Pack of Wolves (Part Three)

Staying low, the three approached their bunkhouse. Being foster children, they weren’t allowed in the main household as that was for only Glenn, Marcy and their twins, Joeb and Gertrude tormentors of the children.

The lights were still on for the main household, so it
should be a quick run and back through the window of their rooms.

Benan whispers to the others. “Didn’t realise it would be so
smooth sailing tonight.”

Ruairì rolled his eyes and growled a little, Mariah pressed
her finger to her lips, her dark eyes absorbing the light from the house. “Quiet!”

Doing a quick sign of zipping up his mouth, Benan followed
the other two towards the bunkhouse. As they reached the window, Mariah heard a
bang of the screen door, motioning for Ruairì and Benan to stop moving, she
moved to the edge of the wall to peek around.

Glenn was standing at the door, drinking something, more likely
a beer; scratching his beard then the groin. Throwing the beer bottle at the bunkhouse,
he slammed open the screen door and stomped his way back in.

Breathing a sigh with relief, Mariah moved back to her pack mates.
“It was just his nightly beer bottle throwing.”

Ruairì nods. “I’ll make sure to pick it up in the morn
before the young kids leave for school.”

In the bunkhouse, there were five other children, Betty,
James, Heidi, Kelvin and little Brad. They all have been here for years. The
bunkhouse has four rooms, one for the boys, one for the girls, lounge and
kitchen with a small bathroom. They had to pull their weight around the farm to
earn food and other needs. It was a hard life, but they all banded together to
make sure no-one was forgotten.

Climbing through the back window, Benan flopped on to the ground
making a racket. Two lights popped on, and the two eldest besides the pack came
out of their perspective bedrooms.

Betty and James saw Benan sprawled on the ground, both
started to laugh but covered their mouths so no-one from the main house could
hear.

Ruairì and Mariah came through then, seeing Benan rolling
around on the ground. Ruairì kicked Benan with his toe. “Enough, you are making
too much noise.” With a tsk from Mariah, he bent over to help up his fallen
pack mate. “Was this to entertain someone?”

“Well not all of us can be like you, Rory,” Benan said,
rising to his feet. Then pulls a super serious face. “I could just be like this
all the time, woe is me…”

This got giggles and laughs out Betty and James. Mariah held
up a hand, everyone stopped, she then cocked her ear to listen. Nothing. “They
are not coming out tonight. What are you two up for?”

Betty, a mousy brown headed girl, smiles with buckteeth. “I
heard something crashing around I thought I would check.”

James, an awkward Asian boy with a large purple birthmark on
his face. “I saw that these two,” Pointing at Ruairì and Benan. “Weren’t in their
beds, so someone had to protect the kids.”

Smiling at that, Mariah turns to the two younger children. “Glad
we had you two holding down the fort, but it is time for bed for all of us.
School tomorrow.”

Both of them started to ask questions, but with one look
from Ruairì, they both quieted down. Benan came over and scooped up Betty to
carry her off to bed, while Ruairì laid his hand on the back of James to lead
him back to his bunk.

Mariah headed to the bathroom to make sure she washed off
everything. A few smudges of mud and a little bit of fur in her hair but all in
all, she was cleanish. Thinking to herself The shower has to wait until
tomorrow.

Coming back in, there were her pack mates standing there. Benan
heads into the bathroom, leaving the eldest by themselves.

“Do you wonder Mariah why that wolf scratched us and made us
into wolves too?” Ruairì asked

Thinking a moment, Mariah replied. “Not sure, now we know we
can change. I think I might do a little research in the library tomorrow. Did
you want to help?”

Ruairì shrugs, “What else am I going to do? Too weak looking
to play sports and you want us to stay under the radar.”

Since the attack, they have been stronger, but because of
the outcast situation in high school, they couldn’t just start going around beating
up the bullies. Even if they really wanted to.

Mariah nodded. “We will bring Benan as well. Just caught him
three days ago from losing his temper at that bully, William.”

“What about William?”

A spitting hiss from behind them as they turn they see Benan walking out of the bathroom. His face ruddy with anger, his fists are white at the knuckles.

Worry glinted in Mariah’s face. “Ben, we are heading to the library tomorrow to study more on our condition. I would like you to come too.” She pleads to Benan.

“Why should I hide from that prick anymore?” Benan walked over and grabbed the back of three-seater couch, the wood frame cracked under his grip. “I am no weakling or fatty-fat loser anymore.”

Ruairì walked over, grasping Benan’s shoulder, his grip firm. “We know you are not a weakling or loser, you never were, Benan.” Then patted Benan’s shoulder. “We are just foster rejects, we have each other, and now we are more. Come to the library, and we’ll play a game of Fantazim.”

Benan’s eyes lit up, the anger drained from his face. He loved playing Fantazim, a card game where you play a Magi who commands the very elements. “This time I will beat you, I have a new deck made from earth and fire!”

Mariah walked over and hugged Benan. “How about a three-way
game, I have my air/dark deck?”

Benan mumbles under his breath as Ruairì guides him the bunkroom.
“I hate your deck, too many counter cards.”

Mariah smiles at her now true brothers but was surprised in
the feat of strength Benan showed. Heading to her bed, she wonders How powerful
will we all become?

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