• CHAPTER 2
    I slipped out the door, I took a deep breath. The smells of the forest overwhelmed my senses. I slipped off my shoes, leaving them under the porch, and took off running. The crunching under my feet was sensational, the limbs of trees brushing my arms and legs. I got a strange sense of peace out here, under all these trees. I felt disconnected, yet safe, like in the eye of a hurricane.
    I slowed to a walk, and then stopped in the clearing. The clearing was bathed in a array of patterns and shapes because of the numerous trees. I listened to the brook babbling quietly, the birds calling out their songs. Everything seemed hushed and gentle, as if putting a newborn to sleep.
    I heard a soft rustle in the bushes. Turning towards it I saw two small wolf pups tumble out, wrestling with each other in the soft grass. I laughed softly as I came towards them with my hand extended so I wouldn’t scare them. The one currently on top looked up at me with genuine interest, so the littler one tumbled it to the bottom.
    A creamy brown wolf stepped out of the bushes, not making a sound as she gracefully stepped towards me. She sat in front of me, the sun making her coat shimmer and here eyes dance. She was beautiful, yet she has a certain thing about her that made her look dangerous. “Brook.” I said quietly, nodding at her. She came up to me and rubbed her head on my hand as if to say – you’re welcome here.
    She yipped at her little pups and they ran over to her obediently. I laughed as the bigger one pawed at the fabric of my overalls. I picked him up in my arms and cuddled him. “What do you want your name to be?” I questioned him. “Something curious yet bold, a name fit for a warrior of the forest. How about Oak?” I looked down at him.
    The golden flecks in his amber eyes twinkled with mischief and love. He seemed to agree with the name I had chosen for him. I set him down and held my hand out to the little girl.
    It was tough to get her to trust me, but after some gentle coaxing and some help from Brook, the pup was sitting with her paws on my knee. “Hmm, something soft and quiet, but not ordinary. No, defiantly not ordinary for a little girl like you.” I looked up at the sky as if I could see the answers there. “How about Moon Shine?” I asked, rubbing the space between her ears affectionately. Her fur was a tan, but at first glance looked white. Oak had a darker brown color with black boots and a black muzzle. They were both special and amazing in my eyes.
    I leaned back onto my palms as I watched the pups play and wrestle together, Brook’s head on my knee. I loved this place more than words could describe, it was an amazing thing to just listen to nature speak in the ways it does.
    A thought bolted through my head, poppa, the thought sent a chill down my spine. What would he think about me being in the woods? I would be scolded something awful for sure, and he would probably make me hunt with him, which would be just terrible. How could poppa kill these beautiful creatures?
    I ran my hand down Brook’s head, “I’m late little girl, sorry. I’ll be back as soon as possible, promise.” I kissed the top of her head and stood up, brushing off my pants. I was late already, I would have to hurry to get home on time.

    I saw poppa unhitch the horses and lead them over to drink, I was waaay late. I pressed myself onto the top of the horse barn, if only I could unhitch the latch and slip in without anyone noticing or hearing. I lifted it open a crack, glancing down every two seconds to make sure poppa didn’t see me.
    I finally lifted it open enough for a girl like me to slide in. I felt for the step of the ladder and once I felt it I slipped the rest of my body through the crack, and set the lid down slowly.
    I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat on the bottom step, only to see Georgie, the youngest of poppa’s farmhands, looking at me curiously through the bars of a stall. Of course, the second time in a row. I always pick the WORST barns to go into. “Welcome back.” Georgie said, whipping his hands on the knees of his overalls. “How was the forest?” I almost choked, how did he know?
    I stood up, eyes narrowed at him curiously, “How do you know that I was in the forest?”
    He threw back his head with laughter, “That’s not all I know May Mason,” he winked, “I also know you were hangin’ about with your wolf friends. Brooke, Oak, and… What was the last one? Moon beam or something like that?”
    “Moon Shine.” I corrected quietly. “But how do you know all of this?”
    Geargie’s eyes twinkled mischievously and he ran his hand through his auburn hair, “Let’s just say you and me are a lot alike Miss May.”