Smolder

Chapter 10

Vivi slowly stroked the fur of the wolf in front of her. It was six feet long from head to tail, body four feet off the ground. It's fur was whitish grey in the low light of the dusk. It kept looking from left to right, occasionally purring.

A few minutes ago, while Vivi was pestering Lupa with questions, without being discouraged by the fact the all she was getting were nods, and the sun had just set, Lupa suddenly looked up at the sky. Her eyes glowed a shade of icy blue.

Then, in the blink of an eye, she fell onto the ground and turned into a ball of fur. That ball of fur, just as quickly, grew bigger and bigger, until this giant white wolf is stood before, it's ear raised in attention.

Now, Vivi definitely didn't get startled. Of course she didn't fall back on her butt with her hands raised. And that undignified squeal that was probably heard all around the camp absolutely did not issue from her.

Now, she was closely examining her. And her conclusion is-she's a wolf. A big wolf.

Despite all the dirt and stuff, her fur was smooth and silky; and sort of cold.

As she continued stroking her neck, she could feel the tension slowly drop. The wolf's ears twitched once or twice, then slowly dropped to the sides of her head. The icy cold glow in her eyes dimmed and went off. The wolf, Lupa, growled and brushed her head on vivi's hand.

Vivi herself would've slipped off to sleep, if not for the slight tap on her shoulder. She looked behind her to meet a pair of hazel eyes.

The owner of the eyes had light cocoa skin that took the color of freshly baked bread in the campfire. Her brown hair fell from the sides of her head in coils. She was smiling but her expression was masked because of the scarcity of light. There was a tiny scar on her left cheek.

Vivi was confused for a second, then she saw the scar on the left cheek.

"Rayla!" Vivi threw herself on the older girl, " oh my God! I thought you were dead! Where were you? How did you survive? How did you get out? "

"I wanna ask the same questions!," Rayla's voice was high pitched and bubbling with excitement, "Back in the capital, there was this elf guy. When they attacked, he got us out through a tunnel," she lifted her face to look at Vivi, "How did you get out? Where in the name of Gorgoa have you been?" Then suddenly her smile faded, "did Russell..."

"Oh, he made it. Although, he would've been dead if not for me. I saved his life twice!" Vivi said with an air of pride.

"Oh," Rayla sighed, too relived for a reply. Then she saw Lupa.

An "ack" escaped her as she stepped back. The wolf judged her curiously.

"It won't bite, right?" Rayla whispered into vivi's ears.

"She, not it. She's a person." Vivi said, "Lupa, change back."

The wolf stared at her.

"Change back. Like you did before!" Vivi said louder.

Staring intensified.

"Okay," Rayla said in a doubting tone.

"But she can do it!" Vivi wailed, "she just turned into a wolf a few moments ago!"

Rayla lifted her hands in defensive, "Okay, okay. I believe you."

Then, suddenly remembering something, Vivi looked around.

"Where's Marianda?" She said, still looking.

"Mother didn't...", The look on her face was pained.