The wolf in me

Jani ventures out

Jani slowly slipped away from the group slumber. She wanted to escape the intense heat of the day forest. Humans cut trees indiscriminately and they suffered. The wolves had an intense argument today about what they can do.

Then the went into slumber Jani escaped. Such discussion showed their helplessness towards a race that cared not for them or the forest. But only built and catered for empty buildings with needless lights. So many lights hurt her eyes. Jax had been away, called away for a legal case which he had to attend for Jbe.

The people who killed Jbe were proseciting Jax for his aggressiveness. "They are not getting me and in turn hurting the kind people in the hostipal who worked with Jbe. I need to be there with them."

She had over heard. The wolves worried if he will be back as he was away for few days. Like always when he left, the group became scattered. He did not accept but the group treated him as their leader.

"I am the wrong species. But darned if I could not change shape and be one of you." He often expressed.

Also if he was in the pack, she could not easily slip out. Once she almost did before her father looked up upon her just outside the one mile radius of their pack 's residece.

"Jani.. you are not a child to wonder and wander." He had been quiet but clearly upset. He later told his wife that Jax told him to look after his daughter cause she wandered. He thought she wanted to meet the rogue wolves that were seen on the other side of the spring. Jani expected her mother to correct and say ," No I am sure she was just walking .."

But her mother also advised , " I am not sure who or why but she is restless, keep her in your focus."

Today both of them were in slumber, she slipped out. She did not go towards the spring or where her friends often met the rogue packless wolves. They were dashing but she had other interests. She ran towards the river that separated their magical forest. Yes. many had tried and all had failed to cross the river. But she wanted to go near the banks to try once herself.

The sound of the river was deafening. The erratic showers that came with the heavy summer was strong and gave more than enough rains to fill the river yo the brim. There was no way to cross it. The forest on the other side looked near but hazy, as mid afternoon sun creqt d a haze that shielded the silvery mist.

Jani was thirsty and ventured for a sip on the river. The water was polluted and not as pure as the spring near her tribe's current resting place. But before she could react she saw a crocodile rushing towards her. She jumped back and slipped on the sloppibv backskiddong towards the cocodiles.

Now the apparent calm water was infested with them. No doubt not any pack member came here. She scampered up tearing her nails, almost falling into the water and into the mouth of the crocodiles.. instead landing on the muddy space and trying to get up again.. and again. She simply could not get. a strong hold and the mud was sinking with her weight.. till with her last strength she took a leap..

Just as she landed at a slight distance away.. a burning pierced her right side and she heard a slight sound of a g*n. Her ears stood up as did the hairs on her body. A poacher. She turned to attack only to stop as there were two men standing on the bank. One had a g*n pointed towards the crocodiles, the other looked at her beyond furious, holding a long branch. When have they arrived ? Both were breathing heavily.

One of the men fired in the sky, The crocodiles scattered, even as their strong tails splashed water and wet her. They were close and she was at the brink of a collapse. Atleast the hungry water giants were back into the water.

The other man whom Jani wanted to run away from, the man she wanted to impress, the man she really wanted as her own was seeing her on her secret act of reviewing the river, looked at her and said in a cool voice that denied the heavy breaths, " Thanks Dinesh. This one however .. may need a tranquiliser or two to keep in line."

Dinesh brought his g*n down and looked at her. She was still the spiky, muddy, hairy being running , jumping , tearing her nails.. with tail between her legs may be but yes she was scared.. her heart beat thumped. This was her first and only direct interaction with the crocodiles. All earlier were simply cautionary tales.

Dinesh shook his head, " Nah. That's a baby wolf. You have to lead that back to its pack. It does not need any tranquiliser. Also the ones I have are too strong for that baby."

She was not a baby though she may have acted like one. She looked at Jax and wanted him to say something.. anything.

Jax ignored her eyes as she begged him with her eyes to look at her. He walked closer and gripping her neck turned her to his side. And put his hand on her back her.. prodding something.. may be she had torn something during the rush to save herself today.

" Damn.. Jax. mate.. gosh!! . " Dinesh shouted. " The crocs got her almost. That needs a doctor... "

Jax brought out her hand and held infront of Jani. The hand was covered in blood. He then cradled her in his arms as if she was indeed the baby wolf that his friend Dinesh spoke of.

" The wild life centre is under observation and the lady's family is harassing the doctors. I don't feel comfortable to take Jani there. Let's see Dinesh what we can do ? You did once train to be a dentist ."

Dinesh whispered, "Mate.. is this Jani ? She is tiny..And Jax.. I was a dentist on humans. "

Then he said something about the guns and other actions they planned and Jax said something too. Then she felt a prick at her side. Dinesh mumbled sorry. They sedated her. She did not like it.. yet the burning sensation numbed as she also dozed into a medically induced slumber.