---Milo's POV---

The seasons were slowly changing and yet, I felt as if I had only been here for a few days. Trudging around the bundles of crisp leaves, ears twitching at every dry crunch and rustle I heard, I steadily moved ahead. I knew my boy wasn't going to be trudging through the forest; the added sounds of the crushing leaves was too much for his senses.

Instead, I had taken to follow him on his trek through meadows and open plains near the forest. Clearings with deer scattering away, a raccoon dipping its black paws in the cool river, probably trying to catch the small crayfish. Every time we had walked, he had started making motions with his hands, though this time they were different.

There still was the occasional tapping, thumb pressing against each digit in rapid succession but the motions he made were more focused, meaningful. And the strange thing was, even though I had no idea what his signs meant, there was this small, murmuring voice in the back of my mind that spoke in tune with the gestures.

Almost as if I could read the boy's mind.

I snorted at myself, shaking my head before speeding up to a trot. My ears could already hear the distant roar of the school bus, the squeaking of breaks as it paused at the sharp turn in the road.

Felix is back!

My tail swiped through the air, paws digging into the soil and kicking it up as I sprinted ahead. A tree root hidden underneath the leaves nearly made me trip, but I managed to stay on my paws and dash towards the edge of the forest.

Skidding to a halt at the edge, my ears pricked forwards as I watched Felix step out of the house, seemingly in a hurry. Usually he waited until after he had eaten but this time he just started for the forest.

I frowned, confused at his sudden change in his routine, knowing all to well that he didn't like change. My eyes narrowed, claws digging in the soft sand underneath when I spotted a man running after him.

A low growl slipped past my bared teeth as Felix was yanked back, the man waving his arms in the air, his voice ringing clear through the air. My paws were already pulling me closer, out the comfort of the forest and into the open as I crept on the duo just outside the front yard.

Felix was crying out, trying to wriggle out of the man's hold while he held on. It wasn't until he forced Felix on the floor and pinned him down that I let out a loud, warning bark.

Instantly his head snapped up, eyes wide with fear as I trotted closer to the house. Ears pinned back, eyes focusing on the man that was holding my boy down. I could see Felix's cousin coming out of the house, pausing in the doorway when he spotted me.

More sounds erupted from the house but I was more focused on my boy and the man that had seemed to threaten him. Low growls rumbled through my chest, picking up in intensity when the man tried to pull Felix back.

Felix instantly snarled and bared his blunt human teeth, but the man ignored the warning until he grunted when Felix bit down. As soon as he was released, he scrambled in my direction.

"Felix, don't! Get back here!"

He froze as I snarled but I quickly stopped when Felix whined and grabbed at his ears. Stepping closer to nuzzle him, I panted happily as his arms looped around in a swift hug before he stood back up.

I'll never forget the look on that man's face as we turned our backs on him and walked into the forest. Priceless, I tell you.

My eyes flitted up towards Felix, tongue drooping out happily as he was signing away, the murmurs inside my head speaking of the boy's father. I did let out a huff however when he referred to me as a pup.

I'm not a pup! Or at least, I don't think I am... depends if you're counting age or experience I guess...

My eyes closed as fingers scratched through my scruff, making me pant happily and arch into the touch. Felix' lip twitched into a lazy smile before he sat down underneath a tree, making me follow suit.

I huffed when a leaf fell down, shaking out my fur and letting it slide to the floor. Felix remained quiet, safe for a few gestures.

"Winter is coming soon..."

Indeed. I could already feel the slight biting of the cool floor on my paw pads but I paid it no mind. However, winter would mean I'd have to travel farther to catch prey...so I wouldn't be as close to Felix...or be able to see him daily.

A low whine slipped past my lips as I nuzzled against his leg, making him frown slightly. He didn't seem to quite understand but I sure he would once I left.

If I even left in the first place.

I didn't wanna leave but... staying put here in winter would mean a lot less prey. The deer in the forest would search far and wide for food, several other animals would hibernate. And I would stick out in the snow like a sore thumb.

But when Felix scratched through my fur and leaned on me, I knew it would be fine. A pack stays together, no matter what.

---Felix' POV---

It was very...odd. Odd how my family was looking at me, besides Mathew that is. He was already explaining to them that all this time they've been wrong. I frowned when he slipped the R-word though.

I've been called that enough to hate it with a passion.

"Felix."

Blinking, I kept looking at my hands as Mathew called out to me. Everyone had been silent after I came back from my walk, especially with Milo walking down further than he used to. They had all watched the wolf warily, except for Mathew, who had made a rough sign for 'wolf'.

I had responded by placing my hand flat on my chest, making Mathew smirk slightly in understanding. However, now that he had entered the room, I did notice that a young woman was standing beside him.

"Hey Felix, this is my girlfriend Charlie. Chars, this is my cousin, the one I told you about. Charlie here is learning ASL too, as she wants to be an interpreter later."

The girl smiled warmly but caught my attention when she started signing fluently. "Hello Felix. My name is Charlie. Can you tell me if you are deaf or hard of hearing?"

My fingers tapped against my pants a few times before I averted my eyes and single handedly signed. "I'm not."

She smiled even warmer and nodded as she revealed just that to the family. Mother swallowed deeply, holding a shaking hand in front of her lips while dad stuttered. "So...every time we spoke about Felix..."

"I heard."

That seemed to be rather...painful for them. At least, that's what I'd figure from their odd expressions, which I'd make after eating too much or hearing too much at once.

"H-He understands?"

Charlie spoke out loud as I signed back to her, giving my quiet voice volume. "Yes. He heard being talked about him as a toddler, hearing his family would be better off with him in an institution and-" Charlie's blonde brows furrowed together before she pulled up her nose in disgust. "And that you slipped him drugs when he was acting out, or the fact that one of his teachers calls him a retard on a daily basis."

I flinched.

I really, really hate that word.

While they seemed to progress everything, I simply moved to go to my room. Today has been exhausting and I had a feeling the next few days would be even more so. Dad's voice called out before my foot touched the stairs though.

"Son, please. We have so much to talk about. All this time we thought you didn't understand but now to learn you understood perfectly. Isn't there anything you'd wish to say to us? Anything at all?"

Pausing in the middle of the staircase, I thought about it. I thought back to all those time I wished to be heard, each time I had been pushed into a corner until I had another attack, to be forced to take medication and be trapped in my own body.

They never reached out to me, gave me possibilities to grown and learn, to gain a voice.

Yeah, I have something to say.

I glanced up through my lashes, noticing that I had everyone's attention. Mathew and Charlie were standing side by side, holding hands as they observed me with a curious frown. A frown that changed as their eyes glittered with mirth while they bit their lips.

Charlie didn't need to translate the meaning of my sign, as I curled my hand in a fist, letting my middle finger stand out alone. I pushed further up the stairs, closing the door of my room behind me before I went and sat on the edge of the window still.

Milo...

I tilted my head slightly as I opened the window, feeling the cool evening breeze and the moon shining down on the world. A single, lone howl erupted from the forest.

And without a doubt, I threw my head back and howled back.