Beginnings
by Louis K. Thomas
4-13-95

/hunger/ /cold/ /pain/ /exhaustion/ /hunger/ ...

The newborn fox pup mewed softly. His mother picked him up by the scruff of the neck and laid him gently between her forepaws. She began to lick the newborn clean, proud at the small strength the pup displayed as he wobbled around between her forelegs.

/warm::good/ /hungry/ /tired/ ...

The baby mewed softly and nudged against its mother. The mother fox smiled gently down at her beloved pup, and finished licking him clean. She then picked him up in her mouth and placed him in front of her stomach.

/smell::good/ /find/ /find/ /swallow/ /good/ /warm::flavor::good/ /more/ ...

The pup quickly found one of his mother's teats and began nursing hungrily. The mother looked back and smiled with loving contentment at the three newborns nursing voraciously. She studied them contentedly. Two males and a female -- not bad at all for a first litter. The light inside the den was almost nonexistent, but she could tell that the newer, smaller male had a darker coat than the other two, while the female had the lightest. She smelled their scents and noticed that while they all smelled unique, the males smelled like their father and the female smelled a bit like her. The mother heard and felt the pups' movements as they pushed and pawed to get at her milk.

"May I come in yet, love?" The sudden question from outside startled the mother fox, dislodging the babies from her breast as she sat up. The pups began to mew pitifully, and she quickly laid back down and drew them too her.

"Felissa? ... Are you all right?" came the concerned voice from up outside.

"Yes, dear. Yes, you may come in, but be careful," the mother fox called up softly. There was a pause, and then the quiet sound of her mate coming down the main tunnel into the den. As he entered she could smell his masculine foxy scent and something else.

"I brought you something special." She sniffed: a snow-shoe hare!

"Your favorite," he said, grinning from ear to ear. He dropped the hare in front of her, then bent down as they nuzzled and licked each other.

"Mmmm. Thank you," Felissa replied as she gave his nose one final lick. "It smells so delicious. Come, see our pups."

He stepped carefully around until he could see the little balls of fur nuzzling and nursing at his mate's breast.

"My, that one's darker than the others, isn't it?"

"Yes, *he* is. Two boys and a girl. Aren't they adorable?" said Felissa, full of pride.

"Yes they are," replied her mate, giving her a sudden lick on the nose.

"Stop that, you!" she giggled. He laid down at her side, and began to playfully poke his muzzle in between the pups.

"What shall we call you?" he mumbled lovingly to the pups. "What are your names, my cute little fur balls?" Felissa began to laugh at his antics as his nose tickled her soft belly.

"Ha ha. Stop that! Ha ha! HA!" Her stomach began to shake with laughter, once again separating the pups from their milk.

"Oh! Now look what you've done!" she cried.

"I'm sorry, love," he chuckled. He backed himself away and stood up slowly.

"Now, the pups should rest. They've had a long first day," she said as she pulled her children to her. They nestled in her soft warm underfur and began to sleep.

"So should you, love," he replied lovingly. He walked around and laid against her back, warding off the chill that was seeping down the tunnel from the cold outside. Soon, every member of the brand new family was asleep.