Chapter 17: Great Memories

We'd been in our wolf forms together now for a week I think. It's hard to keep up with Elcrie and keep track of the days as they come and go. If he pulls one more prank on me though, I'm going to lose it. Three times now he's buried me in snow from the trees above us, slamming his body into them to shake as much snow off as he can, it's incredibly irritating. I always figured you could never be irritated, annoyed or even upset by whoever you imprinted on but this old man might be the one exception to the rules. Or maybe there's just less rules than I thought, maybe there's none at all. I know I'm much less angry then I tend to be and a lot more patient, though that was wearing thinner by the day. When we'd hunt together he'd even twice now scare our prey away right as I was about to pounce and his large wolf would throw itself back into a fit of childish laughter. I can't believe you fell for that twice… Today he decided to disappear into the woods and I think we're playing hide and seek? I seriously have no idea. Not being able to communicate with him telepathically is seriously hindering my ability to understand what the hell is going on half the time. I wish I was more appreciative of his playful nature, I am trying to be, but all I really wanna do is talk to him and be near him. Alright Leah, it's been like 4 hours… You're either lost or he's gone home… Ugh, where the hell are you old man?

*Bom!*

Great, you fell for it again… Might as well just lay here and die in the snow at this point.

Snow had completely covered my body and I didn't even bother fighting it or cleaning myself off. I just laid there, wet covered in snow, hungry and irritated. I had chased him all day long and this is what I get in return, I guess. Should've just gone hunting Leah…

"Wow, I am good." Elcrie, he was in his human form, laughing as he spoke. "I bet you didn't even hear me coming did you?"

No. I didn't, because you're a spooky little white ghost manchild of the snow. I felt half bad thinking those words but they were true. Nothing that large should be able to sneak up on someone the way Elcrie can. It's unnerving but also incredibly remarkable. I shifted back to my human form as well, hoping we could talk now once I was done pouting, though I remained covered in the snow. I could see why Elcrie kept his hair so long, you need it in all this cold.

"Are you satisfied with yourself now?" I shouted from underneath the snow piled on top of me.

"No, but this is a good start."

"You're terrible!"

"Come on Leah, I finished fixing the house while you were walking around the woods doing whatever it is you were doing. It's warmed up now. We should head back home."

"We"? "Home"? I like the way that sounds.

"I was looking for you!" I shot back annoyed, "Anyways if you wanna dig me out from the snow you're more than welcome to."

"I don't, I'll wait."

Yeah, of course you will. I complained the entire time as loudly as possible as I dug myself out. The minute I saw him sitting there on a broken log, naked, eating a handful of dried raspberries smiling as I struggled to get out, it really pissed me off but it also really turned me on. I'm starting to think something is seriously wrong with me.

"Well before we go you sure you don't wanna bury me in any avalanches or goad me into almost drowning in freezing cold water again?" I crossed my arms and locked my eyes onto his so he knew his beautiful figure wasn't going to distract me from how annoyed I was.

"Well first of all, don't tempt me, and second of all you did not almost drown, you went in barely a foot before I caught you."

"My savior." I replied, snatching the rest of the raspberries from his hands. "Let's go." I ordered as I walked past him quickly.

He laughed some more as I continued to walk further away. If you don't move your ass old man so help me God… As I thought these words I heard him start a slow jog to catch up with me so I slowly started moving faster, Elcrie followed suit and before I knew it we were racing home in our wolf forms. I was in front of him and whether he was allowing me to win or not I was going to rub this victory in his face. As soon as we reached the tree line however he tackled me to the ground. Elcrie was gentle but it was definitely intentional and I fought back just enough to let him know who's really the big bad wolf around here. Of course every effort I made to show my strength he showed he was 10 times stronger and faster. It was nice to feel this safe with Elcrie. I couldn't help but be reminded of how me and Seth used to play when we first found our wolves, how we wrestled endlessly though unlike those times I was pretty clearly losing to Elcrie. I began to slow as his size just overpowered me no matter what I did but I could tell he wanted to continue to play. I couldn't win but I could piss him off by not giving in, so that's exactly what I did, I laid completely still. He whined and continued to try and goad me into continuing but I ignored him turning my head every time he tried to look me in the eye.

This didn't exactly feel like the victory I had wanted but I was hungry and I could smell dinner from where we were. He put his snout under my chin and pushed me back and I let out a low growl, I didn't exactly mean to but as I did Elcrie crashed his gigantic wolf down in front of me and let out one last whine kicking his legs in the air like a child. I watched in amazement as his body shifted back into its human form, it was incredible to watch. If I hadn't seen it twice now I would say it was impossible.

"Fine… you win." Elcrie said, rolling his eyes as he continued to lay on his back in the snow.

I always do. Well, when I play by rules at least.

I released my wolf as well and ran across his body, making sure to step on his chest as I raced to the door, laughing but not looking back.

"I win!" I shouted at him from the door frame.

"Seriously!" Elcrie cried out as he picked himself up and ran toward me.

I could see in his eyes that I had re-sparked his urge to play and I slammed the door in anticipation for what was to follow once he reached me. As I expected Elcrie came in and we wrestled each other to the ground. He tickled me for the first time and I kicked him twice in the chest laughing harder than I ever have before. I felt like a little kid again.

"Okay! Okay! Stop, come on please, I'm hungry!" I said smiling from ear to ear as he held me now in a tight grip on the ground.

"Alright, I suppose I could eat too." Elcrie whispered into my tangled hair.

"You wouldn't be so hungry if you wouldn't have scared off half the game I found." I replied as we stood up his arms still warped around me, I could tell he was waiting for me to give him an opportunity to start messing around again.

"Well, think of all the great memories we made."

""Great memories"? Are you referring to you scaring away my prey and burying me alive in the snow? Oh and let's not forget that time I almost DROWNED." I replied laughing as he held me tiger for a moment growling in his own defense.

"Fine, let's eat." Elcrie replied through a moan, in a playful but annoyed tone as he released his grip.

As soon as our bodies fully separated, I wished I had continued to play. I missed the warmth of his hug, the feeling of his skin touching my own. I could almost cry… No crying Leah! Don't be that crazy, that's just weird. I cleared my throat and fixed my hair as I sat at the table. Elcrie brought our food and sat across from me. Moose stew! Hell yeah! The meat was fresh. Elcrie must have hunted before he came home to fix the window. Our bowls were huge and we devoured the entire pot between the two of us. Elcrie hated to waste so we almost always ate everything in one sitting. I was happy to do so, the man really knew his way around the kitchen.

"So did you learn to cook from these millions of books or what?"

"Some books, some from my mother, and sister."

"So she taught you how to cook but never taught you about her tribe?"

"Leah." Elcrie warned.

"I know, I know. I just wish you knew more but I'm glad you can cook. The most I can do in the kitchen is burn stuff and eat stuff."

"You might be the most talented person I know then."

"I'm the only person you know."

"Exactly. Though… I'm not the only person you know, am I?"

I glared at him and picked up the dishes and took them to the sink and began to wash them. Ignoring him completely.

"Leah, why won't you talk about your family? I know you must have one. I'm sure they're missing you terribly."

"What makes you say that?"

"Leah… When I found you being attacked by those Vampires-"

"Bloodsuckers." I interrupted.

"Alright, bloodsucker. Happy?"

"Nope."

"As I was saying, when I found you laying there nearly dead in the water after I destroyed them. I could feel myself dying. Even before I touched you and understood through your pain how bad it was. It was as if your livelihood was a reflection of my own. I could feel my soul, if that's not too dramatic, fading along with your own. I was terrified. If I felt that way for you and I had not then even known you for a day, whoever you have at home-"

I froze as his words, to me at least, sounded a lot to me like he had imprinted. Maybe he just didn't have the word for it, like I did?

"I thought I was home…"

"You are and I never want you to leave but-"

"Then why are you asking me to dig up the past. Can't you just not worry about where I came from?"

"Nope." Elcrie replied mimicking my tone from when I said the word before.

"Well too bad." I replied, annoyed once more.

"Fine." He concluded.

"Fine."

I finished washing the dishes in silence, not turning to look at him knowing he was upset.

"I'm going to take a shower." I said breaking our silence.

Elcrie remained silent so I walked past him and down the hall. He sat still and I couldn't tell if he was upset or not but I didn't wanna have this conversation right now. I was tired, overfull and dirty. When I got to the bathroom I realized I hadn't showered by myself once since I had been here. I immediately felt a paralyzing loneliness… The feeling crept up on me as I had just spent a week being constantly entertained, though mostly annoyed by Elcrie. Before I would have welcomed this moment of peace but now… I hated it… I decided to eat my pride once I turned on the water and realized I was too sad to go into the shower alone.

I took a deep breath and accepted that this might be the most embarrassing thing I've ever done and shouted out, "Elcrie!"

"Yes?" He replied back quickly.

"Can you… Can you please come take a shower with me?" I winced, hoping that wasn't too weird.

"I'm coming." He replied just as quickly and I listened closely as his footsteps got closer.

Thank god.