Disclaimer: Thorn Wolf doesn't own Lost in Blue. Thorn Wolf is also getting bored with saying this. And Thorn Wolf is rapidly running out of ways to say this in a funny way…

Chapter 13: The Family Grows

John was sitting outside the cave waiting for Summer and Tomo to return. He had amused himself by whittling away at a stick he had found. As he was lost in thought, he wasn't really paying attention to anything else, and nearly shouted in surprise when a shadow fell over him. He looked up and shaded his eyes to see Summer standing over him grinning like a maniac.

"Uh-oh. I don't think I like that smile…What did you do now?" he asked.

"We have a new friend," she replied, still smiling insanely. John looked behind her to see Tomo with a red wolf standing beside him.

"I've gotta stop letting you go out on your own. We're running out of space in the cave!" Seeing Summer's pouting face, he added quickly, "But we do have room for one more! What's its name?"

"Her name is Ember. She's a little shy, so don't approach her too quickly."

"Sum. Look at me. Do you honestly think I'm going anywhere quickly?" John said, indicating his leg.

Summer considered this for a moment. "True enough."

"So, why do we have another pet?" John asked. He looked over at Ember again. She shifted nervously and pressed up against Tomo's side. He nuzzled her, then turned and led her away. When he moved away, John could see the travois, and on it was a jet-black animal. "What's that? Do we have three pets?"

"First off, they are not pets. Second, only Ember is new to the family. I had let Tomo go off to do his own hunting. After a while, I heard howls and snarls coming from the jungle. I started to get worried, but then I thought maybe Tomo was facing off with prey that was larger then him. I got really worried when I heard him yelp. I climbed up the cliff as fast as I could and saw that wolf-" she pointed to the black animal "-with his teeth in Tomo's back. Ember was fighting off another one. I screamed at the surrounding pack to leave Tomo alone, and I killed that one with the spear. That scared off the other wolves, except for Ember. She seemed to like Tomo and she followed us back. She doesn't seem to like me very much yet, but at least she hasn't attacked me. I think it's more of an uncertainty problem then a dislike towards humans."

"Sounds like you've had a tiring day," John said smiling up at her. As he looked closer, he could see the fear and anger in Summer's eyes as she remembered the events. "You should get some rest."

"Yeah. Tomo, come on boy! Time for bed!" Summer called out to the dark gray wolf. Tomo, who had been racing up and down the beach with Ember, skidded to a stop and took a few steps towards the cave. He turned to look back at Ember. Her head was low and her tail tucked between her legs. He looked back and forth for a few seconds, trying to figure out whom he should listen to. Then Tomo seemed to come to a decision. He barked at Summer, then turned and trotted back to Ember.

Summer seemed a little hurt at this. John got to up and hobbled over to her. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't take it too hard. He probably missed being with another wolf. And even more than that, he's trying to help her feel more at home."

"I guess…Hey, what's that?" she said, looking down at his hand.

"I was whittling while you were away."

"What did you make?" Her eyes were as bright as a child's are at Christmas time.

"I'm not sure. I wasn't really paying attention." John opened up his hand. Nestled in his palm was a small wooden wolf, about 6 inches long. It looked like it was running, but not like it was chasing after food, just for the joy of it.

"Well, look at that. I guess Tomo's rubbing off on you after all!" Summer exclaimed. She picked up the little wolf and held it out. She positioned it so the ocean was behind it and its paws were about level with the beach. She giggled quietly as the two real wolves went racing by behind it along the sand. "It fits in with that scene rather nicely, doesn't it?"

"I guess it does. Let's go to bed. You look like you need a nap. By the way, when I told you about not having enough room in the cave, you do realize I was joking about it right?"

"Yes. And you do realize I was faking the pouting face, right?"

"Um, no, actually."

"You still don't know me very well yet, do you?" Summer said. She untied the dead wolf from the travois and started pulling it around to the left side of the cave.

"Where are you going?"

"There's a little cranny over here in the rock wall. I'll hide this in there until tomorrow. Then we'll have breakfast all figured out. Maybe even lunch and dinner. I'll use the fur for something too. And the bones."

"Okay. Now get to bed," John said when she came back. "You look like you've been though hell."

"Yes, dad," Summer said. "I'm not all that (yawn) tired anyways."

John smiled at this. "Whatever you say." Summer tripped, and John reached out an arm to help her get her balance back. In doing so, he put own his injured leg and winced at the pain that shot up it. Summer was so exhausted that she didn't seem to notice, but John hid the pain behind a smile anyways.

"Maybe I am tired," Summer said, her words slurred slightly and her eyes half closed. "Good night, John."

"Good night." He watched as Summer crawled into the cave. He looked back at the wolves. They were sitting next to each other watching the sunset. He smiled. Then he looked over at the cranny that the dead wolf was now hidden in. I could make a smoke, and then we could preserve more meat. He stifled a yawn that had come up on him suddenly. Tomorrow, he thought with a little grin.