The next few days were hard on the wolf. When he did stay in his human home he was typically alone. These days were different. Some mornings he would wake up and forget that Alois, he most delicious dinner, was living care-free in his 'home'.
Most mornings he would wake up to the small boy lying next to him in his bed. This particular morning was one of the more common ones. Alois had been complaining he was a bit homesick for the past few days. The pouting face Alois made when saying things like this was absolutely, dare he say it, adorable? He shook his head. Meals were not 'adorable' or 'cute'. He licked his lips watching the fair skinned boy sleep next to him. Then what could he be called?
He sniffed the boy's soft hair dipping his head to smell the crook of his neck. He was tempted to devour the boy. He was so innocent, completely unaware of his house mate's intentions. A pink tongue darted out to lick soft flesh. The wolf licked his chops.
"Delicious.." That was the word he was looking for.
Alois stirred and opened his eyes. The wolf was smart and gained some distance from the boy. Alois stretched.
"Hnn..did you say something, Claude?" He rubbed one eye keeping the other on the man.
"I said.." He cleared his throat. "..to myself that I should..make some delicious crapes."
"Oh! Those sound wonderful!" Alois' eyes sparkled and he was suddenly awake and out of bed running downstairs.
The wolf heaved a sigh. This was ever so different from his normal routine.
Water splashed out from the sink where he was washing this morning's plates. As excited as Alois had been, he mostly played with his food, the wolf noted. 'Well, we're not so different in that aspect.' He thought ironically. His heightened hearing perked up hearing those small footsteps walking down the wooden staircase.
"Clauuude. Where do I clean up?" Alois now stood in the kitchen looking up at his new guardian. He carried in his hands a pair of clean clothes to change into.
"Ah..clean up?" The wolf had to admit he never really thought about that. He himself simply groomed his fur coat with his own tongue.
"Yea. Like a bathtub." Alois watched the wolf's confused expression cross his face.
"Ah..that is…the bathroom is.." He blinked a moment. There wasn't actually a tub in that room. He gulped mentally working things out in his mind.
"You do know what a bath is, don't you, Claude?" Alois held his nose smiling.
The wolf's eyebrow twitched a little annoyed.
"I'm afraid my tub is..broken. I will simply have to get a new one."
Alois looked excited for some reason. Certainly baths weren't that special to humans.
"That means we're going to go out into town, right?" Alois sat his clothes down on the table.
Yes, that is correct."
Alois skipped outside happily and Claude followed with eyes locked on his prize.
Stand after stand of fresh produce was laid out along the street. Alois ogled in amazement at the small shops along the way. Claude often had to pull little Alois along so he wasn't left behind.
"We can browse later." He pulled Alois by the collar of his shirt.
"Awww.."Alois folded his arms pouting and continued following Claude to their destination. Inside, the store was musty and boring to poor Alois. He looked around and spotted a boy about his age running news papers to people off a corner. He gave one look at Claude and could tell this was all boring adult talk. Snickering to himself, Alois ran off to investigate.
Claude finished paying the man.
"I trust you will have this delivered to my estate this afternoon."
"Oh yes sir!Of course!Of course!" Claude turned away. Humans were simple to deal with. Give them enough of these coins and papers and they would do whatever you asked.
He looked around. Alois was nowhere to be found inside the store. He walked out of the shop scanning the shopping center. Many children ran around in the street, but none smelled like Alois. He lightly sniffed the air and followed Alois' heavenly scent.
Alois wandered into a place where many boys of different ages were running around with buckets, their clothes all dirtied up. He noticed them looking and ran towards the back. More kids were here, working on machines he didn't even know existed. A hand rested on his shoulder making him jump.
"Hello there, lad!" A pudgy man with a booming voice came into view. He was nearly bald up top but had a kind face. "Can I help you?"
Alois looked around."I was.."
"You wanted a job with the rest of these boys, is that it?" That hand roughly patted his shoulder. Alois winced n smiled.
"Well…y-yes!I was!" Alois was suddenly excided at the thought of having a job of his own in the town.
"Come on back with me." He followed the man to a back room. The door was old and rusty and the room was even worse. Alois took a seat on the stool across from the table with papers on it. The man sat across the table from him.
"I've got a few questions for you."
"Ok." Alois held onto his knees a little nervous.
"Are you strong?"
"Yes sir!"
"You ever worked in a factory before?"
"No sir, I haven't. You see, I'm from a small village through the woods."
The man seemed to understand "I see…" He rubbed his chin."How old are you, lad?"
"I'm fourteen!" He answered enthusiastically.
The man nodded and held out his hand across the table.
"Alright. I can hire you. This job don't pay much, but I think you will like it here."
Alois smiled excitedly and shook the man's hand. "Thank you, sir!"
"What's your name?"
"Alois."
"Alois, eh? Just call me boss. Everyone here does." He smiled and walked Alois out of the room.
Claude stood down the hall glaring at his meal that had run off. That man, his hand was on his meal's shoulder. He growled under his breath. Alois came closer after talking to the man and gasped stopping.
"Claude! How did you-"
"Never mind that." Claude grabbed Alois' hand and dragged him outside the factory.
"C-Claude?" The man's hand was in a tight grip around his. They stopped once outside. Claude had this look in his eye that Alois didn't like.
"I told you to stay by me. You shouldn't run off!" Claude whispered to him hoarsely.
Alois trembled feeling his hand start to go numb and started struggling.
"Claude..you- you're hurting me!" He whined. Claude let his hand go giving him a look that could kill.
"As your guardian, it is my duty to correct you when you have disobeyed me." He growled an dremembered the man from inside.
"Who were you just talking to in there?"
Alois looked upset. "I…that's my new boss. I got a job working at that factory."
Claude looked at the boy a bit surprised, but he did suppose it was alright for the boy to have something to do during the day time… once he ate thie meal, he could easily tell his boss that he simply went back home to his village.
"That so?" Claude now gave a weak smile. "Congratulations. Tonight, we will celebrate."
Alois looked up and smiled seeing Claude was no longer angry.
"We should return home. You can take your bath then."
