A week passed since the talk with her mother about the cubs. Before, she would have let it go, but this time, Storge could not shake off the feelings inside her. It bothered her so much that she even skipped hunting with her father and brothers that she usually enjoyed. Instead, the young she-wolf aimlessly wandered around the forest.
A rustling sound from the bushes ahead made her stop and raise her head. A badger was returning from the hunt carrying a horned frog in its mouth. The animal growled when it noticed the wolf ant. Storge's ears twitched, and for a second, she considered playing with the badger. It was funny to watch the grumpy beast acting all annoyed and chasing after the trickster with its wobbling gait. They used to play tricks on some of the forest's inhabitants, despite getting caught a few times and returning home with scratches.
Storge sighed. No, today she was not in the mood. She continued walking, leaving the badger to enjoy its meal. After a few steps, Storge stopped again. The early spring grass and tender leaves blocked her view, but both the sound and the smell were signaling it was time to turn back. She-wolf carefully proceeded further until she could clearly see the flowing water. The creek.
She sat down, looking at the borderline that her mother had drawn between their territory and the human world. The night sky was still dark and there was no movement on the other side except for the birds in the trees. 'I wonder if more people will come into our part of the forest?' This thought was both exciting and a bit frightening at the same time. The forest on the other side of the stream looked the same way as the territory she used to stroll every night, but it felt different somehow. No matter how long she stared into the darkness with her golden eyes, she could not grasp that strange feeling. 'Well, it shouldn't be a problem if I just stayed on this side.' Proud of her intelligence, Storge stood up and walked along the creek.
This kind of walking on the edge made her heart beat faster. Everything was the same and at the same time, a bit different. Tiny fishes and tadpoles swam in flocks, while a few bugs slid on the clear water's surface. In the shrubs the flapping wings of stork hopper’s could be heard. Even the night breeze felt cooler and fresher. Storge praised herself for her excellent idea. While walking along the creek, she noticed some strange objects in the water. They were small and round with sharp zigzag edges. And smelled weird. She tried to bite one, but it tasted disgusting. One thing was certain - they were brought by humans.
Pondering about why these items were left in the forest, Storge sniffed a smell she knew very well – blood. Something ahead was bleeding. She tried to identify the creature by smell, but it was unfamiliar. There were no traces of wolf ants, so it couldn't be someone from the swarm. Intrigued, she carefully walked towards the smell. The bleeding creature might become food or might need help. In any case, if the worst comes, Storge was sure she could run away.
With each step, her excitement about this adventure grew. The stream widened, and in the deep water, much larger fish could be seen than those she had seen in the creek. The smell of blood became stronger. It was wise to slow down, but Storge continued at the same pace, impatient to meet the source of the smell. Finally, she reached her target. Her vague suspicions turned out to be true - on the bank of the stream a human was sitting.
The man was older than those she met on the trail and was standing on his knees. His golden tan skin was covered in bruises, fresh scratches, and dried blood. He was focused on something, rustling his hands, which were for some reason behind his back. Storge tilted her head. His behavior was strange, but his black hair reminded her of a wolf's black fur. This parallel made the human appealing. Even if he was on the other side of the creek, she should be alright if she took a look and returned right back.
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Compromising with her mother's rules in her mind, Storge stepped into the stream. The water was cold, and her intention to walk quickly turned into a splashy run. The man looked up. His eyes widened as he saw a wolf ant rushing towards him. The human tried to back away but fell on his side.
Storge shook off the water from her fur and glanced at the man in front of her. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that his hands and feet were bound with something. It resembled a soft branch, but it wasn't one. Storge moved her muzzle, trying to sniff and bite at this "branch", but the human suddenly pulled away. His attempts to get away were frustrating. 'I'm trying to help,' she thought, feeling hurt by this show of distrust.
She turned to the stream, and her reflection in it cleared up the picture. The younger males were scared of her appearance, so why wouldn't this one be?
Storge looked at the human once more. His attempt to run away had resulted in more bruises from the pebbles on the bank of the creek. ‘This won't do,' determined to help the man, she walked around him and changed into a human. In this form, her hands were better suited to the task of untying the strange "branch". The man flinched as her fingers touched his hand. Once both his hands and feet were free, Storge sat down and waited for his reaction.
The man turned around. He stared at his savior for a moment that seemed too long to Storge. Her curiosity, which led her all the way here, was suddenly tainted by uneasiness. But just as she was considering changing back into her wolf form and leaving, the man spoke: "Thank you. I would have been in trouble if it wasn't for you. I'm Diego, and you?"
His voice sounded low and pleasant; unlike the young humans she had seen before. Storge also liked the sound of his name, but she was puzzled. This was the first time she had met someone outside of the swarm. She didn't need to introduce herself because everyone already knew her name. Dejected by this situation, she shook her head only.
The man waited a bit for an answer, then took out a piece of cloth. Wetting it in the stream, he cleaned his face of blood.
"I was here on a visit, when those thugs made a scene after losing at poker. I never thought Kushane men couldn't admit their defeat. Well, on the other hand, thanks to those losers, I've got to meet you. Right?"
When he turned around with a smile, Storge nodded. The man continued speaking, talking about his homeland and how he was travelling with a few servants and guards. Even though some of the words were unfamiliar, it was interesting to listen to him.
Taking a breather, the man took a round object vaguely resembling the rocky tree's fruit. He brought it to his mouth and drank from it. Curiously, Storge approached. The man looked at her and extended his hand with the rounded object. She took it and mimicked his actions. The liquid inside was strange, making her throat burn. Storge coughed and spat the rest of the weird liquid on the ground. Her reaction led the man to laugh.
"This might be too early for you," he said, grinning and taking the item back. Instead, he placed a small "stone" on her palm. Storge sniffed at the "stone". Then, cautiously, she licked it. The taste turned out to be as sweet as honey. This was much, much better treat than the strange liquid!
"I need to go back now. My friends must be worried. But I hope to see you again. Let's meet in two days after I get my injuries treated, alright?"
Looking at the smiling man, Storge nodded. Limping, he headed towards the humans' territory. She followed him with a glance, before changing into her wolf form and running towards the nest. The small adventure she had been craving for had turned into something even more amazing. The human she had met was nice, unlike the ones from her mother's warnings. But it would be a pain to explain it to her, or even worse, to argue. Storge did not wish to share this secret, so before returning to the nest she made sure to get rid of any human scent that was left on her.