Protector

Chapter 2

2

​Mom opened the door before I had even touched the doorknob. There was something in her eyes, it was like a mix of fear and panic and surprise. Mom was happy to see me though it wasn't hard to tell that she was trying to keep the smile on her face.

​"Hi dear, would you mind going up into your room before you come down for dinner?" her eyes flashed something that told me this wasn't a question.

​"Uh sure." I replied slowly still trying to read her face.

​"Good, I will come up soon."

​This was highly unusual because Mom normally wants Katharine and I to be downstairs before dinner, but I did as I was told, but as I was walking up the stairs, I heard a low growl. And it sounded like a bear.

​It took all I had not to have a panic attack until I got into my room. I quietly shut the door and took a look around. My room was painted a minty green color, with a dark teal bedspread contrasting same as always. That is the way I like it. I went and sat in front of my mirror and stared at myself trying to convince myself that what I heard was just my mind playing tricks on myself. I heard it though and I know it was real. I flopped on my bed and screamed for five minutes straight into a pillow. I know that growl was in my nightmare and now it's in my house.

​"Brianna Marie Miller, you are fourteen years old! You are not afraid of some silly noise are you? No. You are not. It was all just a figment of your imagination." I told myself hoping it would boost my confidence. It didn't help. Just then, I heard a knock on my door. I jumped almost out of my skin.

​"Hey Bee? You in there?" I immediately calmed down at the down of my childhood nickname. When I was little, I once climbed a tree and accidentally hit a beehive. Long story short, I spent the next hour covered in toothpaste from my eight bee stings. Ever since then, my father has been consistently reminding me of my pain by calling me 'Bee'.

​"Come on in Dad." I replied happily, needing some comfort.

​My dad opened the door, with a huge grin on his face, which wasn't a huge surprise since he was always in a good mood. He almost skipped in the room, and that grin the size of a watermelon.

​"What's up with you?" I asked curiously

​"Oh nothing, just happy to see you. That's all" He said still grinning, but now it was a more mischievous grin.

​"And?" I asked, because that is never all of it.

​"Oh I just got you a little present." He replied. His face hasn't moved a muscle yet. "Come downstairs and see it."

​"Oh! Ok!" I always loved to see what Dad brings home from his trips. He once brought home a huge, cityscape poster when he went to New York, and a whole book collection from a huge bookstore in Washington D.C.

​Dad started skipping down the hall. He pretty much more like a seven year-old than a forty year-old. I followed him down that hall of our huge house, down the stairs and into the Rec. room. All of the weights and exercise machines were cleared out to revel a huge empty room with a rubber/dirt flooring. I never really went in here, I preferred jogging in the neighborhood. Where I could enjoy the fresh air and be alone.

​"Um, where is it? There is nothing here." I asked, this was probably one of Dad's pranks, but he hasn't started laughing yet, which is what he usually does when he pulls a prank. He lead me to a huge dog crate in the back of the room that could probably hold about a small bear. He was still smiling like a madman trying to see my reaction.

​"Well, take a look!" He told me, gesturing towards the crate.

​"Uh ok." I replied slowly. I walked over to the crate and bent down to see who or what was inside. It was really dark but I could make out a large dark lump. I stared at it a little longer, the 'thing' opened it eyes to revel a large pair of icy, blue eyes.

​I stopped breathing for about two seconds. I stumbled back in complete shock and accidentally bumped into Dad.

​"What's wrong?" He asked frantically. Judging by the look on his face, he probably thought I had a heart attack.

​I regained my breath and my sense. "Oh nothing dad, I just didn't know the thing was alive. It sort of scared me, but I am ok now, thanks." I lied. I couldn't tell him that those eyes were in my nightmare. I looked back into the crate. The eyes were still staring at me.

​"Oh ok good, do you want to open the door?" He asked curiously.

​"No thanks Dad, you can open it." I replied quickly.

​Dad went over to the crate and slowly opened the door, and slowly walked back. I stared into the cage. The large lump grew larger and larger, until it cold not stand up any further. It stalked out of the crate and I could finally see what it was. It was a wolf.

It finally stood up straight and proud, and I could finally see how tall it was It was about three feet tall and four feet long from muzzle to the tip of its tail. It was a beautiful silvery gray with startling blue eyes. The wolf yawned and I could see the row of pearly white dagger sharp teeth that could rip me apart. It was beautiful though, the way its fur shimmered with every move and how it shimmered around its powerful back legs. The wolf took a step towards me, and I instinctively drew away. I looked up at Dad and he smiled.

​"Don't worry sweetie, he is perfectly domesticated and fully trained by the best trainers." He reassured me

​I gave him one last glance and slowly held my hand out for the wolf to sniff it. The wolf sniffed it and looked up at me. I twisted my hand up to try to scratch its head, but the wolf backed away. I could hear a very quiet, but still audible growl.

​"Don't worry, he is just getting used to the place and people. Why don't you name him. Just so you know he is a boy."

I thought about possible names, I looked back at the wolf and instinctively thought of a lighting storm. The dark, silvery clouds gathered together and a flash of lighting striking. Storm. I thought. Yes, that was a suitable name for him.

​"Storm. His name is storm." I said aloud. Storm stood up straight and slightly wagged his tail, like a dog. A very big dog. He looked straight at me, as if he could tell that that was his name.

​My dad looked quite pleased at my choice. "Ok good! Why don't you too spend some time together while I go make dinner. Oh Brie, remember, Katharine doesn't know about this." He smiled another mischievous grin and left me alone with a wolf.

​​"Um hello Storm." I said, trying not to make it weird. Who am I kidding? I am talking to a wolf here! He probably doesn't understand a word I am saying. I thought to myself. Storm was still there looking at me like yes I do understand every single word that you are saying. He sat down still looking at me. I read online that you should let a dog learn its surroundings before you do anything. (I did research a while ago when I was trying to convince my parents to get me and Katharine a dog.) I looked at him and he looked at me back. I guess he already took a look around a bit ago. Storm slowly walked towards me. I felt to instinct to run away, but my feet wouldn't obey my command. I held out my hands and he sniffed me, he started walking around me and stopped at my side. He started nibbling at my front pocket. I felt a surge of panic, but then amusement. I reached into my pocket to get my protein bar I was saving for later.

​"Is this what you want?" I giggled as he looked at me like he was saying, Yes you WILL give that to me. You want to, so give it! He hadn't hurt me at all, he was just trying to get it from my pocket. I unwrapped the bar and looked at the ingredients, peanut butter, peanuts, oats, honey. Well I think those are all dog safe. ​​I looked back at my hand and my bar was gone! I realized that I dropped my hand while I was reading the wrapper and Storm had stolen my bar! I laughed, "Why, what happened to my bar?" I asked playing dumb. In response, Storm licked his muzzle. "Why you little gypsie!" I exclaimed and squatted down to him. "You could have saved some for me!" I reached out and stroked his head. He twitched back at first, but he leaned forward as I found his 'itchy spot' as Katharine's friend Maya had called it.

<<Brie? Brie? Dinner is ready, come downstairs!>> The intercom read out loud.

Stormed jumped at the mechanical voice but I stood up and went over to the receiver.

"I'm coming Dad! Be there in a sec.!" I made sure that the door to the rec. room was locked, said good-bye to Storm and went downstairs into the dining room.