Chapter 6: Playing With Fire (written from December 9th to December 12th, 2024)

November 18th, 2009

Garth woke up late in the morning. He had been out so late with Chelsea that his parents made it home before he did. Tony and Martha were a little worried that Garth had been gone for so long, but when he finally made it back to the den, he was so tired that they put off most of their questions. As soon as she was able to, Martha picked up where she left off.

"So, Garth, why were you out so late last night?"

Still half-asleep, Garth answered, "What? When?" He let out a huge yawn.

"Last night… Where were you?"

"Oh, yeah… about that…"

Just then, Tony entered the den with three bloodied marmots dangling from his mouth. "It's a little late, but here's breakfast," he announced.

"Well, Garth just woke up, so it's not too late. Thanks, dear," Martha said.

"Sure thing," Tony replied. He placed his kills in the center of the floor. "So, um, Garth… what kept you out so long last night?"

"I was asking him the same thing, but then you came in."

"Mom, Dad, calm down," said Garth. "Okay, last night was really big and exciting for me, so let me tell you."

"Go ahead! We're all ears!" Tony encouraged.

"We wanted you to sleep in, so you could have the energy to tell us all the deets," Martha added.

Garth let out a wistful sigh. "Okay… so last night… I went over to Chelsea's den. She was there and looked kind of sad, so I invited her to stroll with me instead of, you know, walking straight to the party… but… we never made it. We stopped at a random place that was close enough to Moonlight Howl Rock that we could hear everyone's howls. We just enjoyed them as background noise and… Oh, it was all just perfect. So…" Garth paused and grinned. "So I told her how much I loved her and guess what she said!"

"What did she say?!" his parents exclaimed.

"She said that she felt the same way about me!" Garth practically yelled. "So I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said, yes of course!"

"Awww, Garth!" said Martha. "I'm so happy for you!" She hugged her son tightly.

"That's terrific, Garth!" Tony cheered. "I'm pleased that you were able to tell her the truth."

"Thanks, guys!"

"Well," continued Tony, "I suppose, mister, that that was your very first date."

"Oh, Anthony, remember our first date two years ago? You were so nervous… It was like you had vertigo. You almost retched up a stream of vomit!"

Tony blushed. "Give me a break, Martha… I wasn't that nervous."

"Oh, hush. Yes, you were. I remember when we had our own midnight tryst. Oh, yes, it's coming back to me."

"Well, I can't wait for the next one!" said Garth, thinking aloud.

"I'm sure it will come very soon. I hear that there's going to be another party in fourteen days, one that will include Western juniors. Maybe you should actually take her to Moonlight Howl Rock and show off that powerful howl of yours! Send a message to those Westerns that we will not stand for their insolence."

"Ooo, yes!" Martha agreed. "You must show her your howl! It is your howl that will make or break your relationship. As luck would have it, you're descended from a long line of excellent howlers. Not only was my mother quite harmonious, but your great-grandfather on your father's side, Isaac, was famous for having a way with words. He practiced howling three times a day. Have you practiced at all, son?"

"Umm… no. I think I've been too distracted."

"I would start practicing if I were you," Tony recommended. "Remember, you have fourteen days."

"Thirteen and a half now," Martha corrected. "Garth, you slept so late that today's nearly half-over!"

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm just… so overjoyed right now! You think I could go straight over to Chelsea's right after I eat?"

"Aren't you forgetting something? Our tracking lessons!" the chieftain reminded. His mate then glared at him. "Oh, alright… but you better come back here soon!"

"Thanks!" Garth replied as he began to stuff himself with what little meat was left.

When the red pup departed, Tony and Martha watched him gleefully run in the direction of Chelsea's den. They both smiled and leaned on each other, watching their pride and joy vanish as he headed downslope.

"He'll be in his prime and married soon," said Martha, sobbing.

"It's like what they say. 'Your pups don't grow up. They grow away from you.'"

"You're right. You can't hold them back forever."

"My parents certainly tried."

"They did?"

"Shoot, yeah!" Tony exclaimed. "They held me back at every turn. My father, Bronx, could've retired when I graduated, but, no… he had to hang onto power for another year before a moose took him out. I never got to show him my full potential…"

"Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me that when we were dating. You said your mother had a breakdown when your father died, and she ran off to the Yukon, or so her brother says. She definitely was a little…" Martha made motions with her paw as she searched for a less disparaging term. "...out there."

"Yes, she was off the rails. She really was."

— A&Ω —

As soon as Garth reached Chelsea's den, he saw a mostly black male wolf guarding the entrance. He was tall and had dark eyes that matched his slick coat. "Good morning, sir! Err… umm… good afternoon! Are you Chelsea's dad?"

"That would be me. Jaylon's the name. Who might you be, little one?"

"I'm Chelsea's friend, Garth! Well, actually, I guess I'm her new boyfriend. Are you cool with that? I don't know if she's told you yet."

"From all the descriptions Chelsea has given me and her mom, I'm more than cool with it. I'm happy that you have finally told her that you love her!"

"Whew… That's a relief! Thank you, sir! Does Chelsea happen to be home?"

"She does indeed! I'll go send her right out."

Garth waited for Chelsea's father, Jaylon, to return. A few minutes later, however, Chelsea came running up to Garth and pounced on him. Together, they rolled halfway down a hill, covering themselves with leaves.

Chelsea wrapped her arms around a stunned Garth. "Afternoon, handsome!" she greeted.

"Uhh… hi."

She could see him blushing. "Ha, ha! I love you. So… whatcha wanna do today?"

"I don't know… but whatever we do, if we do it together, it won't matter. Not to me."

They exchanged smiles.

"Well, whatever it is, it had better be good. I leave for the hunting grounds tomorrow."

Garth's eyes widened. "Wait, you're leaving?"

"It's just for a week. Haven't you heard? A bunch of Alphas are leaving the territory to find more food, and they're taking many of us juniors with them, so we can get the experience. Luke is going. Alex is going. Stormfast and Stone are going."

"This is news to me. I wonder why I wasn't told about this."

"It's probably because your dad is the chieftain. When so many Alphas are out hunting, it makes sense for the chieftain to stay behind." Chelsea noticed Garth's ears droop. "Is something wrong?"

"It's just that… you're leaving… I won't see you for a whole week."

"Aww, Garth. I'll be back before you know it." Her assurance didn't seem to cheer him up. "You know what?"

"What?"

"My dad says that no matter what the conditions are, if your love is meant to be, things will work out one way or another."

"I sure hope he's right," Garth replied. "Chelsea… do you think our love is meant to be?"

"Oh, Garth… I can feel it flowing from my heart to every teensy-weensy bit in my body!"

"And that's one of the reasons why I love you. Your burning passion is something else."

"Dang! You're so sweet!"

Garth simply grinned in response. Before he knew it, he and Chelsea snuggled together like newborn siblings in a whelping den. Expired white puffs escaped their lips along with sighs of contentment. "Everything sure is perfect around you..."

"Me? No way! You're the one who makes everything perfect."

Yeah, right, Garth thought. How can I be perfect if I can't even pass the Admissions Test on the first try? Meanwhile, even though many Alphas look down on Chelsea and her Omega parents, she's still as bubbly as ever. In fact, I would say she's living proof that you can walk through hell and still be an angel. "Hey, Chelsea. Wanna play a game?"

"That depends. Are you ready to lose? What game do you have in mind?"

"Good question. I'm drawing a blank."

"Oh! I know! Let's have a staring contest! But instead of an awkward and creepy one, we can just enjoy each other's eyes."

For some reason, Garth wasn't so sure about it. "Well, okay. Let's give it a try."

"Okay, close your eyes. Now, when I say go, we both open them and look into each other's eyes for as long as we can. And… GO!" The young couple stared into each other's eyes. "So tell me, Garth. Do you see anything?"

"Nothing more than the most beautiful green eyes ever." Garth kept his stare. "But tell me, Chelsea. Are you happy?"

"Well, that all depends on what I'm… 'happy' about."

"Are you sure about that?" Garth asked, his voice cracking mid-sentence.

"Well, so much for not being awkward and creepy," Chelsea replied with a smirk.

"Darn it… You wanna do something else?" The dryness of his eyes was beginning to sting.

"What's the matter? Can't keep your eyes open long enough?" she teased. In truth, her eyes were really tired as well.

"No, it's probably just you standing here, being so pretty and all, and my ugly eyes can't take it!"

The Sigma would not have her boyfriend talking down on himself. Without hesitation, she broke the contest and pounced on him a second time. The two pups rolled down the remainder of the grassy hill which ended with Garth on top of Chelsea.

"Garth! You are the handsomest wolf in this entire pack! Don't ever call yourself ugly! I won't have it! It… it crushes my heart…" She turned her head to the side and looked as if she was preparing to weep.

"Chelsea…" Garth rolled off and reentered her view. "That was the single best thing I've heard all day." He nuzzled her right cheek. They then buried their noses in each other's fur as they had done the night before.

"I'm sorry I yelled," she apologized, "but I can't watch you beat yourself up."

"Thanks for stopping me. I…"

"You what?"

"I… I love you like crazy!"

"You know, I think my dad was right."

"He was?"

"I think our love is going to work itself out."

"It had better!" Garth said playfully. "'Cause I would sure be one disappointed wolf if it didn't!"

"Ha, ha! Me too. Ooo, how 'bout we play the Truth or Dare game?!"

"That's a good one!"

"Okay, truth or dare?"

"Hmm…" He contemplated his choices. "Let's take a… dare!"

"Okay. Without making any turns, run into the nearest grove, and don't stop for thirty seconds."

"Uhhh… No way!"

"Gaaaarrrrrrth," Chelsea groaned anxiously, "you will be forcing me to present you with a harder dare."

"Pshh! Nothing could ever be harder than that!"

"Run into the grove, and go as far as you can for forty-five seconds, then run back. Don't make me increase the countdown again."

"Fine, I'll do it. You're starting to sound like my dad…" He turned towards the nearest grove and darted off.

A minute and a half later, Garth returned, panting. He leaped into the air and slid on his left side. He faced his lover and propped up his head with one paw. "Was it… good for you?"

"Unbelievable!" Chelsea blurted out.

"Ha, ha! Now let me ask you. Truth or dare?"

"Truth," she answered.

Garth thought long and hard on his question. He smirked as one came to him. "Have you ever had a boyfriend before?"

"One."

Garth was surprised. He unknowingly gulped. "Who?"

"Oh, what was his name? Ahh, it's on the tip of my tongue. Oh, yeah, it's you, silly!"

"Oh… right…" He sighed in relief.

"Truth or dare, Garth?"

"Truth. My thighs are killing me."

"M'kay. Have you ever had a girlfriend besides me?"

"Yay! An easy one! No, I have not!

Good! Chelsea thought.

"Alrighty then, truth or dare?"

"I guess it's only fair that I have my chance at a dare. Throw one at me."

"Let's see… Hmm… I got it! Go and eat five large bitter berries!"

"What the…? No can do! Those things are nasty, and you know it!"

"Sorry, girly. It's payback for the exercise."

"Oooo… I swear, one of these days I'm gonna wander into your den and fart in your mouth while you're sleeping, and you're gonna wake up thinking you got bad breath."

Yep, she's an angel, but sometimes she forgets, Garth thought. "C'mon, get to it. Ha, ha!"

Chelsea walked up to the bitter berry bush behind Garth. Bitter berries were red in contrast to their blue palatable cousins. Their bitter taste was said to be the cause of evil spirits, who would impregnate certain berries with foul desires as a way to pass them on to new wolves. They were more lustrous than their blue counterparts, ironically making them appear more ominous and untrustworthy. Chelsea reluctantly picked five of them.

"UGHHHH!" she exclaimed after eating one. Crinkling her face, she barely managed to force the wretched thing down her gullet.

"Sorry, sweet darling. Four more to go," Garth teased. An irked face shot toward him. "C'mon, it's all in good fun!"

She shoved the remainder of the berries into her mouth, getting it over with but not without immense disgust, displeasure, and disdain. A vengeful wolf emerged from the experience. "Now you're gonna get it!"

The son of Tony attempted another quick getaway, but the Sigma lived in his shadow.

"What are you gonna do when you catch me?!"

"I'll think of something!"

"Ah, crap! You're getting closer!"

"That's what happens when you don't exercise!" She leaped and barely missed one of his hind legs. "Almost!"

Fortunately, he was able to put some distance between him and his girlfriend as she pulled herself off the ground. He found his way back to the Eastern Den Grounds and, for the umpteenth time, gathered the attention of other Alphas in the area. The fox was at it again. But he wasn't the only fox.

"Why are you still running?"

"You'd be doing the same if it was me chasing you!" He then jumped off a ledge and plunged into the pond. Chelsea followed suit. The two playfully scuffled underwater before heading back up to the surface. "That was really fun!"

"Really? Who said it was over?" One swipe of her paw splashed Garth. He returned the favor with a much bigger splash, the wave toppling her. "Okay… I think I've had enough."

They swam to the shore and shook themselves dry.

"It's too bad that today's the last full day before I leave for the hunting grounds. Why must life be against me?"

"Ha, ha! Life isn't against you. If it was, we wouldn't have had so much fun today."

"I'm just kidding. Just so you know, before we leave, there's going to be a ceremony of some sort. I don't know. I just overheard my auntie saying something about it."

"Well then, little eavesdropper, am I invited?"

"I don't see why not. You should be the honored guest!"

"Surely, that can be arranged. Ha, ha! Well, Chelsea, I really love being with you, but I think my parents might be a little upset with me. I was supposed to be home hours ago. I think I should go now before they get more upset."

"Ohh, I see," she replied. "Yeah, my parents will probably go nuts when I walk in. I'll try and sneak past them, but I can't give promises."

"Tell them I didn't mean to keep you this long, if they ask about me."

"Sure thing, handsome." She turned to leave. "See ya later!"

Garth ran up to hug her. "I love you."

"I love you too, handsome."