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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 43: The Power Of Two (Cody’s Gift Part Five)

Day 130 Continued

The image of a rat warrior appeared on the view screen as I was anxiously waiting for part five of the movie to start.

(Geez! Not again!)

“Lady Vermin?! To what do I owe the pleasure?” I said greeting my mistress’ best friend.

“Afternoon little Alex. Ursa wanted me to call to let you know that she is running late.”

“Running late from what?” I asked the rat lady pensively.

Lady Vermin was hesitant to tell me until I volunteered the information.

“Her meetings with the other knights you mean including those from World Three? My Lady it is alright, I know.”

“Yes, her meetings.” The rat warrior volunteered reluctantly.

“That is fine my lady, I think I can keep myself occupied until her return.” I said smiling.

“How are you feeling little Alex?”

“A little stiff from where Lea put me back together but otherwise fine and glad to have the day off.”

“So what have you been up to?” The she beast asked me curiously.

“Catching up on Counter Earth cinema- some rotten movies and a then a really, really good one.” I responded.

“I see that, Cody’s Gift.” She said. “That is a really good one.”

“So what have you been up to this afternoon my lady?”

“A bad accident on the north-side a vehicle crashed into the upper floor of residential complex. Several tenants were injured and the target vehicle was destroyed. I am still trying to figure out the cause- driver or computer error?” The warrior said to me.

“Wow.”

“Ursa should be back in a couple of hours.”

Just then Lord Tiger’s image appeared on the view screen.

“Status?” The tiger warrior asked.

“Still trying to figure out the cause of the accident sir. I will have an answer within a few more hours.”

“Greetings commander. It looks like you two are busy. I better let you get back to work then.”

“Hi Alex, how are you feeling?” The commander of the knights asked.

(Again?)

“A little stiff from where Lea put me back together, but glad to be here.” I said to him.

“I am glad that you are here.” The tiger said candidly.

“We will drop by a later little Alex to check up on you.” The rat warrior said.

“I would like that.”

Judging by what I saw in the background of her communication, the scene was a mess. She would be cleaning that up for a few hours too. As soon as Lady Vermin and Lord Tiger ended their communications part five of the movie started with a bang:

_“Slave hunters!” Myra hissed grabbing Cody’s paw. “Come, we have to flee!” _

Silently, but quickly the wolf-girl and cat-boy ran to the north. It wouldn’t be long before the hunters figured out they were still in the immediate area and intensified their search.

_Myra and Cody ran as fast they could knowing the hunters would soon retrace their steps. _

“Try not to leave a trail for them to follow!” The wolf-girl warned.

_The two ran for about a mile through the forest before arriving at a river-bend where Myra stopped and looked at the ground then they continued to follow the river for a few more miles. _

“What do we do?! What do we do?!” Cody said scared.

_“First kid, we don’t panic. If we do we will be captured.” Myra said to the frightened cat-boy. “Mmm... this way.” _

_The two walked a little ways from the river to a abandoned underground lair, its entrance was covered by rocks. _

“In here!” The she-wolf said as she removed one making a small entrance way- just large enough for the two to enter. Once inside Cody crouched onto the floor of the lair staring at the opening.

“What do we do now?!” He asked the she beast.

“We hide while we wait for nightfall.” Myra said softly to Cody.

“And then?!”

“It won’t matter!” Myra growled. “There is supposed to be a beautiful moon tonight....”

_As the two waited for the sun to set, Cody started shaking badly. _

“Please tell me you aren’t doing that because you are cold? It is still too warm for that.” Myra said to him.

“No, I just imagined what would happen if we were caught and sent back to Master Puma and his minions.” Cody said bluntly.

_“I would most likely be killed and you would continue to be T.M.’s penis warmer or worse. That thought would make me shake too.” The she-wolf said as she hugged the cat-boy just as the sun finished setting. “At last!” _

“Um, time for the night shift?” Cody asked as he noticed Myra started to feel very very warm.

In response, Myra started moaning as her transformation began. Cody was relieved, in her were-form the slave hunters would be no match for Myra and they would be able to resume their escape.

“GUAH!” The she-wolf said as the pain from her shift consumed her. Cody watched in amazement as her paws once again elongated, her claws extending from the tips. Thick coarse wolf fur bubbled up from Myra’s legs, arms, shoulders and formed a mane around her neck. “Just a little more.” Myra groaned while she still embraced Cody.

_Cody waited with anticipation for the shift to finish- he wanted to feel Myra’s chest re-shapen, her bones realign, her snout and ears elongate, to see her bulk, broad shoulders, strong back and muscular butt return- he especially loved that part. But that didn’t happen until the transformation made Myra’s frame grow five times its normal size. _

_Cody waited and waited. But nothing else happened. The transformation came to a complete stop. _

“THAT’S RIIIGHT!” Myra grumbled.

“That’s wrong!” Cody warned his friend. “Myra- you’re still Myra! You didn’t finish!”

Myra looked herself over. “I thought the pain seemed subdued.” She said puzzled.

“What happened? Why did you stop mid-transformation?” Cody asked the puzzled she-wolf.

“I, I don’t know!”

Suddenly the rocks covering the entrance of the lair were removed and the two exslaves were joined by the hooded figures who they had seen earlier.

“Like what I said Ollie- These two are a cunning pair!” The one hunter said to his companion as he removed his hood and entered the lair.

“It was cute how you tried to hide your trail but it didn’t work.” The second slave hunter said also removing his hood also entering the lair.

Cody gasped as the two hunters made entrance to their hiding place with weapons drawn- they were both utterly screwed.

Of the two slave hunters that had their weapons pointed at them, one was a brown slender ape- he looked to be in his late twenties- with an athletic build- the brains of the duo. The one named Ollie was the muscle- rather a very muscular grey ox slightly older than the ape.

“Slaves, Master Puma sends his regards- he can’t wait to see you again!” The ape said.

“You will be coming with us!” The ox said.

“I will be damned if I ever let you take me back to that monster again!” Myra said charging the ox.

_“You say that as if you actually have a choice!” The ox snorted. _

_He then dropped his weapon, deflected the wolf-girl’s charge and punched her in the face followed by her gut easily dropping her. _

“Damn, Wes, that is one ugly looking wolf.”

“Myra!” Cody screamed as he saw how easily the wolf-girl was dropped by the ox.

“Don’t worry little kitten, I have something for you too!” The ape said as he hit Cody hard in the stomach with the butt of the weapon dropping him to the floor of the lair- knocking the wind out of him before smacking the cat-boy repeated on his back with the same weapon.

“Geez Ollie it is hard to believe these two had such a bounty on them- they were just too, too easy to catch!” The ape said to the ox.

_“The cougar must want them badly Wes.” The ox said to the ape. _

_Cody and Myra were carried from the lair to the hunter’s boat waiting on the river. _

“Look how scrawny the kitten is Ollie! What possible value could he be to the cougar?” The ape said to his companion as he tossed the cat-boy onto the deck of their boat.

_The ox looked Cody over carefully. _

“Must be a valued sex toy- Wes. But that freak show over there- she is ugly, but has a lot of spirit. I am going to enjoy beating that out of her!”

The slave hunters beat Cody and Myra until Myra was knocked out by the ox. Both were then tied up and placed in the cargo hold of the slave hunter’s boat a moderate size steam powered vessel consisting of just one deck and a cargo hold underneath which the operators used for storing things- like escaped slaves.

_Cody moaned while he struggled with his bonds. For the second time in two days he had been punched in the stomach. That was a real slap in the face- that was until the ape slapped him in the face while the ox pummeled Myra. _

_In the dim light of the cargo hold the cat-boy listened to the sound of their captors talking above them. _

_“That was an easy hunt Wes. I wished all of them were that easy!” _

_“Yeah Ollie, we didn’t even use our riffles!” The ape said to the ox. _

_Cody took stock of his injuries while he searched for his friend. His stomach and face hurt, but otherwise he survived the hunters' beating intact. In the dim light of the cargo hold he soon spotted the wolf-girl. _

“Myra are you alright?” He asked crawling to her side.

“No.” She said groggily. “Where are we?”

“The hunters then threw us into the storage hold of their boat. We are most likely on our way back to Master Puma.” Cody said as he started loosening Myra’s bonds.

“I am sorry kid. I thought we could escape that monster and his minions. I thought we would be able to reach my tribe and safety. I failed you.”

“Don’t worry about that now. How are you feeling?” Cody asked the partially transformed were-creature.

“My head and back hurt. But more importantly I still can’t figure out why I couldn’t completely shift. That has never happened before.” Myra said apologetically as Cody finished untying her.

“I was thinking about that too. Myra, how close are we to your tribe’s territory? “Cody asked the she beast. As she started to loosen his bonds.

“About half a day.”

“When you first transformed you told me that you could assume your were-form at will when on your tribe’s territory. Away from it- you could only transform during the full moon.” Cody said thinking out loud. “Tonight you stopped mid-transformation before we were captured by the hunters.”

“Yeah- what are you getting at?” Myra asked as she finished untying Cody’s ropes.

“I think I have an answer. We are on your tribe’s territory!”

“Cody our territory is to the north. Not here.”

“What if at one time or another- this area was part of your tribe’s territory- perhaps many many generations ago?! That would explain why you stopped mid-transformation. You didn’t need the moon; you can shift at will!”

_Just then the slave hunter’s boat hit a series of river rapids. Myra and Cody were jostled around before the she-wolf landed on the cat-boy. _

_When Myra recovered, she kissed the cat-boy on his forehead. _

“If that is true Cody, you just saved our lives!”

“When you make your move Myra, I would strongly recommend you very, very quietly enter the deck above and only announce your presence when it is too late for our captors to react- remember they have weapons.” Cody suggested.

“You surprise me kid. I thought you were going to beg me not to kill.” Myra said shocked.

“After the way we were captured and beaten by those two- I don’t care. I hate them.” Cody said coldly. “Further, I have no desire to see Master Puma or T.M. ever again.”

“That’s my boy!” Myra said as she rested her chin on Cody’s chest letting the cat-boy pet her on the head. “It is time kid.”

“Ok, but quietly. We don’t want to lose the element of surprise.” The cat-boy warned.

Myra breathed deeply for a moment, then just willed the transformation. Cody felt the wolf-girl suddenly get very warm. She then groaned and grunted as the pain consumed her and the shift resumed- her snout and ears elongated before the cat-boy’s eyes.

Seeing Myra’s transformation resume Cody quickly threw his arms around her back in a loving embrace only to have it broken when her frame started growing, bigger, bigger and bigger. Soon it was five times its previous size! The were-creature was back!

_Myra stopped grunting and groaning shortly afterwards. _

“How do you feel?” Cody asked the werewolf.

“Vengeful.” Were-Myra grumbled.

_“I mean do you feel weak or tired like the last time?” Cody asked the were-creature. _

_“No. I do feel it is time our captors compensate us for our troubles- their lives should be adequate....” The werewolf-girl hissed. _

“Wait!” Cody said as he ran his paws over the werewolf’s body verifying the strong back, broad shoulders, massive bulk and that muscular butt had indeed returned.

“What was that for kid?” The were-creature asked.

“Quality control.” The cat-boy answered. “Myra, please be careful.”

Were-Myra once again removed her top and loin-cloth and handed it to Cody. She then took Cody’s paws and used them to cover his face as she crawled over him to the trapdoor that lead to the main deck.

_Cody knew the wolf-girl well enough to know what she meant by that action. ‘Stay here until I come for you’. He closed his eyes as the were-beast quietly exited the cargo hold and made its way to the main deck. _

The cat-boy listened intently for what was to come. He heard the two slave hunters casually talking as they were piloting their boat along the river. Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by a fearsome sound. The unmistakeable sound of a large wolf mauling someone. Followed by blood curdling screams of two slave hunters.

RAAAWAAARRR!!!!!

_“Ollie what the hell- is that?! Where did it come from? Ollie? Ollie? Ollie!!” _

RAAAWAAARRR!!!!!

There was no weapons fire only an erie silence as Cody remained still and listened. The next sound he heard was of a trapdoor opening. It was were-Myra. She pulled the cat-boy to the main deck. He claws and paws we covered with blood.

When Cody arrived on deck, he walked toward the bow of the ship followed by the werewolf. There he found the ox on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Next to him was the ape crouching holding a gaping wound in his abdomen. Both were bleeding out with deep gashes all over their bodies but no bite marks- odd.

_Cody started to feel sorry for the slave hunters. But that emotion soon abated. _

“I have something for you kitten.” He said approaching the ape. The cat-boy then kicked the mortally wounded ape as hard as he could in the face.

Wes felly backward- his head striking the floor of the deck. Cody looked back at the ox who was staring at the sky- still alive but his breathing was very labored. It seemed he had also been mortally wounded as well.

“What are you?!” The ape asked as he continued to bleed.

“Two beasts that took both of you down.” Were-Myra grumbled.

“You’re that ugly wolf-girl?”

“All grown up!” Were-Myra countered.

“We will be leaving now.” Cody said addressing what remained of the pair. “As of this moment, you poor excuses for beasts have two options: One, you can continue to pursue us- but with the wounds you have, you would most likely bleed to death before you would see us again. Or two, you can tuck tail between your legs and head for the nearest settlement. Master Puma wouldn’t be happy, but you might arrive before you completely succumb to your injuries. Either way, I don’t care.” Cody said as he and the werewolf walked to the stern of the ship.

_As he and Were-Myra jumped overboard, Cody took one last look at the hunters who had come very close to dragging him back into slavery. _

“Buh-bye now!”

The cat-boy and the were-creature swam back to shore and watched the slave hunter’s ship continue down the river.

_As they were drying off. The werewolf-girl had a peculiar look on her face. _

“What’s wrong Myra?” Cody asked.

_“I am curious as to what action those pieces of filth will purse- option one or two?” She asked Cody. _

They didn’t have long to wait for an answer; the night sounds of the forest were soon disrupted by the sounds of riffle fire. Two shots coming from the direction of the slave hunters’ boat.

Cody turned to the werewolf. “Neither.”

The two companions stopped back at the tree to pick up T.M.’s jacket before resuming their journey toward Myra’s tribe. They traveled in silence listening to the night sounds in the forest. After their horrifying encounter both wondered if there were other slave hunters out there somewhere looking for them. Were-Myra decided the two should resume their travels immediately.

“What about our wounds?” Cody protested. “You were pummeled by that ox.”

“We will take care of them when we are within the protection of my tribe’s village.”

_As the night wore on Cody again started to rest his head on the she-werewolf’s thick mane. _

“Cody.” The she beast called out to him.

_“Hmmm?” Cody responded. _

“Do you fear me?” The werewolf asked.

“Fear you?” The cat-boy countered.

“I killed two slave hunters this evening.”

“No you didn’t.” The cat-boy said to the were-creature. “The last time we saw Wes and Ollie- they were mortally wounded but still alive. They themselves chose option three.”

“Option three kid?” Were-Myra asked.

_“Yeah to take their lives rather than to return to Master Puma as failures.” Cody said coldly. _

Myra continued their half a day’s trek back to her tribe. Well in this case it was half a night’s. It was about an three in the morning when Myra arrived at her tribe’s village- thirty huts at the base of rising highlands next to a lake.

Cody, as usual, had fallen asleep on her back- resting his head comfortably on her mane. Gently she walked toward a familiar hut where inside she found a sleeping adult wolf.

“Jacala!” She whispered. The male stirred and looked at her direction. It took a moment for him to recognize who he was staring at.

“Myra? Myra!” He said as he rose from his sleeping bundle to run and meet her. “Thank the heavens you have returned safe!” He said. “Where have you been? Did you find Kira and Dira and who is that you have with you?”

“Uncle, it is a long story.” Myra said as she gently placed the sleeping cat-boy on her uncle’s sleeping bundle. “Two weeks ago I was ambushed by slavers in Capital Settlement and sold into slavery. I was bought by a cougar and forced to work in his vineyard. That is where I met Cody. We escaped and made our way back here.”

“But that doesn’t explain your were-form or those markings on your face, stomach and back or the blood on your paws.” Jacala said to his niece.

_“We ran into um, difficulties.” Myra said to her uncle as she hugged him. _

“What type of difficulties?” The brown wolf asked.

“Slave hunters. The cougar we worked for did not feel like letting us go. So he sent hunters after us. We ended up confronting them.” Myra said to the he wolf.

“Well it looks like you lost!”

“You should see them uncle.” Jacala looked at the she werewolf- “They are dead.”

“Here, dear let me treat those.”

“Shouldn’t they just disappear when I shift?” Myra asked her uncle.

“That isn’t always the case Myra.” Her uncle said as he started cleaning out the scrapes and bruises on the were-creature. “What about him?” The brown wolf said pointing to the sleeping cat-boy.

“He is a dear friend. He saved my life twice during our journey. He is also homeless and has no where else to go; he wishes to join our tribe.”

“But he is a settler! We have never allowed an outsider into this tribe!” The he wolf said shocked.

“I will speak with the Alpha in the morning. In the mean time we need to rest, our trip has been long and quite tiring.” Myra said as she shifted back into her normal form.

“And him?” The brown wolf said handing Myra some clothing.

“We need to look after him- keep him safe and warm....” Myra said crawling into her uncle’s sleeping bundle. “He is not built like us so if we don’t, he will catch cold.”

Jacala soon did the same. Soon the cat-boy was surrounded- the she wolf was to his right and the brown wolf to his left. Myra snuggled Cody who then started purring.

“He has grown quite close to you....” The he wolf said.

_“I guess you can say we both have grown quite close from our journey.” Myra said as she rested her chin on the back of the cat-boy’s head and drifted to sleep. Jacala snuggled Cody from his front. The cat-boy was blanketed between the two wolves. _

Dawn soon broke- but Cody did not immediately awake for a few more hours. The cat-boy was resting his head comfortably on a very soft pelt. But it didn’t smell like Myra. It was different. Gingerly Cody opened his eyes to stare face to face with a adult brown wolf!

“Uh who are you?!” Cody asked shocked.

“Of course you would speak their language.” The brown wolf mumbled to himself. He then started to address Cody in the cat-boy’s language.

“Good morning young one. I hope you slept well?” Jacala said to the confused cat-boy.

“Where am I? Where’s Myra?” Cody blurted out.

“You are in the Seonee Village. Myra brought you here early this morning. Instead of waking you, she left you in my care while she went to meet with our Alpha. I am Jacala- Myra’s uncle.”

“Nice to meet you sir. Thank you for taking care of me.” Cody said looking at the brown wolf. Who appeared to be in his late forties, had brown fur, brown eyes and similar tribal markings over his body.

“I am not done yet. Now hold still youngling.” The brown wolf said as he applied some ointment to the cat-boy’s face. “You have many bruises there.”

“Myra and I were captured and beaten by some slave hunters during our journey here.”

“She told me the same after you arrived this morning. She said that you managed to escape them.” The brown wolf said to the cat-boy. “She also said that you wished to live among us.”

“Yes sir.” Cody said to the brown wolf. “I am homeless and have no where else to go.”

“We don’t take kindly to strangers in our territory- especially settlers such as yourself. You mean to tell me that you don’t have any other relatives that you could live with somewhere?”

“No sir.” The cat-boy responded. “I was abandoned.”

“So if your request was denied...”

“I would probably wind up a vagrant in one of the settlements, that is if I wasn’t caught and sent back to Master Puma.” Cody said to the brown wolf wistfully.

“But you are an outsider....” The brown wolf continued. “All our experiences with you settlers have been bad- Myra’s recent trip to Capital Settlement for example.”

“Sir, if you mean I have ill will toward you or your tribe I don’t....” Cody started to say.

Jacala thought for a moment. Then placed his paws on the cat-boy’s shoulders. “Look at me.” He ordered Cody.

Cody stared at the brown eyes of the middle-aged wolf when suddenly they turned deep blue! Their color was quite piercing and quite hypnotic. Cody was transfixed! He couldn’t turn away.

“Scared young one?” The brown wolf asked. Cody nodded. “If you don’t have anything to hide and truly mean us no harm then you have nothing to be afraid of.”

Jacala intensely stared at the cat-boy for several minutes. Cody was paralyzed! It was like the brown wolf was staring right through him like he was a window, analyzing his heart- judging the quality of Cody’s soul or something like that. It felt very very weird.

“You poor thing.” The brown wolf said at last. “You have had quite a pitiful life and only recently started to recover from it.” Jacala said releasing the cat-boy from his trance.

_“That mean’s you will let me stay?” Cody asked hopefully. _

_“That decision will be left to the Alpha.” Jacala said mysteriously as Myra entered the hut. _

_“Myra!” Cody said running to hug the she wolf. _

“Watch it kid! I am still tender there! Did you slept well?”

“Yeah, Jacala’s pelt is almost as soft as yours!” Cody said to the she wolf.

Myra blushed at hearing that. *Ahem* “You have a meeting with the Alpha- we are going to have a talk.”

“What about?” Cody asked.

“Your future.” Myra said taking Cody by the paw and leading him away. Jacala followed as well.

Myra led the nervous cat-boy through the center of her village. Cody observed the activity that morning- cubs playing, adolescents like himself looking after cubs, adults gathering food and the elderly cleaning and cooking.

_The cat-boy received curious glances from the tribe- many were wondering why a outsider was in their village and on their land. _

_Cody also noted that Myra’s tribe seemed to be quite small about forty members and among thirty or so huts. _

_They soon arrived at a circular hut made of wood, sticks and mud. It happened to be the largest in the village. Upon entering, they were greeted by yet another middle aged wolf. Unlike Jacala, this wolf was grey and white with a slight build and was adorned in a brown vest and brown loin cloth. He wore a small beaded necklace around his neck which complemented the two circular earrings he had in each ear. Connected to the earrings were seagull feathers, which made him look quite regal and authoritative. Obviously this was the Seonee pack’s leader, their chief, their Alpha. _

Next to him was a grey she wolf dressed in a tan shirt and pants. She wore a beaded necklace and head band that held a flower which beautifully accented her black hair.

_“Ah yes, you must be Cody Spencer.” The grey wolf said to the cat-boy. “I am Daruka chief of this tribe. This is my mate Ruka.” _

“Nice to meet you sir.” Cody said humbly.

“You must be hungry from your long journey. Come eat with us. We have much to discuss about your future.” The Alpha wolf said.

Cody, Myra and Jacala sat on a circular rug in Daruka’s hut and ate with him and his mate. Breakfast that morning consisted of fish, berries and corn maize from the tribe’s fall harvest.

The group ate in silence while the Alpha though carefully about what to say to the white furred kitten that was eating with members of his tribe that morning.

“So Cody Spenser you wish to live among us- a kitten requesting to stay with wolves. Why?” The Alpha asked point blank.

“Sir, in late summer I was abandoned by my parents- the two people I cared most about sold me into slavery. For the past two months I labored in a vineyard....”

“He was abused by the vineyard’s owner and subordinates.” Myra interjected.

“Myra, I want to hear this from the boy.” The Alpha chided the she-wolf.

“Sorry uncle.” The she-wolf said apologetically.

Cody was taken aback- Myra had a second uncle? And that second uncle was the Alpha of the pack?! That meant that Jacala and Daruka were brothers and Myra’s mother or father was related to the two of them. Wow, the cat-boy was sitting among the most influential beasts of the pack- its ruling class, its royalty- wow.

“Please continue young one.” Ruka ordered.

“During my time at the vineyard, I was abused, beaten, defiled and raped. One day I reached my breaking point and ran away or tried. I was captured and punished. It was then that I met Myra and we escaped together.” Cody told all in attendance.

“Myra told me the rest. You were pursued by slave hunters and were captured and beaten. You managed to escape and made your way here.” Daruka said. “You believe that there may be more slave hunters after you intent to do you harm.”

“Please Alpha, I am requesting asylum and protection from those who would return me to Master Puma.” Cody pleaded. “I have no where else to go.”

“That is a reasonable request. But it would also place a burden on this tribe; in that we would have to protect you from your enemies. A high price for honoring your request.”

“Don’t forget dear that the boy’s enemies are also Myra’s; they are after her too.” Ruka said to her mate. “Remember we protect our own even if they do leave the tribe without permission to go on dangerous quests.” The she wolf said looking at Myra who tried her best to look very innocent.

“Yes and this youngling saved our niece twice and brought her back to us. That has to account for something I suppose.” Daruka said thoughtfully.

The Alpha thought for a minute longer. “Hmm but he is an outsider. Brother?” Daruka said to Jacala.

“I ‘looked’ at the character of his heart. I did not sense deception of any kind brother, only a great, great sadness that he his trying very hard to leave behind.” Jacala said to Daruka. “I thought about the fact that he is an outsider too as well. What would this pack gain for our troubles?”

The Alpha stared at his mate, his brother and his niece in silence. Cody took that glance to mean that his request would be denied by the wolfpack and that he would soon wind up as T.M.’s penis warmer once again.

“Please sir! Don’t send me away! Cody said moving to a kneeling position on his knees begging the Alpha wolf.”

_Myra and Ruka comforted the cat-boy. _

“It is alright Cody.” Myra whispered to him. “Your arrival here has generated the most discussion we have had in a long while.”

_“Gather the pack. We will hold a meeting regarding this youngling’s future.” Daruka said to his brother. _

_“Right.” The brown wolf said leaving the hut. _

_“Does that mean I am in?” Cody asked hopefully. _

“That means you are to sit here and finish your breakfast until I send for you.” The Alpha wolf said leaving the hut. He was soon followed by Myra and Ruka.

_Within the hour Daruka had assembled the tribe at a meeting rock near his hut. Daruka stood on the meeting rock and looked down on its members and said: _

“Seonee pack, tribe members and family I have called this meeting to discuss granting entrance to an outsider who has requested to become a member of this pack, to live, hunt, eat and sleep among us.”

“Who is this outsider Alpha?” A white wolf in the crowd asked.

“He is a settler who has been cast out and has no where to go. He also has enemies whom we would have to protect him from. If he were allowed to join our family and indeed live among us- how would we benefit? This is the question that keeps troubling me.” Daruka said as he began the meeting.

“Alpha is it true that this outsider saved the life of one our own- twice?” A black wolf in attendance asked.

“It is.” The Alpha responded.

“An outsider who performs a selfless act to save a stranger twice can’t be all that bad.” A white wolf responded.

“But he is an outsider.” A dark grey wolf interjected.

“Alpha is it true that this settler returned one our own safely back to us?” A brown she wolf asked.

“In a matter of speaking, yes.” Daruka responded as his mate arrived to the meeting rock with Cody in tow.

“Observe wolfpack this is the outsider whose fate we are considering today.” Ruka said as she placed her paw on Cody’s shoulder presenting the cat-boy to all in attendance.

The wolf pack was silent as they stared at Cody. All those eyes watching him made him just a bit nervous. Then the pack started talking amongst themselves. Cody heard the discussions but could not understand anything that was said because the wolves were speaking in their own language.

“Is it true Alpha that you don’t see a benefit to having the pack adopt the boy?” An elderly female wolf asked.

“I don’t.” Daruka responded.

“There is Alpha. I foresee a time in the future that if the settlers keep expanding and growing, we will run into conflict with them over territory, supplies and resources. When that day comes our tribe will benefit from learning how they think, plan, live and fight.... We will learn how to best deal with this coming conflict from him!!!!” The elderly she wolf said pointing directly at Cody who winced at the sudden attention. “Besides he is adorably cute! We simply must keep him!”

“Does the boy know the Seonee tribe’s secret?” A grey wolf asked.

“He does.” Myra said from within the crowd. “I have twice shifted in his presence.”

“How did he react?” The grey wolf asked.

“Like any outsider- he soiled himself!” Myra volunteered. The whole pack laughed at hearing that.

“Then it’s settled. As of this day, this kitten is a member of the Seonee tribe!” A black wolf shouted.

“Not so fast!” Daruka interjected. “This kitten is going to have a very tough path to follow if he is going to become a productive member of this pack, for instance- he will have to learn our language!”

_“Here Alpha!” A young wolf couple shouted. _

(Daruka was surprised hearing pack members readily volunteer to educate a stranger).

“He will need to be taught our stories and legends....” Daruka continued.

“Over here Alpha!” A grey wolf shouted.

“He will also need to learn our ways, customs and traditions....” Daruka started again.

“I will teach him Alpha!” The black wolf from before chimed in.

“He will also need friends his own age to socialize him....”

“Here Alpha!” Three preadolescent wolves shouted raising their paws.

This was indeed turning out in the cat-boy’s favor.

“He will also need nurturing, love and affection- something his own parents failed to provide him with...” Daruka said.

_“Here Alpha!” _

Daruka scanned the crowded to see who had volunteered to accept such an undertaking- to his surprise it was Jacala and Myra.

_“Over all he will need everyone’s support during his difficult transition.” Daruka warned his followers. “I want everyone to be extremely, extremely tolerant and patient with him!” _

There was silence from those in attendance then a unanimous howl erupted from the entire pack!

Hearing this, Daruka turned to his mate. “You TOLD them didn’t you?”

“We wolves take care of our own dear.” Ruka said to her mate.

_Seeing the wolfpack howl in unison the cat-boy then turned to the Alpha wolf. _

_“Am I, am I in?” _

_Daruka nodded. _

“Just like that?” Cody asked.

“It is so.” The Alpha wolf said to the cat-boy.

“You mean there is no test of spirit?”

“No.” Daruka responded.

“No test of courage?”

“No.” The wolf leader said.

“No test of self worth?”

“Nope.” The grey wolf responded.

“No ritual?”

“No, kitten.” The Alpha wolf responded. “As of this day you are a member of the Seonee tribe.”

_Cody ran and hugged the grey wolf chief. _

“Thank you, thank you!” Cody shouted.

“Don’t thank me yet, little one. You have a very difficult path ahead, you will have to abandon your culture and all that you have known for that of another. You will also have much to learn such as *ahem* not to display affection toward your Alpha in public.”

_“Sorry sir.” Cody said meekly. _

_“The pack will try to help you as much as they can. Overall, it would be best if you were to stay on everyone’s good side; you are the first settler to ever live among us.” _

“By the way what would have happened to me if you had denied my request for asylum?” Cody asked the Alpha and his mate.

_“Simple, young one.” Ruka responded. “You would have been thrown to the wolves!” _

“Oh.” The cat-boy responded simply.

“Welcome to the pack Cody.” Daruka said hugging the cat-boy. “Now you need a proper name- a wolf name- Coda sounds nice.”

“Dear, one thing at a time. Let’s not overwhelm the boy.” Ruka said to her mate.

“Yes, yes very well. Now go down there and introduce yourself to everyone!” Daruka said to the cat-boy.

“But sir, I don’t speak your language!” Cody countered.

“Then you should smile- a lot!” The Alpha wolf said to the boy.

As the howling died down and Cody started to meet and greet his fellow pack members- his new family. The cat-boy was nuzzled, had his cheeked pulled and was hugged many many many times. On that warm fall morning the Seonee wolves of the northern forest adopted a kitten.

END OF PART FIVE

“Wow, that was quite the journey for the little cat-boy. Now he had a new lease on life and a new family! What a movie!” But I soon realized that there wasn’t a sign saying ‘the end’ only ‘end of part five’. There’s more?! What could possibly happen next?!

To Be Continued....

Yes what could possibly happen next? Find out next week.