Blue

Yay, third chapter. Hopefully a little more will be happening?

mdevries08- Because it doesn't affect the story, I can say that it's just the two of them.

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Eli had gone back out into the woods again. He made sure to stay in his territory, not even going close enough for him to get a good smell of the markings.

Mama had finally let him go out after two days of following her orders. She must have been very angry, to keep him away from this for so long.

But she knew that she couldn’t keep him away from the woods forever. It was his calling. Both of their callings. How Mama could stay near the cottage all this time was beyond him. Other than during the full moon, she hardly ever left the clearing.

If she had, then maybe she could have seen the white wolf as well. Maybe he could again if he…

No no no, that would never do. Mama would never let him go anywhere out of her sight again.

But what if the white wolf came over here? He had every right to, now that Eli had gone across. Of course, the other wolf wouldn’t be able to do anything, just talk to the marker of the territory about getting some form of compensation.

Negotiable, thankfully.

He turned around, heading back home. He’d been out long enough, and Mama might get a little worried and think that he crossed onto the other’s territory again.

He changed forms at the edge of the trees, redressing when he found his clothes, weighted down with a rock to keep them from running off.

Eli stopped in his tracks, a familiar scent in the air. One that he’d been thinking about constantly since he’d first encountered it.

The white wolf.

He entertained the idea of just turning around and staying in the forest, but curiosity got the better of him. Besides, what if he tried to do something to Mama?

Eli stepped out of the woods, towards the little cottage. So far, he couldn’t see the wolf. Maybe he’d already gone and left? Yeah, that must be it. Eli must have just missed him.

At least, so he thought, until he heard voices from behind his little home. His ears couldn’t pick up what they were saying, and Eli wasn’t sure if he wanted to know.

He strained his ears even more.

“Well get over here, boy, come see who stopped by.” He heard Mama call out to him. Eli held back the groan as he pulled away from the side of the house that he had plastered himself to, and slowly rounded the corner.

His eyes immediately sought out the white wolf, surprised when he saw, not an animal, but a man.

The red wolf mentally kicked himself. Of course, it wasn’t like wolves could talk in their animal form. He’d tried. It was pitiful, and Mama gave him weird looks for the rest of the day.

“Come on over, boy, say hello.” Mama ordered, gesturing to the man standing about five feet away.

Bright blue eyes stared at him, and Eli couldn’t help the blush rising up, even more so when the embarrassment came with them knowing about it.

Maybe they didn’t. Neither said anything about it.

Eli did his best to keep from staring back, but his eyes trailed down the other’s body anyway.

Pale skin stretched over hard muscle, short white hair on the top of his head, to match his coat in his wolf form.

Eli’s faded blush came back full force when he looked down farther to see that the man was nude.

He looked away, eyes wide, his body started to flush, hot in embarrassment.

“Don’t mind him, he’d never seen a naked man, ‘sides himself.”

“Mama!” He would have went on, if not for the deep chuckle coming from the way he had no intention of looking towards. Ever.

“Well, say hello then.” Mama was crouched down in the dirt, working in the vegetable garden she’d started in the back, little more than a month ago.

“Mornin‘.” Eli grumbled. Would his blush ever go away?

“…Good ‘nough. Anyway, Ashton, here, is from the pack off the way.” She gestured wildly again in the general direction Eli had just left out of the woods.

“Is… is everything all right?” The white wolf- no, Ashton, didn’t seem to be giving off a malicious air. Or lustful, but then again, how would Eli be able to tell one way or another. It was usually just him and Mama. Mama didn’t like people. She said they’d try to do things to Eli. Try to take him away.

Then again, that was years ago when she’d told him that.

“Of course.” She answered, eying her garden for more weeds.

“Then why’s he here?” He didn’t mean it to seem so rude. Mama looked up sharply, her mouth in a frown.

“Curious. Wanted to see who we are and all.” Mama stood up, crooking her finger to the two men to follow her as she headed toward the small abode.

Eli went after quickly, not watching to see if Ashton did as well.

Mama walked to the front of the cottage, kneeling down in the dirt to work on the plants. She must be worried. She was going from one to the other. Did something happen when he was gone? Something bad?

No, Mama could take care of herself. She was a wolf too, after all. She would stand for threats and the like. Would have had him hung up by his toes or something.

“Asked if he could come by every now and then.”

“What’d you say?” Eli asked, now noticing that the other wolf was no longer behind him. He saw a flash of white in the woods off to the side of the house.

“Said it was okay.”

“…What?” Eli gulped. She wasn’t serious, was she?

“Yes. Do I need to repeat myself?” Mama got back up, and went inside.

“But… why?”

She turned to him as he followed her in.

“For one, no choice, considering you crossed the lines. And anyway, he don’t seem to be about to cause any trouble.”

Eli heard a tone in her voice, but couldn’t place what it was. He ignored it for now.

Besides, it was better not to question Mama.

Eli left her alone after that.

For the next few days, he saw Ashton, always near Mama. Not once had the white wolf approached him, and for that, he was relieved.

He wasn’t exactly sure why the man continued to come around. Maybe he was listening to Mama’s stories too?

Not fair…

It was a bright, hot day when things began to change even more. Eli was in the barn beating at the hay again, when he heard footsteps from behind him.

“Mm?” He mumbled, not taking his eyes off the hay. He’d get bitten, one of these days, but it wasn’t going to be anytime soon.

“Elijah?” The voice was deep, with a natural husk to it.

Eli turned around. “How’d you know my name?”

Ashton eyebrows scrunched together, and Eli concentrated on that, rather than his nude form.

“Elena told me.”

“Who?” Eli’s face matched the white wolfs.

“Your mother.”

“Wha… Oh! You mean Mama?” Eli shook his head in his own stupidity. It probably wouldn’t leave a good impression, either.

“…Yes.” Ashton answered shortly.

“What?” Eli asked.

“What… about what?” Ashton looked thoroughly confused, as well as Eli.

“Uh, you came for a reason, right?” The man hesitatingly nodded.

“Just wanted to talk.” He answered. Eli gestured for him to go on, resting the hoe on the ground, then leaned on it.

“’Bout what?”

“Why do you live out here?” Came quickly out of Ashton’s mouth.

“Mama lives here.” He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Ashton’s eyebrows scrunched again.

“Why does Elena live out here then.” Eli shrugged. He never really asked. Mama’s done too much for him to be questioning her motives left and right.

“Dunno.” Ashton crossed his arms, Eli watching as the muscles flexed under the skin.

Eyebrows, Eli, Eyebrows.

Though, eyes might be better. Ashton did have such pretty blue eyes…

“How long have you two been living here?” He asked next.

Eli shrugged. “Bout as long as I can remember. Think since I was at least one. Don’t know about Mama though.”

Ashton cocked his head to the side, silently contemplating, before moving on.

“Have you ever met any other wolves?” Eli immediately shook his head. Ashton didn’t look surprised.

“Is that all?” Eli asked, his nervousness beginning to rise when Ashton remained quiet.

“Am I bothering you?” The wolf sounded unsure of himself, and Eli immediately felt guilty at his seemingly harsh tone.

“Not really.” He didn’t meet Ashton's eyes, instead, opting to look at the ground, where he scuffed his foot in the dirt.

“I should go…” The white wolf finally said after another pause. He turned around, Eli finally looking up, his eyes following as the man walked out, but one thought made him call out.

“Hey.” Ashton turned. “Why’d you let me go?”

Ashton smirked, giving the boy a shrug, before disappearing around the barn door.

Eli huffed, going back to work with the snakes.

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I figured, you know, what the hell? I've got the first part written, I've already started the second part, and I already checked this chapter over. Don't forget to review ;)