Among The Wolves

And Go

It was finally happening. The day was finally here. The Convention.

Or, at least, the day to leave was here.

Ty'Bin was in his room getting clothes that he would need. I was in the kitchenette, getting us both a drink of water. A single light was lit above the sink, barely illuminating the sitting room. Turning off the water, I set both cups on the counter, and I stared numbly at them. I was not sure what to expect and how it would go. I just knew that there were huge expectations of me.

I looked behind me and through the window, it was still pitch black outside. But it was going to be two days of traveling. The convention really did not start until three more days. Today and tomorrow we would travel, next day we would rest, prepare, and discuss plans, then we would go to the convention, which could take the whole day and then we would go home the following morning.

So it would be nearly a whole week before I was back here. Slowly picking up my glass, I thought of Lins.

Would she be ok with being here all by herself? While Sho'Jy did introduce herself, Ty'Mee still kept her distance. Part of me was confused. She'd been my greatest friend, and when she found out Ty'Bin was a willing participant in the mating ceremony, suddenly she had a thing out for me? It did not make sense
I needed to talk with her once we got back. I missed the friendship we had and I wanted an explanation for her standoffishness.

I felt pleasant tingles on my hand. Blinking out of my thoughts, I looked and found Ty'Bin standing there next to me with a hand over mine that was holding the glass of water. I still hadn't drunk any.

“Are you alright?” His voice was low, for the sake of not waking the girls.

I almost shrugged it off and pushed the worrisome thoughts out of my head but decided to try my hand at vulnerability. “I don't know, I worry about Lins. I've been doing a lot of things to make sure she would not get hurt or scared, and now I am afraid that if I am there to sort of protect her that something might happen.”

Ty'Bin nodded in understanding, “I know you don't know my mother well, but if it will give you any comfort, my mom is wonderful with pups. She will do a good job.”

I nodded. It did help to hear that. Ty'Bin took the glass from me, set it down, and wrapped his arms around me. The fuzzy warmth from the hug did so much to calm my nerves. I pressed my head into his chest and relaxed.

We pulled back and drank the waters.

“You ready?” The judge asked.

I shrugged with a small smile. “As ready as I will ever be, but there's not much for me to get ready for. I will be sitting most of the day.”

Ty'Bin grinned, extending his hand to me. I took it, knowing that I could never get tired of feeling of his large, slightly calloused hands. We walked out of the kitchenette. He grabbed two bulky bags and we made our way toward the exit.

“Kejyta?”

I turned at the sound of my sister's voice and found her peeking through her bedroom door. I was surprised to find her awake. We had stayed up late in the night so we could have a lengthy goodbye. We did not think they would awake before we left.

“I will wait outside the door for you.” Ty'Bin whispered and let go of my hand.

I nodded and walked over to Lins. “What's going on?”

Lins stepped past her bedroom door, “I wanted to ask you a question.”

I knelt down to her level. “What is it?”

“Well, I was thinking…” Lins hung her head and played with strands of her own hair. “Duo’Lae told me that her family is complete now that she has a daddy and a mommy even though you are not her real daddy and mommy. And I just was thinking that maybe I could have the same thing. You know, a real family because you guys could be my daddy and mommy even though you are not my real daddy and mommy. Do you think I should do that?”