~Chapter 7~
1088 Words
"Your sister. You have your hands full with that one. She looked so innocent when she arrived," Mia says.
Lucea sighs deeply.
"She is innocent. I wonder what Roderic is doing to my little sister."
"She is infatuated. She will be fine very soon. Like I told you, I also used to feel something for him but I moved on. And speaking of Roderic, tomorrow is his birthday. The whole pack always celebrates his birthday."
"His eighteenth birthday?"
"Right."
"But how? So soon? You said my parents left when the Luna was six months pregnant, isn't that so? Shouldn't he have his birthday a little later than tomorrow? I mean, he had three more months to go in his mother's womb...."
"No no. I see where you misunderstand," Mia interrupts her. "Unlike humans, wolves carry their pups for five and six months only."
"Really? Interesting. Having grown up among humans, I got the idea that a baby is born after nine months. I thought that was the case with wolves, too. Now I understand," she nods her head thoughtfully.
"Cool. What are you going to get for him?" Mia asks.
"Nothing. " Lucea shrugs.
"You have to get him something. All of us celebrate his birthday every year and get him presents. Despite his skirt chasing ways, we all love him. He is our Alpha."
"I will see what I will get for him. What time does he celebrate his birthday? I prefer mine at night."
"His are always from morning to mid night. No kid from our pack is going to school tomorrow."
Lucea rolls her eyes.
"Just how important is a pack Alpha?"
"Very important. Shall we go back now?"
"In a moment. Is it possible for me to bath here without anyone finding me?"
Mia laughs. "No, not during the day. There's no guarantee that someone will not come to watch the water just like you are doing. You can come at night if you don't like to be seen without clothes on."
"What would be the point? I would like to swim during the day while it is sunny." Lucea rolls her eyes again. "I also have some news to share. I am going to start working at your boyfriend's cafe."
Mia gasps, then says faintly, "He is not my boyfriend. And congratulations. I had once tried to start working there but he turned me down."
"Sorry to hear that. He saw that you don't need the money since you have more than enough already. Or he didn't need extra help the time you asked. I saw a poster outside the cafe for the job advertisement. That's what drew me in."
"Maybe. Let's go back or my mother will start looking for me. She rarely appreciates me going somewhere without telling her first."
Lucea stands up and looks at her friend as she struggles into her shoes.
"Your mother has to stop treating you like a child," she states.
"I wish someone would tell her that for me." Mia puts on the remaining shoe and straightens up.
Lucea makes a mental note to find a way to help her friend.
But then she thinks it would be better to ask Mia first. She might be against the idea.
Just before she opens her mouth to ask, she stops abruptly. There is a loud SPLASH in the river they are about to leave behind like something enormous has fallen in.
By the time both of them turn to look at what caused the sound, the water is already calm, like nothing has happened at all. Frowning, Lucea looks at Mia's face.
"What was that?" She asks breathlessly.
Mia shrugs like it is no big deal. "These strange things usually happen here every now and then, strange wolves, the ones we dubbed the mysterious wolves, being sighted by only certain individuals, a child claiming they saw a pair of eyes gazing at them from the trees, and so forth. And about once a year a pup disappears. It is very sad but don't worry, you are safe. Whatever it is that is haunting this place is only interested in younger pups." Mia shrugs again.
Lucea is shocked by how casually Mia is saying this. Perhaps it is a joke; she just wants to scare her.
"Mia, that is serious! How can you talk so casually about something as serious as that? You are joking, right?"
Mia turns a little more somber. "No, I am not joking. What I am telling you is true. But I grew up witnessing these strange things, so it is safe to say I am used."
Lucea glances in the direction of the river warily. "Let's get out of here. I don't like this at all. I think I am going to miss our old home if this place isn't safe."
She walks away quickly, Mia hurrying to catch up with her.
"Hey, you are moving too fast!" Mia complains, trying to catch up.
"Why didn't you tell me before that this is not a safe place? I think I need to warn my family to stay together all the time. Since you said the mysterious wolves only want younger kids, that means my little sister is at risk, right? This is bad."
Mia laughs. "No. I mean young pups who are under the age of twelve or so. I have never heard of a wolf older than thirteen disappearing."
Mia catches up with Lucea and matches her long steps. She lowers her voice to whisper. "Rumor has it the old Alpha Sydney still has a bad temper even in death. He is believed to be the one that causes all the disappearances of pups."
Lucea forgets about being worried and laughs.
"That is ridiculous! It is no wonder you've never done something about it, believing that it is a ghost. I never knew wolves also believe in ghosts, like many humans do."
"But what do you expect us to do? The mysterious wolves are usually seen despite the heavy protection around the pack borders. No one knows how they get here or leave. The latest victim of the mysterious wolves happened to be my sister. I told you about it yesterday- she followed me outside one night despite my insistence that she remain in the house- I heard galloping sounds behind me, and when I turned to look, she was gone. And my parents never miss any chance to remind me that it was my fault. I should have protected her."
- Writer
