Okay, so this chapter turned out to be a real challenge for me.

Breaking the serious tone in favour of a more light-hearted one wasn't an easy task. Neither was figuring out how all these characters would act when being together. For example, the dynamics between Wolf and the boy when they are alone are different from the ones between Wolf and Snake, etc. Having several characters interact simultaneously also makes for a very non-fluent, chop-choppy story telling which isn't my forte.

Anyway, enough talk!

I hope you will enjoy this little break from all seriousness which has characterised this story so far.

Visit unforeseen, chapter 2

By Agncec, 2023

The doors of the car elevator slammed open and an air of masonry, concrete, dry paper and unidentifiable smells hit Ethan. Next second a loud, somewhat rough but affable voice rang out.

"Hey, Wolf! You made the evening new..." Shark stopped dead, his huge jaws dropping.

"Ya! Good driving, hermano!" Piranha's shouted from the couch. "La jefa de policia is furious you slipped away, hahaha!"

"What's the deal, Wolf? Pulling off jobs all by yourself now? What...?" Snake who had been slithering up behind Shark didn't finish the sentence. "You didn't!"

"A-hem! Eh, guys, meet Ethan! The kid I told you about, remember?" Wolf said, an awkward grin on his muzzle, paws resting on the boy's shoulders. "Ethan, meet Snake and Shark. The guy on the couch over there is Piranha and that's Tarantula, or 'Webs' as we use to call her."

"A pleasure. Sorry to drop in unannounced."

Piranha came waddling, eyes bulging with excitement and Tarantula followed behind him, looking baffled.

"So this is your dear brat, eh Wolf?" Snake approached to have a closer look. "Not much to look at! What use is he, save as a very meagre evening snack?"

"Don't even think about it."

"Let's just say I'm considering it." the reptile mused, peering at the teenager with ill-concealed contempt.

"Perhaps we should fall back to my earlier proposal?" Ethan glanced up at Wolf. "I don't want to cause you any more trouble today."

"He is not in any trouble! I'm grateful our leader brought home some fresh meat for a change!"

"Sorry, I am taking my leave."

"But...you just came here!" Shark exclaimed, looking genuinely puzzled.

The boy made a move towards the elevator but Wolf stopped him. "Hold on, Ethan."

"Why? I was taught never to bother people in their own homes."

"Snake's being a drama queen because he doesn't like anyone much." Tarantula said, having climbed up on Shark's head to get a better view.

"Yeah niño, you welcome and have fun!"

"Four against one, huh?" Snake glared around at his mates. "Guess I'm overruled!"

"Yep." Wolf said and Ethan felt the paw holding his shoulder give a reassuring squeeze.

"Then why don't I give our guest the tour?"

"I'd like that very much, thank you."

"At least you're pretty unafraid, for a miserable worm. Follow me!"

Wolf let go but Ethan noticed the canine's yellow eyes kept tracking them closely as Snake made his way between piles of loot, recalling the various heists and bold thefts through which the items had been procured. Famous paintings, antique artifacts from old Rome and yet Ethan found himself drawn towards the huge, polished grand piano standing near the couch fronting a television set.

"This prize here I believe you know!" Snake's tail tapped a piece of jewellery hanging on a female bust.

"Yes, I do." Ethan said, gazing upon the European royal necklace which had already begun gathering dust. He'd never taken the time recognising its true beauty or admiring the craftmanship required back then. It felt long ago, almost like an earlier life.

"Crafty plan!" Snake's snide voice cut through Ethan's thoughts. "Using it to blackmail your way into the life of our good friend Wolf here."

"My attempt at blackmail had nothing to do with his decisions. Wolf couldn't have cared less if I had exposed him. He would consider that free publicity, wouldn't he?"

"Yeah-yeah, whatever!" Snake rolled his eyes. "It was a great haul, even if it came with a nasty little freeloader."

"The freeloader has a poignant question for you. Where is monsieur Grandsaignes's wine? He claimed it was among the finest stocks he'd ever procured so they must have been extraordinary."

"Anyone here has any idea what the worm's babbling about?"

"Ya!" Piranha yelled, jubilant to get involved. "Bottles went borracho! CRASH! BAM! Into the sea!"

A heavy silence fell and the death glare Snake sent Piranha's way was hard to miss.

"Pardon me." Ethan added quickly, pointing at the grand piano. "Is that a real Steinberg concert deluxe model?"

"Well spotted, kid." Tarantula said, sitting on top of Shark's head. "We snatched it the other month. Wolf says playing keeps his digits nimble."

"May I try it out?"

"Sure!" Shark exclaimed. "Go right ahead!"

"Get ready to hear 'twinkle, twinkle little star'." Snake smirked as the boy sat down on the piano stool, flexing his fingers. Trying a few major chords, all of which rang out beautifully, Ethan let the playing progress into a brisk but short ragtime tune.

"Didn't the piano teacher complain your performance was lacking in emotional expression?" Wolf asked after the final tone had faded out. "It sounded fine to me. What's that song?"

"It's called 'Spinach Rag' and is featured in an old videogame. My teacher finally accepted I'm more of a contemporary music person and agreed to change the repertoire. Things have improved ever since. Maybe you would want to play something? Believe it or not but I don't like showing off."

"Unlike me, huh?" the canine said, a wry smile creasing his muzzle.

"Wolf speaks highly of you!" Shark broke in and clapped his fin-hands together. "And I think you'll make a great addition to our team!"

"Sorry friends, Ethan's not staying. I only brought him here because downtown is swarming with cops."

"You sure about that, Wolf?" Snake asked, a tint of malice in his voice. "Worm here's got finger dexterity and knows how to dodge the law, so why not? You've become a childminder, anyway!"

"Cute. Real funny, Snake. Why don't you sign up as a comedian already? You did great at that burger place last week!"

"Caramba! Wha'cha do, eh Snake?"

"What I did? There was this obnoxious brat fussing over losing a baby tooth, so I tell her I shed and regrow my fangs all the time and she will too!"

"Yeah!" Wolf said angrily. "And now that poor kid's gonna weep every time she loses a tooth, thinking she'll grow fangs and turn into a snake. You acted like a real jerk, man!"

"Heh-heh-heh..."

"Aww guys, don't fight!" Shark's eyes darted between them. "Wolf's just minding to be kind to those who deserve it, right?"

"He IS rather nice behind the ferocious facade." Ethan agreed, having followed the argument in silence. "Bared his fangs at me on our first meeting though."

"Well, only because you were a downright pest!" Wolf shook his head. "The most insufferable pup I'd ever set eyes on. Of course I had to stick around and teach you some manners."

"You forget such things often go both ways!" Ethan retorted and play-punched Wolf's shoulder, much to the astonishment of the others. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge."

"Oh yeah?" Wolf straightened up and spread his legs a bit. "Go ahead, prove it! Make me take one step and I'll declare you my superior. You can shove or pull at me, anything except foul play."

A shadow of doubt passed over Ethan's face but was soon replaced by an expression of firm resolve.

"I'll SO have you eat that over-confidence!"

The four bad guys watched in amusement as the teenager made several fruitless attempts to off-balance their leader who didn't budge an inch. Wolf yawned, tail wagging lazily. "Are you even TRYING? You'll have to do better than that."

"Rats, he is rock solid!" Ethan gasped, hanging at Wolf's right arm like a pendulum.

"Give it up, worm!" Snake grinned wide. "Ain't nobody but me who can best him and least of all YOU!"

"Okay, I guess I'll have to admit defeat." Ethan said, looking at the smirking canine who was busy adjusting his blazer. "Although, in that case I might as well..." Digging all fingers into the sides of his opponent kickstarted a hilarious dance where Wolf tried backing away the foul assault, laughing and yelping. Ethan kept it up when suddenly the canine's paws grabbed hold of him and the next second he found himself hoisted into the air.

"Now who's got the initiative, huh? You little cheater!" Wolf held the human with straight arms, well out of tickling reach, his crew jeering at the ridiculous scene.

Ethan struggled but there was nothing he could do to get free. "Alright." He said in a resigned voice. "I give up!"

"That's not good enough anymore!" Wolf looked around. "What do you say I teach this pup a lesson?"

"Eat him!" Snake leered.

"Hang him from the ceiling for a while?"

"I dunno, Wolf. He's a nice kid..."

"Have him play el piano again - AND sing!"

"Plenty of options." Wolf's yellow eyes glinted with humour. "What'd you say, Ethan?"

"For how long would I have to play and sing?"

"Let's see... One lengthy song or two medium ones."

The boy winced at this.

"Well?"

"I choose the playing-singing combo!"

"Gotcha." Wolf walked up to the grand piano and set the teenager down on the stool. "Get going."

Massaging his armpits Ethan frowned, an expression Wolf knew meant he was thinking hard. "I really don't like singing in front of an audience."

"Should have thought about that earlier." Wolf said, musing over the situation. "Hey, Piranha! Wanna give Ethan some help here?"

"Sí-sí!" Piranha seemed beside himself with enthusiasm as he ran up to the piano. "What we sing, eh Etán?!"

"How about..." Ethan leaned over, whispering something into the fish's ear. "Do you know it?"

"Sí! Very good pick!"

"May I use a music app to provide a beat? The phone is in my backpack."

"Granted." Wolf conceded. "I'll get it for you."

After being handed the smartphone Ethan programmed a punchy r&b rhythm, placed the phone on top of the piano and when he struck a series of major chord Wolf's ears flickered in recognition.

"I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
Because I would really, really love to stick around*"

Singing quietly at first Ethan soon found his voice and it didn't sound half-bad. Before long Piranha had hijacked the lead so the boy could take a backseat providing the backing vocals.

"Oh yeah, this is whatshisname..." Wolf snapped his digits. "George Michael!"

Ethan didn't seem to mind the predator fish stealing the show. The two kept jamming, improvising and stepping up the intensity, finishing in a spectacular crescendo to the cheer of Wolf, Shark and Tarantula. Snake was looking bored but Ethan thought he'd seen the reptile's tail waggle. Albeit only a teensy, tiny bit.

"That was a surprise!" Wolf said after the boy and Piranha were done bowing. "I had expected something more archaic from someone who specialises in rags."

"I enjoy many different musical styles, you know." Ethan sat down again, elbow leaning against the piano, a rascal smirk on his face. "Scott Joplin initially became my favourite only because mother disapproves. She would rather I devoted myself to romantic pieces by Chopin, Schubert and Brahms. Anyway, am I in the clear now?"

"You are. But never tickle me like that again."

"I make no promises."

"See?" Wolf looked around at his companions. "What I have to put up with?"

"Yeah and seeing it is making me hungry!"

"Har-har-har. Hey, don't look at ME, Snake! I can't pick up pizza in a city full of frantic cops. Piranha?"

"Sure amigos, I'll go!"

"Do you really think that's such a good idea?" Tarantula had gone and grabbed her miniature laptop. "Remember last time?"

"Not much of a choice unless we want to starve." Wolf said. "Care to place our usual order?"

"On it. What'd you want, kid?"

"The same as him." Ethan replied and nodded Wolf's way.

"Two pork galore, okay!"

Ethan turned his head to stare at the canine who just chuckled.

"Webs is making fun of my preferred topping combo of ham, pepperoni, bacon, chorizo and sausage. Hey, I AM a wolf you know!"

"Still wanna go for wolf pizza?" Tarantula asked, her legs rapidly tapping the leathery arm chair. "I'm waaaiting!"

"Uh, do they have anything with mozzarella and tomatoes?"

"Done! Delivery ready in 45 minutes."

"You placed all our orders that fast?"

"Of course I did! Gee, I thought Wolf said you were a smart kid!"

"Forgive my ignorance." Ethan said apologetically. "I never made the acquaintance with a tarantula before and you are awful quick."

"Nah, it's okay! Speed is the key and time is money and speaking of time..." Tarantula shot the grinning Piranha a glance. "Weren't you going?"

"Sí-sí, amiga, see ya!" Piranha shouted, bobbing his way to the elevator and vanished from sight.

"There's a chopper hidden inside the entrance tunnel." Wolf pointed at the floor. "They will be on the look-out for a car, not a motorcycle, so when the fuzz is fuzzing Piranha acts as our food fetcher."

"Which has come back to bite us many, many times."

"Awww, don't be too hard on him, Webs!" Shark appeared hurt by criticism aimed at his old friend. "He really does try his best, you know?"

"I am NOT having soggy pizzas again!"

"Whoa, hold on!" Wolf raised both paws. "Let's not assume the worst until he's back. Give the guy a chance to make up for past mistakes."

"I wouldn't expect the worst if his delivery ratio wasn't 81 percent." Tarantula rolled her eyes. "And by that I mean his FAILURE ratio!

"Last time wasn't even his fault!" Shark gestured wildly, voice jumping up a notch. "He had old bones to pick with those guys! How could he know they'd be sitting there?"

"He COULD have settled it without involving OUR FOOD!"

The two continued arguing while Wolf tried calming things down. Meanwhile, Snake threw several sidelong glances Ethan's way and kept moving in closer. "Piranha better be back soon," he muttered, "or I'll have to snack on the next best thing around this place."

The boy scowled.

"We humans are supposed to taste awful. Say, can you deliver a dry bite?"

"Huh?!"

"A non-venomous bite." Ethan said and began unbuttoning his left shirt sleeve.

"Hey!" Wolf had suddenly noticed what was unfolding and he didn't like the sound of it. "Wait a sec!"

"Have a taste and you will see I'm right." The teenager thrusted the exposed forearm under Snake's nose. "I'd rather nurse a bite wound than having you weary my ears about wanting to eat me."

"HEY, STOP!"

Snake's tongue flickered, his eyes darting between the resolute looking Ethan and the panicking Wolf; then he burst into a loud, raucous laugh. "Have a taste! The nerve! Oh, sheds..." he chuckled, his tail-tip wiping away a tear. "You've got lots of guts! I almost don't hate you for it..." The Eastern Brown coiled around himself in amusement, snorting. "Thanks for offering, kid, but you can keep that limb! I'll take my chances with Piranha's soggy pizzas. Heh-heh-heh..."

Wolf did not share his friend's merriment. For one terrifying moment he'd thought Snake would take up on the offer and strike, but having successfully called the bluff seemed to have granted Ethan some respect. Snake was now launching into a ridiculous story from his own childhood and the previous tensions between them were gone.

A warm sensation swelled inside Wolf's chest and he realised he was feeling very proud of the boy.

An hour later the car elevator began moving and soon Piranha appeared, precariously carrying a stack of unmolested pizza boxes.

"Unbelievable."

"Told ya to give him a chance, Webs!" Shark shouted, dashing forward to relieve his friend of the burden.

"And they're still warm. Well done, Piranha!" Wolf clapped both paws together. "Shall we find out if Webs messed up the order?"

"I resent that remark!"

To everybody's relief there had been no mistake and a feeding frenzy commenced. Ethan was not surprised that the infamous criminals ignored any and all table manners, gorging themselves in front of the TV. Shark slid an entire pizza down his enormous jaws without even chewing and seemed busy relishing the after-taste. Piranha's table manners were particularly atrocious as he kept attacking and ravaging the food at the same time.

"Hey, kid! Shake a slice for me, will ya?" Throwing Wolf a glance and receiving an encouraging nod, Ethan gingerly removed a piece of chicken pizza from its box and dangled it in front of Snake. "Now wiggle it! Go ahead!"

"Okay, you mean like this?"

The reptile struck with a loud snap and Ethan found himself holding nothing at all. He hadn't even had time to react.

"Ahh that hit the spot! Another, if you don't mind!"

"Um..."

"Give him a break, Snake! His pizza's gonna go cold before you're done."

"Yeah-yeah, Wolf. I just thought it'd be fun." Snake picked up a second slice and dropped it into his mouth.

Ethan sat down next to Wolf and began munching on a slice covered with creamy mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. He felt oddly at home. Tarantula, for all her displays of impatience, ate at slow speed and didn't make a mess. Wolf also downed his slices in a more refined manner, although there was still something ravenous about the way he did it.

"Enjoying your meat pizza?" Ethan asked him.

"Love it! Yours okay?"

"Sure. Do you want to try a slice?"

"No thanks!" Wolf shuddered.

"You're missing out."

"I'm glad to! ME eating veggie pizza... Ew! That'd be the day."

Ethan couldn't help but to laugh when suddenly there was a flash followed by a sharp snap.

"Snake!"

"What? You and the kid were perfectly framed!"

"Hold on..."

"Well, would you look at that." Snake set the camera down and held up the instant photograph. "The mentor and his pup, how touching."

Wolf growled and made some fruitless attempts to grab the photo from his snickering comrade while the rest of the crew started laughing.

"I think he's right." Ethan commented. "The composition was quite good."

"And to the refrigerator door we go!" Snake said in a sing-song voice, slithering away towards the kitchen.

Defeated, Wolf sat down again, muttering darkly.

The remainder of the evening was spent playing video games. Tarantula wiped the floor with Ethan on Tetris Ultimate after he had beaten the nimble-pawed Wolf five consecutive times.

"Don't feel bad, there ain't no one who can beat her!" Shark said, trying to comfort the teenager. "She wanted to enter the world tournaments but got rejected."

"Of course arachnids wouldn't be allowed, they would always win." Ethan rubbed both hands on his pants. "And I thought I was pretty good at this game! Say, which game..." A ringing phone signal coming from the direction of the piano cut him off. "Crap! What's the time?!"

"9:54pm." Tarantula said. "Who's calling?"

"My mother! Please, be quiet!" Ethan rushed over to the grand piano, fumbling and nearly dropping the phone, although when he picked up his voice was calm and controlled. "Hello, mother. ... I am at a friend's. ... I know, I am sorry. ... Yes. ... Playing Tetris."

At that moment Piranha let out a loud belch, triggering sniggers from everyone except Wolf who furiously gestured to them to stay silent.

"What? Oh, just a game sound effect. ... Yes. ... I am not sure. Sometime around nine? ... No, I am fine. ... I really am. ... Okay. Good night."

"Did she buy it?" Wolf asked as soon as Ethan had hung up.

"I think so, but I really must be home no later than nine tomorrow morning."

"Don't worry. We'll make it."

"Enough talk!" Piranha stomped on the floor. "Now we play action games! GTA! GTA!"

"The kid's into puzzle games, isn't he?" Tarantula objected. "I think he and me should do a Portal 2 co-op."

"BOOOOOOORING!"

Ethan leaned back in the couch. The bickering didn't sound very serious but more akin to siblings having a friendly tiff, not that he himself had any such experiences. Looking upwards, he realised the place had a panorama roof and through the large glass panels shone...

"Look, it's the Harvest Moon!"

All five non-humans stopped what they were doing, bent their necks and gazed upon the huge orange sphere far above their heads.

"That's a nice one. I love how it keeps changing throughout the year." Wolf said, the moonlight reflecting in his eyes. "And the moon grows fat in every one..." he added softly, although no one heard this.

"Say, does he ever howl to it?" Ethan asked, addressing the others.

"What a rude, stereotypical assumption!" The canine snorted. "I'm a moon-gazer, not a moon-howler."

"And your affinity for white clothing bears no connection to lunar worship?"

"Where do you come up with all this stuff? I just happen to like the colour!"

"And you never howl?"

"Okay, sometimes I will." Wolf admitted, unable to hold back a toothy smirk. "To rattle people!"

"Meaning you won't, because it wouldn't scare me."

"Yep!"

"Bummer."

"Why don't YOU try sounding like a wolf, eh?" Snake asked and waggled his tail in the direction of the piano. "Your voice sounded shrill enough earlier."

"No way!" The teenager shook his head vigorously. "I'd die from embarrassment."

Everyone broke into laughter and then resumed discussing which games they thought were the best. The debate went on for quite a while and even though no more games got played the atmosphere was merry.

When Wolf noticed Ethan was starting to yawn he bade his crew good night and gestured to the boy to follow.

"I figure you'd prefer bunking with me, yeah?" he said and pushed open a pair of double-doors leading to a long corridor with several other single doors. Ethan noted there were labels stuck to some of them, such as "Fishy", "Scaly", "Laundry", "Swimming room" and "Shower". The last door wore a plain "W" mark and opened to reveal a windowless room occupied by a wide bed, a large cupboard and a work desk. Multiple shelves were mounted along the walls, crammed with books, rolls of paper and (surprisingly) a sewing machine.

"There's a Singer in your room." Ethan pointed out as Wolf extracted a self-inflating sleeping pad from underneath his bed and plugged it in.

"What? Oh, right. I'm the occasional tailor around here. Another trait I inherited from my dear ol' ma who did it for a living."

"You were pretty poor, weren't you?"

"Very." Wolf said, watching the mattress swell. "Can't say we starved but I rarely felt full, even when mom ate less so I could have more." He disconnected the electric air pump before handing over a bed pillow and a spare blanket. "I'm afraid these will smell a little wolfy and there might be some fur on them."

"I don't mind." Ethan removed his shoes and laid down. "Wolf?"

"Yeah?"

"I am sorry. I would have enjoyed meeting your mother. She seemed like a nice person."

"'s okay. She's been gone a long, long time."

"It's not fair. Really not fair." Ethan mumbled and fell asleep on the spot.

Heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Wolf again felt conflicted. Part of him was quite pleased by how well the boy had handled himself throughout the day while another part grumbled in reproach. How much had Ethan's mom figured out from that phone call? Wouldn't she watch the evening news and put two and two together? Wasn't this a clear violation of the implicit trust she had placed in him, to look out for her son? And why did the cops give chase? The fake license plates shouldn't have tipped them off and Wolf knew his driving had been perfectly legal. Was it a case of mistaken identity? He'd have to remember asking Webs to do some digging inside the L.A.P.D. computer network.

The questions kept churning as he put on a pyjamas and looking into the mirror Wolf considered himself. Perhaps he should accompany Ethan the next day? Put all the cards on the table, apologise to the mother and tell her his reasons for doing what he'd done. Maybe even...

NO! Opening the sink's tap he splashed some cold water over his face. He needed to stay at an arm's length from that female and ignore any alluring fantasies concocted by his stupid brain. Besides, how would the kid take the news of his mentor and his mom having had a liaison? 'Weird' didn't even begin describing it!

"Don't be an idiot." Wolf told the reflection. "You've got enough problems and so have they."

Upon returning to the bedroom he watched the sleeping boy for a few moments then switched off the ceiling lights and climbed into bed. Pulling the duvet cover up to his neck, Wolf pushed all questions and worries aside. He would handle them in due time.

Soon the bedroom was filled with the sound of sleep.

To be continued in next chapter...

* Lyrics: George Michael - Freedom '90