~Chapter 3~

We made it back to my house, I didn't see the fox again even though I was looking for it. It was like it disappeared.

The front door clicked shut, kicking off our boots at the front door.

"Oh, boys! Supper just finished, come sit down." My mom motioned towards the table, where four plates sat. Mine, dads, Stephens',and moms.

"Thank you." Stephen said, taking his seat next to me.

"Yeah, thanks, mom." I added, she smiled at us both while she sat down cups with tea in front of me and Stephen.

"How was the walk in the woods?" She questioned taking a seat of her own.

"It was fun! Lawrynce saw a fox, and we went to the hot pools." Stephen smiled at me.

"A fox, huh?" My dad questioned, eating his food.

"Yes sir." I kept my head bowed, picking at my food, eating the corn first.

"Hm, I might have to set traps out." He rubbed his forehead, giving Stephen and I a smile.

"That would be fun, bring me along!" Stephen said enthusiastically, nudging my arm.

"Okay, if we go, I'll get Lawrynce to text you." And with that the conversation started with talk about the woods, where my dad worked, how the boss had almost flipped the skitter going up a big hill dragging the dozer.

The floor creaked while I walked away from the bed, where Stephen was lying asleep.

Back into the woods I go. I put on boots, jackets, and sweatpants. I want to see that wolf again..

I grabbed the chain and pendant from the drawer, putting the necklace around my neck so I wouldn't drop it. I didn't need the flashlight last time so I left it where it was in my drawer, then headed for my room door, soon out the front.

The snow crunched beneath my feet and sometimes a branch would break beneath the snow. I went where I first saw the midnight black wolf. Listening around to hear if any branches around me broke. I heard snow fall off of tree branches that birds landed on. When I got to the spot I first saw the wolf I stopped walking, looking around, I saw nothing.

I ended up walking to the edge of the mountain, looking off a ledge. It was a big drop off, and on the side I looked up, spotting a black figure on the ledge that hovered over the drop off. The wolf was already looking at me when I spotted him.

The wolf started walking down the ledge, closer to me. I started to notice the wolf's fur, it was a dark red, not black, some tips did appear black. The dog growled, making me step back, I walked away from the edge, back into the tree line.

"Hey, it's okay. Uhm..." I mumbled, "I'm not gonna hurt you.." I held a hand up in surrender.

He snapped his jaws, then I saw his eyes were not directed at me, they were looking at the pendant on my chain. The pendant was a wolf itself, one howling at the moon off a ledge.

"What's this, huh?" I grabbed the chain and slipped it over my head, holding it out in my hand, "What do you want with this?" I knew I wasn't going to give it to the dog, but maybe I could figure something out with it.

The wolf came closer, I didn't back off, I stayed still, holding the chain with the dangling pendant.

The wolf let off a growl before he looked to the side, I slowly looked over, there was another wolf. I could clearly tell that one wasn't the one from before either, this one was grey and white. They were all a pack.

"Okay.." I mumbled, slipping the necklace back over my head. I took a closer look at the red wolf, his fur. It was similar to what I saw with Stephen earlier. Was this wolf what I saw and not a fox?.. That would make sense.

While I stepped back I ran into a tree, jumping and turning around for a brief moment, until I looked back at the two wolves growling and barking at me.

What do they want with the necklace?! I huffed, and went around the tree.

I don't know what to do, and I doubt they'd just take the necklace and go. I stepped back again, the wolves taking steps forward. The grey was a bit smaller than the red, but neither of them were as tall as the black.

I broke out in a run, maneuvering around trees, and hopping over logs. I stopped when I didn't hear the wolves following me, taking a moment to catch my breath. I was lost, I hadn't went the way back that I was supposed to, and it wasn't even on purpose.. I took a few steps back, scouting the area around me. When I noticed a blur of grey beside me and I noticed.

They're circling me.

I took a quick turn looking the opposite direction to see the red wolf five feet away.

"Shit.." I mumbled, backing away into the opposite direction, where the grey wolf had been before. I turned to see the grey wolf behind me, so I took a turn and walked right, where I was originally running from.

The wolf jumped, getting a few steps closer, bearing his teeth at me with his low growl. The grey wolf stood closely behind him.

I'm dead, This is where I die.... I shouldn't have left damnit!

"Ah!" The red wolf jumped again, I tried to dodge but his dark red paw landed on my chest, the dog was holding me down on the snow, his growl louder than before and his teeth were shown closely to my face. I tried to push the dog off, pushing on his chest, the wolf giving off a low growl. He stopped bearing his teeth to sniff ..my chest? No, the pendant, the necklace was holding onto.

"Ngh!" I groaned when the grey wolf bit my leg, "Ah! Ouch, hey! Get off!" I pushed harder on the red's chest, kicking my leg loose of the greys grip, then flipped the red wolf over, soon holding it down for a brief moment while it growled, before the grey wolf lurched at me, pushing me against the back of the tree. "Gah!" A root gabbed into my side.

The grey wolf growled, as the red wolf got up cautiously then started nudging the grey. I could hear my heart rate in my ears, I hadn't noticed how hard I was breathing until I saw my glasses were starting to get fogged, along with them already being slightly crooked. I'm surprised they're still on my face, but that's the least of my worries.

When the grey wolf stopped growling and looked up where the red wolf had been looking he fully backed off, getting from over me. I glanced upwards, seeing the midnight black wolf from before upside down, and three feet away from my head on a rock. The wolf was standing up straight, looking to the two wolves beside me. I sat up and tried to stand, using the tree for a prop, I pushed my glasses up on the bridge of my nose. I didn't know the grey wolf had bit me as hard as he did until I saw some of the snow stained red, and my dark grey sweats partially reddish-black from my blood. There wasn't a lot, but it hurt enough to complain.

The black wolf jumped from the rock making me flinch and turn around to look towards it. I winced when I put my foot down, feeling a shock of pain at the wound. It sorta made me dizzy..

"A little late there, bud.." I mumbled to the black wolf.

The wolf looked up at me a slight growl of annoyance, and I could tell his response would probably be, "I wasn't late, you were just early." Which, I was earlier than yesterday.. it's only twelve right now. Or was when I left.

"Ouwh! Hey, what are you doing!?" I exclaimed when the wolf started biting on my hurt legs pants leg and pulling.

The black wolf let go and snapped his teeth at the red wolf when he walked closer, sending him back where he was sitting. The grey wolf had his head bowed and hidden in the reds fur. They were very beautiful, but very terrifying..

The black wolf whined, and nuzzled my pants leg, the other two wolves looked like they had smiles on their faces. Were they laughing at him?

"Oh," I pulled up my sweat pants fabric over the wound gently, "is this what you want?" I showed the wound, I couldn't look at it directly, I had a gash through my calf. The midnight black wolf made a whimper like noise. Was that approval? Maybe sadness?.. Does he feel bad?..

The dog carefully licked my wound, I winced at the pressure of his tongue at the open skin. My lips went white, and I scrunched my face at the tingling sensation coming from the wound. The dog finished and pushed my pants leg fabric down with his muzzle before I could see the wound again.

I tried to lift the pants fabric but the wolf growled and bit my hand, dragging me in a random direction. The other two wolves watched, then soon followed.

"I'm guessing you guys are a pack? Midnight Snowy Mountain pack?" I took the name from the name of the mountains, and the Black wolf let go of my hand and huffed, nodding, "Oh,....you...nodded?" I mumbled.

The wolf looked up at me, his Midnight purple eyes blinking innocently.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm lost, can you take me home?" I questioned, and the wolf started off in a whole new direction, I followed behind.

While the snow crunched under paws and boots, and tree limbs broke and fell, the wind whistled through the air blowing my black curly hair to the side. The wolf looked back at me, then behind me. I looked back, seeing the red and grey wolf had moved on.

The wolf sat down and faced me, I looked around and found a tree log to my right, then sat on it. We both looked at each other for a moment.

"Oh!" I looked at my necklace, about to slip it over my head before the dog put his paw on my hand, moving my hand down away from the necklace. Did he want me to have it?..

The dog put his paw down and laid in the snow. I shivered, and held out my hand to pet him, slight hesitation overcame me and I drew my hand back. I crossed my arms over my chest leaning on my knees.

"Are you gonna take me home, Mr. wolf?" I mumbled to the dog that laid on my feet.

The wolf groaned and moved his head to nuzzle my foot.

"I'm guessing that's a 'in a little bit.'" I chuckled, "Well, do you have an extra blanket on you?.." I whispered to myself.

The wolf stood up, and laid across my lap. This dog has way too good of hearing...

I lifted my hands away, and leaned back a bit. The wolves eyes looked directly in mine, making me smile.

"Your just a big puppy aren't you?" I laughed and stopped hesitating, petting his head, earning a groan of approval.

"I know your comfortable..maybe,...but I need to get back home.. I haven't slept and I have school.." I leaned closer, and scratched behind the wolf's ears. The wolf pulled away and bit my jacket sleeve bringing me to my feet when the dog stood, "I'll come back tomorrow. Same time." I gave the wolf a smile.

When he lead me back home I kept looking at how the wolf's posture was standing tall on his four legs, and striding forward. He knew exactly where he was going and didn't hesitate to walk that way. I'm gonna have to mark these trees in directions toward home. Actually, I just realized, no pain was in my leg...I'll have to check it out when I get home.

The wolf stopped and I brung my head up, looking straight seeing my porch light. I smiled to the wolf and scratched his ear one last time. "Be back before you know it, Bud." I smiled the dog bowed his head. I now have a new friend.

I pulled up my pants leg, not seeing a mark from where the gash was. It was all gone, the only thing left was blood and a hole in my pants, and a dark print from a bruise. What had the wolf done?..I changed into my sleep wear, climbing in bed beside Stephen who was still asleep. I stayed awake for around an hour, thinking of the possibility's and what if's.

My mom just dropped off me and Stephen at school, and I forgot my homework on my night stand. That's just great.

"Stephen wait up! Your legs are a lot longer than mine when you are 6'1! And you know that!" I whined.

"Your only 5'10, that's not much shorter than me." He stopped at the school entrance and let me catch up.

"I don't care, you walk fast too." I huffed, dragging him inside and to our lockers.

"We're late, hurry up." He said as I struggled to get my books in my backpack.

"I'm trying! Go ahead and go!" I groaned, and finally got them in the bag, Stephen shut my locker and dragged me to class.

"I wouldn't go to the same class without you." Stephen said smiling back at me.

"Okay then, let's go!" I ran through the halls, it's pretty much illegal to do that in school. We will go to school jail, which is detention, but that's only if we get caught. And we didn't. We made it to class safely. When we got seated the teacher gave us a disappointed and disapproving look. I tried to hold back my laughter, until I heard a few people's whispers..

"The faggots are here.." Whispered a girl a few desks away.

"Gay couple of the year..ugh.." Spoke a male two seats away from Stephen.

Stephen never tells me his sexuality, but since he hangs around they gay guy in school..As Known As me, everyone either assumes he's gay too or we are a couple. I would like the say negative to them both, but I am not for certain with him being straight or not. I mean, I've seen him go out with females, but I never saw him go out with a guy, as much as I see him starring at the football teams ass's sometimes. He may be bisexual. Who knows. I wouldn't ever pressure him into telling me anything he doesn't want to.

Stephen groaned at all the ugly homophobic comments, then spoke, "Come say it to our faces, please." He has his thumb and index finger on his temples.

I laughed, "Anyone's welcome to." When I finished, the teacher pointed to me and Stephen before speaking.

"Quiet down you two." Then he looked around the class, "And we are all equal. No one will be called names here." Spoke the teacher before he went back to teaching.

Pain rushed through my stomach when Miles had kneed me, making me collapse to the ground. He came out of no where. I was walking down the hall to my next class and was pulled into the janitors closet. Now this is where we're at.

"Stop!" I yelled when he grabbed my collar, my feet slipping on the ground as I struggled to catch my balance. These football players were a lot bigger than I was, two times actually.. and to my luck, Miles was the lead quarterback. I stood up and was immediately slammed to the wall, my head pounded with pain in my temples.

"Why? You probably like this shit, don't you?" He shook his fist holding my shirt, "Don't you ya', fag?" He spat with a unamused laugh, but that was the last straw. I brung my foot up and kicked him in the croch, when he hunched over letting me go, I kneed him in the face.

"Ngh-" he groaned, sliding to the ground of the dark closet, holding his crotch and nose.

I looked at him for one moment, then when he looked up at me, I wound my hand back, he flinched but didn't move fast enough before my fist collided with his cheekbone and nose.

That's one for dad,..at least I have proof I fought back. I opened the janitors closet and continued onto class, I heard his whining in the hall. I held my hand, caressing my knuckles where it left a pretty solid bruise and a good cut across the knuckle. I smiled to myself.

I fought back and didn't get caught. He couldn't tell anyone because if he did he would be ratting himself out, I didn't forget about the searing pain in my ribs. There's most likely a black and blue bruise.