Lost in the Wind

A Fresh Start

After the ones who had stomach to eat, ate, we stood and began walking. Silly I know but I couldn’t think of anything else to do and they were all expecting me to know what to do. We walked at a slow pace, laughing and talking freely, all afternoon until we stumbled upon a small town.

We walked downtown quickly and kept our heads down. We walked into the parking lot of a Walmart and went in threw the sliding doors.

I imagine we must have been a sight to see. Skinny, dirty kids. When the greeter looked at us questionly,  I stepped forward.

"Hello Sir, fancy day to get community service hours."He looked at me questionly.

"You see i stopped in at the orphanage and the lady that worked there said that i could bring the kids to Walmart." It was a spin-off but it was the first thing that came to mind.

"I didnt think we had an orphange in this town." The old man spoke, thinking to himself.

"Um, you dont, the kids wanted exercise so we walked from the next town over." I smiled. 

"But thats close to an hour away!" He said in alarm.

"A bus! We took a bus halfway and walked the other half!" I exclaimed.

He looked down and scratched his head. I turned to the kids.

"Alright kids lets go!" and we all dispersed into the clothing aisles. 

I picked up a comfy pair of clothes, leggings and a loose sweatshirt off the clearence rack. Then i went and looked for food to replace the sandwiches. Then i bought a simple 'to go' first aid kit, and then went to meet the rest of us at the back of the store. I opened my pockets and gave every one enough money from the bag Timber stole, to buy the things they picked up, assuming they were neccessities.

We all spread out around the cash registers so not to raise suspicion, and quickly shuffled past the greeter standing vigilant near the door. We walked to the outskirts of the town to a car wash. I put in the coins and lined up the kids. I hosed them  down with soap and water, rinsed and repeated. 

Everyone was finally clean and changed into their new clothes. I left the group and walked into the Travel Center and picked up a bunch of maps and pamphlets before heading back to the group. We walked out of the town and through the forest until dark, where we settled down in a wooded area, and ate food hungrily. Everyone snuggled up close to eachother to stay warm.

I looked at Jake who ended up beside me with Wynde in between us. He smiled back.

"You were pretty good back there." he whispered.

"With what?" i asked.

"lieing"

I looked over at him questioningly.

"You know i would almost say that you were a politician." 

I let out a bark of laughter. He always new how to make me laugh.

"G'night Jake."

"Night Lyd"

*-*-*

The next morning i woke up early, but saw that quiet a few others were already awake. 

"Morning" I yawned. There was murmured responses. 

"Lydia i need your help! Look at my hair" spoke Thorn. I laughed. I motioned for her to sit down anad i pulled her hair into a  french braid down her back. Then i had to braid all of the girls hair. I pulled mine into a simple pony tail.

Breakfast was ate and I looked over the maps. If we continued heading the way we were, we come to warmer climate soon. That is where we would go.

We packed up and headed out. Around lunch everyone who could shifted into wolf form. The stronger ones put the ones who couldnt shift onto their backs and told them to hang on. I felt Frosty lean down and hold on securly as i took off at a run. My paws hit the ground continously and it felt amazing. I listened as the rest pounded after me.

*-*-*

The next few weeks passed much like the first day. Everyone was happy, and well-fed, we rested all the time. By the time we had reached the warmer climate, everyone was in good spirits and the younger ones understood why we couldnt go back to our home. It would stir up too much trouble. Thunder shifted for the first time one night, which was an experience for all of us. Fortunatly his ankle was healed immediately. 

We kept on until we were sure we were not intruding on another packs territory, were we found a meadow where we would settle for a bit. Canopies were made over sleeping areas, and guards schedules were set up by Nate to make sure we wouldnt be ambushed by rouges, even though we were kind of rouges ourselves. Plans were made for the following week, to start building our new house, it would be small but liveable.

Training began immediatly. Jake, Timber, and Nate gathered everyone and taught them all how to fight in both wolf and human form.  It was tough, but everyone enjoyed the challenge, as well as something to do. 

One training session we were doing combat training in wolf forms. I was against Timber for a demonstration. Timbers coat looked amazing. He looked like an oversized Rottweiler. 

The rest of the pack made a circle around us and watched earnestly. We circled eachother, huunched over and stalking. I watched Timbers paws as he moved closer. Then he lunged forward and took me completly by surprise by slamming right into me. I was expecting an attack, not a battering ram. I picked myself up just in time to dodge the next lunge, and skillfully twisted to hit him in the side and knock him over. When he was on the ground i jumped on him and held on with my claws. He managed to free himself and bat at me with a huge paw. Ii nipped him on the back of his neck and he jolted away, it continued along like this for some time, neither of us able to get the upper hand until i slowed down and thought of a plan. I backed up and watched as he came for me again but i jumped up before he collided with me and landed on his back, taking him down wtih me, where i was announced the winner of the battle.

After that everyone was put into groups to work on their skills. I walked over to the group of small wolves and helped them come up with an idea for them in battle. None of them where big enough to use strength, but they were quick and smart so i could work with that. By the end of the day, we had a battle set up between Mason a 13 year old, and little Thunder. I watched as Mason easily pinned Thunder down with his weight and went to lean down to put is mouth on his mouth to single the end of the battle, when Thunder suddenly stopped squirming. I saw the look of confusion on Masons face of what had happened and i saw Thunders hind feet come up and rake his claws down the soft of Masonss underbelly... just like we had practiced plently of times. 

Minutes later Masons belly had healed but he still wasnt in any happy state. All the kids cheered and were excited that they had won a battle. We spent the rest of the day coming up with battle tactics and then told stories before everyone drifted off to sleep for the night.