Fang

On a visit to the Compound Jane took me for a tour to show me what all the different building in the Compound was used for. . The door to exit any den we entered was always left open for me and I rarely wondered too far from it.

I was by now familiar with the main den that belonged to Grandfather and Emily as well as the smaller den that belonged to Ian or as most in the pack referred to as Ian’s lab. I found it strange the way humans liked to separate different activities and insisted on keeping those activities isolated to specific areas.

In the Compound there was actually a separate den for each of the smaller family groups in the pack. Jane explained while we stood outside one such building that these dens would be handed down from father to son in most cases and if the need arise more of these small dens would be build or they would simply extend an exciting one to accommodate more people. This smaller den’s where all build in a semi-circle on the perimeter of the Compound. It was apparently designed that way on purpose to afford each small family unit some degree of privacy.

I honestly still didn’t see the point in separating pack members by walls.

“I hope you never do.” Jane thinks looking at me strangely. Sometimes she doesn’t make sense and after a month spent with her in a den I had learned not to comment on the rare occasion she accidently let a thought slip past her shield.

Next she shows me a building called the infirmary. Two Werewolf’s, Dan and Linsey, meet us at the door. They are very happy to finally meet me and I learn that they are responsible for the building and its purpose. They explain eagerly that they are in charge of keeping the pack healthy and take care of all minor and major injuries right there. I feel uneasy in their company seeing them both itching to examine me. They feel that until they do so their records are incomplete. I understand what they want to do in a way having dealt with Ian’s exams and having seen his records but I’m grateful when Jane saves me by making excuses for us to leave. I don’t think it would be a good idea for them to get any of my DNA.

As we leave I ask Jane why Dan had kept showing me odd machines projecting pride in the things they could do.

She shrugs saying. “All men love shiny toys.” Dismissing the subject.

I roll my eyes at her back. Linsey had given me a sweet called ‘lolly pop’ on the way out the door and after struggling for a while trying to get it open Jane reluctantly shows me how. If Linsey was willing to part with more of the sticky sweet sticks I would consider allowing her to examine me anytime. I think forgetting my thoughts are easily accessible.

“Seriously!Men!” Jane burst out throwing a little fir of fury.I can’t help but think how adorable she looks and in answer to this stray thought she grabs the lolly pop out of my hand and tries to stomp it into the ground with her little human foot. “Stop grinning at me!”She yells frustrated and as is her way still takes off at a run.

I’m left standing outside the infirmary without a guide and I consider heading back to the den but the sound of young ones at play catches my attention. I miss my own younger siblings dearly and even with Jane close I sometimes feel very lonely. I head in the direction of the sound. To my delight the colourful building I find myself heading for stands in direct contrast from the infirmary with its too white walls and too clean surfaces. It looks more welcoming than any den I had seen so far.

I sneak inside not wanting to intrude on anyone else’s territory but too curious to stop myself. Inside I find many diferant little rooms all cheerfully decorated. I don’t grasp what the pictures are supposed to be and at the same time am astonished to find pictures of creatures I had only seen in LongFang’s mind when he had shared the pack Lore with me.

“Hello.” I am startled by a small voice behind me. “Do you like mermaids? Mermaids are my favourite. Da says when I’m bi like Suzy he will take me to meet real life ones.”

I turn to find not one but three sets of curious eyes staring up at me. The speaker a little female human no taller than my knee and two little male’s protectively flanking her on either side.

“My name is Luceel and this is my brothers Luciano and Luandre.” The little boys nod as she mentions them. “Are you lost?” She asks concerned. “Sometimes I get lost and then daddy and Mr Alpha have to come and find me. Mr Alpha gave me this.” She holds up a piece of metal shaped like a wolf’s head fastened to a chain around her neck. “See here this is a pani … panik … panikening button.” She frown’s struggling to say the word that is utmost in her mind pointing to the wolf’s red nose.

“Panic button.” I supply the word she thinks.

“Yes that.” She smiles satisfied. “If I puch it here . . .” I can see her itching to do just that. “Mr Alpha comes and rescues me just like in the fairy tales when the knights rescue the damsel in . . . duness . . . duress . . .”

“Distress?” I supply another word.

“Distress.” She beams

I don’t understand any of it but not wanting to disappoint her and overwhelmed by a sudden longing for SunBeam I simply nod and try to smile at her.

She acts much older than her age when I realize my attempt to hide my feelings fails. She projects sympathy like a little fountain of understanding. Suddenly she holds her arms out to me and awaits a response from me. I frown not knowing what to do and she actually stomps her little foot with impatience when I don’t move.

“You better pick her up, Dude.” Her brother Luciano supplies watching me closely.

I scan his surface thoughts and see an image of a man I presume is their father holding her in his arms. I comply what else can I do? She is very small and it takes all of my hard learned restraint to handle her as delicately as the flowers Jane has me pick each day. I never understood why she made me pick them but holding little Luceel I am grateful for Jane’s insight.

Luceel wraps one small arm about my neck and pats my head affectionately saying. “Don’t worry I’ve got you now. I’ll be your knight just this one time. You may consider yourself rescued.” She is feeling very pleased with herself for rescuing me from being all alone which she considers is one of the worst things to be. I have to confess that I wholeheartedly agree with her.

Suddenly on a whim she decides to press the panic button thinking now that she had me she better make sure I stay safe and rescued. Immediately the little wolf starts beeping.

“Oh boy here we go again.” Her brother Luciano sighs popping his fingers into his ears.

I understand his action a moment later when a very loud sound pierces the air and continues to sound at regular intervals. I tense not sure if I should prepare to fight or take the children and run.

“It’s just the Compound alarm silly.” Luceel shouts patting me on the cheek. “Don’t you know anything?” Shesakes her head and tsk’s at me. Then she starts counting out loud.

I can see she is waiting for something to happen the same way her brothers are dreading whatever it is she’s waiting on.

A loud crash behind us tells me someone or something has gone through the glass building doors instead of through them. I spin around in the same instant setting Luceel down behind me and placing myself between the children and what I can hear coming.

“Grandfather?” I ask surprised when he appears in Werewolf form around the corner. A wave of concern and anxiety hits me from his direction and for a long moment he simply stands scanning each of us in turn.

“Hi there Mr Alpha, Sir.”Luceel waves her hand at him appearing next to me. She takes my finger with her small hand and drags me over to Grandfather. “He was lost.” She indicates me. “But don’t worry I already found and rescued him for you.” She beams.

“I did what you told me to do and pushed the panicking button because I don’t know what to do with him now.” She reluctantly admits. “I knew you would know because Da says you know everything.” She stops just in front of his big Werewolf head and sins he had lowered his head to follow her she is just tall enough to reach up on her toes and pat him like I’ve seen some human’s do with their pets in movies.

At first Grandfather is stunned by her audacity yet intrigued by her reasoning and surprised to find me here in the middle of all the commotion. I also sense that he is somewhat put out with her for causing him unnecessary stress. I can see that he had given her the button to push only in emergencies after she had gotten lost several times in the past. He had presumed her in grave danger considering where she was now when she pressed it. He was somehow able to know her exact location without using the pack mind thanks to the little metal wolf. A ton of questions about the metal wolf formulates in my mind but I realize now is not the time for them.

Jane and a very pregnant female followed by several other members of the pack shows up then. Jane and the female’s thoughts are the loudest. They both look over each of us before bursting out simultaneously. “I leave you alone for two minutes . . .” Jane focusing on me and the female on Luceel. They break off to stare at each other and at that moment a very worn out looking male appears.

The male races past Grandfather and grabs Luceel up. First he hugs her tightly then holds her out before him turning her this way and that making extra sure that she is unharmed.

“Dada!” She squeals trying to wriggle out of his arms.

Only when he is sure she is 100% okay does he look around and notice everyone else. He sighs heavily asking. “Do I even want to know what happened this time?” To no one in particular.”

“I rescued . . .” She stops perplexed realizing she doesn’t know my name.

“Jessie.” Jane supplies automatically having had to introduce me a lot lately.

“Jessie.” Luceel continues un-phased at Janes off handed ness. At this her father turns to me questioningly.

All of a suddenly I feel very protective of this mysterious little female and sensing that she can get into trouble for what she did I rush to back her up.“I was lost sir and I didn’t know how to get back to our den.”

Her father doesn’t look confident that I needed any help but he is resigned and too tired to argue. “Don’t you ever do that again young lady.” He says trying to sound stern. “Leave the rescuing for the grownups.”

“But Dadda . . .” She protests.

“Don’t you but Dadda me, you know better.” He cuts her off.

Grandmother who I hadn’t even noticed steps in then. “Why thank you Luceel for rescuing my way ward grandson.” She smiles winking at me then turns to Grandfather. “I for one am glad our little ones know what to do when someone is lost don’t you Hunny?” She asks sweetly.

Grandfather rolls his eyes at her but nods his head in agreement. I doubt Luceel can be happier she is loving the attention Grandmother is dishing out.

“Now why don’t we all get back to business?” Grandmother asks shooing people back out. I can hear her issuing instructions for the alarm to be silenced and the door Grandfather had broken to be fixed. When she returns she takes the pregnant female by one arm and the father by the other and assuring the kids before her heads off. Luceel halts everyone’s progress when she suddenly stops runs back to me hugs my leg and the runs back to join them again.

I unthinkably keep my mind tuned to her thoughts reluctant to let her go. Her innocent happy thoughts fills the empty void of my siblings. Jane I realize is staring at me again and suddenly I feel too overwhelmed to deal with it so I stick out my tongue at her. Of course this behaviour of mine turns her face red and before she explodes at me she runs off.

“Quite a temper our little Jane had.” Grandfather whispers in my mind. He finds her behaviour and my reaction to it very amusing.

I shrug. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

He takes me seriously motioning me to follow him. “So now you’ve met the Cain triplet’s youngest members of our pack. I’m sad to say their situation is a lot like yours in case you didn’t know.”

I stop in my tracks. “What do you mean Grandfather?”

“Their mother also died before they got to know her.” He clarifies feeling sympathy towards them and me. “I could sure use your help with them if you’re willing that is.”

Grandfather had been going out of his wa to try and involve me in the pack’s lives since I had arrived. It was difficult for him not to have me under his roof where he could easily include me in everyday activities. He was still afraid I would leave if I didn’t feel like I belonged.

I tried to make him proud and to fit in it just wasn’t an easy thing to do. “Of course I would love to help.”

“Because of their age as a rule we don’t connect to their minds as you have done.” He starts explaining.

Hearing this I immediately feel ashamed and prepare to let Luceel’s thoughts go.

“No stop, don’t fret Jessie. I think in this one special case we should make an exception actually. With you connected to Luceel and her brothers we will be able to keep a closer watch and lord knows with the amount of trouble she gets into I’m sure her father would also welcome any help we can offer him.” He doesn’t wait for my reply and connects to Ettian their father asking his opinion on the matter.

Thomas is happy and grateful for Grandfathers suggestion and promises to let me know as soon as he explains the connection to his children so that I can include Luciano and Luandre in the link as well.

I’m more than happy to include all of them at least the world won’t seem quite so lonely with three siblings to fill the void. I make a mental note to also check up on them physically as often as I can knowing how difficult the human world can be for the young and newly introduced like me.

I wasn’t prepared for the sudden mental onslaught when I did finally add her brothers to the connection. As soon as they realized I could be used as a link between each other they went crazy with idea’s. I very firmly projected images of my old home at them for a full five minutes before they settled down to a more normal volume I could ignore or tune into as desired.

I now have two girls and two boys who all considered me their student. Jane teaches me the clinical, practical side of human life and the triplets the best part humility and imagination. Jane does not see the value in this but I finally see a part of humanity I might actually want to be a part of someday. And even if she won’t admit it she is as much a student as I.