The cave was warm and dry compared to the icy winter air that lurked just outside.  The stone caverns were worn smooth by years of different paws wandering through the place during various travels.  Usually, it was only a temporary place to stay.<br/>It was here that a coal-tinted wolf paced impatiently as he anxiously awaited the birth of his pups.  Lying beside him was his mate, a pale gray female named Shritana, as she struggled with labor pains.  "Arju," Shritana panted at the male, "be still!  I cannot concentrate with you all over the place!"<br/>Arju halted with a sigh.  "I apologize,"  he said gently.  "I am nervous;  that is all.  My first pups...."  Arju nuzzled Shritana's muzzle affectionately.  "What if...."<br/>Shritana licked her mate's shoulder.  "What, Arju?"<br/>Arju shifted his eyes elsewhere.  "Nothing;  it is only...."  Arju paused.  His voice seemed to catch in his throat.  How could he possibly express his petty fear to his mate?  Being a father came naturally, did it not?  Still....<br/>Arju looked once more at Shritana.  Her soft blue eyes encouraged Arju to speak his mind.  Arju swallowed.  "What if they do not like me?  What if I mess up and ruin them, like...."<br/>Shritana smiled a little.  "Everybody makes mistakes.  And just because your father was bad does not mean you will be.  As for the pups loving you, I am sure they will.  Fear not; you are not alone.  I will be here to make mistakes along with you."<br/>Arju sighed with relief.  "We will learn to be parents together."<br/>"Precisely," Shritana said.  With that, she laid her head down on the cave floor to concentrate on giving birth.<br/>Arju laid down beside his mate.  Shritana moved her head to rest on Arju's forepaws.  Arju relaxed a tad as he waited.  He had always liked Shritana's company because she did not judge him for his fears or thoughts.  She was like a counsellor.  And there was no one Arju trusted more.<br/>Long into the night did the couple wait.  The winds outside the cave had blown in a winter snow storm as time progressed.  Shritana struggled to bring her pups into the world as Arju licked her ears and spoke encouragement to her.  The cave grew darker as the moon was hidden behind clouds. Arju could barely see when he heard the tell-tale whimper of a pup.  Shritana took the time to carefully clean and feed the pup before she allowed him, a dark colored male, to snuggle between the warm bodies of his parents. Arju smiled as the voice of Shritana reached his ears:  "One more."<br/>Once more, the couple waited until the storm cleared, the bright dawn sun lit the cave, and their second son, a white pup, was born.  Shritana again tended to her pup, and Arju spent the better part of several moments smelling the individual scents of his sons.<br/>"Our sons are so beautiful," Shritana whispered as the brothers nestled together against their mother.<br/>Arju nodded.  "They need names," he said.<br/>Shritana chuckled.  "What did you have in mind?"<br/>Arju nudged the black pup with his nose.  "I think he should be named 'Nistari.'  You should really name the other."<br/>Shritana tilted her head. Without the slightest hesitation, she said, "His name is 'Morligh.'"<br/>Arju nodded.  "Nistari and Morligh," he said.<br/>"Our beautiful sons," Shritana added with joy in her voice.  "Our beautiful sons."