Home -- Wolv book 3

Chapter 3 - I hate Winnipeg

The moment she saw the city of Winnipeg, her eyes became as big as saucers. The city didn't bare even the remotest resemblance of Bloodvein.

Hundreds of roads laced themselves between countless tiny houses, and the tall, skyscrapers of downtown loomed in the distance. She had never seen buildings so tall, and she felt her jaw begin to fall slack. Heck, she'd never seen so many people in one place before in her life!

The plane began slowing down and descending, and her ears popped painfully. The tires impacted the paved runway below, jostling the contents of the aircraft around like sardines in a can. Ugh, I hope my luggage survives this! She clutched her stomach, fighting the sudden nausea that gripped her innards. Her eyes squeezed shut as the plane rolled out, taxiing towards the massive terminal. Don't throw up. Don't throw up! She'd received enough judgemental stares over the course of the flight; she didn't need any more embarrassment.

She was all too happy when she finally stepped out of the aircraft, and would have hugged the tarmac had there not been dozens of other people around. Nadie dragged herself forward into the terminal building, holding one hand to her aching ears, and the other to her raging gut, all the while staring up at the ceiling arching fifty feet overhead. The place was incredible--it was just such a massive, cavernous space. The dingy arena back at Bloodvein, which was the largest building in the community, had nothing on this place.

Once she'd grabbed her two suitcases, she began weaving her way through the throngs of people, hoping to snag a taxi. People brushed past her, not bothering to move out of the way.

"Sorry. Excuse me, I'm sorry!" she muttered as people stepped on her toes.

"Watch where you're going!" one of them snapped back, his voice lacking the Ojibwe accent she was so accustomed to hearing. Nadie lowered her head, trying to disappear in the crowd, her face flushing. She finally caught sight of the large, glass doors leading to the outside, and she scampered forward, seeing a line up of taxis on the other side, all waiting the hundreds of people inside to spill out.

"I want the bear, mommy!"

"Alright, alright. Just sit tight, would you?" Nadie's ears perked, and she looked over to her left. A little boy was standing next to his mother in a tiny souvenir shop, pointing hopefully up at a stuffed teddy bear, which his mother was reluctantly purchasing.

She smiled softly, and walked over to the little shop, setting her bags down and stepping inside. Though small, the store was packed with Winnipeg and Canadian paraphernalia, from t-shirts to teddy bears to toys.

Her eyes came to rest on the display full of plush animals, and she gently picked up a wolf plushie, holding it close to her chest. Its beady glass eyes stared back up at her hopefully.

Oh, I'm buying this.

She set the plushie on the cashier's counter, and dug out a crumpled twenty from her pocket.

"Ah, the spirit wolf. Good pick, I've always liked those ones!" the clerk chattered happily, running her purchase through the till.

"A spirit wolf?" she asked, painfully aware that her accent was now the uncommon one.

"Yeah, just like the statues. Winnipeg is full of little wolf carvings. They're all painted up an stuff, but it's still pretty cool!" He bagged the plush canine, and handed it to her. "Have a nice day!"

"Miigwech--uh, thank you!"

When she finally managed to exit the terminal, she was in for an unpleasant surprise.