A/N: Thank you to my 2 lovely reviewers!
Here is the next Chapter! Hope you enjoy! :)
xYruniwyliox
Chapter Seven.
The walk home was pleasant, but a little eerie in the dark. I kept seeing shapes in the trees, the darkness playing tricks on my mind. Kyri barked once, and began trotting into the trees. I could hear him, stepping on branches and twigs.
"Kyri! Come!" I called, but he didn't listen. I stood, shivering slightly in the breeze, as I stared into the patch of trees that Kyri disappeared into. I heard a loud panting sound, and started towards the trees, thinking it was Kyri, when the much louder thudding of paws sounded, and I froze. I watched as a massive wolf stepped from the darkness. It was hard to see, but he had the same sort of colouring as Kyri, and he stood taller than any wolf I had ever seen before. On all fours, it was taller than me, maybe the same size as a horse or a small bear. I stood stock still, my mind warring with my soul on whether to flee and leave my dog here or not, when the wolf lowered itself to its stomach on the forest floor and whined. I hesitantly took a step forward.
I felt oddly safe, as I observed the animal on the floor, and was even more stunned to find Kyri curled up beside it. "Kyri…" I whispered. He raised his head and cocked it to the side as he watched me. "Come." I commanded. To my horror, the wolf rose to his feet and came to lie at my feet. I looked down at him. He was completely submissive. This was odd behaviour for a wolf, I had to admit, but I slowly held my hand out for it to sniff. He sniffed at it for a few seconds, before licking my palm.
Oh my god. A wolf just licked me. Oh my god… oh god…
My internal panic-attack was beginning to make my body react to the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I backed away from the wolf slowly, back onto the roadside, Kyri loping along with me, before I looked back at the giant mammal before me. It looked sad.
Dammit, Kat. It's a wolf, not a fucking doll. Get out of there now!
I turned on my heel and began a jog, calling Kyri with me.
I flew through my front door fifteen minutes later, slamming and locking it shut behind us. "Kat? Is that you?" came Da's voice from the kitchen. I could hear him talking with Kida. I ran my trembling hands through my hair, which had fallen from its' braids. "Yeah Da, it's me." I followed the bloody dog into the kitchen.
"What's wrong, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost." My Da joked. I sat at the table and gripped my freshly poured tea tightly.
"Kat? You okay?" Kida asked. I shook my head.
"I was walking home with Kyri. He wandered into the woods. I went in far enough to find him, but still be within sight from the roadside. Da, there are wolves here. Huge wolves."
I told Da and Kida about my escapades, and he listened patiently, before ordering me to drive to and from work from now on, and telling me not to worry. We didn't believe in hurting or hunting animals for no reason. I climbed the stairs tiredly, before falling into bed, fully clothed and sleeping the moment my head hit my pillows.
The red headed someone that Harry Clearwater was hunting in my dreams was a woman. She was extraordinarily beautiful, her wild hair curling about her face and shoulders like a crimson wave, and her ruby eyes flashing as she sped through the woods. She was bouncing from tree to tree, and avoiding several large things on the ground. I watched on, as the things on the ground took shape. Wolves. A pack of wolves. My eyes immediately found the silver one, and my heart raced. It was almost exactly the same colouring as Kyri. He was Kyri. My protector. Sleek and silver, with black spots, and a grey patch on his nose. The Alpha, a massive black wolf seemed almost military in his precision as the wolves chased this woman through the undergrowth. There was a Russet coloured one, and a strong grey one, a chocolate-coloured one, a smaller grey-ish one and a sandy coloured one. Like Hunter and Kyri could be wolves, or have wolf counterparts.
Suddenly, my dream changed. The red woman was standing in front of me, as a feline grin curled at the side of her mouth. Her eyes were…unreal. She reached a pale, slender hand towards me, and fisted a chunk of my shirt. She raised her arm and I felt myself being lifted effortlessly from the ground. She bared her teeth at me and snarled, before bringing me towards her face. Grabbing my hair in her other hand, she yanked hard, angling my head to the side, before her lips touched my neck.
I bolted upright, and dragged myself to my en-suite, before emptying my stomach into the toilet bowl. I rested my head against the tile floor, thankful for the coolness of the tile, to bring down my overheated temperature. I could hear Hunter whining from the door. I slowed my breathing, as my breaths were coming out in short, rapid pants. A soft knock came from my bathroom door.
"Kitty, you alright?"
My brother. Kida. So caring, and concerned. He probably came straight when he heard the whining. "I'm good. I'll be out in a sec." I called groggily. I stood up and brushed my teeth, avoiding my reflection. I had like, zero rest. I didn't want to see what I looked like. Sluggishly, I returned to my room, and changed into my brothers' over-large t-shirt again, along with a pair of knee-length cotton shorts. I rubbed my eyes, tiredly, before making my way downstairs, to find Da and Kida sitting at the table, coffees and breakfast in front of them. I waved, and moved to the coffee machine, pouring a large coffee for myself, and dumping a load of milk and sugar into it.
"Morning, Kitty." Da smiled, before reaching across the table and grasping my free hand with his left one. "Morning, Da." I replied, taking a swig. "No sleep?" Kida asked. I shook my head.
"Freaky dreams."
He nodded. There was a knock at the door, and he stood to go and answer it. I could hear him talking to someone – a man, by the depth of his voice, before a quiet chuckling sound reached my ears. I smiled at the familiar sound. Wait. Familiar sound…That meant…
My eyes widened and I whipped my head around to face the hallway, before bolting from my seat to the front porch, launching myself into Benjis' arm, the other in a taped sling. "Benji! You came!" I chirped, feeling instantly better.
"Hey Kit! How are you?!" he grinned at me, giving me a squeeze. I breathed in his scent as I clutched him close. "Wanna take the mutts for a walk?" he asked me. I nodded. "Let me just have a quick shower." I raced upstairs, showered and dressed again, in hiking boots, a pair of grey jeans and Benjis' old High School shirt, which almost hung to my knees, and tying my hair up in a loose bun. I grabbed my gloves and my coat, and Benji and I made our way to the street, with Hunter at Benjis' side, and Kyri at mine. "So, squirt, how's the job going?" he asked me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, as I wrapped mine around his waist.
"It's good. I start tomorrow as a chef, but I was in yesterday, front of house. The owner was short staffed, and I helped her out." I said quietly.
"Don't bullshit me, Kit," he said seriously. "Kida's worried about you. You were here less than 24 hours, when someone you had just met, died. He also said you haven't been sleeping right."
I shrugged and clutched him closer. Benji, just like his twin Kida stood at six-two, but where Kida needed glasses, Benji was fine without. Benji had his hair cut really short, ready for the Marine Corps, the faction he'd enlisted with. "So I'm here for a little while," he said, changing the subject. I smiled, tucking an escaped curl behind my ear, and clutched my coat tighter to me. "And Kida's going, tomorrow morning. I've persuaded him to come with me to the diner for breakfast, and I'll make a cooked breakfast for him." I bit my lip. We weren't going to be together again properly until July, for the boys' birthday.
"Sounds cool. Mind if I join?" he smiled and I nodded happily. "So how's your arm?" I grinned at him, shaking my head. "It's my shoulder, actually." He corrected, shoving me slightly. I giggled.
"It's fine, Kit. I-uh-I hit a tree." He said, his face colouring. I bellowed a laugh, clutching my sides tightly. Kyri and Hunter loped off ahead, leading the way to a beach. Benji took my hand and pulled me towards the sea.
"Don't even think about it! Benji, I know it isn't Anchorage, but it's still arctic temperature!" I scolded. Benji raised his eyebrows. "Okay, okay. Fine. I won't dunk you." I smiled and hugged him close, tucking my head beneath his chin, as he kissed the top of my head.
"Things will get better Kit. You'll see." He smiled. This is why I loved my brothers. They knew exactly the right thing to say to make me smile, and being with them was a comfort I would miss when they were both gone. But we all needed to live our lives, and the sooner the better. My head whipped around at the sound of a loud growling, and Hunter and Kyri both fled back to my brother and I, before turning and facing the forest that bordered the beach, their teeth bared and hackles raised.
"What the fuck?" Benji breathed. I let go of him, only to reach for his hand. "There are wolves here, Ben," I whispered. "C'mon, let's go." I said, tugging on his hand. We both whistled, and the dogs followed us, still wary of the trees behind us. As the beach disappeared behind us, I heard a long, low, mournful howl. It ached my bones, and caused a chill to settle in my heart. My stomach twisted, and I shook my head, to clear the feeling of hopelessness that had settled in my mind.
"Kitty? You okay?" Benji asked, squeezing my fingers. I turned to face him. "Sure. C'mon, let's go home, and I'll make lunch," I smiled as he nodded, a big grin on his face. Men. Always bottomless pits.