What The Wildflowers Know

Chapter Six

Kvetina gasped for air. Beside her, Cahello was panting. They were both alive- but barely. The huge wolf that had chased them around the house was terrifying. And now, it lay on the deck, whining and pawing at his nose, which had gotten smushed by the door when Cahello leaped for home. As they both caught their breath, the wolf grunted and laid its head on the deck.

"What... What should we do with the wolf? We... need to get it away." Cahello puffed. Kvetina rolled onto her stomach, facing the wolf a few inches from her, but with the door between them, it seemed not as dangerous. "I think we should just leave it alone." Kvetina replied. Cahello nodded at the yard. "But the hoses are still on. We'll have to go outside and turn them off manually." Kvetina groaned. "Okay. We should get the wolf to go toward the front lawn, and one of us will go turn the water off. I'll go and do that, you distract the wolf."

There was a silent agreement between them, and Kvetina heaved herself to her feet. "Okay. I'll yell if the wolf comes back your way. Good luck." Cahello said. He and Kvetina met eyes, and Kvetina hugged him, quickly, and gently pushed Cahello toward the front door. "Good luck, too." Cahello, flustered but certain, loudly opened the door and imitated a chicken bawking. Kvetina stifled a laugh. The wolf wouldn't fall for that, would he? It lazily opened one eye, then shut it.

"You'll have to try harder!" Kvetina shouted at Cahello. "Got it!" There was silence, but the wolf perked his ear up, then stood up. He shook out his fur and stretched. Then, it slowly stalked toward the front. Good job, she thought. Now, her heart started to pound. As soon as the wolf was out of sight, she crept outside and peered around the side of the door. She glimpsed the hose and lunged for the water faucet around the deck. There was a growl from the front, and she flinched. But she heard Cahello's jubilant cry, and continued to make her way toward the faucet.

Finally, she grabbed the handle and turned it to the right. The water slowly ceased. But as the water reduced to a trickle, the faucet stopped. It was caught on something. Kvetina gritted her teeth and twisted as hard as she could, sweat beading her eyebrows, but the handle was still jammed. Suddenly, she heard Cahello yelp.

"Run, Kvetina!" he shouted. She could hear the pounding of strong paws on the ground, and tugged at the handle one more time. This time the skin of her hand twisted, ripping, and a few drops of blood dripped, but along with it, the handle finally unjammed and the water stopped. But she could see the wolf, leaping towards her. It was motivated by the smell of blood.

Kvetina rolled away just in time as claws raked the ground where she had just been. Her head hit the fence of the deck, and she backed up until her knees were touching her chest. "Nice doggy..." she whispered. Her heart was in her throat, and she closed her eyes. She could almost hear the wolf laughing at her. It probably thought she was just another small, weak, helpless animal for him to eat.

Waiting for the killing blow, she was frozen until a hand grabbed her arm from over the fence, and tugged. Kvetina's eyes opened. There the wolf was, but there was a confused expression on its face and its eyes were shut tightly. It looked like there was blood around his eyes and muzzle. The wolf backed up, whining. "Get up, Kvetina!" Cahello's voice rang from behind her. She realized it was his hand that was pulling her to her feet. She turned around and leapt over the fence. They rushed into the house, never once looking back.

"Kvetina! Are you okay?" Cahello was still holding on to her hand, the one that was bleeding. "Did he get you? Oh, no, this is all my fault! I'm-" Kvetina held up her other hand. "It's fine, Cahello. I twisted it on the handle of the water hose." "Oh." Cahello said. "Well, here's a bandaid." Kvetina and Cahello washed their hands, and Kvetina put the bandaid on her hand. "So... What happened up there? And how did you get the wolf to retreat?" she asked.

Cahello answered somewhat bashfully, "Well, after my chicken imitation failed, I ran inside, grabbed a handful of jelly beans, and came out. I was crushing them under my foot, and I tripped. That got the wolf running, and I jumped back into the house. Then the wolf was about to go back to your side, so I sprayed him with water. I was laughing at him when it lunged at me. I was okay, but I was surprised, and I jumped back, and the wolf was gone. Just like that." He snapped his fingers.

"I ran back to the deck, and saw you cornered. I got a can of red spray paint and sprayed it into his eyes. You know the rest." He leaned back, resting his feet on the couch. Kvetina noticed his wince when his left leg bumped against the side of the table. "Cahello? What's happened to your leg?" She leaned over and tried to peel back his pant leg that was somehow stuck to his skin, but it was stuck for some reason. Cahello tensed, like he was about to pull back, but sighed and relaxed. "Fine. Fuss over me like Mom." Kvetina ignored his remark and moved his leg into the sunlight. She gasped. "Cahello! Don't move!" The fabric was wet with blood.