A Son of Wolves- A Human Adventure
Chapter 15: Seekers
The following morning, Leo couldn't believe the lie-in he gained from that night in a comfortable bed, with clean bedding and surrounded by a warm place with his "dog" at his feet. Caleb couldn't believe he didn't have one of these human beds in his place, he so needed one. So when he followed Franks into this room after carrying Leo inside he had to follow and try it out for himself. But Once again, Leo couldn't believe these people were his family. They were so nice, so it was hard to believe. He only went by that thought after the serious of events that transpired while in their company. First of all, treating the wound on his leg, followed by fresh clothes, and as promised, his old dry ones folded on a chair in the corner of the room, the hole in them even stitched up from where he ripped into the trouser leg. Not only that, but after he changed, a slap up meal was just being served, another steak being provided for Caleb. It was closing in on 10:00am by this time; they were all readying to wake him up. It may not sound the greatest of lie-ins, but when you have to wake up for Alpha duties and such, it really is a great one. But it didn't stop there. They refused for him to walk all the way home, and Frank apparently had some business in Rhinelander to take care of. So adding it all up, Leo so found himself, after saying his goodbyes, sitting in the passenger seat of Frank's car with Caleb in the back seat with his head out the open window and Craig in the seat beside him. His tongue flew out the side of his mouth as the wind dragged back his fur, the most sensational feeling ever!
All was quiet as they went along, the awkward silence ever building. "So Leo, where o you live? I can drop you off right outside your house and explain to your parents where you've been." Frank said after a moment.
"He lives with me." Caleb replied. "In a run down old shop."
"I live out of town a few miles, I can walk the rest of the way, it's a good walk and it'll give Caleb a chance to have his walk." Anyway Leo replied.
"Call me your dog again and I'm not helping you anymore." Caleb said and pulling his head back inside.
"Damn it Caleb, just play along." Leo seethed quietly, only just loud enough for Caleb to make out.
"What was that?" Frank asked, hearing Leo's sudden mutter.
"Nothing." He replied quickly. "So where are you headed?"
"Dad wanted to visit my sister, after yesterday Celia thought it would be a good idea, so that's where we're going."
"It's been a long time." Craig added. "She's all I have left of my youngest daughter."
"They have a son don't they, Alex isn't it?" Leo faked to question.
"Yeah, how did you know that?" Frank asked curiously.
"I'm friends with him."
"You, friends with Alex?" Craig asked. "From what Susan told us he doesn't have any."
"He's got me. If it's ok with you, can you take me over there? My parents won't mind."
"No problem, we're nearly there." Frank replied as he turned into the residential estate mere minutes from their home.
"What about me? You told them I wasn't your pet and these people I was?" Caleb asked, bringing up a very important fact.
"We'll think of something when we get there." He muttered once again.
"Well, we're here, so we need to think of something." Caleb replied, Leo hadn't noticed they pulled up right outside the house. Frank clambered outside and walked at a quick pace to help his elderly father out the vehicle, and while they were occupied, Leo and Caleb had their chance. Leo jumped out, opened the door to let him out.
"Run back home, I'll meet you there." With a quick nod, Caleb ran down the length of the street and dived around and behind cars as not to be seen running.
"Where'd the dog go?" Craig asked, soon realising that Caleb wasn't around.
"I'm sure he's around here somewhere doing what a dog's got to do." Leo chuckled. "He'll be back, he knows where I am."
"That's one smart dog." Frank added.
"Frank, Papa!" A woman's voice called out. They all spun around, and Susan was walking out the door with a large grin. "What brings you by?" She asked while pulling her brother into a hug.
"Is my oldest not allowed to his her old man when he wishes?" Craig chuckled as she moved onto him. But as she moved away, she then noticed something that she didn't expect.
"Leo?" She questioned upon seeing him stood there. "What are you doing here?"
"We found him yesterday up by the lake; he saved us from some wolves." Frank answered.
"He what?"
"You heard him." Craig confirmed. "This young man is quite remarkable." He added and hitting Leo's chest lightly with his cane.
"So Alex says." She chuckled lightly. "Come on in, Leo if you're here for Alex he's out at the moment, said he was heading to the park."
"Thanks, I'll get going."
"What about your dog?" Frank then asked just as Leo turned around.
"He ran up this way, didn't you see him?" He answered quick wittedly. "I'd better go catch him, I'll see you around." He said just as quickly to get out of the weird situation occurring and beginning to run and call Caleb's name.
Frank, Susan and Craig stepped inside the house after Leo's strange moment, not one of the first, but still, strange none the less.
"He's a strange one isn't he?" Craig mumbled as he walked into the living room.
"Be thankful pa, if he wasn't there yesterday then it's likely we wouldn't be here today."
"Why what did he do?" Susan asked curiously as they all sat around in chairs within the room.
"Like we said, he saved us from a group of wolves."
"How did he do that? He's just a kid?" Susan questioned in disbelief.
"Beats me, but he took my cane and came back in one piece with it and his dog." Craig replied.
"His dog?" Simon asked as he walked in the room upon hearing them walk through the door.
"This black and grey dog, said it was his. How're you doing Si?" Frank replied and shaking his hand after he came within reaching distance.
"Not bad. But this dog, he told us he didn't have one, that he only bumped into a stray when he met Alex."
"Maybe he just didn't want you to know, he loves his dogs after all." Craig said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Susan asked.
"His parents run their own wolf conservation a few miles out of town."
"No they don't, they're from Madison over a hundred miles away. We're old friends of theirs and he's here to organize a party for their anniversary in a few weeks."
"Really?" Frank questioned and puzzled. "When we bumped into him, he told us that his parents ran a wolf conservation a few miles away from here and was out on a hike before we me him."
"There's no wolf park near here, not that I've heard of anyway." Simon replied. They all looked around the room at one another. It was apparent Leo had lied to someone, but two questions now remained. Who did he really lie to, and in the case that he lied to all of them, who was the boy hanging around with Alex?!
Talking of Alex, Leo headed in the direction of the park, and it was harder then it sounded to just simply find someone here. It was one enormous field, parts of it held a few trees in which children darted in and around playing, a few play parks with fun equipment, and a skate park, filled with many jumps and rails as well as a concrete basketball court with plenty on teenagers messing about on. But around him and out of everyone here, he did not see Alex. But he was here earlier, so his mother says. So closing his eyes to focus on his other senses, he parted his mouth slightly and inhaled deeply. Smells of sweaty teenagers, cigarette smoke and freshly cut grass came to his senses as well as much more, and among them all was Alex's scent. Following his smell, he reached out his hearing and scanned the area around him for his voice. Sure others watching him looked on to see this strange boy standing around acting this way, but they didn't think much of it. Then, after hearing out for something, he heard the faint, but still distinct weep of a young boy, Alex.
Following his nose and the sound of the faint cries, he found the source, and it was indeed Alex huddled in the corner of the field with his back against the side of the tree nobody else could see. "Alex…" Leo muttered upon his sense calming. He looked up to his surprise to see Leo standing there before wiping his eyes. "Alex man what happened?" He asked and going down on one knee to come to his level.
"Nothing." Alex sniffled.
"Don't lie to me." It was then that a normal inhaled breath through his nose that Leo caught the scent of something. He lifted up Alex's chin, getting a clear view of his face, taking him into shock. A small trickle of blood ran down his top lip coming from his nose, another small cut in his bottom lip, and to finish of a, what will be, perfect black left eye. "Who did this to you?" Leo growled a letting go of his chin. Anger started to build in the pit of his stomach, whoever did this wasn't going to get away from it. Alex only looked around nervously, not resting on anything or anyone. Leo was going to get an answer one way or another, even if it was through a way he didn't like to use. He placed his hand on Alex's cheek and made him look into his eyes, by simply telling him too, and lone behold, he started to see everything written in his eyes.
This was becoming an art, Leo didn't like using it, but someone had messed with his family so he wasn't going to let the perpetrators get away with it. Seeing everything unfold through Alex's eyes, by Alex's eyes, he saw Alex simply walking along the field wanting to walk passed the basketball court where Shaun and a group of five played. He even took a longer route around them to avoid them. It didn't work, and soon he was being restrained and Shaun delivered blow after blow before he ran in this direction. He couldn't go home looking how he did. Knowing if someone was telling the truth or lying was one thing, a thing all wolves could do, knowing what happened by reading their eyes was a whole knew level Winston taught him that only a select few could achieve. An old trick the old Alpha's were taught back in the old days and only a few these days could do.
Leo brought himself back out of his cousin's eyes and looked around slowly behind him, a light, but very audible non-human like growl escaping his lips as he did. Those boys he saw both earlier as he stepped foot into the park and he saw through his cousin's eyes turns out to be Shaun the school's and Alex's personal bully playing basketball.
"Get up." Leo partially ordered, but certainly furious.
"Why, what are you going to do?" Alex sniffled as Leo dragged him to his feet and began walking back towards them.
"Dealing with this." Leo growled again. He hadn't felt this way other then his encounter with Ciara ex-boyfriend who started all this. "Hey, you!" Leo snapped, gaining their attention quickly.
"Leo don't, let's just go." Alex said getting in front of him and stopping him there and then.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the ninja." Shaun said catching the ball and rounding up his group to make a more defensive stance against him.
"Leo let's just go." Alex pleaded, Leo only stepped around him.
"You need to apologise before I put you on your ass again."
"For what? Teaching the freak over here he doesn't belong around us? For keeping the natural order of school kids in tact?" Shaun questioned.
"For being a jerk you piece of shit!" Leo snarled, but ashamed he even used that curse. Had his mother been here, Kate would knock him for two for hearing that language.
"What did you call me?" Shaun growled and smacking the ball in his hand threateningly while taking a few steps closer with his five friends either side of him.
"You heard me, now apologise…or I'll stick my size eight up your ass again."
"There's more us of this time, what are you going to do about that?" Shaun smirked.
"Only one more, want to find out?"
Shaun thought back to Leo's previous experience and encounter with Leo, he and three others brought down in less then ten seconds by one single boy. As much as he needed to teach them both a lesson he had a better thought in mind. Something that would entertain him and make them both look the fool in front of the entire school.
"I'll tell you what..." Shaun then said after a moment and in a far calmer tone; but still tough like. "The school talent competition is in two days. If butt munch back there can do something that'll make me think otherwise, I will not only apologise to you both, but I will also eat quit the basketball team."
"Dude, you can do that." One of his friends behind seethed.
"Chill man, like either of them could do something." Shaun whispered.
"Deal." Leo replied, rather too quickly and even took Shaun by surprise. He was really going to try?
"What?"
"You've got a deal." Leo said again and holding out his hand. Shaun confidently took it and shook it in a single way. But when he tried to let him go, Leo's grip only tightened, and tightened, and tightened to the point faint crunching sounds came from his hand. "But, if you go back on this, I will hunt you down and really show you the animal I am." Leo added and finally releasing his hand. Shaun braved it out, acting as though he hardly felt a thing, whereas he was sure his hand had broken something. Leo walked away, pulling Alex with him who would have actually gone willingly with him.
"What the hell man, why did you do that?!" Alex exclaimed once they were out of earshot.
"You're going to get that apology and show that guy what this family is really made out of." Leo answered sternly.
"I was quiet happy with it as it was."
"Well wasn't, we're going to teach him a lesson and put that sorry dog in his place."
"How? I don't have any talents."
"No need to worry, I'm going to teach you something my grandfather taught me some time ago."
"What? What can you teach me in two days that'll prove him wrong?"
"Something that'll make him the school idiot, now meet me in the town centre in two hours, I've got somewhere I need to be."
Kate, Humphrey and the gang walked and walked, far out and away from the town of Fargo, following the roads along with its signs and the map they had to find these wolves Kate and Humphrey knew. "So mom, who are these people we're trying to find?" Dom asked as they walked further.
"Remember that story your father and I told you of when we're were taken by humans long ago?" She asked back, receiving a nod from him.
"Well, they helped us get home. They know their way around anywhere, they know how to get to places and they knew the fast way to get us back home. If anyone can get us to Rhinelander faster, it's Marcel and Paddy." Humphrey finished.
"So where are they from dad?" Skye then asked.
"Beats me, they fly around everywhere." He chuckled.
"Fly!" Jasper exclaimed. "Wolves that can fly?!"
"No, honey… they're birds, not wolves." Kate laughed.
"You're friends with birds?" Sahara giggled. "Now I've heard it all."
"Say's the one who where's bird feathers. Who's to say you're not wearing their cousin." Humphrey chuckled deeply.
"They're falcon feathers, don't hate the feathers." She giggled.
"So where are we now Ciara?" Kate then asked, stepping over a log.
"Somewhere near a place called Fergus Falls, we can rest in Alexandria forty miles further up."
"We'll have to be quick; we'll have to get there before dark." Skye added.
"Well let's run, we can get there in no time." Dom added.
"Yeah, a bit of a problem there guys." Rick called out from ahead, scouting the area before they came to it.
"Why, what's wrong?" Sahara asked.
"Nothing, just Ciara's friends."
"Who?" She asked, coming towards him. Rick only pointed ahead of them. So she narrowed her vision further down the road to where he pointed, seeing familiar car and three boys sat around it, seemingly waiting for someone, One of which she recognised as the boy she flirted with and then cracked one.
"Oh damn." She sighed.
"Why did I think what you did was not only a bad move, but also not the last we'd see of them." Rick added with his own sigh.
"So, they're after us?"
"Seems so. God, did he really think we had a chance? He's got to be seventeen if he's driving to Pete's sake!" Ciara exclaimed again.
"So how are we going to get passed?" Jasper asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Leave it to me, I've got an idea." Rick sniggered excitedly and clapping his hands together. "Let's go Skye."
They weren't going to let that girl get away with it, how dare she humiliate them and then do what she did. They swore to hunt her and her coloured "brother" down and make them pay for the wrong move they made. No-one does that to them or tells them what to do, even their parents, they knew where they were headed, so they'd find them one way or another. They had to have overtaken them by now, but if they were headed the Rhinelander they'd come this way, so a roadblock they set up and they waited patiently.
However, some entertainment was provided when a wolf appeared on the opposite side of the road. They stood a little more alert, but showed little fear towards the harmless animal. Skye sat back and watched them taking a stick beside her and tossing it towards them, giving them dog like pleading eyes as they did. Soon getting the idea, the lead boy took the stick and threw it as far as he could, the only way he thought he's get rid of the strange wolf. Only…when he turned his, he heard the quiet yet cute sound that was Skye begging again with the largest puppy eye she could get make them before throwing the stick back towards them. Now seeing this as a game, all three lads walked away from the car and towards the stick, giving Rick his chance. Skye ran after the stick, partially playing along, but to be honest, mostly because her canine instincts took over and she became obsessed with it and genuinely wanted them to throw it. After a few more throws, both wolf and boys beginning to enjoy themselves, it was all brought to a sudden stop by a loud, metallic bang. Spinning around, they couldn't believe their eyes upon seeing Rick breaking off one of the wing mirrors with a large thick stick. "YOU!" The lead boy bellowed with a furious tone.
"Skye, let's get out of here!" He yelled and taking off down the road where Kate, Humphrey and the others had already began walking down. Skye threw the stick with all her might, making it spin and hit one of the boys behind their knees, causing him to fall and cry out from the sting before running after Rick.
"Quick, get in the car!" The lead boy ordered. They all scrambled and jumped to their feet, but soon noticed something. Along the edge of the car was carved "Catch us if you can" along with an arrow pointing down to the flat wheel that would stop them from getting anywhere. Growling in annoyance, the same boy kicked the wheel as he watched the humans and their dogs run down the road, disappearing into distance. "We're going to catch them, call for help."
Guys, I'm back!" Caleb yelled in the woodland area. Caleb did as Leo instructed; he went home, soon Leo returned and shortly after that they both headed towards the zoo. Leo promised Caleb he'd let him in again to see and hold his siblings once again soon, and today was that day. Caleb was holding up his end of the bargain, now it was Leo to uphold his. Leo let Caleb inside through the gate that wasn't watched while he went to speak with the manager of the zoo to debate for the wolf's release, he'd come back with news shortly.
But in the meantime, Caleb was walking around the small wooded area searching for his family when suddenly. "Dog pile!" Several voices yelled. He was suddenly pounced on for all directions, six bodies all jumping on his and crushing him under their weight. He didn't mind, he enjoyed this playful touch of his friends and family seeing as he hadn't experienced it before. Laughing and giggling away, they final stepped off him.
"What brings you by this time bro?" Texas asked.
"Other then wanting to see you guys again, nothing much. It's great to see you again."
"We see each other through a fence though." Nikita added.
"This is better though." He smiled. "How are dad and Kali?"
"They're in the den, no surprise there." Aaron asked, one of the other males adopted by Kali and Kyp. There's also his brother Nicholas and sister Nala, all three siblings, brought here by the zoo to become part of the pack they hope to grow. A look on Caleb's face showed something, something they saw and knew what he had planned.
"You can't be serious." Kyan said.
"Just for a few minutes, it's been a long time so he may have had a change in heart."
"Well, we'll wish you luck. The den's that way." Nicholas said pointing in a direction.
"Thanks guys, hopefully I'll see you again." He chuckled and walking in the direction he was pointed in. He followed the faint prints in the dirt, indicating someone had been along here several times, clear signs of a den entrance being close. And soon he found Kali lying on the floor, he tail swishing gently behind her to the sides as she lay with her head on her paws.
"Is he in there?" Her head shot up, more surprised then ever that Caleb would ever come this close to the den.
"Caleb, what are you doing here?"
"I'm going to take that as a yes."
"Quick, come look at this." She whispered but with a smile. She brought him right to the entrance of the den and they both peeked around the corner. Kyp lay inside, pondering over the puppy collar strapped to his wrist.
"He's actually wearing it? What did you have to do to get that on him?"
"He told me he threw it somewhere, but I watched him put it on himself. He covers it with his fur."
"Strange." Kyp suddenly said. "That a simple thing can be so powerful." Caleb looked over to Kali, but she had turned and walked away to give them some privacy. "How was it you can by this thing?" He asked without taking his eye off the thing.
"My mother gave it to me and I've had it for as long as I can remember."
"How does it work?" Feeling a little more confident, Caleb stepped paw into the den a few steps, but stopped when he heard Kyp's low threatening growl.
"I don't know. But she told me if I keep it on the humans won't hurt me, and they never did or have since I had it. I thought that…"
"What a ridicules thing." He scoffed.
"Then why do you wear it? Missing me yet?" Caleb said, making a bold move.
"Why are you here?" He growled and covering up the collar with his fur.
"To see if I was brave enough to see you."
"Well I don't want to see you dog, now leave me be."
"My mother was taken away from me when I was two moons old." Caleb said instead
"I don't care, I said go." Kyp warned a little louder and more feral.
"She told me my father was here, that it was a giant mistake that it happened between them."
"I agree." He sighed in anger.
"So I came in hope I'd find him, and here I find you. Can't you even look at me dad?" Suddenly, Kyp spun around as fast as Caleb had even seen, so fast he barely saw it and didn't have time to get out of the way of his fly claws. As a result, his talon like appendages caught him just below his left eye and racked down the side of his cheek, leaving three large gashes down it and a forth catching the top of his ear and dragging itself down the front of it. Caleb dried out loudly and clutched his bleeding cheek.
"Now get this straight dog." He snarled loudly. "I'm not your father and I never will be. I have two sons not three, so stay away from me and my children."
"Kyp!" Kali screamed as she came running into the den with her children not far behind him all crowding around Caleb and checking his wounds. "How can you do that?!"
"You want to know something else!" Caleb then yelled; although tears of both blood and water fell down his face blending into one another while he pushed pass them to face him again. "I was not an only child!" He sobbed. "My mother gave birth to three others, two were my sisters and another was a brother of mine. I never got to know them, I barely got to know my mother, now I hardly remember her anymore and all I want is to know my father and the only family I have left."
"Caleb, let's just go…" Kali said softly, he only pushed her out of the way gently and came even closer to Kyp's face.
"If you were half the wolf mom said you were, them you'd know that family is family and that nothing can change it. I learnt that and I am only half a wolf. So if you were a full one, you should know that better then anybody." He cried, Kyp stared him right in the eye, not showing another sign but anger towards him. "Keep the collar, you need it more then I do you coward." Caleb finished before turning around and barging passed his friends and half siblings to go back into the light. Kali gave her mate one last disappointed glare before walking out after Caleb and her own children.
Caleb scurried away faster, fast enough to create distance between them and make it to Leo before they had a chance to catch up to him. Tears and blood continued to fall down his face, but he had other things to worry about. Leo however, saw them straight away. "Oh god, what happened to you?" He exclaimed and getting ready to kneel down to have a closer look.
"I'll explain later." Caleb replied coldly and walking passed in towards the back gate. "Are they free?" He asked upon reaching it. With a sign, Leo stood back up and unlocked it.
"I tried everything, even saying I'd take you guys' home with me to live with my pack, that they'd be under close observation for some time by myself."
"And?" Caleb asked with hope.
"He can't let them go." Leo sighed after they walked through and he locked it again.
"What! Why?"
"He said the wolves here are the main attraction since they started coming out of the woods. That without them the zoo would have to be shut down and any animal they couldn't release or move to another zoo they'd put them down for euthanasia."
"And that is?" Leo only had to give Caleb a look that showed it all. "They'd kill them?!" He then exclaimed.
"They can't release potentially dangerous animals, so they'd put them down. I tried everything but I can't get him to let them go."
"So what happens now? You still need to hold your end of the deal!" Caleb warned, feeling as though Leo would let him down.
"I will, don't worry. In two days, we'll break them out together." Leo answered. "The manager of the zoo is going to let me keep this key to the enclosure. When night comes and there's only security, we can get them out."
"But what about the zoo? They'd kill all the animals."
"The only other dangerous animal I saw in there were the bears, and they can be released. He was trying to stop me from thinking all this so no animal would be killed. "Come Tuesday, you'll be with you family. I promise." Only Leo hadn't thought of something when he said that, and he still hadn't after. In two days time was the school talent show, and as everyone knows, you can't be in two places at once.
Here's another chapter guys. You know what I found out as i was typing this? It's very hard to do so with a cat on you lap as well as a laptop. So any spelling mistakes blame on the cat! Anyway, it seems those boys from the station are after Ciara and Rick, will they catch them? Leo and Alex have got themselves into some deep trouble, what is it Leo will be teaching Alex do we think? And as for Caleb, i thought a little more background info was needed, a little sad i know, but it was necessary i think. I have to admit i think this might be my favourite chapter thus far. So, please leave a review as i love to hear what you think and read on. Until next time! :D