The Story of a Lonely Wolf Chapter 2: Seeing Leara

I'm so hungry, Toboe said to himself. He'd been walking all night. "It sure is a nice day," he said as he looked at the sun shining and warming the earth. "Man, they said thinking about other things is supposed to help you feel better when something bad has happened. It's not working very well," Toboe said as he walked back to Leara's. "I hope she's home," he said as he

went to hide behind the same tree he hid behind the previous day.

"Leara! Leara come on its time to wake up. You've been in bed all day," Toboe heard a man's voice coming from Leara's room. "Come on now, you can't just stay locked up in here all day. It's a nice day go out and play," the man said.

"No, Daddy, I can't. There's wolves out there and one of them killed my bird."

"Leara, please stop talking this nonsense. There are no wolves."

"Yes there are," Leara replied.

"Oh no, she really is scared of us," Toboe said as he listened to the conversation. Is she crying? he asked himself.

"Leara, go outside," her father said.

"No!" Leara replied.

"At least go out and feed your cat. He was wanting food earlier this morning."

"He's outside?" Leara screamed.

"Yeah…." her father replied.

"Oh no I have to get him! The wolf will kill him if I don't!" Leara yelled and ran downstairs.

"She's coming out," Toboe said, "Man, is this really a good idea? She did seem really scared."

"Kitty! Kitty where are you?" Leara yelled as she ran around the backyard as saw Toboe behind the tree. "Ah…. Daddy…Daddy…Daddy! Daddy, help it's the wolf!" Leara yelled as she stood by the tree.

"Huh?" Toboe said. He was to busy thinking to notice Leara had seen him.

"Daddy!" Leara cried.

"Leara, wait please, don't scream," Toboe said and ran up to her.

"No, get away!" Leara yelled.

"But, Leara…" Toboe said his eyes filled with sadness at the site of Leara so scared.

"Daddy!"

"They'll never understand…" Tsume's words rung in Toboe's ears.

He's right, Toboe said to himself as he watched Leara, He's right… they'll never understand, she's so scared. I made her cry. Why… why can't I do anything right? Whenever I meet someone they always leave me, either they run away or they die… why? What do I do to mess up all the time? They are so scared… why do I make them scared… I never meant to hurt anyone… but they'll still leave… Toboe said to himself as he watched Leara sob.

"Daddy!" she yelled again.

"Leara! What happened?" Leara's father yelled and ran out the door.

"I'm sorry…." Toboe said quietly. "I'm so sorry…"

"Leara," her father said and ran over to her and hugged her tight.

"Daddy, it's the wolf!"

"Where?" her father asked looking around. He didn't see any wolf, just Toboe.

"Right there!" Leara yelled and pointed to Toboe.

"What did you do to her?" her father asked angrily.

"I didn't do anything," Toboe replied still lost in thought.

"It's the wolf, Daddy! He's right there!" Leara yelled again.

"What did you do?" her father yelled at Toboe again.

"I'm sorry…" Toboe said aloud.

"What?" her father asked still trying to figure out what was going on.

"I'm sorry!" Toboe said and then ran off.

"Leara…what?" her father asked still very confused as he watched Toboe run off at a surprising speed.

"Daddy, that was the wolf!" Leara cried.

"That was just a boy, Leara," he replied.

"No, he isn't a boy. He's… he's not normal!" she yelled.

"Come on Honey, you've had a hard day. Let's go into town and buy some food. That should get your mind off things," Leara's father said and picked Leara up and carried her to the truck.

Why… why was she so scared… she didn't even let me talk to her. The look on her face, the fear, it was just so overwhelming. I really haven't ever seen how a human looks at us when they're scared. I knew it would be bad but that… that was just… Toboe thought to himself as he walked around the town. Maybe that's why Tsume is the way he is. Maybe because people look at him like that… I don't know… Toboe thought to himself sadly.

"Find anything, Blue?" Quent asked as he and his black dog, Blue walked down the street. "I guess not," Quent said as Blue looked up at him, "Listen, Blue," Quent said and kneeled down by his dog. "You have to find them all. You can't let any of them escape, you hear me?" he asked as he looked at Blue. "Ok let's go, we have to keep looking," Quent said as he got to his feet and began walking around town again.

"I still don't get it," Toboe said as he walked around the cold dirty city.

"Feeling better, Leara?" her father asked as they left the market.

"Yeah, I guess," Leara replied as she carried the full brown paper bag.

Hmmm… Toboe thought to himself, Maybe if they saw me as I really am and saw I was nice maybe they'd change their minds, it's worth a try, Toboe said and let his barrier down so people could clearly see he was a wolf.

"Hmmm you find something?" Quent asked Blue as she picked up the sent of Toboe.

"Hey, Dad… do you think the wolf is around here?" Leara asked as she helped her dad load the food into the back of their blue truck.

"Come on now, Leara. I told you there are no wolves. They all died out long ago."

"But they're real, Dad. He…it… killed my bird," Leara replied getting very upset.

"Leara, how many times do I have to tell you? It wasn't a wolf; it was probably just a big dog."

"It was a wolf! I'm telling you the truth!" Leara yelled.

"Leara…" her father replied. He was getting very annoyed with her non-stop rambling about wolves.

"You don't believe me do you? Well I'll show you. I'm gonna find that wolf then I'll prove to you that it was a wolf!" Leara yelled and ran off in search of Toboe.

"Leara, wait!" her father yelled and ran after her.

"Blue, show me where it is… where's that damn wolf?" Quent said as Blue followed Toboe's sent. "I know it's here. I can feel it. It's very close."

Well no one has seemed scared yet, Toboe said to himself as he made his way down an alley.

"They'll never understand…." Tsume's words continued to ring in Toboe's ears.

I'll show him, Toboe said angrily to himself. Who is that? Toboe wondered when he saw Blue and Quent walking across the street. Are they coming over here? Toboe asked himself as he watched the big black dog and her master heading right from him. "I think they are coming this way. I think I'd better hide. They don't look very friendly," Toboe said and ran to hide behind some nearby boxes and garbage. "I if stay here hopefully all the nasty garbage will cover my sent and that dog won't be able to find me."

"Where is he, Blue?" Quent asked as Blue stopped in front of the boxes. "Did he get away?" he asked Blue who was looking around very confused.

Come on, go please, please go. Don't find me please…. Toboe pleaded trying to stay as still as he could.

"Well?" Quent asked Blue.

Go away… go away… Toboe kept thinking.

"Leara! Leara, come back!" Toboe could hear Leara's father yell.

Hey, that's Leara's dad. It sounds like Leara is in trouble! I must help her! Toboe thought to himself and darted out of the boxes right in front of Blue and Quent and ran off to find Leara.

"Blue, that was him! That was the wolf! Go get him!" Quent said and let go of Blue's lease so she could chase Toboe.

"Leara, where are you!" Toboe yelled out in his mind not caring that Blue was fast approaching him.

"Leara, come back!" Leara's father yelled as he ran down the streets looking for her.

"No, not until I find that wolf!" Leara yelled as she ran.

"Leara, please stop!" Leara's father yelled again.

"Leara, where are you!" Toboe called out. He could sense that she was very stressed and scared.

"Get him, Blue!" Quent yelled as he tried his best to keep up.

"Leara!" Toboe yelled again as he weaved in and out and around all of the boxes and trash in the small alleyways. "Where are you?" Toboe yelled. He could tell he was getting very close.

"Leara!" Leara's father yelled as he chased her. "Leara, look out!" he yelled. Leara and Toboe couldn't see it because they where going to fast and were thinking about to many other things to realize they were headed straight for each other.

"Leara!" Toboe said and tried to stop but it was too late. They had run right into each other.

"Ahhh!" Leara screamed as she tripped right over Toboe and fell on the ground in-between Toboe and Blue.

"Leara!" her father yelled as he saw Blue jump right above her. He could see all of Blue's huge teeth heading straight for Leara.

"Ahhhh!" Leara screamed again just as Blue had come down on her.

"Hey!" Toboe yelled in his mind, "I know you can understand me. Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this!"

"Leara!" her father yelled as he watched Blue and Toboe stare at each other angrily.

"Leave her alone! It's me you came after isn't it! She isn't trying to get in your way she just fell that's all. Leave her alone!" Toboe snarled showing Blue all of his teeth.

"Blue, did you get him?" Quent asked as he finally caught up with them.

"Huh? What's he going here?" Toboe asked as he saw Quent approach them. What should I do? Should I run for it?

"Blue, what are you waiting for? Get him!" Quent yelled and pulled out his gun.

"Get away from her!" Leara's father yelled at Blue and ran toward her.

"No don't, she'll bit you!" Toboe yelled. He had completely forgotten that he was a wolf and they couldn't hear what he was saying.

"Leara!" her father yelled and tried to get Blue off of her.

"No don't, she'll bite you!" Toboe yelled again. Oh man this is bad, he thought to himself as he began to realize what was really going on, What should I do? Should I run?

"Blue, get him! Get the wolf!" Quent yelled as his gun shook with rage in his hands. "Blue!"

"Get away!" Leara's father yelled and grabbed Blue's sliver spiked collar and tried to pull her off the shaking little girl.

"No!" Toboe yelled as he watched Blue jump up towards Leara's father's neck. "Don't do it! Stop!" he yelled as he watched in horror as Blue grabbed Leara's father's shoulder and sank her teeth in.

"Blue, stop!" Quent yelled. "Don't hurt him. You can't hurt humans!" he yelled and quickly grabbed Blue's leash and pulled so hard Blue was forced to let go. "Blue, what the hell is wrong with you? Enough of this nonsense. Get the wolf!" Quent hollered and stared at Toboe who was to busy watching Leara and her father to realize Quent had his gun pointed right at him.

"Daddy!" Leara yelled as she saw blood spill out of her father's shoulder. "Daddy!"

"I'm alright, Leara," he said with immense pain in his voice. He gave her a little reassuring smile as he held his shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked and kneeled down next to her.

"Yeah, I think so," she replied still very shaken up by what had just happened. "She didn't bite me. She just jumped on me."

"Good she's ok," Toboe said with a sigh of relief. "Huh?" he said as he looked up and his whole body froze and began to shake. "No," Toboe said as he shook with fear as he saw Blue and Quent right in front of him. Oh no this is bad. He was too scared to move. He shook like mad as he stared at the big gun that was pointed straight between his golden eyes.

"There, I finally got you," Quent said with a smile, "Blue, stay back. I don't want to shoot you."

"Oh man," Toboe said as his body shook with fear. "Oh no," he said and closed his eyes tight.

"Blue, I said stay!" Quent yelled as Blue ran out in front of him and jumped above Toboe.

"Ahhhhh!" Toboe cried out in pain as he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. "Ahh no, stop please!" Toboe cried out in pain as Blue ripped his flesh apart, "Let go!" he cried and opened his eyes to see his own blood spilling out over his chest and the right side of his face. "Ahhhhh! No!" Toboe yelled as he fell to the ground in front of Blue, "It hurts…" he cried as Blue went back at him again and grabbed his neck. "Please someone help me!" Toboe cried as Blue thrashed and jerked him every which way in an attempt to break his neck. "Help please!" Toboe cried as he let out a sad howl.

"Blue, let go of him," Quent said and tried to shoot Toboe but couldn't because Blue was in the way.

"Help!" Toboe let out another desperate howl.

"Blue, what has gotten into you? Why won't you listen to me?" Quent asked in a confused and very angry voice.

"Tsume!" Toboe cried out, "Tsume, Tsume! Please help me!"

"Blue!" Quent yelled in anger and grabbed Blue's leash and pulled her off again. "Now stay away!" Quent yelled at Blue. The anger in Quent's voice told Blue that she'd better not disobey again.

"Tsume!" Toboe howled again.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Quent said and pointed his gun at Toboe again.

"Tsum… huh?" Toboe began then looked around and saw a little hole hidden by some boxes on the left side of Quent that he could use to escape. There it's my only chance, Toboe realized and fought through the pain to stand up. "Man, when do I go? If he sees me get all the way up he'll shoot, but if I don't get up and just sit here he'll shoot me anyway."

"No, don't shoot!" Leara yelled and got up.

"Leara!" her father yelled as Leara ran to Quent and grabbed his arm.

"Please don't shoot him!" she cried.

"Leara…." Toboe said in disbelief. Now I can get away! Toboe thought to himself and began to stand up all the way.

"Hey!" Quent yelled. The jolt from Leara grabbing his arm caused him to fire the gun just as Toboe tried to run past them.

"Ahhhh!" Toboe yelled as he felt the worst pain he had ever felt in the front left side of his chest. Did he shoot me? Toboe asked trying as hard as he could not to fall as he continued to walk as fast as he could.

"No, stop!" Leara yelled and push the gun causing it to fire again.

Ahhh! No, what is happening to me? Toboe asked as he felt another great pain in the upper part of his right front leg. "I have to get out of here, I'm so close," Toboe said as he stumbled past Leara and Quent.

"Stop it!" Quent yelled and pushed Leara to the ground. "Where'd he go?" Quent asked angrily and looked all around for the little brown wolf.

"Leara," her father said and went to see if she was ok.

"You little brat. You let him get away!" Quent yelled at Leara.

"You don't have to kill him. He didn't do anything to you!" Leara yelled back.

"Doesn't matter if he did or not. He's still a wolf. When he grows up he'll kill us all!"

"No, he won't!" Leara replied as she stared up at Quent, her purple eyes full of rage.

"And how would you know, you're just a little girl."

"I know because I know that wolf. He's really nice. He caught my bird for me. Yes, he did kill it, but he didn't mean too he was just trying to bring it back to me. He's really nice."

"Then why where you so scared of it before?" Leara's father asked out of curiosity.

"Because it took me till just a few minutes ago to figure out that he wasn't lying to me. That he really is a good boy," Leara said with a half smile.

"How would you know? You can't talk to him and he can't talk to you. You can't walk up to a beast like that one and ask, "Are you good or not?" it can't happen, wolves can't talk," Quent said.

"Just because it can't talk with words doesn't mean it can't talk at all," Leara replied as she got up off the ground. "Didn't you look in his eyes? When he was standing there and you had your gun pointed at him. The look in his eyes. He was really scared. A bad wolf wouldn't have looked like that. A bad wolf would have tried to fight back."

"Nonsense," Quent replied, "Wolves can't tell us anything."

"I think they can," Leara said.

"No, they can't. Get that through your head. Oh, I don't have time of this. That wolf got shot twice he couldn't have gone that far. Come on, Blue, let's go find him," Quent said as he and Blue left the alley to go find Toboe.

"Leara…" her father said as they watched Quent leave.

"I think he really is good, Dad."

"I do too," her father replied and flinched from the pain.

"Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I forgot you got hurt. Let's go, we need to get you to a doctor," Leara said as she looked up at her father.

"No, I'm fine. Let's just go home," he replied and started walking back to the truck.

"Oh ok…" Leara said and began to follow her father. "Hmmm… I hope you make it ok," Leara said as she looked back in the alley hoping Toboe might still be close enough to hear her. "What am I doing, he left. He can't hear me. Well, I'll say it anyway. Hey boy, I hope you didn't get hurt that bad. I hope you get better soon, and I'm really sorry. Thanks a lot for giving me back my bird," she said with a sad smile and went to follow her dad to the truck.