We run Together, They're my Family
As Wolf trekked through the forest, her ears perked up at the sound of a low growl. She immediately spun around, scanning the surrounding area for any sign of danger. "Is there someone there?" The girl called in a rough whisper, holding her staff in a defensive position.
A pink jaguar cub leaped at her from the bushes, tail swaying. “Ack! Mute!” The girl swung her staff at the creature, hitting it in the belly and sending it flying back into the brush. “Ow, what the heck?!” In the mute’s place was a human, who seemed a few years older than Wolf. Her skin and hair were all wrong, but otherwise, she was human.
“Who are you?” She snarled at the stranger, whose hands turned into pink paws. She began licking them, as cats do and merely tossed a glance in Wolf’s direction. “Kipo. Kipo Oak, and you are?”
“None of your business, mute!” Kipo stopped cleaning herself to look at Wolf. “But I told you my name, it’s fair!”
“Ugh, fine! You can call me…Wolf!” Kipo eyed her strangely.
“That’s a weird name,” She commented, her hands shifting back to normal. “What…are you?” The small girl asked, confused. “I’m a human! Well, kinda. Come on, let’s go see my dad!” Kipo grabbed Wolf’s free hand, running deeper into the forest.
“Dad, Dad!” The pink-haired girl called out. “Yes, darling?” Wolf looked around at the makeshift home, a hole in the ground that seemed to be an abandoned mega bunny burrow. “Dad, this is Wolf! Wolf, this is my dad!” Kipo’s dad knelt at the girl’s level, holding out one hand to her. “Hey, Wolf, you can call me Leo! Where are your parents?” He asked, glancing around. Wolf shivered. “Um…I don’t, uh…know?” She replied sheepishly, looking suspiciously at his hand.
Leo frowned. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Wolf! Would you like to stay with us for a bit? It’s not much, but it does its job.” He offered, gesturing to the burrow. “Sure, I guess I could for a little bit.” The small girl decided with a nod. “Kipo, how about you show her around while I prepare dinner?” Wolf’s stomach growled at the mention of food. Leo chuckled, and Kipo nodded, grabbing her hand again and bringing her over to the back of the hole. “This is where I sleep!”
The pink girl said proudly, pointing to a pile of leaves and moss that looked quite a bit like a nest of some sort.
“Dad sleeps over there! That’s where he teaches me math and stuff.” Kipo pointed to a makeshift bed, then a small area with scribbles in the dirt. “W-where will I go?” Wolf asked, wringing her fingers anxiously. “Hmm.” Kipo pondered, looking around.
“Oh, oh, I know!! You could sleep with me! I can curl around you as a jaguar and keep you warm! How about that?” Wolf hesitated, before nodding. “I guess so.” The strange girl grinned, pulling her in for a hug.
“Kipo, dinner’s ready!” Leo called. Kipo brought Wolf over to him. They found him putting pieces of cooked meat onto three plates. Wolf scarfed it down, licking her lips. “Yummy,” Kipo said, her pupils dilating as fur sprouted across her body. She sank her sharp teeth into the meat, yanking a large chunk off and devouring it all in mere seconds.
She looked hungry and leaped for the remains. Wolf yelped, snapping Kipo out of the trance-like state. “O-oh..s-sorry! That happens sometimes.” She said apologetically, rubbing the back of her head as her skin turned to normal. Wolf glanced at the setting sun.
“Alright, kiddos, ready for some sleep?”
Wolf curled up on the leaf and moss nest, shuddering slightly as she felt soft fur brush her skin. Kipo’s warm breath on her skin was surprisingly comforting, and she fell asleep, and this time she didn’t keep one eye open.
For the first time in a while, Wolf felt safe.