• CHAPTER 7

    I laughed, running though the forest. The pine needles made a blanket under my feet. It felt good out here, I could breath easy – Unlike at towns. I thought.
    It bothered me that I thought of towns, I hadn’t been to a town in over 2 years. I was 16 now, Georgie, the boy who used to be a farmhand and then ran away with me, was 17. We weren’t like… dating or anything, but we both liked each other a lot. I guess you could say we could be an amazing couple, but for now we were just really good friends.
    Georgie was tall and had auburn hair. He had gray-green eyes and an amazing personality. He loved wolves like I did because of the fact we could both communicate with them.
    “May?” Georgie asked, touching my shoulder.
    “Oh!” I gasped, snapping out of my flashback. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking…”
    Georgie raised his eyebrows, “About what?”
    I bit my lip, I didn’t know if he would want to travel back to towns. We had shamed both our families by leaving, and by being out with the wolves. We could bring great sorrow, sadness, and the like. “Do you remember the promise I made to the town… two years ago?”
    He nodded slowly, I couldn’t tell what was on his mind, did he remember? “Yeah. We promised to go back once the dust had settled… Hadn’t we?”
    I sighed, “The dust has certainly settled, hasn’t it?”
    “Yup, but don’t be nervous about it. We’ll be together, OK? I promise I won’t ditch you to go face the town alone.”
    I smiled, I knew he would never leave me, but it was reassuring to hear it from his mouth. “Does that mean we should go soon?”
    Georgie looked up into the sky, “What do you think?
    “I guess we should, but we hardly look presentable.”
    “You always look amazing. And if they can’t accept you just for what you look like,” Georgie’s eyes snapped onto mine, “then they can just get over it. You’re beautiful no matter what they say.”
    I laughed, “All right. Well we should at least get some good clothes to wear.”
    He scratched behind Moonshine’s velvety ear. Moonshine was a beautiful wolf we had befriended in the forest, and she was strong yet gentle. She was the pup of my first wolf friend – Brook. “Fair enough, we’ll leave for town to go shopping at daybreak tomorrow.”
    As he got up and left, a hard block settled in the pit of my stomach. Was it fear? Dread? I didn’t quite know, but I knew there was a lot of nervousness involved.


    CHAPTER 8

    I picked fuzzies off of my shirt. “Ug. Fashion has sure gotten worse.” I mumbled.
    I was wearing a gray sweater material turtle neck shirt that had no sleeves, and a black skirt that went down to a little below my knees. I wasn’t used to wearing shoes, but Georgie convinced me to at least get a pair of black flip-flops to match.
    Gerogie was wearing a light blue button-up shirt, and khakis. He wore a pair of worn-out brown work boots.
    At least he looked comfortable.
    “Are you sure you want to do this? I’m not sure I want to do this? What if I’ve shamed them?” I was having MAJOR second thoughts; I could hardly sleep last night.
    Georgie laughed as he walked beside me, “Someone nervous about meeting their parents again?” He laughed as I blushed. “Don’t worry about nerves, May. I’m slightly nervous too, but we can’t turn back now, now can we?”
    “No.” I whispered as I saw the little farmhouse come into view.
    I saw poppa outside working in the fields, and Bell in the pen with the lambs. Momma was probably in the barn milking the cows, and my brothers were most likely running errands or chopping wood, being helpful like they always were.
    I felt a strong longing to run towards the house, to run to every smell and memory. I remembered how I had snuck into the Horse barn, how I would always play in the fields with the cows and sheep like Bell did now.
    But at the same time I hesitated, worried about what they would think. Would they send me back out, shunning me?
    I shuddered as I thought of all the possibilities. “Don’t worry.” Georgie whispered as we stepped onto the pathway to the house.
    I blushed, “You always know my feelings – don’t you Georgie?”
    He winked at me, “That’s my specialty.”
    Somehow talking to Georgie always helped me calm down. It’s like; I knew he would always be there for me, so why worry?
    Sadly my fears hit harder the ever as I stepped up onto the porch, and knocked with the big brass knocker hanging on the door. I turned to run, but Georgie grabbed me and turned me back around. Just in time to see the door open.
    “Hello?” a pause as Bell’s small head poked out, “MAY?!”
    “Bell!” I gasped.
    She ran out, holding open her arms, little tears running down her cheeks.
    I embraced her, picking up her small body in my arms, “I’ve missed you SOOOO much!” I cried, running my hand through her long glossy hair.
    “You gotta say hi to Matti and poppa and momma and.. Oh, I have to show you our rabbits, and Millie birthed ‘bouta year ago.” Bell ran on and on about what has happened since I was gone. She was so excited to see me, I almost forgot about the consequences I would face…. Almost.