Disclaimer: I do not own anything created by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, including her ideas. Spoiler Warning for Wolfcry if yall haven't read it. (I'm not from Texas!) You may not get that last comment. Oh well.

Please R&R! I appreciate it!

Chapter 3

I couldn't take my eyes off of his. They were the color of solidified sap on a tree, the color of amber. The unmistakable color of a wolf's. Wolves rarely came into Wyvern's Court, and almost all of those traders were the Vahamil tribe. I wondered if he was one of them, or if maybe he was from one of the tribes further south.

He had finished wrapping my ankle and delicately raised it, giving it a good double check before letting it rest on the ground. It was only then that he looked at me. Our eyes connected, and what felt like electric waves shot through me. His eyes were so beautiful that I couldn't take my own off of them. They held a look of concern, but it quickly disappeared and was replaced by a look of annoyed amusement.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I've never met a wolf before. Your eyes are amazing."

I immediately regretted my last statement as he broke into a grin. Why did I have to say everything that popped into my head?

He chuckled slightly, still looking at my face. I stared back, not wanting to look like some shy eleven-year-old with her first crush.

"Does your ankle feel any better?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes, thank you," and it really was. I hadn't even noticed that the pain was starting to subside and the swelling was going down. I drew my knee up and fingered my ankle. It was still tender, but it wasn't throbbing like it had been previously.

"So what brings you to Wyverns Court?" I asked, looking up at him.

"This and that," he said evasively. I ignored this and continued with my questioning. He wasn't going to get off that easily.

"So has it been to your liking?"

"I would say so. It's a much livelier place than where I was raised, and the people are friendly enough, with the exception of the occasional anonymous girl that tramples me into the dirt."

I immediately turned a livid shade of red. "Sorry about that. I'm a very klutzy person."

"I noticed," he said smirking as he plopped down beside me. "So, despite trying to kill yourself, what were you in a mad dash for this time?"

"Oh this and that," I said returning the smirk.

He grinned wider. I could tell that he was an intellectual person and liked to have a good battle of wits. I thought that I should give him one that he wouldn't soon forget.

I was about to ask another question when the voice I hated most called out my name.

"Alise! Mom's is going to tan your hide!" screamed my little sister.

"Bug off and go crawl back into your little hole!" I answered, equally as loud.

"Alise!" my mother shouted, to my great horror.

"Crap," I muttered.

"Trouble?" the wolf asked with a gleam in his gorgeous eyes.

"None of your business," I said gruffly standing up, completely forgetting my ankle. I immediately fell to the ground, instinctively putting my hands out to stop my fall. I squeezed my eyes shut in anticipation for impact, but it never came. I opened one eye and found that I was hanging in the air about two feet off the ground. I turned my head around and my eyes found his again. Blasted wolf. Why did he have to keep catching me? I felt like a damsel in distress.

"You really are klutzy," he said grinning again. I was really starting to hate that grin and the pearly white teeth behind it.

I stuck my tongue out at him in a very childish manner, reminiscent of my sister.

A harrumph sounded to the right of us. My mother and sister were standing next to each other, both looking at the two of us. My mother had a satisfied look on her face. Oh no!

I quickly fought to stand up and firmly planted my good foot on the ground. It wasn't until I turned around to face my mother that I realized he still had his arm wrapped around my waist from catching me. I quickly brushed it aside and looked at my mother.

"Morning," I said begrudgingly, forcing a smile.

"Morning. Who's this?" she asked, grinning slightly.

I opened my mouth to answer, and realized that I didn't even know his name. I was at a loss, until he chipped in.

"Malic," he said smiling. I started to step forward and then stumbled, again. Malic caught me, once again, and this time he put his hand on my shoulder to steady me.

"She twisted her ankle," he said.

"Ah," said my mother, as if it explained it all.

"I'm fine," I grumbled taking a wobbly step. Despite the ointment, my ankle still hurt badly.

"She can't walk," said Malic, his grip on my shoulder never slacking.

"Ah," mom said. I wish she would stop saying 'Ah'. It was getting quite annoying, especially when I knew all the unsaid words going through her head. I could picture the little voice in her head happily singing 'Finally!'

"Yes I can!" I protested, waving off his hand like an annoying wasp.

"No, you can't," he said, tightening his grip.

"Let go!" I hissed. He was non-plussed, however, and just shrugged. Then, suddenly, he scooped me up into his arms and strode towards my mom and sister.

"Lead the way," he said. "Oh, and don't mind her."

My sister grinned evilly at me before skipping after my mother.

I struggled fiercely, cursing all the while, making sure it was soft enough so my mother couldn't hear it. Even though Malic certainly could.

"You know," he commented quietly, "it's very un-lady like to curse."

"Shove off!" I hissed. He just smiled again. Finally, I gave up. I wasn't going to get down; he had an iron grip on me. I resigned myself to crossing my arms and glaring at him furiously. A big grin was still plastered on his face.

"Stop smiling. It's very annoying."

"Why in the world would smiling be annoying?" he asked, looking down at me.

"Because every time you smile I can tell that you're silently laughing at me. And I don't like people laughing at me."

"I'm insulted. I wasn't laughing at you," he said, his grin as big as ever.

"See! You just did it again!" I said accusingly. He just started laughing. I couldn't help but crack a smile. I rolled my eyes and looked ahead towards my mother. She was leading the way with my sister skipping behind her. She glanced back occasionally, pretending to check on my sister, but I knew she was looking at Malic and me out of the corner of her eye.

It didn't take long to reach our home. Mom and Sonya had already reached the door when Malic set me down by the steps. I looked up at Mom, only to find her glaring at me. I inwardly sighed.

"Thank you," I said briefly looking at Malic before looking back to my mother. She was smiling again. There. Now that she was happy, I would be free to never talk to this guy again.

"You're welcome," he said repositioning his pack. "Nice meeting you."

"Wait! Would you like to stay for supper?" my mom asked. I gaped at her. No! She couldn't invite him for supper!

"Please, I would like to properly thank you for helping my daughter," she said. "She is not the most gracious person in the Court."

Ah! I resent that! I thought to myself.

Malic looked over at me, and then at my mother. "I'd love to, thank you."

My mom smiled triumphantly and walked inside, Sonya closely following her. I started hopping up the steps, determined not to look at Malic, knowing the look I'd see on his face. Despite my attempts at ignoring him, he walked over and lifted me up and set me down on the porch.

"Thanks," I mumbled, not making eye contact. I walked through the door with him close behind me, ready to catch me if I fell. I managed to make it to the kitchen without holding on to anything. I started towards the back door to get some fresh vegetables, but Mom stopped me.

"Alise, don't trouble yourself with that! You're hurt," she said. I knew she was only saying this for Malic's benefit. I had been hurt many times, and mother had never shown any sympathy for me before.

"Mom, I'm fine," I said rolling my eyes. I walked out the back door, putting a little more pressure on my ankle. It was feeling better, I was sure I wouldn't collapse if I put too much weight on it. I gripped the rail as I went down the steps and walked over to the garden. My basket was waiting for me as I started plucking up some of my favorites for dinner.

Sorry for such a crappy ending to this chapter. I was just going on a roll and I couldn't find a good stopping point. Well now my roll is gone, ... darn. Please R&R! Oh and thanks to Grey-chan for being my baita!

Yori