The Wild Wolf Within

Magic Tutors

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Lia's POV

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After breakfast, I headed out to the stables to check on the horses. It had been far to long since I had seen them with my capture and then homecoming yesterday. I was exicted to get there and see how everyone had been. Turning the corner I seen a silver and black wolf. "Joe?" I asked.

"Yes," the wolf walked up to me.

"What are you doing here?" Genuinely curious.

"Keeping an eye on you as I was tasked to do." He answered matter of factually.

"Ah, if you excuse me. I need to feed and chat with them make sure they are ok." I rushed passed him without a second thought.

I burst through the barns door, "hi guys!" All their heads turned to look at me. I heard all.of them say "hi" back. I tossed there feed as quickly as I could. Then started with each of them, chatting about how things were while I was gone. I got to Warrior, "how are you?" he spoke first.

"Better now that I am back." I started. "Did Red do a good job?"

I heard Warrior laugh, "poor guy had no clue, how to feed or clean. Luckily that guy Joe, the wolf outside handled it most of the time."

"Joe?" Seemed to be a repeating theme.

"Yes, he feed and worked with the ones that he could." Warrior glanced toward the door. "Sounds like his foot steps." Warrior popped his head to the door.

I turned just in time to see Joe in all his brown eyed human glory. "Warrior," Joe nodded to him. the little Crillo mare on the other side also squealed a hello.

I raised a brow at that, I did not get that kind of reaction from her. "Thank you for helping here in the barn." I smiled.

"You are welcome, I see why you do it," he glanced at the little mare in question.

"Yes it makes me a bit happier knowing I have helped them worked past old trauma and get to a spot that I can find their human." I subconsciously heard the warmth in my voice. oddly it bugged me.

"I can see that. Though I would think about placing some with other magic borne people's." He suggested, walking to the criollo mare and scratching her forehead.

"Not a bad idea considering I never knew there were peoples like that." I stood next to Warrior.

" When I first met your Warrior in here, he made sure to tell me you were his," Joe looked back at us. "Also mentioned you had their gift of speech."

"Warrior and I have a very long history. He has my heart," I scratched the top of his neck near his ear. "We meant by chance, though there were times I thought I would not be able to help him."

"He told me the story. Also mentioned you ask the horses who they would like to stay with." Joe seemed curious on this.

"Yes, if they don't like them it is voided." I agreed.

"Interesting, by the way you had a call the other day, saying they were.bringing in another. Should be arriving any time." Joe seemed interested in how this was going to happen.

"Did they say what was coming in?" I raised a brow.

"Just a young gelding, deeply damaged." Joe shrugged.

"Well lets get the other stuff done and get a stall ready." I started to work.

"Stall is ready." He said with a brilliant smile.

I stalled out for a split second, until Warrior smacked me with his head, I glanced at him and he snorted. I started laughing. I heard Joe laugh too.

"Also, we will need to work on your magic. Leto has told Lada and I that you must be tutored on it." Joe blurted mid chuckle.

"You talked to Leto?" I was shocked.

"No just privy to information she offered." He shrugged. "I am not that cool." The smile still in place.

I nodded and started my other chores including working the ones Joe could not. I was mid way through the little foal when we both heard the truck and trailer coming. Both of us stopped what we were doing and walked out the door to see the truck and trailer coming up the drive.

I sighed I remembered this driver all to well. He was the meanest, heartless fellow I had come across in a long while. I sighed, shook my head and walked forward.

"What's wrong?" I heard Joe ask in my head.

"Ummmm how?" My surprised looked not lost on him when I turned to look at him

"Wolves can always talk this way. No matter the bloodline." He shrugged. "But what's wrong?"

"This guy is a huge jerk, I mean he should not be driving a trailer with any animal in it." I looked back as the truck got close. I disliked this guy, his attitude and actions always rubbed me the wrong way.

I watched thr big dark haired round as he was tall man get out. Walked right to me with a gruff voice "where do you want this one?"

"Like last time just back the trailer up to this door and I will do the rest." I raised my brow at him. He had been here enough that he knew what I would have said.

He stood there a moment, I could see his eyes and body language change. He wanted to fight with me today. I noticed that Joe had stepped into the shadows of the inside of the barn. I did not have Chief with me. He was down with the kids at the bunk house. I stood my ground as he came toward me, the smell of him was awful. "Look here...." His eyes darted to the barn, I glanced the same way to see Joe stepping out into the sunlight. "Sir" he suddenly nodded, stepping back.

Joe was big, about the same size as Red, though he gave off a bad boy look that rivaled even Red's . "Afternoon, Lia said we were getting another gelding today. please back it up to the door, we will do the rest." The big smelly round guy immediately dis his bidding. Jumping in the truck and turning it. Joe walked over next to me. "Sorry I was not gonna let that happen." He smiled big and grabbed my hand and walked into the barn with me.

"I gathered that," I grunted jerking my arm out of his hand. "I wanted to see how far he planned to go." I sighed. "He has been giving me crap for a long time."

Joe just nodded and waved to the stinky driver to stop. "How about you gather yourself and just get this gelding out?" He raised a brow at me.

Something about him irriated me. I had no idea what it was but there we stuck staring with that "you are gonna make look," I had mastered but still always defeated by Red most times.

Instead he walked over and opened the trailer door. swinging it toward the small portion of the door that was open. He walked in the trailer to unlock the the latch to the front half of the trailer. a wild eyed chestnut popped out. running into the isleway. He was snorting, tail extended and ready to run. A torn halter hanging from his head. I forgot my stubborn streak seeing him. Connecting my mind, "hello." I offered in the gelding's mind. He bulked at first flaring his nostrils and dancing to the side turning his panicked eyes on me.

"How can I hear you?" You could hear the fear in his voice.

"I am not like most humans." I mentioned. At the same time all the horses in here agreed. "I want to help, though I need you to go to the empty stall. there is food and water there." I mentioned hoping my warmth managed to go to him.

You could see him thinking behind his eyes. The fear still there. Warrior chimed in to say "I have been with her the longest, she is very nice. you are safe with her." He being a stallion most of the horses seemed to follow his lead.

More thought, and lowering his head I stood and waited. Finally he turned and walked back to the stall at the end. Walking in, he turned and looked at me.

"Do you mind if I walk up to close the door?" I wanted to know he wouldn't panic.

"I will be fine with the door closed." He agreed.

I walked to the door to close it. I heard Joe close the trailer door and knock on the side. Signaling the stinky driver to pull out and head off. I was slightly miffed but knowing this guy was safe now made me happy.