New Home, New Town, New Life

"We're here?" I paused. "This is where we are moving?"

"Yes. This is our new home. It's not much, but it's home" My father said.

Looking at this old, gross house that is going to take forever to fix, I let out a sigh. "There is no was I'm going to live here. Drive me home. I'll live on my own there."

"Oh come on Pen, this will be a good new home. Just like the last one."

"Not a chance Hank. I'm not living here. To be honest, I'd rather live beside Mom's grave. In a grave of my own."

"Pen, that's enough. We are going to live here and will you please stop calling me Hank? I'm your father so call me Dad or something."

"Not going to happen. You left Mom when she told you she was pregnant. I'm not calling you anything but Hank."

I'm Penelope Windford. My mother died about a month ago. My father, unfortunately, is Hank Freeman. He's not the best person in the world. Hank is more of a one night stand guy. When my mother died, he took me in. He doesn't know how to raise anything. Not even a dog.

"Pen!" Hank called for me.

"What?"

"Can you help me unpack please?"

"No, I'm busy."

"What are you busy with?"

"I'm going out." I was blunt.

"But we aren't done unpacking yet." He was practically begging.

"Are you really going to take my right to go out on my own away from me too now?"

"No. I'm just asking for help. Don't parents ask their kids for help anymore?"

"Not really. They do it themselves nowadays."

"Well I'm old school, come help me."

"Not a chance, I'm out. Later!"

I walked out of the house, hearing Hank calling me. Telling me to come back. "You can ground me all you want. I'm not going to listen to you, asshole." I muttered to myself. I walked around in the forest. Feeling like I was being followed. "Hank, I'm not helping you unpack your shit." I turned around, but no one was there. "Whatever." I mumbled. I kept walking, but I also kept feeling like I was being followed. "Okay enough! Come out!" I yelled, but nothing came out into view."I will wait you out!" I paused. "I mean it!" Still, nothing came out. I huffed and sat down. I had patience, and a lot of it. I will wait them out.

I sat there for almost two hours, when a small pearl white wolf cub came out from behind a tree. "So you were the one following me." It sat there and waited for me to get up. "I'm not going to move. If you're here, your mother isn't too far away." I t whimpered and laid down. "I'm still not moving. I don't feel like getting killed over your cuteness."

I sat there for another ten minutes before I finally gave in. I sighed and got up, slowly walking over to the pup. "Where is your mother?" I asked, patting its little head. It whimpered again then let out a long and loud howl. I stood up with my heart pounding in my chest. I waited about twenty minutes, but nothing came. "You lost your mom." It whimpered and nuzzled up to my to my legs. "Oh, no. I can't bring home a wolf. My dad would kill me." It looked at me, giving my those cute puppy eyes.

I gave in and walked home with it in my arms. "You are very lucky that you are cute, but I don't think Hank is going to like this." When I opened the front door, I could hear Hank yelling from the kitchen. "Don't tell me."

I ran to the kitchen. I was right, Hank was trying to cook. "Hank! Put the fire out!"

"What do you think I'm doing!"

"Not with that!" I grabbed a half full pot of water and dumped it on the fire. "Jeez! What are you trying to do? Burn down the house?"

"No. I was trying to cook dinner for us. You know, food."

"Well, from now on, leave the cooking to me. You clearly can't cook."

"I wanted to at least try to be a decent father, but fine. I'll leave the cooking to you." He looked away. "Why is there a dog in the house?'

"Uh, because I found it, and, it's not a dog. It's a wolf."

"What!?"

"Yes, a wolf."

"Put it back were you found it! Now! Before its mother comes looking for it!"

"Its mother is dead!" I yelled over Hanks panicking.

"What?" He said. He was a lot calmer now. Or, at least seemed like her was calmer.

"Its mother is dead. It howled and nothing responded nor came to us. So I told it I would take it home."

"What's the gender?" Hank asked.

I shrugged. "Don't know. I haven't looked." Hank walked toward it quickly and went to touch it. "I wouldn't touch it if I were you."

"Why not?" He reached out, and it bit him. "Ouch!"

"I told you." I gave him that I told you so look.

"Why doesn't it bite you?"

I shrugged. "Because I saved it. I guess.

"Will you please stop calling me an 'it'!? I'm a girl!"The wolf spoke.

Both my father an I stared at her in shock. My brain couldn't handle what just happened. "Did- Did you just--" My words trailed off and I fell over.

"Hello?" A girls voice said. I opened my eyes to see the wolf pup standing beside me. "Oh good! You're alive. Most of the things that fall like that are things I have killed or just croaked on their own."

"Well, I didn't croak. I just fainted. But, why are you talking and where is my dad?"

"Well I see you didn't croak, and what's 'fainted' mean? I can talk because I'm from a different part of the forest. I also put your dad on the couch."

"It means you have had an over whelming experience and your brain can't handle it. How did you get Hank on the couch?"

"I picked him up. Like I said, I'm from a different part of the forest."

"What part?"

"A part where you humans can't get to. There's many animals there, talking ones too."

"Try me. Take me there, I'd like to see this place."

"I can't take you. The elders will be really mad at me. Same with my Daddy."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"I don't have one. I'm not old enough to have one, so everyone calls my Six."

"Well, in my part, everyone gets a name the day they are born. Like me, my name is Penelope but everyone calls me Pen. A nickname."

"Well, I'm Six."

"Well. I'm going to call you Snowflake."

"But that's against the law. I cannot have a name." Snowflake finally stopped the sass she had, but it was replaced with fear.

"Are you anywhere near your father or the elders?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"No. I'm about ten miles south from them."

"Well than, your name is Snowflake." I smiled brightly at her. She sighed and sat down, shaking her head.

I headed to the living room. I attempted to wake Hank up, but he wouldn't wake up. So, I grabbed a blanket and put it on him. "I hope you know this is all you're getting out of me Hank." I whispered.

"He sleeps so peacefully, doesn't he?"

"He does, but I still hate him. Though I think I just have to get to know him a but more."

"That is all you have to do, but with the way you are fidgeting, you aren't ready for that yet."

I shook my head. "You're right. I'm not ready."

"When you are ready, I can help you through it. If you would like that."

I nodded. "That would be good, but right now, I think we should get to bed."

"But I'm a night creature." Snowflake protested.

"Snowflake, don't make me pick you up and carry you in bed."

"I'm coming." Her voice was nearly emotionless.

As soon as Snowflake was asleep, I grabbed my boots and coat. "I'm going ten miles to the south, or about that." I thought to myself. I left the house as quietly as I could and took off toward the south. "Okay, I should come across something not normal when I get that. I said to myself.

I was jogging for about nine miles when something tackled me to the ground. I closed my eyes and kept them closed, making my body go limp. Soon enough, they stopped pinning me and I stayed at still as I could.

"Hey, Boss! We got human here!" A male voice sounded.

"Yeah and she smells smoke like Six, Sir." Another male said.

"Follow the human's scent back to where is came from. See if Six is there. If not, destroy the place or area and kill the human." A female said.

My heart started pounding and my breathing picked up. I didn't want to die. Not at this age! I did something stupid, I sat up. "I know where Snow- Six is. She's at my house. Please, don't destroy my house and please don't hurt my father.He didn't do anything, I did. I'm the one who found her and took her with me. But I swear, I didn't hurt her. She's on the second floor, sleeping in my room. Please don't kill me." I rambled on.

I was scared, I really was. But, I had to protect my dad. No matter how must I hated him. Although, I liked Snowflake too. "Why do you want Six back?"

"That is none of your concern human!" The female wolf yelled.

"Tell me or I'll call my dad and tell him to get his shotgun ready!" I yelled right back at her.

"Our kind does not belong out here! Six has to go back to her mother and father!"

"No need to keep yelling. But, Six told me that her mother was dead." I said.

"She's not dead! I'm her mother!"

"What?" I was very confused as to why Snowflake would lie to me.

"That's right. I'm her mother" She must have caught on to my confused look.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"I can't tell you. I already have a life partner"

"What's a life partner?" I asked. I guess she figured I wasn't much of a threat.

"When one of us becomes of age, we come out here and find a human who likes us. They then give us a name and we bring them home with us. Six however, is not old enough to be out here."

"Mother!" Snowflake yelled.

"Six! You're home! Come back inside. with us."

"No, and my name is Snowflake. Not Six."

"What? Who gave you a name?"

"Pen did. She's my life partner."

"But you can't! You aren't old enough! It's against the law!"

"Well it's too late now. I'm not going back in there. At least not without Pen." Snowflake puffed her little chest out in pride. I felt proud of her too.

"Six--"

"It's Snowflake!" Snowflake cut her off. I saw her mothers teeth start to show and my body stiffened in fear.

"Snowflake, I'm sorry to say this but, you are under arrest for breaking the law. You know and have your rights. You also know the penalty for breaking this law."

"I know I do, but you can't kill me because that involves killing my life partner and her father. That would be two innocent lives and their blood on your paws."

Snowflake's mother dropped her head. "I can't kill you or your partner."

"I know you can't. You are too old to have more pups and I am your only child."

"Why do you have to be so damn smart?" Snowflake's mother growled.

"Because I'm a genius and you know it." She said. She was a very sassy pup.

Snowflake, her mother and I along with the other creatures went into a large cave. "I'm sorry to ask suddenly but, what about my dad?He's going to look for me."

"He will stop looking after a few years." Snowflakes mother was blunt.

"But I can't just leave him! I'm the last thing he has left.After my mom died, he was the first one to speak up in taking me in. Have you ever lost someone you loved very much?"

It took her a while to respond. "My name is Jenora and yes I have. I lost all my children to sickness , I lost my partner and I'm losing my mate. The sickness has gotten to him and he has just lost his life partner."

"I lost my mom, my friends and my home." I looked down at my feet.

"You have taken the last thing I have left! Six was supposed to be mine for another four months, but you had to take her from me! You had to give her a name! If only I could have found her before you did. If only I could have been a better mother to her. If only--" She trailed off.

I knelt down beside her and hugged her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up." I whispered into her ear.

We got out of the cave, and entered a beautiful place. Trees, green grass, animals and humans from all over the world. "Wow." I whispered.

"It's not much, but this is home." Snowflake said.

"Not much? This place is beautiful!"

"Not really. Not when you are born here and have no friends."

"Why don't you have any friends, Snow?"

"Because no one like runts. Why did you call me 'Snow'?"

"It's a short form of Snowflake, or in easier terms, a nickname."

"Oh, okay." Was all she said.

As we walked around, I heard some of the other animals making fun of her. "Hey Snow?"

"Yeah?"

"They don't know that you have a partner, do they?"

"No. We haven't had the ceremony yet. The only ones that know are my mom, her men, you and me."

"Than tell them." I bluntly stated.

"I can't do that. I'm too scared and I'm the youngest to have a partner."

"No need to be scared, I'm here for you, and you being the youngest is a good thing. It means you have something they probably don't." I smiled at her.

"That's true. I am the only one out of the four hundred kids my age to have a partner."

"Well than, tell them the next time they say something."

Her tail wagged. Wolves don't exactly have to facial muscles to smile. "I will." She said. I smiled at her and pat her head.

We were about halfway around the entire area before a young bear cub started teasing Snow. "Hey Six! Did you hear? Your mommy was looking for you. You have to go home for bed." He laughed.

"Shut up Eighteen! My name isn't Six, it's Snowflake! I have a life partner now!" Snow yelled at him.

"What? How can you have a partner? You are the youngest of us all."

"I went out on my own and found Pen." She said. I could hear the pride in her voice.

He looked up at me, astonished. "Get rid of her and take me. You're pretty."

"Not a chance. I picked Snow, not you."

"Why? She's nothing compared to a bear! A measly little puppy isn't as majestic as a bear is."

"Yeah? Well, bears sleep too much. I know a whole lot about bears and to be quite frank, I don;t like bares." He ran away crying. I knew it was going to have a bad ending. but I didn't care. No one was going to mess with Snow while I was around. In fact, not at all. "Come on Snow, I'm hungry."

"Same here, but we have to go to the ceremony before we can eat. It's a tradition that we don't eat before."

"Why is that?"

"Because, the elders want to see how we eat together before we get set into our own home."

"Oh. That's weird."

"It is, but that's the normal thing around here. You know?"

"I don't know, but I guess I'll have to get used to it." Snow giggled. I had never heard anything so cute in my life! "Your giggle is so cute!" I squealed.

"It's not that cute." She said. I could tell she was embarrassed.

"It totally is." I smiled at her.

At sundown, we were at the ceremony. I felt dizzy from not eating and nervousness. "Are you okay?" Snow whispered.

I nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just a little bit dizzy." The ceremony went on and on. Finally, at the end, Snow and I were called to the stage.

"Now, these two did something very wrong." The old man who was preforming the ceremony spoke. "They have partnered too early." He paused to look at us. "But, I am willing to look passed this. See, Snowflake is a very special you wolf. She and her partner, Penelope Windford, will take my recently passed partner's and my own place as leader and protector of Shadowdale Woods." There was a gasp in the crowd. People and animals muttered among themselves.

"But Leader Lockwood, we don't have the ability to keep everything up. Like the walls or hiding the cave entrance. We just don't have that power." Snow blurted.

"Snowflake, you and your partner are just like Maxwell and I. A strong bonded pair. So, from now on, you both will go to school and training to take our place." Before we could have a chance to say anything else, we were handed a paper to sign and a tag to wear for a few days.

They had sat everyone with their partners at a huge table with the leader. "Now, as all of you know, I will be seeing how you will dine with are partners." Lockwood paused as trays were set out in front of everyone. "Let us eat."

I opened Snow's tray then my own. "Thank you Pen, but I can't eat this."

"I can cut it up for you if you want."

"Thank would be nice. Thank you." I smiled at her while cutting small pieces to feed to her.

Everyone was done and gone before I had finished half of my own plate. "Interesting." Lockwood spoke up. I pushed away my plate and wiped my mouth.

"What is interesting?"

"That you feed your partner before feeding yourself."

"That's because she's important to me."

"Very interesting."

"What is?"

"Not many will admit that their partner is important after not knowing them for a long time."

"Well that's because I'm not from here. I'm the outsider here. Everyone knows that." A smile grew across his face. "What are you smiling at?" I was starting to get the creeps.

"Just that you are like I was when I was your age."

"Why do you say that?"

"I say that because it is true. You and Snowflake are just like Maxwell and myself. I took care of him more than I took care of myself."

"Oh. No offence but, I'm just like an old timer?"

"Yes you are, and a man like myself would be proud of that. Which I am. I am indeed." I was feeling the creeps crawling up my spine.

"Umm-- May we be showed to our home now?" I couldn't tell if my voice gave away the fact that I was feeling awkward and creeped out

"Right this way." He took us through a few sets of doors and showed us many old things thought to be lost in my world. The final door is what Snow and I wanted. "This is our home."

"We are going to be living with you?" Snow spoke up.

"Yes. Please be kind to the things here and, I apologize now. My sons and their partners are very rowdy."

"You have sons?" I asked.

"Yes. The oldest is 32, named Phantom. His partner's name is Hillyard. Next is Christopherson, he's 21. His partner's name is Hound. The third is Hunter, he's 20. His partner's name is Demon. Now last but not least, the twins. Wolf and Emily whom are 18. Starlight is Emily's partner and Killer is Wolf's."

"So you have five kids?"

"Yes. Oh! I forgot to ask, how old are you?"

"I'm 17."

"We must start immediately. Right now, you are to go get washed up and head to bed. The restroom is upstairs, third door to the left and your room is the fifth on the right." He hurried me up the stairs.

After I had washed up, I headed to my room . Stupid me, I miscounted. I walked in and closed the door. "Can I help you?" A male asked. I looked away as quickly as I could. He was naked!

"I-I'm sorry. I-I have t-the wrong r-room." I felt my cheeks burn.

"You're only one room off. Yours is next door."

"O-Okay." I continued to face the door.

"Oh how dumb of me! My name is Wolf. Yours?"

"It's P-Penelope. J-Just call me Pen. I should go. To my room. Because this isn't my room." I rambled.

"Stay for a bit. I can put some clothes on."

"I kind of have to get to bed. Your Dad told me to get washed up and head to bed. I have stuff to do in the morning."

"Come back at eleven. He's asleep by 10:30. Bring your partner with you. I'd like to meet her."

"Only if she's awake. If she isn't I'll come alone."

Wolf turned me to face him. He had put pants on now, but I still felt my cheeks get even hotter. If that was even possible without having a fever. "Why did you name her?"

"Because everyone deserves a name when they are born. Not when you are a certain age. Animals aren't just pets. They can be friends, or even family. To be honest, I think of Snow as a daughter. She's actually a lot to me. Not just a partner, but a best friend, a sister and a daughter." I paused, letting the tears in my eyes slip down my cheeks. "I love her." He was starring at me in shock.

"You haven't even known her longer than a day, yet you say you love her. That is a very strong bond."

"I know. I have to go now." I turned toward the door again, but Wolf grabbed my wrist to stop me.

"Eleven, remember." I nodded and left his room.

Eleven had come and passed, but I was too upset to see him again. "Are you okay, Pen?" Snow looked at me, the concern clear in her eyes.

I wiped my tears away and smiled just for her. "Yes. I'm okay. I just miss my Dad." An evil wolfish grin grew across her snout. I narrowed my eyes at her. "What are you thinking?"

"Let's go see him. Tell him how much you care for him. Tell him not to worry about you. Tell him that you are safe."

"But I have no clue how to get out of this place."

"I do." She said with pride. She jumped off my bed and I followed her.

"What about Lockwood? Won't he be angry?"

"We can deal with him." Wolf said from behind me. I turned and saw him standing next to a rather large creature.

"Woah." Was all I could manage to get out.

"This is Killer. Killer, this is Pen."

"Pleased to meet you." Killer said. The creature was huge and scary looking. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. I fainted.

When I woke up, my father was hovering over me. "Pen! You're okay!"

"Hank?"

"Yes, it's me. I've been so worried. You have been missing for almost a month."

"I've only been gone for a day."

"No. It has been almost a whole month."

Time out here is different than at home." Snow said.

"I see that." Hank hugged me in one of her bear hugs. I bet one of these hugs could actually kill a bear, it was so tight.

"I was so worried." He whispered, his voice cracking.

"Dad, don't worry about me. I'm okay, but I want to tell you something."

"You called me Dad."

"Yes I did. Please, listen. I'm living in a different place. I won't be able to see you often. I have training and stuff to do. I'll come as often as I can, but I make no promises. I have told you, I don't know how many times that I hate you, but that's to true. I was mad at you, but now I'm not. I love you Dad. I do. Thank you for taking care of me." He was in tears when I stopped talking.

"You're leaving again."

"I am. I'm sorry, but I have to. I will come see you as often as I can."

"Bring him with us." Wolf piped up, inspecting a package of frozen meat.

"Lockwood would be pissed if I did that."

"Oh well. He can't keep a daughter away from her father. It's just not possible. It will hurt them both way too much."

"Don't eat that, it has to be cooked. But still, he will be pissed."

"I can deal with him. I an the weasel of the family."

"Wolf! Don't eat that! Still, I don't want him to be pissed off at anyone." I sighed and got up, taking the meat from Wolf to start cooking it now that he had opened it.

"Like I said. I can deal with my Dad, you just have to bring yours along."

"I'll think about it."

I ended up making an entire meal and dessert before I made up my mind. I set the table for my Dad, Wolf, Killer, Snow and myself. "Eat." I sat Snow beside me so I could feed her small bites.

"What is this stuff?" Wolf asked, poking at his food.

"You wouldn't like it if I told you."

"Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't."

"It's chicken, mashed potatoes and buttered peas. For dessert, apple pie and ice cream."

"Chicken! You killed someones partner!?"

"No. I had bought it from a store."

"Store?" He looked at me as if I had grown nine more heads.

"I'll tell you later. If you don't want it, give it to my Dad." Wolf, Killer and Snow gave theirs to him, keeping their plant foods.

"Why don't you eat?" Wolf asked.

"She feeds the little ones first. She's always done that. When I was babysitting my friend's kids, she made lunch and fed the kids and me first before she fed herself." Hank said around a mouthful of chicken.

"That's odd." Killer finally spoke since I had met him.

"Not really. She's the motherly type of girl." Hank smiled to himself.

"Boy's eat, or no pie." I threatened. Hank started chowing down without another word, along with Killer and Wolf.

After we ate, I told them what I decided. "Than let's go." Wolf said.

"Wolf, you go ahead. I'll catch up."

"Alright." He and Killer took to the sky.

"I have to admit, Killer is a very beautiful Griffin." Snow said.

"He is." I nodded in agreement as Hank came up behind us.

"Okay. How long of a walk is it?"

"It's about ten miles from here"

"That's a long walk. I should pack some food."

"Dad, let's go. I don't know how much longer I have before it's morning in Shadowdale Woods."

"Shadowdale Woods? Why does that sound familiar?" He muttered.

"What?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing." He smiled at me.

"Okay?" I turned and walked south toward the cave.

We walked through the front door, right into Lockwood. "Oh shit." I thought.

"Lockwood? Is that you?" Hank asked.

"Hudson?"

"It's great to see you again!" My Dad was smiling.

"You too, Hud." I stared at them both, confusion written all over my face.

"Pen, you know my best friend." Hank said.

"I what?"

"Lockwood is my best friend."

"How is that possible?"

"I left when I was younger. That's why the name of this place sounded so familiar."

"Hud, tell me you still remember our shake."

"Damn right I do!"

I watched them as they did their 'shake'. It consisted of twists, turns, jumps, bumps, high fives, props, kick, head butts, shoulder bumps and finally a grapple that looked so wrong. I stood there as my jaw was on the floor. I couldn't think of anything to say other than, "What the fuck." Hank and Lockwood laughed at me.

"That was our shake. It took almost two months to get perfect."

"Sometimes I think I'm not yours." I stated bluntly.

"Oh come one. I bet you have a shake with one of your friends."

"No, because I don't have any friends."

"What happened to that one girl? Carrie was it?"

"Clara, she wasn't a friend. She was an insane girl with problems. She picked a fight with me and I kicked her ass."

"Oh." Was all he could say.

"Yeah. She was the only one, now there's only Snowflake."

"You have got to make some friends." Wolf pipped up.

"Not a chance. Not if it's going to be the same thing again."

"What's that?" Wolf tilted his head.

"Not going to tell you, now, I'm off to bed. I'm exhausted." I turned on my heal and headed off to my room, but was stopped by a lion. "And who are you?"

"I'm Hillyard. I was looking for you, Phantom would like to see you."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? I'm very tired."

"It cannot."

"Hillyard, tell Phantom that it can wait. The girl need rest." Wolf said, standing just behind me.

"It cannot wait Wolf! It is very important!"

I let out a sigh and said, "Make it quick." I followed him to a room on the second floor.

"Phantom, I have her here." The door flew open and I was yanked into the room, leaving Snow in the hall.

"Snow!" I called out.

"She can't come in here. Only you." Phantom spoke.

"Why not!?" I turned to face a well built man with tanned skin, black hair and striking electric blue eyes.

"Because I said so!" He boomed and I froze. "Now you must help me with something."

"Help you with what?" I was careful when speaking now. His yelling literally made my heart stop beating for a moment.

"I need to know what girls like." I blinked a few times, but he was completely serious, his eyes never leaving mine for a second.

"Umm-- what?" I was so confused. This 32 year old man was asking me, a 17 year old girl for help with other girls. His eyes darkened in annoyance.

"I. Need. To. Know. What. Girls. Like." He purposely spoke slowly, making me feel like I was stupid.

"That depends on what the girl likes." I humored him.

"She loved flowers. Pink ones, but we don't have those here. She likes chocolate cake, but I can't cook. She like jewelry, but I don't have the money to get her anything like that."

"I can teach you to cook, I can get pick flowers from the outside, and why not ask your Dad for some money?"

"I want to marry her, but I don't have the guts to even ask her out"

"In the morning ask her out than! As your relationship progresses, give her small gifts. Like flowers. A single rose will do. If is lasts longer than a month, invite her to dinner. Make her, her favorite things to eat. For dessert, make her a chocolate cake. When she has to go home, be a nice guy and walk her home. Make sure you are a gentleman, girls hate pricks. Well, most do. Unless she's a psycho."

"Okay. I think I got all that." He was calming down now.

"Now lay down and get some rest."

"Okay, I'll rest." He changed as I faced away from him and he laid on him bed. I walked across the room and tucked him in, laying a light kiss on his forehead. This damn mother's instinct is going to get me in trouble one day.

Walking out of Phantom's room, I turned the light off with a sigh and closed the door behind me. I sighed again and started heading to me room. "Are you Penelope?" A small black cat with bright green eyes stood in front of me.

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm Starlight. Emily wishes to see you." Her voice was so quiet and light.

"I have time." Her eyes lit up and I followed her to the third floor. This time, I held Snow in my arms. I entered into a very dark room.

"Hello." A small voice said from somewhere in the room.

"Emily?"

"Yes. That is me."

"Why is it so dark in here?"

"Because I don't like the light."

"Oh, okay. Well, did you need something?"

"Yes. I would like to know why boys never take a girl seriously."

"Boys are just stupid, but most of the time when a boy picks on you, it means he likes you."

"Does that go for girls too?"

"No. Girls are just total bitches." My tone was flat. I was remembering Clara and what she did to me back in school before I had moved away with my Dad.

"I see. Well, I got a note in school today. It says; 'Meet me at the big willow tree at 5 o'clock tomorrow.' But I'm too scared to go."

"Who signed it?"

"No one. That's all it says."

"I see." I rubbed Snow's little puppy ears for comfort from such a dark room.

"Will you come with me?"

"Sure. I can do that." I shrugged.

"Thank you." I nodded at her and tucked her into bed, leaving a light kiss on her forehead. I turned away and left her room with Snow.

"Is anyone else going to need me tonight?" I said to no one in particular.

"I hope not. I'm tired." Snow said, after yawning. I headed toward my room once again. Again, I was stopped and asked to see someone.

"Hey, are you Pen?" A man with brown hair and green eyes asked.

"Yup." I popped the 'p'.

"I'm Chris. I need your help.

"With what?"

"It's Hound. He's not eating or drinking. I think he's sick or something." Chris said as he dragged me to his room at a quick pace. His room was across from mine. When he opened the door, I saw a small dog lying on the floor in the middle of the room. I went to him quickly.

"Hey Hound, I'm Pen. Tell me, what's wrong?"

"My mouth and tummy hurt." He whimpered and I nodded.

"Open up. Let me see in there." When he opened his mouth, I subconsciously opened mine too. I saw what was wrong immediately. "This might hurt a bit." I pulled out a pair of needle nose pliers from my shoe. "You'll feel better soon. I promise." I lightly touched the rotting tooth and Hound yelped. I ignored Chris's pacing and pulled out the tooth. It was more stubborn than I thought it would be. It took a bit or strength to remove it. "There you go. Now, that tummy pain is from hunger. Go eat, but slowly. Too fast and you'll throw up."

Hound yipped happily and took off. I headed to my my room across the hall. I was about to open my door when Snow was attacked by a large crow. "Snowflake!" I called out and dove at the bird. I caught it and held its legs in one hand while using my other hand to keep its beak closed. "Are you okay Snow?"

"Hey! Let go of him!" I saw a black haired, brown eyed man. He looked just a little bit older than me. He was walking quickly down the hall at me with a very angry look on his face.

"Only if he doesn't attack Snow again!" I yelled at him, feeling my anger rise.

"I told him to attack, you stupid girl!"

"Hunter! What have I told you about making Demon attack others!" Lockwood yelled at him.

"It's just for fun, Father."

"No more! Or I will take Demon away for a month!" Lockwood yelled. I thought of him doing that to me and Snow. The thought of it alone made me shiver. I let go of Demon and picked Snow up, cuddling her.

"Are you okay, Snow?"

"I'm fine, but I wouldn't say you are."

"Why would you say that?" My vision was blurring, but I didn't notice.

"Because the human partner obtains all injuries his or her animal partner was supposed to receive." My vision was getting worse now, I could hardly stand without using the wall to help. "Pen? Are you okay?" I could barely see Snow, but I could hear the concern in her voice.

"Yeah. I'm okay." I turned to my door, but the world spun and I hit the floor. Everything went black.

I slowly woke to Hank and Lockwood yelling at each other. "It was your son's partner that attacked Snowflake! You know what happens when the animal partner gets hurt! All its injuries go to its human!"

"I know that, but I cannot control that boy of mine! He's a damn animal himself!"

"Will you two shut the hell up!" I shouted at them both.

"Pen, you're awake." Hank looked happy that I was awake.

"Yeah. Now, I have a killer headache. So the two of you, Shut. The. Fuck. Up." I purposely said that last bit as slow as possible.

"Yes, we're sorry. We didn't mean to wake you." They said in unison. I nodded at them and they left. I didn't end up going back to sleep. Instead, I got up and walked to the window.

"I wouldn't open that if I were you." Killer said, making me jump.

"Why not?"

"It's very bright out there. The sun is rising." Of course, me being me, I didn't listen to him and opened the curtains.I was blinded by the bright sun that assaulted my eyes.

"Ow." I closed my eyes instantly.

"I warned you."

"And I don't listen that well."

"I see that." Killer muttered. I rubbed my eyes, recovering form being blinded.

"So, where's wolf?" I blinked a few times to adjust to the light.

"He went for a swim. He asked me to give this to you." He paused and turned. There was a package tied to his back. "He also asked me to bring you to him."

I retrieved the package and opened it. A swimsuit. "This is really cute, but how did he get my size?"

"He looked." Killer said bluntly, like it was no big deal at all.

"He did what?!" I mean, it's not like I'm huge, but I do still have some baby weight on me and it is rather embarrassing to have at my age.

"He looked at the size on your breast contraption and your under panties."

"I'm going to kill him!"

"Kill whom?" Lockwood walked in. I assume he heard me yelling and wanted to know what was going on.

"Wolf!"

"What did he do to make you want to kill him?"

"He looked at my bra and underwear!" Okay, maybe I shouldn't have yelled that, but I was embarrassed!

"Oh yes. He did. He didn't do anything. Hud was there to make sure of that." My jaw hit the floor. Dad was there as he looked! Dad saw it all! Wait-- Why does Lockwood keep calling him Hudson? His name is Hank.

"His name is Hank, but still! He shouldn't have looked in the first place!"

"Alight. Just put it on and follow Killer to him. You can yell at him then." Lockwood said as he was walking out of my room. I sighed and changed and put a loose dress on over top of it.

When Killer took me to where Wolf was, I took my dress off. "I see they fit nicely." Wolf said, walking up to me from the left.

"Yes, thank you." I gave him a sweet smile like nothing was wrong. I planned this out on the way here. Play cute then hit him with my scary side.

"You're welcome." He smiled at me. Yes, he fucking smiled at me like he did nothing wrong! How dare he!

"Oh and Wolf?" I paused waiting for him to look at me. I did still have a sweet smile on my lips. "Next time you want to know my size and I'm sleeping, WAKE ME UP!" I watched both him and Killer jump from my yelling.

"Sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise. I did ask your Dad, but he didn't know either." He looked down at the ground.

"Just wake me up next time."

"I will."

After a while of talking with him on the shore, I climbed up onto a rock. It was quite high up above the water. "What are you doing up there?" Wolf asked. He looked confused.

"I'm going to jump."

"What!? Are you crazy!? That height will kill you!!" He was starting to freak out. I shrugged and jumped in, curling into a ball. I landed in the water, making a huge splash. When I resurfaced, Wolf was panicking. I swam to shore. I didn't feel like dealing with anyone who was having a panic attack. Not today at least.

"Dude, are you okay?" I raised my eyebrow as I asked. He ran over to me and checked every inch of my body. "I'm okay. I've jumped from higher before."

"That was too high! That rock was 25 feet above the water!"

"Yeah. I've jumped from 36 feet before."

"How did you survive?" He looked shocked. Have they never had a swim team before?

"I know how to swim, plus I was the captain of the swim team."

Wolf tilted his head. "What's a swim team?"

"I don't know how to explain it. Just, you swim for metals."

"Metals?" He looked so confused.

"You have to go out more often." I was blunt with him. I felt like I could get closer to him.

"Than let's go. You have the power to open the gates."

"No I don't. They are just open whenever I look at them."

"Because you opened them." Wolf smiled at me. That same I know something you don't know smile.

"I don't know how to open them."

"Yes you do." His smile never faded or flickered.

"If you say so." I don't think I actually have this power he claims I do. I guess we will just have to see for ourselves.