Past parts of the saga:
1. The Fan
2. A lesson in consequences
3. Dreams and Wolf Travels
4. Recollections
Wow, it has been a while since the last published part in my story series and nearly one year since my very first one! I had originally planned NOT to take the plot in this direction but we all know the story of the forbidden fruit... Switching to chapter-based stories now and here is the first of three. Things will be revealed!
About a Boy and a Wolf part 5
Visit unforeseen, chapter 1
By Agncec, 2023
DISCLAIMER! This work is not affiliated with DreamWorks in any way. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the movie. All events herein are purely fictional and sprung from the writer's imagination. The mirror Earth where the story takes place is different from ours (although there are overlaps), so if you enjoy things "dark and realistic" do not continue reading as you may find this disheartening.
This story plays out approximately five years prior to the events of the movie.
It was a September Saturday with overcast skies dominated by a western wind which swept through the metropolis of Los Angeles, pushing the weather from cold to colder.
Thirteen year old Ethan Landau felt the full force when walking the heights in the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park. He folded up the collar of the beige jacket, glancing at his company. This company, a certain notorious criminal and yet also a caring guardian, seemed untroubled by the cold as his canine body was built to handle the elements. Instead, he kept pondering the unusual laconicism of the human teenager he had set out to mentor.
"So," Wolf inquired in an attempt to get the conversation going, "how does it feel to be back at regular school?"
"Not particularly enjoyable."
"Something happened?"
"No, just the same old story repeating itself. I am bored and my class mates avoid me. Do you recall my outspoken objections during summer classes?" [read my story "Dreams and Wolf Travels" for reference /the author]
"The skirts-for-guys thing?" Wolf smiled at the memory of hearing about the kid's first major rebellion. "I remember you saying the heat in the building was intolerable."
"It was back then yes, but not anymore. The word has spread and now I am perceived as an even greater weirdo. The principal has her eyes on me too. To her I'm a troublemaker."
"For speaking up when nobody else dared?"
"Exactly! What's the use of trying to do right when everything is turned around to your disadvantage?!" Ethan threw his arms out. "All I wanted was to improve the situation for everybody and now I am even worse off than before. I hate my school!"
Wolf's ears twitched under the hat brim.
"Isn't there anything good going on? How's your friend, Niki?"
"Dunno. He does have other friends, you know, and I'm a poor match so we don't talk much."
"What makes you say that?"
"They are athletes. Jocks! Care to guess their opinion on a bookish shrimp who proposes men can wear skirts?"
"Can't you ask your mom about switching schools?"
"Yeah, right!" Ethan snorted and kicked a small rock in their path, causing it to bounce down the hillside. "Which school do you think will admit a troublemaker like me? They'll make inquiries, talk to my principal and suddenly there aren't any seats available. We apologise! You may re-apply next year or whenever."
Sighing the boy shoved both hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"Probably doesn't matter. I am an ill fit everywhere."
"Hey, hold on here." Wolf stopped. "Don't sell yourself short because of a few setbacks. Sometimes we fail and it ain't always you who are at fault."
"Does that even matter when the outcome is all the same?" Wolf was surprised to hear Ethan's voice tremble. "No one notices me or feels I'm worth their time! No one, except you. If I was to disappear people would be relieved!"
"Listen." Wolf said and seized the boy's shoulders. "Would you have tried reaching out to your class mates one year ago?"
"No."
"Would you have attempted to make improvements to your school, even if the principal disagreed?"
"No..."
"See what I mean?" Wolf tilted his head, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. "Being the only person with a spoon in a world of soup where everyone else uses a fork isn't a flaw. You're going through changes for the better and if people object, well, then they're the problem. Not you."
"I'm feeling so lonely. I want to find some friends!"
"Hang in there and it'll happen." Wolf put an arm around Ethan. "Don't give up now! You're doing good, real good."
"Then why can't I feel it?"
"What do you think?"
"I wouldn't ask you if I knew, would I?"
Wolf chuckled.
"And I know you've got a knack for figuring things out. Take the time you need."
"Okay."
They continued the trek along the wide ridge. Every now and again hikers were coming from the opposite direction and Wolf greeted them courteously.
"How come nobody recognises you?" Ethan shook his head, bemused.
"Whenever people aren't expecting me they don't see me. Got any ideas yet?"
"Well..." Ethan began, sounding uncharacteristically hesitant. "Perhaps I'm expecting too much, too soon? I know I am a little impatient."
Regarding the boy's face from behind the yellow sunglasses Wolf considered his hunches. The kid had always appeared tough and resilient but there was a new frailty to him, urging caution.
"That's a pretty insightful self-analysis." Wolf said, weighing each word. "I think you are also having growing pains from opening up to others. You've been cooped up in yourself for a long time."
"Yeah, maybe."
"And not every day has to be a good one. Even nice guys like me aren't spared. Hey, let me tell you the story when my spring shed went south..."
Recounting an abridged and perhaps not wholly truthful version of the nightmarish ordeal from years ago, Wolf watched with satisfaction as the boy's spirits lifted. [read my earlier story "Shedding" for reference /the author]
"The doctor probably thought I was a complete fool the way I behaved! I was terrified she would pronounce some judgement upon me."
"What diagnosis did you get?" Ethan was smiling now. "It couldn't have been anything terminal because you are still here."
"She never pinpointed a clear cause. I got a medicine which took away the itch and made me sleepy. Next day the winter coat began coming out so I figure my skin must have been over-stressed or something."
"I can't imagine you ever being afraid of anything in this world."
"Think again, kiddo."
Wolf patted the boy's shoulder as they continued walking for a while longer before turning back.
Rounding off the day Wolf drove to a beach café which hadn't yet closed for the season. He and Ethan settled down at the empty outside terrace and sat watching the waves wash the deserted sandy shoreline.
"You kept up pretty well today." Wolf said, sipping on his coffee. "Your stamina has come a long way. Do you swim?"
"Yes but I don't enjoy it very much."
"Oh? Why not?"
"I just don't." Ethan said curtly.
"As for me I never turn down a sea trip if the weather is nice. The surfing in these parts isn't bad."
"Do you ever take to the seas with your friends?"
"It happens. Why?"
"There has been much buzz concerning a recent, well-executed robbery at monsieur Grandsaignes's yacht." Ethan said, a smirk forming on his face. "Twelve priceless bottles snatched from the wine cellar. The head of security jailed for handling an automatic pistol in a reckless manner while riding a Jet Ski. It's quite an outrage."
"Fancy that."
"And I overheard mother talking to a friend, bemoaning she turned down the invitation and missed out on the show. Said she could have kissed the gang leader for pulling it off and wounding the ego of that pompous arseho..."
"A-hem!"
"I was only quoting what she said! Verbatim."
"Well, I got the message." Wolf chuckled nervously, eager to change the subject. "Are things okay back home, then? Or are you two still clashing?"
"Not often. Mother is becoming more easy-going and I don't understand why. She used to act like we were always in a courthouse but now she asks instead of demanding answers."
"Maybe she's acknowledging her son's growing up and facing new challenges?"
"Maybe."
"She cares about you, Ethan. You'd make a mistake thinking she doesn't."
The boy drank from his teacup and didn't reply. Noticing a slight frown on his forehead Wolf knew he had at least taken it in for consideration. Watching the never-ending barrage of large swells they lapsed into a thoughtful silence.
"It's funny." Ethan said suddenly, sipping the hot tea. "I know my tea was paid for using stolen money, like everything else you have ever treated me to."
Wolf coughed and shifted on the chair, embarrassed and a little annoyed by the kid's bold questioning of his illicit livelihood. Still, he found it hard to put a harsh stop to the inquiries.
"I am not feeling too bad about it, though." Ethan continued.
"Oh yeah?"
"If things had been different you would pay using your own money. The world might have known you as a famous stunt driver or why not a pilot? I think you'd make a great one!"
"Thanks, but we'll never find out."
"Welcome aboard, this is captain Wolf speaking! Today you're in safe paws." Ethan said in a passable imitation of his mentor's self-assured voice.
"Heh! You've got a wild imagination, I'll give you that." Wolf laughed and emptied his coffee. "Afraid we'll have to make do with me as your personal driver. It's time to head home." It's time to head home."
The roads to city center turned out to be pretty congested. Sighing, Wolf looked around and imagined the illegal path he WOULD have taken under normal circumstances, then he noticed a patrol car appearing some hundred yards behind them. Why it would be on their tail he couldn't tell but the unease kept growing and an escape plan began taking shape inside his mind.
"Ethan, listen to me very carefully." Wolf said and broke away from the line, entering a less trafficked cross-street leading away from heart of the city. "Do exactly what I tell you, when I tell you and without question, okay?"
"Sure, is...?"
At that moment the patrol car entered the street behind them, its sirens howling and the beacons flashing as it sped up.
"Get down, NOW!"
Stepping hard on the accelerator Wolf put a considerable distance between himself and the pursuit in seconds but he was quickly coming up to a busy intersection.
"What's going...?"
"Be quiet and stay down!"
Zig-zagging between the vehicles ahead and earning many angry honks, Wolf made an aggressive turn onto a broad boulevard only to spot a party of flashing lights in the distance. The police appeared to have set a trap for him. No matter!
"Sorry, this is gonna get be a bit rough. Hold on!"
The black sports car crossed the lanes, grazing the oncoming traffic by mere inches, and when Wolf roared past the pursuer still driving in the opposite lane the cops foolishly attempted the same trick. A loud crash rang out amidst the busy afternoon traffic, followed by a blaring that didn't stop. Wolf threw a quick glance in the rear-view mirror. The patrol car was lying on its roof, gently scraping across the asphalt and generating quite a blockage. Again the initiative was his and he couldn't afford letting it slip.
Making a series of sharp, illegal and dangerous turns onto smaller streets, then cutting a long straight stretch at a high speed followed by a number of near misses, they entered into a seedy industrial area. Careful not to leave any tyre tracks Wolf drove along the cracked streets, turning every so often before stopping in the shadow of a condemned warehouse. Removing the hat his ears turned in all directions. No other vehicles or sirens could be heard.
"Wolf?"
"Wait."
Sniffing the outside air deeply Wolf felt reasonable sure no one else was in the vicinity.
"Alright, you can sit up. But if I tell you to duck..."
"I duck." Ethan got out of the bracing position. "Did we get away?"
"I think so but we are not home free yet. I can't drive you home now and I can't drop you off in THESE parts of town." Wolf slammed his paws on the dashboard. "Knowing our zealous chief of police they'll be hounding me well into the night!"
Lowering the sunglasses he caught and held the teenager's eyes.
"Sooner or later the cops will come here, looking, so we GOT to get moving. I have an escape route but I need you to keep obeying me. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes."
"Good. Get down and stay there. This won't take too long."
Wolf continued driving, passing shabby storage facilities while keeping a watch-out for any pursuit. Encountering no one the car eventually passed through a broken gate leading down to one of the city's cried-up canals. Switching off all exterior lights Wolf kept going in the shadows until a familiar overpassing bridge came into view where he turned right, entering a huge and unlit drainage tunnel.
"May I sit up now?"
"Yeah."
"Where are we?" Ethan asked, watching Wolf's troubled face illuminated by the control panel lights.
"Someplace you shouldn't be."
"This is your secret hideout, isn't it?"
Wolf stopped the car and gave no answer.
"I could spend the night in the backseat. I imagine it might be uncomfortable but I can deal with that."
"No way I'm leaving you alone down here, in the dark." Wolf said lowly. "Now listen to me..."
The canine leaned in so close their noses almost touched.
"I swore not to let you become an outcast like us. My companions are up there and waiting for me. They'll never expect a visitor."
"Do you think they will be angry?"
"Worse, they will be over-joyed!" Wolf shook his head. "Especially Snake who'd love seeing you turn away from right path and onto the wrong. He's going to try pushing you, Ethan. Don't let it get to you and remember he ain't as bad as he pretends. The others are gonna want to hang out with you and have fun, and if you ever start feeling it's too much just give me a look and I'll intervene, okay?"
"Okay. My heart is pounding though. I am really, really nervous."
"Deep breaths, stay calm and be yourself." Wolf spoke reassuringly. "No need trying to be anything else around us. And stuff that miserable bucket hat into the bottom of your backpack."
At the flip of a switch on the middle console the car elevator opened. Once they were inside Wolf killed the engine and stepped out, gesturing to Ethan to come stand in front of him.
"Don't be afraid. Trust me."
The rattling stopped, followed by a series of metallic clanks and bangs as the massive elevator doors parted to reveal a great industrial space.
To be continued in next chapter...