Prints on our hearts

Chapter Nine

     Alma hissed in pain as the water hit the mark. Alex flinched at her sounds of pain and began to kiss around it and on it. As Alex kissed it gently, the flesh began to stitch itself back together. The marks on Alex's back did the same. Soon, they were replaced with light, raised scar tissue. Alma touched the wound in shock as all the pain stopped. Her shocked eyes looked to Alex for answers. Alex smiled. "I heal incredibly fast. I guess my marks do too.", She said lightly touching it. Alma spun her around and touched the scarred lines down her back. "That is incredible.", Alma said with a smile. "I want to finish the tour.", Alma said with a smirk. Alex nodded and turned off the water. Alma wrapped a towel around her waist and went into the room. Alex followed closely, drying her hair with a towel. Alex walked over to a closet and tossed a bra, t-shirt, underwear, and pants at Alma. Alma looked at them. "This isn't something I would normally wear.", Alma said holding up the t-shirt. "I think it will be sexy and the children aren't here so put it on.", Alex said smirking. Alma smiled and started getting dressed. Alex pulled out a similar outfit. "No one will see you and they are actually super comfortable.", Alex said hooking her bra on. Alma sighed with a smile and began to dress. "There is not arguing with you is there?", Alma asked as she looked in the closet. Clothes racks were on one side and on the other, two trunks, and a wide cabinet. "What's in those?", Alma asked with a smirk. Alex rolled her eyes with a smile. "Not what you think. If they were full of that kind of stuff I would have used them already.", Alex said with a wide smile. She flicked on the light and walked to the trunks. "You sure you wanna see?", Alex said kneeling down to the first trunk. Alma narrowed her eyes but still smiled. "Yeah. Hiding bodies or something?", Alma joked. Alex smiled and opened the first trunk. Holsters and straps of all sized filled it. Alma looked at Alex confused as she slid over to the second trunk. She opened it to reveal all kinds of ammo. Alma's eyes widened in realization. Alex quietly stood and opened the cabinet. One on half, guns of all kinds stood proud. The other side held knives and daggers of all kinds. Alma looked at Alex who hung her head. "I have so much money because I was a hired hand. I hunted bounties. All criminals I swear. All peculiar though.", Alex said turning away. Alma grabbed her hand. "Alex you know what those people could do to the rest of us. You probably saved so many people.", Alma said touching her cheek. Alex smiled at her. "Why are you so amazing?", Alex asked, grabbing Alma by the waist. Alma smirked. "I had a great teacher.", She whispered and kissed Alex gently. Alex pulled back. "Wanna go for a run? How long has it been?", Alex said suggestively. Alma pulled back completely. "Alex can you handle that?", Alma asked with worry hinting at her voice. Alex touched the mark on Alma's neck. "I can now.", she said as she walked out of the closet and to the balcony. The sun had set and the moon stood brightly and proudly. Alex pulled off her shirt while Alma stared at her hard. As she finished undressing, she walked to the edge of the balcony with a smile. The balcony was on the second floor and below was the edge of the hill that the house stood on. Alma walked towards her. "Alex be careful.", Alma begged as she began to quickly undress. Alex smiled and jumped off the balcony. She landed on all four paws and shook herself. She soon heard a screech as a peregrine falcon flew down to her. She landed on her shoulders and lightly pecked at Alex's shoulder. Alex smiled a toothy grin and took off running. Alma flew along above her. They were just kids when they last ran together. Alma was twice as fast as Alex but stayed with her. Happiness overflowed within Alex. She was finally happy and as far as she knew, safe. They raced up over the small hills and through the trees. Alma screeched happily as she flew carelessly above her dark wolf. Then slowed down and Alex could hear the children. Alma flew down and landed softly beside her. She crawled on her belly through some trees and looked at the children sitting around a campfire on the beach. Alma stood between Alex's paws as they watched the children for a while. Millard was excited telling a tale from his book. Claire sat happily on a log and listened. Alex's children sat starry-eyed around as Millard spoke. A breeze blew through and with it, a scent. Alex's head lifted high. A scent. A new scent. She lifted herself and sniffed the air. Aaron caught the scent and then hers. He lifted himself off the ground and flicked his ears around. Alex's instinct compelled her to the scent. She crawled out of the bushes and sped off with Alma confused but close at her tail. Once she was out of range of the children, she sped onto the sand. Her paws kicked up sand with each step. Ahead of her, in the dark, lay a form on the beach. She slid to a halt in the sand. Lifting her nose for a better scent, she could smell peculiar. Alma stopped beside her and tilted her head, trying to figure out what the mass was. It had washed up from the water. Was it safe? Alex took a step forward. Alma stepped with her. Alex nudged her back with her nose. Despite the sharp beak and talons, she knew if that thing was dangerous it could easily kill her. Alma screeched but stepped back. Alex padded carefully over to the mass. Fur.It had fur. She walked around it carefully. It was dirty. It smelled of ocean. There were cuts here and there where the fur was matted red. She nudged it with her nose. Its chest suddenly rose sharply. A breath. It was alive. She growled and searched for it's head. She pawed at it until the head rolled out towards her. It panted hard for air. Alex's fur ruffled. The white fangs shown brightly in the moonlight. Its tail fell off from it's body. Its large paws were covered in sand. It seemed toned. Well fed. How on earth had it washed up here? It began to breath normally finally. Its paws twitched lightly. Alex stepped back and growled. Its ears began to twitch at the sound. It groaned lightly. Alex crouched and prepared for an attack. Its legs pulled back to lift itself from the sand. Its large head hung low as it slowly picked itself up. It moved painfully slow. Once it stood straight up it shook. Sand flew everywhere. Alma squawked in surprise. The creature looked into Alex's eyes. Gold met gold. Its grey coloring now standing out. It swayed back and forth but held strong. The scent was overpowering now. He was like her. She stopped growling and took a curious step forward. There, in front of her, stood a wolf. A Peculiar wolf. Her heart stopped. She was no longer alone in her struggles. But could he be trusted?