Navy Wolf

Chapter 7

When we arrived at their house I almost collapsed from exhaustion, but pulled myself together so that wouldn't happen. I had caused these people too much trouble; another round of caretakership on the part of them would be hard for me to handle.

Kaven stepped into the house and was welcomed by his brothers at the front door.

„I hate you and your nose!," the tallest of the three exclaimed sarcastically, tapping him on his massive shoulders. Kaven looked back at me, while hushing sounds in the background were heard.

Suddenly I felt out of place.

He cleared his throat and made an inviting move with his arm, pointing into the house.

Watching his movement, I hesitantly stepped forward and entered.

Nobody mentioned anything about me running away and I was really grateful about that. I guessed they understood under what pressure I was - and still am - and they acted like nothing happened.

Kaven seemed to be the oldest one of the four brothers that lived in this house. Him, Anakin, Nathan and Keoni, the youngest one. They lived together - his three younger siblings, his grandma and father. Me and his grandma were the only females in the building.

Which didn't bother me at all. After a while I felt kind of safe here. Some sort of ‚protected'. Their hospitality was on another level. They made me feel like I was one of them.

„Child, did you have any odd experiences with that necklace of yours?," grandma asked chewing on some walnuts.

I remembered, how it glowed and heated up like embers. Always, right before I got into danger. As if it was warning me from upcoming threats.

„Yeah, I guess I did," I replied.

Kaven and his brothers suddenly stopped talking and fixated me. It felt kind of uncomfortable so I shut up. Did I say something wrong?

Grandma knit her brows and slightly nodded not looking up from the walnut she was trying to crack open. „What exactly happened?"

I searched for the right words to describe the incident.

Would they believe me, if I told them how it ended when it happened?

„It...uh, it kind of heats up," I began. „And it glows in specific situations."

Grandmas jaw ground on the nuts on one second then hit the table the next. I could see how she exchanged looks with Kaven, before her eyes fixated me once again.

„What's wrong?," I asked worried. Now I was really nervous. They obviously knew something and I could feel that it didn't mean something good.

„You should never take it off," she ordered me in a serious tone. „And you should never leave Kavens side," she added, while facing her grandson again.

Uuuhm... what...?

„Why?," I asked. This time, confused, but then it hit me. „Do you mean, because of those dog-like horses that are running around this area?" My traitorous voice gave away, that I was noticeably agitated.

Them brothers were glancing at each other again and I could feel the irritation sparking in me.

Grandmas eyes opened widely. „You... you met one of them?," she mumbled and began shaking.

„Grandma, let's go outside for a short walk, how about that?"

Kaven stood up and helped his shocked grandma to stand on her own feet.

„Kaven," she muttered. „Did you know that?"

Just when her grandson was about to reply, the telephone rang, grabbing everybody's attention.