Chapter 3
We have been walking for days. I felt light the walking dead. My black fur was wet and matted from the rain. Shifting won’t clean the mud and Matt's but it will be easier to clean and brush my hair in human form. But we blend into the background in our wolves.
My mother is a dark almost black brown, my father is midnight black just like me. The guys are a mix of reds and gray mostly. I always wondered how we get our colors. My father looks like his wolf mostly black hair green eyes and huge he’s a mountain. His wolf is black even the pads of his paws and his tongue are black. The only color on him is his red eyes. I look like a miniature version of him. I wonder if Sarabeth will look like a mother or father. I mean I have his green eyes but Sarabeth has our mother’s blue eyes and wheat-colored hair.
I haven’t met many wolves in our travels. Well, many pups and she-wolves that is. Males are all over the place. Father has had to put a few down for one reason or another.
I was about to drop when my father finally stopped. Tapping his foot to signal we will camp here. Grabbing the bag from one of the guys I dashed behind a tree to shift. Setting up camp means food sleep and a bath. There will be a body of water close by. Looking around I see a rocky mountain face. That’s where I’ll go tomorrow. Once we are all shifted we set up camp. “well boys until we get more gear or settled you will have to sleep in wolf form.” They nod as they set up the tent.
They went with father to hunt something down. I’m hoping for moose. And I don’t think I need to justify that. Mother got a fire started. Sarabeth and I went in search of firewood and water. “So ugly do you think any of them could be our mates?” she asks with stars in her eyes. “you been staring at tails too long.” I push her shoulder. “but for real Easter?” “Who knows could be, could be not only time will tell.” Finding the creek.
Mother found some root vegetables while we had been gone. “okay good here’s your school pamphlets. The next town we come to I’ll order new ones from the mercantile.” My mother’s family was well off and demanded everyone in the house learn to read and write so she demands the same for us. “come on let’s go write lines.” “and your reading” “yes and our reading”
The long walk had been worth it. They brought back the biggest moose I had ever seen. Mother was thrilled and ordered the boys to dig a smoke pit. She's going to make jerky so we have food for the walks. And so it lasts longer. I like this area I do hope we get to stick around longer. Something in the air just feels right.
I can’t hold back the giggles as my mother bosses these boys around. I mean she bosses father around but that’s a mate thing. The guys all start looking at my mother with love and gratitude. I think I just got six little brothers. Great.
After filling so full of stew I can’t move. I find my way to my bedroll. I climb under my deer skin “I call the moose hide” I call out. “no fair I wanted it.” Sarabeth cries. “you both have hides the moose will go to the boys.” My mother shuts the fighting down. Groaning I cover my head and slip into slumberland.
“Athena” groaning rolling over “what?” I grumble shooting up and patting my body. Looking around I’m in my room but oh it was all a dream. Looking over I see Sally staring at me. “what is wrong with you?” “What?” confused looking around. The sun shone brightly through my windows. “hello it’s ascension day. You know talking about your rightful place as alpha of alphas. Duh. You should have been up and down getting your hair done mom said she tried linking but we’re blocked. So here I am with orders to and I quote “get her down here even if you have to drag her” so let’s go chop, chop.” “goddess your so annoying. You know most only pups don’t know what it’s like having younger siblings.” “you're not an only pup though are you stupid “ sticking my tongue out. “nope don’t count I’m a Winters you’re a Thomas only pup.” Jumping out of bed before she can jump on me. “girls” my father’s rough voice fills my head. “yes father.” “I don’t think I need to answer that do I?” “no sir. I’m on my way.” “good”
“Someone in trouble. Someone’s in trouble.” Sally sings and she skips out of my room. If I didn’t love her I would hate her. Did my wall just move? Staring at the wall squinting my eyes. Nothing. A trick of the eye. Too many scary movies, more like it. Stupid Sally.
Slipping on some sweat I head to Sally’s mother’s room. She does all the hair and makeup for the pack for anything.. she was a rodeo princess once a long time ago. We have a couple of horses in the stables for pleasure rides. She had a silver blue dress hanging on the bathroom door. The slits run down from mid-thigh to the floor. Trimmed to look like falling snowflakes. Creating a snow drift spilling to the center of the bottom of the dress. A train of silver-blue bleeds to a silver-white like a snow bank. Really playing on the Winters name. But really it’s breathtaking. The six-inch silver heels on the other hand terrify me. “sit” Brittany orders. for being human, she’s really bossy. Huffing and puffing I drag myself to the chair. “ But I haven’t had any coffee yet.” “who’s fault is that?” “sally's” I blink into the mirror innocently. “be careful looking into mirrors you might not like what you see looking back.” She points. Glancing at my face it’s twisted in an ugly frown. Shaking my head and she laughs. Crossing my arms I slump down. “sally dear would you get grumpy pants coffee and one for me please?.” “sure thing mom anything else cinnybonnies?” smiling we both nod.
“So tell me what’s wrong honey. You have never overslept or been late for anything in your life. So today is a day you have been praying to come sooner every moons year. This is the day you oversleep?” raising her eyebrow at me in the mirror. “I guess I just didn’t sleep well. Bad dreams.”
