Werewolf Spit

(Chapter 1)

[[I can't believe I'm actually doing a werewolf story. But I got this idea,and I think it could be cute.]]

"You don't really have to do this, you know." I yell at Whisker as he vanishes into the clutter of his garage. 

"I do. I promised the Elders I'd take care of you." Whisker drawls as he comes back bearing an enormous navy-colored backpack. I feel my eyes widen.

"You're not expecting me to wear that big ol' thing, are you?" I say as I start to move around his garage, dodging his efforts to saddle me with it. "I can take care of myself."

"Rye, please don't be difficult." Whisker pleads as we begin to circle each other.

"Stay back! I know kung fu." I warn, raising my hand in a mock karate chop. Actually I knew tae kwon do, but same difference, right? Whisker rolls his eyes. We both knew how this was going to end. We'd been through the same dance hundreds of times. Whisker crouched slightly, and I cringed a bit, bracing myself. Whisker knocked me to the floor rather gently. I giggled as I felt his whiskers tickle my cheek.

"On second thoughts, I can take it." He said, pushing himself off of me. My grin washes right off. That wasn't the way this was supposed to end. 

"Hey, wait give me the backpack!" I yowl, plucking futilely at the straps as he placidly slips his arms through them.

"Don't forget your sunglasses." Whisker calls back as he walks out.

I stand there for a couple seconds longer, trying to stifle my sudden unease at the breaking of our "hiking ritual". After we played our little game of chase, and Whisker used his werewolf strength on me, I usually caved and took the backpack. I tried not to worry about this tiny change in our tradition. It couldn't be a kind of bad omen, right? I snatch my sunglasses as I rush out the open garage door. It was just a backpack. I shouldn't be so hung up on a damn backpack.

"Thank you. For taking the backpack, I mean." I say awkwardly, totally unused to thanking anyone for anything. 

Whisker just nods with an almost smug expression. Every one of his strides was almost four of mine. We were heading to the Elder's manor, hidden away in the werewolves' retreat. It took an average werewolf about two hours to run there on a good day. It took me all day, then I normally had to stay the night. 

Oh, yes, I was the only human in a society of werewolves, which,  if one were honest, isn't as bad as it seems. Supposedly Elder Roar, the current Beta of the retreat, and Elder Alpha had been patrolling together (before they became too old to go on patrols) and they'd come across toddler me, kicking my way out of a blanket. They took me in, figuring that if they found my parents, they could give me back, safe and sound. 

But they never found them. Even though I could say a few words, I didn't even know my own name, and there were no outstanding 'missing person' reports for anyone in the area at the time, and I wasn't old enough to remember my parents. Beyond weird, and I always thought it was rather suspicious. I wound up being shuttled from house-to-house, like all the werewolf puppies were. The entire werewolf village helped to raise the puppies. Of course, unlike me, the puppies never lost sight of who their parents were. Technically, they all had homes. In fact, that's were most of of them stayed, most of the time, but their parents weren't always there. I normally stayed with the Elders, but sometimes they kicked me out with some b.s. excuse. I think they just wanted to make sure I socialized with other creatures my own age. 

I stayed with Whisker and his twin sister (fraternal twins are very common), Moon most often. Whisker was dark brown and brawny, even for a were. Moon was much slimmer and was very blond. Both had icy blue eyes. They were Elder Alpha's children, and rumor had it that Whisker was going to be the next alpha. They were also my closest friend, even though I was friendly with the other puppies.