Ren awoke early the next morning, rays of warm sunlight filtering in through the windows. She stood up and stretched, the throbbing pain completely gone. Gingerly touching the back of her head, Ren noted that the area was very tender. Well, it could have been worse, she thought.
"Oh! Hello!" a kind-looking woman exclaimed, a genuinely happy smile lighting her face. She had faint wrinkles around her eyes that only added to her charm. The man from yesterday stood by the woman's side.
"This is my mother, Hana. Hana, this is…" the man began.
"Ren. It's very nice to meet you," Ren answered, realizing that she hadn't learned the man's name yet, either. "And your name is…?" she asked looking in the man's direction.
"Ame," he said.
"Ame," Ren repeated, trying to hide a shy smile.
"Ame told me how he found you and brought you here. You had quite a fall. I'm so glad that you weren't hurt any worse," Hana said cheerfully. "I never realized that there were other wolf people in Japan."
"Are you a wolf too?" Ren asked. Hana chuckled softly.
"No, no. But my husband was. And my two children are."
"You have another child? Another wolf?!"
"She chose to live as a human," Ame grumbled, clearly not wanting to talk about his sister any further. "Ren, do you know of any other wolf people?"
"Just my mother. But she refuses to acknowledge her wolf side," Ren said.
"Oh," Ame said, disappointment evident in his voice.
"Do you need to go back to your mother? You're welcome to stay with us as long as you'd like, Ren," Hana generously offered.
"No, my mother understands that I'm not coming back for a while," Ren said, trying hard to convince herself that her mother understood why she had to leave. "I appreciate your generosity, I really do. But I left home because I need to be in the forest. I've never needed anything more in my life."
"I understand. Ame lives in the forest. He visits several times a month. But he always knows that this house is open and he comes whenever he likes. The same goes for you too, Ren." Hana said, looking at Ren lovingly. "Any friend of my children is a friend of mine, too."
"Thank you," Ren said, truly meaning it.
"I need to get back to the forest. I've left it for too long," Ame said.
"Of course you do, baby," Hana said. "Ren, I do have to thank you. This is the first time Ame has stayed the night at the house in years." Ame studied the floor, clearly embarrassed. Ren smiled, unsure of what to say. Hana wrapped Ame in tight hug, kissing his cheek.
"Two hugs in a matter of hours. I'm becoming soft," Ame laughed, returning his mother's embrace. "Well, I'm off. I'll, I'll, um, see you later Ren."
"I want to come with you," Ren said, the determination in her voice surprising even herself. Ame eyes widened in surprise, his expression quickly changing into one of elation.
"Really?! I mean, I wanted you to come, but I didn't know how to ask, or if you were even feeling up to it," Ame said, sounding like an excited boy for a moment.
"Then it's settled," Ren replied, anticipation building up inside her.
"Please visit soon," Hana said.
"We will," Ame replied. And with that, the pair walked out the front door, effortlessly shifting into wolves. Smells and sounds rushed towards Ren in pleasurable waves. Together, they raced into the thick forest, eager for whatever lay ahead.