Coyotes: Denis

Chapter 10: Mutual Trust

   I was completely disoriented. I didn't know where I was. All I felt was a cool, dampness pressed over my face.

   Slowly, I realized I was on the floor, with my mother's hand cradling my head. She had a washcloth on me, trying to gently wake me up.

   I cracked one eye open, and her face was lined with worry. Now it all came back to me. I had fainted because life didn't make sense anymore and I couldn't handle it.

   I sat up slowly, checking my body to see if I had hit anything on the way down. It seemed like my mom caught me before I could hurt myself, for the millionth time.

   Mom pulled me into a bear hug, and kissed my cheek before pulling away.

   "Denis, I'm so sorry. You must be so confused about all of this. I blame myself for it. You had to leave school so young, and I never told you about those damn birds and bees."

   I made a face at her just for mentioning it. "I know about the birds and the bees... sort of. Please don't tell me. I just didn't know about all the other stuff."

   She just nodded. "The hormonal adult stuff?" I made an even uglier face at her, hoping it would scare her away from this conversation for tonight.

   Apparently my disgust just made her laugh, and I playfully pinched her arm in retaliation. She pretended to be seriously hurt by me before taking me by surprise and digging her fingers into my sides.

   I squealed at the top of my lungs, and couldn't stop laughing and thrashing against her merciless tickling.

   Somewhere in my mind, I wished I could bottle that moment up and keep it forever. It was the first time I had felt my age instead of like another adult in the house, and just had /fun/.

***

   The next day, I finally went out on a hunt again. Today, my goal was to catch a hare. I decided that I wasn't going to go back home until I caught one, maybe even two.

   I took off into the desert with a spring in my step, knowing that when I had my sights set on something, I could distract myself from thinking about the conversation from last night.

***

   I came back home as the sun was setting. My head was held high when I went to my mother, proud to show her that I had two decent hares in each paw.

   Watching her skin the animals I brought her was so intriguing, and I wondered if she learned it while she was friends with the Huntsman.

   I picked them up from the log next to her, and used a dull knife to scrape off any excess flesh before I put them in my pack.

   My mother raised an eyebrow at me. "What are you going to do with those?"

   I just shrugged. "I might give them to Benoit to make something with."

   She absently nodded her head as she put the rabbits on a spit to go over the fire with, until she snapped her fingers and rushed into the house.

   When she came back, she shoved a paper into my hands before returning to our meal.

   Turning it over, I saw my name in neat writing, and quickly ripped it open.

   My siblings came out, as if on que to start bugging me, and as soon as they saw the letter in my hands they started in.

   "Oooo! Denis has a love letter!" Marione teased, puckering her lips together to make kissy faces at me. The other two squealed and joined in on the fun.

   I drowned them out as I started to read the letter.

   "Dear Denis,

   I have been recovering very well, and I will be allowed out of the house starting tomorrow.
   The purpose of this letter is to formally apologize to you. I feel terrible for vanishing without any explanation.
   I was afraid that I would do something to rupture our friendship. I decided that running and asking for forgiveness was the lesser of two evils.
   I am truly sorry if you were upset by my actions the other day. I never wanted you to see me like that."

   The next lines filled my stomach with butterflies.

   "I am aware of what my mother told you. Words cannot express the guilt that I feel. My intention was, and is, to be your mentor and a friend above all else. The decision on where to go from here is for you to make.
   Lastly, I would like to see you as soon as possible, if you would allow it.

   -Benoit"

   I gave the letter to my mom to read, and took over putting together plates for the little ones for her.

   I bit my lip, waiting for her insight. My heart sunk when I saw her eyes water, fearing that she had been upset by something he wrote.

   She gave me back the letter and dried her cheeks, flashing me a smile as she did. "Oh, I love that boy. I really do." She said. "Well, I guess he's a man now, huh?" We both giggled at that.

   "I'm confident that you'll both do the right thing by each other."

(A/N: This is the shortest chapter so far! But I think it's a nice little break from all the tension and angst.)