"Wolf, what was that all about?"
"Jade, I saw you listening by the door."
".....I was."
"Then I ask only this.
Do you think I'm an animal?"
"Well, Wolf, when you turn, it is hard to mistake your physical features with that of a four-legged wild."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know.
Come here and sit down with me so that I may give you a hug.
There, there. Let your tears flow free, and tell me what is the matter."
"WET RAG!!! WE NEED A WET RAG. YOU KNOW WHAT? JUST BRING ALL THE SUPPLIES. HURRY!!!"
"COMING!!!"
"AUROA!!"
"Huh?"
"IN HERE!!"
"Jade, what are...."
"Can you close the door, please?"
"What's happening?"
"WHERE ARE YOU? WE NEED THOSE SUPPLIES."
"I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE.
Tell me, what's the matter with Wolf? I saw him kick Hopper out."
"I can tend to him. How is Mike?"
"Mike? He….he's….."
"He's dead?"
"He died in battle amidst the others."
"Then where are your tears?"
"I can cry for him later in silence. Right now, these people need a healer, and I am helping. Oh, I do hope that Wolf's messenger is back with Laura's tea. Bandages and stitches can only do so much to a problem. Not everyone is as strong as Wolf."
"Auroa, they're just humans."
"Aheeeu…..aheeeuuu. Aheeau.. *Sniiphh*
"All of them.
Speaking of Healer, how is she?"
"As I said, bandages and stiches can only do so much. Valentine is with her, but she has lost too much blood. I'm afraid if the messenger doesn't get back soon, none of us will."
"Understood. Go, be with your people. We will follow behind shortly."
AUROA!!!!!"
"You better. These people need their king, and not their replica."
*Cla..dink*
"There, we're alone. What is going on with you? I've known you since we were kids and not once did I think you as different. No one did."
"Jade, with one swoosh of my claws, I could make anyone bow to me."
"That is true, but have I ever seen you do it?"
"....No."
"Then what's really going on? Are you worried that since God made you an animal and first, then that could prove that God really did make strongest to weakest? Wolf, let me tell you a story.
Three men walked into a castle. Two were guards standing in front of a horse, and the other was the rider. Now, since the guards walked into the castle before the rider, does that mean that they are the king?"
*Sniff*
"No. That just means they were doing what they're supposed. They were making a safe passage for the rider to cross."
"The guards may be stronger than the king, but that is exactly why the king wanted them first. If he chose them weaker then they would be of no use. Now, although the king rules the land, it's the people and everyone working together that truly make the place grand.
We could bicker all day debating who is the strongest and who is first but nothing would come of it. There are even games held to figure out just that question, but what is gained in the end? A shiny metal confirming what others already thought would be.The rate of individual competitions to team competitions is astronomical. Why? Everybody has their own ways of doing something and believe that their way is best. I don't care how strong or how weak you are. What I do care is the land. Do you keep it, do you tend, or is your ego so grand it cannot spare the end?"
"What if….what if what he says is true? What if God indeed made strongest to weakest?"
"So what….. if He did? Their are strong creatures and their are weak ones, but they balance it out justly to recreate. Maybe they fight, maybe they don't, but if they do, they do for family and not for recognition. There too, the lion may be the king, but it is the work of all accordingly to keep land peace. So, what are you to be?"
"Can you…..can you…..hand me my hood?"
"No."
"Please."
"I said no."
"But I'm not their king."
"No one said you were. In fact, why do you try? You're a family, not a clan. A leader, not a king.
Here you go."
"Thank you."
*Ziiiiiipppp*
"So?"
"Jade, I may be strong, but I have no idea how to stitch or band aid. My hands are too big and I would shake nonstop, but I will lend my service in any way possible. Ca…could you help me?"
"Now you're getting it. In fact, I just might have an idea how to use your strength, and your speed. After I show you how to stitch, you'll be able to fly through the line."
*Muwaa*
"Aww, what was that kiss for?"
"You're the best. Now come on."
"Wolf, transform."
"I didn't say you needed too…"
"The people will want to hold onto something while you stitch."
"Bluehood the wolfking. Never knew a wolf in clothes before but boy, you are rocking it."
"Oh, oops
*Birrrrrarrrurrrr….urrr*
"There, let's go."
"Next please."
"Laura, I don't think the hospital is big enough to hold all these people. Once word spread that Laura's healer tea was free, we….. It's like a madhouse in here. There are still people waiting outside."
"Max, Ben, go to the next warehouse over and set up there. Here are some bottles. Rachel…."
"What about me?"
"Go with your mother to the warehouse atowns way. Here, take some bottles."
"Excuse me."
"Sir, can you move? We need to get to the next 'house over. If you need to be healed, sites on either side will be open."
"I just need to know where Laura is."
"She is busy with patients in the back. Can you not see the crowd in the lobby?"
"It's urgent."
"Everybody is."
"...Wolf sent me."
"Here is the door.
Don't let it hit you on the way out."
"Abby is sick and needs bottles."
"How bad? Will our flasks suffice?"
"She is gonna need more than just a few bottles."
"....Follow me."
*Knock, knock, knock, knock.*
"I'LL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY.
Here, take a few bottles for the road.
Max, what is it? I thought I told you too…."
"He says Wolf sent him. Abby is ill."
"Then why didn't you offer him your supplies?"
"He says that they will not be enough. Abby is to the point that it is either her or the wolf.
Also, there are others."
"Healers?"
"No. Sick."
"Take me to them."
"Grandma!!!!"
"I'll be back shortly."
"Are you ready, ma'am? All you have is two bottles and a cookie box. That will not be enough."
"Do not be deceived. This box is worth far more than my tea. Where is the carriage?"
"Laura, I am the carriage.
WOLF, TRANSFORM."
"You expect me to ride you?"
"It is either that or walk?"
"Grandma, you are too old. What if you fall?"
"Max, I'm not old. I'm gold.
Take me to them."
"Hang on tight, and here…..we....go!!!!!!"
"WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"OWWWWWWWWWW!!!!"
"Almost done. Just have to cross the stitch back over. Hang onto Wolfs fur. This is gonna hurt."
*Snip*
"Now, did you catch that, Wolf, or was I too fast for the god of speed?"
"I might need one more tutorial, and could you slow it down this time?"
"Wolf, if I go any slower then the stitch will break. I have to keep it fast."
"HOW'S IT GOING OVER THERE, SISTER?"
"Auora, just finishing up my half. You?"
"Ow….owww."
"I'm just ringing out the rag in my bucket and then will give you a fresh one."
"Little wolf, where are you taking me? Stop…stop…stop.. Woooh!!! I'm gonna fall."
*Earrrrrrrggggg*
"Was that too fast for you?"
"I'm carrying too much. I can't carry and ride. Look over there at that rundown cottage, Take me there."
"But miss, what about Abby?"
"I have faith. Stop here."
*Knock, knock, knock."
"COMING. I just….oh…Laura. It's you."
"I see that you haven't been at the hospital today. Have you no ride? Where are your parents?"
"Sick in bed. I'm afraid to leave them for fear of what may happen. They are growing old and immune to do the basic of necessities. Their was a day I used to walk outside of this town, but that day is nigh."
"May I come in?"
"Please. Both of you. This way."
"CARL, WHO'S AT THE DOOR?"
"IT'S LAURA FROM THE HOSPITAL. SHE HAS COME TO SEE US."
"Ach….achh… BRING HER IN HERE."
"Hi, my name is Laura and I used to have a cottage just like…..well….in better state of repair, but that does not mean I have no love for it. Tell me, what seems to be the matter?"
"I'm afraid your tea will be of no use here. We need a healing and not a drink."
"Don't mind my ma, she can be a bit under sometimes."
"Well, Miss, I can assure you that my tea in the past was not as effective, but this is different. It is made with Abby's blood so that the effect can be stronger.
Carl, can you sit their heads up?"
"Cups are in the….I'll be back."
"Laura, we really need to…."
"Look around. This won't take long."
"Here are the cups, ma'am.
I'm sorry if they are cracked. They are the ones we have."
"Thanks kid. They'll do just fine."
"No. I'm not drinking that stuff. You cannot make me. No…no…no…no….gulp*"
"How do you feel?"
"I…I….I can move."
"How about you sir?"
"Thank you. Out of the depths of our heart, we thank you. There is nothing more you could do for us."
"Well, there are two. Carl, can you hold this bottle?
Now, does anyone have a dollar?"
"You want my parents to eat a dollar now?"
"No, silly. I aim to multiply it.
Thank you.
How much cash do you think can fit inside this little cookie box?"
"Wait, I have a hundred. I found it floating in the wind one day and held onto it. Can you multiply that?"
"Carl, why didn't you…."
"I couldn't spend it on myself. I was thinking we could celebrate after you were healed. So I kept it."
"That'll work. Thank you."
"Now what? Do we have to do something?"
"Nope. Just insert it into the box. Close it, imagine as much as you want, and as long as it can fit in the box, it'll multiply as per requested. Here, how much do you want?"
"FIVE THOUSAND."
"HUN? Don't be greedy?"
"He's not greedy. In fact, I don't think you're even close. Think bigger."
"Bigger?
Wait, Carl, what are you doing?"
"Here, help me press it as flat as can be. There you go.
Guess again."
"FIFTEEN THOUSAND!!!!!"
"Honey?"
"What? You picked five so I had to pick higher."
"Then why not pick even higher? Come one. I'm sure we can easily fit more in."
"Ummm…well then. Uh....THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND!!!!!"
"You got one of those numbers right."
"FIFTY THOUSAND!!!!"
"Now, you're getting it.
Let's double that."
"There is no way one thousand 'One hundred's' can fit in there. That box is barely big enough to hold one cake."
"Who knows. Let's see. Now we close the lid.
Carl, can you hand me a blanket so that we can cover the box?"
"Here you go."
"Abra…..cadabraa!!!"
"Wha….wha….that's. No way. We can't take that much."
"You can and you will."
"That's way more than one hundred thousand.
THAT'S ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND!!!!!
Are you sure all of that came out of that box. Maybe its mathiplying is wrong."
"Dear, the box is not wrong. You can fit three thousand of those dollar bills inside of a 12 by 12 shoebox. Laura here has a five by five shoebox. All you have to do is keep reducing and you'll be able to fit fifteen hundred of these bills into a 6 by 6. Take away another hundred since Lauras box is an inch smaller and walla. You have fourteen hundred 'one hundred' dollar bills fit snug and bug."
"Ohhh. See your husband is doing his best to understand magic by applying what he knows of calculating. Very good. I'm impressed."
"A…shii..ba….ba…ba..bi…ba…bi"
"Well, I hope you put this money to good use, and I shall see you on my way back. My friend here has informed me that there are places we need to be."
"Wait, Ma'am. Take your bottle back."
"No. That is yours to keep. Use it well and it will cure any illness. Goodbye now."