Chapter 24 - The Girl Called Alice
The village that drew me to it with its multiplicity of smells has kept my thoughts busy for the past few weeks distracting me from my previous sadness. However I dare not enter it for fear of being hunted. Several trees are cleared out around and inside the village. There are no walls or gates protecting it, only a small sign with some writing at one side. A small trail from the south goes through the town leading deep into the mountain. There are only a dozen or so houses and a few other small buildings such as a bar or bath house. The houses remind me of log cabins. Smoke floats out from the chimney. A yellow glow emits from the windows at night. Snow from the previous night rests on top of the roof melting away during the day. Anytime a person leaves a house they use a torch to guide themselves in the darkness. Because of my eyes I can see without one.
I come near the village when my hunt goes rather quickly. I like to watch the people move around and talk to each other. Because of my extremely sensitive ears I can hear everything they say from the safety of the forest but I do not understand the language yet.
Sometimes when I watch the villagers they will glance over in my direction as if they can sense my presence. They have never tried to find or search for me though. Most villagers have predetermined jobs such as cutting down trees or farming.
The man that cuts wood for the village interests me the most. He has a large scruffy black beard and short black hair. His grizzled muscles are covered in scars. He wears the brown fur of a bear. He always seems jolly and is very friendly to the other villagers. The rest of the village loves him. He has a small child who will often follows him when he goes to work. I understand her interest in his work because of how impressive his skills are. He can slice a tree down in a single swing.
I do not understand how he does it but he will hold the axe in front of his face with his eyes closed concentrating for a few moments. Preparing his swing he sets the axe at the tree to measure where he wants to hit. Then he unleashes a smooth cut through the tree with a single swipe. I find myself coming closer and closer to him as he works every day to get a better look.
Often when he finishes cutting trees he will train his body through meditation and some type of yoga. He does lots of humming and moaning while channeling his breathing. His daughter tries to mimic him as he does this. His knowledge of training is vast leading me to believe he must have been some great warrior before having the little girl. For some reason the mother never leaves the home, in fact I have never seen her.
Today I am lying about twenty paces from the lumberjack man as he is chopping wood. His daughter is playing in the forest running around aimlessly. I am mesmerized by the strength and skill of the man. He easily cuts through the trees as if they were nothing but air.
My attention shoots behind me as something skids over my tail. Shooting up from my comfortable lying position I turn around to see the little girl fall flat on her face in the snow. She must not have seen me in the snow due to my white fur. She pushes herself up with her arms and looks over at me. Our eyes lock.
She looks to be about eight or nine years old. Her large confused sky blue eyes pierce into me. A strand of blonde hair dangles out from her black fur hood. Her cheeks are red and puffy from the cold. A bit of snot leaks from her tiny nose. Her lips are open slightly as she scans my face waiting for a reaction. A strange feeling emits from her gaze.
She simply stares at me from under her hood. She does not show fear or worry as a giant wolf looks down on her no more than two feet away. I stay completely motionless not wanting to scare her and have her father kill me. She stands up continuing to stare at me. She opens her mouth slowly and says something but I do not understand their language yet. Reaching out one of her hands she inches toward me.
Why does she not fear me? I am more than three times her size. If I wanted to I could easily eat her in just a few seconds. Are the people of this world not scared of wolves? Do all the people in this world hold strength like the man chopping down trees? Or is she simply too young to understand that wolves are terrifying beasts? I brush these thoughts aside and focus on the situation at hand.
As her hand gets closer I tilt my head down and press my ear against it. I take a step forward and let her pet my head. She makes the noise hugh as a smile wraps across her face. Her other hand reaches out and grabs my ears. The motion of her rubbing my head feels good. It feels so good I begin to make a strange noise that sounds like a mix between a grunt and a cat purring. I step closer to her and nuzzle my nose against her neck. At first she flinches away as my cold wet nose touches her but then she presses her head against mine and begins to scratch my neck. She smells like a fire wood and lilies.
After a minute or two of her petting me I hear heavy footsteps coming up from behind me. I shoot my ears into the air. Spinning around I back step behind the girl. Her father approaches with his axe over his shoulder. A look of caution fills his eyes. He yells some commands at his daughter and she runs toward him.
He squats down and catches her in his arms then sets her on his shoulder. In a threatening voice he speaks toward me, but it slowly turns into a calmer nicer tone. He turns around and walks back toward the village. The little girl turns my way and waves goodbye to me with a big smile. After they get back into their home I leave into the forest. I travel toward my make shift home.
A few days ago I built a new home for myself. Failing to find a cave large enough I make a new type of home. I found a giant tree and burrowed under its roots. Over a few days I decorated the inside with soft grass and leaves. I even attempted to skin a deer and place it inside, but due to my lack of thumbs and weapons it turned into a pile of fur so I skinned several rabbits and built a luxurious bed of fluff and warmth. I put sticks in the ground outside the entrance and slowly build it up. I rolled several rocks around the base forming a pathway to the entrance and building a small wall around the tree. Eventually it looked more like a fort made by a child then something a wolf would call home. It is spacious and warm under the giant tree. The sticks and rocks act as a guard against animals and wind.
…
I avoid the village for several days after the girl found me but without it I get bored. Loneliness strikes me as I crave more attention. Eventually I break and go back to the village. I keep my distance for a few more days slowly inching closer and closer each day but still staying within the forest. One day I decide to be bold and alert them of my presence. I howl into the sky. It is a call from a solitude lone wolf crying for companionship.
Several villagers turn toward me. I stand between two tall snow covered pine trees. My tail wags from the excitement of them giving me attention causing some snow to fall from the trees. The villagers talk to one another and some of them point at me. I can hear every word they make but still fail to understand them. I wish to get closer to them and learn their language but I fear they will not accept me. Some of the villagers look scared others look confident but a hint of curiosity is in all their eyes. For now this is enough to quell my hunger for attention and friendship.
The bearded man stands outside his house with his daughter pulling on his leg. His arms are crossed and he bears a look of frustration. She is shouting something at her father trying to make him move. Kneeling down on one knew the man puts his hand on her head. With a serious tone and expression he tries to explain something to her. The only piece of information I understand from his words is the girl’s name. Alice. Her name is Alice. After a few more moments I run back into the forest.
The next day I do the same thing and everyone repeats yesterday’s actions but slightly less fear appears in their faces. Alice once again begs her father to let her come to me but he still says no. Pouting with her arms crossed and stomping her foot to the ground every time she is turned down. I repeat this action every day for ten days. Each time I make sure it is during the day to prevent waking any one up.
On the tenth day people simply glance my way then continue with their business. Alice and her father do not leave their house this time. Feeling of defeat comes over me. I need to find a way to attract them more. Since they no longer seem to be bothered by my howling maybe they won’t be afraid if I come closer to the village. The worst thing that can happen is they kill me and I will just be resurrected again. I decide to continue my advance toward integrating into the village.
I walk out of the tree line and into the open space between the forest and the village. Keeping my ears open and sniffing my surroundings I keep on high alert. After I get half way between the tree line and the village I sit down. A few villagers notice my presence and stop to see what I’m doing but no one approaches me. When the time comes for the bearded man to cut wood his daughter follows with him holding his hand.
When she sees me her eyes light up and she pulls her dad toward me. Not budging from his intended course he doesn’t let his daughter over power him. He calmly picks her up and places her on his shoulder. He never gets closer than ten feet of me as he passes. Alice cries and yells reaching out to me. Why is this little girl not afraid of me? The other children hug onto their parents when they first saw me, but she decided to pet me.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
I continue to come to the spot between the forest and the village but I stop announcing my presence. One day I try to enter the village but am shooed off by a group of people. They did not seem too violent but more protective of their kids and homes than anything. I continue doing this for a few weeks slowly testing the boundary of where they will allow me to sit.
Listening to the villagers speak and watching their actions every day helps me learn more about their culture. Slowly I learn their language.
…
One night while I was watching the village a window from Alice’s house pops open. I see a leg poke out the window and then another. Slowly Alice slides out the window. She looks around then starts running toward my direction. When she gets close I stand up excited to see her. She makes a small squeak and jumps in place. I forgot she can’t see in the dark like I do. After she calms down she holds out her hand. Without even sniffing her I go up and lick her hand. The residue of her dinner still remains. A mix of herbs and spices cover the taste of cooked viper rabbit. She gives me a large grin and pets my head. I step closer to her and put my head on her shoulder. She wraps her arms around the scruff of my neck embracing my head. She seems just as happy to see me as I am to receive the attention.
After she pets me for several minutes I lie back down. Rolling over I present my belly to her and she scratches is generously. I now sympathize with dogs kicking their legs in ecstasy as someone pets them. Eventually she sits down next me and leans against my stomach. She holds nine fingers up and says “My name is Alice and I’m nine years old.”
After that I have trouble understanding everything she says but I get the gist of it. Using me like some kind of vocal diary she lists off everything she did that day. Flailing her arms around as she speaks and giggling randomly as she pats my side. She tells me her feelings and emotions. She opens up to me as if we are lost friends reconnecting after a long separation. She is extremely animated making faces and exaggerating everything so I can understand her better. Her method of communications helps me understand what she says while also teaching me their language more.
I enjoy all of the attention and being pet feels orgasmic. Somehow her touch is unusually warm. As she brushes her hands through my fur my skin heats up. Memories of wrapping myself in a blanket fresh from the drier flood into me with her every touch.
After about a few hours she stands up to leave. “Goodbye mister wolf. I have to go to bed now. I will try to come out again tomorrow!”
I lick her face a few times to say thank-you. Her skin is both sweet and salty. She giggles as I lick her. She pats my head and I stop.
“Hehe good wolf!” She scurries off back to her house.
She grabs at the window seal and easily pulls herself back into the house. I decide to head back to my home as well. Ever since I started watching the village I adjusted my sleep schedule to match the humans. Now I sleep at night and wake in the morning. I don’t usually need more than a few hours of sleep before feeling completely energized. The amount of food I eat is still astronomical as I continue to grow bigger. If I had to guess I would be near two hundred pounds already. The weight would be all muscle and bone, barely any fat exists on this body. Somehow alpha wolves are naturally powerful.
…
Over the next year she visits me almost every night. Sometimes it is for a several hours sometimes it’s only a few minutes. On a rare occasion she falls asleep on top of me. Other times she will be extremely active and run around. We will wrestle and play. It’s not as rough or aggressive as I did with my siblings, but she is surprisingly agile for her age.
On multiple occasions I allow her to ride on top of me as I run through the forest. She is extremely light and doesn’t impede my motion in any way. I have thought of showing her my fort but since it is so far away I decide against it. The forest can be dangerous at night and I don’t wish to be responsible for her.
One day she comes out of her window and runs up to me. The smell of cooked meat drifts off of her. “Mr. wolf today was my tenth birthday so my dad made lots of rabbit! I wanted to bring you some.” She tosses a small piece of meat in my direction. I catch the piece in the air with a loud humph noise. The meat is more succulent than what I am used to. The perfect blend of spices are cooked into the rabbit meat making it ten times better than the raw rabbit I usually eat.
“Oh Mr. Wolf is hungry? If you want more you need to do a trick! Sit Mr. Wolf.”
I sit down without hesitation. The girl lowers her hands and nods her head in satisfaction. She thinks for a moment then looks at me with a grin. “Wow I didn’t think you would know how to do tricks! Did someone teach you in the past?”
I want to shake my head no but then she would become more confused about my intelligence instead I only bark “woof!”
“Shoooosh! Here is your meat Mr. Wolf, but don’t bark or I will get in trouble.” She throws me another piece. “What other tricks do you know? How about Lay down!”
I slide my paws through the snow as I lower my bellow to the ground. I rest my head on my paws giving off a slight whine in attempt to add to my cuteness.
“Good job! Here is some more meat.” She holds her hand out. I lick up the pieces of meat and any sauces remaining on her hand.
She leaves her hand reached out and says “Do you know how to shake hands?” In response I place my paw into her hand. My paw greatly outsizes her hand. Her hand is small and fragile looking. My paws are big and strong. They have bits of dirt and snow in the pads and minor scratches from running or digging. Her hands are smooth and soft.
“Wow!” she moves my paw up and down vigorously. Handing me another piece of meat she gives me a sad look.
“I’m all out now Mr. Wolf. Maybe tomorrow I can bring more.” She flashes me a smile then runs back to her home.
...
The next day as Alice sits on her father’s shoulder while passing me on the way to the forest. Alice shouts toward me “Mr. Wolf Sit!”
I sit on the spot. Her father slows his pace.
“Ok now lay down!” I do as she says as her father comes to a complete stop. “Now roll over!”
Hey now you never taught me that, what do you expect me to do? Whatever her dad seems impressed so far. I should continue following orders. Maybe he will stop hating me. I roll over in the snow covering my snout with snow causing me to sneeze and shake my head.
Her father says “When did you teach him something like this?” Alice rubs her hands together awkwardly and looks at the ground. “Did you teach it to him at night when you sneak out?”
Alice darts her head upwards. “When did you find out?”
“I have known since the very first day. Your old man can use the ability of Sai. It’s the ability to sense life around you.”
“Wow that’s so cool! Will you teach me something like that?”
“Of course I will, but first you need to master your Dei wielding abilities.” Alice gives a weird look into the distance then she nods her head.
“So you’re not mad are you?” he shakes his head “Then can I keep Mr. Wolf as a pet?”
“Hmmph fine but he is your responsibility. You must take care of him.”
“Hehe come follow us Mr. wolf!”
After that I follow closely behind them as they go to do their normal affairs. I stay out of the way from their usual affairs but I do inspect everything they do closer than ever before.
The big man does his usual training of meditation. He seams to never do any body strengthening exercises, other than chopping down trees and a hauling them back to the village. Alice watches diligently and tries to meditate as well. She doesn't seem to know how to do it properly. After a while she gets bored and runs off to play, or entices me to play with her instead.
During one of the breaks the grizzly man pats me on the head and says “You’re a curious wolf aren’t you. I wonder why you’re so big. More importantly why are you so friendly?” I look around my surroundings not sure how to respond to him. Eventually I decide to sit down in place and wag my tail. I need to learn how to communicate my intentions to these people.
“Haha good dog, is your name really Mr. Wolf?”
I shake my head back and forth.
“Oh do you know how to answer yes or no questions?”
Sticking my tongue out I nod my head vigorously. My tail rapidly picks up speed. Perhaps this man is smart enough to fix the communication barrier for me.
He places his chin in his hand thinking for a moment. While raising his eyebrows he says “hmmm… interesting”
As night falls they head back to their home. I follow behind them but stop when they get to the door. As they open the door Alice looks back at me. Ushering me in with her hand she says “Come on Mr. Wolf!”
It only took a year, but I have successfully incorporated myself into the village.
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AN I have good news!(Or bad depending on who you are) there will be NO bestiality in the novel so don't even think about it!