Solace & Solicitude // Paul Lahote

two

The Washington skies were dark. She could hear the water pounding rocks, a tell tale sign a storm would be rolling in in a matter of days. She loved the ocean, and it had become a 6 a.m. ritual to venture to the shore as the waves called to her. At 6 a.m, the birds were chirping in their nests, the wolves were howling at a distance, and better yet, she could hear no engines or mowers, no voices; there were no people. She had wanted to  attempt meeting new people, but somehow she always found herself going to the grocery at the oddest hour and taking walks on the beach before the sun had taken the time to rise. The more people she had in her life, the more she had to risk. She wasn't ready to take that risk.

He watched her—night and day. She didn't do anything exciting. If anything, she was odd. She looked as if she had been kissed by the sun, yet she spent dusk til dawn in a run-down cabin by herself, only venturing out to the grocery store or to the beach—both at ungodly hours. He knew she didn't own a TV, as he never heard one. What did she do with all her time, he wandered. He stayed at the edge of the forest, just out of reach for her eyes. He wanted to initiate contact, get into her house. Then he could prove that she was completely harmless—odd—but harmless, and he could go back to his pack where he had hot meals, showers, and his brothers. He could smell a storm brewing and he didn't want to be outside when it took place.

She had spent the morning reading a new novel and sipping on a new coffee she had picked up. She wrote, read, and drank coffee. Her life consisted of nothing more for the moment and she was ecstatic. It would be a few months before she needed to pursue a job or school, as she had saved endlessly for these moments.

The timer let out a screech pulling her out of her reverie, letting her know that her freshly baked blueberry lemon scones were done. She wanted to think she was happy. Overwhelmed in deep thought, she didn't notice a knock on the front door. Nevertheless, the person was persistent. Indie looked down at what she was wearing and sighed, opening the door anyway.

There stood a woman—beautiful and unique—with russet skin and inky black hair falling past her shoulders. Scars marred half of her face, deep and angry, yet not taking away from her striking features and kind brown eyes.

"Can I help you?" Indie attempted to be nice, but she only felt awkward after not having human communication for an extended period of time.

"I'm Emily Young. I live not far, a little piece down the road. I heard some people say that there was a new girl in town and I thought I would introduce myself." She held up a Tupperware bowl as if it were a symbol of peace. Indie decided instantly that she liked her.

"I'm Indie Rivera. I just moved here a bit ago, this used to be my grandfather's house."Her eyes widened, "Waya's granddaughter." (Wa-hee-ya)

"In the flesh," Indie said as she hinted at the wolf carving on the front door.

"It's very nice to meet you, my fiancé and I are very sorry about your loss. We were close to him," she said with remorse in her eyes. She was like an open booked, something Indie appreciated.

"Who is your fiancé?" Indie questioned inquisitively.

"Sam Uley. He was very close to Waya and stayed here for a lot of the time during the summers. I think I have even heard him mention you before."

"I remember Sam. We used to spend a lot of time here when we were kids." Before my parents died, she wanted to add, but didn't.

"You know, Indie, we would love to have you over for dinner sometime. I'm sure Sam would love to see you again," Emily said kindly, hoping she wasn't overstepping. She felt relieved when a smile graced Indie's face as she smoothed back her black hairs in her braid.

"I would love to."

"Thursday night it is then, and bring your competition, because Thursdays are our family's game night. I'm sure the pa—family would love to meet you too!"

"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude!" Indie spoke hesitantly.

"That's nonsense. 6 p.m. on Thursday at my place just down the road. A cabin like this, red mailbox, you can't miss it."

"Alright then, I'll be there," she smiled sheepishly.

"See you then. Nice to meet you, Indie," Emily said as she handed Indie the brownies and started walking away.

"Thank you!" Indie said, realizing she had forgotten as she closed the door to her little home again.

Saturday had rolled around and so had Sunday with the same routines she always kept. She anticipated the meeting with Emily, Sam, and their family with great nervousness. She decided to check the mail mid-day just to give her something to do to take her mind off of it. Just as she was turning back to walk down her driveway, she noticed a set of eyes gazing upon her from the trees. A set of eyes belonging to a deadly creature that inhabited the Hoh rainforest—a wolf.

Unlike any other she had seen, it was much larger with dark silver fur. She could barely make out more than its color because of its distance from her. On instinct, she started venturing back to the cabin, remembering the words of her grandfather so long ago, "wolves are not meant to hurt you here, they are meant to protect you." She whispered those words to herself until she found safety behind her cabin door.