Reaching Out

Chapter 4

Connor and Humphrey approached the creek, watching as Kate and Natalie sat halfway in the water, letting it wash over their legs and chests as they happily chatted with each other. As they walked, Humphrey gave Connor a mischievous glance and Connor, confused, hung back as Humphrey snuck up behind Kate and Natalie. As he got closer to the creek, Humphrey picked up speed and prepared to jump. As he leapt into the air, he cried out "HAAAAAAAAAA" and then plummeted down, splashing a huge wave of water over the two girls as he crashed down into the water with a loud splash. Kate and Natalie, both now drenched, stared in shocked surprise at Humphrey before laughing, pushing Humphrey over and proceeding to splash as much water as they could directly into his face.

Connor watched all this with amusement, getting up and making his way into the water, making sure to stay out of the spray from the others' splash fight. He waded in slowly, no one noticing him, and lay down on a large flat rock only a few inches below the water. Connor sipped from the creek as he watched the others play, the cool water flowing through his fur and moistening his slightly parched throat. The waves that Humphrey and the rest were making caused the water to rise and fall, getting water in Connor's nose and making him sneeze until he held his head higher.

As Connor watched, the splash fight began to calm down, Natalie and Kate getting tired of splashing Humphrey, and Humphrey no longer running away from them. As the splashing stopped, Humphrey walked over to Kate and lay down next to her.

"I found Connor" Humphrey told her, looking over at Connor who was looking off over the treetops at the distant, snow capped mountains lining the horizon.

"Really, where is he…" Kate said looking around until she spotted him "oh, why is he all the way over there?"

"He's usually uncomfortable with playing rough with others." Humphrey replied.

"Well, I think I'll go talk to him." Kate said, standing up and walking over to sit next to Connor.

"Hey Connor," Kate said, her voice apologetic.

"Hmm? Oh, hi" Connor replied, his mind returning to the present.

"Look, I'm really sorry about whatever I said that upset you so much yesterday" Kate said, her face down in regret and her eyes looking up pleadingly.

"It's okay, it's not your fault" Connor replied, trying to comfort Kate.

"Well, okay then, if you're not mad or anything" Kate said, sitting up straighter and looking less gloomy "Come over and sit with us."

"Sure, if you want" Connor answered, getting up and following Kate as she walked over and sat next to Humphrey.

They sat or lay down together, Kate and Connor on either side of Humphrey, and Natalie beside Connor. They all relaxed, letting the cool water flow through their fur and take with it both the dirt of everyday life, and the tension from their muscles, the pleasant sensations mixing with the gentle gurgle of the creek and swish of trees to nearly lull Connor to sleep. As his eyelids grew heavier and he found it harder and harder to focus, Connor slowly fell asleep. He dreamed of swimming down a small river, the sides of which were covered in lush and light green foliage that leaned out over the water and met in the middle to form a glowing green canopy. The light from an unseen sun shone between the leaves and branches, creating shafts of light that lit up the water like radiant, dark green pillars. The water, slightly cool to the touch, seemed to help hold him afloat as it flowed through his fur. Connor relaxed and let the water take him where it would, letting himself slowly drift down stream towards a bend in the river. As he approached, he did not follow the course of the river as he had expected, but continued toward the bank. When he reached to shallows, the water rose and gently deposited him in a very shallow area of water. Connor was lying on his side, his head and neck resting on something soft and warm. He remained like this for an uncertain amount of time, not wanting to move from this very comfortable spot, until the world around him began to fade into darkness. In what seemed to be an instant, Connor woke.

As he slowly regained consciousness, He wondered where he was, the last he remembered he had been with Kate, Humphrey, and Natalie, down in the creek. Connor then noticed that he could still hear the water, but he was lying down with his head on something soft, warm, and gently moving. Connor slowly opened his eyes, blinking to adjust to the sunlight, and realized that half his vision was obstructed by brown fur. Then Connor recognized the scent, it was Natalie's. Feeling Connor move, Natalie glanced back at him, his head resting on her side, and smiled at the sleepy and slightly confused expression on his face.

Soon after Connor fell asleep, Kate and Humphrey decided to go.

"Well, I'm about ready to go." Humphrey said

"Me too." Kate replied.

Noticing Connor was asleep, still lying on his stomach with his head drooped, Humphrey said "Wow, I wonder why he's so tired?"

"Yeah," Kate added "We should probably wake him up."

"No, I'll stay here with him until he wakes up." Natalie interjected, glancing at the sleeping wolf next to her.

"Okay then, see you later." Kate replied, nodding farewell and turning with Humphrey to walk away.

"Bye." Natalie called after them as loudly as she dared, not wanting to wake Connor.

After a few minutes of silently waiting and thinking, Natalie decided that it would be a good idea to get Connor out of the water, so he didn't get sick. She gently nudged Connor up the bank, and in his sleeping state he compiled, to an extent. Natalie stopped with Connor mostly out of the water, his tail and one of his back legs still dipped into the shallow water, and lay down next to him, huddled close to keep both of them warm. As they lay there, all of them that was out of the water slowly dried off from the sun and the heat their bodies naturally produced. About ten minutes later, Connor began to slump over, leaning towards Natalie and slowly resting his head on her side. Natalie, slightly surprised by this, was even more surprised that she didn't mind the contact, she actually liked it. This confused her, she had never thought about it before, but Connor's company always made her feel happier, which never happened with anyone else. She realized that this was the first time they had ever truly been alone together, even if he was asleep. They stayed like that for at least an hour, Connor peacefully asleep, a small smile on his face, and Natalie happily silent, occasionally looking back at him as he slept.

After another fifteen minutes or so, Connor began to stir, gradually leaving his quiet slumber and returning to the real world. After a particularly large twitch, Natalie looked back to find Connor's eyes partly open and a bewildered expression on his face. His expression, along with his company, made her smile, happy to see him awake.

"Well, look who woke up." Natalie said in a quiet voice.

"Hmh? Oh, hello." Connor replied sleepily, a slight smile still on his face.

They stayed like that for a while, Natalie looking back at Connor, Connor looking up at Natalie. Eventually Connor asked "How long have I...we, been here?"

"I'd guess about an hour and a half." Natalie replied very casually.

"Oh, where are Kate and Humphrey?" Connor replied, noticing their absence.

"They left a little bit after you fell asleep, I stayed so we didn't have to wake you up." Natalie answered

"We should probably go find them." Connor said, somewhat unhappy at the thought of moving.

"Yeah, I guess so." Natalie replied, feeling the same as Connor. At this, Connor lifted his head and unsteadily made it to his feet, Natalie following suit, though much less wobbly.

They both made their way back to the clearing where Humphrey was often to be found, each enjoying the others company in quiet bliss. When they arrived, they found Humphrey wandering around near the edge of the woods opposite Connor and Natalie. Noticing both of them, Humphrey turned and trotted off to meet them in the middle, a grin on his face.

"Nice to see you finally woke up." Humphrey said to Connor, sitting down in front of the two.

"Yeah," Connor replied, almost guiltily "So, where is Kate?" Connor added, changing the subject.

"She had to take care of some alpha stuff." Humphrey said, sounding unhappy about it.

"That doesn't sound very fun." Natalie added.

"Yeah, and because of that I've had nothing to do, I couldn't find Salty, Mooch, or Shaky. I've just been walking around, bored out of my mind." Humphrey said, sounding both bored and slightly exasperated, "Hey, I've got an idea, let's go log sledding!"

"Sure" Connor replied.

"That sounds good." Natalie answered.

The three made their way up the hill Humphrey and his other friends usually used for log sledding, Humphrey in the lead with Connor and Natalie following close behind. As they walked, Connor and Natalie stole glances at each other, both happy for the other's company, but neither completely sure what to do about it. They walked close together, a mere few inches apart, both enjoying the proximity, neither wanting to leave the other's side. When they weren't looking at each other, they were admiring to the view, seeing the forest for the trees along with the light blue and slightly cloudy sky and distant mountains capped with bright white snow interlaced with green trees and grey stone walls. The trees around them were turning different shades of red, ranging from a dark brownish red to a very yellow orange. The leaves and twigs that had fallen from the trees littered the ground like a huge, colorful, and slightly crunchy carpet, making the ground a vast design of different patterns, no two areas quite the same.