Thoughts of a Wolf

Chapter 14
Home for the holidays


I awoke the next day to find that it had snowed, Jacob and Patrick where chatting about what they were going to do over the holidays. I dressed quickly and rushed down to breakfast, as I was running out to the dorm Jacob and Patrick jumped up and followed.
We all laughed as I beat them to our dorm’s table; I smiled brightly and gave my greeting to Lenleia.

Tomorrow we would be leaving to go home for the holidays and I like everyone else was ecstatic about getting to see our families again. Once breakfast was finished I headed to class with my friends; life here at school has been really great for me.

I sometimes missed granddad but knew that here I had friends, classes were slow that day and by lunch I was wishing that this day would end. I daydreamed through my afternoon classes and when the bell sounded in my last class I jumped up and was the first one out of the door, I could tell that my friends were giving me funny looks but I didn’t care.

Tomorrow I would be home and going shopping with my grandfather, so they can look at me all they like. I skipped dinner tonight, to excited to be going home tomorrow. I woke early and carefully put Misty in her carrier; then packed the rest of my things. I woke Jacob and Patrick, and then headed in to the shower room. By the time I had returned to the room my friends were packed and ready to leave.

At breakfast the hall was engulfed in the sound of happy chatter, everyone was talking and excitedly about getting to go home. Once breakfast was complete, I climbed into a carriage with my friends. It seemed like they took forever until we reached the docks, once outside I grabbed Misty’s carrier and followed Jacob, Patrick, and Lenleia onto the ship.

We sat in a cabin by ourselves and just talked about what we would be doing once we got home, I told them that I would be spending Christmas with my granddad at home. Lenleia asked if I would be in Magito Place, during my break.

I let her and my other friends know that my grandfather and I would probably be there to do some Christmas shopping. We sat in silence for the rest of the trip home; when I saw the port approaching fast I could feel butterflies in my stomach.

So many questions to ask, would granddad be there waiting to greet me when we got in port? Did he remember that today is when I get home? Would he even be there when I got off the ship?

The questions were still buzzing around in my head as I followed the others off the ship, my worries were put to rest the minute I saw my grandfather standing there smiling at me.

As a huge smile spread across my face I yelled”Granddad!” and threw myself into his arms, I started to cry with joy at seeing my grandfather again. He held me until my tears had dried and said, “I am so glad to see you again Nathan” I pulled away and looked at my granddad.

God how I missed seeing his face, all I thought about during the full moon was the face of my grandfather. Dragging him towards my friends I said “granddad these are my friends Jacob, Patrick, and Lenleia” he smiled at me and said “Nathan it is great that you have made some friends while you were at school, but the one thing that worries me is did you tell them”

I could tell what he had asked and I shook my head no, I could tell that it was a relief to my grandfather to know that I didn’t tell my friends about what I am. He smiled and we said our good-bye’s to my friends and their families, then granddad grabbed my trunk and I grabbed Misty.

We headed into the taxi and then took off for home, once home; granddad helped me bring my things up to my room. He left me to start dinner, so I let Misty out of here cage. She glared at me, but upon seeing where she was, gave a great meow of joy and bounded out of the bedroom door.

I giggled at her antics and finished putting my things away, once I was finished it was growing late. I decided to just head to bed after dinner, I tiredly headed downstairs into the dinning room. Granddad smiled when he saw me practically drag myself into the room, he set our plates down and we ate dinner.

During dinner I told grandfather about what had happened to me during the first part of my school year. “Sounds like you had fun Nathan, I am glad that you managed to fit in so well” I smiled at him, “thanks granddad, and I kind of collided with them, before we became friends”

Granddad and I broke into I fit of giggles and then he bid me goodnight, yawning I headed up to bed. I changed into my nightshirt and once in bed was happy to slip into the gentle embrace of oblivion.

The sun outside slipped into my room casting its warming ray on my face, my eyes opened to greet the warm and comforting sensation of the morning. Remembering that I had returned home, I heaved a great sigh of relief.

It wasn’t a dream after all, I really was home and grandfather really was here. I dressed slowly and then headed down for breakfast; granddad was already in the dinning room and stood to give me a hug.

As grandfather embraced me he whispered (welcome home Nathan) then we sat to eat, I helped granddad with the dishes then went to grab my cloak from my room. Today he and I would be going to Magito Place to do some Christmas shopping, I joined granddad in the parlor, we then headed out of the cabin and towards town.

We entered Magito Place and headed to get some mage money from the bank, grandfather gave me 200 gold coins. He then told me to meet him back at the Twin Raven Inn in 3 hours, I nodded my affirmative then we parted to do our shopping.

I decided to wonder around for a while, before having to meet up with granddad later,
(What will I get him for Christmas?). I wondered from shop to shop, trying to find the perfect gift for granddad, but was having no luck so far.

Just as I was passing by a rather dark and strange shop something caught my eye, it was a beautiful silver wolf on a long golden chain “granddad will love this for Christmas”. Entering the shop I walked over to the store clerk and pointed to the silver wolf “aww yes, that is the finest piece here” the clerk spoke as he brought the necklace to me, “it will be a fine gift for someone special yes?” nodding I paid for the piece and browsed some more in the store.

I spent a couple hours in the shops purchasing a few more things for granddad, something for Misty and some gifts for my friends. I paid for the whole lot and when leaving one of the stores I noticed that it was getting late. So I headed towards the Twin Raven Inn, heading towards the inn I passed other mage families finishing up their last minute shopping.

The walk to the inn only took me about I would guess five, maybe ten minutes, nothing much if you ask me. It was very cold and nearly dark by the time I entered the inn, plopping into a seat I unloaded my burden on the table and waited for granddad.

I had only to wait a few moments until to my relief granddad walking into the inn, when he saw me, he let out a laugh” didn’t know you would be this tired Nathan, sorry for keeping you waiting so long” shaking my head I replied “ you don’t have to be sorry granddad I just arrived here as well”

Granddad came over and seated himself across from me, signaling to the waiter he ordered us a couple of honey bumps. Now for those who don’t know what a honey bump is it is warm honeycomb cider, I love it.

They arrived and I sat with granddad and drank them in silence, I would have told granddad how my day went and the things I bought for my friends and Misty, but the way granddad looked I could tell he had a long and tiring day.

Once we had finish I followed granddad from the inn and we headed home. Once we arrived, Misty was going nuts, she was so happy to see us that she was zooming around the house like mad. I started laughing but stopped when I noticed that granddad had disappeared, setting my purchases down I went in search of granddad.

He was sitting in the dinning room, just sipping some tea. I walked over and hug granddad, then bid him goodnight. Yawning I picked up my things and headed up to bed, I couldn’t shake this feeling that something was wrong with granddad. But as usual fatigue and exhaustion won in the end and I collapsed into my warm inviting bed.

I awoke the next morning with the same strange feeling, what was bothering grandfather. I wish I knew, but one thing was sure, I felt the same way. The secret of what I really am is one I have tried so hard to hide from my friends, if they found out, they would turn their backs on me or worse, they would turn me into the magic regulation guild.

What would happened to me if they turned me in, I would be taken from grandfather and locked away never to see him again. NO, I wouldn’t let my worries ruin Christmas for us. So after putting my troubles aside for now, it was time to head down stairs.

I walked down to the dining room, but instead of finding granddad, I only found a note. Walking over I picked it up and began to read:
Dearest Nathan,
I have been called to the magic regulation guild, they have found out that I am a werewolf. I have gone to be registered with the rest, unfortunately I will not be home until morning.
I love you dearly,
Granddad.

How could of this happened? How did they find out? My head sank and tears welled in my eyes, this Christmas was turning out to be the worst ever. With the whole day to myself now was as good a time as ever to get my wrapping done, walking sadly back up to my room, I collapsed on my bed and wept.

It felt as though a dam had burst forth from my eyes, things had started so good and now they had gone so wrong. Raising from my bed with red and watery eyes, I sat and started the task at hand. It took me only a hour to get it done, I carried the brightly colored packages downstairs and placed them on the couch.

Due to granddad and I being busy yesterday, there was no time to get a tree. I put on my snow boots, grabbed my cloak and the ax and headed into the forest. Finding a suitable tree, I used the ax and down it went. Dragging the tree home in the snow was a chore unto itself.

Once back I put it up and began to decorate it, well I can say that by the time I was finished. I was ready to collapse, needless to say I managed to place the packages under it and pass out on the couch.

The dark abyss wrapped its arms around me and I went happily, I felt as though everything was right and all my worries were gone. The morning sun woke me, looking around I was saddened to find that granddad had yet to return home. Tomorrow was Christmas and my heart ached at the thought of spending it alone, as I sat there mooring over my thoughts I drifted back to when I was still living with my family. How sad and alone I felt, no one loved me then and with granddad being gone I felt that same empty cold felling again.

Deciding not to let my thoughts get the best of me, I headed upstairs to start on my homework. Yuck! I hate doing home work! But it was better than being depressed on Christmas eve. I had finished with my homework when, I heard the front door to the cabin open. You see it is old and kind of squeaks whenever someone opens it, heading towards the steps; I was stopped in my tracks when I saw grandfather tiredly dragging himself to his room.

Deciding it was better not to bother him; I returned to my room and headed to bed. I would talk with granddad tomorrow and find out what was wrong, it was Christmas after all.

Things with granddad didn’t go as I wish it would have, he was so quiet and withdrawn on Christmas day; it had me worried that something horrible had happened to him while he was away. I knew asking him would only make things worse; so I avoided that subject all together. But now my mind way on a even bigger problem, I wanted so badly to tell my friends what I truly was. But was so afraid that if I told them; I would lose the only friend I had.

These thoughts kept buzzing around in my mind they even invaded my dreams, the nightmare I kept having combined with these new worries made my nightmares even worse. I screamed as I awoke too afraid to even feel the warm arms wrap themselves around me, I was shaking so badly that I barely heard the calming words that grandfather was desperately whispering into my ear.

I finally collapsed from exhaustion, to worn out to even feel being gently placed back on my bed. Grandfather was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when I left my room the next morning, I could tell by the look on his face that he had heard me scream last night. Sighing I walked down to granddad and said” grandfather, we have to talk” he nodded and followed me into the den.

Sitting in front of the fire, I told granddad how I had been having the same nightmare every night since before Christmas break. I told him how I wanted so bad to tell my friends about what I truly was, “Nathan you should do what your heart tells you”.

I hugged granddad and went to get my things packed, tomorrow I would be heading back to school and see my friends again. I still had many doubts about telling them, but after my talk with grandfather; I felt much more at ease with the thought.

Bidding granddad goodnight I headed up to bed, slipping into the warm embrace of sleep; I finally dreamed peacefully for the first time in what seemed like a month. Morning came all too soon for me; I still felt some sadness in my heart about having to leave grandpa again. But I was also still looking forward to seeing my friends again, I assured granddad that I wouldn’t tell them until I felt the time was right.