When the litter came, it was a simple whelping, despite the lack of Soil to comfort. I have had many litters over the cycles. Many of those who swelled, have had small litters with many Runts^, particularly those who cannot run. We are obviously trying to offer all Runts as much additional support as possible before they go to creche, but there are so many that it is difficult to stay on top of the needs of them all at once. I had a large litter (I have never had fewer than 8 but 16 was more than I was anticipating). They all survived whelping. There was one small Runt, who is nuzzled against my body having fallen asleep with my Runt-nipple in his mouth. The quarter-pack^ is delighted, we will have many pups off to creche in the next quarter-season^. Pack will be pleased with us. In a few cycles, we will have many more dogs to help with provisioning, exploring and preparing for whatever battle is to come.

Other Service-packs are not as lucky. Without seasoned whelpers, like me, providing a large litter to serve, they feel like they have failed Pack. We have been instructed to control all supplies and we need a 4-notch scent-mark to release anything medicinal. I have seen many whelpers late at night, scent-masked, to give them rations for bleeding or pain. I understand the rules, but I know that we are not going to die for having fewer stocks of willow-bark or clot-weed. We are going to die because we do not have enough provision. I have spoken to Broad and Trustworthy and, I have done some calculations. There is not enough in our stores to feed this many Runts needing an extra cycle or two in creche. By the time the providers of this generation are able to pitch in, we will already be starving.

We have not got enough in-store to supplement what the providers are bringing in. The Pack that landed on this world had too many warriors and not enough Soil parents or providers. They wanted us to swell. The only way we can get to a point where we support more pups in future, is to have many and keep the supplies for those who are strong enough to fight for them. Many pups will die. It is not our way. We care for all and bring as many as possible with us as we grow. This is not a Soil-dog way to live.

We QPGs and DQPGs know that it is not going to be enough, but when Broad and I mentioned it to the high-notches, we were told we were mistaken and there were more stores, too precious to tell us about. Maybe Leaf-scent is making them confused about who should know these things. Tonight, we will have a meeting, QPGs of this world. Those nearby at least. We are meeting out in the gargantuan nest we found in the woods, where I fucked^ Broad. I think I know what we will find. We all have suspicions and I think they are all the same one.

It is hard to gladly eat provision. I want to tell every-dog to be modest in their portions and that we will not survive eating like this. I chew my dried World-kudu and savour it, knowing that when I stop nursing, very soon, I will not be entitled to of-World provision.

It is a degree^ before Set hunting-degree – two degrees before Set itself. Slender returns from provision as I finish my nurse-feed and roll Small Runt Leaf (pups whelped on this forested world in a Unified Pack, are not Set or Rise) over to Furtive Set who is feeding her three Runts. Slender asks me, via our newly-whelped pack-bond,

( Are you going to the stores?) It is his first pack-bond, he is using it each chance he gets.

( I am going out. I am a bit worried, but nothing you need to worry about.) He sends me calming thoughts and understanding. He then curls round the four Runts against Furtive and seems to sleep. I have no idea if he is actually sleeping. The stealth-warriors amongst us must meet at some degree but I do not know when. I will have more energy after Small Runt is weaned, maybe if I resist deep-sleep then I will discover more about how they find a moment to conduct their true Service.

Once I am out in the provisioning spot, I listen and smell for Broad. We agreed not to meet each other before we got to the tree. I don’t want us, both being scent-masked and stealthy, to bump into each other. I slink to the edge of the clearing and climb between the den entrances, weaving in and out on my way. Leaf-world has two night-suns with cold light, to add to its overpowering smells. It is very bright. I wish it was cloudy, so I just had to worry about scent.

I reach the tree without incident. As I wait, I gently push one of the very round, even logs, that fall from these trees. They make good rollers, which we sorely need as providers go further afield. I feel my hackles raising and sense a dog nearby as I approach. I drop to my belly. Broad un-scent-masks and I step forward with relief. We climb again, working hard. There is a very faint leftover twinge from the Heat-dose. We share a sniff and climb up through the breach. We wait in the un-dark of Leaf-night for a while, leaning against one another but not talking. I know he mated with several dogs and only I bore many healthy pups. He probably is critical of his Service to Pack.

Our ears perk up at the same point as we hear the distinctive scrabble of claws on bark below us. This will be the QPGs from the next settlements over. We go over to haul them up by their scruffs like pups. As we all un-mask, the same funk of discomfort rises from our sides. There are three other QPGs. We have not got to know them yet. QPGs are a close-knit network in the main. We are on a strange world and all mixed up so, other than the unspoken but always present bond of QDs across all World(s), this is our first meeting. We are strangers. Broad and I sniff them as they sniff us. We briefly lick each other’s faces to show we are happy to meet and that there is no animosity here. Broad introduces me to Rough First Eyes Rise, who he has served with on World.

“We're in trouble,” starts one of the QPGs. There is a round of sneezes. He sits ears alert and forward but showing no distress. “The supplies we have were to supplement provision not replace it.” A timid QPG sits near him looking grave. These two obviously serve together and have had this conversation before.

“But why were the World QPGs not more careful in planning what was brought?” says Rough First Eyes Rise, she is a lone QPG with no role-mate, serving a smaller settlement (HollowLeafment^). She hasn’t been able to share her fears before now.

“I think they were,” says Broad, hesitantly “they knew that they needed to be prepared for conflict and that the easiest thing to transport were dogs to make a force of warriors.”

“I think that maybe….” I begin, then think better of stating something so obviously against Pack Guiders^. “either way you….”

“Direct Set”

“Direct Set, is right. We are in trouble. There is not enough provision to feed every-dog. I think we need to try to persuade some high-notches to add more providers to packs in each settlement, to take the pressure off stores.”

“Have ye all had litters on Leaf-World?” Broad asks. Rough First Eyes Rise shows she has. Direct Set says no and turns to his companion.

“Even and I are bond-mates. We've not felt inclined to swell any-dog” Direct Set looks at his bond-mate and I can smell their devotion to each other. Even Set finally speaks,

“We expected to serve as QDs until we eventually became QPGs and then Walk into the Wilderness, when our time came. This is more than I ever expected to do in Service”

“Well, how many Runts, particularly those who cannot run, are being born in DustyLeafment?” Broad continues.

“Many, and Patient Set and Wiry Rise have sent similar news from the MountainLeafments,” says Direct Set instantly. Rough First Eyes Rise acknowledges that she whelped 3 Runts who cannot run with their 5 littermates, into this cruel world.

“It is a high number. We don’t have the facilities to support them all to Service, with at least one extra cycle before a third of this generation is ready to serve. That’s even if we had sufficient supplies to get a whole generation to Service in 4 cycles.” Broad doesn’t need to Soil parent us, we are all painfully aware of the storm on the horizon.

“I suggested we begin rationing high-protein provision for those on a Heat-dose, swelling or nursing. The high-notches told me there was no need” says Rough First Eyes Rise, confirming my experiences.

“They told me there were more supplies that I didn’t know about. Does any-dog else know of anything else? See or smell anything else being stored? Any news from another QPG anywhere?” I know the answer, but it needs to be acknowledged. The silence that follows is full of 5 dogs thinking wildly.

“Pack Guiders knew that some dogs would Walk.” says Direct Set

“We all knew that some would” Rough First Eyes Rise barely whispers. She worries that some of her pups will be part of the inevitable attrition. She must be still nursing, at least her three needing additional care. Pups are the responsibility of their whelpers until they go to creche and not beyond. My Runt-nipple aches and leaks thinking of my own Small Runt sleeping between Slender and Furtive.

“I mean,” replies Direct Set “they gave an edict to swell when they couldn't guarantee there would be sufficient provision on any of the worlds.”

“I think they knew that some pups would not survive” this is the kind of thing I would never say outside of a quarter-pack. I wish I could ask Sly for advice.

“Then why did they tell us to have them?!” Rough First Eyes Rise’s indignance is covering deep despair. Emotions are so much stronger before weaning. My own hormonal-insight^ is already waning “We do not let pups die; we have as many as we can care for. It is the natural order. Soil told us that we must.”

“I think they knew that each world-Pack might not survive. They kept the strongest breeders on the World. Then they sent the rest of us off. If we didn’t come back it would not be a disaster,” I try cautiously. Why am I trying to smell the point-of-view of dogs who have committed the worst kind of disservice to Pack?

“But it is. If any pups die, we have let down all of Pack” She is right. I allow my hormonal-insight to flood my perception and thought. The horror and indignance rise in my stomach. Allowing my body’s natural urge to care at any cost to take over.

“I am not sure if the high-notches would agree with you.” Broad mutters, he is defeated. I scent the passion rising in my stomach and teats.

“Soil would! What any-dog has to say doesn’t matter.” Rough First Eyes shares her hormonal-insight with us all too. Now is not the time to be defeated. We pool and share our strength with the other QPGs.

“I think they have probably made several difficult decisions for Pack. Maybe if Pack survives, Soil will forgive us.” Direct Set states, unconvinced but knowing how a high-notch could let themselves deep-sleep by telling themself this. We sit in silence, feel each other’s presences and think. I can feel the sharing of our strength of resolve seeping into them.

“We will do what we can to get every pup to training. Direct and I are going out with providers to help increase provision. We have taken some of the supplies into deep-stores to be ready if we need them.” Even Set communicates slowly and calmly but with a sign of intense passion below.

As we return to den in the night lit by a band of brightness that seems to never relent, I feel less despairing. Over the last few degrees, we came up with plans to mitigate the worst of the starvation that is to come. We told each other where stores are knowing we are protected by QPG bonds. We discussed Runt-stores and the need for more run-rigs. Rough First Eyes and I shared a moment of unity, knowing we have shared our gift for the betterment of Pack. We put together scent messages for any other QPG we can reach. We in EdgeLeafment are closest to the barrier and furthest from other settlements; Direct and Even will co-ordinate communication.

We return to the sides of our den-mates. As I fall asleep, I can only hope we will be able to do Soil’s will in this. Slender stirred when we came to den. He reaches down our pack-bond and sends me softness to help me sleep. All those around us, relax as he sends his softness, spilling out into their night-walks.