow bedrock—like a damn highway." Fen knelt beside Lily, scenting the air. "You handled them?" "With Saila," Lily confirmed. Fen ruffled Raven's ears. "Good girl." Coral cleared her throat. "Sophia, eggs. Now." Sophia hesitated, then ran off to do what her mother asked lily ushered the pups into the house to the bathroom to wash their hair of the walkers blood.
Later, Sophia stood at the kitchen counter, cracking eggs into a bowl while Coral chopped potatoes. Raven sat obediently by Sophia's feet, watching her every move. Coral's knife paused mid-chop. "That pup… doesn't lunge?" Sophia beamed. "See? Gentle." She dropped a shell fragment; Raven nudged it toward the trash bin with her nose. Coral snorted softly—almost a laugh. "Hmph. Useful." Sophia grinned wider. "Told you!"
the group sat around the table eatting the dinner that sophia and coral made the pups had their own plates on the floor, rick and fen made plan to cover the part that couldnt be fence with the bedrock trench. lily was worried about the pups being outside the fence.
Sophia slid Raven a scrap of venison under the table. Coral pretended not to notice, focusing on stirring her stew. Outside, wind lashed rain against the windows—a sudden summer storm. Rick traced a map with a grease-stained finger. "That trench needs filling tonight. If more walkers funnel through..." Daryl grunted, shoveling potatoes. "Gravel truck's loaded. But this downpour'll turn the bedrock slicker than owl shit." Fen nodded. "We go now. Tide the truck, pack the gravel tight before it washes." Saila whined softly from her spot by the hearth. Lily met Fen's eyes. *Keep them safe"
" how about put the fence through the forest could make area for houses and other thing we will need" rick said
" that would work," lori said, pushing her plate aside. "We could clear trees for cabins, use the logs for fencing." Rick leaned back, scratching his beard. "Fen? You know those woods." Fen's gaze drifted to the pups gnawing venison bones on the floor. "Thick oak near the trench. Good timber. But..." He hesitated. "The pups. They play there." Lily's fork clattered against her plate. "So we clear carefully. Mark safe zones." Coral snorted. "Safe zones? With walkers breaching?" Sophia piped up, "Raven warned us today! She sniffed them first." Raven thumped her tail at her name. Coral's knife stilled. "She did?" Sophia nodded fiercely. "Before Lily even growled!"
" the triplet are staying close to the house until all the fences are up, if a walker get through the town and to the farm its game over, we clear the tree for housing and put the fence there. so we are safe and then if we need it we could recruit people to our town, we all cant stay in one house as it is, sophia and her mother should have their own house, rick, lori and carl needs their own home, and merl need his own, glenn needs his own and so does isabella and jacob and tessa and marcus needs their own place too, this farm house is getting to packed." Lily said " everyone in a agreeance"
Rick tapped the map. "We start clearing tomorrow. Priority: fence the trench gap." Daryl grunted. "Gotta move fast. Rain's washing gravel out faster'n we can dump it." Outside, thunder rattled the windows. Sophia nudged Coral. "Mom?"
everyone agreed to the plan to build house and the fence through the woods. The next morning dawned muddy and urgent. Rainwater pooled in the unfinished trench, swirling around half-sunk gravel piles. Daryl cursed, wrestling the eighteen-wheeler's gears as Fen guided him backward toward the breach, tires churning deep ruts in the sodden earth. Glenn scrambled to attach chainsaws to the ATV trailer, shouting over the engine roar. "Oak's dense near the gully—gonna take all day!"
Inside the farmhouse, Coral supervised Sophia scrubbing breakfast dishes. Raven sat patiently by Sophia's feet, nose twitching at the scent of wet dog and pine sap drifting through the open window. Coral glanced at the pup, then at Sophia's focused expression. "Hand me the dry towel," Coral instructed, her voice clipped but lacking its usual bite. Sophia passed it quickly, a hopeful spark in her eyes. Coral dried a plate, her gaze lingering on Raven's alert posture. "She... listens well."
but then raven got up and went to the other room she felt different, something was happening to her, her sibling felt it to. the shift to human form.
Sophia dropped her dishrag. "Raven?" Coral froze, towel suspended mid-wipe. Raven padded stiffly into the living room where River and Rain huddled near the hearth, whining low in their throats. Their fur rippled unnaturally, like wind disturbing water. Lily burst through the back door, soaked from checking the paddock drains, and froze. "Oh," she breathed, rushing to them. "It's time." She knelt, gathering her trembling pups close. "Easy now. Let it come."
Raven shuddered violently, collapsing onto the rug. Sophia gasped as dark fur seemed to melt away like shadow under noon sun, revealing pale skin beneath. Bones popped softly, joints reshaping with wet clicks. Coral dropped the towel entirely, transfixed, as Raven's muzzle flattened into a human nose and mouth, her whines shifting to thin, confused cries. Within moments, a naked girl of that look four already at the age of 4 months old lay curled on the rug, dark hair plastered to her sweaty forehead. She blinked amber eyes—still unmistakably Raven's—up at Sophia. "Sophia?" Her voice was small, raspy with disuse. the river began so shift his white fur going and melting away to reveal a boy with white hair and green eyes, then it was rains turn her grey fur melted away to reveal a girl with grey hair and blue eyes.
Sophia lunged forward, wrapping Raven in a hug. "You're okay! You're *here*!" Coral remained frozen, her knuckles pressed against her lips. Lily helped Rain sit up, the grey-haired girl trembling. "Cold," Rain whispered. Lily snatched a throw blanket from the couch, bundling her. River stood unsteadily, wobbling on unfamiliar legs, his white hair sticking up wildly. "Legs feel funny," he announced, then promptly sat down hard.
" you will get use to it son" lily said laughing" raven and rain you girls okay"
Raven nodded against Sophia's shoulder, her small fingers clutching the older girl's shirt. "Sophia warm." Rain burrowed deeper into her blanket cocoon, blue eyes wide as she watched Coral slowly kneel beside them. Coral reached out, hesitated, then gently brushed a strand of wet grey hair from Rain's forehead. Her touch was tentative, almost reverent. "They're… children," Coral breathed, her voice thick with disbelief. "Just children."
" i told you that, i gave birth to them" lily said softly, wrapping River in a quilt. Coral's hand hovered over Raven's damp curls, her knuckles pale. "They... changed." Sophia rocked Raven gently. "She's still Raven!" Raven blinked up at Coral, her amber eyes wide and trusting. "Eggs?" she whispered, her voice a raspy imitation of Sophia's earlier plea. Coral choked back a sound—part sob, part laugh—and snatched the dropped dish towel, draping it hastily around Raven's shoulders. "You'll catch cold," she muttered, avoiding Lily's gaze. Sophia beamed. "See? Gentle!"
lily took her three kids upstair to get the dresses, werewolf cub grow fast, even if they where only born 4 months ago, it the way of their biology to make them able to be apart of the pack, lily put dresses on the girls and shorts and shirt on river, she herd them downstairs to the kitchen to eat, sophia was waiting to help raven eat, coral was sitting at the table with coffee, she look at raven as sophia help her eat oatmeal, coral look at raven and then at sophia, she sigh " sophia, after breakfast, you can help me teach raven how to use spoon" sophia smile " yes mom" coral look at lily " and lily, i am sorry for how i treated you and your children, i was scared, but i see now they are just kids" lily smile " thank you coral" coral nod " now sophia, teach raven how to use spoon" sophia show raven how to hold spoon, raven try to copy sophia, she spill some oatmeal on her dress, sophia laugh " its okay raven, you will get it" raven smile " sophia teach"
river sat in lily lap being a mommas boy, as rain sat in a chair and watch coral use her spoon before mimicking her, getting it on the first try. coral smiled softly. "quick learner." she said.
Outside, the chainsaws' roar abruptly ceased. Fen burst through the door, dripping rain and panic. "Walker cluster! Twenty deep—crossed the trench!" Rick followed, rifle ready. "Daryl's holding them at the gravel pile. Glenn, get the kids to the cellar—" He froze, staring at the naked-legged toddler clumsily chasing Sophia's spoon. "What in hell— nevermind just get the kids inside and keep them safe." the men expect for glenn went to hunt the walkers down and kill them, lily told the pups to listen to carol, she was going to help their fathers get rid of the walkers