A Son of Wolves- The Last Kind

Chapter 9: Preparations

Rick and Ciara knew the drill of what was to happen next, Leo did just as much. First of all, get back on two feet! Walking again on two feet rather then two paws was going to take some time to adjust and learn. Leo hadn't experienced the change in this way before; it was an accident that caused it before, he didn't realise it would hurt like this. It was a severe case of pins and needle, a stomach twisting churn and one major headache from hell. Oh, and the lack of sensation and mobility in their legs of course. It was a matter of taking things from the bottom again, so first crawling on their hands and knees, then using one another and whatever was around them to at least stand back up. Their centre of balance had shifted now, so that was an awful lot harder then you'd think, most results ended with them face planting the ground again and again and again. Skye and Jasper could only laugh at their attempts and how much they had changed. Sadly, the now humans didn't see things that funny, more so painful. Bruises and scraps were going to be apparent.

They took a break an hour into their walking attempts the furthest any of them getting were no more then a few steps. Natalie needed to confirm it had defiantly worked as it did last time. She had them crawl far from the den and sit still while she carved some words into the stone, asking them to read from sixty feet away. Not only did they hear her near whispering voice, but they could read it perfectly fine from that distance. It had confirmed everything she intended, their wolf's forms were still very much there and inside them. Wolf on the inside, human on the outside. She left them to continue their attempts while she finished the last part of the transformation to secure them a chance at changing back. Inside three carefully made wooden vials filled with water; she stuffed the little amount of ash inside each of them. This strange amount of ash it left behind, very little for what you'd thought it have left, contained the spirits which changed them before and now. Consuming it would guarantee a change back. She was sure to use enough ingredients for three, and there was. Previously, she wasn't made aware that Leo was in need of a transformation too, so she only used what was necessary for two people to change like this.

By this time, the three were like wobbling pups taking their first steps, either using a long branch to steady themselves or using their shorter siblings who held their breath while beside them. They really did stink; their human forms hadn't been washed in over two years, nor had they walked on two feet in that time. She handed one each to them, telling them what they already knew and wishing them good luck on whatever it was that needed them to go through this again. Still, they couldn't leave just yet; they had to move more then three steps first.

In the meantime, Garth and Lily were making the most of their time with Sanali. Garth could see exactly now what Sonya, the Beta Wolf, was talking about. The amount of times she asked them the same questions over and over again, wondering when she'd next see Tony again, even what day it was. He began to see how serious this was getting, how she didn't have much longer left. He vowed to her, from this day forward, he was going to spend time with her, that he'd leave the united pack in the paws of his daughters just to spend time with her. She didn't wish for that though, she wished for him to bring them to her. She has never seen them before, two years and not one measly glimpse of them. Not that she can remember anyway. Garth had to admit, he and Lily never brought their daughters here for fear of them getting hurt. This wasn't exactly the safest pack around, despite being allies. The most of the males were uncontrollable, even with Sanali's rule. The lack of appearing before the pack now making them wonder if she was even fit for leadership and returning to its old ways. Two new, beautiful she-wolves would just be easy pickings for males of this pack. And with Lily pregnant, he was already out of his comfort zone. Still, he promised her she'd see their daughters soon, so they'd never leave his sight, he'd make sure of that.

Sanali offered them shelter for the night after hearing of why they were here, giving the humans a den far from the den areas and Garth and Lily a place right here with her. If the pack found humans in the territory, the rule was to kill on sight, especially after recent events sparked firstly by Leo's arrival in the United Pack all those years ago. Since then it has been a precaution.

The next task was to get back home the following day before night fall, stay for one night only and move out the day after. If Caleb was successful, he'd have a train timetable which they could use to time the next train. Hopefully, some time in the morning.

So the day after the transformations were completed, dusk was a few hours away when Sahara was returning home, escorted most of the way by Eve who had been taking good care of her over the last few days they had been gone. She had turned around to go home herself a little way back, leaving Sahara to look back up to her den and sigh. She then looked back to her side. "Any of you guys know where daddy is?" She asked. She waited, she waited for anything. A "gurgle" a kick, anything. "No? Me neither." She sighed glumly. He was supposed to be back today, they all were. Yet nothing had been heard of them, not even a howl to say they were close. She looked back up to her den before her, another night alone it seems for her. A strong breeze blew yet, blowing her feathers under her shin and rustled the tree just above her den it was built more or less right under. She liked that tree, it was a good sun block during hot days and Leo said it just suited her when she lay underneath. The two called it her thrown when she lay on top of the den, looking down on everyone from on high. Oh those days, shame it wasn't like this now.

With yet another glum sigh, she started walking towards her den, eager for an early night in hopes Leo would be homes soon. She then heard just before she reached the den mouth, a rustle in the trees. Just as she looked up, something came crashing down, bringing leaves and small twigs with it. She screamed at the mass and the freight it brought to her as it then hung ion front of her with…a wild rose? "Miss me?" It smiled. Her eyes were wide with fear at the sight of the human hanging upside down in front of her, her heart racing and her breathing beyond rapid.

"L-Leo?" She asked. "Is that you?"

"Sorry I scared you." He chuckled and flipped himself over and landing crouched before holding out that wild rose towards her. "A peace offering."

"Oh my god, it's really you?" She started to smile.

"Yeah, it's really me." He grinned widely. She brought her nose towards the rose, closing her eyes and taking a deep inhale of its scent.

"Hmm, smells great." She smiled with a flutter of her eyes. "But prove to me that's really you." She then returned to sceptical.

"Take of those feathers, they make you look weird." He answered dead seriously, no joking or humour showing apparent. It confirmed everything.

"It's about time!" She laughed and catapulting herself at him. He flung the rose behind him as he opened his arms to her, catching her in mid-flight in his arms. He laughed with her as he pulled her close to him. "God I missed you." She sighed, this time happily. But then, as she went in inhale his "sweet scent", she then came across one of many things. "And you stink!" She then exclaimed. "Let me go!" She batted his chest, sooner or later forcing him to let go. "You go for two days and come back smelling like you've rolled in caribou crap? Go and wash or something." This time she now ordered.

"Yeah, I didn't think that would happen." He chuckled. "But listen, I wanted to see you first before I went to see Charlie to get some clothes."

"Well go on then." She replied while walking passed him and towards the den. "Because I'm not letting you in MY den before you smell better."

"Oh what?" He whined "I haven't seen you in two days."

"The rose made up for it, now go."

A little while later, Charlie walked across the cabin living room lit dimly with candle light and two glasses of wine in his hands towards London. "Now what did I do to deserve all this? Because I'll gladly do it again." She giggled innocently as he handed her one glass and sat down beside her.

"Just carry on being you, that's all." He smiled and clinking her glass with his before taking a sip. "And because I'm hardly going to see you tomorrow."

"Ahh yes." She nodded after remember. "The school trip, a bunch of kids running wild in a forest full of wolves. What's so bad about that?" She teased.

"Everything, I'll be out before you're even awake."

"It won't be so bad, you know it won't." She replied. "Now tell me, how come this pack here seems to act like dogs around you?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." He winked before taking another sip of the wine in his hand.

"What would I have to do?" She acted on being seductive and leaning in towards him.

"Nothing at all." He grinned playfully and leaning in close to her.

"Nothing huh? Come on, there's got to be something?" They were a lips distance away from one another.

"Well, there's is one thing." He laughed deeply, leaning in that final inch…when someone knocked on the front door. It pulled them both away to look towards the front door, only to then have someone bang on it again, this time harder.

"Who would that be? It's too late for anyone else." London wondered.

"Only one way to find out." Charlie grumbled as he placed his glass back down and walked towards the door, that person banging on it some again. He unbolted and unlocked the three locks on the back of it before pulling the handle and opening the door to find three young people stood on the other side. "You guys know where you are right?" He questioned. "You can't be here."

"What's wrong Charlie? Forgot what your own brother looks like?" Leo asked. His eyes widened in that instant, looking Leo right in the eyes before up and down his body.

"Leo?"

"Yeah hi, we don't have much time." He then barged his way passed him and into the living room, bring London to alert at the strange three people she hadn't seen before. He gathered Rick and Ciara together, both at their own dens talking awkwardly to their mates before being brought this way.

"My God, what happened to you? And what is that smell?" He groaned after smelling it.

"Oh please, don't you start too." Ciara added hotly. "I dibs the shower first." She then made down the corridor straight ahead and towards the bathroom.

"Fine, just be quick." Rick added.

"Leo, what happened."

"Hey, what's going on?!" London exclaimed. How was she supposed to take this? Three kids just barged in, one of which has just gone to take a shower without asking. Who were these people? "Charlie, who are they?"

"Err…London, meet Leo, my brother." He then stepped to the side so she could see him better.

"You've got a brother?" She questioned in surprise." How come you never told me?"

"We don't see each other much." Leo answered quickly. "I live with an adoptive family; I was put into care a long time ago and only found Charlie and few years back." She could see some resemblance between them. Their eyes, the hair, even the same nose. "It's good to meet you, I've heard a lot about you."

"Really? How much?" She narrowed her eyes to her boyfriend.

"Hey Charlie!" Rick then suddenly shouted down from the bedroom, his head poking out of the bedroom doorway. "Where's our clothes, it's full off all your stuff." None of them even realised he had gone in there!

It's…in boxes in the attic." He replied his mind now in several places.

"And where the hell is that?"

"London, do you mind…" He simply gestured down the corridor. She was just as confused as the rest of them, but she nodded reluctantly and went down to help. "Ok, what's going on?" He then asked while they were now out of anyone's earshot.

"You know mom and dad are gone right? Well this is our solution."

"And quite a solution I must say. Did you really think this through?"

"Actually, we did." Leo chuckled, both of them now lightening up a little now. "We've got to get into a human area right? Well what's a better way then to become humans again?"

"But how? This just isn't right." He looked his brother up and down again only once he's seen his brother in human body; it was a marvellous thing to see again.

"It's a long story, believe me, you don't want to hear it."

"Well what about Sahara? Does she know?"

"Yeah, I didn't talk to her much. She wanted me to shower before we talk properly."

"Do you know how much of a teenager you sound again? I mean, you actually are."

"Yeah, I guess I still aged normally in this one."

"A seventeen year old parent to be, not so uncommon these days." Charlie chuckled.

"Ha, ha, funny." Leo replied sarcastically.

"So you're planning on going cross country like this just to get Kate and Humphrey back?" Charlie then asked.

"Of course, we all need them back. And like this, things will be ever easier."

"Well good luck." They both looked back down the corridor, watching as London caught a box lowered down from the attic by Rick and then another piling on top. "You know, you're nearly as big as me now, I do think those will fit you guys anymore. Borrow mine."

"I was actually thinking that. Thank bro."

"Anytime." Charlie smiled and fist bumping his brother. "Anything else you need?"

"Some cash might be helpful; wolves don't exactly have paying jobs."

"Sure thing, anything else?"

"A car?" Leo asked sheepishly, of course knowing the answer.

"Don't push it."