Chapters of a Life: There's no place like home

4

Success, that was my first thought as I stretched out late that morning. Last night we celebrated with venison, bison, turkey, duck, and veggies and pies and cakes and music and laughter and drink and and and. It had been the wee hours when we had finally stumbled off to find our beds. I was glad that I had left the animals out in the glade so I wouldn't have to rush out to take care of them. Rising lazily, stretching some more, I ambled down to start some coffee. Only come to a screaming halt, "AHHHH, what in the name of the Goddess are you doing here!"

There, sitting at my table, was Ewan O'Flattery. A face I would never forget, with an attitude to match.

"Apologies didn't mean to frighten you." He drawled, as I ventured down the rest of the stairs and into the kitchen.

"What are you doing here", I again asked, moving to put the coffee on and to palm a knife.

"Yer Da dinna tell ya?" He sounded rather pleased.

"O'Flattery I had a late night and havna had me coffee. Spare me the flap and speak plain." I really needed that coffee, NOW.

"It's Ewan, I realize you might be a bit befuddled", his smirk grew as I shot him a dirty look.

"That apology is looking mighty poor and ya seem to have developed a hearing problem or maybe something else so I will say this slowly, Why. Are. You..." I say as the coffee finally began to boil. 'The Goddess does love me', I thought.

"Guess yer not important enough to know the good news. We're..." I had just taken a sip of my coffee and was attempting a second when he spoke.

"What are you doing here Ewan", Dad asked, stepping into my den?

"Thank you, that is what I want to know", I tell dad, still trying to get that second sip in.

"Sir, I thought I would catch up with my old friend. We could compare notes and what has happened to our lives." He lies smooth as owl shit.

I canna stop myself I burst out laughing, the burn to my hand was worth it. "Old friend, yer in the wrong den", I tell him when I catch my breath as I soak my hand in the cool water from the pump.

"Come on Bo, I was a pup. Doing pup things we both were. We're wolves now and I can admit I might have taken things too far but still I was a pup." He is weedling and I can't see his spin. It confused and scared me as to why he was doing this.

"Ewan please leave so that I can discuss this with Bo. And tell your father that I will discuss why yer here early." With that Ewan leaves, with a bow to the both of us and with him off the porch Dad shut the door.

"What was that about?" Dad asks, grabbing a cup and pouring himself some coffee.

"I have no idea. Just got up and came down to get coffee, he was sitting at the table", I told him, moving to get some scones and jam to eat.

"Bo, I let them back in", Dad rips the wound wide open.

"I figured", why else would Ewan be gloating in my kitchen.

"Uh Bo, are you OK with this? Yer awful calm." Dad is not used to this version of Bo. The one who thinks before flying off the handle in a situation.

"Why are they back", that is the information I need.

"The Europeans are pressing our borders, we are a small pack. We need all the warriors can get and they are good ones." He tells me, begging me to understand.

"I understand but understand this. I will kill any of them if they hurt any of my people." Finishing up my food and coffee, I leave Dad at the table and go get dressed.