章 34: Side Story: Luka [1]

A few weeks after Kraken Forest.

Luka looked up from its bed where it just woke up. Its ears began to twitch as it could hear people talking outside the door. It has been staying in the Kendall house, ever since Erick had rescued and technically, 'adopt' it. At first, the pack doctor, Melody had suggested to leave Luka at the pack house, where it can stay with the other packmates.

But Luka had been clinging to Erick ever since the two got out of the Kraken Forest. And Erick, too, wanted to adopt Luka as his pet. So the two of them had come into an agreement. Melody allowed Erick to keep Luka but Erick should bring Luka over to the pack house whenever he was in school or has a mission. The reason as to why Melody wanted Luka to stay at the pack house was so that it won't get lonely when Erick wasn't at home and at the same time, Melody can help take care of it and let it mingle with the other packmates.

That day was a Sunday so everyone was at home, including Lachlan. Erick had just showered and was about to get inside his room when his mother caught up with him. She was telling him to buy some items from the local grocery store.

Erick was moaning how he had plans to go out with Hamish and the rest of the football team. They were going to hang out at the McClay's before heading off to one of their friends' house to watch a football game.

So, the two of them were arguing outside Erick's bedroom door, with Luella scolding him to bring Luka out for some fresh air as well. Erick protested that he had already went with Luka yesterday for a walk. Luella argued back that it was not enough.

Luka opened its jaw to let out a loud yawn. It knew that Erick was preparing for the shifter ritual, hence, why he has been going out on his free time to hang out with his friends. Because on other days, he would be busy with Paccia's chores and tasks.

It rolled around in its bed, playing with its blanket when Erick walked into his bedroom. He went straight to his clothes and began to put on his clothes. He then walked towards his bed and fall flat on his bed, face-down. He sighed loudly.

Luka got up from its bed and went towards Erick. It began to lick Erick on his cheeks, making Erick laughed, telling Luka to stop. After licking, Luka nudged its head towards Erick, as if it was asking for a pat on the head.

Erick petted it and laid back again on his bed with another sigh.

Luka tucked itself underneath Erick's arm and slowly drifted to sleep.

----

It was dark as usual in Kraken Forest, where few sunlight graze the ground inside. There were more moisture in the air, making the surroundings more wet. Hence, it wasn't that dry inside. Though, because of the few rays of sunlight, there were not many animals that can be found inside. Many have managed to escape the forest as there were less food that can be hunted. Unfortunately, a pack family of three wolves were one of those who did not managed to escape.

Instead, everyday, they were constantly on the run. Away from other predators and supernatural beings called rogue. Earlier before, the father wolf had gotten into a fight with another predator and it had gotten injured, wounding its abdomen. Since then, it hasn't been healing well and hence, why they have been in a run. The forest was a dangerous place. It's a place where those who have strength and a strong will will be able to survive.

Because they were not be able to hunt well, they have become weak. The mother wolf had to protect both father and pup.

It was until one day, they were ambushed by a couple of rogues. The mother managed to protect the pup from the rogues by hiding it far from rogues, covering it with mud, to cover up its smell. And the two parents fought the rogues until their death.

The pup had stayed inside the hole few metres away, too frightened to get out from its hiding place. It had stayed inside for more than a few hours. And once it thought that it was safe to go out, it ran towards where it last saw its mother ran off.

It was feeling too agitated that it had fallen down several mounds, hurting its leg in the process. When it finally reached its parents, it whimpered sadly as it limped towards them. The two wolves lay unmoving on the ground, side by side. It whined as it nuzzled its snout against its mother's lifeless body. Feeling no movement from the two wolves, it limped closely between them and lay in-between the two wolves. It slowly drifted to sleep; a tear can be seen sliding down the corner of its eyes.

It had stayed between the two dead wolves for days; not eating. Its mane was covered with their blood but it doesn't seem to care as it constantly nuzzle against its father or its mother's mane.

Soon after, its ears perked up as if it sense something in the air. The pup started to be on guard as it looked around it. Wanting to protect its parents, it limped around the area, looking for something to protect them.

Few minutes later, the pup can be seen carrying a bundle of leaves in its jaw. It covered its parents' bodies with them. It continued doing this until they were properly covered from head to paws.

The pup was about to continue getting more leaves when suddenly, it saw a human being in front of it. It tried to hide in a nearby bush but it was getting too weak. It hasn't eaten or drink for days and it was still hurting from the fall.

When it noticed that the human being was getting closer, it struggled with difficulty to get away. But just then, it felt something changed over the human being. The pup sniffed the air and felt the aura around the human being was becoming familiar and comfortable. It could also sensed that the human being was not a threat; he smelled a bit like those rogue but nicer. Hence, it moved closer to the human being and weakly licked his fingers.

Since then, the human being had taken care of it; giving it food and protecting it. The pup then thought it was lucky that it was able to meet someone who would give it a home. The human being even gave its parents a proper burial. It then began to see the human being as its parent as well. It began to constantly followed and cling to the human being, even after they got out of the forest.

The day when they got out of the forest, they were met by another human being, who smelled a bit like his human being. And it finally know that the name of his human being. His name was 'Erick'.

*Poke, poke!*

Luka groggily woke up to find Erick poking him on its snout. "Wake up, sleepyhead," Erick teased.

It growled softly and nuzzled closely in Erick's arm. 'I'm finally home,' the pup thought.