Hey guys. Well here's a little something found some time to type a bit. This is another side story to keep you guys entertained. Also this one may have mistakes and may not be as long…I am going to tell you right now I am SOOOOO burned out from school right now I think I can feel my brain twitching in agony…(not really lol) anyway this story takes place when Reisaki is about…I wanna say five. It's the first encounters between her and Christopher. This is kind of one of those personal stories like the Nathan special. I'm not sure if I will incorporate this one into the main story but I'll think about it. (Sorry if some of the wording is a bit weird I tried to make it seem like the speak of a five year old) ok enjoy.
Mori de maigo ni (Lost in the Forest)
"Obāsan…?" I bite my nail as grandma slowly looks up at me from her table. She is sewing a rip in one of her shirts that she uses to wear out into the forest. She lets out a big breath,
"Yes…what is it on'nanoko (Girl)?"
"Um…" I'm scared of her mean eyes. She doesn't look like she is feeling anything on her face but her eyes are mean…she doesn't like me very much.
"If you have something to say then say it."
"Can…Can I have an apple?"
"…yes you may…go get it from the pantry." I head for the pantry and get an apple. Quietly I eat the apple in the corner as I watch her continue to sew. It's night so all I can hear is the crickets chirping and a lot of other buggies outside. A mouse from outside sneaks in under the door suddenly without Obāsan noticing and I try to hide how happy I am. I bite off a small, tiny little piece of my apple and hold it out for him to see. The mouse comes quietly and sniffs the apple. It hops into my hand and I lift it up. I look back at her to make sure she didn't see anything before I say something,
"Hi, my name is Reisaki. What's yours?"
" You're a very nice human; my name is Sandlock." His fur is brown so the name fits him to me. Last year I was suddenly hearing the animals talking all around the forest. The birds were talking between themselves and I could understand what they said. It was scary, really scary; I thought I was a crazy person because Obāsan couldn't hear them like me. but now it's kinda fun being able to talk to them. I like listening to what they have to say; they always thank me when she goes out to help animals in the forest.
"Reisaki." A tall shadow looks over me and I look up. Obāsan stares at me looking mad at me again. "How many time have I told you not to bring animals into the house?"
"But I didn't…! Sandlock cam in through the front door."
"Sandlock…?"
"Yes that's his name."
"…And how do you know that?"
"He told me." she lets out a big breath,
"Take him back outside…"
"But-"
"Now…!" I pull Sandlock back into my chest as I flinch.
"Yes ma'am…" quickly I slide the door open and set Sandlock down. "Bye, Bye…" and he runs off. After I close the door I face Obāsan.
"Alright…to bed with you now." I say nothing back and head for my room. My eyes hurt a bit as I try to keep the water from spilling out of them. I swallow something hard in my throat as I pull the overs over me. looking up at the moon I again wait for Obāsan to come in but it never happens. Just like always I fall asleep alone.
"Come on on'nanoko time to get up." everyday she gets me up in the early morning. The sky looks really pink when I do get up. she never lets me sleep in. "Get dressed, breakfast is ready."
"yes ma'am." I rub my eye as I go and wash my face. The side door is open letting in the outside air. The basin is already full of water because of Obāsan so all I do is splash water on my face. As I wipe my face with a towel the air blows nicely.
*click, click*
"Huh?" in the doorway there's a big doggy staring at me. he has black fur and it kinda looks a little white. His eyes are nice and look kind. I look down and see that his big paws was what I was hearing. I wave to him smiling. "Hi."
"I'm sorry did I scare you?"
"Uh-uh." I look back in the hall to make sure Obāsan isn't coming. "You must have smelled Obāsan's meat right?"
"yes I guess I did; but I didn't realize it was coming from your home. I thought I was smelling a deer so I tried to pick up on its trail."
"Are you hungry?"
"Well yes but I was also hunting for one for my pack."
"You were going to drag it all the way back home?!"
"Well that was the plan." He smiles at me really nice and also seems to laugh. "Don't worry it's not as heavy as it may look like." He looks at me with a weird look, "Are you here by yourself."
"No… Obāsan is here too."
"Obāsan…?"
"It means grandma."
"I see then you shouldn't keep her waiting if she's waiting for you. I have to get going myself."
"Wait if you want meat I can get you some." The wolf stops walking and looks at me again. "Yeah wait here." I go back inside and head to the place she keeps the meat cold and pull out a big leg of something. somehow I get it passed Obāsan and drag it outside. It should be ok; she uses a lot of meat and sometimes gives it to animals too. "Here." I leave the leg in front of him and smile.
"Are you sure I can have this?"
"Yeah! Obāsan give meat to animals sometimes."
"Sometimes…"
"Uh-huh."
"Alright then, thank you. This is a big help." He picks up the meat and goes back into the forest.
"Heheheh…" I can't stop myself from smiling. I always wanted to go with Obāsan into the forest to help animals. But she ever takes me. I got to do something to help that wolf. "I like helping the animals. It's fun."
…
the wolf never came back after that day but I'm glad I got to help him. I wonder what his name was. I never did ask him. I wish I could have talked to him more. Obāsan comes out of the hall looking like she's thinking of something,
"what's the matter?"
"Some of the meat from the storage is missing. An animal must have taken it when I had my back turned."
"was it a leg?" she looks at me surprised.
"Yes. Did you see what took it?" I smile remembering how I helped him.
"A wolf took it. I let him have it; he was looking for food so I gave him some of the meat."
"You did what?!" she's angry now but why? I did what she would have done. "why would you do that?! That was not yours to take!"
"But…he said he was hungry and he was looking for food for his friends…I was just trying to…"
"Anata baka on'nanoko…! You're just like your mother; you never think! What is the matter with you two?! She sleeps around with random men and you take things without permission! Grow a brain already Reisaki! You should know better."
"But…I was just trying to help…you always help the animals so I was just trying to help you…I thought it would be ok."
"Well it's not! It wasn't helpful! It was foolish just like you're mother! Just like her she should have known better than do that. I don't need your help and I don't need you!" he mean eyes suddenly change as she looks at me and a hand covers her mouth. I can feel water trickle down my face from my eyes.
She doesn't need me? she doesn't want me around?
"I…Reisaki I…"
"Then why do you even keep me around?!" I shout before I race out of the house and into the forest. Even though I have no shoes I keep running trying to wipe my eyes dry. I can't see where I'm going. suddenly I ram into something and get knocked down. my head hurts making my cry even more than what I was before.
"OOOoooWWW…Sniff…sob…hic…" it was enough to get me to look around even though I'm still crying. I've never been in the forest before; it's really big. Sounds all around me make me scared even more. "I don't know where I am."
I curl into a ball and cry some more. Obāsan never wanted me around. She never liked me. something cold touches my neck and I look up. thunder starts rumbling from above as the rain begins to pour down. the loud noise makes me scream,
"Ahh!" I run deeper into the forest, "Help! Somebody! Anybody Help…!" I reach a cliff as one of my feet slips off the edge. "EEEK!" something grabs hold of my shirt and keeps me from falling off the edge and pulls me back up. not doing anything else I sit still, still crying.
"Are you alright?" I look up and see the same wolf from before. "What are you doing out here in the rain? Shouldn't you be with your grandmother?" that just makes me cry even more and I cling to the wolf.
"SOB…! HIC…SOB!"
"What happened?"
"She hates me! She hates me…! I can't go back…" I'm scared and alone; I have no one and I have nowhere to go. He rubs his head against mine trying to calm me down and it seems to work.
"come on we should get out of the rain. I don't want to get anymore wet than what I am and I don't want you to get sick." Sniffling I let go of him and stand still wiping my eyes. "here come on; get on my back."
"huh?"
"come on it's alright."
"But I'll be heavy…won't I?"
"You're pretty small; you won't be heavy at all." He touches his nose to my forehead and my tears stop completely. "There that's better now come on and get on." I do as told and climb on. "Hold on tight."
"Okay…" he walks at a steady pace while he carries me on his back. "Am I heavy?"
"No, you're as light as a feather."
"That's good. Did you take the meat back to your friends?"
"Yes they liked it."
"Was it enough?"
"Mm-hm. Thank you for you're your help that day; I was actually having trouble finding some food."
"Really?"
"Yes; it was a big help."
"Yay!" thunder rumbles and I cling to the wolf.
"Are you scared of storms?"
"I don't like thunder… it sounds angry."
"Angry?"
"Yeah like it's mad about something; doesn't it sound like it's yelling at the ground? I don't like it." he laughs,
"Don't worry this isn't a very bad storm so it won't hurt you."
"M'kay…um hey Mr. wolf?"
"Yes."
"What's your name?"
"Ah that's right; I'm sorry I never told you my name. I'm Christopher."
"Christopher…cool! I'm Reisaki."
…
we were able to find a cave to hide from the rain. Christopher says it might not let up until the next day so we should stay put. He went back out and found us something to eat before staying in with me.
"You're pretty deep into the forest Reisaki. What were you doing out here? It can be very dangerous, you know."
"I didn't mean to. it just kinda sorta happened."
"Just happened…? Did you get separated from your grandmother out here." I shake my head no. I remember what she said to me before. "Did something happen?"
"Momma didn't want me so she left me with Obāsan… but it's not any better."
"How so?"
"She hates me too…she said I was just like momma and didn't have a brain…she said she didn't need me…so I ran."
"I see…well she shouldn't have said that; you're too cute to hate."
"Well she doesn't think so. She hates me…all I was doing was just trying to help her."
"Help her with what?"
"she got mad at me for taking the meat and giving it to you."
"the meat you gave me the other day."
"Uh-huh… she gives food to the animals all the time even meat. I don't know why she got mad."
"Now hold on Reisaki what did she say to you about it?"
"that I didn't ask permission to take it and that I should have known better."
"Well…did you ask her if you could give it to me?" well…no…I didn't. I shake my head no. "you just thought it would be ok to take it and use it with out her permission?" I nod. "Well…did you know better not to do that?" I nod again. "well then in that instance I think she was right to reprimand you, at least for taking things that don't belong to you without permission…"
"…Yeah…" I understand what I did was wrong but… "but I was just trying to help her." tears leak from my eyes again.
"Reisaki…"
"She's never liked me…she always goes out into the forest and leaves me alone. She doesn't want to be around me…I just thought that if I helped her…"
"You might be able to get through to her…" I nod.
"I didn't mean to make her mad…I just wanted her to like me…" Christopher stands and comes to lay down behind me curling around.
"I'm sure she does; she just doesn't realize it yet."
"Huh?"
"Well I don't know that much about humans but even among animals it takes time for us to like one another. We all have to do our own thing but we all eventually reach a common ground where we can understand each other."
"Even you and the deers?"
"yes even them. my pack and I may hunt them but that only for survival. But when something happens that affects all of us we set aside our differences to solve that problem."
"Do you think Obāsan will like me?"
"I'm sure she will, so don't cry anymore alright." I nod and wipe away my tears before smiling, "That's better; smile. You'll feel better if you smile." He looks outside before turning back to me. "Well it doesn't look as though we'll be able to leave until tomorrow; we'll have to stay here tonight."
"M'kay. Hey Christopher?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think I'm weird being able to talk to you?"
"No I don't it's kind of nice having a human be able to understand what I'm saying. I was a bit surprised when you first talked to me but I didn't think it was weird."
"I like talking to animals too."
"That's good."
"Hey Christopher can I ask you something?"
"Sure what is it?"
"What does Sleeps around mean?" his eyes look like they're popping out of his head and I can't help but laugh.
"Um…well I…I'm not sure…" he shakes his head before smiling, "You're a little too young to know about that I think so I can't really say."
"Huh but I wanna know. What's it mean? Obāsan said mamma sleeps around but I don't know what that means. Please tell me."
he kinda seems like he doesn't like what I'm saying. He's not angry but he looks like doesn't want to say like he's shy,
"I really don't think it's my place to tell you what that mean Reisaki…you should really ask your grandmother about that."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Ok…" I yawn rubbing an eye
"Are you sleepy?" I nod, "Come on then, time for bed. I'll take you back home in the morning." He says I can use him as a pillow and I lay down.
"I'm not heavy?"
"No light as a feather." My feel heavy as I try to talk to him,
"Hey Christopher…Are you my friend?" my eyes close. He licks my forehead before he touches he nose to it.
"Yes I am." And I fall asleep.
…
something wakes me up as if someone is petting my head. I open my eyes a bit and see something looking at me. I don't move because I'm too sleepy. I'm not scared of the person their hand feels warm and their letting m use their other arm as a pillow. I wonder if Christopher knows this person…maybe he went to get them.
"Christopher…"
"It's ok…I'm not going anywhere…" he's still here but where? "Go back to sleep Reisaki; I'll keep you safe." My eyes close again and I fall back asleep.
…
I wake up again and the storm I gone and it's morning. The person sis gone and Christopher is letting me use him as a pillow again. I look up at him he's looking out at the forest.
"Christopher?" he looks at me smiling.
"You're up, did you sleep well."
"Uh-huh." My tummy growls loud and my face feels hot. "Sorry…"
"Hehehe…that's alright; I haven't eaten anything either. Let's go find something together." I get off him and let him up. he helps me find something to eat before he looks for something himself. He tracks a rabbit sniffing the ground. He looks a lot different when he's hunting. "Please stay still Reisaki; I don't want it to get away." I nod but I don't really like that he's chasing a bunny rabbit for breakfast. He heads over to a bush and sniffs around before a bunny jumps out running but he goes after it with out losing any time. Soon the bunny loses and Christopher has his breakfast. I really don't like watching but it can't be helped. I don't think I can eat thinks like that. "Are you alright Reisaki?"
"Huh?" Christopher looks at me worried.
"You're not eating you're food."
"How can you eat that without it being cooked? Obāsan always cooks stuff because she says it's bad to eat it raw."
"That's a good question…I'm not really sure."
"Does it taste good like that?"
"Well…"
"I don't know if I could eat stuff like that it looks gross."
"Well for you it may be a good thing you think it's gross…I don't think it would be a good idea for you to try eating a fresh rabbit. But for me I can handle it so it's fine." he goes back to eating and I have to turn around too look away so I can eat. When I finish I look around at the big trees and try jumping for one of the branches. I grab one and some how get up onto the branch. I reach for another and start climbing up higher. I have never climbed a tree before and it turns out to be fun. I find myself really high up and it seems kind of scary.
"Reisaki? Reisaki where are you?!" I can still see Christopher, "Reasaki!"
"Christopher!" he looks up
"How did you get up there?!"
"I climbed up!"
"How did you even- never mind! Get down from there right now before you hurt yourself!" I cling to the branch I'm stuck on, "What's the matter?"
"I-I don't know how!"
"You can't get down?!" I shake my head as hard as I can.
"I've never climbed a tree before! What do I do?!" he looks around not sure what do. He looks back up at me,
"Just take it slowly…do you see the branch below you?" I nod, "Try stepping down to that one first."
"I Can't! what if I fall…?!"
"I'll Catch you."
"…Okay…" I reach down and touch the branch and then cling to it.
"Good now… there's another branch to your right can you reach it?" I look over to the branch and try reaching for it. I nearly reach it but the branch I'm holding onto snaps "Kyaaa!"
"Reisaki!" I hit something furry and soft before Christopher coughs a bit. "Are you alright?" I open my eyes and see him looking at me worried. I nod. "Good." He blinks and looks at me slightly angry, "Why did you do that?"
"I didn't mean to go so high I thought it would be ok."
"Well yes there is the fact you did something dangerous but I was referring to the fact you disappeared on me so suddenly. I thought you ran off or something."
"I'm sorry." I lets out a breath, "Are you mad?"
"No just relieved. Please don't do that again though. that was very dangerous Reisaki. I may be with you but the forest is no place to be wandering off in you could get seriously hurt if you're not careful, understand?"
"M'kay…um I didn't hurt you did I?" he smiles nestling against me and laughing slightly,
"You should worry about yourself sometimes but yes I'm fine. the wind was just knocked out of me a bit is all. I was more worried about you being hurt." I start thinking about something else,
"Hey Christopher what about your other friends? Aren't they wondering where you are?"
"Are you talking about my pack…well I didn't return last night but it was raining so they most likely think I took shelter somewhere else and will come back later so it's aright."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, right now my priority is getting you home safely." He gets up with me riding on his back still and begins walking. "The terrains rough here so hold on tight ok?"
…
"And then- and then- the guy made the rose disappear!"
"Really?"
"Yeah it was really weird! I didn't know where it went but Obāsan- she didn't believe him for a second she just said 'it's in your right sleeve.'" Christopher listens to me tell a story about a sales man that came to our house and she didn't want anything to do with it. he did something he said was a magic trick but Obāsan didn't believe him one bit. Thinking about her I don't really want to go back. What if she doesn't want me to come back?
"Reisaki what's the matter?"
"I don't know if I really want to go back home."
"don't think that; I'm sure she's worried about right now."
"I don't think so."
"Do you really think she would hate you?"
"…I dunno." He stops suddenly his ears moving every way they can. "What is it?" he runs into some bushes and shakes me off his back and then stands over me. "What is it?!"
"Shush!" he looks back at the forest looking really angry for some reason. "Something is coming be quiet so I can hear." Footsteps come closer and I look up at Christopher. My eyes get bigger at the big cats that come out. They look scary and mean. One of them is growling. "Mountain lions… them again."
"I smell a human around."
"Me too."
"Think a hunter came around here?"
"does it matter? Let's just kill it."
Christopher comes down by me covering me even more,
"I'll handle them, just stay here. Don't move until I come back."
"What are you going to do?"
"Draw them away."
"But there's three of them, you can't fight them!" I cling to his fur,
"My pack and I have dealt with these three before; not to mention they're rather stupid. I'll be okay."
"But-"
"Just stay here; I'll be back I promise." I let go and he leaves me in the bush. The rustling makes the big cats look at the way Christopher left, "Well it looks as though I've been found out. I have to say you're getting better…slightly." He walks out of the bushes getting their attention.
"Great it's one of them…" one of the cats sniffs the air,
"hey you reek wolf; you smell like a human."
"well it's better than what you lot smell like, the back side of a wild boar, and you know how much those guys like to roll around in stinky stuff." They all growl, "Sorry did I say something wrong? I thought cats kept themselves clean though. I guess you lot are the exception." One jumps at him and tries to claw at Christopher but he manages to get out of way in time. "Ah…still slow I see; you house cats can't get your act together can you?"
"That's it rip him to shreds!"
"you'll have to catch me first… well if you can catch me." Christopher jumps back into the forest with the cats chasing after him.
it's been a long time since he let those cats chase after him. it has to be lunchtime by now. Is he okay? Did they catch him? they said they would rip him to shreds what if they did that? Please be ok.
The sun is going down now…he said not to move from here but he's been gone a long time. I've been here for so long I don't know what to do. But he said stay…so I should stay…right?
The bushes rustle again and I try to look around. I can't see anything though. is it him?
"Christopher?" the rustles get closer until finally Christopher pokes his head,
"Ah there you are. I was starting to wonder if I left you in this area or not."
"You big meanie…! Hic… what took you so long? Bwaaa…!" I start crying and I can't stop.
"I'm sorry it took me longer and farther than I anticipated for me to lose them." he smiles as if it wasn't bad.
"I…I thought something happened to yooooouuuuu…" Christopher puts his forehead against mine,
"I came back though right?"
"Y-Yeah…Sniff"
"I told you I would…I'm sorry that it took me so long though."
"That's ok…" I wipe away my tears and stop crying, "What happened though?"
"Well in order for me to lose them I had to trick them over the edge of a waterfall. Those three have gotten a lot smarter than the last time I saw them…I wasn't expecting for it to take me so long." He looks up. "I was hoping to get you home today but it looks like that won't happen tonight. Let's find a place to stay the night and get you home tomorrow."
We find a small grassy area and fireflies glow in it. I try to catch some but can't get any. Before I fall asleep Christopher tells me some stories about his pack and him.
"You guys took on a bear?!"
"Yep."
"Wow! How big was it?"
"well it was pretty big. Hm?" he listens again to the noise around us.
"Did they come back?"
"No…my pack is looking for me. I meant to get you back today but that wasn't the case. Their probably worried."
"How can you tell?"
"I can hear them calling me." there's a howl that sounds really far away. "That sounds like captain… I must have them pretty worried if he's out looking for me too."
"Captain…?"
"He's the leader of our pack. He's usually pretty easy going so it take a lot to get him riled up…" Christopher stands and howls loud into the sky. "They should be ok with that…but…" he looks at me, "Do you mind if I go find one of them real quick? They actually may come looking here if I don't. I need to explain what's going on to them so they can stop worrying about me."
"Uh-huh, okay."
"Alright please stay here…and don't climb any trees please."
"I won't." I smile and Christopher goes into the forest again. I let out a yawn and sit down rubbing an eye. It's a bit scary sometimes but I like the forest. I wish Obāsan would like me and take me with her…
…
"heheh…What's this? Reisaki did you fall asleep sitting up?" Christopher says as someone picks me up.
"Mm…" I snuggle up closer to the person as I try falling back asleep.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up." the person lets me use their arm as a pillow again and pets my head. "Heh…sleeping like an angel huh? Sorry I put you through a lot today didn't I? I'll get you home I promise."
…
I wake up rubbing my eyes. I see Christopher sleeping next to me. I wonder who that guy is though; he keeps showing up with Christopher. I remember Christopher waiting for me to wake up last time so I do the same and wait for him to wake up. I find things to do like pick some flowers and start making a flower crown. I learned it myself but they're never that good. I make another one still waiting for Christopher to wake up.
"Make the loop…through the hole…make the knot…Make a loop…through the hole…make a knot…make a-" a doggie shadow covers me and I look up.
"what are you doing Reisaki?" he smiles at me. I hold up the flower crown I'm working on,
"Flower crown!" he looks down at the other ones I made,
"Did you make all these?"
"yep."
"did you make these while you were waiting for me to wake up?"
"Uh-huh."
"You could have woken me up…how long have you been waiting?"
"I Dunno…but you waited for me to wake up so I did the same." He laughs,
"You didn't have to do that but thank you."
"Well you didn't come back until late right? I thought you would have been tired."
"Well I was it took me a bit longer to fine one of my mates."
"Mates?"
"Yes my pack members."
"Oh…" he stares at the flowers in my hands,
"Do you like flowers Reisaki?"
"Yeah, I love making flower chains like this. it's fun!"
"Is it? heh I guess it is, you have such a big grin on your face." I finish the crown and look over at him. "What?" I put the flowers on his head and his ears come out at the top. The purple and yellow flowers make him look funny.
"Hee hee hee! You look funny!"
"Why did you put them on my head?" he laughs.
"Christopher and flowers look funny together!" I keep laughing at him and he shakes them off.
"Alright then…how about I take this." he takes the ribbon in my hair.
"Hey give it back!" I shout trying to get him.
"You'll have to get it back from me if you want it." I play around trying to get my ribbon back. Christopher keeps close only to stay way far enough. As I chase him I see a field of flowers. "Reisaki?"
"Look Christopher Poppies!"
"Hey-hold on don't run off ahead like that!" I don't listen to him as I run into the field. Suddenly Christopher knocks me down,
"Ow! Why did you do that? I thought we were…" he looks ahead growling at something. "Christopher?"
"So there was a human in the forest." I look and see the three cats from before looking at us. Scared I try to hide even more under him. "I didn't think you would take a pet."
"She isn't a pet."
"Then let us at her then." The try to come closer but Christopher barks at them.
"Don't you touch her! come near her and I'll be sure none of you are left standing."
"Why do you care? a human's a human."
"She's only a child."
"That just makes it easier wolf. Get out of the way."
"Not happening…!" one of the cats steps forward, "Back away…" but the cat continues to come closer.
"Let's make this interesting wolf…I beat you I get the little human. You beat me you both can walk away."
"Fine." Christopher backs away from me, then smiles, "But only if you can catch us first." He yanks on my shirt and gets me on his back. He runs as fast as he can, "Hold on tight." The cats come after us growling and really angry. "Reisaki keep your head down." I duck down and burry my face in Christopher's fur. He picks up his speed and jumps before running again. he turns really hard before he jumps again. soon he stops panting. I look up to see we are back in the forest and we are looking down at the cats.
"Do you think we can't reach you from up there?! That was a stupid attempt at trying to lose us!"
"Now who said I was trying to lose you?"
"What?" they say together
"Huh?" I say.
"no I was just curious about what would happen if you bring mountain lions to a sleeping bears cave." A giant brown bear comes out from below and another. "Well two in this case. Have fun." Christopher turns leaving the cats behind. There's a lot of noise back there…
"Are you sure they don't need help?"
"They'll be fine; they've gotten out of worse situations."
"Oh…"
"Now then…let's get you home."
…
my home is just over there from here but I don't know if I want to go back. Christopher gave me back my ribbon and now I'm playing with it in my hands. I don't think she missed me at all. She won't even care if I come back.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't think she even cared that I was gone…I don't really want to go back. If she doesn't want me around why should I even be here?"
"She doesn't hate you Reisaki. Don't think that." Footsteps come from a different part of the forest and I see Obāsan come out. She looks tired and dirty and sad. What happened to her? I look back at Christopher and he nods at me. I leave him and head over to her.
"Obāsan…?" she looks up at me. her eyes look really wet at she stares at me.
"Reisaki!" she hugs me tight it hurts kinda but she never did this before, "Oh thank god…you're alright." She lets go to look at me, "I thought something happened to you! I thought…! Oh thank god you're alright!" she hugs me again crying.
"Obāsan…how come you're all dirty?"
"I've been looking for you in the forest. When you didn't come back I thought the worst. What happened to you?"
"I ran but I didn't see where I was going…then I got lost. I'm sorry Obāsan…I took the meat without asking you and I didn't say anything. I'm sorry I bother you so much."
"No…! no Reisaki listen to me…you don't need to apologize about anything. "
"But I made you mad…and I always get in your way." She lets go and places her hands on my cheeks.
"I shouldn't have said those things to you Reisaki. I didn't mean them."
"You didn't?" she shakes her head no,
"I took my anger towards your mother out on you. None of it is your fault, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Reisaki."
"So you do like me?" I look up at her and I feel tears in my eyes, "You don't want me to go away?"
"no I don't want you to leave; I was so worried about you. Of course I like you…it just took me a bit to realize it." she hugs me tight as I cry in her arms. Soon I stop and smile up at her. Christopher was right she just needed time to get it.
"Ah!"
"What is it Reisaki?"
"Obāsan I forgot I made a friend out in the woods."
"A friend?"
"Yeah he took care of me and brought me back home."
"Really well where is he?"
"I'll Be right back." I go back where I left him, "Christopher! Huh?" but he isn't here he's gone. "Christopher…" even though I didn't get to say goodbye, I feel like he's watching me. "Bye bye Christopher, you're my best friend. Even if I don't see you again I won't forget okay?" there isn't any answer but I nod like he did. "Okay… Bye bye Ōkami yūjin(Wolf friend)."
"Reisaki what are you doing over there? Is your friend over there?"
"No he left but I'm sure he's ok."
"Alright then. Come one then lets make dinner. Would you like some chicken tonight."
"Um Obāsan…can I just have fish?"
"Fish?"
"Yeah I don't think I like meat."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because animals are made of meat."
A few weeks later, a older woman comes out of her home waiting for her granddaughter. After finally creating a bond they both had been searching for she now takes her granddaughter into the forest to help her take care of the animals that they both share a common love for.
"Reisaki are you almost done?"
"Coming Bachan!" a little girl races out of the house with a small pack on her back. "What are we doing today Bachan?"
"Well my little neko I was thinking I would take you to the other side of the forest to show you a very pretty cave."
"A cave?"
"That's right." While the grandmother explains what's in the distance a familiar black wolf watches them with a warm look on his face.
"Thought I'd find you here." Another wolf shows up standing next to him looking at the scene in front of them. "That the kid you took back home?"
"Yes that's her Captain."
"Looks like she's doing good. I can see why you keep disappearing on us."
"Sorry…?"
"She seems really innocent and kind…"
"She is…"
"if you want to talk to her you should just do it; you don't have to hold yourself back you know." Christopher sighs,
"perhaps under different circumstances I would but if she were to follow me out into the woods I wouldn't be able to protect her like I want to. besides I'm not sure how Eduardo and Nathan would like having her around."
"Hahahahahaha! Yeah that's true. …you said she was able to understand you."
"Yes that's right."
"Huh…interesting. You realize though…this may be the last chance you get to try and speak with her. we move out to the other side of the forest tomorrow."
"Yes I know." The two trot off leaving the grandmother and the child to their affairs. "But you know Morgan…I have a feeling that we I will see her again."
End.