The silver-haired woman moved slowly and carefully. "It's time," she whispered. She smiled gently and went to Malakai, who was still sleeping.
A shiny portal appeared behind him. The silver-haired woman gently pushed Malakai through the portal.
As he went through, she watched with a soft smile and loving eyes.
The portal closed, and the silver-haired woman smiled, looking at where Malakai had gone. "I hope you understand what I did," she whispered.
She wished Malakai well, saying, "May good things happen to you, young one."
Then, she slowly disappeared into thin air, like mist in the sun. Her smile stayed for a moment, before she was gone.
The stars shone quietly, but far away, Malakai's new journey had started, one that would change his life forever.
.....
A large white wolf walked slowly through the deep snow, her paws making soft prints. She was hurt and pregnant, making every step a struggle.
But she kept going, determined to get back to her cozy den where she could rest and take care of herself and her babies.
She looked straight ahead, focused on her goal, and pushed through the pain and hard work of walking in the snow. She wanted to keep herself and her unborn pups safe.
The wolf finally reached her den, a small cave in a hill. She went inside, out of the cold, and lay down on the soft fur and leaves. She let out a sigh, feeling safe and warm.
As she rested, she made a soft whining sound, like she was trying to gather her strength.
Her eyes closed, and she took a deep breath, preparing herself for her soon-to-arrive babies.
The wolf's den was cozy and ready for her babies. It was lined with soft fur and leaves, and smelled like damp earth and the nearby boar carcass, her food source.
The wolf lay there, her paws and tail moving slightly, like she was waiting for her babies to arrive. Her neck was hurt and bleeding, but she was trying to be strong.
She looked around the dark cave, let out a soft growl, and seemed to be gathering her strength for what was coming next.
The wolf's body suddenly tightened, and she cried out in pain. But then, she heard the tiny cries of her babies and her ears perked up. She wagged her tail with excitement.
The wolf had her babies! She pushed one last time and they were born. They were small and wiggly, and made tiny crying sounds.
The mother wolf was so happy, she forgot about her own pain. She licked and nuzzled her babies, and they snuggled up to her, looking for warmth and comfort.
The wolf took care of her babies, licking and nuzzling them. They started to snuggle up to her, looking for warmth and comfort.
She helped them find food, guiding them to her nipples. They drank and relaxed, feeling safe and cozy with their mom.
The wolf was very happy, feeling proud and content. She was tired, but she didn't care - she was focused on keeping her babies safe and healthy.
The wolf's tongue gently licked her pups, soothing their tiny whimpers. Her eyes shone with love as she watched them nurse, their tiny bodies growing stronger with each passing moment.
The den was quiet, except for the soft sounds of suckling and snuffling. The wolf's ears rose up at every tiny noise, her tail wagging softly.
As she groomed her pups, her movements were tender and careful. She nuzzled them close, her warmth and presence comforting them.
In this peaceful moment, the wolf's devotion to her pups was clear. She was fully present, dedicated to their care and well-being.
The wolf snuggled up close to her pups, her body wrapping around theirs like a warm shield. She closed her eyes, a peaceful sigh escaping her lips.
In the cozy den, the wolf and her pups formed a tight bundle, their gentle breathing the only sound.
The wolf's tail twitched occasionally, a soft reflex as she slept, her pups nestled safely against her. Together, they rested, a tiny family unit, warm and secure in their little den.
*****
Two weeks went by, and the wolf's babies were growing fast. She fed them every day, and they got bigger and stronger.
The boy pup was especially big, even bigger than his sister. After a while, their eyes and ears started to open, and they began to move around. They crawled and wobbled, checking out their cozy den.
The mother wolf fed her pups, making sure their food was easy to eat. She was proud of how strong and curious they were getting.
After four weeks, the pups started playing with each other, tumbling and falling, but always getting back up with wagging tails.
One day, the male pup started crying out in distress. His mother was out hunting, and his sister was the only one nearby.
She went to him, looking concerned. The male pup was confused and scared, thinking he was still having a bad dream.
He didn't remember being a pup, and everything seemed strange and new. He had seen his mother's death before, and it was all very confusing.
As he opened his eyes, he saw everything through a new, distorted lens. His vision was blurry, and he couldn't see things the way he used to as a human.
Panic set in, and he cried out, flailing his paws wildly. Suddenly, he felt a touch on his side, and he turned to see a small, white dog nudging him gently.
The male pup was taken aback by how close she was, and he tried to move away, but his legs wouldn't cooperate.
He looked down and saw paws instead of hands and feet, and his mind reeled in confusion. He tried to look at his body, but it was hard to see, and he stumbled and fell.
The female pup thought he was playing and jumped on him, giving him gentle nibbles. The male pup screamed in his mind, "Aghh, don't eat me!" but he realized that the nibbles didn't hurt.
He thought to himself, "Am I a dog? No, I don't want to be a dog, I want to be a Lion!" His whimpers were loud in his mind, but all that came out were pup noises, unintelligible to anyone but himself.
A week passed, and Malakai was still struggling to come to terms with his reincarnation. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it was weird.
He didn't know why, but when he thought about his mother's death, he didn't feel sad or angry. It was as if those emotions didn't exist.
He didn't get a chance to think more, because a voice filled with love and compassion sounded in his head, "Follow me, my young ones." His ears perked up, and he felt a tingling sensation in his fur.
He looked to his sister, and her furry ears were perked up too, as if she had heard the same voice.
He sat up, and his walking was no longer stumbling. As he walked, he was busy pushing his sister, who was excitement personified.
They got out of the cave, and all they saw was white - a blanket of snow that stretched out before them.
And there, standing in the distance, was a white wolf, her fur glistening in the sunlight. She seemed to be waiting for them.
His sister began getting excited, yelping and whining, her tail wagging furiously. But Malakai? He tilted his head, his ears still ringing with the sound of the voice.
The mother saw the strange behavior of her son and spoke in his mind, "Mmh, you are strange, little one." Malakai looked at his wolf mother, and he was sure that this wolf was talking to him. He stepped back, his paws sinking into the snow.
The mother began coming closer, her eyes fixed on Malakai. He wanted to run, but he couldn't outrun his mother.
When he was caught, unlike his expectations of being straight-up eaten, his mother put him in her mouth and then put him down, beginning to nuzzle and nibble him.
Malakai felt a surge of fear, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of calm. He smelled his mother's scent, a mix of fur and earth and milk, and it was comforting.
As his mother nuzzled him, he felt her warm breath on his fur, and her teeth gently scraping against his skin.
He heard her soft whimpers, a soothing sound that seemed to vibrate through his body. He saw her eyes, warm and loving, and her fur, soft and white.
And he felt her touch, her tongue licking his fur, her paws holding him in place.
It was a sensory overload, but in a good way. Malakai felt like he was melting into his mother's embrace, like he was becoming one with her. And in that moment, he knew that he was home, that he was where he belonged.