Sorry this chapter took so long, I've been really busy the past months with life and with working on other projects as well. Thank you for being patient with me and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thoughts or telepathic communication between characters

Animals/animal spirits speaking human tongue

Normal text

Point of view switch (Belles Point of View) like that

Lou Lou's POV

After we got back to the house Belle started on her chores, feeding the animals, and tending her garden. I sat nearby as she worked outside occasionally checking on Maurice in his workshop in the cellar working on his latest invention a large wood cutter that I did not like. When he first tested it the thing almost took off my tail. I like his smaller inventions that were less likely to remove a piece of you. He also made music boxes to add to the houses income. The man had a way with his hands.

I went down into the shop not taking my eyes off the wood cutter. Maurice was next to it looking over some of the mechanics when he noticed me, "Hello Lou Lou. It's alright to come closer. It's off."

Still don't trust it.

I walked behind him looked up at him saw he was doing okay then booked it out of the work shop all the way around the house to the garden where Belle was harvesting vegetables. She looked up from her work to see me panting by the edge of the garden.

"How's Papa," she asked placing some carrots in a basket.

"Still hate that thing," I panted, "Why of all the things he wants to take to that inventers fair did he make that tail cutter. The brusher or toy catapult he made me would have been fine."

"It's not that bad Lou," Belle said harvesting some potatoes.

"Says you," I grumbled laying down, "Your tail wasn't almost chopped off by that thing."

Belle chuckled, then went back to her work. After the vegetables were harvested Belle set the basket of vegetables on the table getting ready to prepare them for dinner. While she was busy preparing the food I went about swiping the house with my tail. Belle had finished her chore the same time I finished mine. With the chores done Belle sat at the table reading 'A Midsummers Night Dream'. While she was reading I laid in my spot listening through our bond to the play.

A few chapters later I heard the faint sound of my grandfather's hollow coming from the woods. I went through the back door using a small swinging door that Maurice had made for me allowing me accesses to outside without anyone having to open or close the door. Though he had to add a weighted leaver on the outside that would only allow the door to open for me after Clucky had found the door and managed to get lost inside the house. I sat in the garden focusing on listening to the world around me. I could hear the faint sound of Maurice working in the cellar, the faint sound of villagers. In the mix of the noise I heard the faint howl again.

'They're getting ready to go hunting,' I howled back to my pack letting them know I would be joining them soon. 'Rabbit would be really good for tonight.'

I entered back into the house placing my front paws on Belles lap, "I'm going hunting how does rabbit sound?"

"Are you going now," she asked placing a ribbon in the book marking her place.

"Yup the packs heading out now I should be back before dinner. Maybe I can get us some deer meat."

"I'll come too some mushrooms would be great for dinner and I also need some more burn herbs," she said grabbing her basket as well as a small knife. We went out the back door heading into the woods. We went to my old den to retrieve the small herb book my father had given Belle when we were children. I went into the den getting the small leather bound book. The rest of the pack met us at the den greeting the two of us happily yipping and jumping at us. After our hellos we set out. While a two of my younger cousins stayed with Belle gathering herbs and other materials I went with the rest of my pack to hunt. We stalked through the forest fallowing a lone stag munching of young saplings. Quietly my grandfather and I moved closer to the stag till we were close enough to charge at the buck.

Its ears twitched and it took off running. The chase was on. We chased the buck to my awaiting Aunts and Uncles as they blocked off his exit surrounding the buck biting at it till I jumped onto it's back. The animal tried to buck me of as I bite at its neck. One of my uncles bite its nose hindering its breathing slowing down the animals bucking. The others kept the buck in one area while I tried to get a good gripe on its neck to break its spine. After two more weak bucks I was able to get a good grip and with a loud snap the buck fell. With our prey dead we all took our share of the meat. After we ate our fill which was a good portion of the carcass, we started tearing parts of the body for the younger pups and a share for Belle and her father. My aunt Rose took a leg for her pups while one of my uncles torn a hind leg for my cousins that were watching Belle. I took the last hind leg to take back home with me.

After meeting back up with Belle and the others we said our good-byes and went our separate ways with our spoils. Before Belle and I went back home we went back to my den returning the herb book and storing the herbs that weren't needed to dry safely. After that we returned home. Belle treated the leg I saved cutting it up the meat from the bones giving me the femur to chew on while she worked. It wasn't long before she was cooking dinner while I happily chewed on my bone at the center of the kitchen floor.

"We need to pick up some food for Papa's trip tomorrow to the inventor's fair," Belle said as she stirred the soup she was making.

"Is he even ready for that thing," I asked chewing on the end of my bone in the corner of my mouth.

"I'm sure he has all the kinks out of the woodcutter," just as she said that a loud bang came from the work shop fallowed by a puff of smoke.

"I'll get the burn cream and set the table," I said as Belle ran out of the house to check on her father. I gathered the medical basket from the bottom cabinet setting it on the table before shifting to my human form to get three bowls down placing them next to the basket before shifting back just before Belle and her father entered the kitchen. Her father no worse for wear just covered in coal dust. Apparently the exhaust pipe got clogged by something. The loud bang was the pipe become unclogged and spewing smoke onto Maurice. The tail cutter still lived. After Belle had checked on him finding him uninjured had made stop for the day to eat and rest.

Belle read the last of a Midsummers night dream after the sun as set. The two of us sitting in front of the fire place. Belle leaning against my side while was laying in front of the fire using my ribs as a pillow which I didn't mind I was very comfortable as she read through our bond till both of us fell asleep on the floor.

The next morning Belle and I went about our normal routine about the house before going into town to pick up some food for Maurice's trip today. I went ahead to meet up with Cerberus before meeting back up with Belle at Pere Roberts church getting a treat from him then heading back home to help Maurice hook up Philip.

"Take care old friend," I said to Philip kissing his nose, "We want both of you safe to and from."

"Thank you my friend," Philip nuzzled my head, "Take care of each other Lou Lou."

"I always do," I smiled moving to Belles side as she said good-bye to her father.

"Good luck papa."

"Thank you Belle take care while I'm gone," Maurice said cracking the reins signing Philip to start their journey. We watched the ride down the road till they were no longer within eye sight then went back inside to continue our day. I went about my chores swiping and dusting while Belle did this morning's dishes. After I had finished my chores I noticed the laundry would need to be done today.

"Looks like we have to do laundry today," I said pulling the basket to the kitchen. Belle sighed as she dried off a plate before putting it away. Her face then brightened as an idea came to her mind before she dashed into her father's work shop. I fallowed behind her but stayed on the shops steps as she rolled a barrel from the corner.

"Another invention that would have been better than the tail cutter," I said wagging my tail.

"This one was my idea Papa just helped with the metal work," Belle rolled the barrel closer to the stairs. The barrel was to help Belle with the laundry giving her more time to read and not spend half the day washing clothes. I had sometimes road in the barrel after falling into a pig pen which was fun till about the fifth spin before I would get sick.

I jumped over the barrel shifting to my human form. I help Belle push the thing up the stairs out of the shop before rolling it in front of the house. I shift back into my wolf form before leaving the shop sitting next to the barrel while Belle went inside to get the laundry. When she came back I started nudging the barrel with my head to get it rolling before jumping on it. Running the thing over the bridge to the washing fountain in town. I was doing good till it picked up speed towards the fountain. Then hole in the road decided I needed a bath. The barrel stopped launching me into the fountain as Belle ran after me.

Belle's POV

Lou Lou started riding the barrel half way to the fountain causing some strange looks from people as well as many laughs as she rode by. I smiled at her shenanigans till the barrel picked up speed and she was throw into the fountain. I ran to catch up with her.

"Lou Lou," I called to her. She climbed out of the fountain soaking wet. Her fur clinging to her body and dripping wet.

I'm okay

"Silly dog," I chuckled as she shook most of the water from her fur before rolling the barrel into the water throwing my clothes and soap flakes into the barrel as water filled it.

Just for that I'm not turning that thing

I chuckled at her. Borrowing Mr. Potts donkey who was standing nearby, hooking him up to the barrel. Lou Lou then started leading the donkey in what to do with the barrel he was attached to, "Just start walking around the water. I'll let you know when you can stop."

The donkey nodded at her before he started walking. With the laundry going I started reading the book I had gotten that morning. Lou laid down in the sun at my feet drying her fur.

She nodded and I waved her closer to us. Lou lifted her head as the girl walked closer to us before laying back down. I started reading the play out loud before I thought of something.

"Would you like to read instead?"

"I don't know how to."

"I could teach you if you like."

The little girls face lite up at the offering nodding her head smiling up at me. Lou then pawed at my leg with something in her mouth. It was a small illustrated book that I had read when I was learning to read.

Where did this come from?

Trick from my father. Thought this would be better starter than a Shakespeare play.

Thank you.

I started showing her each letter, showing her how to sound out the words till she was reading by herself. Slowly but she was getting it.

"The…B…Lue Bird Fl-Fl..ies…," she read as I pointed to the words of the book.

"Very good," I encouraged her turning the page continuing to the next work, "Over… The …Dark...Woods."

She opened her mouth starting to read onward but was interrupted by a shout from behind us. Lou Lou jumped to her feet spinning to face whoever had shouted at us and interrupted our lesson. I turned as well to the cruel thin face of the school headmaster sneering at us.

"What do you think you are doing," he yelled from across the fountain. Lou was softly growling next to us, her cackles slowly rising, "Girls don't read."

"And what is the meaning of this," he shouted pointing at the donkey as it continued doing laps around the fountain turning the barrel, "Now Belle the washing is supposed to be done by hand to make certain it gets done right and so that young people like you learn the value of hard work!"

By this time a crowd had started to form as the headmaster shouted at us. The little girl clung onto my dress hiding behind me, Lou Lou was in front of us growling at the headmaster slowly bearing her teeth at them, cackles standing on end.

Just say the word Belle and I'll start ripping them apart!

No! No blood shed!

Fine but if anyone comes any closer or so much as touch you I will not hesitate to tear into them!

"And shouldn't that wild mutt be on a leash," a woman from the crowd yelled out pointing at Lou Lou.

Try it lady and you'll meet my fangs.

Easy Lou I'll handle this.

"Lou Lou is fine I have trained her myself," I called back, "We haven't been doing anything wrong."

"Nothing wrong," the headmaster cried out, "Girls do not read!"

The crowd starting yelling at us before someone lifted the barrel out of the water dumping out my freshly washed clothes onto the ground. Lou Lou growls became louder while her cackles where standing on end. I went to pick up my now dirty clothes from the ground and setting them back into my bag. Pere Robert stepped forward and helped me. He whispered an apology to me as we picked up the clothes. I nodded to him giving a weak smile in return. The crowd was becoming more rowdy only quieting down at the sound of a gunshot by Gaston at the back of the crowd.