Contrary to what one would think, being on the run is definitely not like being on a road trip especially not when you can't even legally stop anywhere. Every time we are hungry we find a place to stop off and one of us goes hunting, usually we end up eating only a rabbit or two per meal and not often either. Even if we left but a few days ago, while laying low, we managed to reach the black-zone we were aiming for.
We are right in the middle of the Jura mountain range in France still. Knowing that all the villages here are totally off the grid from the Finders does help somewhat. I mean we can pretty much set up anywhere; the hard thing of course is going to be hunting and founding a real new pack. -That's going to be virtually impossible actually Falawk because you can probably only bite one human and that would make only three of us. We either need to find an existing pack and take it over or we will have to wait until we can create another generation. - Damned what is up with her and reproduction, did no one tell her you don't just do that! Like as in not at all, it's not normal to just want to jump on the first fresh piece of meat you find. -That is normal: it's called hunting. -
Clearly that is a very blunt way of putting it but for now I'm more worried about where we are going to stop.
- "Ulfur, where do you think we should stay? And what do our finances look like? I've only got about 3000€." I like the only in that sentence especially that I'm only just turning 18 so that's actually a lot of money.
- "I have a bank account with pretty close to 25 thousand in it. It's from the old pack; they are quite well off and paid us all a fair salary. We will have to set up base some place well hidden from sight but with easy access to hunting grounds and a town or two." Well that solves part of the money problem, the next thing we need is to officialise my new identity and I have no idea how we do that.
- "We should probably start looking for a place to stay from here on out. We have been in the black zone for some time now. And I don't know about you but I could do with some proper food."
- "We'll go into the next town and stop at the estate agent and see what there is to buy around these parts. And yes, I'm pretty starving too so I could do with a nice juicy roast right now." She says this smiling at me with a knowing grin as if to say that she knows exactly what she is looking for."
- "What sort of place do you think we'll be able to get with less than 30 thousand? I mean we are going to have to aim pretty small."
- "You silly boy, we are not just going to buy a place with that amount, it's also going to buy us something to do business with. Just watch and learn my dear." There it is again, she just has this way to hide stuff from me and hard as I may try I can't dig them out of her mind either.
Just as we pull into a parking spot in the center of town Ulfur looks at me and says "cash". –Why do you need my cash? - I ask her, I mean did she not just brag that she had way more cash than me? –I'm getting us a nice place to stay and your identification documents are not yet done so you can't do a thing. - Okay. Pretty brutal response but I got the point. That could actually be resumed as "Hey bro, you're absolutely useless right now". I'm actually pretty sure that is what she would have liked to say but did not out of kindness for me and the fact that I just got kicked out of my parents house. Then again she did have to abandon her parents too so I guess we are pretty much equal on that.
She's been gone for only about half an hour when she comes back with an old looking man.
- "This is the town's estate agent; he is going to show us a place that could well suit our needs." She has already found a place; seems impossible to me.
- "You know ma'am, I'm really not sure it is going to be good enough but you did insist so I shall take you there. Follow my car please." He seems to shy away from us as he talks, that's surprising.
- "We shall do that sir."
We follow his vintage VW beetle and after a good half-hour driving through thick woods on a dirt road we reach a crumbling stone-wall. Set into this wall is a lovely but rusted ironwork gate. The estate agent gets out and pushes it open, gets back in his car and sets off up the drive. We then follow him into the property and up the beaten gravel road to where the house must be.
The house in front of us is in a pretty good state, compared to the walls around the actual property, but it still clearly needs a lot of TLC to make it comfortable. The most important thing would be to see if, for one thing, the roof is in good nick. I know we are wolves and all that but I still like having a bed to sleep in.
Once we are by the front door we all get out of our cars and he gets out a set of keys. To say the least I did not expect him to have eight locks to undo before even opening the front door. That simple fact takes me aback slightly and makes me look around for the reason of this security. It's only then that I see the steel bars in the windows and, if one looks closely, the place looks like it survived a few wars.
Once we are in the place I'm surprised to see that it's fully furnished and actually looks inhabited. There are full sets of plates and cutlery and even a very nice leather couch. The estate agent goes on giving us a very low detailed tour of the property and only when we have seen all three floors does he ask start to talk with more ease.
- "This property has been vacant since the last owners left overnight. They came back a few weeks later, got a few possessions and gave me the keys." That's not really the best way to sell the place but at the price I'm not surprised there is a catch or two.
- "Why would they leave in such a hurry? They left everything behind. This place must be worth ten times more than the twenty grand they want." She is right, there are plenty of things lying around everywhere and I'm pretty sure even the electrics are fine.
- "For some reason no one ever got more than a few thousand for it and never stayed longer than half a year." That's going to be good for us, the cheaper the place the better.
- "Do you know why they leave so fast?" Pragmatic little Ulfur, it's true though, why leave so fast.
- "Yes, there are wolves that come down from the mountain and hunt in the property grounds. It happens mainly during this time of year too. That is why the door is so well locked and the windows barred." That's peculiar; the agent has a shaky very tone. He is either scared of the wolves or of the fact that most people would be put off by that.
- "That will not be a problem I'm sure, is that really all there is to the constant fleeing of the buyers?" I have no idea why she says it's not a problem but I still nod when the estate agent looks at me for confirmation.
- "Yes. I mean the second to last owners fixed the roof too so it's in good shape." He seems much less certain about his standing now.
-"We'll take it, how long will it take to get the paperwork ready?" I don't think we could find better for the price and apparently we can scare off the wolves or something.
- "Are you sure? I have the paperwork set for this place you just need to sign it all and pay the fees."
- "I'll come do that." Ulfur is smiling her know-it-all smile again.
And just like that we have a house to stay in. I still don't understand why she said the wolves will not be a problem but at least I get a comfortable bed tonight. Even if we are going to have to give the place a good dust and clean before we really move in. Now to see what we are going to do for food...
