Of Wolves and The Light

A warm welcome

Kai

It felt good to be back here. Since my work overseas keeps me gone for extended periods of time, I feel like there is something missing in my day-to-day life. I grew up here and was very close to the congregation, so it was like a family reunion every time I got back. As I greeted people, I noticed a girl on the far side of the assembly, sitting in the back alone. Her black hair falls in soft waves around her heart-shaped face as the rest is in a high ponytail. I nudged my friend Jacob who was next to me and nodded towards her. He smiled at me, " I don't know her, but I have seen her here a few times. She usually leaves as soon as we're dismissed", he shrugs. Smiling to myself as I watch her clumsily interact with others, trying not to offend anyone but keeping everything short so they don't stick around. She looks uncomfortable when anyone tries to greet her. Shy I'm guessing.

I continue to watch her as the service progresses. I don't like being distracted during the preaching but I couldn't help my eyes from wandering towards her. Every now and then, I catch her looking at her watch, probably counting down the minutes until it's over. I'm going to have to go introduce myself after. Imagining what I would say to her. Hi, nice to meet you! Too lame. Come on, I rack my brain trying to think of something that doesn't come off weird and also not cultish. Jacob pulled me from my thoughts when he nudged me and pointedly hinted where to look. It must almost be over because she was collecting her stuff. As soon as we were dismissed she began to walk to the back of the assembly and towards the doors. I turn to start leaving the bench when someone steps in front of my path.

"Hi Kai, how are you doing? I'm glad to see you back," she stated with a pat on my shoulder.

"Great Mrs. Lowell, I'm glad to be back home. How about you?" She was a kind elderly woman who was 85, widowed just a few years ago. I remember those days after she had lost her husband, I would often visit her to make sure she wouldn't be alone. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt her, but I really wanted to go and catch up to the girl. Jacob sensed my eagerness to leave, and cut our conversation off, God bless him."Hey Mrs. Lowell, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on something." With that I excused myself, I grinned at him, I owed him one.

"Oh....ok," Mrs. Lowell looked confused. I made my way out, I hope I can catch up with her. I jogged around the building to the parking lot that was facing the forest. She was almost to her car. I watched her look up at the sky. That's when I noticed that the snow had begun to fall. I watched her for a moment as she looked and held her hand out to catch pieces here and there. She looked beautiful. When I finally approached her, "Hi," I said. She must not have heard me because something else had caught her attention in the trees. I looked as well to see what it was that had drawn her attention. I didn't notice when she turned around until she jumped back a little and dropped her keys. Crap, I scared her. Great first impression, man. I bent over to pick them up and held them out in my palm. I watched her as she grabbed them. She was more beautiful up close than from across the assembly. Her eyes were beautiful, I could lose myself in the warmth in them. They had a light brown tint to them, and for a second I thought I might have seen a little green. I continued to stare at them, trying to figure out what color they were.

I cleared my throat "Um...sorry" stop staring dude.

I just wanted to introduce myself. I haven't seen you here before," even though I just got back today but its not like she knows that.

"I've been coming here for a few Sundays now," she states. She is really short with her answers, I guess that I'm going to have to work to get a conversation out of her.

"Ah, that makes sense, I've been gone for a while working overseas. So do you always leave this quickly," I smile knowing that Jacob told she bolts every Sunday.

"Yeah, I just have somewhere to be.....after" hm.... I wondered if that were true or just because she didn't want to be bothered by anyone after. Maybe a little bit of both. I watched her as she looked me over, I grinned at her and she returned the smile. Is she blushing? I think she realized it and tightened her lips in a thin line.

"I'm Kai, by the way," I held my hand out to her.

As she took it "Lucia," she responded.

"Lucia, interesting name," the name sounded vaguely familiar like I have heard it somewhere before.

"Not really..." she pulled me from my thoughts, "I mean I wish parents would have chosen something else, but it is what it is."

I realized that I still held her hand in mine, her eyes looked down at what I was looking at and quickly took her hand back. I grinned at her. She was definitely cute when nervous.

"So, how do you like it here?" I asked as I casually put my hand in my coat pocket. Now I'm nervous, I hope I'm not screwing this up.

"It's nice, I mean I don't really know anyone here but everyone seems friendly enough." I listened to her say these words, there was definitely a disconnect with her from the actions of her being here.

"Well, now you know me," I smiled at her hoping to get a reaction from her and also maybe she would want to get to know me better, I hoped. Lucia peered up at me and returned the smile.

"So will I see you next Sunday?"

"Like clockwork... but I really do have to be going now." she says.

"Yeah no, of course. Umm....let me get that for you. I step around her to open the car door for her

"Have a good week Lucia. I hope I see you next Sunday," I say as she gets in.

"you too," she whispered. I stood and watched her drive off the lot.

After she drove off, I turned my attention back to the woods. Something was definitely off. I sensed it when I had walked up to her a while ago but I put it out of my thougths after I accidently scared her. I looked around now, making my way to where I had seen her turn her attention to originally.

"Kai!" Jacobs' yell pulled me back to the parking lot. I stand there for a moment longer. It may have been nothing, but I would be keeping a better eye out in this area just in case. I walked back to where Jacob was standing now, just a little farther than I had been a moment ago talking to Lucia. Thinking about her brought a smile to my face. She was more beautiful up close, and it was cute how shy she was everytime our eyes met.

"So, how did it go?" he asked.

"It was good, hopefully she comes back next week." Jacob bumps my shoulder.

" You know you owe me for earlier."

I nod", yeah yeah."

"I will be collecting man, you can count on that, Hm....what kind of favor should I ask for," I looked at him serious now. Jacobs favors tended to go horribly for me. Yeah, they were all in good fun but always at my expense. I hated it when he gave me that look. He laughed knowing how I was dreading this.

I sighed " You know what, it was worth it."He rolls his eyes at me.

"Alright, come on. The meeting is going to start soon. Every one is chomping at the bit, no pun intended, to see what's going on overseas."

We made our way to the meeting room. I didn't know how they would react to my news that I was bringing.

When we entered the room, all the elders were already seated. The elders consisted of leaders of surrounding churches along with others around the country too, who could virtually attend the meeting.

Elder Tom started. "Alright, now that Kai is in attendance he can give us all an update on what is transpiring overseas."

Silence fell in the room as I stepped up to the head of the table and began, " We found new wolf dens, we quickly took care of them. Some we handled and sent to Hades, but the rest ran off. They have become more bold overseas since we have less influence and warriors in those areas. The good news is that we have more people joining our ranks, so with time and training I am sure that they will become more capable of handling these threats for themselves."

Pleased looks passed through the elders eyes as they talked amongst themselves for a moment. "There is something else," their eyes snapped back toward me, "One of the wolves that we had captured had some interesting things to say, that their leader is planning an attack soon, that he found something that was going to help him get the upper hand. I don't know what to make of it, he may have been lying to save his skin before being sent to Hades or he was telling the truth. Either way we need to be ready for whatever it is to come."