Book 1. The long dark nights. RE-EDITING

23. The little sister he never had. EDITED

Artos woke up with Melody in between him and Maria, who slept about a foot away. She looked like a little Angel. Which one you ask? Both really. Melody and Maria looked like sleeping Angels.

He watched them both sleep. Artos laid his head back down. He thought about how much Melody looked like Jo. Hey. Maybe he could adopt her, or make her his new sister, or something like that.

He didn't have time much to think about it, for Melody woke up. She squeezed out from between the two wolves. When she was out, she stretched, yawned, and sat down. She watched Artos. Artos had closed his eyes so she thought he was asleep.

She sat there for a while. Then Artos realised that she must be hungry. He popped his eyes open. She jumped up and landed like a dog wanting to play. This made Artos smile. Maria then woke up.

Melody was excited that they were awake. She sat back down, and tried to keep her tail from wagging. Artos stood up, then stretched. Maria was still laying down on the grass, but soon got up.

"Good morning." Maria said.

"Morning." Said Melody.

"Howdy." Artos said. "I bet your hungry, aren't ya?"

Melody nodded.

"Well, lets see what we can scare up." Maria said.

Artos and Maria hunted while Melody sat there. After a while, they had caught enough game for the three of them.

Artos brought Melody her portion. She sat there staring at the fresh kill. She was waiting for Artos to give her the go ahead.

"You don't need to wait, Melody. You can just dig right in." Artos said.

Melody brought her muzzle down to the meat. She sniffed it, moved it around a little, then started eating.

When they were all done eating, Artos stood up. "Well, that was some good eats."

Melody was sitting there as if she was waiting for a command. "Melody, hon, you don't have to do like you did with your family here. We're equals. And even then, with Hinto, we all eat at the same time." Maria said.

"Its respect. Thats what we were taught where I came from." Melody said.

"Where did you come from?" Artos asked.

"Way north." Melody said.

"The game lands?" Maria asked.

"Yeah. Thats what Papa called it."

Maria sat down. She was about to speak again, but Hinto walked up in his wolf form.

"Artos. I need a word with you." He said.

"Aye sir." Artos said, then followed Hinto. When they were out of hearing range of Maria and Melody, Hinto started talking.

"She can't stay here." He said.

"Why not? I'll look after her."

"Its more a matter of distraction."

"She won't distract me."

"I can't take any chance of that. We can send her to my pack."

"Yeah, speaking of that, I was told that I could visit Rinty when I shifted back into my wolf."

"Well, lets go now then. I don't want you to get too attached to her."

"Too late. I'm already, as you said, attached to her."

"Okay. Let me rephrase. Before you get anymore attached to her than you already are."

Hinto walked up to Maria and Melody. Artos went too. Artos didn't want to leave Melody. She was like a sister to him already.