◈Vide✒️

Vide kept a low profile and didn't do much in his life, his older family member Bissing, his uncle, was the head of the cave and Vide was just another nephew or cousin or whichever. But after Bissing died, Vide found out that he'd produced one last litter of pups. Vide knew that Gerds family lineage was dwindling and that Bissing was trying to save it, so he convinced the female to move into the cave and raise her pups there. The female didn't quite like it there, and somehow she decided that she would rather live wherever she wanted, than keep her pups. There was no hesitation in his heart when he took in the pups as his own, and that was the moment Vide became significant. His other older family members died shortly after this, and now the family was made up of just Vide, Bissings oldest son, and Bissings little pup daughters. Vide took on the role as a council member representing Gerds family, proudly.
-
"He didn't really love her, you know," Brunkols pessimism surprised Vide, "he just wanted pups and asked her to carry them."
Vide nodded slowly.
"Does that bother you?" Vide asked his cousin.
"I guess so.." Brunkol nodded and looked sad.
"But he loved you," Vide said, "and he would've loved your sisters."
They both looked at the little girls playing.
"So what do you think he would've named them? Something about dyes, like you and Bensvart and Krapprot?" Vide was trying to remember what the dyes were even called.
"No," Brunkol shook his head and looked at Vide, "He would've loved them, but he's not here to do that. You're the one who is providing for them."
Vide looked at Brunkol and then at the pups, and he let out a silent "hm". He had never been good at naming things, and he knew he must've gotten it from his grandmother based on his moms and uncles names. He would need to think more about it.
-
Being the product of true love, because his parents had loved eachother deeply, Vide longed for it as well, but he was sure it would never happen. He focused on taking care of his family. The little pup now an adult named Ingrid had gotten used to not calling Vide her father, but as she realized Vide was getting older, her attachment showed. Vide didn't feel old, but Ingrids insistance on being sad about his age did make him ponder over it too.
Vide started joining in on the nightly festivities, singing and dancing. It was spring and the celebrations were massive. And just like that, one evening, a lady took interest in him. She was young and new to the pack, no doubt drawn to Vides friendlyness. Things became rather passionate one night after Vide gave her a gift to welcome her into the pack. After that, Vide decided to tone down the partying a bit, and as he brought Ingrid dinner one evening, he decided not to pursue any romantic relationships. He was too old and would only leave grief behind him, just like Ingrids father.
Even though he had made up his mind, his heart still skipped a beat when Armon, the female from the other night, visited him. The sun was shining bright as ever and she just laid down next to him, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Hey," he didn't feel familiar enough with her to use her name when asking for her attention. Armon looked up at him with her dark eyes, "I don't think you should be around me."
Armons looked distraught, almost as if he had died already, "what do you mean?"
"Maybe we shouldn't spend time together, I mean," with every word Vide said, he felt he sounded more and more like a douchebag, "it's not that I don't like you, please don't think so."
"But I want to spend time with you," Armon hadn't moved a muscle, she stayed on her spot next to him.
"Look, Armon. I'm old, I have a family to take care of. There are other wolves out there for a pretty lady like you," Vide explained as well as he could.
"You think I'm pretty?" Armon smiled and averted her gaze as if she was shy, and Vide, it made his heart flutter, but he started to think this was a joke.
"Armon please.." he begged and Armon looked up at him with a pondering expression, "you shouldn't be spending time with an old wolf like me, alright?"
Armon suddenly huffed and left. Vide stayed, because maybe she understood he would die soon and was no good as a mate. But he did feel that it was rather lonely, basking in the sun on your own.
-
It was a sudden rainstorm, it came from nowhere, and Vide had been missing his friend for some days. That's when he found her, soaking wet in the forest outside the territory.
"What are you doing out here?" He didn't like it, raindrops were dripping from her chin and he did not like it, "go home and warm up."
She looked startled by his voice, then she huffed at him.
"As if you'd care," her childish words cut deep.
"I do care!" He went up to her, "why would you say something like that?"
"You rejected me, loud and clear," she seemed to be grumpy, and turned away from him.
"Come on Armon, what do you want with an old wolf like me anyway?" Vide pleaded.
"I.." she looked sad and her voice became almost like a whisper, "I wanted to be yours."
Fuck. She shivered and Vide noticed the rain had turned to wet snowflakes. His love for her and his hatred of seeing her suffer in the cold was too much. He gently pulled at her neck to get her moving.
"What are you doing?" She sounded almost offended.
"I'm getting you somewhere dry," Vide responded frankly.
"You can't tell me where to go!"
"You're mine," he claimed her, "I've decided that I want you to be warm."

So sitting by a small fire in the shelter of a cliff, neither of them knew what to say.
"Will you be able to handle my eventual death?" Vide broke the silence.
"It doesn't matter," Armon replied, and he knew she was right. As their eyes met he felt in his heart that he couldn't be without her any longer.
"Vide, there's something I have to tell you," Armon looked nervous, and sad, her eyes avoided him, "I'm pregnant."
"With who?" Vide asked because of the sting of jealousy passing through him, but then he shook his head, "It doesn't matter, I will care for you and the pups, I promise."
"Vide, they're yours," Armon peeked up at him, her huge black eyes sorrowful.
"That's impossible," Vide responded quickly and matter-of-factly, "you weren't in heat that night."
"It can't be anyone else," Armon whispered and Vide understood, she had never mated with anyone else. Vide took a deep breath, setting aside his worries for now, because he saw the worry in Armons eyes as well. He embraced her.
"Don't you worry," as Armon laid down, Vide placed his head on top of hers, "I'll be here for you, no matter what happens, okay?"
-
The next day Vide let himself worry. Mostly, he felt irresponsible. He was going to die and leave these pups fatherless, most likely before they even turned a suncycle old. He would be no better than his uncle, who died before Ingrid was even born.
"Why are you pacing around?" Of course Ingrid had to show up right now. She was carrying a fish, which she laid on the ground before starting to eat it.
"I'm not going to hold this information from you," Vide took a deep breath.
"Okay?" Ingrid responded, confused and with her usual childish tone.
"I'm going to be a father. I know, I'm old and it was irresponsible. It wasn't my intention, believe me, but now we're here and-" Vide was rambling until he saw Ingrids face. She looked.. excited?
"You're having puppies?!" Ingrids tail wagged, "oh gods!"
"Yes, but," Vide tried to think of what to say for a bit while Ingrid looked confused, "your father.."
"What do you mean?" Ingrid asked.
"Aren't you sad that you never got to meet him?"
"Oh, um," Ingrid hummed and then looked Vide in the eye, "well, not really.. Maybe he was a good wolf and all, but I had the best pappa growing up, I wouldn't want to change him for anything, you know."
Vide felt his eyes burning with tears and he attempted to blink them away. Ingrid came to his side and embraced him.
"Awh, Vide, don't cry," she said, but Vide could hear her voice cracking with emotion, too. Vide tried to come to his senses.
"But what if I die," Vide stopped himself, he regretted mentioning his death in front of Ingrid like this.
"We all die some day.." Ingrid looked sad for a moment, but then she looked up at Vide and smiled, "but I'm going to make sure those pups have the best big sister they ever could ever wish for. Or at least, the most annoying one."
And so, Vide stopped worrying so much.
-
Vide convinced Armon to move into his cave, he took care of her every day. When she gave birth, he was right there helping her through it. After that, no one ever encountered Vide without his pups, he was with them at all times. His sons first words weren't mamma or pappa. Vide told his pups he loved them so often, his son wanted to mimic him, and one day he succesfully uttered I love you to his father, then he said it to his mamma and his sister too, and everyone he loved. One day he brought his crying sister home and spoke gently, comforting her.
"Are you still scared?" Armon asked Vide, and he shook his head. He knew the pups had an amazing mother, an amazing aunt and most importantly: eachother.