THE WOODS (A Bury Farm Wolf Tale)

8:Mistakes

What was that? Had something stirred, moved and dashed from one place to another, had his eyes deceived him, or had something scurried away with the intention of hiding.Intrigued, the male who enjoyed to wander far and wide over the vast and varied land aquatinted with him and his family; felt sure he'd seen something.'What was it, he was able to smell?'Man, woman, child or beast? It was like nothing he'd smelt before, out on his own and able to sense something unusual, the maturing teen needed to investigate what seemed vaguely familiar, before whatever it was got away.'Where was it, he or she?'Sensing, smelling, seeking and then following the scent, he needed to know what it was and what he, she or it wanted?'Who was exploring Bury farm Estate without permission?'

Attempting to remain out of sight, Jace had spied others but this one was different, accustomed to being seen as mysterious and different, the youngest Wood brother had never before felt the urge to meet those to wander into what was his lair by mistake.A female, he knew; she knew he was close.'Who was seeking who?'

"I know you're there."Of course she knew.This female wasn't like others.'Who was she?'Where had she come from and what did she want? Not since his parents and grandparents had moved into the converted barn within the grounds of Bury Farm Estate had any villagers ventured onto what was their land without invitation or being in need of help.'Some but few made mistakes.' Never had anyone knowingly attempted to visit his family without having gained permission.'Permission which was never given.'

"You can come out now."Was this young and stunning female brave, or was she being stupid? Had she been dared to see what she could see and were those to have dared her, watching close by? "Show yourself."The one to have stopped in her tracks insisted her pursuer come out into the open.Unlike his elder brother; Jace felt unsure of how to relate to those he heard referred to as girls and boys, men and women.Jace liked keeping himself to himself, thirteen years old, Jace Jaecar Wood enjoyed his simple life, the simpler the better.'What did she want?'His instinct was to chase her away. Attempting to appear menacing, confident and strong, he stumbled out and apologised for having startled the lone female, embarrassed, he smiled back when she smiled at him.'Who had startled who?'

"Jackal's brother?"She said."Younger or elder?"'Did she have to ask? Jace prided himself on being the more youthful of the two.Jackal was fourteen and Jace a season younger.Young, Jace knew what he had to know and little more.Younger than her, she was amongst the eldest in her school year.'What did she want?'

"Hello."He attempted to sound confidant in the presence of the female who appeared much more in control than he felt."Can I help you?"He encouraged her to tell him her name, what was she doing on his land and what was it she wanted?

"Vessie Heathers-Grey."She introduced herself wearing the brightest of smiles before revealing her reason for being where she was."I'm looking for Jackal. I followed him from school."Listening to how she'd lost sight of the boy whose scent was strong,Vessie told how the one she called her classroom study-buddy had vanished into the undergrowth.

"If my brother doesn't want to be found, he wont be found."Jace told Vessie she was wasting her time, but instead of telling her to go home he asked if her parents' knew where she was?'Not one to snack between moons.' He was simply showing a friendly interest and looking out for the wellbeing of the one he'd found lost in the woods.'Not that she looked lost.'Aware of the games people played, the young male and his family had heard it all before, with many laying claim to being neighbourly, when all they were was curious and nosey. 'Interested?'

"Sorry, I'll tell him you dropped by."Sensing something different about the one standing before him, he asked if she needed directions to get home?"If Jackal's gone, it means he isn't interested."Jace told her as with a shrug of her shoulders she said it was his loss.