Chapter Text
“And this is your room Wolf.” Song pulled the wooden door open, which revealed an almost completely empty room, except for the double-sized bed in the opposite corner.
A smile tugged on Wolf’s lips. After months of sharing a room with Benson and Kipo in Timbercat Village, she finally had a room to call her own. As a child, she shared a room with the other wolf-children. Her short time in Deathstalker Territory gave her an ounce of privacy, but after the damned scorpions broke in and forced her to leave, she only knew the streets of Las Vistas.
Wolf placed a hand on top of the bed. It was just as comfortable as the rest of the house. Wolf reminded herself to thank Molly and the rest for their effort. Two off-white pillows leaned against the headrest and a thick, blue fluffy blanket spread across the length of the bed. Wolf stroked the fabric with a pleased hum. Never had she felt anything so soft. It was nothing like the inflatable guitars she slept on as a child.
“We’ll go furniture shopping with you soon,” Song assured, eyes darting around the empty room. “Try to think of what you’d like to get. Kipo is already on her third sheet of paper.” She said the last part with a fond laugh, causing Wolf to smile as well.
“Thank you, Song,” Wolf replied, turning her head toward the large window that gave her a perfect view of the mountains and hills that surrounded Las Vistas.
Song nodded. “Come and get me if you need anything,” she offered before she shut the door to allow Wolf some time alone.
With only her thoughts to keep her company, Wolf passed the bed to sit closer to the rounded window. She had yet to gather the courage to actually sit on the bed. She almost doubted the fact that it was her very own, and that it meant that she was allowed to stay. It also meant that, to her chagrin, she didn’t have to cling onto Kipo to make sure she wouldn’t leave her behind. Somehow, that was almost worse. She’d gotten so used to Kipo’s company and constant presence that she hadn’t even considered that she’d eventually have to be on her own. Kipo had grown up with Lio, and she was as identical to Song as one could get. Wolf, meanwhile, had zero similarities to either of them. She wasn’t a regular kid, she didn’t do regular kid stuff. She didn’t fit in, no matter how many times Lio and Song told her she did. How was she meant to navigate the life of a non-survivor all by herself?
Wolf crossed her legs, leaning against the wall to stare at the greyish wall in front of her. Boredom was a foreign concept. As a survivor, she kept herself busy by hunting for food or running from predators. Now that Las Vistas was safe, what was left for her? It felt like Wolf was the only one who struggled to fit in. She jolted as three knocks echoed throughout the room.
“It’s just me,” Lio called out from the other side of the door and Wolf instinctively relaxed. “Can I come in?”
"Sure," Wolf permitted before he opened the door and stepped inside.
He looked at her questioningly when he found her sitting on the floor instead of the bed, but opted not to say anything. He held an armful of books in his arms, with titles that Wolf didn’t recognize. “I found a couple of books for you, in case you’d like to start reading,” he offered. He placed the pile on her bed, glancing around the room. “We’re going to need to get you a bookshelf.”
Wolf studied the books. “Aren’t they Kipo’s?” she asked. She swore that she’d seen her sister carry them inside the house when they moved in.
Lio nodded, confirming her suspicions. “Yes. She used to read them when she was younger but she’s moved on to other stuff now, so I thought you’d have more use of them.”
“How young?” Wolf asked, clarifying when Lio gave her a confused expression. “How young was she when she read them?”
“Uhhhhh…” Lio pressed a finger to his chin in thought. “Your age? Maybe younger? Why?”
“Nothing,” Wolf replied. They were treating her like a child.
Lio looked like he didn’t believe her, but once again, he remained quiet. He picked up the book on top of the pile and read the title on the cover. “Alice in Wonderland. It used to be Kipo’s favorite. I’m sure you’ll like it as well.” He put it back on top of the pile.
The cover featured a young, blonde girl. Drawn in an almost cartoonish way. It’s for babies. Wolf forced a smile and hoped it wasn’t too obvious. “Okay, Lio. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Lio said, almost beaming. “I’ll put them next to your bed for now. I can help you organize them as soon as we get you a bookshelf. I’m sure the Timbercats won’t mind making you one.”
Wolf only nodded. How old did he think she was? Five? She’d survived far too much to even consider reading a children’s book. She was not a child. Did they not know her at all?
“Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,” Lio said, bringing Wolf out of her process of thoughts. “Do you want to join me and Song downstairs?” Lio’s smile was warm, almost comforting. A soft and mushy one that made Wolf cringe. She’d gotten used to cursing, yelling and punches that never ended. The surface didn’t care for her age, didn’t care for how innocent she’d been when she had to survive on her own. Yet here Lio was — treating her like a child. The child she tried so hard not to be.
“Maybe in a minute,” Wolf said. “I need to do something first.”
There was not a lot to do in a newly moved-in house. Lio knew that as well.
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it,” he reassured before approaching the door. “Just come down when you’re ready.”
He left her room and closed the door behind him. Wolf stared at the spot where he’d previously resided. Everyone kept treating her like she was stupid. Like she was a child. She'd never been read bedtime stories, never had toys to play with or the threat of death not looming above her head. What was Lio and Song going to think of her when they realized that she wasn't a normal kid? That they'd never get to indulge in things with her that normal families did? The answer brought a sense of dread to Wolf's tummy. No. Not again.
Wolf swallowed the thought down. She’d found great friends in Kipo, Benson, Dave, Mandu — hell, even Troy, Dahlia and Asher had made it to a special place in her heart. Wolf hated admitting how scared she was of losing them all. She wanted to trust Lio and Song as well, but how could she be sure that they only wanted her best? That they loved her unconditionally?
Her heart drummed against her chest and she curled into a tighter ball on the floor, arms wrapping around her knees. One hand moved to where her heart was and her eyes widened. She had to calm down. The Deathstalkers will find me! Wolf shook her head at her thoughts. She didn’t live in Deathstalker Territory any longer. She got out. There was no need to worry about them stalking her, about being stabbed with a piercer made of venom.
Wolf inhaled slow and shaky breaths. She found herself repeating Kipo’s silly little rhyme in her mind. In for four, out for eight. Keep your cool, now you’re great. Surprisingly, it did pacify her somewhat. As soon as her heart stopped beating so aggressively, she leaned her head against the wall with a light thud. The way that Lio looked at her — like she was a traumatized little kid who needed someone to pity her — reminded her all too well of how she’d looked at her.
She remembered that night so clearly. How she’d walked up to her with the same smile. How she’d placed her hands on Wolf’s shoulders, beckoning her to follow. And then a year later, how her claws had dug into her skin harder and harder as she revealed her intentions. But so is your prey.
Wolf had no way to know what the future had in store for her, and the unknown scared her.
Wolf stood up on shaky legs with a sigh. It would do her no good to spiral. She needed a distraction. She eyed the door, contemplating on whether she wanted to open it or not — to be alone or to fall victim to Lio and Song’s loving gazes. It had to be better than staying alone in her room, she decided. With one last deep breath, she approached the door and opened it, leaving the safety of her room behind before she turned her head in the direction of the stairs. A lump formed in her throat, but she ignored it. There’s no turning back now.