Complete

39: Happiness

After the incident, Mew, Gulf and his brothers decided that Mew and Gulf should take a vacation and relax.

Gulf's eyes lit up and he wanted to organise it.

Seeing Gulf's excitement, Mew couldn't say no, could he?

Thus, after half a month, Mew found himself 'kidnapped' onto his own private jet by Gulf and heading to Australia. Which city? He doesn't know.

After landing, Gulf rented a car and then drove. He only told Mew that they are visiting a special place.

The road snaked around the side of a mountain, snow shovelled to the side of the road.

"We have reached our destination!" Gulf turned off the engine.

Stepping out of the car, Mew was greeted by the dark green of the pines that are mostly coated in crystalline snow.

A capybara scurried across Mew's foot, disappearing into the bushes.

Mew jumped at the sudden movement, startled.

"Aww is Mew scared of a little rodent?" Gulf wiggled his eyebrows.

"How is that little? It's more than one metre." Mew coughed, trying to justify himself.

"Come here, I will protect you." Gulf waved his hand, beckoning for Mew to go to him.

"I don't need any protection." Mew huffed, still hastening his steps to stand beside Gulf anyway.

---

Mew followed Gulf to a huge log cabin.

Gulf rung a bell and when someone opened the door, all hell broke loose.

"CHILDREN! GULF IS HERE!"

A woman in a white sweater yelled.

She hugged Gulf and Mew, welcoming them inside.

A few seconds later, Mew heard the scurry of feet. Only to find himself falling backwards. With Gulf on top of him. And two children on top of Gulf.

"Guppie! Why did you take so long?" A small boy, maybe six years old, pouted, beating Gulf's chest with his little fists.

In his baby blue eyes were the sweetest threads of caramel. His rosy cheeks contrasted beautifully against his fair skin. His brown locks flopped down, covering his forehead.

"Yeah! You promised to come a month after you left! It has been three months!"

A slightly older girl, maybe ten years old, flattened herself on Gulf's body. Her eyes were like Mew's, emerald.

Rolling off Gulf's body, she lay face up, her long brown hair falling across her face. She elbowed Gulf in the process, causing Gulf to groan and the two children to giggle.

"Sorry something came up." Gulf chuckled, heaving the two children to their feet. Mew got up behind them.

"Who is this?" The girl eyed Mew up and down warily.

The boy looked at Mew with big shining eyes.

Gulf smacked the girl's head lightly. "Don't be rude. This is Mew. Mew, this is Leah, their mother. These two rascals," Gulf ruffled their hair, "are Matthew and Addison."

"Not the hair Guppie!" Matthew whined.

So cute. Mew crouched down in front of him.

"May I?" Mew gestured to the dishevelled hair.

Matthew nodded shyly. He clambered onto Mew, Mew settling on the floor slowly to make sure that Matthew doesn't fall. He sat on Mew's lap, facing the others proudly.

"Now now don't you have homework?" Leah crossed her arms. Leading the children away, she winked at Gulf. Go, she mouthed.

"Come Mew, let me show you the babies."

Mew is curious. He wants to know what makes Gulf so happy.

Sitting behind Gulf on the motor sled, his eyes marvelled at the majestic creatures before him.

Wolves roamed the area, with fences along the track for the wolves not to jump onto the track and get injured by an incoming vehicle.

"You know the wolf pup that I helped to bring into this world? His name is Odin. I would have brought you to meet Odin but he is sick right now and is in quarantine." Gulf pouted.

Coming to the end of the track, Gulf stopped the vehicle.

"From here onwards there is no track. The wolves that are allowed to roam freely at this point would not attack us though we still have to be careful.

One of the wolves I saved a few years back, Fenrir, is one of the wolves allowed to roam freely. He is the Alpha of the pack so he makes sure that none of the wolves hurt me. As long as you stick by me, you wouldn't get hurt.

Oh look there he is!"

Gulf pointed to a black silhouette standing a few metres away from us.

The wolf is as black as the night sky. His fur, short over his body and longer at the neck, is smooth and shiny. His stance is confident and body muscular, his coat a beautiful black sheen.

He regards Mew and Gulf fleetingly before barking at them, as if asking them to follow him.

He turned around, heading back the way he came, further up the mountain toward the snow-line. His movements are fluid and without apparent effort; his limbs were the finest machines ever made.

Gulf rode the motor sled, following Fenrir excitedly.

Mew laughed. Adoring how Gulf gets excited over simple things.

Gulf's smile was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. Mew could see how it came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. A person smiles with more than their mouth, and Mew heard it in his voice, in the choice of his words and the way he relaxed. It was beautiful.