<Episode 17>
It might be tough to sit up super straight like you're supposed to in an office, but I bet it'll be fun hanging out with Jackal.
When Jackal opened the door, the office looked a little different from before. I was like, 'What's different?' and then I saw this huge baby cradle next to the desk.
"Did your brothers use that baby cradle?" "Yeah."
It was big enough for both of them, so I could totally lie down in my human form and roll around all I wanted.
The wooden part was all scratched up, but the cushions and blankets inside were super fluffy, like they were brand new.
When I looked closer, it looked like Theo and Deon had made all the scratches with their teeth and claws.
'Wow, wolves must be strong, even as babies.' My fangs and claws gotta get strong, too, and fast!
Anyways, there's a new cradle that wasn't there a few days ago. It had to be for me, which was really sweet.
"Want a snack?" "I'm good for now. I'll let you know if I get hungry. I've got, like, a million questions for you today."
When I said that, Jackal gently jiggled me up and down. It was like he was checking my weight.
"Still small. Light." "I'm trying not to grow too much for a while, or I won't fit into all the clothes I just got."
Jackal chuckled at my joke, then got up and took me over to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.
The bookshelf was covered in scratches where they marked Theo and Deon's height every six months.
My brothers must've come to the office a lot, too. Jackal crouched down in front of me.
"Let's measure your height first, then questions." "Okay! I'm not that tiny, you know, if you really look."
I said, all serious, and got ready. Jackal stared right at my feet, which were about to touch the bookshelf.
He was staring so hard, it felt like he could see right through my brand-new, shiny shoes.
"I, uh, was just about to take off my shoes." I said, totally faking it, and took off my shoes. I should've worn thicker socks. Oh well, I leaned back against the bookshelf again, and Jackal chuckled again.
"Heels down." "..." "Holding your breath and puffing up your chest won't make you any taller." "Poooooooof—"
Jackal finally got me to stand normally and then marked my height with his fingernail. Scratch "Done."
As soon as Jackal moved his hand, I checked out the mark he'd just made with his sharp wolf claws. It had my name and today's date.
"I'm this tiny?!" "Exactly the same height as Theo and Deon when they were four."
Jackal pulled out a folding kid's chair from under the desk and set it up next to the desk.
When I sat down, Jackal opened a drawer and took out a picture book. It was kinda weird, there were no words, just pictures.
'Did he remember I can't read?' I felt all warm inside for some reason.
But something else caught my eye more than the book. It was this jewelry box with a bunch of locks on it.
I wonder if that's the thing Elliot was talking about this morning, right after Caris left?
Jackal saw me staring at it and shoved the jewelry box further in.
"If it was anything else, I'd show you, but I can't because it's this nasty jewel." "A nasty jewel, huh...?" "It might not be nasty for you, though."
I tilted my head, totally confused by what Jackal said.
This morning, I heard him telling Elliot that the jewel was dangerous.
'How can something be dangerous for the Wolf Knight Commander but not for me?'
Even if my ears are pointy and my fur is gray, so I kinda look like a wolf, I'm still super tiny.
While I was trying to figure out what he was saying, Jackal covered me with a blanket and added.
"It's a fake, made by taking just a tiny bit of magic from a jewel called Bluemoon. If it doesn't hurt you, it's 'cause you're a special kid." "A special kid," huh? My eyes lit up.
"Just a guess, though." "But my mom, who passed away, also said I had a special power."
"Your dad's name was... Icarus, right?" "Yeah. My brother too." "It's a pretty common name, though."
When I answered, Jackal's eyes got all serious. He looked like he was thinking really hard about something.
"You shouldn't go around telling everyone about your special power." "But I don't even know what it is!"
"It doesn't matter if you know about your power or how to use it. People always want what's special, and if they can't have it, they'll try to destroy it."
I felt my face go pale. "From now on, don't tell anyone except the Gridwolfs." "Okay. Um, so..."
I asked, kinda nervous, "Does, uh, Gridwolf know about my dad?"
Icarus was my dad and brother's name. It's, like, a family thing, passed down to the oldest son.
Sometimes when Mom called my brother, Dad would look up, too." "Not really."
It wasn't a very nice answer, but my heart was pounding, hoping he'd say more. "Could you tell me just a little?"
I just clasped my hands together and said, 'I wanna hear about my dad...', but my voice came out all shaky. Jackal handed me a handkerchief and said.
"I'll tell you later when you're older." "Hmph..." "It's too soon. You're too little."
Jackal was firm but gentle. I could tell from his voice that he was saying it for my own good.
"Okay. I trust you."
It's only been a few days since Mom died because of Jerian. If I heard any bad news about Dad now, I'd probably just fall apart like a wet cotton ball.
'When Dad and Brother passed away, Mom and I had each other...'
It helped that the Gridwolfs took care of the funeral, so it didn't hurt as much.
I bet my family's all together in heaven now, hanging out every day.
'The babies will be born soon, and they'll be so happy, so I gotta get strong first.'
I decided to grow up fast so I could hear about my dad. 'I need to be smart to get the whole story.' Then I can get revenge on Jerian for Mom.
I gripped the blanket tight, and Jackal tapped my tense shoulders. I relaxed right away.
"You seem antsy, so I'll tell you a little. You ever hear that song about a goddess?" "You mean the lullaby where a cat pulls a carriage?"
"Yeah. The blue jewel necklace in that song is called Bluemoon. It's a jewel that makes beast-people go crazy and act all beastly." Jackal tapped the jewelry box I'd been staring at with his fingertip.
"It's in a special box that blocks the magic, so don't worry." "..."
I guess my face went white or something 'cause I was scared. I got all embarrassed and laughed nervously. "I still gotta look into it more, but as far as I know, this rich guy named Icarus was investigating Bluemoon."
"Whoa." I felt kinda spaced out. Mom always said Dad and my brother, who hung out with him, were heroes, but this was the first time I heard they looked into a legendary jewel.
'Did Dad start this? Why?' Questions I couldn't ask now that Dad was gone kept popping into my head.
But the way he was petting my head, I figured he wouldn't answer even if I asked.
I decided to let it go for now and started reading the picture book.
It was about a wolf building a big house with the Three Little Pigs and living happily ever after. Hmm, that's kinda different from the story I read in the cat place.
The pages made this cracking sound when I turned them, so it seemed like he got me a new book.
'He's so nice, even if he doesn't talk that way.' But even thinking that, I couldn't picture Jackal being all sweet-talking.
After I finished the book, I watched Jackal work.
Jackal was wearing this perfect-fitting black suit, with the top two buttons undone. The Gridwolf crest was stitched on it in gold.
'Working looks so cool. I should watch Caris work sometime, too.'
I gotta eat a ton and grow up fast. If I could sit at a desk and look all casual reviewing papers like Jackal, I'd look cool, too.
The sun was setting behind me, making me sleepy. I started dozing off before I knew it.
I woke up when Jackal put down his papers and just stared at me. He was looking up a bit, so... yep, my cat ears must've popped out again.
"Ah, I'll tuck 'em in." I rubbed my ears like crazy, but they wouldn't stay down, probably 'cause I just woke up. Jackal watched my ears popping back up and muttered under his breath.
"I wanna bite 'em." Thump. I jumped and looked at Jackal. He didn't look mean or anything, but he's kinda intimidating, so I got a little scared.
'No. My brothers said Jackal will explain things if you ask him.' I got up my courage and asked.
"Y-you really...?" Oh no. My voice came out like a scaredy-cat. Jackal saw me shaking and clenched his fist over his mouth.
"That's how we Gridwolfs say 'cute'." "Oh."
I puffed up my cheeks, annoyed at that stoic wolf, Jackal.
'Wolves are so extra! How can they say 'cute' in such a scary way?!' Jackal's fangs were super sharp, even when he was human. If he turned into a wolf, his fangs would be way bigger than my arm, so if he said that to other animals, they'd totally faint.
'But I'm a baby wolf now, and Jackal said he only said that 'cause he thinks I'm cute. So...'
Getting up my nerve, I hopped from the chair onto the desk.
Sitting on the desk facing Jackal was kinda scary, but I squeezed my eyes shut and puffed out my chubby cheeks.
"If it's just once, and it doesn't hurt, it's okay..." I wanna be loved the wolf way, too!
I clasped my hands together and waited for his sharp fangs, my eyelashes fluttering.
