Land was just a few hours away. Tulip and the pack had been traveling for a week. Tulip could barely focus on her winds. She was now married and nothing in the whole world could change that. Not even humans.
As the American shore began to be seen over the horizon, Tulip let the coming winds take over. It was nice not to have to make them herself. She flew ahead. America was different from the last time she was there. But of course, it had been years and years ago, Tulip thought.
"Hey Tulip!" Noh called from the boat, "How close are we?"
Tulip did a backflip and flew back to the boat. "With this wind... made two or three hours."
"Finally! I can't wait to get my feet back on dry land!"
"Yes. It has been a while since we have been on land."
"Oh, I hope the land is a beautiful as you are. Or at least half as beautiful."
Tulip giggled a little bit. "Yeah, I hope so too!"
Tulip had anchored the boat on a shore a mile or so away from the docks. She didn't want to risk human sailors catching her and her pack. After all, they had been through this past week, she really didn't want to see humans right now.
"Everyone off?" Tulip asked Noah as he got off the boat. She was happy to see him jump off the boat. They were sick of being out at sea on that wretched boat.
"Yes," Noah said to his new wife, "Everyone's off the boat. They're all happy to be too."
Tulip, in Grass form, grew her vines, effortlessly, and took the boat apart. She wanted to make sure no one, especially the humans, to know someone had just docked upon the shore.
"Hey Tulip, is anything familiar to you?"
"No, love. I was in the ocean for a really long time. Things are very different from when I was here last. And besides, I hadn't paid heed to the life here, so of course, I wouldn't remember anyone it."
Something came to Tulip's mind. The pack was pretty large. Getting them a place to stay was the first priority. There is no way she could get through the city unnoticed with a large number of wild dogs with her.
"Can you keep everyone here?'"
"Sure. I can try. Why?"
"I'm going to try and find a place for all of us to stay. It will be temporary. If anything."
"It's okay. We can stay all long as you need us too."
"If any humans come by, hide. Alright?"
"Okay. See you in a little while love."
"Bye Tulip."
The city was big. Buildings and people everywhere. Cars were going by fast. The people were loud.
"If I'm going to live here, I'll need a place that is farther away from the hustle of this city."
Tulip felt... off. She hadn't felt this way since she left America. Leaving Dr. Cresen behind. It was the hungry feeling she had had.
Welcome home, my doll.
That voice, Tulip thought. Nightmare is back. But how? I feel no pain of vast intensities. I am in no trouble of any kind. How is she back?
I'm always here Tulip. In your mind. In your body. Always with you.
Always... with... me?
"Hey Tulip!" Noah was running to catch up with the distracted little flower.
"Noah! W-what are you doing? What about the pack?" Tulip turned around at the sound of his voice.
"They're hiding. It's fine. I want to look for a place with you since we're married. We have to stay together don't we?"
"No! It's not okay! Not okay at all! And don't say we're married in human public! They have different rules! Go back to the pack!"
"It's fine. And besides, we're apparently really good at hiding. They're hiding throughout the city. This place is full of alleys and dark places."
"Honey please-"
"I thought you said we shouldn't show that we're married." Noah groaned crossing his arms.
"It's okay to show that we're a couple, but not married. And- and this my work." Tulip put her finger up to her mouth. She was thinking.
"What?" Noah was lost. What was going on in Tulip mind? One minute she says leave. The next it's okay to stay.
"The pack hiding. You said they were all over the city?"
"Yeah. Why?" Noah turned his head to the side slightly.
"If they're not in one place then they won't be easy to catch! Thank you, Hun!" Tulip hugged Noah, and took his hand and ran off down the street. The city hustle and bustle, like the city with the laboratory, made it hard to get anywhere quickly.
At the end of the road, there was a realtors' house. Tulip and Noah rushed inside the barren place.
"Good afternoon. How may I help y'all this evening?" the lady behind the counter said when they rushed in.
"We need a place in the city, but also out of the city," Tulip said.
"So you want to live on the outskirts of the city?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You two seem kind of young to wanting to get your own place." The lady turned her head to the side a little bit and narrowed her eyes.
"We're just a little short ma'am," Noah said.
"Is that so?" She turned her head back but kept her eyes narrowed, "Okay then. There is one house listed on the outskirts of the city," the lady shuffled through her papers. "Here it is!" the realtor stood up and walked out from behind the counter. "Come with me. If you don't mind."
The realtor's name was Amanda. She was very kind to Noah and Tulip. She even drove them to the house.
"Here we are! It's a simple four bedroom, three baths. Completed with an attic and basement!"
"It's perfect! We'll take it!" Tulip said beaming.
"But don't you want to see the inside?"
"No thanks. How much?"
"It's a hundred dollars. But are you sure you don't want to see the inside? It's really nice."
"No. Here you are," Tulip gave the realtor one hundred dollars in cash. She and Noah got out of the car and started for the house.
"Wait!" Amanda jumped out of the car. "You have to sign this document. I'm glad I had it. But I really wasn't expecting you to just jump for the house like that."
"Sure," Tulip signed the paper. She was happy to get this over with as quickly as she had. She preferred to get away from humans as fast as she could.
"Well, it was nice doing business with you!"
"Yes. You as well." Amanda got back in her car and drove off. Probably back to the realtor house. The house was theirs. Now all that was left was to get the pack back together.
"So now what. We have a house but no pack."
"Leave it me." Noah had a clever smile on his face. He made a V-shape with his index and his middle finger, and he placed them at the corners of his mouth. He blew and whistled. It was a higher pitch whistle. A howl was given has a response. The pack dashed from here and there. Gathering on the lawn of the house.
"Everyone. Welcome home!" Noah stretched his arms out as far as they could go. He was happy to present a place for his family and pack members.