The Pack

Disclaimer: … I have a red headed dog, not a red headed Axel…

Chapter 17

My father looked at me and I smiled. But then I frowned when my stomach let out a very loud growl.

"So your boyfriend isn't feeding you?" my father asked.

"Well I…" I trailed of and sat in the sofa.

"Go get something to eat."

"But-"

"I may have disowned you but I'm not so cruel as to deprive a hungry child of food."

"Thank you." I said and moved to the kitchen. I looked around the fridge and when I spotted some cold pizza I figured I'd just eat that.

"So… if this guy lives far from here, doesn't feed you, and may not even have a home, what is so great about him that you chose to stay?" my father asked.

"Because he really loves me." I said.

"But he doesn't take care of you." My father looked puzzled.

"No… he does take care of me… it's just that sometimes the circumstances force me to fend for myself. And I mean… I've been doing that for a while now so I didn't really think it mattered. The only problem is that I only have five dollars to my name right now." I said.

"What? Why?"

"Well… I paid to free an animal that was being abused… I couldn't just leave it…" I said… it was kind of true in a way.

"Where's the animal now?" he asked.

"With Squall." I said.

"The boyfriend."

"Yes." I answered.

"Does he feed the animal… I don't see how this can be any different from it's previous arrangement." My father asked.

"Can you just accept the answer 'It's complicated?'" I asked.

"Okay… but I don't have any pluses for this boyfriend of yours… so far I've really only heard bad things." He said.

"Well… he's really sweet, he may look a little mean on the outside… he's just a big softie. Well, at least when it comes to me and the gang." I said.

"So he's a gangster?" my dad asked.

I laughed. "No, not at all. He lives with his friends. Being with them makes me feel like I do have a family. They have this whole system and they accepted me into it. And I have to say, we make a peculiar family!" I said with a giggle.

"Interesting." My father replied.

"Squall is really protective of everyone, he can also be a little possessive. But he really just wants me to be safe and happy. And he's taught me a lot about treasuring your surroundings… and about knowing who your friends are and remaining loyal to them. My life wasn't going anywhere and it was starting to take its toll on me… but he and the family made life so much easier to live with you know… I'm not alone anymore. I wake up everyday and realize I have something to look forward to. And when the day is over I know I have a warm place to return to." I said with a smile.

"Well… if you're happy…" My father said.

"Yes. I'm very happy." I said.

"Can you do us a favor though?" he asked.

"Ummm, yeah." I said.

"When you leave… can you tell us whether or not you are coming back?" he asked.

I nodded. "I'm glad we could have a talk like this." I said.

He nodded. "Go to sleep." He said and stood.

"You're gonna leave mom on the couch?" I asked.

"She gets vicious when I try to move her while she's sleeping."

I smiled. "Goodnight."

"You too."

When I got into my room I plopped onto the bed. It still wasn't firm enough. I sighed and moved to the floor again.

But after twenty minutes, I still couldn't even feel my eyelids droop. I looked to the clock next to my bed.

It was 1:42 in the morning.

I sighed again and moved to the bed. If I couldn't go to sleep at all, I might as well relax on something soft.

It was at about 2:13 that I started hearing scratching of some sort at the front door. I didn't know what it was but I was curious.

I let it continue for a few more minutes but shot up quickly when I heard a whine.

That had to be Zell.

I ran to the front door and threw it open.

Zell was shivering on the front porch. I frowned before scooping him up.

He was burning up.

"Zell… what's happening to you?" I asked quietly with a little panic in my voice. The little white pup whined and continued to shiver in my arms.

What could I do? I've never had to take care of a sick baby werewolf before! Zell came all the way to the house thinking I could help him… but I didn't know what to do!

I moved back to my room quickly and almost jumped when I saw Squall at my window.

I placed Zell gently on my bed before opening my window to let Squall in.

'Squall, what's happening to Zell?' I wondered feeling helpless.

Squall moved into the room and pulled me into an embrace. "Calm down, every thing is fine." He said in a whisper.

"What's going on?" my voice shook a little as I looked at the small pup curled up in pain.

Zell is going through the first stage of getting a human form. It's called the probing stage.

'Why?' I asked.

Zell's body is taking inventory of itself. Just to make sure that every part of his body is accounted for before changing.

'So it's like when a person checks their luggage before they go on a big trip, to make sure they have every thing?' I wondered.

That's a sufficient comparison.

'But why is he hurting? Why is he feverish?'

It takes a lot of energy and makes him vulnerable to outside contaminates… but this stage is not one that should cause concern.

'You mean there's something worse than this?' I wondered with a wave of worry crashing over me.

Unfortunately, yes. In the final stage of the process… there have been quite a few cases where the pup dies from the pain… but if we monitor Zell from the beginning, we'll be prepared when the time comes.

'Zell…' I thought and worried at my lip. 'What do we do?' I asked.

We wait… the first stage is going to end soon. The next stage will take about a half an hour and then the third stage will begin.

'What happens in the second stage?' I asked.

Shedding… he looses all his hair except on his ears and tail.

'Does it hurt him?' I wondered.

No… in fact, he needs to sleep through that stage… he needs the energy. The final stage might not take him if he has enough energy. I need you to be here during the final stage. It'll probably affect you too.

'What's going to happen to me?' I asked.

If anything happens to you… you'll have a fever, nausea, muscle pain, loss of energy…

'So I'll have the flu…' I said.

Squall nodded.

'I should call in sick from work then?'

Squall grunted.

'Why do you think that I'll get sick?'

Don't be offended… but usually the mother is affected during the transforming period. If you can endure the effects, so can Zell.

I sighed… I had already accepted the fact that I was the mother figure in this family… 'So you're unsure it will affect me because I'm not really his biological mother?'

Squall grunted again.

'Then I hope it affects me…' I thought.

Squall tilted his head in confusion.

'Think about it… if it doesn't affect me then that means it's affecting his real mother somewhere else… his mother and father abandoned him! That mother wouldn't provide any support for Zell at all. She doesn't want him. If it affects me than that means that I can take over as his… mother… and make sure he's safe. I refuse to put my son's life in someone else's hands… especially someone I despise for deserting their own kind.' I thought.

I'm really happy you think that way Cloud.

'We found him and freed him… he's our pup and no one else's.' I thought with a frown.

Squall yipped quietly before licked the side of my face. I smiled and nuzzled his cheek before looking over to Zell…

He was starting to shed. I got up and moved over to the bed. I pet his back and noticed that he wasn't feverish anymore.

'Thank goodness…' I thought and looked at my hand. It had hair sticking to it. I walked over to my trashcan and wiped the hair into it.

'He's really shedding…' I thought before yawning and sitting next to Squall again.

You should rest as well. I'll keep an eye on Zell. Go to sleep. Squall's voice rang in my head.

I leaned on his shoulder but sat up again for a second. 'Squall, I know you're not going to like this but you need to put on that baseball cap in my closet. If my parents come in here and see that you have a dog-eared hat, they'll probably ask you to take it off. If you wear the cap it'll seem more normal.' I thought.

Squall let out a small growl before getting up and walking over to my closet. Squall let his ears lay flat on his head before placing the cap on his head.

I smiled. 'You look cute.' I thought with a yip.

Squall growled again before moving back to his spot on the floor. Wolves aren't cute.

I yawned and leaned on his shoulder again before drifting off again.

-The Pack-

I woke up feeling very disoriented and hot.

"Squall…" I whimpered.

I'm right here… the final stage has begun.

'What's happening to Zell?' I thought and managed to sit up and look over to the bed.

Zell was squirming on the bed, his body contorting in different directions.

'Oh my god…' I thought and felt my stomach lurch. I got up quickly and to the bathroom.

I managed to make it to the toilet in time, I wretched and coughed over the toilet bowl.

Zell will be like that for while. Can you tell me where the pillows and bedding is?

'It's all in the closet right outside my room… what time is it?' I thought with another wretch.

5:45

After a couple of minutes, Squall came into the bathroom. I was still vomiting up the food I had eaten.

'What was the bedding for?' I wondered.

I placed it on the floor next to the bed so if he fell off the bed he wouldn't hurt himself. I needed to make sure you were okay.

'So every mother goes through this?' I wondered as I lurched again.

Every mother that lives past childbirth… usually the pups whose mothers die are the ones that don't make it.

I frowned before vomiting again. I felt Squall's cold hands on my back and I shivered.

"Cloud? Who are you and what are you doing in my house?" I jumped when I heard my mother's voice.

"This is my boyfriend Squall and he's taking care of me because, as you can see, I'm sick." I got out quickly before lurching.

My mother sent Squall a glare before leaving the room.

'Squall what about Zell?' I wondered with panic.

They wont go in there.

'Why do you act so sure?' I asked.

I marked the room.

"What?" I asked aloud.

My scent is all over the room. Humans can't really smell it but it still works against them.

'What does it do?' I asked.

Have you ever walked up to a door and felt a sense of foreboding, like you just shouldn't go in there?

I nodded before wincing at the pain in my head.

Do you ever go into the room?

'No.' I thought.

That's probably because some Loup Garou had marked it.

'That's really fascinating…' I thought before coughing.

I dry heaved for about ten minutes before wiping my mouth on some tissue paper and catching my breath against the tub.

I moved to stand but couldn't find the strength to get up. Squall lifted me onto my feet and walked me to the sink.

I rinsed my mouth with shaking hands. When that was done, Squall picked me up and carried me to my room. He placed me on the pillows next to the bed. I watched as he left the room.

Zell was still jerking wildly

He had two sets of ears now, human and wolf.

I smiled before panting, I was really hot and it was hard for me to handle. My eyes started to water and I started to sweat.

This was not easy.

I looked to see Squall coming back into the room holding what looked like crackers and ginger ale.

"You're mother gave me these to give to you… and she's right. You need to eat." He said out loud.

I nodded and tried to grab the drink but Squall shook his head. You can't hold it steady.

I looked at him with a frown.

Squall tilted my head back and poured the soda into my mouth. After a few gulps, he opened the pack of crackers and placed them in front of me. This you can handle, yes?

I grunted softly and moved to pick up a cracker. As I ate, I watched Squall moved over to Zell. His jerks started to slow into trembles and twitches. I watched in amazement as the pup changed into a small child before my eyes.

'Zell…' I thought as I ate.

Now his insides have to rearrange themselves for the first time. This will hurt you more than it does him…

'When will it start?' I asked.

I'd worry less about that and more about eating and drinking right now.

I nodded and continued to eat. 'I need to call in sick now…' I thought.

Squall nodded and took my phone out of a pair of jeans on the floor. How did he-

I smelled it.

Right…

He pressed a few buttons before putting the phone up to his ear. "Tidus. This is Squall." He said.

There was a pause.

"I have his phone because he is sick and can't hold the phone steady." Pause, "yes… yes… he wants to talk to you Cloud" he said and held the phone to my ear.

"Tidus?" I said.

"Are you okay? What happened? You were completely fine yesterday." He asked.

"I have symptoms of the flu… I could give you the long explanation later…" I said, my voice shaking as I spoke.

"Don't leave anything out when you tell me okay? Take care of yourself." Tidus said.

"Y-" I stopped talking when a wave of fear suddenly washed over me and my chest started to burn.

"Cloud? Cloud?" Squall took the phone back.

"We will call you back." I heard Squall say before I put a hand to my chest. I looked to Zell who was sleeping with a scowl on his face.

'I'm guessing this is it?' I asked.

Squall grunted and I closed my eyes and tried to relax the fear in my heart. Squall pulled me close and I trembled against him.

"I'm afraid." I said.

Squall ran his hands through my hair.

I felt my body tense and I felt as if someone was pulling my stomach in different directions.

I opened my mouth as if to scream but all that was released was a whine and a sob. It was so painful I had trouble catching my breath.

I gasped as I felt a hard tug on my stomach. I began to sob. "It hurts! It hurts!"

There was a push on my stomach upwards and I felt as if someone was scratching at my lungs. I was finding it hard to breath. I grabbed tightly to Squall and he said words of comfort into my ear.

The burning sensation in my heart returned as I felt a throbbing in my neck and a searing pain in my lower abdomen.

"Squall! When is this going to stop?" I whimpered through tears. I had never been in so much pain in my life and I didn't know what to do.

Squall laid me down on the pillows and took my hand. Endure for just a little while longer.

I had to endure four more hours of excruciating pain before the transformation was finally over. The final hour was by far the worst.

My head was spinning and throbbing and burning up all at the same time. When it was all over I had passed out.

I awoke to Zell's growls. I sat up in my bed to see Zell playing tug-o-war with Squall.

I smiled. "I'm glad he's okay." I said aloud and laid back on the mattress.

"I'm glad you are okay as well." Squall let go of whatever Zell was pulling on and the little pup fell back.

Zell growled as if to say, Why the heck would you do that?

I laughed and watched as Squall put his hands on my face and kissed me. I cringed and pulled away. "Don't… I probably taste horrible." I said.

I eat dead animals, what's a little vomit going to do? Squall smirked.

I grimaced. "That's disgusting."

Squall yipped and nuzzled my face. Thank you… you did a great job.

'Anything for my family.' I thought.

Zell jumped on the bed and I pet his head. 'How are you feeling?' I wondered.

Zell switched to human form and smiled. His eyes were still different in color, he had blond hair and his small white wolf ears and tail wagged or twitched as he giggled.

He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen in the entire world.

Zell put his arms around me and I held him tightly. "You are so cute!" I said.

"Clow…" Zell said in his little baby voice.

I couldn't help myself. I showed the little boy with kisses and he giggled.

"He needs clothes…" Squall said.

'Hold on a sec…' I thought and I put Zell down on the floor. I got up and walked out of my room.

I looked up and the attic door. I pulled the string down and pulled down the stairs. I would do this quickly so my mother wouldn't notice.

I looked around and spotted a box that said, 'Kid stuff.' I opened it and smiled when I found a small shirt and a pair of overalls.

Adorable!

I pulled a small pair of tennis shoes and a hat. This would be perfect.

I moved down the stairs and pushed everything back to how it was. I walked back into my room with a smile on my face.

'Zell you have to put on clothes now so I can take you outside.' I thought to him.

Zell smiled and walked over to me, he seemed to have no trouble doing so. It was a little hard to believe that he was a one-year-old. He looked more like he was two or three.

We grow faster. Squall answered.

I handed him his clothes and he put them on. I knew he could do it because he had seen the others do it all of the time.

I plopped the hat on his head and smiled.

Zell smiled. "Clow… Swall!" He said.

I looked to Squall and he scooped Zell up. Zell squealed and giggled. "Swall! Swall!"

"It's Cloud and Squall, Zell!" Squall said with a small laugh and he opened the window to leave.

We left to head back to the clearing, happy smiles on all of our faces.