I ran back to where I had left the wolf and stopped to see that he wasn't there. My heart sank in sorrow, and it felt as if a part of me was missing because he wasn't there. A lump formed in my throat, and I couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed because he did promise me that he would be there, waiting for me to come back.
However, there was no sight of him when I looked left and right, trying to see through the thick underbrush of the forest. He wasn't there, and that left me feeling empty, even though I had no idea why.
Sighing, I shook my head and started to walk the trail, not knowing if he would come back or not but knowing that I should at least see where this trail led and how far I had to walk to get back to my house.
Someone moved in the bushes behind me, and then there came a small whine that had me turning back in the direction that I had gone in.
He sat there with something in his mouth. Pain filled his blue eyes, and I could tell that he thought I was leaving.
I scowled and folded my arms across my chest, and he raised an eyebrow in question. "This is your fault," I pointed out, and he raised his eyebrow further. "You were supposed to be waiting for me."
The wolf walked over to me and lowered his head. His eyes told me to hold out my hands, and I did just that. He dropped whatever was in his mouth into my hands, and I saw that it was my knife.
"Oh, thanks," I said, feeling relieved. "Is that why you weren't there?" I closed my hand around my knife before I stuffed it back into my pocket where it belonged.
He sat down and wagged his tail before he nodded. He cocked his head and studied me, eyes filled with blue, and I could tell that he was asking if he was forgiven for not being where I could see him.
I sighed and nodded. "Yes," I replied, earning a wolfish grin from the wolf. "I am allowed to be out, but I have to go home in two hours. My dad decided to blow a fuse to the house, so my mom can't cook." I rolled my eyes and scowled. "We have no electricity right now, which is always super fun."
He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. He was curious as to how my father had blown a fuse to the house.
I shook my head and smiled innocently. "Can't tell ya," I replied. "It's a family secret."
The wolf huffed and laid his ears to the side of his head. He looked annoyed, and I could tell that he wanted me to tell him. Finally, he pouted and gave me his best puppy dog look, and my heart melted.
Still, I stayed strong, and I shook my head. "Sorry, but no," I replied, denying him that knowledge. "It doesn't matter how cute you look right now."
The wolf stopped with his puppy dog look and scowled, letting me know that he didn't appreciate being called cute.
I looked at him innocently and cocked my head while I studied him. "But you did," I said, pouting slightly. "I was just telling you how I saw it."
His eyes grew softer, and he nodded. He was letting me know that he was fine, that I had called him cute and was not mad.
I couldn't keep the innocent look for long, and I grinned, amused. "Now, that is how you do a puppy dog look," I said, and the wolf huffed and rolled his eyes.
He stood and shook out his fur before he turned around to leave me. His meaning was clear, and I couldn't help but laugh because he wanted me to apologize to him. If I didn't, then he would leave.
"Ok," I said, shifting my bag onto my shoulders. I turned my body slightly to go the way that I was going, even though I had a feeling that I wouldn't be going far. "I will see you tomorrow then. I am not apologizing, you big baby," I teased, looking at him over my shoulder.
The wolf sighed and turned back around so that he was facing me. He gave me an amused look before he laid down on his side and watched me with his big blue eyes, wondering if I understood what he wanted me to do, which was to sit down beside him.
I raised an eyebrow and smirked, happy that he decided to stay, even though a majority of me knew he already was, even if I didn't apologize to him. "I thought you were leaving me," I teased while I walked over to him. I set down my bag before I sat down between his legs and leaned against his stomach.
He sighed happily and closed his eyes while he laid his head on his front paws. Something that sounded like a purr caused his body to rumble, and I felt it from where I laid.
He wasn't going to leave me, not yet. He was comfortable by my side and enjoyed my company. He knew that I wouldn't have apologized, something that I couldn't help but wonder how, but he didn't care.
I smiled and leaned against my wolf, enjoying the sparks between us. I knew that I had to get some school work done because I had a lot of it, but at that moment, I didn't care.
I didn't care about school or that I had only two hours to spend out here. I didn't care that the tree people were in the trees, watching me interact with the wolf behind me. I didn't care about any of it, at least for now.
All I cared about was the feeling of peace and happiness that filled my body when I was with him. I cared about the safety that I felt, knowing that he had my back and would make sure that nothing happened, even if I was a fighter as well.
All I cared about was feeling complete with him by my side as if he was the piece that had been missing all my life, and all my searching and wondering lead me straight to him.