Red's Wolf - Piper J. Drake Page 0,1

“Looking at you, all grown up and out here on professional business, hearing you call me Grandpa makes me want to look for grey hairs on my head.”

“Your wolf form is grey anyway.” She stuck out her tongue and grinned. “Right now, you’ve got dark hair with not a grey in sight, and you look pretty fit and comfortably middle-aged. Feel better?”

He grinned, stopping a few feet short of her. "I’d feel better if I’d been here when you got off the train. I saw the lone wolf, Jason, heading off towards the nearest checkpoint. Guess he decided to go in on foot and check out the lay of the land." His mouth twisted a touch. "He could have waited with you until I got here though. You'd think a male would have enough sense to make sure you were safely with your escort before running off. He may be here temporarily but he should show some consideration."

"It's fine." She reached out, patting his arm. "I'm a big girl now. They don't only consider me an adult in the city; I might even be past my prime in some minds. We humans age faster than you shapeshifters do."

"Who says you’re past your prime?" His voice sharpened, and she began to realize how easy tweaking his protective nature could be.

"It's only teasing, Grandpa Ben." She soothed and cajoled him at the same time. “And I'm not in the city right now. I'm here for a visit with you and Grandma Jenna."

"And we are glad to have you out here, finally. We try to check in regularly to see how you and your mother are doing, but vid screens aren’t the same as a real visit." He smiled down at her. As quick as that, the temper evaporated. He glanced dubiously at her over-stuffed travel pack. "I see your mother helped you pack."

She returned his look with a rueful grin. "She wanted to be sure I was prepared to rough it."

"We may be way out in the wilderness, without the luxury and high technology of the cities, but she does realize we have hot running water and modern plumbing, doesn't she?" He reached over to take her the pack off her shoulder. Straightening with the sudden freedom, she felt the rush of blood flow back through her shoulder and the platform seemed a little more level under her feet. Rotating her shoulder a little, she reached for the railing as they walked. The cool metal felt comforting under her grip, solid and stable.

"I think she shopped at a wilderness outfitter and bought a couple of everything they had in stock.” Glancing over the edge of the platform, Carri ducked her head trying to hide the rush of heat touching her cheeks, Jason’s voice and stolen kiss still fresh in her mind.

"No need to be embarrassed, pet," Ben reassured her, misunderstanding. "Your mother wanted to see to your comfort while you're away from home. I understand." He put an arm around her shoulders, giving a friendly squeeze. He guided her across the platform and down the steps to a waiting all-terrain vehicle. Settling her into the passenger side, he dropped her pack in the back of the vehicle then climbed in the driver's side. "Gotta say, that's a nice jacket she bought you, not too bulky and a good color. We won't lose you in the woods. That’s for sure."

"It's warm too." She snuggled into the collar happily. The jacket had been a final send off from her mother, a stylish cut with a full hood in gorgeous red floral jacquard, lined with synthetic fabric designed to maximize heat retention without adding bulk. She could move freely and didn't look like a walking puff ball.

"Jenna will love it." Ben paused and then he added. "She's making dinner so it'll be ready when we get there. They still don't let passengers eat on the train, do they?"

"No." She leaned her head back against the seat, energy flagging. As the all-terrain vehicle skimmed smoothly through the deep forest, she looked out the window in a daze, watching the trees speed past and melt together.

"The sweetness is in your scent." Ben's voice sounded far away. "You're going into ketosis. We need to get food into you before your hypoglycemia kicks in and your blood sugar bottoms out."

"Can you really smell it?" She fumbled in her jacket pocket for her glucose tabs. "I thought I was tired from the trip." She felt a little cold, and remembered