Fox Afield (Madison Wolves)

by Robin Roseau

  "Nonsense!" she said firmly. "Do you know how important it is to have passionate high school science teachers? I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for my physics teacher." She asked me questions about what I was teaching and was shocked at my course offerings.

  "Well, I have the cream of the pack," I said. "And they are very motivated. We have to keep them challenged."

  After that, Dr. Enrud gave us the complete tour. Ysabella and the kids peeled off after about ten minutes. Casey had wanted my attention, but Ysabella and Brooke had run interference for me, which I appreciated.

  We'd been roaming the facility for an hour before I realized no one else was asking questions. Instead, they were following along, twenty steps behind Judy and me, carrying on their own conversation. I stopped my question mid-sentence and turned to them.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said. "You must be bored out of your minds."

  Lara smiled. "I never get tired of seeing you excited," she said. "Take your time. This tour is for you. We're fine. We have plenty to talk about."

  I could tell she meant it, so I turned to Judy. "I'm keeping you from your work."

  "My work is education," she said. "A few hours with you will reap more benefits than anything else I could be doing."

  I took all of them at face value, but I remained cognizant of the hour.

  I had a great time, and before we departed, Judy loaded me down with materials I could use to teach the kids and gave me her card. She wrote her private cell number on the back. "Please call," she said. "I'd like us to be friends."

  "I'd like that, too," I told her. "Thank you so much!"

  She walked us to our cars, the two of us talking about teaching techniques. At the car, she hugged me, holding me tightly for a minute. "You are the first adult were I've ever met who was smaller than I am. I think I love you."

  I laughed. "I have had a delightful afternoon. Thank you so much."

  "Maybe we'll meet again before you return to Wisconsin."

  "I'd like that," I told her. "I don't know the politics of it, but if you come to Wisconsin, I'll take you kayaking."

  "Oh, I'd like that," she said.

  We pulled apart.

  Then we climbed into the car, Elisabeth taking the driver's seat, Lara and me on the bench seat behind her, and I realized Brooke was climbing into the front passenger seat. She grinned at me. "I am to be your tour guide," she said.

  "Excellent."

  The other enforcers took the second SUV, and as we pulled out, I told Lara, "You are definitely getting some tomorrow night, too."

  She laughed. "You can thank Brooke," Lara explained. "We've been planning for weeks."

  "I'm sorry, Brooke," I said. "But you aren't getting any from me. I hope you understand."

  Everyone laughed.

  With Brooke navigating, we left Boulder, heading towards parts of Colorado far more isolated.

  Climbing

  It was dark when we finally arrived at our destination. We were deep in the mountains. I had spent the drive staring out the window until it became too dark to see, joining the conversation occasionally. We stopped every hour to trade drivers around. No one asked if I wanted to drive.

  I told Brooke over and over what a beautiful home she had. Lara seemed amused.

  Lara drove for part of the ride, Brooke moving to sit next to me, still able to navigate. We talked quietly.

  "What happened to that boy you liked," she asked me. "I gathered there was more to the story than you told my younger siblings."

  "You heard about that?"

  "While you were engrossed with Judy."

  I turned to face out the window. The memories were raw; I had only explained everything to Lara, Elisabeth and the rest just yesterday. "Bad topic," I said quietly. "My history before meeting Lara is one big, bad topic. Elisabeth can tell you whatever she thinks is appropriate sometime when I'm not around."

  "I'm sorry," Brooke said. "How did he die?"

  I didn't answer. Elisabeth said softly, "I'll explain later."

  I looked at Elisabeth with gratitude.

  A few minutes short of seven PM, Lara called for a break. We all played musical cars, with her and I getting into the second SUV. None of the enforcers were happy, but Lara growled briefly and they shut up. When I climbed into the SUV she told me, "You need to call Vivien. You may sit up front where I can hear or I can play the radio and you can sit in back, if you prefer privacy."

  "So a honeymoon isn't a break from therapy?" I asked, grinning. It had been less than two days since I had scared them all, and it was amazing she'd been willing to go anywhere with me. I climbed in back and called Vivien.

  "How is the trip?"

  "Wonderful!" I replied.

  She asked me questions about it before we got to the "How are you feeling?" and "Have you stabbed your lover again?" questions.

  We had a short session, as partway through the call, I lost cell service.

  I crawled up front with Lara. "After this, she's expecting your call after dinner every night. You will call every night, even if it's only a few minutes."

  "Yes, Alpha," I told her.

  She glanced at me. "Honey, tell me it's not like that. Tell me you didn't need me to make it an order."

  "I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean it that way, Lara. Thank you for looking out for me."

  Lara called another halt, and we played musical cars again.

  * * * *

  We finally arrived at the Straight Peaks Resort. We climbed out of the cars, stretched, and looked around. The mountain air was thin and crisp. Brooke led the way into the main lodge, the enforcers fanning out protectively. We were expected, and Brooke was recognized. She introduced us to the manager, a human man named Leland Cobbs.

  "The missus is putting the pups to bed," he said. "You'll meet Simone in the morning." He gave us our briefing and handed out keys. He offered to show us to our cabins, but Brooke assured him she'd take care of it.

  "We can drive down," she said, leading the way back to the cars. We drove a short distance to a pair of isolated cabins, explaining that Leland's wife was Brooke's cousin; Leland had married into the family as well.

  "We're the only guests," she said. "But we have three of the more isolated cabins anyway. I personally promise your safety and privacy. The only people within ten miles work for the lodge." We pulled up in front of the cabins reserved to us, which were near each other, and she said, "Alpha, this one is yours. I'll show you in." She pointed to the cabin next door, barely visible through the trees. "That one is for your enforcers. Mine is another forty yards past it. The path to the lodge goes past my cabin."

  The cabin was small, rustic, and amazing. Brooke gave us the tour. There was a mini kitchen complete with a stocked wine chiller and a refrigerator with the basics for sandwiches.

  "Meals at the lodge, or what we catch," Brooke explained. "But you can snack from this. If you go hunting, please don't kill anything closer than two miles from the lodge. And father abhors waste."

  "We never kill more than we eat," Lara said. "We abhor waste as well."

  "All right," she said. "Unless you need anything else, I am going to settle in the enforcers, drop my own things off, and go for a short run. You are welcome to join me."

  I turned to Lara, and she nodded. "A short run would be lovely."

  Brooke looked at me. "Is a wolf's definition of a short run different from a fox's?"

  "I run slower," I said. "I've started charging them favors if they all leave me behind."

  She laughed. "How often do you win favors?"

  "Only as often as I trick them. I won't engage in any trickery tonight."

  Brooke smiled and headed towards the door. "I'll be out front in fur in fifteen minutes. If you change your minds and become involved in other activities, I'll understand."

  "A stretch would be good," Lara said. "We'll see you in fifteen minutes."

  As soon as the door closed behind Brooke, I melted into Lara's arms. "Have I sai
d how much I love you?"

  "Not for hours," she said. We spent a few minutes kissing passionately until I pulled away.

  "I really want that run," I said. "And so do you. But I hope we'll pick this up afterwards." I spent a few minutes exploring the cabin. There was one very comfortable bed in a loft upstairs with a well-equipped bathroom. Downstairs was the kitchen and living room. The front of the cabin was a wall of windows, but it was too dark to see what the view might be like.

  There was a knock on the door, and Elisabeth entered. "Elisabeth," she said, entering the cabin. I turned around and smiled at her from the kitchen.

  "Are we running?" she asked Lara.

  "Absolutely. I think everyone can use it."

  Elisabeth nodded.

  "I will be shifting slowly," I said. "Or out of sight. And I promise I won't hide."

  "Good," Elisabeth said. "I was just about to make that very request."

  "In exchange, no leaving me alone."

  They both nodded.

  "Wolves outside," I said. "Four. Gang is all here."

  "I'll go shift," Elisabeth said. "Come out when you're ready." She slipped out of the cabin, closing the door. I crossed the room to Lara and let her pull me into her arms. We held each other for a minute, then I shed my clothes, leaving my silver piled on the counter near the kitchen. Lara watched me, smiling, and then I shifted to fox and waited for her. She shifted moments behind me, and I let her open the door for us.

  Elisabeth was just finishing her own shift. She still hadn't learned the trick of an instant shift, but I thought perhaps she might catch onto it someday.

  I scanned the other wolves, walking from one to another to offer a small shoulder push and a lick across the face. I accepted the return licks, as much as I disliked them, finally turning to Brooke.

  Her wolf was glorious, which didn't surprise me. She held herself separated from the other wolves, but I walked straight up to her, then walked around her, chuffed once, then bumped her lightly and gave her a quick lick. She bumped me back, just as lightly, which must have been difficult for her. I chuffed again, checked to make sure Elisabeth was ready, then yipped twice at Brooke. I didn't have a clue which way we were going.

  Brooke turned and set out at a casual lope down a path, and moments later we came to a lake. Even by the dim starlight I could see the opposite shore. By Lake Superior standards, of course it was small. But it looked lovely.

  Brooke stepped down to the water and took a drink. I wasn't thirsty, so I took a moment to look around, then my gaze settled on a structure to our left, a few hundred yards away. The structure was cloaked in the shadows of the night, but I thought some of the shadows had a familiar look.

  I yipped twice in excitement and set off at my fastest run.

  I had caught the wolves by surprise and left them behind for a moment, then there was a quick bark of surprise from Lara, and the six wolves were immediately on my tail. I didn't worry about losing them; in a flat out race, there was no contest, and it was only a handful of seconds before I had Lara on one side of me, Elisabeth on the other, with Gia, Serena and Karen settling in around us. Brooke followed along behind.

  We got to the building I had noticed, and as we drew closer I realized I had been right. Hanging from a rack on the side of the building were four kayaks. I barked twice at them, then looked over my shoulder at Lara. She sat down and yawned, and I was pretty sure it was a wolf yawn, not a human yawn. "Calm down," she was telling me.

  I bounced over to her and thanked her the best way I knew how. I rolled onto my back and offered my throat.

  She yawned once more before slowly and casually climbing on top of me, settling her weight on me before dipping her mouth to my throat. She did everything slowly, her own message to me and everyone else. "This one is mine. She knows it. I know it." She took my throat, but she didn't squeeze; she didn't want a whimper from me. I felt her teeth, then she withdrew and gave me several long licks before letting me climb to my feet.

  I turned to Brooke and waited for her to lead us away.

  We had a nice run. Brooke set a comfortable pace for a fox, taking us in a circle around the west edge of the lake before setting off to the north, following a valley between two mountain ridges. The air was thin and clear, and I realized I would need to adjust my thinking as to what I could handle. I had been to this elevation before, but it had been a long time ago, and we were in the valleys; the ridges and mountain peaks rose above us, and the air would be that much thinner up there.

  We had gone two miles at a fox pace, and I knew the wolves must be growing impatient. They had been just as cooped up as I had, and I wanted them to get a proper run. I yipped us to a stop and turned to Elisabeth, huffing displeasure at her. I bumped her twice with my head, then began pushing her firmly. She chuffed at me and yawned.

  I was sure she knew I was inviting them to run properly. She knew they needed it. Why was she being stubborn? Then she looked pointedly at Brooke before glancing back at me, finally taking a protective stance between me and the wolf that wasn't pack.

  I huffed again then turned my attention to Gia, going through the same antics with her. She sat down and yawned.

  Damn it.

  I turned to Lara, stood nose to nose with her and barked my displeasure. She yawned at me, then she walked past Brooke, nudging her on the way, and the two of them led the way further north, loping along at a comfortable pace. A comfortable fox pace.

  They didn't notice I wasn't following. I turned east instead and slipped silently into the trees, ran a hundred yards, and began using my foxy tricks to hide my trail.

  If they weren't going to get exercise the easy way, I'd get their hearts moving.

  Brooke was the only one who knew the area, but she didn't know my games. I was the only other one who had spent time in the mountains. I wasn't sure that would be much advantage, but I was determined to give them a run for their money.

  It was a good long minute before they realized I wasn't with them. In that time, I set two false trails then one that should have looked like a false trail but wasn't, disappearing under a particularly healthy spruce tree, which should at least partially mask my scent. But the hunt was on.

  The wolves hunted by scent, which means they needed to back track to where I had left them, but they did it at full wolf speed, covering in fifteen seconds the distance that had taken them a minute or longer at a more comfortable pace. It took seconds before Gia found my trail, but Lara was used to my tricks, and they did a full circle of my last known location, making sure I wasn't tricking them, before they set off on my proper back trail.

  With such a small lead, I didn't think I had much chance of actually losing them, but I could give them some exercise and have a little fun myself at the same time.

  I found a good tree, passed directly under it, then ran north, marked several trees with my claws, giving the appearance of climbing them. I then ran as fast as I could and launched myself into the first tree. I climbed only to a sturdy branch hanging to the south and ran along it until it began to dip, lowering me towards the ground. I jumped off of it at the last minute and ran due south as fast as I could, ducking through every spruce tree I could find on the way.

  I hadn't used a tree that way on Lara before; it would be a new trick for her to learn. I wasn't sure if it would gain me anything; I hadn't gotten that much distance from the tree, when I'd followed the branch, but it would be interesting to see whether I gained any time.

  I could hear when they arrived at the tree, and I heard as they all turned north, following my false trail.

  I gave them more false trails to follow, working my way east for a while. I came to a river, deep in a set of rapids. I led a trail to it, then backtracked until I could find a place to jump off my trail heading south. I ran parallel to the river until I arrived at the north side of our lake. And that's where I wanted to wait for them.

  In the thin air, sound didn't travel as far, and I'd lost track of where they were
. I wanted to hear how they were doing, so I followed the lake west a hundred yards, then turned back north, my ears swiveling until I could hear them again.

  I heard Lara speaking in a loud voice. "Damn it, Michaela. I don't know which of these trees you climbed, but come down. Now."

  I had lost then, I had completely lost them. I had barely tried. I couldn't judge the distance well, not being used to the mountain air, but she must be staring at the trees I had marked and decided I had climbed one of them. The light was too dim for her to sight track my footprints, so she was working strictly by her nose.

  I barked, as loudly as I could, just once.

  When we hear a single sharp noise, such as a gunshot or a single dog back, it can be very difficult to isolate the direction. It takes two or three gunshots to turn to the proper direction. As wolves don't typically track by sound, I was pretty sure they wouldn't be able to isolate my direction from a single bark.

  On the other hand, they would certainly recognize my voice, and they would know it was from some distance away.

  I sat and listened.

  It took them another ten minutes to find my trail, and then it was Brooke who found it. I heard her bark twice, and I was close enough I could hear the other wolves run to her. Rather than chasing after my trail like the other wolves would have, expecting the rest to follow, she had waited. Perhaps she realized Lara wouldn't take kindly to Brooke chasing after me.

  Once I was sure they were firmly on my trail, I ran back to the lake and waited for them to find me.

  I lost them again at the river. My ears worked like mad trying to hear their noises over the sound of the water. Eventually I had to move closer until I could make out individual noises. It sounded like they were ranging up and down the river, trying to determine where I had come out. Did they think I was crazy? I wouldn't have gone in that water; it was much too swift and dangerous for me.

  I let them look for a while. Then I barked. Twice.

  I expected them to realize they had lost me somewhere on the back trail, but they didn't search it. They had gotten a rough idea of my direction from my barks, and Lara fanned them all out. I listened as they moved approximately in my direction. I ran back to the water again and waited, listening.