Chapter Text
"Run! Run, Jolene!"
Her parents' last words echoed in her mind as she ran into the woods as fast as she could. They had been ambushed by mutes on their way to find a safe location to stay at while they were searching for a new burrow to live in. Their old burrow had been destroyed by Scarlemagne a few days prior, and their people had been taken away. Jolene and her parents had been the only ones making it out alive. But alive, they were no longer.
Jolene could feel the adrenaline starting to wear off. Her legs were cramping from all the running she had done that day. She wanted mommy to lift her up and carry her, but that was not possible anymore. She wanted daddy to read her a bedtime story until she could fall asleep. That wasn't possible either. They were gone. Gone forever. The mutes had ruthlessly taken their lives, leaving a child to fend for herself in a world she had yet to get to know.
She had no idea where she was going, she just knew that she had to get away. She didn't want to die. Unfortunately, her racing thoughts distracted her from watching where she put her feet. Her left foot tripped over a tree root sticking out of the ground, causing her to fly through the air with a scream before she faceplanted into the dirt beneath her. She just laid there for a second, confused as to what had just happened, before she burst into tears.
She was in pain all over, and there was nobody around to calm her. Her knees and palms were scraped and covered in a little bit of blood. The skin burned as it was trying to heal. Her clothes were torn and ripped at a few places, covered in dirt and mud. The little girl was exhausted and she wished for it all to be over. She wanted to go home with her parents, but she was all alone in a forest with nobody there to help her. Not being able to do much else, the little girl settled by a tree to cry. Broken sobs echoed through the trees as she let out all of her emotions that she had been trying to hide ever since she lost her home. Her sobs were interrupted when she heard a stick crack somewhere around her.
Turning her head to where the sound came from, she could make out two bodies staring at her with pink, shiny eyes from the dark. Out of fear, the little girl screamed and tried to back away, knocking into the tree she had been resting by. The two bodies exited from the shadows, revealing themselves to be two blue-furred wolves. Two alphas, a female and a male.
The female wolf wore a pearl necklace and a pink jacket over a collared black shirt and a matching black pencil skirt. The male wolf wore a pink sweatshirt, tied around his neck over a light-pink collared shirt and a red bow tie. He also wore a black belt on beige chino shorts.
As Jolene started to cry in fear again, only vaguely remembering what her parents has taught her about mutes, the female wolf grinned from ear to ear.
"Oh, we didn't mean to scared you, little girl. It's not often we get visitors", the female wolf explained herself, stepping forward which made Jolene crawl one another step backward, "You don't need to be afraid of us."
"M-mommy!" the little girl wailed, wishing so very badly that her parents were still there to protect her.
The female wolf eyed the male wolf beside her, seemingly communicating without any words. The male wolf looked around them, searching for something. He sniffed the air but seemed to be unsuccessful. He nodded at the female wolf who eyed the child crying on the forest floor.
"Are your parents around? Young children shouldn't wander without their caregivers present", the female wolf asked, nearing the child.
"G-gone", Jolene managed to sob out, looking at the wolves with broken eyes.
"I see", the female wolf whispered, more to herself than the human child. "I would feel bad leaving such a youngling by herself, especially at times like these. Why don't you come with us? We have plenty of room and we'll be able to offer you food, a bed and a roof over your head."
Jolene just stared at the wolf in confusion. Strangers were bad, but she was fairly sure that she wouldn't survive by herself. Going with those wolves have her at least a slim chance to survive. Plus, she was hungry and really wanted to sleep in her own bed.
"O-okay..." she answered in a timid voice, taking the offered hand from the female wolf to help her stand up.
"What's your name? My name is Griffin, and this is my husband Charles", the female wolf introduced herself and the male wolf, who merely glanced at the little girl before he turned to lead them back to their home.
"Jolene", the little girl answered, holding onto Griffin's hand tightly for security.
"That's a beautiful name, child. I promise we'll do our best to keep you safe."
Jolene silently nodded, letting the wolves take her to their home in silence.
-
After a few minutes of walking, Jolene started to make out the silhouettes of buildings placed on random spots in the forest. Most of them seemed to be empty, too broken and damaged to be able to live in. The wolves took her past the houses, up a hill with a stone wall surrounding a big yard. Jolene gasped at the sight of the villa. A few windows were broken and trees were growing out of one side of it, but it made for a good home. Outside the house were five children all dressed in old-school uniforms, play fighting. They all stopped when they noticed their parents approaching, with a guest following them like a shadow.
"Children, this is Jolene. She'll be staying with us for a while and I want all of you to make her feel welcome", Griffin explained to the young pups, seemingly around the same age as Jolene.
"But Mother, she's a h-" one of the older boys started, but a firm glance from his mother had him quiet down.
The rest of the children formally exchanged their greetings to Jolene, who did her best to return it.
"Go to your rooms and rest for a bit. Your Father will have dinner ready soon", Griffin ordered her children, and they quickly rushed inside.
"I'll some wood for the fire", Charles excused himself, leaving his wife and the child to go around the house to the back.
Griffin looked down at the human child, a gentle smile apparent on her lips.
"Let's get you cleaned up, darling. I bet those clothes aren't very comfortable", Griffin led Jolene inside the house, making her take her shoes off in the hall before she took her to the bathroom to get cleaned up.
-
Jolene exited the bathroom together with Griffin, sparkly clean. She had gotten to use one of the other wolf kids' old uniform to have as her own. Griffin led her to a mirror in the hallway, letting Jolene look at herself. She was dressed in a smart blazer-vest uniform, her hair just a big ball of curls on top of her head. Her little feet were covered by socks that reached up just under her knees. She smiled at her mirrored self, thinking that she looked pretty.
"Let's get some food into you. I bet you're hungry", Griffin suggested, leading Jolene to the dining room where Charles had set the table.
A big steak of meat laid on a plate in the middle of the table. Jolene didn't notice how fresh it looked.
"Charles, dear, will you fetch our children?" Griffin asked, recieving a nod from her husband before he left the room.
Griffin had Jolene sit down on a newly added chair that Charles had gotten for her on the middle of one side of the table. The wolf kids were hesitant to sit down on the two seats beside Jolene, but decided to get it over with after a stern look from their father.
The second their piece of meat were placed on each of their plates, the children started to ravenously dig into the meat. Jolene watched them in slightly surprise. Apparently, their parents didn't accept that sort of behaviour either, as they glared expectantly at their children.
"What have I told you about using your cutlery? We don't act like mindless animals in this house", she scolded, immediately recieving a reaction as the wolf kids grabbed their fork and knife, slowly cutting pieces of meat.
Not wanting to get in trouble, Jolene did the same. The meat was rough and hard to cut through, but she managed after a few tries. When dinner was finished, the children rushed to put their plates in the kitchen sink before disappearing out of the kitchen to get ready for bed. Jolene was left alone with the adult wolves.
"What did you think about your dinner?" Charles asked expectantly.
"I-it was good, Mr. Charles", Jolene answered, copying the other children by putting her dirty dishes on top of the rest in the sink.
"Let me show you your room. You must be tired", Griffin suggested and Jolene nodded, trying her best not to yawn.
Griffin led Jolene up the stairs, explaining every room as they passed a few doors. In the end of the hallway, Griffin opened the door to a guestroom that had never been used. It was cold from the lack of people in there and Jolene shivered slightly, stepping inside the room.
"You'll sleep in here, it will get warmer eventually", Griffin said and Jolene nodded timidly, walking up to her new bed to sit down on it.
It wasn't like her old bed, but it would do. She was just grateful to not have to sleep on the cold floor.
"I'll get you a nightgown. Put your clothes on the chair in the corner and I'll be right back", with that, Griffin closed the door to the guest bedroom.
Jolene heard the steps as the wolf walked away to fetch her a nightgown. Jolene decided to do just as she had asked, managing to take her clothes off, except for her underwear, with only a slight struggle. She put her clothes on the chair in the corner before she sat down on the bed, shivering from the cold as she wrapped her tiny arms around herself for warmth. She could hear Griffin return, the adult wolf opening the door and entering with a white nightgown in her arms.
"This is my daughter's old nightgown. I'm sure it'll fit you perfectly", Griffin said, handing it over to Jolene who was quick to put it on.
Griffin eyed the clothes on the chair, thrown together in a bunch. Sighing she walked up to the chair to fold the clothes neatly before putting then back in place. She walked back up to the door, turning around quickly to see Jolene under the blanket. She offered her a gentle smile.
"I'll let you be. Don't be afraid to come get me or Charles if you need anything. Sleep well", Griffin once again closed the door, leaving Jolene in the dark with nobody but herself to keep her company.
Turning to the side, Jolene stared into the wall until she felt her eye lids grow heavier. She yawned before deciding to close her eyes. She feel asleep in just a few minutes.
She missed her parents already, but she was still hoping that everything would be okay.