Odd Wolf Out: Chapter three
Kate, A tired she-wolf with blonde fur was making her way into her den. She was followed by her husband, Humphrey, who bore gray fur. He showed just as much slug in his step. They waited until they both reached the center of the den to look at the entrance.
"Okay, Kate." The gray male wolf addressed his mate. "How long do you think we have before they come?"
"They" who Humphrey was referring to were the second litter of pups/cubs that the inter-status pair had produced after the final battle between Rogue Wolves where the Western Pack allied with the Bear Kingdom and utterly defeated the Rebels and their now-late King Gnaw. In addition to Claudette, Smokey, and Runt, the three pups they had a whole year prior, they produced another nine pups named in birth order: Bo, Clint, Kate Jr., Lil' Humphrey, Claire, Bell, Tess, Jazz, and Swagger.
"Ten minutes at best." Kate replied. With that the couple plummeted to the ground to rest and for what they thought would be ten minutes turned into twenty. Sadly though, it still wasn't long enough.
"MOMMY. DADDY. WHERE ARE YOU?" A multitude of voices yipped outside the den. Then, eight puppies came rushing in one by one according to birth order: Bo, Clint, Kate Junior, Lil' Humphrey, Claire, Bell, Tess, and Jazz.
"Kate?" Humphrey groaned.
"At least they gave us longer than I thought." The female sighed.
"Well." Humphrey yawned. "Time to see if a Gray Wolf can get grayer."
"There's supposed to be nine of you." Kate realized. "Bo. Where's your brother?!"
Alongside the a nearby river, a small wolf pup named Swagger was was looking at his reflection, he had a good reason to do so. His fur was greener than the grass around him, and his eyes were two glowing marbles that had no pupils. Everyone in his pack has noticed him and some thought he was of a bad omen, that the Alpha-Omega interstatus marriage was abomination and he was proof. Others believe that it was an even bigger blessing, for he is a superwolf that could bring fortune and even save the pack one day from disaster.
He just wished everyone looked at him as a normal wolf. He was so sad he didn't even know how his family look at him. He doesn't communicate with any wolf or any creature to save the risk of rejection.
As he stared into the river, he failed to notice the reflection of a young adult wolf smiling on his right until it spoke. "If I was that handsome, I would spend whole days staring into the river for my reflection too."
Swagger was taken back from this until he looked away from the mirage to face the actual wolf. He became at ease when he recognized the wolf as his older brother, Runt.
"Hey." Runt wagged his tail. "How are we doing?"
Swagger blinked his eyes at him.
"Still don't talk huh?" Runt shrugged. "Right."
"Should've known that wasn't going to work." A voice teased behind Runt. Swagger two young adult wolves approaching, the male was his oldest brother, Stinky, and the female with him was Claudette, his oldest sister and the overall oldest sibling.
"I know, I know." Runt grinned then looked to Swagger. "Sorry about that."
The pup kept a straight face as he wagged his tail.
"A straight-faced tail wagging" Smokey chuckled. "I'm going to have to try to learn that."
Claudette walked over to the little green wolf. "Swagger. Wasn't Bo and the others just with you a while ago? Please, you think you can show_ _us where they are?"
Swagger walked to look directly up into his sister's eyes. Then, he dashed back towards the empty space to the right and stopped, he then looked back at his siblings.
"I think he wants us to follow him." Runt realized.
"He's gonna take us to them alright." Smokey chuckled.
Claudette was moved by the pup's actions to make up for his lack of speech. "Thank you baby."
As he began to proceed, they began to follow him. It was a trek of ten minutes, all filled with Runt's superfluous attempts at humor. At last, the quartet reached their home valley where they were staring at their family den.
"Thank you, honey." Claudette cooed. "You went so out of your way to do this. All Big Sister has to pay you back with are kisses, will you take those?" She asked as she playfully puckered her muzzle.
"If he won't, I will." Smokey teased. " I'll have some please."
"Me too. Save one for me." Runt playfully pleaded.
Claudette rolled her eyes at how silly Runt and Smokey were acting. "Y'all didn't do anything. You were just as lost as I was."
The squabbling was stopped when the trio realized that Swagger was already sitting up straight with his head held up and his muzzle puckered out.
Runt was shocked. "Oh my Lord. He thinks you're serious."
"I am." Claudette grinned as she walked towards the green pup, knelt down, and met his muzzle with her own in the form a peck.
"Well if you won't give me one, then he will." Smokey complained as he crouched down and puckered his muzzle. The green pup rolled his eyes, but not that anyone could tell considering he had no pupils. He pecked his lips into Smokey's.
Runt just looked at his siblings and shook his head. "Alright. Alright. Now, it's my turn."
"Looks like you're a busy pup today!" Claudette smirked at the pup.
Swagger watched as Runt knelt down and puckered his muzzle as the former two. Wagging his tail, Swagger pecked his muzzle into Runt's.
"Thanks, pup." Runt grinned as he turned to leave, followed by Claudette and Smokey.
What happened next caught the trio off guard. As they turned to the side slopes of their den, Swagger let out a small bark that froze Claudette, Smokey, and Runt in place. They turned around to see a smile beaming brightly on his face.
The trio looked at each other than back at the the pup.
"He barked." Smokey said. "He barked and he can smile."
"A cute smile at that." Claudette added.
"Don't worry." Runt finished. "Your secret is safe with us."
Swagger wagged his tail at Runt's words of reassurance as he followed them up the hill towards their den.
Back inside the same den, eight puppies were feeling guilt as they watched their parents enter a state of extreme panic.
"Bo!" Kate slightly shouted. "You guys should have thought better than to just leave your brother alone like that."
Bo attempted to argue. "Mom, you how Swagger is, he never wants anything to do with anyone."
"So, you're saying that justifies you abandoning him like that?" Humphrey stepped in.
"No." Bo shrugged. "Maybe."
Kate opened her mouth to speak once more, but then she noticed three wolves entering the den. She saw that it was her oldest pups.
"Hey Mom." Claudette greeted.
"There you three are." Kate sighed. "Your Father and I are going to go look for Swagger. Have you seen him?"
"I know the first place you can try looking." Runt chuckled.
"Really?" Kate asked anxious. "Where?"
"My back!" Runt said turning around, revealing a small green-furred wolf puppy on his back.
"Oh my goodness." Kate exclaimed. "Where did you find him?"
"He was with us this whole time." Smokey replied.
"You guys are absolute life-savers!" Kate said as she hugged the the trio all at once.
"I think it's time I went to go recover some lost strength." Runt yawned.
"You sleep as much in the day as you would at night." Smokey frowned. " What "lost strength?"
"Unless.." Claudette interjected. "Unless he's one of those high-power consummation creatures?"
"Huh?"
Claudette sighed. " It means he builds up mass quantities of energy, but doesn't have the stamina to hold it. He literally burns through it all in one use."
"See." Runt chuckled. "She gets it."
"I don't really know what the four of you have been up to." Kate raised an eyebrow. " But I appreciate you guys looking after your pup brother when Bo and the others came here without him."
"But Mom.." Bo started.
"Bo!" Humphrey stepped in. "Don't."
That night, as that whole family slept together, Runt opened his eyes to look around at his family. Seeing they were all asleep, he got and walked straight out the den. What he did not realize was that not all his family was asleep.
Off in the right the right corner of the den, between. Behind Bo and next to Jazz, Swagger awoke to see his older brother's departure. He dashed out the den to see Runt conversing with a young female wolf. Then, the two started to walk off. The young green wolf stood in a sentinel pose that whole night waiting for Runt's return.
As the horizon began showing smears of sunlight Runt returned with several female wolves, all giggly and dizzy with fermented berries.
"Well ladies." Runt said. " I'm afraid that I must take my leave of you for now."
"The King of Shadow Forest has spoken." One of the she-wolves responded. "Until next time, your Majesty." She then gave Runt an affectionate wave, moving only her paw digits.
As they wolves went their way, Runt headed back up the hill to his family den and looked to see Swagger at the entrance sitting and looking up at him.
Runt gasped, then suddenly he shrugged. "I'd ask you to promise that you won't tell anyone what I do at night, but then, I probably wouldn't have to worry about that anyway. You know, considering who it is I'm talking to."
Runt then kissed Swagger on the forehead. "Goodnight." He smiled as he walked past him to enter the den until something miraculous happened.
"Goodnight." Swagger replied.
Runt stood so still he may as well have been a statue. Then after a long silence, he turned around to face Swagger. "Whatchu say?"
"Good-night." Swagger repeated with effort, sounding more clear the second time.
" I don't believe this." Runt chuckled to himself with tears. "You can talk? Can you say our Mama's name?"
"K-Kate." Swagger attempted.
"Okay." Runt said impressed. "And Papa's?"
"Hump-phrey."
"Good." Runt marveled. "What's mine?"
"Gerald." Swagger wagged his tail.
"Try again." Runt urged, surprised that Swagger used his real name.
"Ger-rald." Swagger wagged his tail again.
"Okay really good." Runt congratulated Swagger once more, seeing that was going nowhere. "It's been a while since anyone used my real name like that. High paw!" Runt/Gerald held his up to the pup.
Swagger slapped his paw into the paw of his older brother. "Gerald?" Swagger began again. "You're not going to tell anyone else I can talk are you?"
"No. Not unless you want me to." Runt/Gerald reassured. "Why? You have plans on letting them know yourself?"
Swagger shook his head sideways.
Gerald raised his eyebrow in realization. "You'd rather nobody knew at all don't you?"
Swagger lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Well then, I promise." Gerald answered. Your secret is safe with me."
"Really?" Swagger looked up.
"Absolutely." Gerald confirmed. "Besides, since you plan on staying church-mouse quiet, I don't have to worry about Mom and Dad finding why I actually sleep in."
"Thank you, Gerald." Swagger beamed brightly.
"Thank you, Swagger." Gerald winked. When his wink ended, he saw the pup yawn. "How long were you awake anyway?"
"Long enough to watch you leave." Swagger replied. "I stood right here waiting for you to come home."
"Wow. That's stamina for someone your age." Runt/Gerald marvelled. "I guess we'll both be sleeping in." He turned towards the den. " C'mon."
Gerald walked his through the den in a creeping manner so as not to disturb any of his family members. At last, he made his way to his spot several feet behind Stinky/Smokey and Claudette. He settled down and yawned when he noticed a green-coated figure right in front of him.
"Gerald." Swagger asked. "Can I sleep with you?"
"Sure." Gerald smiled.
Swagger climbed into his brother's paws and rested his head against his chest. Gerald gently pulled the pup in closer and softly laid his head on his tiny body.
"Goodnight Gerald." Swagger spoke once more in a whisper.
"Goodnight Swagger." Runt whispered back as the two drifted off to sleep.