A Wolf's Call (complete)

Chapter 12

The car journey back to the hospital had been a quiet one. Shilo had fallen asleep on the back seat. Holly and Gail had been trapped with their thoughts as they ruminated over what Shilo had said. They wondered what Shilo had been doing, and whether the things she said were what she had been thinking throughout her time with them.

Holly knew that Shilo was right, and it unsettled her that she was so visibly distressed by the situation. She had always seen it coming, almost hoped that Shilo would develop a sense of freedom and fairness, but now that the time had come, she felt almost as though it was better before.

Occasionally she’d watch Shilo and wonder what it would be like if they traded places. But now she wondered why Shilo put up with learning all the things they had to teach, when she obviously disliked humans and what she knew of them.

When they arrived at the hospital they were forced to wake Shilo. They would have preferred to leave her, as she always seemed more peaceful and happy in her sleep. However when she stirred, Shilo didn’t seem happier, in fact it appeared her dream had made her more upset. Gail made a quick mental note to ask her about her dreams later on. Shilo had followed them in to the hospital somewhat hesitantly.

‘Will I go out again?’

They looked down at her, her wistful gaze behind her tugging on Holly’s empathy.

Holly paused before responding, looking over to Gail, ‘… of course you will…’

Gail didn’t confirm Holly’s promise but instead urged Shilo into the hospital. Gail’s sudden absence was due to Shilo’s words, her intelligence and her motives. She knew she had a lot to learn about Shilo and realized blissfully that Shilo’s ability to converse with them made it totally possible.

After putting Shilo to sleep with little words shared, Holly then left but Gail stayed for a little while longer. She sat in the observation room and watched as Shilo curled up into her very dog like position and slowly fell asleep.

The girl intrigued Gail to her very essence. Her unusual thoughts and movements were interesting but it was who she was and how she came to be with the wolves that truly interested Gail. Had she been abandoned? Or lost? Did she have the chance to have a real life? Who was it that had lost her? Why didn’t the wolves kill her? But most of all Gail wanted to know how long Shilo had been in the wild.

v 

The next day began and with it came Shilo’s tedious schedule. Gail entered Shilo’s room; all her questions scribbled down on a piece of paper in front of her. Shilo didn’t acknowledge Gail’s entrance with her gaze but instead concentrated on the half mirrored glass in front of her.

‘Hello Shilo,’

She paused before replying, ‘hello.’

Gail was somewhat perturbed that Shilo refused to look at her.

‘How are you today?’ she said trying to pull Shilo’s gaze from the mirrored glass.

‘I am, as I am every day you come.’ said Shilo shortly.

Her response unsettled Gail and whilst it meant she was fine, it also meant that Shilo was becoming restless and fed up. She sighed looking at Shilo’s peculiarly determined gaze.

‘I have a few questions for you today Shilo.’

‘Yes?’ Shilo’s gaze seemed to soften as curiosity gripped her, her previous thoughts obviously being discarded.

‘About how you came to be with the wolves, and how much you remember of before you were with them.’

Shilo’s large hazel eyes were fixed on Gail, she did not reply for a second. She seemed to be deep in her thoughts, but Gail could not tell what it might be. It both seemed, and felt as though Shilo had disconnected herself from Gail.