The Wolf Within

Come Back

** Dakota’s POV **

As we made our way back to the cabin, I kept thinking about what life had been like when I was a kid; so desperate to be in the forest. My parents definitely picked up on my love and reverence for nature and enrolled me in Girl Scouts and as many nature camps as they could find.

When I was old enough, my father took me hunting and camping all year round. He would hunt rabbits and beavers in the winter and I still remember the first time he brought me with him. He talked about teaching me how to track and hunt and sounded so excited and proud to be able to show me the ropes. However, once we got out there that quickly changed. By the time he woke for our day of hunting I had already caught our day’s limit. I just remember that look of disappointment in his eyes; not because he was mad at me or disappointed we couldn’t spend all day hunting, but because he felt like he had nothing to teach me.

A pang of sadness went through my heart as I remembered how deflated he looked. I wished I could have pretended not to know what I was doing; but hunting came so naturally to me. Tracking the creatures, staying down wind, stepping without breaking sticks; all of these were just common knowledge to me. I felt so bad that I had unintentionally robbed my father of the opportunity to teach his only daughter the hobby he had loved so much.

“Everything alright?” That smooth voice inquired close behind me, I was immediately aware of my drooping shoulders and straightened my back.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I replied hastily, “Just thinking of my dad.”

“Ah,” Ranger Accalia said simply, slight hesitation in her voice. “I’m sorry. Is he…” She let the sentence fade as the implication was made clear.

“Oh no, he’s very much alive. He and my mom live about five hours away from here. Sometimes it’s hard to find time to see them with all the work I have to do. That’s all.” I shrugged, not wanting to get into the details.

“I see, well, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.” She stated; and I believed her. It was funny, this woman I had just met and had barely known for a few hours was so… real. I felt connected to her already and absolutely wanted to get to know her more.

Introducing, U-Haul Brain (UB): We need her number. We need her. She’s just, ugh, she’s so perfect I want to die. Get it. Get. The. Number. We will talk to her forever. And—

HB: Woah, calm down, we hardly even know her.

AB: For once, I agree with you HB. Have you even SEEN her UB. Ranger Accalia is; A, an intimidating Ranger and B, most certainly OUT OF OUR LEAGUE. Plus there is always a chance she is a serial killer. Just saying.

UB: Are you kidding? A. we are into badass Ranger ladies and B. did you catch her staring at us earlier? Caution to the wind I say! Pursue with reckless abandon!

AB: Sure, sure, sure. Whatever you say UB, but you are forgetting one thing.

UB: What’s that?

AB: IS SHE GAY?

UB: ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  My gaydar is going OFF! I mean sure a lady can have short hair, muscles for days, and be a ranger without being into women but she is checking out our ass right now! Case closed!

AB: But--

As I debated on whether or not I was even in the same league as Ranger Accalia I opened the door to the cabin. Once inside, I saw Ranger Alexa who had apparently frozen the moment she heard the door open because she stood absolutely still with a box in her hands and eyes as wide as a deer’s, just, looking at me. Behind her was a mountain of cardboard boxes all strategically constructed, with Silvy sitting contentedly in the center of her new box kingdom.

“So, what’s going on here?” I asked, my right eyebrow raising in suspicion toward Ranger Alexa, who seemed to GREATLY enjoy playing with little Silvy.

“Nothing!” She said, and apparently, I had broken her freezing spell, for she immediately went to hide the small box in her hands behind her back and straightened up as if everything was absolutely normal.

After a few moments she looked back at the box fort, blushing. “I’m sorry, she just didn’t seem interested in anything and then she spotted the empty box on the counter and meowed at it.” She was referring to the empty sss delivery box I had left on the counter intending to recycle later. “So, I brought it down to her level and she jumped right in! So… one thing led to another, and now…” Her voice trailed off.

“Now what?” Ranger Accalia said in a stern yet very amused tone of voice.

“…now she is Queen Silvy, ruler of the Cardboard Cat Clan.” Ranger Alexa quickly said under her breath. “I’m very sorry Dakota. Let me just clean this up.” She said, after looking past me and to, who I assume now was, her senior officer.

“It’s alright,” I replied, trying to ease her tension. I looked to Ranger Accalia and…

UB: Are her cheeks blushing?? They are! SUCK IT ALL YOU HATERS; HB and AB, I’m talking about you. I WIN.

She looked frustrated, sure, but also like she was trying not to laugh. “Where exactly did you get all these boxes though?” I inquired; I didn’t remember having any boxes outside of the one I was going to recycle.

“Oh, these were all from the truck. Never know when you are going to need to box up some evidence or anything.” Ranger Alexa remarked as she continued deconstructing.

“I see,” I replied, “Well, I’m sure Queen Silvy very much appreciated the play time. I’ll go get that lemonade now Ranger Accalia. Ranger Alexa, would you like one too?” I asked, but had already gotten three glasses from the cupboard, anticipating her polite “yes,” in advance.

I could have sworn that, while I was pouring the drinks, I heard Ranger Alexa whisper to my cat “I’m so sorry your excellency. I will make you a cardboard kingdom again, bigger and better than ever ASAP.”

As I walked the drinks to each of the women, “One for you,” I said as I set Ranger Accalia’s cup on the table in front of her, “and one for you,” I said to Ranger Alexa as I handed hers to her while she sat next Silvy on the floor. She was now taking a rest from breaking down the boxes. I couldn’t help myself but ask, “How many wolves are here in the area?”

“Well, given that this is a rather large forested area sprinkled with prairies in between them and only home to a few towns, the population size isn’t unusual. I would say we have a few hundred or so here.” Ranger Accalia answered. “Granted, they tend to travel in smaller packs, so the odds of you seeing them all together are next to none.” She said, trying to reassure me.

“Oh, ok.” I said, surprised at such a large number. “Would you,” I started, hesitating for a moment, unsure of how to ask the question, “would you be willing to teach me the proper way to react should I encounter any more wolves?” I asked. If that same wolf came back, I don’t know if I would actually want to scare it away again or if I’d just bring it some food. However, it wouldn’t hurt to learn what the proper response should be from a professional.

“How did you scare the wolf away last night?” Ranger Alexa asked in the background, clearly excited to hear about the story. So, I got up and demonstrated what I had done. I was soon feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked like she was trying her best not to laugh and she quickly went back to breaking down the rest of the box fort in an attempt to hide it. At least I was glad I asked for their expertise then.

“I guess I did it wrong?” I asked Ranger Accalia, a bit under my breath, trying not to show my embarrassment too much. She smiled in return to my question, it was such a kind and warm-hearted smile but still filled with amusement.

“No, I’d say you did it right.” She remarked, “After all, it went away in the end didn’t it?”

“Yes…” I said, “but it took a few moments before it realized what I was trying to do.”

“You remember the story I told you earlier?” Ranger Accalia asked, leaning forward onto the table, her face getting closer to mine. My heart skipped a bit and my breath caught, my attraction to her was like a magnet and I felt my body lean forward to shorten the distance between us.

UB: FURTHER, just a little further. Further, further…

AB: THAT’S ENOUGH! We are NOT kissing a stranger, and even if we WERE, it wouldn’t be in front of her coworker like this. Or at such a random moment!

HB: Agreed. I believe a foot of distance, like we have currently, is enough.

UB: Ugh! Fine you party poopers!

I suddenly snapped out of my internal argument only to realize I’d missed the first half of what that beautiful mouth had been saying. “…so, you see, there’s really no reason to scare them off at all. When you see them, know that it’s considered luck and that they aren’t likely to hurt you at all.” She smiled and took a sip of her lemonade. Her face lit up as she did so.

“This is great!” She said, with her eyes wide, “I’ve never tasted lemonade like this before,” She took another, smaller sip, and sniffed the glass. “Is that lavender in there?”

“Yes! You have a good nose!” I said, happy to see she liked it so much. “So, what you were saying is, I shouldn’t be afraid of the wolves when I see them?” I asked. She nodded in reply as she drank the last of her lemonade. “Does that mean that I also shouldn’t call you again if I should see the same wolf come around?” I was a little afraid to hear the answer, I was really hoping this wasn’t going to be the last time I was around Ranger Accalia.

“We’ve collected data on the wolf you saw last night, but I’m always willing to come around and check in on you if that would make you feel better.” The Ranger stated, putting on her suave smile.

Ranger Alexa began bringing the now-broken down boxes outside, and I assumed back to their truck.

“Also,” Ranger Accalia continued. “We’ve been having an issue with wolf-poachers in the area.” She stopped for a moment, looking at me with both concern and warning, “If you should see anything out of the ordinary or any suspicious looking hunters, don’t hesitate to call.” She reached out and gently squeezed my forearm to put emphasis on the word ‘call’.

The butterflies in my stomach started flying around like crazy at that touch and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

UB: ASK NOW! ASK NOW WHILE YOU ARE ALONE!!

“Should I call the station, or call you directly?” I couldn’t believe how forward I was being. Had that really come out of my mouth? Ranger Accalia smirked as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. Her hand then grabbed a pen from the same pocket and scribbled down some information on the back of it.

“Like I said, don’t hesitate to call.” With an extremely on-point wink, she stood up and made her way to the door. “Are you almost ready to head out Alexa?” She called through the doorway to her partner.

“Sure am!” I heard Ranger Alexa shout back. She jogged into the house and went straight for Silvy. As she began petting her between the ears she said “It was wonderful to meet you your highness. I can’t wait to play again.”

HB: Alexa seems pretty confident about coming back here.

UB: Hey, if our girl needs a wingman for courage, I don’t mind one bit! Clearly she sees the sparks flying between us and Ranger Accalia. Ooh girl, Accalia can put me in handcuffs any day.

I immediately cut off that train of thought as I felt my face burn with a massive, self-induced blush. “It was nice meeting you Dakota,” Ranger Alexa said as she walked out and made her way to the truck.

“Likewise,” I said as I waved to her. “and it was very nice meeting you too Ranger Accalia.” I said, blushing again as soon as our eyes met for the umpteenth time today.

“Please, call me Lia, and the pleasure was all mine.” She made her way back to the truck as I stood in the doorway and waved them goodbye. Once they were far enough down the road, I went back into the cabin, closed the door and leant against it.

How am I going to get her back here?