Born Wild

Reunited

Back in Washington, Koda and Tala were still torn apart, wondering how they made it a week without the other. She had been making fires in the woods, and bundling up in her coat trying to stay warm. It was so cold and damp. The wind swept through the trees, making her shiver. 

One night she passed by the house to see how Koda was doing. She looked from a short distance into the window of the glowing small house and saw all of her old friends sitting with Koda. They all hugged him and listened to him talk. She stood cold and all alone under the drooping pine trees. No one knew where she was or if she was okay. They all probably hated her now for leaving, but she couldn't explain to them why. She could never tell anyone.

She felt afraid as she walked back alone to her tent in the rain, glancing every direction. She didn't know if any people or animals were lurking in the dark forest. The cold night made her fingers and face sting. She was hollow and without hope. She was all alone and hurt those she loved, but it was all out of her control. She curled up into her small tent several minutes from the house. Her only light was a small lamp.

She unzipped her backpack, taking out a few sweaters, and putting them all on over her head. She rested on the tent floor uncomfortably over annoying twigs and pebbles. She threw her coat over herself, but she got colder over the next few hours. The shelter blocked the wind but the night became bitter. She couldn't stop shivering and tried to think of what she could do, but she didn't have anywhere to go and had no more warm clothes. Her heart beat slower and slower until she passed out in the dark bitter forest. Her hands and feet were numb. She lay completely still, barely breathing as the wind howled through the trees.

She heard her name being lightly said and felt a touch. She was barely conscious and her head was fuzzy and heavy. She couldn't move or say a word but she knew it was Koda, kneeling over her. His warmth radiated over her. He took his warm hat and scarf off himself, and put them on her, quickly trotting through the snow back to the house. She was numb and barely awake but felt safe in his arms. 

He slowly placed her on his bed, her misty long hair draping over the pillow. He took off her black muddy boots and pulled the covers over her. He held the side of her head with one hand and her arm with the other. She felt his warmth and knew everything was going to be okay. She drifted off to sleep, letting the room's heat echo all over her skin, bringing feeling back to her stinging hands and feet.

Early in the morning, as the sun was just starting to color the sky, she woke. The energy slowly came back to her limp body. She looked over and saw Koda reading next to her with a cup of coffee. His dark brown hair was disheveled and his eyes were tired. She attempted to sit up but her head was spinning and her body was weak. He told her to take it easy. She relaxed back into the plush gray pillow and gently reached for his hand, wrapping her fingers slowly around his. She looked down at their hands for a moment, enjoying his soft reassuring touch again. She was sad it couldn't last much longer. She knew she could hurt him and had to stay away to protect him.

She withdrew her hand. "Koda..... I left for a reason....Thank you so much for saving me, but...... I can't stay here." 

She realized she couldn't stay in Washington anymore. it was too cold to survive and she had to protect Koda. She would have to start over again. She wiped her tears away and sat back against the bed, her heart heavy with pain.

He slowly leaned back in the chair with a smug face. He looked out the window for a moment, and then back at her, confusing her with his grin.

"Because you're a werewolf?" he boasted. He took a sip of his coffee and looked at her for a moment with raised eyebrows. She stared back at him, completely frozen. Her heart raced and she trembled. She didn't know what would happen next and was surprised at what he would say.

"I am too."

He just sat there and drank his coffee waiting for a response. Tala was still confused and stared back. He set his coffee down on the nightstand and finally stopped her confusion.

"After you left I was messed up. I had no idea why you would leave. A few days after you left, I started to feel weird. I was restless, irritable, my body ached, and a few nights I found myself waking up in other parts of the house in the morning, meaning I had moved in my sleep. Our friends came over one night to talk me down, and I sat on the couch. As I got up after they were gone, I accidentally slid the couch back and found the book you left. My father had talked about the wolves of Washington in snippets all my life. Everything started to piece together."

He looked out the window again. "I knew we were werewolves."

Tala paused for a moment after he spoke. "why are we werewolves?"

Koda took another sip of coffee. "All I know is that you were showing symptoms before me, and you scratched me. Maybe you were scratched or bitten by the wolf in the forest on your birthday..."

"You didn't tell me that there was a wolf that night." Tala replied with wide eyes.

"I didn't want to worry you any more than you already were."

"Was it me in the forest?"

"I don't know..." He muttered.

"I........I made you become one though? I'm sorry Koda." Koda grabbed her hand and reassured her.

"Tala...It's okay, I'm not mad. I don't think we're evil. My father never spoke badly of them or seemed to fear them. It's a little scary to have this thrown upon us, but I think this can be a good thing if we learn to control it."

Tala shook her head and looked away from him. "I don't think this is good. I didn't want my life to change like this. I don't want this. I don't want to hurt anyone and what if someone found out?" She looked at Koda with worry. "What will happen if someone finds out? What will they do to us?"

Koda told her that no one would find out and that they would not hurt anyone. She was not convinced and rather scared of herself. She was still upset over this new change but was relieved to at least be back home.

She had missed Koda so much and didn't know before tonight if she would ever talk to him again. She looked over at him, admiring his dark flowing hair and dreamy smile. She leaned her head back against the pillow and looked at him. 

"I missed you so much" he grabbed her hand. 

"I missed you too" 

His smile was charming and made her heart flutter.

She pushed the covers out of the way and swung her legs to the side. She was still very weak but attempted to stand up and walk to Koda. As she wobbled, he bolted up and grabbed her waist so she didn't fall.

"Thanks" She grabbed his upper arms. She smirked and slid her hands back behind his neck and leaned into him.

 As they held each other close they felt their worries fall away.

He held her waist with one hand and with the other he brushed her long hair back from her face. He leaned in and their noses touched. They smiled and kissed as the sun's warmth radiated through the window. 

"I missed you so much I'm so happy to be home." She muttered near his lips. She kissed him again, her arms wound around his neck and his hands gripping her waist.

She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing softly on his neck. "I'm so glad I left Tennessee and I'm so happy I met you. You changed my world completely and I can't even imagine my life without you. It was so hard to leave you." 

Koda smiled and was quiet for a moment. Finally, he slid closer to her and put his arm around her, pulling her in. "So I don't know if you can tell, but I have been battling with some fear. I have been crazy about you since we first met, but-"

She looked up at him with surprise as she said "really?"

He laughed. "yes, there was just something special about you. I liked you but I have had a hard time with being afraid to get to know you. After my dad kicked me out I feared that there was something terribly wrong with me. I wondered if no one would want me. All I needed was some love. Finally, I found you, and you.... Tala....You became my home."

Tala comforted him, admiring him even more as he let her in and made himself completely vulnerable. She also realized their lives were somewhat complicated now, but she was sure of one thing. She wasn't alone.