Rodwood Academy

Chapter 52: A Pack's Burrow

Outside in the village, Nina held onto Kaila's hand securely as she walked her over to a back area where many of the village pups would come to play. While she was excited for Kaila to be able to interact with the youth of her camp, the small girl couldn't help but be anything other than excited.

Growing more anxious as they approached their destination, Kaila was worried as she could hear the sounds of laughter and screaming coming from a nearby area.

After passing through some trees, there stood what seemed to be a replication of the city's park. But rather than having metal and plastic as it's main resources, the other kids were playing around in broken tree branches, stones, and other earthly elements.

"Can I have your attention please." Nina called loudly making Kaila blush as she immediately tried to pry her hand out of the woman's grasp. She wanted to be able to escape before anyone stopped to stare.

However, thanks to Nina's position, the instant she called for the pups they all obliged.

In seconds all eyes were on them as Nina kept Kaila firmly at her side. "We have a special guest staying here with us in the village," she announced. "Her name is Kaila. Would you pups mind showing her some manners and let her join you?" She asked and without hesitation all of the pups, who appeared to be young children, climbed down and approached them.

Kaila curiously looked up at the woman.

From afar they all seemed so much taller and older, but the closer they got the better Kaila could see their youthful complexions.

Tugging on the woman's arm so she bent down slightly, Nina lended Kaila her ear.

"When you said pups, I didn't think you meant actual kids." She said curiously.

"They may just seem like kids to you, but they're all much older than you think. We just age slower than you do. As a matter of fact, they're all older than you."

"What?!" Kaila questioned louder than she had anticipated.

"Mhm." Nina smirked with a small nod.

"But...but I'm eighteen?"

"And these pups are well I suppose what you would call elders."

"Elders! How?! Wait...!" She looked up with a scrunched face at the woman. "How old are you?!"

Nina laughed hysterically as she shook her head. "It's not polite to ask a woman for her age." She teased. "Just don't let their looks deceive you." She smirked as the pups finally approached them.

"She smells funny." Immediately one of the kids said covering their nose.

Almost like a domino affect, one after another, all the kids were either covering their noses or pinching the bridges of them.

Embarrassed by the accusation Kaila grew red as she tried to scoot behind Nina, and in the process she lowered her head towards herself taking a sniff.

She knew it had been a while since she last showered, but she didn't think anyone was going to point it out.

"That's not nice." Nina scolded making the pup in charge of the entire scene whimper.

"But she smells like gas." Another one chimed in.

"Alright that's enough." Nina said as Kaila could feel herself scooting even further behind the woman's body until a point where all the pups could hardly see her. "Kaila isn't from the village. That's why she smells like that."

"Where's she from then?"

"Why's she here?"

"Where else smells like that?"