Chapter 2

It has been years since I have been able to walk or run. I had barely eaten, or had water. The darkness is around when the sun goes down. The only time I saw light is when the being said the words ‘Time to make money.’. I do not know what he is talking about. I see other animals, in something called a cage, like me. Each day, they are taken by other beings. I never see them again when they leave. I wondered where they were going. I wondered if they were alive. I do not know who the beings are, or what they want. I know I am their ‘property’, but I do not know what the word means. My father did not teach me the English language. The beings talk around me, and I wish I could understand them. Beings have looked at me, but said I am not trainable. I wonder if that is a bad thing. I do not know how I should act. The beings taking me seem to be my only way out. I am studying the animals around me. They seem to use their skills and beg for the beings to take them. I think I will try this too. I have spent the last hour howling aloud my pack’s song. 

“Together we run, together we play, the forest our home, the world our game! I love my pack, my pack is my family, the pack is my home. Together we run, together we play, the forest our home, the world our game!” I was taught this by my mother. She said it is a wolf cub song. I loved to sing it as we ran. As I thought of my mother, my howls saddened me. A being took interest in my song. 

“Hello little wolf. Would you like to go home with me?” He picked me up by my chest with two hands. 

“My son would love you!” I blinked at him. What was he talking about? I looked into his eyes. They were red. His scent smelled of sour fruit. He carried me to the front of the building. 

“How much for the wolf puppy?” The being’s face grew, and made his teeth show.

“500 eches!” The one holding me, handed him something blue. It was stone like. Small too. He turned towards the door, carried me with him, and left the building. Am I finally free? My eyes burned at the sight of the sun, as it was setting in the sky. It has been so long since I have been outside. The air smelled of smoke. There was light everywhere I looked. The beings sped across the roads and walkways. I only got a glimpse of what I was sure my father called a city, before entering a large box. I am not sure what to expect next. 

"You must stay quiet when I put you in the present box. I do not want  Kilian to know what he is getting for his 11th birthday. I hope he likes you.” The being was talking like I could understand him, but all I understood was to be quiet. As he sat me in the paper box, I let out a whine. I did not want to be in the darkness again. I want to see where I was. I want to find my way back home. I do not know how long I was in the box, but I could feel every move we made. I could feel what direction we went in. I wish I had paid attention to the direction when I was first taken. I was so scared, I did not pay attention. The box came to a stop. I thought I was going to fall. Something stopped the small box though. I could feel the tug of the force. 

“Okay little wolf. Be very quiet.” The man was talking again. I am not sure what is going on. Why must I be quiet? I could feel him walking, because the box would move up and down. His steps were fast. It was like the moving box, but a little slower. He must be strong to carry me like this.

“Kilian, I have a surprise for you!” He spoke with joy. 

“Father! You are back!” It was a little kid's voice. 

“Come sit son.” The man put me down. I could feel the other person sit too.

“What did you get me?!” I could feel him touching the box. It felt as if he was touching every inch. 

“Open it.” The older man spoke softly. The lid opened to reveal a little boy being. He had white hair, with pale honey like skin. His lips were small, and his nose round. His eyebrows arched at the ends, and his eyes… They looked like his fathers, but they were pink. I wonder if that is normal? He put his hand on my back. His touch was soft. Like he was touching something breakable. 

“What is it dad?” I am confused. He is looking right at me, so why is he asking what I am? I may not be able to speak English, but I do understand a little. 

“Speak!” The man is looking at me now. He wants me to talk. 

“I am Lyra! I want to go home!” I howled, but I do not believe they understand me. “It’s a wolf!” The boy jumped with joy. 

“Yes, a puppy to grow up with you, and protect you.”  I am so lost, as I stared up at them. 

“What will you name her?” The man smiled. 

“Her?” 

“Yes.” The boy picked me up by my chest. He sat me in his lap, and began to pet me.

“What would you like your name to be?” What was he saying now? I got ‘name’. Did he want mine? 

“Lyra!” I howled again. 

“Father, she says her name is Lyra.” My name! I hear my name! Did he understand me? 

“So you can communicate with her with your powers then?” The older man asked. Powers? My father had used that word before. He said beings… or humans did not have them. He said that only we of myth have them. Did this mean the beings in front of me were not human? 

“Yes, father… But she must talk for me to understand. I must focus on her words.” I blinked. 

“I do not understand what is going on, or what they are saying!” I howled loudly. I am getting frustrated. 

“I just want to go home!” My howl is loud, but sad. The boy picked me up, and looked at me. His pink eyes glistened as thoughts popped into my head. 

‘You are home Lyra. I am Kilian. I am sorry you do not understand english, but I can understand you. I will let you know anything you need to know. I can even teach you English if you would like. I hope we can be friends!’ His words were low in my head, but I could understand them. I do not know how this is happening. How can I understand this being? 

“What are you?” I howled.

“Father, she wants to know what we are. What should I tell her?” The  man grabbed me, and lifted me to his eyes. 

‘We are vampires. Blood suckers are what humans call us. I am surprised you can understand us. We have not had a pet yet that could talk back.’ I blinked. Pet? I stared at the vampire. I am no pet. I am a werewolf! An Alpha at that! My pack may be gone, but when I am older, I can start over, I thought to myself. I can’t tell them though. Father told me never to show anyone our family secret. That we have human forms. That as long as we hide our ears and tails, we too can walk with the humans. 

“I am no normal wolf!” I howled aloud. 

“What do you mean?” The boy asked, but I refused to answer. The older vampire got up, and went to the door. 

“I’ll let you two get acquainted.” As he left the room, the boy's smile faded. 

“Listen here Lyra! I am your master! You will do what I say or you will be punished.” Fear sprang up in my body as I heard him speak. I felt my stomach sink, and I whined. I ended up peeing myself.