Hunting Wolfe

A Name

Whatever the creature is, it hasn't moved. It looks up at me but doesn't seem interested in doing much else.

"Everything okay, Rain?" Aceon asks, rushing to my side. In response, I tilt the bag in his direction. "What is that?"

"I'm pretty sure this is the creature that guy was looking for." I say. "It matches the description, exactly. Same size and color, and even the same shaggy mane."

"Let's try and find that guy, then. Where did he say he was staying? At the Lambcross? Or the Benniton?"

"No, Aceon." I say, pulling the bag back toward me. "He doesn't belong to that man. He was probably stolen."

"Why would you think that?"

"He's so small. There's no way he is supposed to be away from his mother. That means he was stolen or poached."

"Crossbenny." Aceon says snapping his fingers. "I'm sure that's it."

"Who was stolen or poached?" Caydon asks, sitting down next to me with three small baskets of kabobs precariously balanced on top of each other. In his arms he also holds three cups, that look dangerously close to dumping all over him. Setting down the drinks and food, he slides one food tray towards the end of the table where Aceon is standing, and slides another toward me. He then begins to dig into his plate. I move my plate to the other side of the bag, with the intention of eating. Movement from the bag, draws my attention, and I see a white nose, and then a small furry head. The creature sniffs the air and then, like lightning, shoots out of the bag and races toward Aceon's plate. It snags a kabob and shoots back to my backpack. A few seconds later, the empty kabob stick is pushed back out of the bag. Caydon laughs and even Aceon smiles.

"Poor guy, must be starving." I say.

"I seriously doubt he is, now." Caydon says. Once again, a little white nose pokes out of my bag, followed by the creature's head.

"Oh, no you don't." Aceon says, picking up his tray of food and scooting toward the end of the bench. With deliberate slowness, the creature emerges from the bag, each movement unhurried. It approaches Aceon with a measured gait, exuding an air of calm that negates any sense of urgency. Upon reaching Aceon, it sits, its posture almost mirroring a canine's. The creature's eyes lock onto Aceon's, and it tilts its head from side to side, a gesture of curious scrutiny.

"Are you still hungry, little guy?" I ask. I reach for one of my kabobs and hold it out toward the creature. It looks at my offering and walks slowly toward me. It gives the outstretched kabob a sniff and turns away.

"Maybe it's thirsty?" Caydon says. He pushes his cup toward the creature. "Come on, little guy. Come get a drink." The creature turns towards Caydon and walks his way, its nose sniffing the air as it walks. Upon reaching the cup, it sticks a front paw into the glass then pulls it out, its white paw is now stained yellow from the liquid. The creature sniffs, then licks the paw. It must decide the liquid is safe to drink, because it then sticks its head in the cup and the sound of slurping can be heard.

"We need to think of a good name for him." I say while I watch the creature.

"No way." Aceon says. "If you name it, you'll want to keep it. And we can't search for your brother and take care of a pet at the same time."

"We can't keep calling him 'Little Guy' or 'The Creature' either." I retort.

"Let's call him Rex." Caydon says.

"Ugh. No. That's an overused pet name on Earth." I say. "How about Copper?"

"But he's not brown." Caydon says.

"Sounds better than Rex."

"I disagree. Rex sounds better than Copper."

"Almex." Aceon says. "It means white in ancient Copaie."

"Almex. Hm." I say. "It's different. I like it."

"Sounds better than Copper. What do you think little guy? Does Almex sound good to you?" Caydon asks the creature, but it ignores him, choosing instead to continue drinking.

I catch a glimpse of another side of Caydon while he talks to the creature. One that he doesn't often show. One that I wouldn't mind getting to know... I give my head a slight shake to bring my self back to reality. "I don't think he cares one way or another."

"So, what's the big plan for this creature? Return it? Keep it?" Caydon asks.

"I'm hoping someone along the way will recognize it. Maybe they'll know how to return it to its home planet?" My gaze shifts to Aceon, who has sprung to his feet with sudden energy. "What's wrong?"

"Have you noticed the change?" he asks, his voice tinged with urgency.

"What do you mean?" I scan my surroundings. The colored lights drape gracefully from the roofs of nearby houses, cascade down the trees in neighboring yards, and twinkle from the streetlamps. "I don't see anything different," I say, noting the eerily deserted streets, and choosing to ignore it. The air carries the same blend of cold and pine with a mix of fried meats and sugar laden treats. "Everything smells the same too."

"Listen."

I hold my breath and strain my ears to hear whatever he's hearing. "I don't hear anything." I say after a few minutes of silence.

"Exactly." He says. "The music is gone and so are the people."

"I noticed the missing people. Maybe they just went to bed for the night?"

"Everyone? At the same time?"

"No. This is the busiest time of year for this planet. There should be people everywhere. Something else is going on." Caydon says. "I think I'll go find out."

"No." Aceon says. "If it's your people come to get rid of Rayanna, then I may need your help. I might save her from two or three assassins but any more than that and I'm afraid I'll lose her. Let's just head back to the room, once there we can find out what's happening and discuss a way off this planet." Caydon stares off in the distance, in a trance-like state, almost as if he was trying to decide something. "Remember what you said back on the ship." Aceon says.

"Caydon." I say, lightly touching his left arm. "You can leave if you want to. You don't have to protect me."

That seems to snap him out of whatever trance he was in and he says, "No. I swore to protect you, and protect you I shall. Come on." He grabs my right hand and starts pulling me back the way we came.