"I need to leave," Dusk exclaimed.
"What!" cried Sasha. "You're barely in good condition!"
Dusk whipped her paw out from underneath her belly. "I know, but if I wait any longer, my pack and I will never meet again!"
"It's too late for that," Ada said, "they're long gone."
"My chief is hurt, they'll stay back for him," noted Dusk.
Ada sighed. "Go if you must, but, again, you're a free wolf, who are we to stop you?"
"Gareth can," said Kimi, shrugging. However, she didn't look so sure. Suddenly, Kimi cried, "Thala!"
Kenny was running towards them, Thala close by his heels. "Kimi! Ada! Sasha!" the boy cried and then dropped down to a squat as the dogs came over to him, tails wagging. "Dusk!"
Dusk reluctantly sauntered over to him. "How are you?" cried the boy, reaching for her. However, Dusk shied away, fearing he'd touch her side.
Kenny abruptly stood. "Dusk?"
Dusk growled and ran towards the door. She have seen Thala and Kimi do this whenever they wanted and Kenny would open the door for them. "Dusk, don't go," said Kenny, and thhe turned back, and shouted, "Mommy! Daddy!"
"Kenny! I'm cooking!" Elena replied, her voice soft and faint.
"Daddy!" cried Kenny. "Mommy!"
"Gareth's outside, dear," cried Elena.
"Dusk want to go," said Kenny. "Dusk by the door. Like Kimi and Thala."
Pause. "Wait, ok, dear?" was the reply. After a few minutes, Elena rushed towards Kenny. She wore a simple yellow dress. "Dusk-"
Dusk turned her head as she heard the hinges of the door creak. She turned and leaped for the opening door, only to pin Gareth on the ground, and, luckily, on a wool doormat. Despite the impact, Gareth reached of for Dusk.
"Owowow," Gareth said. "What'cha do that for, Dusk?"
"Gareth," said Elena, eyeing the man who was patting and scratching the wolf. "Dusk is a wolf. She has her own pack and family. She needs to leave..."
The boys were silent as so were the dogs. "Elena, you know I only wanted to nurse her..." Gareth defensively said. He stroke Dusk on her head down to her neck and the wolf hummed a contented feeling out into the air. If she left, it would be never again she can share the warmth with the humans, or receive strokes of love and pats of acknowledgement. That was a price to pay for a chance to find her pack.
"She's a free wolf," said Elena, sighing, and Kenny close to her, Thala and Kimi rubbing their bodies on Kenny's legs, gently reassuring him.
Gareth's strokes slowly ceased. "You're right, Elena," Gareth sighed as he pulled Dusk's grey head towards his chest, messing her fur on her neck. "Oh, Dusk, I hope you know what you're doing and ready to go."
Dusk whimpered. She hated goodbyes.
Gareth then pulled his hand down and Dusk shivered as his sweaty hand swiped through her fur, neatly placing them downwards as they were. She shook her fur.
"Show me your paw, Dusk," said Gareth, and Dusk understood. She held out her paw with white ribbons of bandages on it and Gareth. Gareth touched and pressed down on her paws, she growled when he did, but seeing no signs of pain, Gareth let go and undid the ties of the bandages. "I'm sorry I never did get to help you with the gash on your side, Dusk."
Dusk whimpered. Gareth rose up with Elena's help. "Feel free to visit, Dusk, we'll know it's you through Ada, right?" Elena said.
"You bet!" cried Ada, barking.
Thala and Kimi also cried out, "You can trust us too, Elena!"
"You're welcome to the family," said Elena, stroking Dusk's neck, and the feeling of pleasure ran through Dusk. She felt warm.
Kenny rushed forwards and tackled Dusk. Kenny wasn't very heavy, but Dusk was taken by surprise.
"Dusk! I'll miss you!" the brown-haired boy cried, hugging Dusk. She winced, prepared for the pain the so-called gash on her side would give her, but she felt nothing but Kenny's warm hands when he touched it. The fuzzy white fur that patched there relieved Dusk.
Even though they weren't so bonded, Kenny had tears in his eyes. "Go, Dusk, go," said Gareth, his somber voice lingering in Dusk's mind. Dusk sprang forwards and began to run. A few barking was heard, but Gareth herded the dogs together towards him.
"Bye, Dusk!" cried the four dogs in the house, who watched with Kenny and Elena, "safe travels!"
Dusk let a howl into the air, "Good-bye! May the stars watch over you!"
Author's note: Some of you are probably thinking "oh no, Rainbow died!". No, I was busy last week, sorry. More consistent posts coming on, so, yeah, have a good day, all!
=D
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