Girl Among the Wolves (Under Editing)

Ch. 1: Class is in session

Nathan's P.O.V

I wasn't completely sure whether Ariel was lost or abandoned.  But what I did know, is that I would protect her no matter what.  When I rescued her I looked into her frightened hazel eyes and a bond was created.  It was like a flash of lightning coursed through my soul.  

Ariel was a fast learner, taking all of my lessons head on.  First thing was first, she needed to be able to speak.  

I started with the basic words, hello, yes, no, me, why, excetera, excetera. By the end of the day she could tell me yes or no.  I spoke to her with signs so she could understand.  

"Where do you live?" I asked with signs. 

 I handed her a pen and paper.  She drew unsteadily.  I could barely make out trees.   She lived in a forest, it was surprising I never saw her.  

"Do you have family?" I asked. 

She nodded and let out a howl.  She lived with wolves?  It was hard to believe a fragile creature like her lived on her own with a bunch of wolves.  Wait, never mind, I thought as I remembered what happened earlier that day when I rescued her.  Ouch...

We continued with the lessons and soon she was able to speak one sentence.  "I am Ariel." She said with a gleam in her eye.  I knew she felt proud, even though she didn't know what that meant.  I ran my hand through her ginger hair.  I was proud too.  

I led her upstairs so she could take a shower and turned away as she undressed.  I covered her in a towel so I could wash her hair.  She winced as I ran my soapy hair through her tangled brown hair.  I washed her face and then left so she could was her body.  I waited outside the bathroom.  

I wondered if she was okay when I heard loud splashing sounds.   

The door opened and Ariel slowly stepped out in the towel, shivering uncontrolably.  I quickly wrapped my arms arround her.  

She was stunning with a clean face and hair.  Her wet brown hair gleamed in the light and her complextion was fair, and pale.  I suddenly felt a pinching at my arm.  I looked to see Ariel clamping onto my arm with her teeth.  She bit me!  I quickly let go of her.  

"Away." She said firmly. 

 I held up my hands in surrender. 

 "Fine, be cold." I said defensively.  

She tilted her head in confusion.  I gave her a fake shiver.   She huffly turned away.  Great, even girls that couldn't speak were fiesty. 

My cell went off down the hall.  I picked up the phone but kept my eyes on Ariel as she wandered into my bedroom.  

"Hello?" I answered.  

"How's my big grown up Nathan?!" My mother sang from the other end.  

Now? I rolled my eyes. 

 "Finally out of college, doing fine." I summed up.  

I gazed nervously at Ariel.   She picked up my photos on my desk and touched them curiously.  She looked about 17, but there was no way to be certain.  

"Just calling to check up on you." 

"Well, thanks for your concern!  Bye!" I said quickly as Ariel touched the pocket knife hanging from my bedpost.  

I threw my phone onto the bed and quickly grabbed the pocket knife.  

"Sharp." I warned, poking the end of the knife and doing an, "Ow", gesture and a sad face.  

She just giggled and hopped onto my bed.  

I decided to sleep on the floor rather than try her patience and make her sleep on the floor.  

Ariel curled into a ball and closed her eyes.  Soon her breathing was level and she drifted to sleep. 

She looked peaceful in her sleep, not like the animal she acted like in the day time.  Maybe I could show her civilization, just maybe.  I smiled and covered her with a blanket.  She kicked it off.  I rolled my eyes.  Amazing, she was stubborn even in her sleep.  

I laid on the hard floor and shifted back and forth several times.  I must've stared up at the ceiling for an hour before finally going to sleep.