Blue

Saw another dead armadillo up in the country. I also saw an otter. And two turtles on the road, along with a discarded bag of dog food. Funny the things you can find up there.

Lina- Eheheheh… I used to live in the country, of which I mentioned above, where it was basically just woods. Things happen out there, especially when you have a big imagination and/or have watched many many horror movies. I can imagine doing/thinking the same thing, just not saying anything out loud. Oh, and what was snapping the twig? ;)

Oh, and sorry for the shortness of this chapter, I had to end where I did, because because.

I owe you more, considering how long I was gone. But don‘t worry, I will have another out really soon.

---

Eli’s stance was defensive as the man came closer, the wind bringing a decidedly human stench, coupled with something that smelled quite a bit like the locked cupboard that Mama didn’t allow the young wolf in.

The man stood taller than Eli, with grayed hair and tanned skin. What really caught the wolf’s attention was the three thick scars along the man’s cheek, leading from his ear to his chin.

Something that looked eerily familiar was lying in the crook of the man’s arm. He was positive that it was what got the brown wolf. But what was it called?

He’d seen it in the town that Mama would send him to on errands. Mostly it was the farmers that carried them around, maybe go off into the woods to shoot a few rounds.

Eli had been curious at first, until he heard the loud shots going off into air, hitting either nothing or lodging themselves in the trees. It was the last time that the young wolf had ever followed the townspeople when they went off for some reason or another. It left a ringing noise in his ears for days, especially when he was in his wolf form. Mama thought he had mites crawled up there, with the way he was twitching.

But what was it? He was sure Mama had told him, after he described the look and sound. She’d been real firm about telling him to keep away, and not to touch it, and how dangerous it was, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember!

The man startled Eli out of his thoughts, still staring at the thing in his arms.

“Well?” The man’s voice was gruff. He motioned with the weapon off the way to the woods. “Go on, then. Git!”

Eli didn’t have to be told twice as he took off through the forest, intent on getting as quickly away as possible.

He was sure that the man wasn’t following his way as he made his way to Mama’s. If anything, she needed to be told there was someone killing things on or around her property. She didn’t like that.

But, if Mama tried to do something about it, wouldn’t she just end up like the brown wolf? Mama was strong, and she was fast, but not faster than whatever that had gotten the other wolf.

Before he could decide whether or not he should actually tell her, he was in front of the cottage, looking straight at Mama, who was crouched in the garden, having replanted not long ago.

She looked at him strangely, before standing up. She opened her mouth, but Eli beat her to it.

“There’s a man in the forest!” Eli panted, having run his quickest to get to Mama.

“And?” Was Mama’s reply.

“He had a… had… a thing!” Eli tried making the shape with his hands, only to have Mama raise an eyebrow at him. “It went bang!”

Eli couldn’t think of any other explanation. It was the same that he used trying to describe it when he was younger, and Mama seemed to catch on quickly.

“A gun?”

Yes! That was the word. Odd. Such a small word for such a deadly thing. And said deadly thing was also the biggest warning Mama had given him, years ago. Why hadn’t he listened for the whole speech?

“Yes!”

Mama looked slightly concerned. “And where’d you go off to, then?”

Eli was starting to calm down, finally catching his breath. “I was out in the woods… there was a wolf, from Ash’s pack. The man shot him.”

Mama face scrunched up in thought.

“A wolf? How do you know it was from Ashton’s pack? Was he there?”

Oh, crap.

Eli shook his head, slowly. “Uh, no. I just, smelt him, yeah? The s-same as Ashton.”

“I know when you’re lying to me.” Mama said sternly, her eyes hard. Eli still had yet to figure out how she always knew when he was keeping something from her. At least eventually.

Eli flinched slightly, keeping back the whine threatening to come out.

“I just… saw him before. Ashton was around, so… but still! The man shot him!”

Mama seemed to let it go, for now, instead focusing on what Eli thought was a very large problem.

“I don’t know what to tell you, kid. Ain’t nothing we can do about it, not like I own these woods.” Mama sighed. “Though you better tell me if he gets to bothering you, you hear? I want you to tell Ashton, let him keep an eye on you, then. Last thing we need is for you going and getting yourself shot.”

Eli nodded, licking his lips and hoping that Mama’s earlier discovery would go forgotten.

When Mama seemed to stay in thought, and not looking to bring it back up, Eli sighed in relief. He still wasn’t sure how Mama would handle what had happened in the woods, or if it would really bother her at all, since it had been so long. Of course, there was still the guilt of not telling her. But then again, he was an adult. A mated one, at that.

Who smelled funny, too. Not that that really helped him.

“Eli, you…” Mama startled him. Her head was cocked to the side, and, while Eli watched, he saw her face go from confusion, to thoughtfulness, until she had that happy glint in her eye that he hadn’t seen in a long time. “I suppose congratulations are in order, then.”

“…What?”

Mama didn’t lose that look in her eyes.

“The pups?”

…

“…What?”

“Ashton didn’t tell you?” Mama said suddenly, confused.

“Tell me what?” Eli was starting to get nervous. Pups?

“Well, he did say he lived away from the pack most of the time…” Mama said to herself, before snorting. “You two are quite the pair.”

“Mama, what-”

“Your pregnant, hon.”

Eli continued to stare at her, wide eyed.

“You have the scent about you, anyway. Only comes when you get a little along in the pregnancy.”

Eli felt faint.

Was it really that hot out there? Eli felt like he was going to burn up. Maybe it was from the run? Adrenaline wearing off, maybe? Or was it… shock wearing off from the wolf that got shot? Was he finally realizing what had happened? No…

“Eli?” Mama snapped her fingers in the wolf’s face.

“Mm?” Eli was really starting to feel dizzy.

“Come on, boy, calm down.”

“Mm?” Eli repeated.

Oh, what a pretty, big, blue sky.

“Eli?!”

Why’d the trees move? Where…

---

You know, I really like background noise when I write, like the TV? But now I have the Justice League theme song stuck in my head and it is not fun.

Also, I forgot to mention that I hit the 100 review mark a while back. Thanks for getting it that far :D. Oh, guess what, I‘ve figured it out to be the anon, Angie‘s # 1 Fan. Nice. Unless I miscounted. Possible. Anyway, I should be able to update slightly more regularly. Not that I want to, considering were so close to being finished. Just a few chaps left!