"What did he say, papa?" Katie asked, eating her breakfast.
"We are moving today. He has enrolled you at new school."
Both Katie and her mother were at a loss of words. Her mother, especially Katie, already felt comfortable living here. They did not want to move to an unfamiliar place.
Katie had a lot of close friends here, plus she could meet Kinsey here every six months. She did not want to move at all. But because this is an order from the Umbra, she must accept it without making a fuss. The mother also could not do anything and complied with the order.
For the Morse family, the real head of the family was Umbra. If they experience a lack of funds, Umbra helped them. Only, Umbra did it for the welfare of Katie and not them. Even most of the school fees, Umbra was the one who paid for it.
Because of this, the Morse couple could not do anything if the man demanded them to move.
But not with Katie. She didn't want to move. Not only will she part with her friends, but she also will not be able to meet with Kinsey. Katie didn't want that to happen. Therefore she immediately went out looking for her Umbra in the forest.
Right when Katie left the house, several neighbors came to meet the Morse couple.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard of what?"
"There are eight wolf carcasses with a split belly. Not to mention one bear who died of blood loss from a knife stab in its neck."
"Looks like there are hunters who entered this area."
"Wait." interrupted Mr. Morse, starting to dislike this topic. "There can't be wolves around here, can there?"
"Yes, there shouldn't be. Maybe they do, but the packs never come out of the border with the suburban forest."
"That's right. Somehow the wolves decided to get out of the den. How weird,"
Mr. Morse looked at his wife, nervously. They began to understand why they had to move from here. It seemed like this place was no longer safe for Katie.
Meanwhile, Katie still didn't know anything and rushed for the Umbra's hideout.
"Umbra! Umbra!"
"What's the matter, Kei?"
Katie looked back... up the tree. It's strange, why did her Umbra not coming down to see her as usual?
"Umbra come down, my neck hurts if I have to look up like this all the time." groaned Katie.
"..." there was no response from the man. The weirdest thing was his expression was different from usual. His appearance looked cold and void. What happened?
"Umbra, did I make a mistake?"
"No."
"Then why are you angry?"
"I am not angry."
"Then why don't you come down here?"
"..."
Katie stamped one foot on the ground. "See? You're angry at me!"
Umbra sighed and didn't want to argue anymore. "Sorry, Kei. I want to be alone right now, you'd better go back."
"What are you hiding from me?"
"..." Umbra could not replicate. Indeed there was one that he hid from Katie. But he didn't want that innocent kid to find out.
Not yet.
Not yet the time.
"Umbra, why did you hide your left hand?"
Umbra looked blankly at the ground. Katie might have a weak memory, but her instinct was quite sharp. Even sharper than him.
"By the way, I ordered chocolate ice cream for you. Looks like it's already arrived."
"Really? Is it chocolate ice cream?"
Umbra's lips curled up as he managed to divert Katie's attention. He did not know is it bad or good knowing Katie had another weakness. Her focus was easily distracted every time she found more delightful things.
Umbra disappeared as soon as Katie turned to return home. She was too excited to eat her ice cream to the point she forgot the purpose she was looking her Umbra for.
Only this time, Katie was reminded of her original purpose as her desire to stay here was bigger rather than having an ice cream.
She turned only to find her Umbra was no longer there. He had already left, making Katie take a deep breath.
"Tsk. I haven't voice my protested yet." sighed Katie before returning to her home.
Umbra watched Katie's retreat behind a large tree with a pale face.
Apparently, the left hand he hid was seriously injured from fighting with the bear last night.
'See? You're angry at me!'
Umbra was indeed angry. But his anger wasn't aimed at Katie. He was angry at himself.
How could he have gone leaving Katie while the little girl had almost get killed? If he came late, Katie would be gone forever.
Moreover, why did a pack of wolves suddenly appear in this area? Is it possible the Vangarians have found them? Are the wolves controlled by them?
The Vangarians couldn't possibly control the wolves in America from Prussia!
Well, whether they knew about Katie's whereabouts or not, Katie had to get out of this place as soon as possible. They all had to move and erase any traces in Louisiana.