Two weeks later, after I'd spent more time than I cared to imagine playing games and doing remote work for the pride on my laptop I heard my father stirring, though he'd been stirring for the better part of the last three days I knew that this time he was truly waking up.
"Morning dad, how are you feeling?" I asked him, stepping away from the computer.
"Hungry, and weak as a kitten Mark." Came his acerbic response, though he did sound every single one of his 72 years old.
Though he sounded as old as he was, he didn't quite look it anymore. His beard which was something of a hallmark for him, thankfully was still present, though the roots weren't white, instead they were showing up a rich chestnut brown in colour and the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth weren't as obvious as they'd been before.
I was glad that he was up and about, since that meant that I could now leave the room, I'd gotten several disturbing reports in my custom email inbox relating to some disturbing incidents east of McBride BC. The pack in the area had reported that two of their enforcers had gone missing, under mysterious circumstances and that they were investigating.
If my suspicions were correct then soon I wouldn't be able to put off the encounter between myself and Mikel much longer, though I was now a lot more confident in my ability to defeat him, no matter what form he took.
"Mark, is there something the matter?" My father asked as I helped him to his feet.
I shook my head slightly, "Nothing that you have to worry about dad, though I would advise you to stay near the houses of the Pride for the next little while."
"Why is that Mark?" He asked and I could sense his concern.
"Because, dad there is a Class 1 Rogue in the region and I know that he only has one goal in mind, though to say that he has much of a mind is giving him more credit than he is probably due."
Dad looked a bit concerned and voiced that concern quickly, "Do you need any help with that Mark?"
"No dad, in your present condition you'd do little more than end up being somebody that I would have to protect." I told him, "Until your turn is complete in a few months you'd only prove to be a liability on the field dad, the same is true for mom as well, though I don't think she will be a warrior. I see her as a healer."
Dad nodded, though I could tell that he wasn't comfortable about the thought of not being permitted to come with. "I hope you will be okay out there Mark."
"Dad I will have Anna at my back, and there will also be a wolf from the pack that saved my life when I was first attacked by this rogue." I informed him as he got dressed, "Now let's get downstairs and get some food into you before you start looking to eat something that isn't edible."
He looked at and followed my lead as we headed down to the dining hall, I'd only stepped into the room when a familiar youngster tackled my legs and shouted in her high-pitched voice, "Kitty papa!"
I smiled bending down to pick her up and I laughed when I saw Anna looking at me with her head cocked. "Morning love, morning Katy-pup." I said with a smile, "I've missed you for the last little while."
Katy hugged me as tightly as she could and cuddled up with a happy smile and I could tell that the past two weeks of not seeing me had been a bit hard for my pup to handle.
"Morning dad," I heard as my other cub made his presence known by giving me a tight hug.
"Morning Sergey," I replied returning his hug with my free arm and looked over my own family with a smile.
