A Wolf's Game

5

I reached the lake by mid-afternoon the next day. My paws were bloodied from the long journey, but I would do it again in a couple of days. It really depends how long I was deciding on staying.

Being thirsty, I walked towards the lake. The sun reflecting over the water, showing some of the fishes living under the surface.

I drank the water, feeling refreshed from a long run. I ended up walking a bit in the water, swimming even. It was a relaxing day, despite me dying in these waters.

"Wow, an actual wolf." A little girl mushed, coming towards the lake without thinking. I gave her no thought and continued to swim. I knew she was a werewolf, a child that wasn't old enough to shift.

For me, I gave the scent of a wolf in wolf form and a human in human form. It was nice knowing that I didn't even have to worry about pack territories. Being dead was the best thing to have ever happen to me.

The little girl sat down, her feet dangling in the water. She must have had some smarts because she didn't get into the water with me or tried to bother me by throwing rocks or water.

She ended up starting at me with small upturn in her lips. She suddenly sighed, flopping her back down into the grass behind her. "I've never been here before."

My ears quickly moved to catch the sound better, and I started to grow worried when I heard what she said. Could this little girl be lost? I quickly got out of the water, shaking my fur and lying in the grass. I kept my eyes on her, trying to figure out how exactly she stumbled across something so beautiful, so beautiful that it was a sin.

"A man came to my mommy a couple days ago. My daddy wasn't happy." She sat back up, staring at me. "My story says wolves could understand us. Can you?"

I snorted, getting up. I walked forward a couple steps before finding some soft, dry grass I could be lying in. I fell over, rolling a bit before I found my spot.

"Anyways, I didn't hear anything, but my mommy got really sad. Even my daddy, and my daddy never cries." She sniffled, tears lacing her eyes. "Mommy decided to tell."

I lifted my head, wondering what her parents were telling her.

"That man and mommy had a baby. They told me that the big birds that give babies delivered the baby to the wrong family." She got to her feet, her hands digging into the dirt. "I got really excited because mommy said I have an older sister."

Her mood quickly changed. "Mommy said I could never meet her because she died."

The girl started to cry, swaying on her feet. I jumped to my feet, padding over to her. She quickly forced all her weight on me, crying into my fur. Her tiny fist tighten against my fur, padding dirt into it.

I brushed my head in her leg, trying to comfort her.

She stopped crying fairly quickly. "My mommy and daddy want me home. I told them I was going to the park with the Omega Willow, but I escaped." She looked around the woods, clearly lost.

I sighed. I could get close to the pack just for a second. I pushed her with my head, jumping away and heading towards the right way. I gave her a bark.

She gasped, "You can understand me! I knew it!" She clapped, running towards me. I couldn't help but smile when I saw her face.

I lead her to the pack, seeing a group of wolves arguing at each other.

"I gave you one job, Willow! Where is my daughter?" The man growled, making the she-wolf shake. A woman placed her hand on his chest, clearly angry, but she was trying to handle the situation calmly.

"I don't know, Alpha. I took her to the park, and she was gone!" The woman cried, falling to her knees. "I'm sorry! Forgive me!"

The little girl grimaced, shaking her head. "Maybe I'll come back later when he isn't mad." She started to walk backwards, careful of where her feet was landing.

I take one look to the side and see a stick. In a second, I step on it, making a large crack.

The Alpha seemed to smell his daughter, ignoring my scent. "Gabby!"

Gabby sent me a glare before coming from the woods. "Daddy!" She smiled, before looking and seeing her father's unhappy face. "I'm sorry."

The woman, who I presume is the mother, runs towards Gabby, lifting her to her chest. "Don't you ever to that again, young lady."

Knowing I had no place, I left, and I did it swiftly and quietly. I weaved through the trees before I cane back to the lake.

Looking over my shoulder, I sigh. Coming here was easier than I thought it was going to be. It was actually quiet peaceful compare to the other years, but that was because time was the thing that was changing.

I wasn't scared of this place anymore.

I went back into the water, going for a quick swim before I would have to find some nice place to sleep. Maybe I'll find a tree for tonight or maybe I'll find a hotel. In the end, I still need to get out of the lake.

I never do.

With all my strength, I pull my body from the lake and started walking deeper into the woods. I didn't bother to go into the cave, still hating it with all my life.

It was quiet weird. I could see the lake without having any problems, but once I took a step into the cave, the pain and memories hit me with he same force they did when everything happened.

Shaking the idea off, I curl myself at the bottom of a tree. My wolf was too big to hid in the roots, but I was big enough that no animals would try to attack me when I was sleeping.