Those In The Forest

Part 57: Hazel

"You all have terrible timing." Iris snarled.

          We were all standing outside glaring at our Elders.

          Celia snapped her teeth at us. "Get over it. This is important." we waited impatiently for her or Karina to get on with it.

          Iris was right. They do have terrible timing. We were talking with Reagan. Like actually talking. About a future. About pups.

          Pups. She said that. Every day she's here, she becomes more and more like us. I'm halfway certain we'll wake up one night, and there will just be a giant wolf in our bed, but that is just wishful thinking. Reagan is human. She will always be human.

          "You four need to stick by Reagan for a while," Karina said tensely.

          "We were just doing that until you two came in there and stole us." Rose's eyes flashed at them.

          Karina's top lip lifted; she was close to baring her teeth at us, but she controlled herself. "This is serious. Reagan is running the risk of becoming extremely depressed," she said, swallowing.

          We all stood up a little straighter at that bit of information. "What do you mean?" I asked. Worry consumed us.

          Celia gave Karina a look and then sighed. "She will get sad, and it will wreck her. To the point of being suicidal." she tried to speak softly, but every one of those words sent a sharp pain to my heart.

          "Wh-what do you mean?" Ivy asked, gritting her teeth.

          "How do you know this?" Iris asked, clenching her fist to her side.

          "That is what the witch meant when she said Reagan would be the cause of her own death." Karina started. "Celia and I went out to the city today to speak with her, mainly to warn her not to threaten our pack, but she informed us that Reagan is at risk of killing herself."

          Celia snarled. She spoke in many, many irritating riddles. We tried to see if she would tell us what she told Reagan, but she didn't tell us. She said it was only meant for her."

          "Reagan won't tell us either. She honestly acts as if it never even happened." I said, thinking over that day in the witches' shop.

         "The witch said it would be our fault, though," Rose said, her breathing picking up. "D-do we push her to kill herself?" She asked anxiously.

           My eyes shot open, and I waited for our Elders to answer.

          Celia and Karina quickly shook their heads. "I highly doubt that, ladies. This is all just... we'll figure it out, I promise. But for now, stick by her. Be there. Always. Do you understand?" Karina asked. Her tone was hard.

          "Is your scolding over yet? The bed is getting pretty cold." Reagan's voice filtered through our heads.

          We stood there just staring at our elders for a second before answering her. "We'll be up in a minute," I replied.

          "We understand," Ivy said, sighing.

          "Can you at least find out more? Please." Rose asked. All of our hearts were racing. "Please," she begged.

          Celia nodded her head. "Of course. You know we will."

          "Go back to your mate before she comes and yells at us," Karina said in dismissal.