Healing Milton

nine

Cal flings out the picnic rug across the grass, smoothing out the corners before placing the basket of snacks down alongside. They'd also brought out a couple of blankets and pillows, the breeze outside a little too chilly for the human in their care.

Aldric stands off to the side with a grin on his face, Milton held in his arms like a toddler, head resting on the man's chest as he watches the picnic be set up, wrapped in a blanket from his bed.

As excited as he was about being outside, it was all a little overwhelming. Stepping out of the apartment block, Aldric carried Milton through their undercover outdoor area where a barbeque and outdoor kitchen sat. Large pot plants decorated the area as well, greenery poking out from beside old wooden tables and chairs. It was clear the area was used pretty often, the ceiling fan still on circling the air slowly and rustling a few of the ferns.

Walking through the undercover area, it opened up into the massive backyard, if it could really be call it that. The area they were setting up was close to the housing block, a grass flat area that dipped down the towards the end where it met with wild nature and trees.

Taking a seat on the rug, Aldric places Milton between his legs, propping him up against his own chest as his mate delicately pulls a blanket over the boy and tosses a few pillows behind Aldric for comfort.

"Comfortable?" Cal asks the boy, placing a few pillows down for himself beside his mate.

Milton nods softly, eyes still wandering around the new world, taking in every tree, bush and occasional rock.

Callum smiles at his husband, relaxing back on his hands as he looks out over the reserve. The trees kept going on for a while, until it was blocked off my tall fences that separated the reserve into two sections. One side was generally seen as the pack's backyard with plenty of room to run around without disturbing any of the real wild inhabitants that stayed in the other section while they were being rehabilitated. There was a wildlife centre further down the road, too far away to see from their little picnic spot, that housed their local veterinary clinic and some smaller outdoor pens for the animals needing a bit more care before being placed into the larger area.

All in all, it was a rather large area of land, undisturbed by busy traffic or tourists. During the day the 'backyard' was fairly quiet as well since everyone was busy with their daily routines, leaving it the perfect time for an impromptu picnic.

Sighing, Milton settles down against his carer's chest, body relaxing as the sun warms his skin and the pretty sounds of birds occasionally reach his ears.

A few of the pack wander by every now and then, waving at the little group from a distance, curious but knowing this was not the time to introduce themselves. Instead, they carry on through the yard, some walking down into the brush while others venture back into the apartment block.

Milton only watches with sleepy eyes, occasionally taking an offered sip of water as Cal and Aldric chat quietly.

As Milton watches the world around him, he notices something... different, coming up the little slope towards them. It wasn't a person, no, but instead a wolf. A real, scruffy wolf.

Milton gasps in surprise, trying to sit up a little straighter, only for Aldric to lift him a little to prop him up to see better.

"Oh, well this is a surprise." Callum smiles, watching as the wolf snuffles at the lawn before venturing closer.

Its head hangs low, ears relaxed and bushy grey tail trailing behind. It was big, bigger than Milton thought a wolf would be, but he'd never actually seen one before, that he could remember.

"This is Rita," Callum explains, reaching out a hand towards the beast. "She's one of our, uh, rescues that likes to roam the area."

Milton blinks, watching as the wolf comes all the way up to the picnic blanket to check out Callum's hand before moving closer to get a sniff of his arm and then his face.

Callum huffs at the wolf, reaching out to scratch at her back before she bends away, turning her yellow eyes to the little human.

Rita was not a rescue. Well, she was, but not of the wild kind. She was a werewolf, found up north where hunters had killed her mate and left her to bury him in the snow alone. The grief had taken its toll, and the woman soon chose to stay away from people all together. Their pack had offered her counselling, and a safe place to call home, but the wolf never really recovered from her devasting loss. Instead, she preferred to roam the pack grounds as a wolf, never straying too far, but not ever getting too comfortable with the rest of the pack.

She sniffs at Milton's casted leg, hot air warming his toes through the blanket. Milton watches with wide eyes, excitement bubbling up in his chest. It was a wolf! A real-life wolf, sniffing his feet!

Aldric chuckles, watching the hint of a smile making its way onto the boy's face.

"She might let you pat her, if you'd like."

Milton immediately lifts his non-injured hand out towards the wolf, pleading eyes waiting for her to finish sniffing their picnic blankets before she turns to his hand.

She looks at him first, eyes curious as her ears flick forwards. Milton only waits, arm shaking at the effort to hold it so still. Aldric notices, gently holding Milton's elbow to give him that extra bit of support.

Callum smiles, happy to watch the interaction from the side as his lonely packmate leans forward, bypassing Milton's hand and going straight to his face to sniff at his unruly hair.

Milton jerks at the cold nose, letting Aldric guide his hand to rest on the side of the wolf, the coarse fur rough against his skin.

He though she would be... fluffier. Like his blankets, but no. The hair is thick and slightly curled, the colour a mix of whites, greys, and even a little bit of silver.

She was very pretty.

Rita stays for a few minutes, letting the boy dig his fingers into her coat as she moves to sniff Aldric before huffing warm breath on Milton and stepping away, careful not to step on any of their picnic items.

"Thank you for the visit, Rita." Callum calls after the wolf as she plods back down the slope, ears twisting at the voice, but otherwise ignoring the three as she goes back into the shrubbery.

Milton falls back into Aldric, his strength leaving him now that the excitement is over. Aldric only smiles, gently patting the boy's head before he leans back, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air.

They all needed this. Even Callum was enjoying the sun, propping up a couple of pillows behind his head before laying down. He reaches out a hand, placing it on Milton's leg in a comforting gesture, smiling as Milton's eyes finally flutter shut.

"Should we move him back to bed?" Callum whispers to his mate.

Aldric shakes his head. "Let him sleep a little before we move him."

Callum's phone buzzes in his pocket. Frowning, he takes it out and reads the text with a sigh.

"What's wrong?"

Callum smiles at his husband reassuringly. "Nothing, nothing. It's just Lucille. She wants to know how things are going."

Aldric hums in acknowledgement.

Lucille is Callum's aunt. She was a major figure in his life growing up, and one of the only people in his family to support his decision to move to this pack. As much as he loved the older wolf, talking to her often left him feeling drained.

"You going to call her?"

Callum shakes his head. "I don't think I can deal with her right now."

Aldric sighs, reaching an arm out to pull his mate closer. "Do you want me to talk to her?"

Callum hums in his throat, snuggling closer while gently combing his fingers through Milton's hair.

"No, then she'll know I'm keeping something from her."

Aldric wasn't a huge fan of the woman. Sure, she supported his mate when the rest of his family hadn't, but she was a blunt kind of wolf. Always throwing in her two cents worth in any conversation. She liked to have her say, whether they wanted to hear it or not.

Aldric places a kiss to the top of his mate's head, taking in the sweet scent of his shampoo. "You don't have to call her if you don't want to. Maybe we can send her a text instead?"

His love only nods, tiling his head back to look up at the wispy clouds. "Later. I want to enjoy this for a little longer."