Little Wolf

Chapter Three

"Je ne vais pas aller loin dans le père de la forêt. Puis-je explorer un peu?" Another voice spoke, it sounded younger. She heard something about the forest again, and exploring. The tone of the speak made it sound like a question.

"Très bien Jack. Ne pas entrer dans aucun problème, et bientôt à la maison." She heard the paw-steps again and they soon faded, telling Fire-Flower that one of them had left. She crept down from the tree she was perched in, curious of what had been speaking. She also wondered how she had managed to understand most of the words spoken, or at least manage to figure out what they spoke about. Her eyes soon found what she was looking for. A young boy with dark hair stood admiring the forest. His back was to her, so she could not see his face. Fire-Flower soon found herself on the ground. Studying him, she realized that he was similar to her. There were others like her? A few moments passed and he soon turned around. A expression of surprise appeared on his face, but was soon replaced by curiosity. "Hello there. Who are you?" Standing closer to them, she realized she could actually understand their language quite well. It in fact no longer sounded strange. Her head tilted, Fire-Flower had no idea how to answer. It seemed her brain could translate his words to the wolf's native tongue, but she could not reverse the process. She had no idea how to speak his language. Confusion crossed the boy's face as she did not reply.

"Can you not speak then?" Jack watched the girl, unsure. She had messy red hair and the strangest eyes he had ever seen. They appeared to be blue, but then the forest green was noticed. Her eyes seemed to be swirls of green and blue surrounding her black pupil, it was quite pretty. Moments passed and she still did not speak.

"W-w-wo-w-wol-w-w-wolve-wolves. Wolves!" She stuttered as she attempted to speak as he had. Her eyes lit up with joy as she managed to say something.

"Wolves? What about them? Are they hunting you down? Did you see one?" Curiosity now rushed through Jack. Could the girl of seen an actual wolf?

"L-l-l-l-li-li-li-livvvv-livvvvve. Livvve Wolves." She drew out the 'v' sound when she said live. Jack figured she definably did not speak French. "You live with wolves? Cool! It is fun? Do you get to hunt with them and stuff?" Jack could not help but to start asking questions. This girl was obviously not from the kingdom, she had said she lived with wolves. At least, Jack figured that was what she meant. Jack watched as she nodded her head, then shook it. "You can understand me, right?" She nodded her head again.

"Okay. Well, my name is Jack. I live in the kingdom over there." Jack pointed in the direction of where he had come from. Fire-Flower nodded, showing she understood. Could he be a human? He did not seem dangerous. He had chances to kill her already, yet shown no signs of planning to murder her. Maybe she could trust him, until he showed signs of hostility that is.

"Well, do you think you could manage to tell me your name? Or is it a wolf name that cannot be pronounced in French?" A grin formed on Fire-Flower's face at the sight of Jack's curiosity. He did not seem dangerous at all. She quickly looked around, trying to find something to represent fire. Nothing but tall trees with green leaves and flowers of all different colors surrounded her. She shook her head, looking back at Jack.

"Well, that's okay. I'll think of something to call you then! How about--" he paused, racking his brain for a good nick name for the wolfish girl.

"How about Little Wolf?" Fire-Flower nodded, liking the name. Jack smiled.

"Okay Little Wolf it is then!" Jack continued to talk to Fire-Flower, asking her yes or no questions about living with wolves.

"How about I teach you to speak French. Then you can do more than nod or shake your head." Fire-Flower nodded, her eyes lighting up at the idea of learning to speak French.

"Okay, now--" Jack was cut off by the distant barks of a wolf.

"Fire-Flower! Where are you? You won the training exercise and the hunters will be returning with prey soon!" The loud voice of Lionheart rang out through the woods. He sounded a bit worried. Fire-Flower turned back to Jack, who had stood up from the ground.

"I should get home, I'll come back as soon as I can Little Wolf! Bye!" Jack turned and ran off, heading back towards the kingdom where his father would be waiting. Fire-Flower quickly ran in the direction of Lionheart's voice. She soon returned to the pack camp and skidded to a halt at his feet.

"Nice job Little Flame. I will have you bumped up to the next training level starting tomorrow. Now go eat." Joy filled Fire-Flower as she bounded towards her mother, who was waiting with her three pups. Fire-Flower sat happily next to her mother, waiting for the pack hunter's to return with prey for the night. Fire-Flower did not realize the mistake she had made that day though. The fact the interacting with humans was forbidden for all the pack wolves had not crossed her mind once that day. Talking with Jack had not seemed bad, he did not seem dangerous either. She did not realize the trouble it could cause her, if she was to allow their friendship to bloom and grow.