The Aqua Wolf

Chapter 7

I can't believe I'm looking right at the Aqua Wolf! I rub my eyes.

She had streaks of purple, black, blue, and white fur. All of those colours were floating around her body. She had large wings, the same colour as her streaks of fur. Her eyes were the colour of the clear, sky.

I've noticed she has been sitting against the wall on her bed of seaweed, looking pretty startled. She must of wondered how I even got into her cave.

"H-hi," I stammered, breaking the awkwardness. "I didn't mean to startle you...my name is Nyla." I smiled softly to let her know that I am safe.

She paused to look at me, and looked down at the seaweed. "Hello," she managed to say.

"You are the Aqua Wolf right?"

"Yes I am. That's what I've been called now anyway..." She sighed.

"You have been called a different name?" I asked, curiously.

"Yes. My name is Valeska Vail. I used to have a family," she went on. "They loved me dearly, and I loved them back. We had an amazing life and helped other wolves with our healing ability. Until," Valeska got angry, and her fur and face turned into a range of red colours. I backed up, not knowing what will happen next.

"Sorry...it's just that-" Valeska began to say. "One day, human hunters found our secret home, and wrecked it. I found a hollow log to hide in. I watched as the hunters grab my parents and strip them of all their feathers. They took the feathers, and my parents, and put them in carriages with wheels. Then rode off into the forest. That was the last time I ever saw my own species...or parents." She looked away as she said that last sentence, trying not to show anger.

"I'm sorry to hear that..." That is all I can get out of my muzzle. I can't imagine living like that. Without loved ones, and someone wrecking their homes. Even though I lost my father...but still.

Most of all, I didn't think human beings were like that.

We sat in silence for a few minutes. All you could hear were the bubbles nearby fish were making.

Then it hit me.

"Hey! Why don't you come live with me and my friends at Meadow National Park?" I blurt out. "Its got a lot of rivers, food, and plenty of wolves. And I'm sure they'd like to meet you."

"I-" Valeska started, but I soon cut her off.

"Oh! Also, no hunters! We haven't had any of them come and hunt us down for years...it will be safe I promise." I really did want her to come, I truly felt bad for her. She didn't respond. So I kept talking. "I'll find a den for you, and I will decorate it for you, to make it just look like your cave-"

"Nyla!" She finally said. And I shut up real quick. "I can't."

"But, why not?" My voice cracked, shocked at what I was hearing.

"I can't risk it. My parents would want me to live and not suffer another attack from another one of those beings. You would do the same wouldn't you?"

I thought about my father. He told my mother if anything happened to him on that trip that he was going on, live. And don't leave Nyla for it was going to be heartbreaking. My mother nodded, as he strode off into the forest. I don't remember all of the words or actions exactly, because my mother told me. I was very young when my father left me...

"Would you?" Valeska's raspy voice broke through my thoughts.

"N-no. I wouldn't." I frowned at her. "This is how you shouldn't live, being in a small cave for years!" I was almost yelling.

"I also want my legend to still be a secret. It's not a legend when others find me, hm?" She cocked a brow as her wings unfolded slightly. "I will consider about your offer, but for now, leave my cave. Begone!" Valeska then hissed at me, baring her sharp teeth. I was so angry, I swam out of the cave immediately.

I looked back for a second, and Valeska was hugging her seaweed bed for dear life.

She still looked unhappy.