We headed out just before dawn and kept it at a steady walk for Gash's sake. She kept up well and didn't whine when she started limping. I knew we needed to rest and slowed everyone to a slow walk until I found a shaded lake. We all drank and laid under a tree, the sun had come up fast and was suddenly very warm. It was strange because the week before had been so cold signaling the coming winter. But I was thankful the we...

It was the day after Thanksgiving. Marcia wore her new dress the day before in her classes. For her and the school Thanksgiving was just another day, nothing special. She got several comments on her appearance. As she sat at lunch, a somber Hans approached her. "Excuse me, Cricket. The headmaster requests your appearance in his office, when you finish lunch." Hans said with somber sadness. "I will be there shortly, Hans,...

I woke and looked over at the wounded wolf and huffed - she was still alive. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep at the far wall of the cave; I must have been pacing and sat down for a minute and that was when I fell asleep. I walked over to her and she seemed somewhat happy to see me. She raised her head and whimpered. I cocked my head and touched my nose to hers, she then laid back down and slept once again. I snorted,...

A week passed, since Chantel asked Marcia to steal the exams. After the time at the dress shop, Marcia felt good and did not want to talk about the trap. However, at breakfast Chantel made it a point to sit close to Marcia. Marcia's spirits sank and a knot developed in her stomach. As Marcia walked out of breakfast slowly, Chantel caught her in the hall. "Have you gotten the exams yet?" Chantel demanded softly. "We are wa...

I must have slept a long time, because when I woke everything was dry and so was I. The sun was rising and the birds were chirping away. I got up and stretched my aching bones and sore muscles. After stretching I shook out my fur, sniffed the morning air, wrinkled my nose and sneezed. There was something in air and it wasn't good—it hurt my nose and made it hard to breath. I needed to get away from this place and soon or...

I woke from my dream with a start. I sat up and sniffed and crinkled my nose, all I could smell was humans everywhere. The smell was on the ground, in the air and, god forbid, on my fur! I had to find water and fast to get their stink off me. I roamed far and wide and yet I found nothing and no one. I had no idea what to do next. I howled, hoping my pack mates were close, but nothing answered my call but the wind. As I wa...

Marcia looked back at the school, sensing someone watched her leave. The man watching remembered their meeting in the woods near her house. He took care of the mother wolf after someone shot her with a pellet gun. When they met, he felt an instant link. He knew they would meet again, but the time was still not right. He watched her from afar and waited. As Marcia approached the forest, she felt more at ease. It reminded h...

We were happy in our new home, doing as we pleased. And just like any other time Tank and Nurse disappeared I wasn't worried. Apparently they took Scar with them so once again I was truly alone. But for once I didn't like it. Being around them now for so long I felt safe with them and we were more or less family and now they were just gone. I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't want to hunt, I didn't want to run...

I travelled far each day, not knowing where I was going but knew I would know once I was there. The he wolf still followed me but now he was joined by another. The one from the lake. They didn't try to attack me or interrupt me as I moved around but still they followed close behind. I tried to loose them a few times but it was a waste of time now there were two of them, one of them would always find me and howl to the oth...

It had been a long hard winter. There wasn't much around to catch or even scavenge from others. Not that I would steal someone else’s meal unless I had too. I had been a lone wolf for as long as I could remember. I didn't even know why I was on my own. Weren't we meant to be in a pack or group of some sort? Although I had come across other wolves, some friendly and some well not so friendly. I never felt I needed someone...

As the sun rose, its light poured brightly on Cricket's bed into her happy face. She slept happily dreaming of the dress in the milliner's shop. She wanted to return and buy it or at least try it on. Her hazel eyes shone brightly as she got out of bed to face another day. She twirled on the floor imagining she wore the dress. As she twirled and spun, she hummed the song "I Feel Pretty" from "West Side Story." She bathed q...

When Cricket returned from dinner, she stood looking in the mirror. What she saw did not impress her. She was about 5'5" tall; slim with an almost boyish figure. Her long straight blond hair hung limply, just touching her shoulders. Her smooth pale complexion was almost ghostly. Her eyes were a soft hazel green color, but plain with no radiance gleaming from them, until excitement grabbed her. Her smile was pretty, but se...

Marcia left her sad friends behind. She walked slowly down unfamiliar halls. She looked at all the doors she passed. None of them had names on them. Only gold painted numbers emblazoned each door. After walking what seemed a mile, the door she wanted stood out. She stood in front of the door feeling very small. Fear caused her heart to beat rapidly. Her palms sweated and sweat beaded on her forehead. She wiped her hands o...

Cricket unpacked her clothes and put them away. She stood at the window and watched the village below. Smoke curled up out of all the chimneys. It reminded her of pictures she saw on Christmas cards her family had. She relaxed and smiled. A voice in her head said, "This is not so bad. You will have fun here and learn a lot." As she looked around her room, the castle outside evoked dreamy feelings. The castle made her feel...

Cricket sat staring out the window watching the clouds move past. Her mind was flooded, as a plethora of emotions bombarded her. Her stomach was in a knot, which made her feel, as if she would be sick. She felt lonely, excited, sad, adventurous, cautious and lost. She watched the clouds because she never thought or dreamed she would watch clouds from above rather than below. She had many sleepless nights when she made her...