The flight back to the Lunar Claw Station was the quietest yet. Friends whispered about what could possibly have happened to have them called back like this but there was little more. Sean felt a stirring of fear and anxiousness fill his body, he squeezed Alexandrite’s paw through the flight; only separating to answer nature’s call or answering orders from the captains on board.   

When they arrived, Sean and Alex were the last ones off of the shuttle. They walked carefully down the steps and looked around, jaws dropping at the sight of the shuttle bay. The once pristine gray metallic walls were covered in black singe marks, obvious signs of blaster fire. Crimson blood and yellow-green slime splattered across the walls. Bodies of academy soldiers and students as well as large insectoids littered the ground.

Many of them were exploded from the laser fire. Now they weren’t much more than a few slender limbs and bulbous bodies scattered across the floor. The students were led past a pair of furs lifting one of them, wearing bio-suits as they placed it on a large table. Everyone was guided into a vacant classroom, a massive timber wolf stood at ease in the front of the room. He had thick muscled arms and legs, obvious through his white jumpsuit. The zipper was open, revealing the thickly peppered furred chest. His name, Viktor, was emblazoned on the upper left of his uniform. The long muzzle held a stoic frown and three lines of scars ran from the bottom of his jaw, up over his left cheek and closed eye. He watched them file in and settle down before speaking, his Russian accent echoing in the room.

“Evening, privates. We welcome you back and wish that it was under better circumstances.” Viktor paused as he pulled up a hologram that showed the entire solar system then zoomed in to show the Lunar Claw, the moon and the planets between them and the asteroid belt. “There’s no sign of their attack in the colony, which thankfully means they only attacked the station. There is also no information on these beings in any of our databases. The only thing we know of these creatures is what we’re learning from the necropsies performed on what specimens we have; Their biology resembles that of insects on our planet, a combination of many and obviously on a much grander scale. They don’t have weapons in the sense we have. They use claws, and fang in combat, sturdy armour allowing them to take a few rounds from our most basic weaponry.

“Some of our own were captured as they retreated; we had their life signs, until they got here.” He pointed at the image of the Lunar Claw and drew a line until it reached just beyond the asteroid belt, making a circle there, a bright yellow trail followed his finger. “A scouting party followed the creatures’ ships. They gave us insight to a wormhole before we lost communications with them as well.” He jabbed at the circle again.

“We do not have a lot of time on hand.” Viktor continued. “We believe the creatures found the other side of this hole, and are using it to make quick attacks. And that’s just what I’m planning on doing in return. I personally will be leading a second vessel into the wormhole and cutting off the creatures before they get another chance for an attack.” He said with a deep growl, receiving calls and cheers from behind Alex and Sean, obviously the speech pumping up the other students. “Be prepared, suit up and gather in the hangers in two hours. As of this moment, you are no longer students, but soldiers of Lunar Claw.” Viktor barked the order before saluting. “Dismissed!”

Sean swallowed before he began to breathe again, taking short, shuddering breaths. Turning to Alex, he could see her own nervousness in her eyes, though she kept a straight face. They left the room, tails twitching as they walked through the halls, seeing just how far the creatures had gotten. Blackened spots, blood and green ooze coated the walls deep into the halls.

“I need to get a few things from my room. I’ll see you in a bit.” Alex spoke up as they got to the fork that lead to the dormitories.   

Sean could only nod slowly. Watching Alex walk down the hall and disappear around the corner. He heaved a sigh before wandering the halls, lost in thought. He couldn’t believe it happened. No matter how much he thought he was prepared, he truly wasn’t ready for combat. At least that was his take at the moment.

Letting out another heavy sigh, the fennec wandered aimlessly, ears sideways, thoughts filling his head. The graduated and higher trained furs held standard laser rifles in paw, ready to defend at the slightest hint of another threat. All the while the younger students were shaking as they walked around, twitchy to the slightest unusual noise. Sean really couldn’t blame them.

Finding himself standing in front of Alex’s door, Sean wasn’t sure if he came to it on purpose, or his feet brought him here through muscle memory.

He knocked on the door, entering after hearing her invite him in. “Hey hun.” The fennec’s eyes lingered on his mate’s form, laying on her back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her paws laced on her flat stomach.

“Hey, Sean.” She groaned and sat up, sliding over to give him enough space, though he didn’t need much. “You know, it’s crazy. When we were just finishing high school and signing up for the service, I wasn’t really expecting to be going into combat. That we would be.” She pulled Sean onto the bed and held him like a giant plush bear. “But we’re here for a reason, and we’ll stand our ground.” She paused, nuzzling against the top of his head. “I don’t know, just silly thoughts tend to run through my head...” Alex shrugged and kissed his head. “How’re you holding up?”

“Fine enough, I guess.” He settled in her lap and leaned back, listening to her breathing as each of his giant ears fell back on either side of her long neck. “I was just having the same thought.” He chuckled weakly as he turned and held her tightly “And as long as we’re together we’ll get through anything.” He kissed her softly. “Promise.” He whispered, smiling.

“I promise too, love.” Alex kissed him in return, their moment being interrupted by the intercom, announcing that they had an hour left already, ordering everyone to finish their preparations and report to the shuttle bay. Alex kissed Sean lovingly, holding him close before helping him to stand. “Let’s go give them hell.” She grinned.

**
Every other soldier was already suited up by the time they got to the academy’s armoury. They were all in deep blue suits, chest and arms covered with body armour that would protect them from most common ammunition, be it old fashioned ballistics or modern laser technology. Along the walls were the weapons, most common being said laser rifles; blocky black guns that would fit into any game or movie. Further along the walls were the specialized guns: rocket launchers and sniper rifles, each one with a name inscribed into a plaque below it. These weapons were only designated to one fur, imprinted to each so that they would be the only ones able to fire them.

Alex and Sean got their own protective gear on, Sean picking up a rifle and tools he’d need while Alex collected a long barreled sniper rifle. Finally, they collected helmets, each sized and shaped to fit the variety of furs; larger ones higher on the walls above smaller ones. Locking them into place, oxygen was pumped through their suits and the crackle of static rang in their ears as the voices of the others came through headsets built into the helmet, the static clearing as everyone finished suiting up.

Viktor was already on the ship, speaking to the pilot. Turning, he adjusted his own rifle over his shoulder, a much heavier looking piece of equipment than the rest. “Strap in tight, We’re going to be going as close to light speed as we can. We can’t be wasting any more time to get there.” He growled, settling into the co-pilot’s seat as the vessel hummed and whirred to life. After the last fur strapped himself in, they left the hanger.

Moving slowly away from the station, the ship turned out away from the Earth before starting forward again, picking up speed and rapidly leaving their home behind.

There was little banter from the soldiers, each shifted and mumbled lightly, to either the friend next to them or themselves. The words were heard easily with the speakers, though they were in languages that Sean couldn’t understand. It wasn’t long at all before Viktor spoke up, his voice deep and rumbling. “We’re about to reach the wormhole. It’ll be a much rougher ride than this has been. Hold on tight!”

Sean looked forward, seeing the spiraling black-blue hole, a deep orange spot in the center glowed. The ship was swallowed by darkness as they flew into it, feeling the whole vessel vibrate. Only the light from within the ship was visible, aside from the glowing orange dot. It quickly grew until they were surrounded by light, blinding everyone and filling the cabin. He heard Viktor cursing in what sounded like Russian.   

Sean blinked and saw just why the timber wolf was shouting. Their ship was hurtling towards a red-orange desert; tall crumbling spires littered the surface. There was little time for the captain to react before the wing clipped one of the spires of sandstone, causing them to spin out of control. Sean could see only a sand dune fill up the front windows of their ship before they impacted, knocking the fennec out.

**

“Come on, hun. Pull through!” Alex’s voice filled Sean’s ears, twitching within the mask. The sounds of laser fire filled his ears next, mixing with the shouting of a dozen others. “Oh thank gods, Sean!” She squeezed him before his eyes were fully open. Lifting him to his feet, the dragoness gripped her rifle and tugged him along. “We’ve got hostiles nearby. We’ve been commanded to take the high ground above the ship.” She barked at him.

Sean got to his paws, but staggered and sagged back to his knees. “Shit,” he cursed, breathing to regain himself. He took in the scene around him: the ship was half buried in the sand. Bodies littered both the inside and ground; both furs and insectoids all alike. The stalagmite like spires had wide windows every dozen foot or so. The one they’d just crashed into was the nearest one, the sandstone had been ripped away by the wing of their ship, leaving a large hole in the building.

“They want us in the building above the ship.” Alex told him, gesturing to a mostly intact spire nearest the ship, taking Sean’s paw, she lead him towards it, an arm wrapped around his middle to support his slender frame.

The pair climbed the rough incline to get to the next floor of the building. At the third floor, they quickly got set into position. Alex kneeling at the window, adjusting herself with the rifle while Sean knelt next to her, goggles in one paw while the other held his rifle. The place they’d crashed was in sight from where they were, and several yards further, they saw the battle raging between the creatures and their allies.   

The city was littered with towers just like this one, scorched from laser blasts or turned to rubble by explosions. The orange-red sand covered the landscape, the towers were just a bit darker in colour, adding a little diversity to the planet.

Sean looked through a pair of binoculars, readings of distance and angle, passing over anything that moved allowed readings of wind speed to pop up below the rest. Looking down into the streets, he saw the creatures clambering around the destruction, large mandibles clicking as they charged towards the furs below. “They’re getting swarmed.” He barked

“Got it.” Alex responded, lining up the shot before pulling the trigger.   
BANG! BANG!

With two shots, a pair of the bugs heads exploded, making them fall forward in the sand, oozing green slime from the wound. Where there was one, a half dozen or more crawled out from the buildings and alleyways. “There’s got to be hundreds of them!” Alex shouted between shots.

“At least. We’re getting quickly outnumbered. They’re definitely just like giant ants…” Sean growled, though it was more in disgust than anything. Sean continued to spot for Alex, his large ears twitching madly around inside the helmet, despite much of was he could hear was the explosions, rifle fire and the clicking of the giant creatures’ mandibles.

Sean’s ears turned back as he heard the sound of stone clattering together. Spinning around, he saw the creatures crawling through the wide doorway they’d come from, more coming up the slopes. Dropping the scope, he drew his weapon and fired.

Sean kept firing until the first one fell, yet they still came, crawling over their fallen comrade. The Fennec kept blasting them with his laser rifle, aiming for the head and dropping another before Alex’s voice rang out. “RPG!” She shouted and tackled Sean to the ground as the rocket exploded against the side of the building.

They were pelted with debris, tearing through their suits and scraping their flesh. Alex hissed as she knelt above the Fennec. “Are you okay love?” She said quietly. A shower of rocks rained down on them, dust caking their bodies. “G-Good to know this air is breathable…” She forced a laugh, picking at a hole in her suit.

The bugs had scattered and vanished after the explosion, allowing the pair a moment’s pause. “Y-Yeah..” Sean growled and stood up. “We better get out of here, I don’t know if this place can survive another blast…”   

Alex nodded and flicked her whip-like tail. She went to grab her rifle before another explosion shook the floors below, cracking the hard stone under their paws. The dragoness watched as the floor opened up and swallowed Sean, a high pitched yelp sounding out. “Sean!”

She ran over towards the hole, only just making it half way before the floor crumbled away and sent her rolling into the floor below. Hissing sharply, she got onto all fours. Crawling forward, Alex saw Sean laying on the ground, paws gripping his right thigh, grunting out in pain. Looking down, she saw that the fennec’s leg was broken just below the knee, his leg bone jutting from torn flesh. “Sean, oh gods!” She growled and touched him gently. Pressing her paw to her neck, allowing her to call out to any other further out than they were. “We need a medic!” She heard nothing but static, making her growl out. “We’re moving, hold on tight.”

Alex lifted the male up gingerly, keeping his leg raised off of the ground. They staggered down the same way they came in when another rocket hit the building, causing it to collapse on top of them. “Sorry, love.” She hissed as she walked as quickly as she could with Sean, hearing him give soft grunts and growls as pain shot through his leg.

In her rush, Alex stumbled on the piles of stone near the bottom, making her sprawl forward, sending Sean tumbling out of her arms. He howled in pain and clutched at his leg again. The dragoness had no time to regain herself as the floor from above came crashing down.

Her roar echoed through the building as the giant slabs of stone landed on her legs, crushing her from the waist down. Alex shook as the pain seared through her body. “S-Sean…Get out.” The dragoness finally mustered her voice.

The fennec whimpered and shook his head. “I-I can’t leave you.” He dragged himself on his left side. He forced a smile as he gripped her paw, “even if I could walk, love. I’m not going to be leaving you. Sean pressed his paw to his neck, calling out for a medic again; being cut short by his own howls.

A clawed hand had wrapped painfully around his leg. Sean shrieked as he was pulled away from Alex by his injured leg, the last thing he heard from her was her shouting his name, slowly fading as the world started growing black around him.

**

Sean groaned as the pain pulled him from his black out. He saw that they’d carried him down into    crudely dug tunnels that lay under the city. Lines of light blue fungus glowed along the walls. He felt a tight grip around his waist, holding him up off of the ground. Looking down, he saw that one of the bugs were holding him in their mandible. Despite the bouncing with each step of the creature, Sean couldn’t feel pain in his leg anymore, It felt numb.   

He blinked and looked down at his leg, eyes widening. His left leg seemed to be fine, but the right leg was missing; cut just above the knee and cauterized to keep him from bleeding out. Struggling against the creature’s grip, holding him tightly before dropping him violently on the ground. “Bastards…” His words came out in a bit of a slur. “What did you…”

Grunting, Sean made to stand up, falling back onto the floor as the bug left the small room, spewing a thick muddy mixture from its mouth, leaving Sean in a darkened room, fewer fungi giving off light in the little cell. Rolling over, he gave a strangled cry, tears streaming down his eyes as his right paw clutched at his thigh, just barely touching the scarred stump.

**

Sean mumbled as he slept naked on the cold, stone ground. His sandy fur had faded to a pale beige over the seven months he’d been in the tunnels. The stump of his leg had healed with little complications; it took him a good while to get used to hobbling around, or crawling on his paws and only knee. But he took care of it as best as he could.

He’d been forced to work in the labyrinthine tunnels, digging them deeper and longer. That is until his belly started to swell. Over the months, despite not having any real nutrition, yet his belly continued to grow round. They stopped making him work and instead took to experimenting on him. They prodded and injected and probed him. Needless to say it was painful. Sean already knew what was happening to him, and the fear he felt for his cub each time the giant bugs collected him.

His ears twitched towards loud clattering of stone in the distance, his eyes instantly wide as he looked around the cave. It’d gotten slightly brighter since they left him, the moss feeding and growing over the months. Sean gave a soft whine and ran a bony paw over his belly. “We’ll get out of here, soon little one...I hope…” Sean mumbled as his large ears fell back, a weak smile on his muzzle.

“I-I’ll try not to have you so far from home.” He sobbed, tears rolling down his cheeks, turning the dust in his scruffy fur to mud. “We’ll get home...and…”

His ears shot up again as he heard shouting from down the corridor. Blaster fire could be heard and the sharp squeals of the insectoids echoed through the mud door. Sean pressed his ear to the solid wall that separated him from the halls, twitching at the slightest sound. The uproar calmed and the only thing Sean could hear was the sound of a deep voiced, English speaking person shouting orders, a heavy Russian accent sounding all the familiar.

When he heard a sharp beep, his eyes widened. The fennec quickly clambered towards the back of the cell just moments before the wall exploded, sending dust and pebbles into the small chamber.

Through the dust, came a hulking form of a wolf. Blaster raised to take the shot. From behind him came a shorter, leaner leopard, his gun raised as well. “SEAN!? Mein Gott!” Linus ran up to the fennec, long spotted tail flailing around wildly.   

He lowered his weapon and looked Sean over as he got in close, paw coming to rest on the fox’s shoulder. Linus knelt next to Sean, eyes looking over his pregnant form. “Did they…”   

Sean shook his head gently. Though rather than verbally answering, he asked his own question. “I-Is Alex okay?”   

Linus ducked under Sean’s arm and helped lift him up, even with his added weight, he was easy to lift. “She is...alive.” He carried Sean carefully out of the small cavern, and out of the tunnels, walking slowly. “We did what we could to make her comfortable until support arrived…”   

Viktor walked behind them, “she’s back safe at the colony where we could give her the best care.” Sean nodded slowly, his crooked tail twitching over his naked behind.

They got up to the surface, Sean’s eyes closing at the bright light of the orange planet. Linus guided him into a carrier, lined with beds, each one covered with a glass polymer lid. He laid the fennec down on one and was about to slide the glass into place when Sean gripped his wrist.

“Linus...is my...alright?” He whimpered as he looked up at the leopard.

Linus nodded. “You both are fine.” he said encouragingly, though his eyes didn’t make contact with Sean’s. “We’ll be back at the colony and get you both stabilized properly.” The feline gave a soft smile before completely closing the lid. There was a hiss as it pressurized around Sean and a sedative was introduced into the sealed container. Within minutes his eyes were heavy, fighting to keep from falling asleep, to no avail.

**

Sean woke up as suddenly as he fell asleep, his eyes flickering at the harsh white of the ceiling. “Am...Am I dead?” He mumbled in thought as he shifted on the bed, feeling the weight in his limbs. Turning his head, he saw rows of furs laid in identical beds, each one with a glowing screen above their heads that showed their vitals.

Looking back towards the head of his bed he saw his own vitals, along with a second screen showing additional vitals, which he figured would be his cub. Next to that was an image; an ultrasound of his cub. The detail image showed a thick, long tail curled up against the cub’s belly, a rather broad muzzle reminded him instantly of Alex while the giant ears showed his genetics.

“I see you, baby…” He couldn’t help a small giggle, his smile growing wide. “Wait till your momma...daddy uhm...she sees you, too.” Sean shifted and laid back down

Sliding doors hissed open as Viktor led half a dozen medics into the room, Linus trailing behind with everyone else. A blush spread across Sean’s cheeks as Viktor and Linus walked up to him, pulling his covers up over his larger belly. “How’re you doing, soldier?”   

“Better than I’ve been in months, honestly, Sir.” Sean sighed as he looked up at them as Linus examined him. “Can I see Alex?” He moved, yipping at the tug of the IV. hissing softly, his ears fell back

“Not yet, Sean.” Viktor said and lifted the sheet to inspect Sean’s amputated leg. “She’s under heavy sedation; a medically induced coma so she can heal while not being in pain.” He explained in his thick accent.

“When can I see her?”

“In time. Once we’re sure you and your cub are fully stable.” The wolf looked at the detailed ultrasound, breathing deeply as his thick tail waved back and forth.

“I’m fine, I swear.” Sean sat up, groaning as Linus made to help him. “I just want to see her, I haven’t seen her in months, Sir.” The fennec looked his CO in the eye.

The old timber wolf gave a huff, then nodded slowly. “Very well.”   

**

Sean was helped into a white, solid bodied wheelchair by the pair, his leg tucked within the shell. The gown covered him now, though his large belly was still obvious through it. He breathed in and out in short breaths as they finished moving the IV bags to the chair, and he gave a nod, letting them know he was ready.

Sean was pushed into the busy halls. It was overwhelming to see so many furs walking about the halls after been locked away and virtually alone over the greater part of a year. He shrunk back into his seat, looking down at his stump of a leg, large ears falling back.

A low whine escaped his throat when they turned into a room, revealing Alex laying in her own bed. His heart stopped in his chest as they pushed him to her side, seeing the tube slid into her throat, breathing for her. Vitals read off above her head while detailed x-ray images hovered over her legs as a hologram, showing her injuries. There were dark yellow lines all over; like a spider web over her legs. Sean understood that to be what was healed. The dark red lines showed him all that still had to reform

“It’s really a miracle that we could save her legs, but with…”

Viktor cleared his throat, nodding back towards the door. “We’ll be outside if you need anything.” Sean nodded and watched them leave, waiting for the door to click fully shut. Rolling himself forward, he saw a pair of Purple Heart medals laying on the table. Heaving a sigh, he took Alex’s limp paw in his own. “Hey, hun. I’m...home safe.” Sean mumbled and gave the paw a gentle squeeze. “And I brought...our cub is safe too.” He took the dragoness’s large hand and held it over his belly.

“A-Ah,” he grinned, feeling their cub kicking. “She knows her mommy.” Sean giggled softly as he let her feel the wiggling cub before pulling her paw up to his cheek. “I wish you were here, love. I’m so glad that you made it out.” He continued to nuzzle her paw. “I’ll be right here. When you wake up, by your side. Promise.” He smiled softly and nuzzled her paw more, tears dampening his fur and her scaled hand.   

“I’m so sorry, If it hadn’t been for me…you’d have been fine...” Sean sobbed softly as he held her paw against his cheek. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to...I’m...really glad that you’re alive, Alex. I was so scared that they’d gotten to you...and,” He shook his head.

“I’m just so glad that I can be with you again, hun.” The fennec smiled and continued talking with her, weakly telling her all he thought about when he was trapped; every wish and wanting to be with her. All the time he avoided the experiments and labor he was forced into.

Eventually a knock came from the door before Linus and Viktor entered the room. “Sorry for interrupting, Sean…” Linus said and stood behind the chair bound fennec. “But we were just informed that they were ready to see you and get you fitted for your synthetic. Your replacement.” He smiled.

Sean nodded and gently lay the dragoness’s paw back on the bed once more. “I-I..okay. But can we come right back?”

“We’ll see,” Viktor said and nodded, leading Linus and Sean out of Alex’s room.

**

Sean grunted, paws gripping a set of parallel bars on either side of his body. His fur was damp with sweat, taking slow and careful steps. Looking down over his swollen belly, he could just barely see his left paw and the metallic toes of the prosthetic. They’d taken detailed measurements, constructing the mechanical prosthetic leg from the ground up. It acted just like his own leg had before; moving and adjusting as he moved, though felt much more stiff. They had fitted it to what was left of his leg, sensors attached to his leg and hip so that the device would move, and still be detached as needed.   

He stepped a few more times before shaking his head, “I’m-I’m done. I can’t do any more.” Sean grumbled and staggered to his wheelchair, Linus quickly helping him as he left the bars.

“You were doing amazing, Sean.” Alex said softly, smiling from her own wheelchair. “It all helps. You doing okay?” She reached over and rubbed over the large belly after Linus had settled him into the chair.

The fennec growled as his body tensed, feeling the contraction hit him. “Y-Yeah, Just wish Amber would...come already.” He forced a chuckle and relaxed at the contraction passed.   

“Should be another hour or so.” Linus said as he scribbled notes on a clipboard. “Let’s get you settled into your room. Nothing much we can do but wait.” He went about collecting and cleaning up the area they’d just used.

“S-Sean…? Alex?” Came a weary voice from the doorway. The pair looked over and saw Karren standing next to Viktor, her whole body was trembling and bony. It was obvious she had lost a serious amount of weight since they went missing. She dashed forward, wrapping her arms around their necks, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m so glad you both are okay…”

The pair agreed, hugging her back. “We’re sorry to worry you, Mom…” Sean whispered through his own tears. “I’m so gla-AH!” Sean let off a sharp gasp and curled around his belly.   

Karren leaned back and gave a weak smile. “Are you okay, Sean?”

“Y-Yeah….” He groaned after the contraction passed. “Getting tired of feeling like I’m going to split open..” Sean hissed through gritted teeth.

“I told you guys to use protection…” Karren gave a forced chuckle as Viktor and Linus stepped behind the two wheelchair bound furs and began pushing them back towards the hospital room, Karren walking along Sean’s side, holding his paw.

“They’re kind of hard to get up here, Mom.” Alex said with her usual goofy tone.

**

They laid Sean down in the bed, his mother holding one paw while Alex held the other. Linus and Viktor washing up after settling the fennec into the stirrups. Sean’s face was bright red with blush, groaning as another contraction hit him. “Th-Thanks again for doing this, Linus. It means a lot.”

“It’s not a problem at all. It’s what friends are for.” Linus smiled as he sat in a chair at Sean’s paws. “Just push when you need to.” He paused while examining the canine. “Are you sure you don’t want an epidermal?” Linus raised an eyebrow as he looked over Sean’s belly.

Panting, he shook his head. “I’m sure. I’ll Ahh!” Sean growled and clenched both Karren and Alex’s paws, his body telling him to push. “I’ll be okay. Promise.” He nodded and forced a grin.

Linus nodded. “Okay. When you’re ready Sean.”

**

Sean’s fur was a mess; matted with sweat over his entire body while his thighs and rump was soaked with birthing fluid. His labia stretched around his cubs torso, her sandy scales glinted under the bright lights, the wetness that covered her helping to magnify the shine. Sean’s pants mingled with the cries of his cub.

“You’re almost there hun.” Alex smiled and squeezed Sean’s paw and rubbed his shoulder gently with the other. “Just one more push.” She looked down to see Linus holding the crying cub while Sean was taking a small breather.

Sean panted and wriggled his tail, nodding. He growled as pain coursed through him again as another contraction hit him. “S-Swear...we’re going to have you cut after this.” He hissed and pushed with his contraction, spending what little energy he had left.

Linus helped guide the crying newborn out of Sean’s passage, her cries still high and stronger than the fennec’s panting and grunting. He whimpered and fell backwards, feeling his daughter slip from his sex. The squealing dragoness cub was cradled and shifted into Viktor’s arms while the Leopard set about cleaning up Sean.      

“Congratulations, love.” Alex said as the timber wolf brought the hybrid cub to Sean, laying the swaddled cub on his chest.

“Congratulations, indeed, Sean.” He smiled and moved to clean up.

“She’s beautiful,” Karren said softly as Sean cradled the topaz-scaled hybrid. Her short, rounded muzzle searched for his nipple, gently nipping and suckling as he found the fabric covered chest.   

“Ah- ow, careful, hun,” he weakly chuckled as he held her. Sean noticed a little bit of milk dribbling out of this nipples and made small spots in the gown “I don’t have don’t think I have much of anything, sweetie.” his large ears fell back. Her ears matched his own perfectly. They were much too large for her body, twitching about at any sound the group made. Along her back was a saddle of short, tan fur; just a touch darker than her scales it trailed    about halfway down her tail.   

“I don’t think you’ll make too much, being a male technically. But from being pregnant, your body has adapted a little bit.” He said and pointing to the dark marks on the top. The cub looked around, whimpering before reached out for Alex, the thick tail twitching outside her blanket.

“Aww, I’m sorry, baby, I don’t have anything either.” She reached out, letting the newborn clutch at her fingers, listening to her squeak and churr. “My darling daughter, welcome him to the world.” Alex giggled as she played with the cub.

“I’ll go grab some formula for her real quick.” Linus smiled as he finished cleaning Sean. “I’ll be right back.

Sean nodded weakly as he rubbed Amber’s back, giggling softly as she wiggled in his arms. For a moment, the only sounds in the room were Amber’s soft squeaks “Did you want to hold her?” He asked Alex softly, breaking the silence.

“In a minute love.” Alex purred as she pulled her hands away from Amber. “Just one thing…” She paused and pulled out a velvet covered box. Karren gasped and covered her muzzle. “Sean, will you marry me?” Alex asked and opened the black box, revealing a silver banded ring; a deep sandy topaz was set into it, pressed against a reddish-purple gem of alexandrite.   

Sean’s eyes widened at the beautiful wedding band, a soft squeak as Amber reached for the box inquisitively.    Tears started rolling down his cheeks again, and a wide smile spread across his muzzle. “Y-Yes, of course. I-I will, yes!” Sean gave a sharp squeak of his own as Alex slipped the ring on his finger.

Karren clapped as the two embraced, kissing gingerly with the cub between them. Alex smiled and leaned into the fennec and her child, gently stroking over her exposed belly. “I love you so much, my darlings.” She said softly.

“I love you so much. Both of    you.” Sean whispered and nuzzled into his mate’s head as he rubbed Amber’s back still, murring softly.

Alex purred and continued to gently pet her and Sean’s cub. “A-About having me cut...That was just something that you were joking about, right?” Alex gave a soft whine.

“We’ll see.” Sean kissed the side of Alex’s muzzle, murring softly. “We’ll see if you can use protection.” He paused and waved his crooked tail under the covers. “For now.” Sean giggled weakly as Linus stepped in, smiling as he saw the two leaning on each other. He silently handed Karren the bottle after tapping her shoulder.

“Want me to feed her…?” She asked quietly, the only thing they could hear was Amber’s soft little squeaks. Alex smiled and leaned back, shaking her head.

“Looks so, he’s zonked right out.” Alex whispered and grinned at the male, seeing the wide smile on his muzzle despite that he was dead asleep. “Sweet fennec.” The dragoness rubbed his paw gently as he slept, his mother taking the cub and gently fed her, hearing her suckle and squeak. “You rest now, you’ve more than earned it,” Alex smiled and squeezed his hand, looking at the ring on his fingers. “My husband to be.” ~~