FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Oh spirits,

Guide my arrow

so I may feed

the ones I love.

"John..." John lightly stirred as someone softly spoke his name. It felt too early to wake up, but his mother's voice was persistent. "Wake up." She whispered and lightly nudged his shoulder.

"Mm." He rolled onto his back but his mother's gentle nudging persisted. "Huh?" His eyes blinked open and found the grey furred canine's face right above him.

"Put your loincloth on and we will be ready to go." She handed John the only clothing to his name.

"It's early." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. Their home remained at a cozy dim level of light from the early morning sunrise.

"We have to wake up when the deer wake up."

"Oh! We're hunting." John suddenly remembered. It was a day the human had long awaited. He had spent the entire spring training to become a shaman before deciding to quit and learn hunting. Since then he had spent several days learning the very basics of tracking and hunting as a pack from his mother. It was only practice and his mother let him set his own pace, but with close to half of the warm days in the year gone he had to use each day wisely.

"Yes. We are hunting today." Lenape grinned and nodded. The boy quickly sat up and tied it on. His mother was already dressed with a neat rabbit skinned armband, and a typical buckskin loincloth. A sheathed knife was visible on her waist along with a small pouch of food, but the she wolf had a noticeable leather strap running diagonal across her naked chest from shoulder to hip.

"What's this?" John touched it. He didn't want a single word to become misunderstood.

"My quiver." She turned, revealing the item full of arrows. A bow was readily placed by the hut's door flap. John looked over at the empty fire next. "Do not rush out of here. You should eat before we leave." Lenape told him. He contained his excitement and laid back down into her lap. The she wolf nursed him, but her chest was left uncovered when they left the hut. The morning sunshine felt warm against his skin from the cool morning chill. Many other huts were still dormant with only two or three showing activity by thin trails of smoke leaving the rooftop. They stood by their hut's entrance without going anywhere yet. John looked at the quiver's strap going over her body.

"Why didn't you put a chest cloth on if we are going to hunt?"

"Then I'd have to keep taking it off for you." She slyly replied.

"Oh..." He felt stupid for asking, but a hand patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"We're not going to hunt all day, and I won't be a runner this time. So I won't need one." Lenape answered.

"Will you have to nurse me a lot?"

"Not necessarily... We can forage if we stumble across something." She promised. A pair of wolves emerged from a distant hut. One mottle grey, the other black with white markings. They carried a large fishing net and fishing spears.

"That's Ha'anaso." John recognized the brown furred male with lighter markings and waved. Lenape waved rather than bark in return. Inside the village, it was kinder to wave when many others were still asleep. They noticed the human and she wolf, but gave a short wave before heading towards the river. Lenape led her son to the edge of the village overlooking the moor where she suddenly stopped and faced the sun. John covered his eyes from the sun and looked around, unable to stop himself from fidgeting.

"Why are we standing here?"

"It's customary to warm yourself in the sun if you're going on a hunt early in the morning." She reminded him.

"Oh, right." He nodded and stood beside her.

"You're excited." Lenape couldn't contain a grin at the obvious signs. The human eagerly nodded, but secretly feared that it could badly affect their hunt. It was his first real hunt within a pack that he was allowed to participate in, although only as an observer. His body warmed in the morning rays, hoping to garner the sun's strength. When both warmed up enough, they trekked out of the village and to the low rise of a gentle hill. The patchy sections of moss beneath them yielded to their steps, leaving vague imprints of canine and human tracks behind. Three other wolves were already waiting at the top.

"You two sleep well for today?" One of the three asked.

"We did." Lenape nodded. "One of us, almost too much." She grinned at John.

"That's good to hear, but I don't think we have met before." The white and dark gold cream furred male stepped forward. Like any wolf, he was tall and strong compared to an average human. Long hair matching his fur color did not have a single braid and freely flowed in the breeze. "I am Suntu, Nanok's mate."

"Oh!" John remembered the female maned wolf who always bathed with Inuk. The canine nose was damp against his own.

"I am Axu." A young black furred wolf greeted the human next. His entire coat was jet black except for a dash of white on the center of his chest. Adorned with armbands, a necklace, and a single white feather, he was armed with a plain quiver and bow. He quickly touched noses with John.

"Hi." The human greeted him. Beside him, the white and light cream furred she wolf Ushiuk, who was Ha'anaso's mate, was also present. Unlike John's mother, she was wearing a chest cloth and carried a spear in hand. A sheather knife was resting against her hip. Most of her hair was neatly braided as well with feathers and tassels of leather added.

"It's good to see you again John." She grinned at the human. He nodded quietly. Looking towards the village, one more figure was approaching.

"Yanlu is here." Suntu waved for the last approaching wolf to hurry up. Armed with a spear, the young brindle furred male had hints of white fur along his hands, paws, face, and tummy. His brown eyes immediately noticed the little human in the group.

"You brought the human?" He questioned.

"I brought my son." Lenape corrected him. Yanlu didn't say anything else, but his tail swished in agitation.

"Everyone is here." Suntu happily declared.

"Is Sitka not hunting with us?" Lenape asked.

"No." Axu shook his head. "He hurt his paw yesterday, and Kazana told her not to run or walk very far for a few days."

"I hope he heals quickly." She said as a hand tugged on her tail.

"Mom, why don't they have bows or arrows?" John asked.

"Axu and Yanlu are runners. They run after injured prey and deliver a finishing blow." Lenape pointed to the knives in their buckskin sheathes. Having someone run after injured prey to deliver the final blow would help ensure a kill. John nodded understandingly. Yanlu peered down at the human with a suspicious look.

"Has he used a bow since you found him at the end of last summer?" Yanlu asked.

"John is with us to observe." Lenape placed a hand on her son's shoulder.

"Since everyone is here, we can split up into two packs." Axu suggested. "Three of us go one way, and the other three go another."

"I haven't eaten yet."

"Then we should eat before we hunt." Suntu suggested and sat down. Everyone else followed suit and took a seat in the mossy hilltop.

"So Amytis and Azande are not going to hunt with us?" John quietly asked his mother.

"No." She shook her head. "They are busy doing other things today."

"Ok..." He quietly nodded. A few of the others ate a little bit before they wanted to depart. Axu ate small cured pieces of meat, and Ushiuk did the same with a piece of fish. John watched Suntu bring a small pouch to his lips to drink from.

'What is that?' John stared at the pouch. It was likely made from the stomach of a deer or other animal, but he had no idea what was inside.

"Do you want any?" Suntu wiped his chin and offered it to Yanlu.

"No thanks. I already ate." He declined.

"Lenape?" He offered it to the grey wolf mother.

"Yes, thank you." She smiled.

"What is it?" John peered close to his mother while she drank some.

"Broth." She wiped her chin. "It is great to make. Nothing goes to waste with it." She handed John the large canteen.

"You'll like it." Axu encouraged the boy to try it. The human smelled a pleasant odor and took a big gulp of broth. A warm flavorful essence filled his mouth.

"Mm! Thank you." He gulped and passed it back to Suntu who had a final quick sip before putting it away. The wolf then held a small wooden figurine and whispered a chant to himself. Ushiuk closed her eyes and placed two hands on the ground below. The light furred female was likely thinking of a chant. Hunting was almost as spiritually significant as it was to provide food for the tribe.

'Maybe I would've learned more about that if I remained training as a shaman.' John briefly wondered. The prayers were short as everyone stood back up.

"Ready?" Suntu stood up and looked around as everyone else nodded. "Okay... How about Lenape, Yanlu, and John form one pack. Axu, Ushiuk, and I form another."

"We're not hunting together as a net?" Axu scratched his head.

"No, we haven't seen the deer in large herds lately, but summer is almost here." Suntu spoke optimistically.

"I think two packs is fine." Ushiuk nodded. Lenape agreed.

"Let's go." He waved and they split up. Suntu, Axu, and Ushiuk went right towards the forest while Yanlu, Lenape, and John walked together over a hill into the open moor. Despite the vantage point there were numerous dips and folds within the hilly land, not to mention trees, that obstructed a clear view. Lingering clouds of fog were present within dips of the land as well. The way the sun's early morning light shone over the land was endlessly beautiful. However, the wide space before them left the small pack with plenty of directions to choose from.

"Where are we going?" John looked around the lower fields. His mother looked around.

"What do you think Yanlu?" She asked. The male wolf tilted his nose up as he walked a few more steps before halting.

"I don't smell anything." He lowered his snout and exhaled.

"Can you smell anything, John?" Lenape asked.

"He is only a human." Yanlu crossly answered. The she wolf shot him a glare and turned her attention to her son. John took in a deep breath and exhaled, but all his nose could detect was regular fresh air.

"No." He admitted. The human knew he didn't have a nose remotely as sensitive as a wolf's, but his other senses only needed training to be as good. Lenape raised her snout into the air some and breathed. 'It's kind of funny.' He held back a grin when they both paused to smell the air.

"I don't smell anything either." She confirmed. They resumed walking along the mossy hilltop. After a brief talk Lenape and Yanlu led the way down the hill. John kept an eye out on the two adults for any signals, and constantly scanned the beautiful landscape for deer.

'I hope we find a deer soon.' He secretly wished as his legs maintained lengthy strides. Time wore on as they climbed hills and stealthily walked along hidden trails, pausing only for moments to hide behind a tree or thicket. The deer were elusive, but their determination persisted. Patience was a very key factor as well. Not having a scent trail meant that they were just as blind as him, and rushing around wouldn't help. They reached a small marshy area near a forest. Tall reeds bordered most of the still waters hiding plenty of chittering insects. A cool sensation under John's foot made him pause.

"Huh?" He looked down at the squishy ground as water started to seep to the surface. The boy quickly jumped aside.

"Careful." His mother chuckled as he returned to her side. "Sometimes you will have to cross marshes like this to chase elusive prey." Lenape pointed across the still waters. Water loving insects were skimming the surface or silently flying above. "There are only two others like this within a day's walk. But be careful if you don't want to get wet. The ground can give way like loose mud, especially after a long rain. If you're alone, you might get stuck and freeze." She warned before leading him away with a guiding hand. John carefully walked back to drier, firmer ground, but he soon felt his stomach calling out. His mother's keen ear easily heard it.

"We can stop if you're hungry." She reminded him. John nodded with some relief. Yanlu looked over his shoulder as the pair stopped. His tail swished in agitation.

"The only thing he can hunt for is your nipple." The male growled to himself. John felt embarrassed, but his mother reassuringly patted his shoulder.

"It's alright. He's just nipping at the air." She whispered. The charcoal grey wolf sat down on her knees for him. "Now we are the same height." She chuckled and ruffled his hair. John grinned and sat down in front of her, happy to give his legs a rest. She watched him eat his fill with a smile. "One of the most important aspects of hunting is to stay downwind of the animal you are trying to hunt." She continued to teach him, and placed a hand on her son's back. Yanlu patiently waited for Lenape to finish feeding her son.

"Ready?" The wolf asked as soon as the human backed away.

"Mmhm." Lenape contently nodded and quickly rose to her paws. All three looked around the marshy area. There were no deer, but tracks were easy to spot in the muddy grass. The hoof patterns faced every direction, but at least they were closer.

"We should go through the forest." Yanlu pointed using his spear to a visible tree line close by. Lenape nodded in agreement. He followed Yanlu and his mother towards the forest through a section of tall grass. A narrow trail was faintly visible for several steps leading between two prominent trees. Pine straw softly crunched beneath their steps as they scanned the new environment. The pine forest was eerie and quiet. Unlike the open grasses, there was no movement. It was still and dark. Distant cawing of a crow and sharper chirps of little birds were occasional, but barely disturbed the silent forest.

'Are there any deer here?' He wondered. His mother quietly padded around, taking note of the trees with a gentle touch or keen eye. Yanlu was looking out up ahead. John looked at the ground at his feet. There were no tracks in the pine straw that his eyes could see. He couldn't smell anything with his human nose either, except for the lingering scent of pine all around him. Even with the knowledge that his mother had carefully taught him, John felt unable to help but no less determined.

"Aroooowooowoooh..." A very distant and quiet howl was heard. John looked to his right, but didn't see anything through the endless pines trees.

"Who was that?" He quietly asked.

"It is someone from another pack." She reassured him.

"It isn't the others from our pack?" He was confused.

"It is common for friendly villages to share hunting grounds. There is one village we share ours with."

"Oh..." A distinct tapping noise drew their attention ahead. Yanlu was looking over his shoulder at them impatiently. The brindle wolf waved for them to come.

"Let's go." Lenape told him. "There is nothing here." John nodded and tagged along as they quickly walked through the remaining pine trees. The forest opened up as they emerged onto the edge of the hilly moor. The human looked around the wide landscape. After being in the pine forest, the fields seemed immense. John narrowly missed bumping right into Lenape's side.

"Sorry." He was quick to say but his mother quietly hushed him. Her gaze was focused intently elsewhere.

"There are deer." She crouched down and pointed. John knelt down behind his mother and saw a small herd of the hoofed prey grazing together. There were nearly a dozen below their perch on the hillside. Several heads constantly moved, keeping an eye out for predators lurking in the grass.

"Can you shoot them from here?" John asked. Yanlu's ears flattened at the inexperienced question. Lenape shook her head.

"We will get closer... Watch us first." She whispered and left his side. John eagerly waited and watched the pair stealthily walk forward. Moving onto all fours, Lenape crept over the uneven grass keeping her body close to the ground. Her long hair and bottoms of her breasts trailed over the wild grasses. Their arms and legs moved in a way the boy had never seen. Further away, the deer hadn't taken notice of their presence yet. The pair of wolves stopped not too far away along the hillside just before the taller grasses. Lenape glanced over her shoulder and discreetly waved at John. The boy nodded and crawled forward like they had, but less gracefully. He reached his mother's side and sat quietly. Thankfully the deer had not noticed. She smiled happily at him. Yanlu looked back, waiting for a signal.

"You creep closer." She nodded for him to go. Yanlu didn't hesitate to crawl forward on his hands and paws. He crept down the hillside, edging closer to the herd. John watched the wolf stealthily move like a wild animal through the tall section of grass. When Yanlu was close enough to strike Lenape silently held up one finger. John nodded and handed her one arrow. The wolfess smiled and motioned for him to watch her. She notched the arrow and held the end between her middle and forefinger. Eyeing out the best target, she pulled the sinew bowstring back into a full draw. The wooden frame bended into a smooth arc. She held the draw and aimed with keen eyes. John held his breath and stood still as stone. Finally, with a near silent twang, Lenape let the arrow loose. With blinding speed it sailed through the air. John couldn't see the impact, but the herd of deer scattered as Yanlu sprang to his paws and dashed after one. Lenape jumped to her paws and ran along the hillside to watch the chase.

"Did we get the deer?!" John hurried to see, but all of the deer and Yanlu had disappeared within the dips of the moorland. He felt a hand settle on his shoulder. Looking up, his mother was still looking out towards the moor.

"We will have to wait and see." She told him. John stood still even though he could hear his heart beating rapidly with excitement. A breeze passed through, rustling the grass. There was no howl of triumph piercing the air. The human's excitement waned in the passing minutes.

"Where is he?" He quietly said.

"He's coming back." Lenape could see the wolf first thanks to her height. Gradually from ear to paw the wolf reappeared as he climbed over the ridge along the hill. Yanlu was panting softly, spear in hand. His pink tongue was lolling out. Despite the canine grin on his lips, nothing on his face spoke of smiling success.

'Uh oh.' John noticed that the wolf's spear was much smaller than he remembered.

"What happened?" Lenape asked.

"My spear broke." He clenched the short wooden pole in hand. "And the deer ran far away. They are already close to another village's hunting grounds."

"What about the deer I hit?" She asked.

"We can't catch it unless you shoot it again." He shook his head and took a moment to catch his breath. "Your arrow hit high up in its flank. It wasn't a fatal hit." John's shoulders slumped at the news. Lenape muttered something beneath her breath and looked around in thought.

"So we can't run after it?" John asked.

"No. The deer ran very far and we can't surprise them twice in one day." She explained. "One thing to learn about hunting is knowing when to stop an unsuccessful hunt, or you will only exhaust and frustrate yourself."

"Oh." John looked around the hills with disappointment. He stared at the clover and grass around his feet. Faint deer tracks were visible on the soft ground. 'We almost got one.' He thought and looked back at his mother. The wolf was patiently waiting, occasionally smelling the air as a breeze passed by.

"Are you ready to go?" Lenape asked Yanlu after a while.

"Yes." The male wolf stood up.

"Ok. We can go." She waved for John to follow. He looked over his shoulder a final time at the grass. The image of his mother and Yanlu stalking along the hillside was still fresh in his mind. Descending the hills, there was a small creek meandering along the field between the two gentle slopes. Small stone and rocks were scattered along its course. A small hare nearby darted away from the approaching three to safety.

"I need to rain." Yanlu spoke before walking away.

"Come on." Lenape motioned for John to follow her. "We can sit by the creek." John was all too happy to hurry over and plop down beside the cool stones and water.

"Tired?" Lenape guessed.

"Mhm. My legs are sore." He stretched them out.

"We have been walking a lot." She sat down beside him. "Are you thirsty?"

"Is it safe?" John thought about the still waters of the marsh.

"Yes. Drink moving water, not still water." She told him. John watched as she cupped two hands together and tipped them into the creek. Raising them to her mouth, she lapped up the refreshing water. John copied her, but much of it spilled past his chin and down his neck.

'Darn...' He wiped himself dry. Lenape grinned in amusement.

"I'm done." Yanlu called out from behind them.

"Ok. Let's go." Lenape rose to her paws. John was slower to stand but was quick to follow.

'It is already sun high.' John couldn't believe how quick the time had passed. The young human followed both wolves along the moorland. The trek back to the hill where their pack had split up was much faster than their hunting trip. It was also less exciting knowing that they hadn't caught anything. After climbing up the final hill, Yanlu sat down and tossed his broken spear aside. They waited atop the mossy hill where they had originally split up. The wait was brief before they heard a short howl from nearby. John looked over and saw that a dark golden furred wolf was trotting towards them.

"Suntu is back." They noticed his tongue lolling, clearly a happy canine expression.

"Hey! We were able to catch one deer. What about you two?" He asked them.

"No." The brindle male quickly responded.

"Better luck next hunt." The other wolf spoke with a teasing grin. Yanlu didn't have anything else to say and laid back silently.

"Are you going to help us quarter and skin it?" Suntu asked Lenape. "We will bring it to the edge of the village near my hut."

"Sure!" She readily agreed. "We can come by after I put my hunting equipment away."

"Great!" He barked. "I will see you there!" The dark golden furred wolf trotted off.

"Can I sit down when we help him?" John's question made Lenape laugh.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to." She told him.

"I do." He quickly agreed as they walked back to the village.

"Did you like going on that hunt?" Lenape asked.

"Mhm." He quietly nodded.

"You don't seem very excited about it."

"We didn't catch anything." He felt disappointment after all their hard work.

"No we didn't." She agreed. "But there will be another day to hunt."

"Was it a waste of time?" He asked.

"Of course not. We may not have found what we were looking for, but every step spent with you is worth it." She smiled and placed an arm around his back as they returned to the village.

The smell of smoke filled the human's nose while the sputtering crackles of flames filled his ears. In the center of his vision was a small fire with its orange flames flickering into the air. The chirping of crickets was always present in the grass around him. Frogs in the distance were easy to hear as well. The sound of the chirping insects made the boy sleepy, but he forced himself to stay awake.

"You're not sleepy are you?" A voice stirred the boy's thoughts.

"Uh, no." John blinked and looked to his right. The long muzzle of a furry canine face was gazing at him. Sitka was a lithe red wolf who excelled at being a runner during any hunt. In the glowing light of the campfire his red fur appeared like the fire itself. His canine eyes appeared to reflect some of the light itself at the right angle.

"At your age, it is normal." A brown and white marbled wolf mentioned. Tizoc, a brown and white marbled wolf who had traveled with Lenape's group to the Sanada village was present as well. They were sitting close together in a semicircle around the fire. Despite the darkness around them, only a low hill separated their camp from the village. It was his mother's idea to spend the night with them after a planned late evening hunt fell through. Being eager, John didn't hesitate to join the other wolves. They were trustworthy friends of Lenape or her brother, Mankato.

The soft crunching of grass beneath a pair of paws was heard. A figure approached through the darkness. The faint light from the fire revealed brown fur, but also white markings on his chest and legs. It was Ha'anaso, the wolf John had helped carry fishing gear with when he trained as a shaman.

"Finally done raining?" Tizoc half grinned.

"Yep, so is everyone ready for a long night?" Ha'anaso returned with a content smile. A few nods passed. The older wolf sat down and his gaze settled on John. "I think it's good that Lenape wanted you to be out here with us tonight." The wolf happily spoke. "You won't be a pup forever, and your mother knows that."

"Mmhm." The boy nodded.

"You know what would burn my tail?" He quickly asked.

"Uh..." John blankly stared as the others were equally perplexed.

"A fire this high." He held up a hand at waist level. Everyone laughed.

"You crazy wolf." Tizoc said.

"The moon isn't visible at all. There are many clouds out tonight." He remarked about the darkness. He raised his snout and howled up at the dark sky.

"Arooooo!" The long howl echoed into the moor around them.

"Why are you howling? You might wake up some of the villagers." Tizoc fretted.

"I just felt like howling." He bashfully grinned. "John, I didn't hear you howl either."

"I... Can't howl."

"What?"

"Humans can't howl, Ha'anaso." The other wolf pointed out.

"I had no idea!" Ha'anaso laughed boisterously.

"Instead of howling, let's tell stories." Sitka lightly slapped his own knees.

"I was about to say that." Ha'anaso said. "Let me start. I have a good tale. One day I went fishing on the river. It was foggy and the sun had barely risen, so it was difficult to see for a while. I let my canoe drift downstream while laying some net. After paddling back up I began pulling the net in, but something was in it! I knew it was a big fish. It was fierce and fought me every way possible." He motioned with his hands while he spoke. "It felt like I was wrestling with someone who was underwater with twice my strength." The fisherman received a few skeptical looks from his fellow villagers. "And the fish-"

"Could it strike you with lightning?" Tizoc guessed.

"Huh? No."

"The fish flew into the sky?" Sitka grinned.

"No! Who's telling the story here?" Ha'anaso reminded the wolves.

"I think us." Tizoc answered and everyone laughed.

'They're funny.' John thought to himself while he laughed with them.

"If you listen long enough, then I will finish telling the story." Ha'anaso folded his arms, but couldn't hold back a canine smile along his muzzle.

"Please tell us what this fish was like!" Tizoc feigned great interest in the fishing tale.

"After fighting this monster until my arms became sore I finally pulled the line up, and my jaw dropped." He said. "It was longer than I imagined, and it must've weighed as much as me... I had caught the trunk of a tree." Ha'anaso finished his story.

"You caught a log?" Sitka scratched his head.

"Yes. It was tangled in my line and stuck in the mud at the bottom." He explained. Tizoc merely shook his head.

"I was hoping everyone would appreciate the effort I made to make this fire." He nodded and pointed at the base of the small fire.

"You don't have to hunt or fish for firewood." Sitka chuckled. "Even if you think it is a wooden fish."

"Did your mate look at you funny for bringing a tree trunk back in your fishing net?" Tizoc held back another laugh.

"Ushiuk nearly bit me." Ha'anaso mumbled and everyone laughed again.

"You have strange stories." Sitka stretched his legs out.

"Well, do you have anything funny to tell?"

"Eh. I don't think so." The red wolf fiddled with his long ruddy hair.

"Nothing too embarrassing, right?" Tizoc guessed.

"No." He frowned. "You haven't said much John. What stories do you have to tell?" The red wolf asked the human.

"Huh? Me?" John blinked in surprise as all eyes settled on him.

"Yeah. Come on. You must have some tales about human villages." Ha'anaso leaned forward. John's eyes fell to the dark grass before him. "Eh?" The wolf's head tilted.

"You're making him uncomfortable." Tizoc pointed out.

"I didn't mean to!" He held up his hands innocently.

"Well... I guess I have a story to tell." John spoke up and all canine ears turned back to him. "But not about a human village." The boy wanted to talk about more recent changes...

***

Home was not the first word that came to John's mind when he looked around the hut. It had only been a few weeks since he woke up in the wolf village, but he understood that it would be his home for at least a season or two. The various hunting equipment, animal pelts, hand woven baskets, and odd smells seemed just as foreign as day one.

"Aroooo..." A very distant howl made a young boy look up. He breathed a silent sigh of relief and shook his head. The evening was drawing to a close and the hut was becoming dim. The crackling of a small fire reassured him. It was his safeguard against the darkness when he happened to be alone. Glancing back down at his lap, all he wore was the odd tribal loincloth garment. It had taken time getting used to the minimal clothing, but now he was realizing its main weakness.

'It's getting colder...' John held the rabbit furred blanket tighter around his shoulders. The air was growing cold. Summer had ended and the crispier cool autumn air was settling over the Hibernian lands, but winter was looming over the horizon. The human's first experience of the cold wasn't going to be easy, but he wouldn't endure it alone.

"Huh?" He watched as the pelt covering the hut's entrance moved. A head silently pokde inside. His heart beat faster and mouth dried as the looming figure entered the hut. The wolf was revealed to be the female charcoal grey wolf. 'It's just her...' He relaxed as she crawled towards him. The solid grey she wolf had become fluffier from the colder weather, and appeared even bigger to the small boy. It was a little intimidating because she was still a wolf in his eyes, but not a wild wolf that destroyed Wexford. He leaned back a little as she sat down in front of him. Even seated, the canine still loomed over him like a giant.

"Hello." She greeted the young human with a grin.

"Hi." He meekly answered. A little silence lingered between them.

"Hungry?" Lenape asked. The boy's eyes glanced down at her chest, but he looked away with a small frown. He understood what the wolf meant.

'Do I have to eat like that all the time?' He wondered. 'She's almost naked too!' The she wolf never attempted to cover herself around him, or anyone else for that matter. He noticed that several other female wolves were usually topless in the village just like her. 'The white furred she wolf...' He thought about Lenape's friend that she liked to be with.

"John." Her voice spoke his name so clearly, like a bell. A soft padded hand touched his arm. He looked up and into her caring eyes. "You need to eat." She spoke. John didn't know what to do.

'Why does she always want to feed me that way? Can't I eat something normal again?' The taste of venison was a delightful memory on his tongue. He wanted to just ask her, but the speech barrier between them and his nervousness was too much.

"Lay down." She tapped the ground and started to recline. The boy understood and laid onto his side. The wolf laid down right beside him. An arm reached over and rested behind his back, not to trap him but to make him feel safe. John stared at her chest right in front of his face, but didn't yield. Lenape blinked as she thought of an idea. John's eyes widened as the wolf grabbed a breast and rolled towards him. John watched as the firm bud of flesh brushed over his lip and nose.

"This usually works with infant pups..." She mumbled. Seeing no way around it, John opened his mouth. He nearly found himself with a mouthful of fur as the wolf was quick to push her nipple between his parted lips. John softly bit down on her exposed flesh. The rest of the soft mass pressed against his nose and chin like a pillow. He pushed the thoughts of embarrassment away and started suckling. As he drew out her milk, he felt a hand begin to rub his back encouragingly. It was all so odd for the human to understand.

'Why is she doing this for me?' He wondered. The thought perplexed John even more than the devastating events that led him into the Hibernian wilderness.

"I love you." The female canine softly spoke. The boy glanced up and over the curve of her breast he could see her canine face watching him nurse with the greatest adoration. The edges of her lips were curled into a sweet grin. John did not know what she had said, but felt a tender warmth inside his chest while he nursed. The warmth spread throughout his body like a rising sun on the horizon. When the flow of milk lessened, he switched to her other breast. Lenape shifted to accommodate the change, but nothing was spoken. Only the sounds of soft breathing and the fire crackling were heard between the two. When John felt himself become full he backed off.

"Full?" She asked. It was one of the few words he understood without second guessing himself.

"Mmhm." He nodded and wiped his mouth. After eating, John felt more comfortable. Without hunger gnawing at his stomach and mind, he could think clearly and not worry about everything. It was oddly comforting to nurse from the she wolf, but he didn't want to admit that. He sat up and stared at the wolf reclined beside him. Her grey fur was illuminated by the fire's flickering flames of orange. The female wolf appeared very relaxed and harmless, the exact opposite image of how he remembered those who attacked Wexford. Her tummy and chest gently rose and fell as she breathed. The two spouts of flesh atop each breast were visibly wet from nursing. He reached out and hesitantly poked one breast. The soft mass yielded completely wherever he touched it.

'It's soft.' He didn't feel too surprised at the fact, but he was relieved that her clawed hand didn't smack at him like he half expected. A large canine hand gently settled over his smaller bare hand, holding it over her soft chest.

"Yes. They're softer after you eat." The grey she wolf hummed with a hint of amusement. John wasn't sure why, but he felt a little embarrassment. Lenape sat up beside him, wearing a satisfied grin of her own. John watched the wolf smooth over her side where she had been laying. The layers of grey ruffled into a fluffier composition.

'Her fur looks really thick.' He stared at her furry face. The wolf caught his attentive gaze.

"What?" Her tail wagged once as she looked at him. "You're staring at me." She spoke. John hesitantly reached up, but quickly withdrew his hand. "It's okay." Lenape reassured him and reached out to him. The human blinked as she touched his arm.

'Her hands are big.' He was quickly reminded of the fact as they easily encompassed his scrawny limbs. The warmth from her palms spread to him. The wolfess lifted his hands into the air where they had been. John watched her face as she let go of his arms. 'She isn't mad...' With a little courage, he reached up and touched her furry cheeks. The grey fur was soft, and his hands sunk into her thick cheek fluff. A grin formed on his face. 'It's so thick.' He couldn't believe it, but the boy could barely see his hands. The wolf's body heat became evident, and he suddenly realized why she slept so close to him.

"Winter fur." She told him.

"Winter... Fur..." He repeated the short phrase and pet her.

"Mhm." She slowly nodded. "Warm."

"Warm." John understood that word more. 'Her winter fur is warm.' He pieced together the words in his thoughts. It made sense. He trailed down to her muzzle where the fur was much shorter. As he traced along her black lined lips her jaw opened, revealing many white teeth and a lengthy pink tongue. John felt a chill at the sight of her teeth. His fingers instinctively curled and hid in her fuzzy lips. A padded hand patted his back reassuringly. Her eyes bore no malice towards him. Feeling a sense of encouragement, John cautiously reached out again. He carefully touched the wolf's pointy teeth with the tips of his fingers. They were like regular teeth, but distinctly canine. John couldn't help but feel a chilly tinge of fear as he touched Lenape's teeth. The wide and lengthy pink tongue suddenly darted out and licked his hand.

"Ah haha!" He laughed and retracted his hand. Her tongue was slick and smooth, entirely soft compared to how sharp her teeth appeared. A large smile emerged on her canine muzzle. Two hands were suddenly on the boy's shoulders. John was pulled closer. He stood still as her black nose sniffed him over, releasing puffs of warm air over his skin. Her muzzle then brushed past his chin. Short whiskers teased his skin while she lightly nibbled his neck and shoulder. The human immediately squirmed as a smile curled along his face.

"Mom! Mom!" He laughed, using the name he had learned to call her. She nibbled along his neck and collarbone before licking him again. John flailed around but couldn't stop her loving assault. He caught his breath while she slowed down to gently lap his face. He hadn't laughed that hard in a long time, and it tired him out. Lenape's snout backed away and she looked at him sweetly. John felt happy that he was with her, even though the she wolf cared for him in many different ways.

"It's dark." She noted. "Time to sleep." She untied his double loincloth with a finger. John eased out of the only garment he wore, but turned away so she couldn't see him naked directly.

'Uh oh...' His eyes looked around the deer pelts. 'Where is the-?' A tap made the naked boy look over his shoulder.

"Blanket?" Lenape softly smiled and held the blanket of rabbit furs to him.

"Thank you." He spoke the English phrase that made her canine ears wiggle. John quickly covered himself. Despite sleeping with her this way, the boy still felt very embarrassed about being naked around her or anyone else. The wolf disrobed as well and put out the low fire. With a soft hiss, the entire hut became enshrouded in darkness. John looked around the darkness, but could only hear shuffling around him.

"Right here." Her voice guided him over with the aid of a hand. They laid down together on the deer pelts. John uncovered his front and snuggled close to the wolf's invitingly warm fur. The hand over his back lightly patted him. He didn't shy away from her gentle touch. Without her, John didn't know what he would've done.

"May the spirits grant you safe dreams." She whispered and pet the top of his head. John wasn't sure what she had said, but he was glad that she did say it as the not so distant chirping of crickets could be heard.

In the middle of a golden field, John felt at ease. The waist high field grass subtly waved in the breeze. A pair of young hands waved over the tips of the grasses, batting them around like a breeze. Everything was warm from the kind sunshine above, but only mildly so. The roar of the ocean was distant but always audible, and the wind occasionally blew past the area.

"It's nice here." He quietly sighed. The land of Hibernia was very green compared to where he was from. No dry and dusty landscapes, crowded urban areas, or old machinery lying around in junk heaps. There were so many wild animals too. Deer and birds always appeared out of nowhere to him.

'I need to go back to town...' He suddenly remembered and started trotting along a trail back through the field. The trip didn't take long as he climbed the top of a low hill. Small and simple buildings came into sight, mostly made from timber. The man made dwellings were distinct against the untouched landscape. The houses were nestled by the river's mouth and the little bay. It was the perfect place for a relatively new settlement.

"Arooooo!" A low howl echoed from nearby.

'Huh?' John looked around. He could see them on a nearby ridge bordered by trees. Dozens of wolves were dashing for the same place he was going to. 'No!' The boy ran as fast as his legs could carry him. As he reached the first buildings, the unfolding scene terrified him. The monstrous canines dragged or carried people away one by one.

'They're taking everyone away!' He looked around in panic. John wanted to hide, but ran to the houses to find his dad. "Dad! Dad!" John frantically looked around one house, but couldn't find a door. John stopped as a wolf caught sight of him. Fear turned into outright panic as he ran away. The savage canine gave chase with lightning speed. In seconds John was pinned with his back to the ground. The giant beast atop him opened its narrow muzzle and lunged for the boy's head. He screamed as his vision went completely dark.

John awoke with a gasping start and sat up. Darkness surrounded him and all was quiet, but his heart was beating so fast that he could hear it inside his ears like a drum!

'Where-' He felt fur brush over his naked skin and saw a large figure rise up from the darkness beside him. For a split second his dream was reality.

"John?" A soft female voice spoke through the dark. In an instant everything rushed back to him: the attack, escape into the wild, and the recent weeks of living with the grey she wolf. "What's wrong?" A hand rested on his side as a nose smelled him. Lenape blinked as the boy buried his face into her front.

"Mom..." He sobbed into her furry front, unable to ask her for help.

"Shh. Sh." She held the crying boy close and comforted him. "What happened? Did you have a bad dream?" Lenape wanted him to say something, even if she wouldn't understand it. John didn't know what the wolf was telling him, but he was glad that she was with him. However, the scary images were still fresh in his mind.

"Wolves." He managed to say through her fur.

"Wolves?" Her ears perked up. "Like me?" She didn't understand. 'Did he have a bad dream?'

"Wolves... chasing me." She licked away the tears from his eyes while he spoke in his human tongue. He wished that her tongue could swipe away his sadness and the memory of the nightmare, but she held onto him securely until he calmed down.

"It'll be alright." She soothed him with soft whispers. John was surprised to feel her move.

"Mom?" He felt her side. The last thing he wanted at the moment was for her to leave him.

"Come with me." She nudged him onto all fours. John crawled with her to the hut's entrance, guided by her body. They passed through the door flap. John blinked at the incredibly opaque darkness. It wasn't even close to sunrise, and nighttime crickets were singing in the field around the village. Clouds blocked the moon and stars, leaving the entire village completely dark. But most noticeably, the cold air nipped his defenseless skin. Crickets were softly chirping in the grass around them.

"Follow me." Lenape helped John up.

"Can't see." John's arms reached out into the darkness until he touched the wolf's fur.

"I am here." A large hand firmly held his hand. Lenape led him through the blinding darkness. Unlike the human, her eyes could see in the dark much better. The boy didn't know where she was taking him, but he stuck close to her side. She was the only one he completely trusted in the village.

'Where is she taking me?' He stumbled along as she helped him walk through the village. But then she stopped him.

"Down here." She crouched down beside him. Several tugs on his arms brought him onto all fours. Reaching ahead he could feel a door flap in front of his face. "Go. It's ok." Her soft voice of words he barely understood encouraged him to move. The darkness made him hesitate before slowly crawling through the door flap. He entered a mysterious hut with Lenape practically crawling over him. An odd combination of spices confused his nose.

'Where am I?' The boy realized that he was inside a hut, but he knew it was far different than the one he stayed in.

"Kazana? Amu?" Lenape whispered.

"Mm? Who is there?" A decidedly female voice spoke sleepily. John heard rustling as someone sat up, but he couldn't see anything through the inky darkness.

"It's Lenape, and John." The charcoal grey wolfess answered. A pair of arms wrapped around John's torso and pulled him snugly into the female wolf's lap. He leaned back onto her front while one of her padded hands soothingly rubbed over his front.

"What's wrong?" A voice ahead asked.

"I'm worried. He told me about a bad dream that he had..." Lenape's soft voice spoke with worry.

"A bad dream?" The voice whispered. "What was it about?"

"Wolves... He told me something about wolves." Lenape held onto her son closely. John's eyes began to feel heavy. The shock of his terrifying dream had waned and his body sought to sleep again. He could feel the grey she wolf breathing against his back. Her two furry breasts rested on his shoulders beside his cheeks. She was very soft and irresistibly cozy. A yawn broke through his waning focus. His head turned slightly and used a breast as a pillow.

'Winter fur...' He carefully held a handful of thick fur. The whispering conversation became white noise to his ears. His eyes were unable to stay open any longer. The boy fell asleep, nuzzled at her bosom.

A cooking pot was steaming above a low fire. The rich aromas of broth and meat that had filled the room were very rich. John watched a furry grey hand stir the soup with a stick. He didn't really know how to cook, but the wolf he called 'mother' seemed to enjoy it. The stick suddenly ceased stirring and sharply tapped the lip of the cooking pot. A smiling wolf face looked over at him.

"Soup." Lenape told him and pointed inside the pot.

"Soup." He repeated the word. 'I know it has venison in it.' John pursed his lips together at the thought. The human loved the taste, and he was eager to try anything new that kept him from constantly needing her breasts.

"Yes. Soup." Lenape nodded. "It is cooking." She pointed at the fire below and then the pot.

"Cooking..." He carefully said.

"Mmhm." Lenape hummed happily and set the stick aside. "We will eat it before nightfall."

'Nightfall.' He recognized that word. John glanced over towards the deer pelt they slept on each night together. Hanging above was a new dream catcher made by one of the village's shamans. The odd intricate network of leather string inside the wooden ring reminded him of a spider web. The human knew it had something to do with his bad dream not too long ago. Lenape had tried explaining it to him, but without much success. Thankfully, the nightmare was becoming a distant memory thanks to Lenape's tender care. Staring at her backside, he could barely see the leather string of her loincloth buried within her coat of dark grey fur.

'Maybe that's why I am sleeping better.' He thought about how warm and soft she was to sleep with. Like a shroud over her back, the wolf's lengthy hair covered much of her back. Lower, her tail was laying on the ground motionless. John blinked and looked at the dark grey tail with its lighter grey tones underneath. Reaching out with a hand, John touched the bony appendage covered in fur. It wasn't as warm as her body. He stopped and realized that a hand was lightly patting his shoulder. Looking up, the she wolf was fondly staring at him.

"Huh?" He barely said before the wolf's muzzle and head were rubbing against his face. The softness of her fur caressed his skin. A pink tongue swiped over his forehead lovingly before she sat up straight again. "Mom..." The boy was quick to wipe his forehead with a hand. John didn't know why, but he always smiled whenever she nuzzled him like that.

"Let's go outside." She pointed to the hut's entrance with her nose. "Outside." The wolf crawled past him.

"Soup?" He looked back at the small fire beneath the pot.

"We will leave it to slowly cook." She explained, but a few tugs encouraged him to follow her through the door flap. Once outside, he rubbed his arms feeling a cool breeze against his exposed skin. The middle of autumn had settled over the region and winter wasn't far away. Deciduous trees were becoming bright and beautiful with colors while their evergreen counterparts remained a deep green. The moorland grass had lost some of its summer grace too. However, the weather would only become colder. Sleeping without a fire was easy enough. Snuggling up to a wolf along with a rabbit fur blanket was very cozy. But what about clothing? There was so little of it worn by the villagers, and it could've been his imagination, but all of the wolves appeared fluffier as the season changed.

'I have that rabbit blanket.' The boy reminded himself, but he wondered if it would be enough. A larger padded hand took ahold of his smaller hand. Looking up, John felt a little embarrassment. She was still naked in his eyes. Only a loincloth was tied around her waist as usual, leaving her breasts bare.

"Let's go." Lenape smiled at him. He walked alongside her around the edge of the village.

"John." The wolf suddenly stopped. They were behind a hut. "Eh?" She pointed at the backside of the basic wooden building.

"A hut?" He wasn't sure why she had asked him.

"Yes. A hut." She nodded with a canine smile and resumed walking.

'Why is she teaching me all of this?' He wondered. 'Am I going to be here for a while? The whole winter?' It started making sense to him. There were no humans in the village, and he had no idea where he was exactly. No one was coming to rescue him. 'Do I need to be rescued?' John didn't have anyone else, and his human dad was more than likely dead. But the wolf he called 'mother' was with him. She took care of him.

Walking close to her side, John gazed away from the village of huts. Out in the field he saw a male and female bent over, cutting field grass together. Another pair of wolves were carrying an unknown material in their arms before unloading it onto the ground. Then they helped each other remove debris from their fur. A young pup was playing nearby a small burning pile of dried pine straw.

"Mom." He took ahold of her hand. "What's all that for?" He asked her in English. The wolf blinked and looked out at the field.

"Them?" Lenape pointed.

"Yes." John nodded.

"They're cutting tall grass and burning pine straw." Lenape explained even though he would not understand. But hearing more words and their canine language would help regardless. Moving on, John also saw two wolves sparring with wooden poles. The distant thwacks of wood were still very audible to his human ears. Neither were big enough to be adults, but the boy didn't doubt that they were much bigger and stronger than him.

"This way." Lenape turned and led him into the village.

'Why don't they built houses instead of huts?' John thought to himself as he looked around the scattered simple dwellings. But he was realizing that the wolves led very different lives than humans did. The loincloth around his waist was enough proof of that. They passed by one hut where a mother wolf was nursing a young pup in her lap.

'He is about my age.' John could tell from the canine's size. The mother looked up and flashed a toothy grin as they passed by. The boy clearly felt a hint of fear from the brief flash of pearly white fangs, but he knew it wasn't something he should fear anymore. Staying close to Lenape, they continued wandering through the village.

They passed by a small family outside their humble hut. A small hand drum rested between the father and a little female pup who was still too young to even wear a loincloth.

"Hit it." He tapped the surface. The pup curiously stared for a moment before smacking the drum, creating a musical sound. "Aha! There you go!" The father laughed. A few steps behind them the mother was showing their son a few freshly cut strips of meat hanging out to dry. The quaint nature of the wolves's lives wasn't entirely unfamiliar to John. His brief stay at Wexford had scenes of fishermen hauling in catches of fish, shepherds watching their flocks close to town, and plenty of craftsmen and carpenters hard at work.

"Stop." Lenape stood still and allowed a few villagers to pass them. John stared in confusion at the odd items they held. Some were holding small pine branches, but others had antlers, berries, and wild flowers. An adolescent wolf behind them was carrying a handful of freshly picked reeds too. They went ahead, disappearing among the various huts. He didn't understand what was going on, but it looked important.

"The winter festival will happen soon. We give thanks to the spirits for a good summer, and hope to endure winter well." Lenape quietly spoke, although John didn't understand any of the words she spoke. But something else John noticed in the village caught his attention. The lingering stares and whispers of most wolves they passed were hard to miss.

"It's that human pup..."

"I heard that he is the only survivor when the Yonekohtan attacked his village." Another watched him and Lenape walk by. John didn't understand what they were saying, but judging from Lenape's ears, she didn't like it.

"There's a rumor that humans attract ghosts and evil spirits." Another whispered. Lenape huffed and led John away from the gossiping voices and towards a different figure further away, a tall broad shouldered male wolf. His front fur was a tan color except for a white stripe down the center. The rest of his fur, like his long hair, was dark brown and even black. His head turned and caught sight of the human and child pair.

"Lenape!" He exclaimed happily. "How have you been?"

"Hello Mankato." She warmly greeted her brother. "John." The boy's gaze turned to her when she said his name. "This is Mankato." She pointed at the large wolf.

"Man-ka-to?" John's neck strained to look up. He was a large wolf, even larger than Lenape!

"So this is the human that has taken all of your attention and care?" The big wolf spoke with a deep voice.

"You've seen him before." Lenape kindly reminded her brother.

"Yes, but he's grown since then!" He remarked and loomed over the young human. John felt frozen under the canine's gaze as two hands grabbed him. He gasped as the wolf lifted him into his arms like an infant. John was speechless as he found himself nose to nose with the tribe's chieftain. Past the lengthy muzzle, a pair of dark eyes stared warmly and intently at him. A large canine hand rested on his chest, over his heart. The male's pads and fur warmed his skin, and the big claws on each fingertip went unnoticed to John. The boy held his breath as the male wolf's damp nose touched him.

'Oh... Hello.' He realized and pressed his nose in return, but words failed to form on his human tongue. The large canine face pulled back some to observe him.

"He is a quiet pup." Mankato smiled and lightly patted the boy.

"He's talking some in our tongue." Lenape proudly told her brother. "Although I wish others wouldn't talk about him like they have." Her ears briefly fell back at what she had heard. But her brother remained optimistic.

"I believe that everyone who says those things are afraid of this little pup." He grinned. "Give it time. Everyone will come to understand." When the dark nose loomed closer again, John instinctively leaned away.

"Don't worry, John." The boy recognized his name and Lenape's voice behind him. Her hand touched his back reassuringly. "My brother will protect you as strongly as me."

"I don't know..." Mankato's voice teased. "You might break my muzzle if I hold him too long." He chuckled. Arms shifted and John soon found himself on the ground again.

"I would never do that to you." She smiled.

"I wonder..." He teased only to receive a playful glare from his sister. "I am happy to see you happy. I wasn't sure at first, but I think the boy becoming your son is good. He is part of our village." They looked down at the human. John stared up at the pair of wolves, wondering what they were talking about. He oddly felt content. Both hands resting on his shoulders made him feel like he was part of a larger family.

***

The flames were low and softly crackling as John finished the story. All canine ears were standing attentively, having listened to every word that he had said. The boy looked around the soft glow of the fire, illuminating each wolf.

"That's a lot to think about. I liked your story." Tizoc was first to speak. "You seem embarrassed about you mother licking you."

"She does it when I don't expect it." He wiped his forehead out of habit.

"Mothers always nuzzle and lick their pups." Ha'anaso smiled in amusement. "The spirits must have led you here during last autumn."

"What do you mean?" John blinked.

"Your mother, Lenape, had always wanted to have a pup, but she was never able to. When she decided to nurse you, that's when she wanted to become your mother." He explained. "I have never seen the spirits act in such a way."

"Oh..." The entire time, John had assumed it was something odd that wolves did. But it was significant.

"You really were scared to nurse from Lenape." One male chuckled to himself. "Are all humans like that?"

"I think so." He guessed. "I have never seen a woman nurse before, except once."

"How are human pups are to eat then? Are they born with strong teeth?" Ha'anaso flashed his fangs.

"I don't think so." John had no clue.

"You had a nightmare that wolves were chasing you?" Sitka scratched his head.

"Yeah. It scared me." Surrounded by darkness, save for the little fire, the boy clearly remembered the dream.

"Do you remember what the shamans told you about it?" Sitka wondered. "Dreams like those are very important."

"I never thought about it." John shrugged. "No one talked about it with me."

"What about the part before you saw Mankato? You said the village was different."

"Drums and other items were being brought out, but I stayed with my mom the whole day." He couldn't recall much else about the occasion.

"Oh yeah. That was the winter festival." Ha'anaso slowly nodded as he remembered. "That's when the village prepares to thank the spirits for a mild summer and hope for a mild winter."

"Didn't you know about the winter festival?" Sitka tilted his head.

"Now I do, but I didn't know back then."

"Oh yeah, you trained under Amu and Kazana for part of this spring and summer." He remembered. "Why did you stop training to become a shaman?"

"I didn't enjoy it like I thought I would." John admitted feeling some embarrassment. "I didn't like be naked in front of everyone either."

"That bothered you?" He laughed. "If a shaman was afraid of nudity, then I would be afraid of my own tail!" He continued to laugh. John only felt his cheeks redden. Thankfully they were concealed enough by the darkness.

"I'm sure there are others who want to learn medicine are nervous like you about it." Sitka, the other wolf mentioned. "Trying something new makes one nervous."

"I heard that Lenape is teaching you to hunt nowadays." Ha'anaso spoke.

"Mhm. I like hunting with my mom." The boy nodded. "She teaches me everything, and it's fun."

"She is a very skilled hunter." He nodded.

"Like you fish for logs, right?" Tizoc joked.

"Bah!" Ha'anaso made everyone laugh. "But John." The wolf became serious again. "Your mother can teach you anything. Don't let anyone tell you differently."

"Okay." He nodded, only to pause and yawn. John knew what the wolf told him was true.

"Now then... It is getting late." He looked around the darkness.

"We started telling stories after sun fall." Tizoc reminded them.

"Time to sleep then." Sitka was first to stand up and stretch. Tizoc lazily followed suit before helping him put out the fire.

"Do you have your blanket?" A hand touched the human's shoulder.

"Yes." John reached around and held up the pelts patched together.

"Just wanted to make sure. Lenape would cut my tail off if you slept in the cold."

"I hope we didn't bore you with our stories." A different hand ruffled his messy hair while another patted his back.

"No." John insisted. The human wanted to have stories to tell like theirs someday. They laid down in the grass together. Joseph ended up close to Ha'anaso and Tizoc. A sense of peaceful quietness settled over the small group camping just outside the village. The crickets and other insects were just as noisy as before. John yawned and pulled the rabbit blanket over himself. His hands clutched onto it protectively. The soft fur reminded him of his mother. He took a deep breath. The earthy scent reminded him of her too. The grass rustled as Ha'anaso turned his head towards John.

"You know, this reminds me of-"

"Some of us are trying to sleep." A voice interrupted.

"Remind me to tell you in the morning." Ha'anaso whispered. "May the spirits give you good dreams." He told the boy. John peered at the dark sky for a moment longer before closing his eyes. He wanted to have those good dreams too.