Wolves
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 24 - Family
The portal began to hum softly, signifying that someone was coming through. The Wolf guards jumped to their feet, ready to defend the portal or greet whoever walked through. To their surprise, Kouga walked through, followed by a young girl. The Wolves greeted them and pointed the way to the dens. Kiba saw them first and ran to greet them. "Kamara! How wonderful to see you." He said, a wide smile on his face, and then he turned to Kouga, "Sir, welcome to our dens."
"Is your father here? I would like to see the dens and hear about the patrols." Kouga asked after greeting the boy.
"Yes, he is down there." Kiba pointed toward the center area.
"I see him. You stay here with Kamara while I go talk to him." Then Kouga left them alone.
Kamara was showing her pregnancy of five months, and Kiba's fingers itched, aching to touch her, to feel his daughter once again. "How are you?"
"I am fine. I wanted to see you and also let you know how the baby is doing."
"And how is she?"
Kamara reached for his hand and placed it on her stomach. "Feel for yourself."
Again, a feeling of peace came over the young Wolf as he sensed his daughter. She was so beautiful! Kiba stayed that way, his hand pressed against Kamara's stomach for long minutes. Finally he removed his hand and stepped away. "Thank you, Kamara."
"Well, she is your daughter too. I thought of a name for her, if you approve of it." Kamara said, taking a seat on a nearby log. Kiba sat down next to her.
"What is it?"
"Kara. Do you like it?"
"Kara … I love it!" Kiba said, and then his voice grew solemn. "Is Tekku alright with this? With you carrying my child?"
"Well, he would prefer that she were his, but he is coping with it."
"I'm sure you would prefer if Kara was his also." Kiba said sadly.
"No, not really. Kara has ended the war with the Cats and saved many lives. I am half-Wolf, you know, and I can sense her too. I can feel her strength, I think because she is three-quarters Wolf; and the beauty of her spirit. Part of that comes from you, Kiba."
"You are a very special person, Kamara. No wonder your daughter is so special!"
"Kiba, I have a question I would like to ask you." Kamara began, and when Kiba nodded, she continued. "I was wondering about you. Wolves mate for life and you thought I was your life mate. I don't want you to be alone for the rest of your life because I left you. What will happen?"
Kiba looked at the ground, gathering his thoughts, then said in a near whisper, "I don't know, Kamara. It may be my destiny to be alone. Or maybe you were not truly my life mate and one day I will find the right female."
"I sincerely hope that will happen." Kamara said. "I feel so guilty…"
"No!" Kiba said quickly, raising his head to look at her, "Never feel guilty about loving Tekku. He is truly your life mate. It was no one's fault; fate took a hand in this, of that I am sure. But that day, in my bedroom, the way you looked at him.. and he looked at you, I knew that I did not belong with you, but that he did."
Kamara smiled at him. Kiba stood and offered her hand up. "Would you like to meet my parents?" The pair walked to the dens. "Five more families have joined us from Demon World. We are hoping that word spreads and everyone will eventually come here."
"It is so beautiful! I never expected this." Kamara said, looking around.
Each den was nestled into the hillsides, with lush vegetation and small waterfalls. The water pooled into a small, clear pond in front of each den. Stones were set in front of the dens, marking out paths, and wild flowers had been carefully planted in front of each. The dens themselves were not just holes in the earth, but clean and well-swept, and the sleeping enclaves were lined with fresh, fragrant sweetgrass. Lamps threw soft lights on the walls, which were covered with beautiful murals. In nooks along the walls were large urns with living vines that trailed down the walls, blending with the murals to create a living tableau. The Wolf dens of Otherworld were nothing like this! Kouga and Tsume came towards them, with Toboe at their heels.
"Kamara, I would like you to meet my father, Tsume." Kiba introduced them. "And my brother Toboe."
"Wow! You sure are pretty!" Toboe exclaimed.
"Toboe!" Tsume reprimanded his exuberant son. "Please forgive my son's rudeness. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you. The dens are so beautiful!"
"We do our best." Came a soft feminine voice, and Myma joined the group. Tsume introduced his mate. "I am so glad to meet you, Kamara. May I touch you?"
"Of course."
Myma gently placed her hand on Kamara's tummy to sense her first grandchild. "Oh, she's beautiful!"
"Can I? Can I?" Toboe begged and Kamara nodded. The young pup was not so gentle, pressing hard on her stomach, but Kamara said nothing, allowing him to sense Kiba's daughter.
"Sir? Would you like to?" Kamara then asked Tsume.
"I don't think it would be proper."
"Of course it would!" Myma exclaimed. "It's your granddaughter!"
Tsume nodded at his mate and very lightly touched Kamara's stomach. A small smile touch his stern face and the same look of peace that Kiba had came over his face. He removed his hand and thanked Kamara profusely.
"Her name is going to be Kara." Kiba told them and everyone agreed that the name was perfect.
Tsume and Kouga left the group to spend the afternoon checking out the villages that Tsume and his Wolves patrolled, while Kamara and Myma bonded. All too soon it was time to leave. Myma offered dinner, but Kouga declined, saying that Kagome was expecting them to return. But in that one day, Tsume and Kouga began the start of a friendship and Kouga now knew that the Western Mountains were well protected. And Kamara found that Kiba's family was loving and kind and she knew that she would have no trouble allowing her daughter to visit them.
Back home, Kamara helped her mother prepare dinner, telling her about the dens she saw and meeting Kiba's family.
"I only hope that he finds happiness with someone. It doesn't seem fair that he is all alone, while I have Tekku."
"Well, maybe he will find a nice she-Wolf to share his life with." Kagome replied.
"Or someone else that is not a Wolf. After all, you are happy with Daddy."
"Yes, although he can be very trying at times." Kagome said with a laugh. Then added, her voice serious, "How are you and Tekku doing?"
"We're okay, but ..."
"But?"
"I think my child is making things hard for him. I know that he wishes it were his baby instead. Kiba says that fate took a hand, and that is certainly true. I was with Kiba only once and with Tekku dozens of times, before and after that one time, yet it is Kiba's child I carry."
"Things have a way of working themselves out. I have seen it happen so many times. Mirago once was an unwed mother, pregnant with Naraku's child, and now she is happy with Shippo and Tala is happy with Kamui, who was once a captured and mutilated Bat with only a terrible death waiting for him. Ayala was once a lost child and now she is happy with Kome and the mother of a wonderful little girl."
"And you were once a school girl in Japan and now you are mated to a Wolf Demon and the mother of two, and about to become a grandmother for the second time."
"Yes, I was. And I wouldn't trade my life for anything!" Kagome said, hugging her daughter tightly. "I have a wonderful life!"
"In spite of a pig-headed and exasperating mate?" Kamara said with a laugh.
"Yes, in spite of your father!" Kagome said and both of them burst into gales of laughter.