Finding His Mate
By Sellestia

	The young, large wolf attentively licked, and cleaned his new mate's crotch. Licking her over, and over again as his tail lightly wagged behind him, and his shrinking length receded back into its sheath. He found himself rather enjoying the taste of his new mate, and not caring that she wasn't like the other wolves. She was his now, and she would help him start his own pack.

	Once he was satisfied that he had cleaned her enough, he pulled back and gave a little ruff at her as if trying to tell her something. A little nuzzle to her hip, and he quickly turned to head off back into the forest. A new sense of duty filled him, he wasn't just looking for food for himself now, but for his mate as well. Quickly, and carefully he moved through the forest in search of a meal for her.

	After a bit of searching, he finally found something. The scent of a rabbit was close by. He slowed down and carefully tracked the scent until he spotted the little creature sitting in some grass munching away. Slowly and quietly he stalked the little rabbit. Getting closer, and closer till he finally lunged forward. A short chase insued before he caught the rabbit in his jaws.

	Holding the rabbit in place as he quickly moved to bite down on its neck, wanting to make sure the creature was dead before he brought it back for his new mate. When the little rabbit stopped squirming, he got up and hurridly returned to where he left her. Pleased with himself that he was able to catch something for her as quickly as he did.

	Upon returning to the area he had left his her at, he stopped and looked around. His tail drooping down along with his ears as he noticed she was gone. Dropping the meal he had caught, he quickly dashed over to where she had been. Franticly sniffing around on the ground for her scent, and quickly finding it.

	Keeping his nose to the ground, he followed the trail all the way back to the stream. Looking around with a little whimper and not seeing her, he quickly returned his nose to the ground to sniff around. The trail ended at the stream, and didn't go anywhere else. Quickly he slipped through the stream, and started sniffing around on the other side. He couldn't find the scent he had followed to this point.

	His frantic mind only focusing on the scent he had been tracking. It took him a while before he noticed there was another scent, two scents really. One of a wolf in heat that smelled just like she did, and another that smelled much like her, but cleaner. With out hesitation he started to follow the scent trails, favoring the one that had a more heated smell to it.

	Before long, he came across where she had dropped her clothes. Sniffing around the area a little before he found where the trail continued on. The more he followed it, the further he came out from the forest he was use to, and into the lands that his kind prefered to avoid. He didn't care though, he had to find her is all that went through his mind.

	The sun was starting to set by the time he reached the border of trees. Coming to a stop, he looked up and saw the cabin. Carefully he approached, still following the trail all the way up to the base of the steps which lead up to the porch. Keeping himself low, he didn't dare try and get up on the porch. He backed away, and moved around the house as he kept his eyes on it.

	Eventually he spotted her. His ears perking up, and his tail giving a little wag when he saw her, but quickly drooped them back down as he realized why she seemed so different than other wolves. She was one of those kind that his kind tried to avoid.

	The months passed, and he kept himself close to the area of the cabin. Marking trees to let any other wolves know that was his area. He wasn't ready to give her up just yet. From time to time he'd see her venture into the woods, and stayed back wondering what she was upto. Fully clothed, and walking up right, he was reluctant to approach her. Her scent somewhat smelt like the female he mated, but she was different to him in a way. He watched as her form changed, and the way she walked changed as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months.

	The large wolf continued to hold out hope. Not venturing to far away from the area he had claimed, and always watching her when ever she would go off into the woods. Her visits soon started to come less frequent, and he found himself watching the house for longer periods between hunting. It had even started to snow, which forced him to come up to the house and seek shelter under the porch.

	It had been weeks since he had last seen her. Sitting at the edge of the forest, his tail laying next to him motionless, and his ears flat against his head. With a sigh, he had just about run out of hope. Feeling as though his first mate had rejected him in the end, he started to turn to head off into the forest to maybe one day find another.

	A few feet away from where he had been sitting, his ears perked up at the subtle sound of a door sliding open from the house. Turning one last time to look back, his head perked up when he saw her dash out of the house. He lowered himself down watching her as she ran from the house, and into the woods. Waiting till she was just about out of site before leaping up and quickly following her.

***

	The months seemed to pass by slower and slower. The wolf who's cubs she caried continously filling her mind when ever she'd look out back to the woods. The third doctors visit revealed some startling secrets, ones that she wouldn't be able to keep from her parents. For most anthros that had branched away from their feral ancestors long, long ago. There were traits they had adopted. Their legs for one were straighter, with knees right in the middle much like the humans in certain parts of the world. Their fur was smoother, and their muzzles where usually thinner and more streamlined. Their bodies were also less muscular. Where a feral's was more muscular for hunting, and running, while an anthro's muscles were more like humans. Which wasn't to surprising, since anthros came into being when humans figured out how to successfully procreate with feral animals.

	When an anthro mates with a feral how ever, the childrens bodies can have different characteristics at times. Two of Cassandra's cubs showed these characteristics. One of the female cub's legs were more like a feral canine's hind legs, and it seemed as though the one male cub had the same legs, and a much more pronounced, or broad muzzle.

	After a few question in front of her parents. Cassandra broke down, and admitted that the father was a feral wolf. Told them about everything that had happened, how she smelt him in the air, found his mark on the tree, and that he had mounted and knotted her. Her parents were once again furious with her, her father more so than her mother. They soon got over it though, since it wasn't illegal, nor really considered nearly as taboo as mating outside of your species as far as they were concerned. They soon accepted it though, knowing they were still about to recieve four healthy cubs which for the most part were still anthro.

	The new information though had brought with it some complications exclusive to anthro-feral mating. One of which was already showing in the male. Depending on the species, cubs could sometimes be larger than normal which was the case with wolves. The male cub was growing faster than his siblings, and had the potential of creating a big issue when it came time to give birth.

	Another month passed, and Cassandra was getting increasingly agitated. It was getting easier and easier for her parents to set her off, to do or say something that would result in a snarl, or bark which was soon followed by an apology and trip to her room to cool off in most cases. It was during one of her little blow ups after her mother said she should do something, that she put her hand on her belly and nearly doubled over.

	Cassandra was rushed to the hospital. Crying out loudly with each contraction along the way, while her mother called the hopsital to let them know. Upon arriving, they were met by a group of nurses and a stretcher. Gently, and quickly they got her up on the stretcher before wheeling her into the hospital. Her mother going with them while her father whent to find a place to park before coming in.

	The leopard that they had been seeing since the first appointment walked into Cassandra's room. "Hi Cassy, how are you feeling?" she asked with a smile. The young wolfess glaring at her "How the hell do you think I feel?" she snapped just before letting out another cry. The doctor lowered her ears and gave her an understanding look "I'm sorry hun" she responded as she moved next to her. Her hand gently rubbing over her belly, feeling for anything out out of the normal "Well, good news is. Your pups are still doing fine. The ultra sound that was done on you when you came in looks promising for the most part." she said as she looked at Cassandra's chart. "For the most part?" Cassandra asked with a little worry, getting the doctor to look at her.

	With a little nod "Yes, for the most part. The little boy is quite large for how young you are. We will do our best to hold off on any last minute procedures. If it looks like you can't give birth naturally to him, we will have to perform a c-section" she informed the girl and her parents.

	Cassandra laid her head back and groaned before looking at her belly "Listen you little shit, don't start giving me trouble on day one" she growled. Her mother couldn't help but chuckle a little, and promptly recieved a snarl from her daughter.

	It would be another 12 hours before Cassandra was taken to the delivery room, and another 14 hours before her parents heard anything about how she was doing. The leopard appeared in the waiting room with a bright smile on her face. The look making Cassandra's parents smile with hope "Every thing went well. We were worried for a little bit, but your daughter is stubborn, and wouldn't let her little boy stay a moment longer". The two older wolves let out a sigh of relief, and promptly hugged each other. "Can we see her?" the mother asked, getting a little head shake "Not now. She is resting. You two go home and get some rest yourselves, you can see her in the morning." the doctor said. Reluctantly the two older wolves gave a nod, and left the hospital to head home for some much needed rest.

	Cassandra had just about passed out by the time the last cub was born. Her body sore and exhausted from the ordeal. She barely had the strength to keep her eyes open, let alone do anything else. A soft voice filling her mind, she recognized it as her doctor's "Go ahead and rest. The hard part is over and done with" the voice said softly. The only words she needed before she was fully passed out.

	The next morning came in a groggy haze. Her body still sore as Cassandra awoke, and looked around. Memories of the previous day soon flooding back, forcing the groggyness away as she looked around "W-where..." she gasped as her eyes locked onto her parents. Her father quickly rushing out to get a doctor.

	By the time the nurses were bringing in her cubs, Cassandra had calmed down, and even gotten something to eat. A plate heavy in various meats which she scarfed down like she hadn't eaten in weeks. When she saw the cubs wheeled in, her face lit up with joy. 

	One by one the nurses handed her, her cubs. The smallest of the four first. Dark brown fur covered her body, with a little black nose, black furred hand, and foot paws. "Jessy" Cassandra said softly as she nuzzled her. The second cub soon came to her arms, this one covered in a soft coat of snow white fur like her, and her grandmother. With a smile, she looked at her parents "April" she said, using the name of her grandmother. Then the last little girl, with all black fur, and the traits that showed her father was feral "Tanya" Cassandra said as she nuzzled the little one. Lastly was the male, easily the largest of the four, and he too was covered in all black fur aside from the little bit of white at his tail tip. Taking her into her arms, she gave him a little playful growl "And Tom" she said "little trouble maker" she added after a soft nuzzle.

***

	Cassandra had spent about a week in the hospital, then another week resting in her room. She couldn't stand not being able to get out. She wanted to get out into the woods, to find the feral that had given her a litter of joy. Her mind split between her new cubs that would be at the hospital for another day, and him.

	It took a few more days after the cubs arrived home for her to have the strength to venture out into the woods again. Telling her parents to look after the cubs, she quickly bolted out of the house, and ran into the forest. Her nose sniffing at the air in hopes of finding him. She could smell him in the area due to the trees that he had marked. The smell was everywhere though, and she didn't know what direction she should go. Not knowing where to go, she decided to once again head to the place they met.

	With out slowing down, she made her way to their spot as quickly as she could. Clearing the stream with a leap in the process. She only started to slow down when she reached the spot. Coming to a stop next to the tree that once smelled of him, she looked around. Her ears flat against her head, and her tail curled around herself as she searched through the trees.

	As she scanned through the trees, she came to a stop when she noticed a figure of a large wolf. Her fur standing on end a bit as her heart skipped a beat while she looked at the figure. She didn't know if it was him, since she never looked back during their mating. The wind was blowing towards him, so she couldn't smell him either. 

	Not knowing what else to do, she let out a little whimper and pulled her clothes off. Exposing her snow white fure to the cool air before lowering herself to her paws and knees. Her ears staying low, as she lowered her shoulders a little, and kept her tail down. The dark figure soon started to approach, keeping his eyes on her cautiously as he moved around her.

	The large wolf moved closer, taking his time and sniffing the air. It smelt like her, it looked like her. He was hoping his senses weren't decieving him as he moved around behind her. His nose moving up to sniff at her crotch, causing a little gasp to come from her. The scent, and sound was all he needed as he relaxed.

	Her eyes closed, hoping he wouldn't try to eat her, and that he was the one she had been searching for. Her body shuddering, and a gasp escaping when she felt him sniff against her. When the sensation of his sniffing nose left her, she froze up and kept her eyes closed. Her body soon relaxing when she felt a warm tongue lap over her muzzle, and couldn't help but smile.

	Turning her muzzle, she gently nuzzled against his. Soon the two of them were nuzzling, licking, and cuddling up against each other happily. Both fluffy tails wagging quickly as they found each other once again.