‘...’ – speech in wolf form

“...” – speech in human form

Chapter 3

   The early hours of the next day were the same as before; Blake running ahead with me and Sani making our own way behind. We hadn’t eaten over the first two days and Blake and I decided that if we could catch any rabbits on our travel then we would eat when we could without the company of the other.

   ‘Mum, do you think we could stop for a bit?’ Sani asked as I let her eat all she wanted from the hare I’d just caught for her. ‘I don’t mean to waste time but my feet hurt.’

   ‘Of course, and it doesn’t matter how long we take because we will find them eventually. I can carry you if you like,’ I offered.

   Ever since she began talking, I had noticed how adult-like Sani sounded. Eventually, I managed to think up of ways why that would be; in the end I guessed it only came down to the highness of the blood that flowed through her veins but I knew she would never notice that herself. I only wondered if Blake had noticed it too and, if he had, what he thought about it.

   ‘Mum...’ I faintly heard her voice around me. ‘Mum...’

   ‘Hmm...’ I mumbled then shook my head. ‘I’m sorry, I was just thinking.’ I smiled at her and she smiled back before sinking her teeth deep into the gut of the hare between her forepaws.

   Suddenly, I felt the pull on my chest as Blake touched on that bond we were linked through. ‘I’m afraid lunch will have to wait, your father’s calling.’

   ‘I don’t hear anything,’ Sani commented with her ears swivelling atop her head.

   ‘Hehe, you wouldn’t. Come on, on my back.’ I waited for her to step over and clamber onto my shoulders before carefully standing up and jogging gently across the plains towards where I hoped I would find Blake waiting (and with company).

   ‘Blake!’ I barked when I could finally see him over a small knoll.

   He didn’t vocally respond, instead he ran over to us and wagged his tail excitedly while licking at my muzzle.

   ‘Blake! Stop it.’

   ‘Sorry,’ he swiftly apologised. ‘I’ve found them,’ he added while looking over his shoulder and peering into the distance.

   Following his gaze, I saw the distant figures running their way over to us; and sure enough there were a lot more than the group we had left about five months ago.

   ‘Have you spoken to them yet?’ I asked while Sani slid off from my shoulders.

   Blake shook his head as he nuzzled his daughter’s side. ‘No, I thought it best to wait. We just spent about five minutes howling to make sure, but that’s hard when you’re on your own, like I was.’

   ‘Mama?’

   I sank down to her level. ‘Yes? What is it?’

   I could tell from her smile that she knew they were close and that she could barely contain her excitement any longer, her tail swishing wildly in the air. ‘Can I go meet them?’

   ‘Hmm? Not on your own, Sani. Take your father with you, they’ll recognise him straight away and then they’ll know who you are,’ I explained quickly.

   She began prancing about Blake’s feet, who stood still to make sure he wouldn’t trip over her or stand on her paws. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to?’ he asked me when I’d stood up again.

   ‘I’m sure. I’ll take my time.’ The truth is I was nervous, and Blake could tell and feel it from my twitchiness. ‘Go, Blake. I won’t be too long.’

   Brushing his head along mine, he waited for me to embrace him back but being as nervous as I was I was rooted to the spot. ‘Everything will be fine. They’re our family after all and I think they’ve missed us more than we’ve missed them. I’m still here for you too and you’re not alone with your worries,’ he admitted then bowed his head with what seemed like embarrassment.

   ‘Daaaad...’ Sani complained with a yelp. ‘Can we go now?’

   We both looked at her and giggled. ‘Go on, I’ll catch up,’ Blake assured her. Turning to me, he looked deep into my eyes as though he was looking for something in them but then he turned around and walked off with a reassuring bark over his shoulder at me.

   I decided to wait for the best part of another five minutes before I got up off my hind legs and trotted my way over to the barking, yapping frenzy that was my entire family and pack. Not knowing how everyone would react to my daughter now being born and that I might have somehow changed since our last meeting, I was wary as well as cautious about the way I portrayed myself.

   Flicking my tail, I lifted my head and scanned those I could see to seek out Blake and if he had mixed himself among his half or was holding back and waiting for me to be by his side once more. Spotting him ambling about amongst his closer family members, I jogged the last hundred or so yards before realising that I was suddenly being watched.

   Rolling my ears back, I lowered my head and stood perfectly still. I knew I was behaving bizarrely but that didn’t matter to me; I had been away from both packs for such a long time that I wasn’t sure if they recognised my scent anymore. Sure enough though, my worries were soon put to rest.

   ‘Layla!’ someone barked and started sprinting their way over to me from beside my dad (I would never forget the way he always held himself).

   Breathing with a sigh of relief, I rose my head up and hopped forwards. ‘Jasper! I’ve missed you so much,’ I exclaimed and then realised I had tears rolling down my face.

   As though he was five years younger, when he reached me he jumped up and clambered over my back. ‘Please don’t cry. You’re home now, and I never want you to leave again.’

   Wriggling out from under him, I turned to face him. ‘And neither do I but it was a nice break at first.’ The tears soon dried up and I was now sunk down on my forepaws. ‘You got the packs together I see,’ I noted.

   ‘Yeh. Kai agreed as soon as dad suggested the idea. But there’s something you need to know...’

   ‘Layla...’ The slow, deep voice of my dad sounded in my ears and I bolted round and stood squarely before him. ‘Welcome home,’ was all he said, but that was enough.

   The aching in my belly soon vanished and I was crying again. Once more the feeling of being a part of a pack was more than a relief, it was a comfort and the pure happiness and joy in my heart was so overwhelming that I just broke apart.

   His fluffy mane brushed along my cheek and he rested his head over my neck and let me weep. ‘It’s alright to cry, Layla, you’ve been away for some time. And you have someone to introduce to me.’

   Knowing what he meant, I got ahold of myself and perked up. Looking around I saw Sani trying to take on her cousin but with a sharp bark from me, she was soon safely underneath my chest and lying on the ground obediently.

   Swivelling my head down, I coaxed her out. ‘Sani, there’s someone you need to meet.’ Shuffling her way from under me, she stood beside my front paws but I soon nudged her forward. ‘Otsani, this is my dad, Jared. Say hello,’ I encouraged her but she remained silent.

   My dad had lowered his head and looked straight at her with unblinking wise eyes. ‘Hello, Otsani, I’m your grandad,’ he introduced.

   Pricking her ears back and sinking down onto her haunches, Sani portrayed that she understood what my father was to this large pack and she began to whimper uncontrollably.

   ‘Sani, it’s alright. He won’t hurt you and you don’t need to be scared of him. Say hello,’ I repeated.

   And as I had lied down with my head in her sight, she breathed in shallowly and spoke very shrilly. ‘Hello,’ she managed to say.

   Chortling away, my father lifted his head up and turned to me. ‘She’s very shy, isn’t she?’

   ‘She’ll soon get used to you, dad. And it’s good to be back home.’ Jasper then appeared out of the corner of my eye from behind me and I called him over. ‘Jasper, come and meet your niece.’ But when I looked down, she had disappeared again.

   ‘Mama, what’s going on?’ she asked and her voice came to me from behind my hind legs.

   Stepping away from her but then lowering my head, I realised that the other half of my pack had now started howling together. Knowing myself what it was about, I chuckled and then reassured her that it was only their way of welcoming Blake back into their ranks. ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of, dear.’ I knew I sounded all grown-up by saying that. ‘This is your pack as well as your family and no one will hurt you or turn you away. Be brave but stay by me for now if you still want to, hmm?’ I kindly offered her a solution.

   ‘Ok, mama,’ she whispered.

   ‘Mama?’ Jasper asked, confused.

   ‘Yes, she calls me that, Jas. It’s what she chose to call me and I’m not bothered by it,’ I confirmed. ‘Sani, this is your uncle Jasper,’ I added to my daughter who was more curious about Jasper’s appearance than my dad’s.

   Sniffing around his legs, she took in his scent as he similar took in hers as well as what she looked like. ‘You’re a curious little thing,’ he commented but he only meant it in a friendly manner; although Sani took it in the opposite light and started growling at him. In response, Jasper dropped his shoulders and head and playfully pretended he was about to pounce on her.

   Giggling away, I left them to it and went to join Blake with his own reunion.