I trotted down the stairs again only thinking of that yummy meat. I froze... Meat... Uh oh. I had a problem if that was all I could think about. I sat on the landing. Closing my eyes I thought of who I was, my family, my home, the human me. I freaked...
"CAAYYLLEEE!" I howled at the top of my mind at my cousin.
She comes rushing around the corner from the other stairs.
"What? Why did you howl at me?"
"I have been only thinking of meat. I think the change is needed quicker than two days. I am having trouble remembering me. The change has to last longer than a few minutes or I will be stuck... Like this."
"Oh honey... Alright tonight. I will help you figure out a way into the garden as yourself. We will not let De'rax know yet. This night is just for you."
She gives me a hug. Putting her forehead on mine looking me in the eyes. I can't help but whimper a little. She smiles and nods. Mouthing tonight she gets up and heads back the way she came. I sigh keeping my eyes closed for a few more minutes taking deep calming breaths. Focus I tell myself. As I calmed down I continued my trek downstairs.
As I was stepping onto the landing at the top of the stairs the front door is thrown open. Three men came barging in almost knocking the butler Jez'ar down. I rush down the stairs stepping behind him before he could fall. He steadied himself on my back and looking down at me I see a look of fright, awe and thanks. He composes himself and turns to the men.
"The lord General is busy at the moment gentlemen if you would wait here I will go and see if he is available to see you."
They laughed at Jez'ar but could do nothing else.
"You do that. Let him know that Re'at, Sif'ar and Ki'o are here."
"That will not be necessary Jez'ar. I am here."
We all turned to see De'rax standing with A'va at the top of the stairs. He continues down the stairs sending A'va off as he stops at the bottom.
I walk over to stand next to him. He looks down at me and I hear" Thank you for helping Jez'ar"
"I couldn't just let him fall."
"Yes you could have. But you didn't and for that I am thanking you."
I stare at him a moment and I don't know what came over me but I shove my head up into his hand. He looks down and smiles. Rubbing his hand down into the ruff of my neck he leaves it as he turns to speak.
" Can I ask why you decided to barge into my home?"
"We came to tell you some fascinating news. But we see that you have some news yourself."
He looks down at me again. "Yes I do but it was not news I wanted to share as of yet. Since you are already here though I may as well tell you. This is my new partner. Here to protect me when I'm on business."
"Ooo it's a wolf. Can I touch him?"
With out warning he rushes forward with his hand out to touch. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." De'rax warning came to late. The man's hand touched my head and I couldn't stop myself I bit. He screamed. Blood sprayed into my mouth. I cringed it took everything I had to release his hand. Pulling my teeth out and throwing his hand from me I snarled.
" I told you not to touch. She is very sensitive about her gender and about touch."
"You will pay for this De'rax. I will have that wolf's head before the week is out."
He turned cradling his hand and strode to the door. Jez'ar opened the door for them as they quickly past by him, he slammed the door as the last one stepped out.
De'rax looked at me. Still holding my neck he walked me towards his room. He didn't pull or tug just led me up the stairs down the hall through his room into the bathroom.
"Sit there. I am going to wash the blood off."
I am not a dog but his tone didn't let me argue. So I sat. He pulled a rag off the sink wetting it in the tap. He slowly walked toward me as if I would snap at him to. I had thought about it. But the remembrance of the taste of his kinds blood stopped me. It wasnt nasty. That was the problem... It was delicious. Which is what scared me.
I waited patiently as he cleaned me. It felt like forever before he spoke.
"You did warn me didn't you? That the next person that assumed you were a he was going to be bit. Also to add insult to injury he touched you."
He said the last part with gritted teeth like it bothered him as much as it did me. I thought... Maybe it did.
"I'm sorry." I said. "I couldn't help it. Instinct took over and before I knew it his hand was in my teeth."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I tried to warn him that were adverse to touch."
"Im not adverse to touch. I just have to trust a person first. Touching in my family is a big thing it conveys a lot."
He nodded. Understanding my thoughts about touch. "I'm glad you allowed me to touch you. This means your trust in me has grown as much as mine in you. There, all done. Let's go down and get lunch we missed."
I smiled my wolfy smile and nodded. He went out of the room and I followed. Down to the dinning room where lunch was still ready and waiting.