"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow" a continuous chorus of what to her sounded like growls reached her ears as his head was pulled back slightly as the comb started to unknot the small lugs at the ends of his three foot long hair.
Shushing him as she undid the small lugs she let her eyes wander to his new clothing, they were much too big for him though he didn't seem to mind. In fact he almost seemed pleased that the shirt hung low on him the bottom of the green shirt reaching his mid thighs and the collar so loose that it slipped over his shoulder every time he moved to see why he was being pulled back.
His trousers were far too loose on him as well and the only way she had to combat this was to tie a belt around his waist. Which was far easier said than done as he had believed she was trying to constrict him with a camouflaged snake. It had taken her many minutes of promising that he would be fine and even wrapping the belt around her own waist as proof before he allowed the leather to even touch his pale skin.
The hem of the trousers were too long on him and he had wished to rip the bottoms off though his hands were swatted away as soon as he tried to rip the material with his claw like nails. Instead of them being ripped into a much more natural, to him at least, fashion they were rolled up to the top of his shins.
While she tugged at the bottoms or his hair he started to fiddle with the too big shirt rubbing his fingers over the green material. He was starting to get used to the tugs on matt that was masquerading as his hair so to pass the time he started to hum to himself. It was a tune his dad would sing to him when he was a baby to help him calm down after an animal would venture too close to their home than he was comfortable with.
He wasn't very confident as a child and would hide from something as futile as a rabbit; because of that his dad had invented the song to keep him calm and to keep his mind off the danger his mind had convinced him was around every corner. Which in a way it was. Though after the years passed he had calmed down much with the woods and had learned everything there was to know about the forest and the dangers which he could, now, easily avoid.
As he started to hum the soothing tune he closed his amber eyes allowing himself to be transported back in time to the first time he heard that song.
Flashback
Laying against the thick black fur of his dad's side a midnight coloured tail wrapped around his waist holding him close as he nuzzled his face into his father's neck. Closing his round amber eyes the one year old whispered his fears into the thick fur.
The elder of the two tilted his head around enough to reach the special child's face rubbing his wet nose against his cold cheek.
"What's wrong child?" He asked his son as the boy lifted his tiny head off his neck.
"Scared" he answered his voice thick with worry.
"Why is that son?"
"I-I saw something it scared me" he answered his father holding a clump of his thick pure black fur in his small hands.
"Trust me boy nothing will come and hurt you I will protect you. You're my child and I will not let another being lay a claw on you." Despite the words he could see the quiver in his bottom lip, thinking of what he should do to reassure the boy he cared for more than any other child he would ever have. A small smile came to his face as he thought of a tune which, to him at least, seemed comforting and calming.
Wrapping around the boy more to shelter him from the danger he thought was out there the wolf laid his head against the babies back, and he started to hum. Hum the tune that seemed to flow from his mind to fill the air around them. Opening his amber eyes he couldn't see anything but the darkness his father's shelter provided, that darkness allowed him to relax against his soft side.
Soon after the tune replayed a few times he tried to mimic him. Humming the calming tune along with his father; the different pitch in tone creating a melody that was sending the infant to sleep.
His head dropping more than it had been before he grabbed more of the wolf's fur as he was sent to a peaceful sleep.
End flashback
Staring at the child in front of her she listened to the tune wondering where he had learned it from. It was a beautiful song and though she didn't wish to judge him when she didn't even know his real name, she hadn't thought a boy in the condition he was in would even know anything that wasn't disturbing.
Feeling the tugging on the ends of his hair cease the raven haired boy turned to see the woman had stopped combing his mass of hair. Looking at her with curiosity shinning in his amber eyes he opened his mouth to talk only to remember he was unable to communicate with anyone in this world.
"That was a beautiful tune did you learn it from whoever raised you?" She asked ensuring she used a yes or no question. Nodding his head a warm smile appeared on his pale face; subconsciously he reached out to the rack his former clothes were hung over. His fingers curling around the tattered fabric he pulled them to his chest running his fingers over the rags as he remembered just this morning how he had been curled up into his dad as they talked on what they would do that day.
"I love the tune I just wish it was my dad humming it to me" He admitted despite her having no idea on what he was saying, it just helped him to talk to someone about his father.
"I may not know anything about you but I do know that whoever raised you did a very good job. Dan says you were raised by animals and I'm not sure whether or not I believe that, no animal could raise a child as good as you." The wolf's child beamed at the compliment though it quickly vanished as he registered what she was saying. She didn't think that his dad could have raised him because he didn't walk and talk like these freakish people did.
She seemed to sense that her words had had a bad effect on the strange boy so she quickly apologised for her assumption.
"I didn't mean to disrespect the person who raised you Sam you know that right?" She asked placing her hand on his upper arm to gain his full attention. Nodding at her he turned to look out of the window on the wall to the left of him. It didn't cause her much of a problem with his hair as it was so long she could just hang it in the other direction and it was still only inches from the ground.
In the brunettes room the bag of food had been emptied the contents sprawled out over his bed. Bars of chocolate were lining the edges of his bed while the crisps and vanilla pudding had been scattered inside the chocolate wall.
Dan had dragged a chair over from the side of his room and had set it by the bed inches from touching the thick sheets. The clothes that his mother had ensured were set out neatly for him on the freshly made bed had been thrown to the floor to make room for the chocolate bed sheet.
The brunette was sat on the wooden chair slumped forwards his elbows rested on his knees as he watched the bed full of food his mother had tried so hard to hide from not only him but his father as well. As he soaked in the sight of the food his dad would never get his hands on he marked up another win for himself.
"I should probably hide this" he muttered to himself as he pushed himself up from the chair to grab the food to stash away under his bed. "Though Sam would probably like to try some" picking up one piece of chocolate he dropped it onto the chair he had recently left so he would remember to leave it. "This is going to take forever."
With a heavy sigh he started to grab at the food with both hands throwing it all under his bed as fast as he could as footsteps outside his room told him someone was coming.
Miyoko was on the verge of screaming as she tightened her grip on the comb in her hand. It shouldn't have been this hard to remove a few lugs at the bottom of his hair. That was all she was aiming to remove, a few lugs, it wasn't like she wanted to chop off all his hair. At the moment at least.
A hand rested on her shoulder, looking up she saw Sam's bright amber eyes looking down on her. Instead of talking in his alien language he tilted his head, asking a question she fully understood.
"I'm fine, it's just your hair is a nightmare" she laughed slightly at the end to try to ease her frustration. Patting her shoulder to try to apologise as best he could, though he wasn't sure why he was, he gave her a soft smile that warmed her heart.
He was so innocent, untainted by the harsh world that surrounded him. The boy was truly one of a kind, special.
"I'll be back in a moment I need to make sure Dan starts to get changed." Pushing herself up she handed the animal child the comb in her hand adding "you have a go at it" just to ensure he wouldn't go wandering in her absence.
Diving onto the bed as the door started to open, Dan clamped his eyes shut resting his hands behind his head to try to look like he was relaxing.
"Daniel, get up. You have to get changed." Opening an eye a crack he looked up at his mum, breathing an inward sigh of relief. He had thought his dad would have been the one opening the door, it was almost time for him to be home.
"Mum, I told you it's Dan now" he whined pushing himself up into a slouch.
"Yes, yes ok whatever you say" she patronised as she grabbed the clothes he had thrown carelessly to the floor. "Now get dressed, the party will be in a few hours."
"Sam's coming right?" He asked as he caught the clothes she tossed his way, she looked at him and thought it through for a moment.
"You're looking after him. If you can do that then he can come" she conceded as she ran her thumb over the five scratches on his cheek each a different length. "I'll have to do something about this. Perhaps a touch of make-up"
His face dropped at her statement. Make-up?! Not a chance.
"No, no, no that's ok. I'll be fine I'm sure it'll have faded by the time of the party" he tried to assure while pulling her hand away. He had tried in vain to cover the slight panic in his voice but the older brunette caught it.
"If you're sure. Now hurry up and get changed I'll check in on you in a few minutes if you're not changed I'll be staying in to watch you get changed" with that threat she left her son a look of horror on his face as he knew she would do just that.
Leaving her son to get changed she peaked into the bathroom to see Sam parting his hair as he tried to brush through the enormous matt with the wrong side of the comb. Smiling to herself she decided she best help him; otherwise he would be there forever.
"Sam" she called over to him in a hushed voice as not to shock him by the sudden and unexpected noise. Looking up at the woman in the doorway the black haired boy blinked at her though didn't move in any other way. "Turn it around, that's the wrong side" she chastised softly silently amused by his cluelessness.
Looking from the comb to the woman a look of realisation crossed his features and he nodded at her to show he understood. Turning the comb around so the bristles faced him he looked at her for reassurance that he was doing it right now.
The small nod he received made his face light up, he always did like to learn new things. Even if they were strange.
"I'll be back in a minute, ok. I just have to start getting changed."
"Ok" he answered forgetting yet again that it was pointless to talk though she seemed to understand what he was trying to say as she nodded at him before closing the door most of the way.
As he started to try to brush his hair again he couldn't help thinking that it was much easier to talk to her than it was to Dan.
"Must be because she had to look after him as a baby" he mumbled to himself remembering what his dad had told him about children having their own made up language.
Outside the house a car pulled up on the drive a young man in a suit stepping out. He let out a sigh as he hooked his finger in his tie pulling it down. Looking up at his house he smiled as he readjusted his grip on the wrapped gift in his hand.
He had spent his lunch break hunting for the gift his son had pestered him for, for the last three months. Pressing the button on his keys to lock the door he left his car.
Opening the door to the house he had expected to hear the TV going with either cartoons or an exercise channel. But the house was silent. Looking into the room which was closest to him he saw the light was still turned off and only a handbag was on the couch.
"Honey?" He called out "you here?" This was unusual his wife was usually downstairs doing yoga in front of the TV. Walking to the bottom of the stairs he started to walk up a couple of steps "honey?" He tried again, still receiving no response.
Looking up the stairs in confusion he started to climb the steps. Listening closely as he went.
He had expected his son to be downstairs opening presents and watching the TV. But it looked as though they were out, the only indication that anyone was in was the bag on the couch.
Reaching the top step he looked down the small hall. All but one door was shut, and the light coming from that room told him that someone was there. Curiosity grabbed he started for the door, hoping to find his wife in there, he was slightly worried by the lack of noise in the usually lively house.
Opening the door he was about to talk to who he thought to be his wife. Instead his mouth hung open as his eyes landed on a small boy in his son's clothes, a clump of black hair in one hand and his wife's comb in the other staring up at him with inquisitive eyes.
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