The Aqua Wolf

Chapter 8

As soon as I reached the surface of the cave, Asher and Piper come swimming towards me.

"So, how was it?" Piper barks.

"What did you guys talk about?" Asher adds next.

"Nothing," I mumbled. I wasn't exactly in the mood for talking at the moment. Piper puts her paw on my back gently.

"What did happen, Nyla?" She then asks again.

"The Aqua Wolf's name is Valeska Vail," I began. Piper sat down on a large rock, and Asher floated gracefully beside me. "She used to live in the forest with her family. Her pack."

I then told them the whole thing.

After I was finished, my friends excited facial expressions had faded into a cold frown.

"So, when we go back, we can't tell the whole pack about our discovery?" Piper squints at me.

I shake my head slightly and take a glance at Asher.

He's not saying anything- Or, what is he even thinking right now?

"She said she wants to keep it a secret." I pause for a second. "Keep her legend." My voice went low.

"Wow." Asher then says, his eyes widening. He swam over to me, and curled his tail around mine. "C'mon. Everyone in your pack is probably worried about you gals." He gestures over to the right.

Probably the way out of this lake.

I nod, and follow the two of them out.

...

It was probably about four long days to get back home. As soon as Piper and I walked through that border, all the wolves surrounded us with joyful barking.

Asher stayed at the fence, and sat on his haunches. I quickly push through the crowd to get to him.

"You know, you could stay with us. In safety." I clear my throat.

"Really?" Asher lifted his head, and gazed into my eyes.

"Of course!" I wag my tail slightly.

Soon later, all three of us are being surrounded by wolves.

They had started to call out my name continuous times, including Piper's. Some of them had eyed Asher and asked who he was.

He only glanced towards the ground.

Maybe he's not used to crowds?

I had to quickly hush everyone, and answer their questions.

"Hello everyone!" I called out, grinning widely. "Me, Piper and Asher, a new friend of mine, had-"

I had been cut off by a familiar voice.

"Nyla!" A beige colour wolf came through the crowd, almost touching noses with me. My mother, had nuzzled me briefly, and had started ranting on about how worried she was of me, but I ignored it.

"Mom, you always worry about me. I can handle things on my own now!" I said quietly to her, and instead of a worried expression she always put on, it was now filled with joy. I've never seen her happy like this in a long time now.

"...Did you find what you were looking for?" My mother asked, eager to hear every word of adventure that would come through my muzzle.

I hesitated, and looked towards Asher and Piper. They had given me a small smile. "No...there was no such thing as the Aqua Wolf. I should've come to my senses, and stopped living in a fantasy."
I gave a little chuckle, but I was hurt. I wished that Valeska could've come with us.

Everyone had looked disappointed, but they were all glad they had us back.

I then told everyone that Asher was going to be joining our pack, and they barked happily.

Suddenly, Piper whispered in my ear. "We could go somewhere quiet...maybe my Healer's Den? It feels like I haven't seen it in months!"

I nodded my head, and pushed through the crowd with her, leaving Asher behind with my packmates.

I think he quickly got used to the large crowds, because he was now grinning.