Forest Pack Community Book One (COMPLETED)

chapter 9

People came up and talked to the different people at the head table. Both Goldie’s parents and Niomi’s parents came up and wished Felicia a happy birthday. They also asked their daughters if they were ready to leave. Goldie and Niomi looked at Felicia and asked, “Do you mind Felicia?”

Felicia stopped eating for a minute and before putting the next bite in said, “No you go ahead I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t mind me if I sleep in or you don’t see much of me.”

They both laughed and nodded. Knowing she was going to be just as tired as she was hungry. But only because they knew her so well.

Mick started to yawn. So, Joy said to Felicia, “Sweetheart you don’t have to finish the cookie now. Cook can box it up and you can take it home.”

“Ok, let’s go I’m getting tired too. In fact, I’m exhausted.” Mick jumped up at hearing that and went back to the kitchens himself and said, Felicia is finally ready to go. Can we get a box for the cookie?”

Cook laughed and asked how much was left. Mick replied, “Just over half.” So, the cook gave him a container to put it in, and he left the kitchens. When he came back to the table, Felicia had finally stopped eating and was sitting there almost asleep in her seat. He said to her, “You are too big to carry this time. Let’s get this cookie put away and you up to your room.” So, while Joy carried the cookie and Mick had an arm around Felicia’s waist helping her up the stairs and to her room. Joy took the cookie to their kitchen and put it away. She then went to Felicia’s room to help her undress because as tired as she was. There was a good chance that Felicia would already asleep if not almost there and she was right.

“Felicia dear let’s get you undressed and ready for bed.” Felicia, in her half-asleep state made some vague noise. Joy just laughed. Grabbed her night gown and got her ready for bed like she did all those years before. Looking down at the young woman before her, spoke softly to her sister-in-law who she could feel in the room. ‘She’s ok. I know you didn’t want to leave her. It’s not your fault either. You can rest in peace; I got our girl. I hope you don’t mind but I consider her my daughter too. I may not have given birth to her, but I’ve helped her grow. I feel like a stepmother. But one of the good ones you know? I love her so much. Thank you for giving me a chance to be a mom. Goddess knows I’ve tried to have my own. But she had other plans.’ And with that the sense that Felicia’s mom was with her was gone. With that Joy left the room and went to bed herself.

The next morning, they let Felicia sleep as long as she wanted and went on with their day. Felicia slept most of the day away, when she woke up she put sweats and an old t-shirt and went to their kitchen to take her cookie back to her room. And then went back to sleep. Leaving the empty box on her desk. When Joy hadn’t seen her, she found her curled up under a throw with the cookie box on her desk. Joy smiled took the box and left some dried meat and a note that said there’s cheese in the fridge to go with this meat. Have some next time you wake up. Don’t forget to drink water or a cup of tea. Then she left the room once again leaving a sleeping Felicia.

The next time she woke up she found the meat and the note, padded her way to their kitchen and grabbed the cheese and a couple bottles of water and went back to her room. Finished off the meat and cheese and one bottle of water and climbed back into bed. She just didn’t feel like going anywhere. She was that tired and just wanted to rest. At dinnertime Joy came in and it was one of Felicia’s awake moments. Joy said, “Look who’s upright. Are you staying this way or going to snack and go back to sleep?”

Felicia looked at her and said, “The second one.”

“Well Cook was worried, so she gave me a dinner plate to send to you with instructions that you better eat this up. Even if all you do is go back to sleep.” Felicia nodded and took the tray and sat at her desk and ate. Once she had finished the plate she had set it outside her door, because she noticed that Joy had not stayed to make sure she ate. Because Joy trusted that she’d eat. When she was done with that she crawled back into bed and fell asleep quite quickly.

Even after all that sleeping she slept through the night waking up refreshed and rejuvenated. She got up and went down to the dining hall where there was breakfast and her friends. They ran up to her and said, “Felicia!!! We’re so glad to see you! Did you sleep well?”

She smiled at her friends, “Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you all about it. But let’s sit down over at that small round table.” So, they did. Once they got their breakfast, Felicia said “I have a story to tell you. I was 7 when it happened. Something hit our car. To this day I have no idea what it was. I just know it ended in my parents’ death. What I saw traumatized me for nine years. After we were hit, I saw my parents’ bouncing around like ping pong balls, even though they had seat belts on they bounced around like they weren’t wearing any.” She paused for a drink of coffee. “There was blood just everywhere I saw it flying. Whatever hit us was huge. I heard Azella say to me ‘you will be ok.’ Then I passed out. Back then I said that the blackness took me. Humans took me to a human hospital. Where I stayed for a whole month. But after I woke up, I kept asking my parents. No one would tell me right away. When the doctor came in, he called for child counseling services. At the time I had no idea what that meant. I didn’t care. I just wanted my mom and dad. Technically they were in the hospital, just in the morgue.” She took a bite, chewed, swallowed, and continued. “So, when Ruth came in, she told me that my parents were dead. I screamed and yelled no no no…just like I did that night in the car. I didn’t realize it then because I heard someone screaming no no no but had no clue whose voice that was. It turned out it was my voice that night in the car. See, I blamed myself because I asked for ice cream after the concert. When they told me, the nurse that was there when I woke up, She’s the one I clung to. Her and Ruth sat with me day and night till the people from here came to get me.” She laughed and said, “Ya know I haven’t sung since that night. I didn’t realize till now. They also gave me a white wolf because they found out I liked wolves. I thought I was human. My wolf had disappeared just before the blackness and didn’t show up for another 2 months. She didn’t show up till we had my parents’ lake ceremony. So, I was able to truly howl with everyone else. But I didn’t have my wolf, so I took longer to heal. Like I said I was there for a month. I finally started telling them about my school Timber Wood and Forestville. At the time they were just names and vague memories. But every night I re-lived every moment. We had just been laughing about something then BAM.” Another pause for a bite and sip of coffee. “After the two clues, Mary the social worker had an easier time finding what turned out to be my pack. She came here looking for my family. Turns out you guys were looking for me too. So Uncle Ben and Aunt Lissa gathered vehicles, and warriors as honor guards, and then one for the five of us. They followed Mary to the hospital. The warriors went to get my parents. While Lissa, Ben, Joy, and Mick came to me. Mary introduced them to me. That’s when I ended up back here. That first night was rough and I woke up screaming. Aunt Joy then ran to me and held me like a mother. She’s become my stepmom. I think my mother is ok with that. It’s like I feel it. So, that’s when I started to be more comfortable, more comfortable in my own skin. I had a wall erected. One that was emotionally hard to get through. So when I yelled at the top of my lungs at a mirror no less. It was then that I broke through my insecurities. It was then that I was able to shift. My white Wolfie, was unknowingly a forecast of my wolf. You see my grandmother was also a white wolf, my mother a silver one. Me also wife. The women in my family are special. I don’t know what color my uncle is. I’ve never asked. Maybe I should. But anyway. That is my story.” She finished. Then continued eating her breakfast and drinking her coffee.

Goldie and Niomi then understood Felicia in a way they didn’t before. “Wow, I can’t believe all that you went through. No wonder you had trouble doing some of the things that were supposedly supposed to be easy. You had trouble trusting and trouble and giving control over to people and your wolf. I am so glad you were able you were able to break through.” Pointed out Goldie.

“You’re right. I have. Thank you.” Felicia smiled. “I feel happy to have told you. Now we are truly like sisters.” Both girls nodded and smiled. They finished their breakfast and discussed what they should do that day.

As the days went on. The day of the big party got closer and closer. Goldie also turned sixteen on the twenty-first. Unfortunately, she didn’t shift like Felicia. Felicia comforted her and reminded her how extreme emotion was what helped her shift. So maybe on the party night. Goldie dejected said ok. Felicia hugged her and said, “It’ll be ok. You’ll get there. I’m here for you.”

As the party was only ten days away they had to go back to the seamstress for final fittings and adjustments. Goldie’s dress fit her like a glove, and it seemed no adjustments needed to be made. As it was not to tight and loose enough in case of extra pounds, Goldie was very athletic and always went for a run in the morning before breakfast, so she stayed fit. Niomi’s dress needed a little taking in the halter area. As for some reason she had lost weight. She put it down to being nervous. So she either had to go on an eating diet Or allow the dress to be taken in. Seeing there wasn’t a lot of area to ‘fill in’ she decided to talk to cook and see what she suggested. Felicia said she’d go with her. Then it was Felicia’s turn. When she put her dress on. Goldie and Niomi stared at her like she had grown a third head.

Felicia looked at them and said, “What? Did I gain weight after eating all that food on my birthday?”

Niomi spoke first, “I didn’t notice before but since your shift you look more toned, your cheek bones…”

“Are sharper.” Finished Goldie. “Everything about is just a little…more.” They looked at the seamstress.

She too was looking at her with a practiced eye. She took the shell off her grabbed some of the lilac tulle she had used and pinned it up like a cameo letting it flow down and then stepped back. Nodded and asked the other girls. “what do you girls think?”

They both nodded it enhanced her beauty. So, the seamstress took Felicia over to the mirror and showed her. Felicia also was stunned. She started to explain her plan for the cape. She decided that using piping that was a shade darker would help make it stand out better, plus it would give it more shape. But she needed Felicia to stay longer. So, it could be pinned and shaped. Felicia nodded and stood there still as a statue. The seamstress got to work, going back and forth between her piping station and Felicia trying to find the perfect shade. Frustrated she looked at Niomi and Goldie. Goldie said, “Try white, but not plain white. May I?” When she got a nod from the seamstress. Goldie went over to the piping and looked around. When she found the whites, she just looked over them. Not going near Felicia and just using her senses. She found one that had a slight sparkle. She brought it over to the seamstress, who looked at her quizzically. “Trust me, try it. I have a sense about these things.”

So, the seamstress started pinning the piping and found it was the perfect compliment. As she started to put the shape that she had in mind. It turned out that Goldie was exactly right. The seamstress looked at her astonished. “It’s perfect.” So, she decided to test her. “What do you think about the neckline of the cape?”

Goldie thought a moment and found some paper and drew out the cape then the neckline. She doubled the piping at the neck bringing it around with a loop on one side and a lilac pearl looking button on the other side. But keeping single piping on the rest. When she was done she showed the seamstress. She was astonished this girl had the makings of a clothes designer. “Here try pining. Did you see how I was doing it?”

“OK, and yes I did see, how you did it.” So, she tried. By this time, she had gotten out of her dress and hung it back up. She started pining the way she had envisioned. Going around being careful around Felicia’s neck. Making the loop, then asked for the button she envisioned. The seamstress found the button and handed it over. Goldie pined it and then continued to pin the rest as she went down the sides she kept going she suddenly had a vision how she wanted the whole thing to look. As she moved, completely focused on her task. The seamstress saw potential and an apprentice. She would have to talk to her about it. Goldie continued when she got to the bottom instead of ending there she asked for a pair of scissors. Which were handed over. As she wanted to see what Goldie had planned. Goldie cut smooth waves along the bottom edge. Then she went back to pining the piping. She then went back up the side meeting the other end at the shoulder making a seamless edge in the piping. You couldn’t tell that it was two edges pinned together.

The effect was indeed perfect. “Oh, my Goldie. You do have a sense about these things.” She carefully unhooked the cape. Looked at Felicia and Niomi and said, “You two may take your dresses. Take them off and we’ll put them in dress bags. Goldie would you stay? I’d like to talk to you about an opportunity.”

“Sure…” she said with a question in her voice. She helped her friends put the dresses in bags to take with them.

Once they left the seamstress said, “I’ve never introduced myself properly. My name is Juniper. Like the trees around us. My mother always had an infinity to trees of all kinds, but Junipers were her favorite. But anyway, what you just did was a test. A test of instinct and some ability. Between your drawing, your sense without having to run back and forth, and seeing me pin only once or twice. Tells me you have great potential. What do you think about becoming my apprentice. Or becoming a clothing designer? Because even if you don’t have the knack for sewing we might be able to find someone who does. Plus, two heads are always better than one. What do you think. It’ll give you a job and a career in the future.”

Goldie thought of all the clothing drawings back in her room and realized she truly had a dream, and it was becoming a realization. All she had to do was follow it. Before saying yes, she mind linked her parents asking them first. ‘Goldie dear if that is your dream, follow it. You have our support. We love you.’

At that she looked at Juniper and said, “I would love to. In fact, I can’t wait. You won’t believe this, but I have so many drawings back in my room of different dresses and clothes it would make your head spin.” Laughed Goldie.

Juniper looked at her with a smile on her face and replied. “Go get them, I can’t wait to see them. That way you can take your dress home too.”

“I’ll be back! I promise! Oh. I can’t wait! I’ve realized my dream, and I get to actually follow it!" With that she ran off dress in hand. When she got home, her parents were sitting in the living room. She ran to her room, hung her dress up. Then she started to gather her drawings putting them in one of her folders that she used to keep them in. While doing that her parents showed up at her door. Smiling at their daughter’s eagerness.

“We’re proud of you Goldie. You’re following your dream.”

“She wants to see all my drawings momma! I was so surprised, happy, excited all at the same time.” She stopped long enough to look at her parents and say, “I’ve got a career. An apprenticeship with an amazing seamstress named Juniper!”

“Congratulations. When you come home tonight from work, we’ll celebrate. I’ll make your favorites. Ok?”

“Sounds amazing! Can we invite my friends. It’s because of Felicia, that this all happened.”

“Well go back to work, and you can tell us all at dinner. I’ll let your friends know through their moms ok?”

“Thanks momma! Love you!” With that she ran back out the door.

Later that night, when she dragged herself home after working. Juniper loved her drawings so much she suggested that they start her training on the items that Goldie herself had drawn. When she got there her friends were already there, which gave her second wind. “Felicia I have you to thank for this!”

“What do you mean?” Felicia asked in confusion.

“I’ll tell you all at dinner, I’m hungry.” Everyone laughed. With that they all sat down. As they started eating, Goldie had eaten half her food before she had started telling them about her day. “So, when we went in for final fittings we noticed that Felicia looked different more toned and sharper cheekbones just different. So, we decided it was because of her shift. We discarded the shell that was originally planned and went with a cape. But Juniper couldn’t find the right piping. Oh, and your cape should be done tomorrow Felicia. Anyway, I asked if I could try. So first I drew it out and showed it Juniper. She gave me the go ahead and I went over to the piping area and stood there looking at the colors and saw a white one that was a tad sparkly and showed it to her. Next thing I knew I was pining it. I was so focused that everything fell away. It was just me and the garment. When I got to the bottom I suddenly had a spark of inspiration. Juniper trusted me and handed me the scissors I requested. I cut some deep smooth waves and then piped that, following the lines up the side to where the other end was at her shoulder. I pinned the two ends together and stepped back. Juniper stated that I had done such a good job that you couldn’t tell there were two ends met. She asked me to stay behind as she had a proposition for me. Once Niomi and Felicia left she started talking and pitching me her idea. She told me she saw potential in me as a designer. That I had a sense for what looked right. She asked if I wanted to be her apprentice! I thought about all those designs I had drawn that were in my room, I realized what my dream was. But I mind linked my parents and asked what they thought.”

“We told her that if that was her dream and something she really wanted to do, we would support her in whatever she decided.”

“So, I told Juniper, that’s her name, that I would and that I had so many designs I had drawn in my room. She told me to take my dress home and bring back the designs. So that’s exactly what I did. When I got back though she looked through them and told me that my training would be to make my designs. So, we started. I picked my favorite one and we started that one for me. Seeing as though we had my measurements already. Mom there’s a dress that would be perfect for you. Could you come down so we can take your measurements? That’s something else I have to learn. I need to talk to Luna as there’s a pant suit that I think would look amazing on her, in fact she was my inspiration when I drew it. Same with the dress for you mom. But first we needed to get the cape done. She went over to her sewing machine and told me to watch what she did as she worked it. Watching her sew was just amazing. It was like a song and dance with the noise from the machine being the song and the dance was her and the fabric. Then at some point she stopped and had me try on a scrap piece to see how I’d do. So I mimicked what she had done, imagining that it was the cape and sewing the piping on. The lines I made as I went around staying on the scrap piece. All of sudden she handed me another and said here sew the two together making a seam one side will be kind of rough, but the other side will looked finished and like any other seam you would see. So I did and I did it right the first time. It seems like its second nature to me. Show me once and I got it. Or explain it to me and I got it. She told me she would show me how to flatten the seam later. But wanted to keep on the sewing machine as that’s where most of the work is done. So she explained different techniques and how sometimes you sewed a line in a fabric for no other reason than for aesthetics. That one blew my mind. Then she told me to get the piece I had made the seam in, and we went over to the ironing board, and she explained that different fabrics needed different types of steam or needed something placed over them to protect them. I didn’t realize that ironing was so complicated. But seeing as my seam was of simple fabric we just used the normal setting. She also told me that ironing also works as a way to set the stitch. When I asked what the different bottles were for. She said that one was distilled water that goes in the iron. One was a starch spray that stiffens the fabric and one was regular water which some fabrics needed when they were ironed. Then she explained the different settings on the iron. Again I didn’t realize there were so many aspects to the iron. But I was excited and just soaking it all in. It was amazing. She continued to show me things in the shop. Then it was the end of the day. Tomorrow we’re going to finish the cape and start working on my design. I had told her that some of the designs were inspirations due to some of the pack members. She suggested that we make those for those people.”

“That’s amazing Goldie! You have an apprenticeship and career all rolled up into one. You could draw designs and put them in a book and people could choose from that book.” Niomi suggested.

“That’s a great idea Niomi! I’ll have to get a binder and page protectors!” Goldie said off in her own world and seeing what could be. Her parents looked at each other and nodded. They knew exactly what to get her for her birthday. They would go soon as they didn’t have much time to find everything.

After dinner they had dessert, and it was time for Felicia and Niomi to go. As the two girls walked away. Niomi said to Felicia. You two have had such wonderful experiences that have happened to you. I kind of feel left in the dust. I feel boring.”

“Well cook is going to help you put on weight. Let me ask you when you had your dress on, What exactly felt loose?”

“My boobs. Honestly I think if I was filled out more the rest would fit just right.”

“Hmmm. Let’s go talk to your mom ok. We’ll see if she has any suggestions.” Felicia suggested."

"Tonight?”

“No time like the present. Let me mind link, my aunt. You mind link your mom and warn her we’re coming and need her.” So, they each mind linked their respective moms. Felicia to tell her that she needed to go to Niomi’s to help her with something important; and Niomi to tell her mom they were coming.

When they got to Niomi’s house her mother was waiting with tea. They all sat down at the kitchen table. At one point her dad came through and the girls got dead silent. So, her mom said to him to go away this was women’s talk. He chuckled and walked away. They then continued.

“Mom, there’s something wrong with me. Or me and my dress. The dress is perfect. I however don’t seem as perfect for it.” Niomi stated.

“Now Niomi what kind of talk is that? You are a beautiful girl just the way you are.” Her mom admonished.

“Niomi go get your dress on.” Felicia suggested. “Let’s show her what we mean.” Her mom looked at Felicia with raised eyebrows. “Just wait you’ll see.” To which the other woman nodded.

A few minutes later she came down the stairs holding her dress. Felicia got up and zipped it up for her. She then went back and sat down. She was there for moral support and to give ideas if she had any.