Solitude

Chapter Twenty-one -Winnie's goodbye

I found Volney talking with a group of burly hairy people, each smiling with a dentistry of canines and sharp teeth. They hung onto every word Volney told, his story more interesting than any they'd ever heard. I sat in the back, not listening but not completely unaware either, lost in my own thoughts. I couldn't be alone right now and this seemed like the best solution for the moment.

A gruff laugh came from beside me, an older gentleman, the biggest of the group by far, with the same characteristics as the others surrounding us. "The kid is good." He whispered to me, leaning in so he wouldn't get caught.

"Yeah," I croaked, trying to pay more attention to the climax of the story, accentuated by Volney's tone getting quieter and quieter until he boomed his voice impossibly loud, nearing it into a roar. His face, more so his eyes, half transformed to make a bigger impact, the small crowd leaning back slightly as he did so, obviously startled by the sudden change.

"You came in with our batch, didn't you?" The older man whispered again. "Saw you carried in by Carver." He elaborated, gaze never leaving Volney.

I looked up at him then, noticing the way his eyes glowed even though he wasn't transformed. They matched Volney's nearly identically. His hair was the same blond, but had a few darker streaks of brown mixed in. His cheek bones were higher and eyes slightly more slanted. Volney usually shaves his beard to a light dusting of hair, but this man had been carefully growing and grooming it for some time, the slightly curled ends not yet going past his chin. It looks like he maintained it with great care.

"I'm Volney's Uncle, Lanier, nice to meet ya." He stage whispered, as if reading my mind. A woman in front of us shushed him, earning a smack to the back of the head. She rubbed it, elbowing the boy beside her to complain. She didn't look back again.

I was relieved when he didn't hold a hand out for me to shake, instead only nodding at me. "I'm Winnie, nice to meet you too." I didn't feel like adding 'Volney's friend' would be suitable so I left that part out. A sudden burst of warmth came from him as he chuckled loudly at something his nephew said.

"Volney has told me a lot about you. Seems like you three have taken a liking towards one another. It's good to have made friends while down there." Lanier hinted, finally brining his eyes down to meet mine. "You know, I remember you from when you were small."

My back straightened. If he's Volney's uncle, he must be a berserker too. Dimitri always made sure I never went near them, sworn enemies and all that. I've only been around the ones on level 83 a few rare times, and when I did, I was always welcomed with smiles and warm hugs, unlike with the wolves. Thought I didn't remember Lanier specifically, I remembered how sweet all of them were to me.

"You were a tiny thing, barely able to fit in one of my paws." His smile turned soft, sharp teeth dulled down and not so intimidating anymore.

"Dimitri never really let me go down to your level. I used to enjoy my times with you and your family though. You were all very kind." I smiled, scooting a little closer. "How have you all been? Did you all make it out okay?"

He rolled a lip at Dimitri's name. "We all got out fine Winnie, and we're all well and happy, as you can see." His hand waved towards the crowd in front of us. There was a sullen pause before he continued. "Did you keep in contact with that boy? Even after how those cruel wolves treated you?"

I gulped and nodded, feeling ashamed that I stayed with Dimitri instead of the berserkers, why I had I didn't exactly remember the reasons. "Yes, I stayed with them."

Lanier clicked his tongue, scrunching his nose and turning back to his nephew. "Suppose the past can't be changed now." He concluded.

A memory clicked into place. "You're Laney!" I exclaimed, drawing the attention of the row in front of us, each of them grinning. My cheeks blazed hotly as I ducked my head down, Volney continuing on despite the interruption.