Turn Tail

A New Scent

                I washed my face feeling exhausted and collapsed back onto my bed. I felt like I hadn't gotten any sleep regardless of sleeping almost 10 hours. I was more tired than I thought, but yesterday was a big day. From moving to having unexpected visitors and then having that dream.

It was closer to 10AM now on a Thursday, my father said I would be starting school Monday as to give me time to readjust to living in a whole new country. So, I'll have a few days to organize the house and practice an acceptable English accent so people could understand me.

I groaned quietly as I recalled my dad telling me yesterday that schools were much different here and there will be multiple classes and teachers along with 100's on students. My thoughts wandered from the large difference of upbringings to my white wolf and to all the things needing done before school until I drifted back asleep.

I woke up disoriented, but I noticed immediately that I hadn't had another dream with my wolf again. I stretched my back, feeling a bit disappointed, and got out of bed for the second time today. I looked at the clock on my dresser and it was only a little after noon. I could go downstairs and make my father some lunch, but I'm not sure if he went to the store yet. I padded across my room and exited, still in the large shirt and soft shorts I'd worn as pajamas to bed last night, I could hear my dad in the living room arranging things into the entertainment cabinet. I plopped on the newly bought couch with a sleepy hello to him.

"Hello, Portab-Ella, you just missed the Alp- Mayor. He stopped by to register us into town, he's going to forward your information to the local school so you can start on Monday. Wouldn't come in for tea though, didn't like that, it was quite rude." My father fidgeted a bit while putting things onto the shelves. He looked worried for a moment before fully turning to me.

"How about we go out for lunch today? You can get familiar with the roads and maybe we can drive by the school, so you don't get lost. I think there's a local American style diner on Main street. We can go for ice cream afterward like always." My dad smiled and I could see the man from my childhood briefly in his eyes. The father who loves me and would do anything to make me happy. I missed him, but I'm glad he's getting better here, and we've only been here a day or so.

"Sure, dad. I'll go change and get ready! Give me twenty minutes and I'll meet you at the door." I smiled up to him from the couch and left the room quickly to shower and switch clothes.

I pulled the sleeves of my grey sweater up to my elbows and did a once over in the mirror quickly double checking my clothes. It was almost winter, so it was a bit cool outside. My sweater, dark skinny jeans, and Nike's should fair fine with the weather. I tried to smooth my damp hair before opting for a couple side braids that left most of it loose.

My copper hair was something I inherited from my mother, but from all the pictures I've seen of her it was always styled short where I preferred to keep it long with various braids running through it. My eyes were the same as my mother's deep emerald eyes.. My eyes were my favorite feature, they were unique and something I shared with someone I love the most on the Earth. I was an average height at just over 5'6", my legs were gangly looking though as they seemed to be longer than average. My small build didn't help my legs any as I looked one missed meal away from blowing down. That I couldn't help, whether I ate more or less my weight didn't change.

"You're twenty minutes are up! You coming or not Ella-phant?" I heard my dad holler from the front of the house spooking me from my mirrors image. I raced out of my room to meet him in the living room.

"Yeah sorry, I just got distracted putting my shoes on." I smiled at him, he'd cleaned up well and finally had shaved his growing stubble. I think a clean face looked better and less dilapidated and homeless on him.