--Somewhere in the forests around town--
Mudpie: Come on June, we have to keep moving...
June: *Whines* Mudpie, can't we stop and rest for just a second? We've been walking non-stop for weeks and my poor paws are torn to shreds
Mudpie: We'll rest once it gets dark, we'll even try to find a stream or something to get a drink and to rinse our paws off in.
June: *sighs* Alright, we'll keep going... *Collapses*
June: *Whines* Mudpie, can't we stop and rest for just a second? We've been walking non-stop for weeks and my poor paws are torn to shreds
Mudpie: We'll rest once it gets dark, we'll even try to find a stream or something to get a drink and to rinse our paws off in.
June: *sighs* Alright, we'll keep going... *Collapses*
Mudpie: That's my girl.. June! *Runs to her*
June: *cries* I'm sorry, I just can't walk anymore. Where are we going anyway?
Mudpie: *licks her cheek* you know the answer to that, far far away.
June: *starts sobbing* Will anywhere truly be far enough away to be safe?
Mudpie: Oh June...
June: *cries* I'm sorry, I just can't walk anymore. Where are we going anyway?
Mudpie: *licks her cheek* you know the answer to that, far far away.
June: *starts sobbing* Will anywhere truly be far enough away to be safe?
Mudpie: Oh June...
Maverick: *gasps* Intruders!
Arrow: Maverick, what on earth are you doing?! You know patrols are supposed to conducted in pairs!
Maverick: *Whispers* Can we talk about this later? We have intruders that we need to bring to Mana and Mel...
Arrow: *Growls and turns towards the intruders* You need to come with us, now!
Mudpie: We're just passing through, we don't mean any harm...
Arrow: Did I ask you a question? No! You're coming with us.
June: We better go with them, after all they may let us rest for the night and we're in no condition to fight or run...
Mudpie: Alright...
Maverick: *Whispers* Can we talk about this later? We have intruders that we need to bring to Mana and Mel...
Arrow: *Growls and turns towards the intruders* You need to come with us, now!
Mudpie: We're just passing through, we don't mean any harm...
Arrow: Did I ask you a question? No! You're coming with us.
June: We better go with them, after all they may let us rest for the night and we're in no condition to fight or run...
Mudpie: Alright...
--In the study of the house--
Mana: Ah... finally some peace and quiet
Mel: Yeah, now that all the wedding guests have gone home and things have settled down it is a lot quieter and more peaceful
Mana: I love you Mel, I just want you to know that I'd never leave you for someone else.
Mel: *chuckles* Good, I wouldn't let you leave me anyway.
Mana: *Kisses Mel's cheek* Too bad Nightfall decided to leave though... and his children with him... they were valued and loved members of the pack and will be sorely missed...
Mel: But you know it's for the best, we couldn't have asked them to stay after the emotional memories that are tied here for them... it would be too painful, especially once Frostsong and ShadowHawk return from their journey...
*A knock at the door*
Mana: Enter!
Mel: Yeah, now that all the wedding guests have gone home and things have settled down it is a lot quieter and more peaceful
Mana: I love you Mel, I just want you to know that I'd never leave you for someone else.
Mel: *chuckles* Good, I wouldn't let you leave me anyway.
Mana: *Kisses Mel's cheek* Too bad Nightfall decided to leave though... and his children with him... they were valued and loved members of the pack and will be sorely missed...
Mel: But you know it's for the best, we couldn't have asked them to stay after the emotional memories that are tied here for them... it would be too painful, especially once Frostsong and ShadowHawk return from their journey...
*A knock at the door*
Mana: Enter!
Maverick: Excuse me, I didn't want to interrupt your conversation however we have some intruders for you to handle...
Mana: *Whines* So much for peace and quiet...
Mel: Send them in and stand by the door please.
Maverick: Yes Sir.
Mana: *Whines* So much for peace and quiet...
Mel: Send them in and stand by the door please.
Maverick: Yes Sir.
Mana: Welcome travellers, we are the leaders of this pack which inhabits this house and the surrounding woods.
Mudpie: It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am and Sir
Mana: I'm sorry for the rough greeting that our patrols no doubt gave you, however I'm sure you understand...
Mudpie: ...
June: *clears throat* Yes, of course we do. Also, please excuse my mate's rudeness. My name is June and he is Mudpie.
Mana: *nods her head in acknowledgement* What brings you to this area?
June: *looks down at the floor sadly*
Mudpie: The plague. It took our new born pups... as well as the rest of our pack. Somehow, we escaped its wrath and have been running from the quickly spreading disease ever since...
Mudpie: It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am and Sir
Mana: I'm sorry for the rough greeting that our patrols no doubt gave you, however I'm sure you understand...
Mudpie: ...
June: *clears throat* Yes, of course we do. Also, please excuse my mate's rudeness. My name is June and he is Mudpie.
Mana: *nods her head in acknowledgement* What brings you to this area?
June: *looks down at the floor sadly*
Mudpie: The plague. It took our new born pups... as well as the rest of our pack. Somehow, we escaped its wrath and have been running from the quickly spreading disease ever since...
Renji: *bursts in* Mana! Mel! Somethings wrong with my pups!
June: *Stiffens and sniffs the air before breathing out a single word* Plague...
Mana: *Hears June and tenses* Maverick! Take Renji for a disinfectant bath immediately, move his mate and pups into quarantine in one of the bedrooms, get the cleaning team in the nursery and tell them code purple, call the vet and ask them to make a house call, and start health checks and disinfectant baths for the entire pack. Also, start lock down procedure no one goes in or out until the situation is resolved. We cannot let this spread further into the area or risk more exposure to the pack.
Maverick: yes Ma'am!
June: *Stiffens and sniffs the air before breathing out a single word* Plague...
Mana: *Hears June and tenses* Maverick! Take Renji for a disinfectant bath immediately, move his mate and pups into quarantine in one of the bedrooms, get the cleaning team in the nursery and tell them code purple, call the vet and ask them to make a house call, and start health checks and disinfectant baths for the entire pack. Also, start lock down procedure no one goes in or out until the situation is resolved. We cannot let this spread further into the area or risk more exposure to the pack.
Maverick: yes Ma'am!
Poppy: *runs around frantically caring for her sick puppies*
Maverick *calls from outside the room* Poppy, Mana said for you and your pups to take disinfectant baths and move into the sky bedroom for quarantine. The vet is on his way.
Maverick *calls from outside the room* Poppy, Mana said for you and your pups to take disinfectant baths and move into the sky bedroom for quarantine. The vet is on his way.
Puppy: *Coughs* Mommy, when will we go back to the nursery to play with the other puppies?
Poppy: *Nuzzles him* Soon baby, soon... please get some rest now.
Puppy: *Yawns* Okay, Mommy.
Poppy: *Nuzzles him* Soon baby, soon... please get some rest now.
Puppy: *Yawns* Okay, Mommy.
Mel: I'm afraid since we're on lockdown you'll have to stay until the protocol is lifted... Arrow! Please tell Honeybear to prepare the guest room and get our new friends settled in, I'm sure they must be exhausted. Make sure they get hot baths, fresh food, and that their torn paws get treated by the vet before he looks at the pups.
Mudpie: This really isn't necessary, please just let us be on our way...
June: *Falls to the floor in despair and exhaustion and whimpers in defeat* We'll never escape, we might as well stay here.
Mana: *Looks at them sympathetically* You are under our care now, please get some rest and if you need anything just ask.... (I hope Frostsong and ShadowHawk are okay... where ever they are...)
Mudpie: This really isn't necessary, please just let us be on our way...
June: *Falls to the floor in despair and exhaustion and whimpers in defeat* We'll never escape, we might as well stay here.
Mana: *Looks at them sympathetically* You are under our care now, please get some rest and if you need anything just ask.... (I hope Frostsong and ShadowHawk are okay... where ever they are...)
---Several Weeks Later---
Mana: Look Mel it snowed!
Mel: Mana don't run, you could slip and break something and we have enough of the pack in the infirmary as it is.... we can't make it through this plague without you...
Mel: Mana don't run, you could slip and break something and we have enough of the pack in the infirmary as it is.... we can't make it through this plague without you...
Mana: I know... but I'm trying to stay positive, I feel like if we don't lose hope that things can still get better.
Mel: I see... I'm sorry for being overly worried about you
Mana: No, it was sweet of you to worry. I love you Mel
Mel: I love you too. We'll get through this, I promise.
Mana: I just hope the gods hear our pleas and thoughts, I just want the sled team to return safely and for the plague to pass.
Mel: I see... I'm sorry for being overly worried about you
Mana: No, it was sweet of you to worry. I love you Mel
Mel: I love you too. We'll get through this, I promise.
Mana: I just hope the gods hear our pleas and thoughts, I just want the sled team to return safely and for the plague to pass.
Vanth: *sigh* sometimes I hate being the god of death... I hate to watch them suffer...
Antheria poofs out of nowhere as gods tend to do
Antheria: Hey Vanth! How are things going this glorious time of year?
Vanth: Dark. Deathly. There's a plague in the mortal realm.
Antheria: Oh no! That's awful! Please tell me that only the old are being effected by it...
Vanth: *Hangs Head* No.
Antheria: Hey Vanth! How are things going this glorious time of year?
Vanth: Dark. Deathly. There's a plague in the mortal realm.
Antheria: Oh no! That's awful! Please tell me that only the old are being effected by it...
Vanth: *Hangs Head* No.
Antheria: Well that's okay! Santapaws will bring some cheer to them for awhile at least. And it isn't like it's your fault that plagues happen, you just collect their souls and help them pass on to join the rest of the departed.
Vanth: Do you know how hard that it is to tear mortals away from their loved ones and lives to bring them to the afterlife? I know they don't suffer anymore once they pass and enjoy a nice afterlife full of all kinds of comforts while getting to watch those they left behind but still...
Antheria: Just focus on the good parts of the job, you end their suffering....
Vanth: Even those suffering beg to stay. *Shakes head and sighs* I know you can't understand as the god of love, I'll stop complaining. *Looks coyly at Antheria* Sooo how's YOUR job going?
Vanth: Do you know how hard that it is to tear mortals away from their loved ones and lives to bring them to the afterlife? I know they don't suffer anymore once they pass and enjoy a nice afterlife full of all kinds of comforts while getting to watch those they left behind but still...
Antheria: Just focus on the good parts of the job, you end their suffering....
Vanth: Even those suffering beg to stay. *Shakes head and sighs* I know you can't understand as the god of love, I'll stop complaining. *Looks coyly at Antheria* Sooo how's YOUR job going?
Antheria: *Coughs* Well Um.... we don't need to talk about it
Vanth: Come on, give me ALL the JUICY details.
Antheria: ...well...
Vanth: Out with it
Antheria: The young couple that just ran away together a few months ago are doing well, I can't seem to get the poor widow interested in anyone new, the gang is messing up all my plans and making it impossible to make any progress with destined couples, and the plague is destroying destined couples left and right...
Vanth: Maybe we should run away.
Antheria: Maybe we should, but then who would do our jobs?
Vanth: who cares? *kisses Antheria* Run away with me, love.
Antheria: Stop joking around and get back to work.
Vanth: Yes, love.
Antheria: Stop calling me that!
Vanth: Calling you what, love?
Antheria: You know what!
Vanth: Whatever you say, love
Antheria: *Marches away in frustration*
Vanth: Come on, give me ALL the JUICY details.
Antheria: ...well...
Vanth: Out with it
Antheria: The young couple that just ran away together a few months ago are doing well, I can't seem to get the poor widow interested in anyone new, the gang is messing up all my plans and making it impossible to make any progress with destined couples, and the plague is destroying destined couples left and right...
Vanth: Maybe we should run away.
Antheria: Maybe we should, but then who would do our jobs?
Vanth: who cares? *kisses Antheria* Run away with me, love.
Antheria: Stop joking around and get back to work.
Vanth: Yes, love.
Antheria: Stop calling me that!
Vanth: Calling you what, love?
Antheria: You know what!
Vanth: Whatever you say, love
Antheria: *Marches away in frustration*
SantaPaws: OOH cookies! But they've obviously been made by the parents, usually the pups make the cookies here...
SantaPaws: ... and the tree hasn't been decorated, I wonder what's wrong? I guess I'll go ahead and leave the presents and use a pinch of magic to spruce this place up for Christmas morning...
---The Next Morning---
Mana: Look Mel! Someone decorated for Christmas! and there are presents!
Mel: To be honest I completely forgot about Christmas...
Mana: Merry Christmas, Mel! *Tackles him and kisses him*
Mel: To be honest I completely forgot about Christmas...
Mana: Merry Christmas, Mel! *Tackles him and kisses him*