Neira spent the whole day in the woods. The clouds had come out, the cold air seeping into her fur. The snow wasn't going to have a chance to melt today. The air had chilled and more snow had started to leak from the sky. Shadow checked in on her once and a while. He never said anything, just flickered in and out to make sure she hadn't frozen to the ground.
She left the woods only when the snow started to fall heavier and the sun had begun to set. She expected her cabin to be dark when she returned, but she could smell one of the wolves had been here. It lingered on the banister of the railing, thick with its fresh imprints. It smelt like ginger and cinnamon. It wasn't Shade. That she was sure of.
Neira didn't bother to bring her clothes back from the woods, nor did she shift before fumbling the handle with her muzzle. She kicked the door closed with her hindfoot. The light in the small kitchen was on, its beam of light hitting a stack of books set there.
Neira shifted and moved towards the things illuminated. A stack of books, a pile of clean clothes and a note set atop it all.
These are some of my favourites, and there are leftovers at the main house if you are hungry.
It wasn't signed but Neira knew who it was from. Perhaps she would have one friend in this place. Allistar was easily the one she hated the least. Kesler was nice to her as well but she knew his scent by now, this wasn't his handiwork. Neira lifted the first book off the stack, its old cover worn and the page edges were tattered. How many times had the young wolf read it? It was probably worn from its previous owners as well.
She set the book down and lifted the clothes. It was a pair of baggy jeans, old and too small for anyone else here. Neira slid them on. They were snug at the top at her hips but were baggier as they went down her legs. The shirt was far too big, the writing that used to be on the front long gone. She tied it in a knot so the extra fabric wouldn't look like a damned dress. She turned her attention away from the stuff on the counter and started opening and closing drawers until she found what she was looking for.
The scissors were cold in her palm and she moved to the mirror above the bathroom sink. Neira pushed her hair out of her face. The kinks in her long hair made it look like a mop at this length.
Chucks of reddish-brown hair tumbled to the tiles. When she was finished she tugged at the ends. It wasn't too short because that would make her look too boyish for her liking but it wasn't too long that it was unpractical. It swayed just above her shoulders, making her look less like her father.
Neira's stomach growled. Loudly.
She stared down at it, the space in her abdomen that ran most of her life. None of the cabinets in the kitchen had any semblance of food. Not even a soda cracker. If she didn't eat soon she was going to devour the hand soap.
There was a clean hoodie on the hook by the door and short winter boots that laced up. They were both slightly too big but she wasn't about to start complaining. In fact, she was grateful once she stepped outside. The snow was trying to stick to the ground and the air had a freezing chill to it. At least tonight her feet would be dry.
Shadow appeared before her, matching her stride as she headed towards the main house. She looked at his flickered body, tall and shapeless.
"You were busy today," she commented taking her eyes off of him and back to the path.
He grunted.
She scowled in his direction. "And grouchy it seems."
Why are you harping on me?
Neira looked at him. Was she harping on him? She sighed, "sorry. I guess I'm the grouchy one."
It's fine, Neira. I understand.
Did he really? Or was he just saying that to be nice? "I feel like I'm stuck here. I feel like all I do is make the wrong choices. I should have never left him." She kicked a rock with her boot.
Then why did you? His voice, the shadowy vacant tone, sounded far off. It was shallow like he was flickering out of existence.
Neira looked up the sky, the stars twinkling overhead. "I don't know," she said softly, her gaze still on the sky.
When she dropped her gaze to him, to see if he could offer some divine insight, he was gone. She hated it when he did that. His sudden absence made her feel hallow. It reminded her that she really was alone. That he wasn't real. Shadow could very well be something she dreamt up to help ease the loneliness that had gnawed at her insides since leaving her parents. She didn't know what to think.
She took the steps two at a time. No one was here, no Kesler or Allistar to be seen. She knew Shade was here though. She just knew it, her fear radar making her skin sizzle. She knocked her knuckles against the glass door.
Shade appeared from around a corner and moved towards the door, sliding it open for her. He stood off to the side, allowing a narrow alleyway for her to enter into the house. She kept her eyes on his knees, not wanting to meet his black eyes.
"You hungry?" he asked as he slid the sliding door closed behind her.
Before she could answer her stomach growled. It was loud enough that Shade let out a low chuckle as he moved towards the kitchen.
"Don't answer that," he said pulling something from the fridge. She hovered, trying to look over his shoulder without getting too close. He pulled plastic wrap off a plate and popped it into a microwave. Shade turned to face her, leaning back onto his hands against the counter.
Neira took a step back, feeling awkward with his full attention turned towards her. She went around the counter, taking a seat at one of the many bar stools.
"Did the boots fit?" he asked and she glanced at them from where they sat beside the door. One had tipped over.
She nodded, keeping her gaze down.
"I asked Enzo to pick up some groceries for your cabin when he left today," Shade said nonchalantly. "I am guessing you'll end up with a kitchen full of chips and cookies."
Neira tried to hide her excitement with a small smile. "That's perfectly fine."
Shade tilted his head. "Cookie fan?" he asked with a smile.
Neira looked up and met his gaze for half a second. "Junk food fan. Food fan really."
The microwave beeped and Neira jumped in her seat.
Shade sighed. "Am I allowed to hand you the plate from the microwave?" His tone was dripping in sarcasm.
"Sure," she said with her gaze on the white counters.
He wasn't expecting her answer because it took him a couple of seconds before he moved and popped open the microwave door. The scent of the food made her mouth fill with saliva as he slid the plate before her with a fork clattering alongside it. I was filled, overflowing, with rice and meatballs and covered in some kind of tangy salty sauce.
It was like her fork had become a shovel. She all but inhaled it, barely breathing between bites. Shade said nothing while she ate, just watched her shovel the food down like a starving animal. He didn't mock her.
She resisted the urge to lick the plate, wishing there was more of it to swallow down. She could have eaten double that.
Shade's fingers closed around the edge of the empty plate and dragged it towards himself. "Round two?" he asked.
Neira looked him dead in the eye, not caring about the swirling black. She dared him to be joking, to ruin the idea of him having more of those tasty meatballs hidden away in the fridge. He dumped the empty plate into the sink and pulled open the fridge to reveal another massive plate filled with those delicious meatballs.
"Thank you," she said trying not to sound too appreciative. Like a keening shewolf in need of his services.
Shade waved her off, "you don't have to thank me."
She ate the second plate slower, taking time to breathe between bites. "Did you explore much today?" he asked looking out one of the massive windows.
"Not really," she said. She hadn't. She had laid under a tree and moped for most of the day. She cursed her cowardly bones.
"I could give you a tour tomorrow," he said running a hand through his golden hair. "If you want."
Neira didn't answer him. Not until she was tugging her boots on to leave. "Maybe," she said not meeting his eyes as she slipped from his house and down the steps.