Chapter Thirty-Two

Something exciting is revealed about the twins by the twins themselves.

    Neither Mandie nor Joshie said anything after that. I wanted to ask that question, if they were part human and part wolf but I didn’t.

    I just waited. Mom and Dad were in charge of this questioning. I hoped one of them would ask, or Mr. Stonevalley or Mr. Stalker would ask.

    “Do you know why you’re all a little different?” Mom asked in a soothing tone of voice.

    Mandie and Joshie quickly glanced at each other then looked again at Mom and Dad.

    “We just are.” Mandie said.

    “Do you have any stories of how your people came to be?” Mom asked.

    Now I waited. We were all waiting for this answer. What were their origins?

    “Well…” said Joshie. “We have a creation myth.”

    “Ah.” Dad said.

    I heard Quetzal growl softly from across the room in an irritated fashion. I ignored him. We all did. Right now we were only interested in what Joshie and Mandie might tell us.

    “Can you tell us this creation myth?” Mom asked.

    “Yes, could you? Will you? We’d really like to hear it.” Dad said.

    “Well, our ancestors came from a different world. A place very different from this world.” Joshie said.

    This was getting interesting. I hoped she’d go on.

    “What was that place? Does it have a name?” Dad asked.

    I looked at Mandie and Joshie sitting beside me, waiting.

    “It’s called the Other World.” Joshie answered. “A place of wondrous and strange things.”

    “Exciting things that are hard for us to understand.” Mandie added.

    Mom caught her breath. I could tell she was getting really excited. Did she think Mandie and Joshie were talking about the Human World?

    That place was hard for me to understand when Mom talked about it. It was as if you had to actually have been there to understand the place. It was just too strange otherwise.

    “Our people came from this Other World.” Joshie said.

    “What were those people like?” Dad asked.

    Mr. Stonevalley, Mr. Stalker, Cerise and the other Wolf Person from Mr. Stonevalley’s Pack were all leaning forward from where they were sitting, as if they were trying to get closer, hanging on every word the twins said.

    Quetzal was the only one in the room that acted like he wasn’t interested at all.

    But I caught him a few times looking at the twins, interest in his angry eyes despite himself.

    “Well.” said Mandie. “Two different people came together and became us.”

    Mom gasped softly.

    “Wow.” said Cerise in a quiet voice.

    I sucked in my breath. It could be true! It really could be true! Part wolf and part human!

    “I think this is enough questioning for now.” Dad said.

    The twins sighed in relief.

    “Yes.” Mom came and stood in front of the twins where they sat beside me on the couch. “You two must be hungry.”

    “I am!” Mandie said.

    “Me too. But we don’t eat raw meat like Armand. We eat our meat cooked and we eat other stuff too.” Joshie said.

    I could just about feel every Wolf Person in the room cringe at the thought of eating cooked meat but no one said anything.

    “We can cook the meat. I’ll need you two to assist to make sure it’s cooked the way you like it.” Mom said. “Will you?”

    “Yes.” They both said simultaneously.

    “Great.” Mom said.

    Mandie and Joshie got up from the couch.

    “Come with me to the kitchen?” Mom asked.

    “Yes!” Mandie said, the excitement in her voice evident.

    “Good.” Mom turned to where Cerise was still on the arm of the chair. “Join us?” she asked her.

    “Of course.” Cerise was beside Mom in an instant.

     They all went into the kitchen where I knew cooking meat smells would soon be filling the house.

    Ugh. I thought.

    Ugh is right. Miss Feather responded to my thought telepathically.

    “I think I’ll go learn to cook meat too.” Miss Starfire announced and zoomed into the kitchen.

    I heard everyone in there greet her enthusiastically.

    Maybe we should vacate before the odor becomes overwhelming. Mr. Thunder suggested.

    Good idea. I stood up.

    “Well Armand my Wolf Son, you seem to have discovered quite an interesting group of people.” Dad said to me.

    “Yes you did.” Mr. Stonevalley said. “You, Miss Feather, Mr. Thunder and Quetzal.” He looked over at Quetzal. “They seem to have had a bad effect on him, I’m afraid.”

    I looked at Quetzal and felt really bad. I had lost a friend, it seemed. “Hey Quetzal.” I said.

    He growled at me.

    “I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you wanted.” I said to him.

    “I’m sorry too.” added Miss Feather.

    Quetzal stared at us. His eyes were so angry. I wondered what really happened between him and Shasta.

    Dad, Mr. Stonevalley, Mr. Stalker and the other Wolf Person were all watching Quetzal, waiting for his response.

    “Well Armand, it wasn’t any of your faults. You, Miss Feather nor Mr. Thunder.”

    “Why so angry?” I asked.

    Quetzal looked at everyone in the room, one at a time. Then he growled. “I don’t know! I just am!”

    He left his spot by the wall and walked into the center of the room. We all watched him, wondering what he was going to do or say next.

    “I’m just very angry! And I DON’T KNOW WHY!” He snarled the last 3 words.

    The chatter in the kitchen stopped for a moment or two then started up again. I guess they decided it was better not to get involved in what ever was starting to happen in the front room but I was sure they were all listening, except perhaps the twins.

    And something was starting to happen, I thought. Quetzal was finally talking. Hopefully he wouldn’t stop talking and hopefully the talking would help him. 

Reviews

[trish420]

It's good to hear more about the wolf/people, glad to see that Mandie and Joshie can hold up under questioning and that the wolf people are being gentle with them. It's reassuring to see glimses of their compassion from time to time. Almost more exciting though is that Quetzal is talking! Hopefully he will keep talking and it will explain a little more about what the heck is goin' on!

[Black Cat Fever]

There's still hope for Quetzal. This is a very fascinating and interesting world here. The Wolf People world.

I'm starting to wonder if a Wolf Person mated with a human to make this bizarre yet powerful race. Quite interesting! I'm glad Armand's family treats the twins well.

[Star Wolf]

Possible big revelation about the strange people and it looks like Quetzal might be coming around, hope so.