Bobby (a Wulfen Blood story) by KMacK

Bobby (a Wulfen Blood story)

KMacK, Emotional, Lycanthrope, Mythological Creature, Series

What happens when a human child is orphaned and his only hope is a werewolf family? This story tries to answer that question. For some reason, the spacing in some of the sentences are off, and they aren't that way in the story itself. Sadly, I'm too damned lazy to go back through the whole thing and reset the spaces.

Try to enjoy it anyway.

The picture is of Harry. The Werewolf. The Werewolf Rancher. He's a great guy once you get past the WOLF appearance.

Also, I apologize for the double story. Meh, they're both the same. Artwork by SugarPoultry.

Bobby

A "Wulfen Blood" story

Harry Wolfe stood at the pay telephone in the Gas-n-Gone convenience store, feeding quarters into the slot and hoping to reach his wife and mateMarinaat the ranch.

She had been in town at the market with their daughters, while he had stayed at the ranch house doing the entry work for the ledgers that Marina would fill out once she was back from the weekly grocery run.

He'd been fortunate in that, since he had been at home when the telephone call had come in.

He had listened to the voice at the other end of the line ask him if he knew a "Charles Clark" of Denveror his wife, Jennifer Clark. He had answered that he did, and "Charlie is my best friend," to the semi-anonymous voice on the telephone.

"Mister Wolfe, there's been a problem..." the voice had begun; then continued, "both he and his wife have been killed in a head-on collision on I-25, and we have Social Services with their son, Robert Clark at the moment."

"Who is this?" Harry had started to growl, when the answer presented itself.

"This is Maxine Cady, and I'm with the Denver Police department, division of Social Services. I'm the liaison officer for Social Services and Child Protection. We obtained your telephone number from Charles Clark's emergency information in his wallet."

"Their son, Bobby, how's he?" Harry asked hurriedly; "Was he hurt, injured...?"

"Robert was at home, under the care of a neighbor at the time," Ms. Cady replied. "Since you are the emergency contact number, we were wondering if you knew of any family we could reach or if there was someone who could care for the child until his kindred can be contacted?"

"Charlie's parents were killed a few years ago in a blizzard," Harry replied, "and Jen is--was at odds with hers. Where are you now?" he asked.

"Well, right now, I'm in theClark's living room," was Ms. Cady's response.

"Go to the secretary on the east wall," Harry directed; "and open the desk part. Just to the right of the center compartment there should be a letter marked 'In Case of Emergency'. Open it up and read it."

There were a series of odd noises over the telephone, then the sound of crackling paper, and Ms. Cady's voice came back on the line.

"I see that you are the Executor of the Estate, and--" the voice paused for a second, "and the Responsible Party for young Robert. When can you be here?"

"Lady, I'm outside of Wolf Bend inMontana," Harry explained. "If I leave now, I can be there aboutmidnightor so. Who can take care of young Bobby until then?"

There was a sigh on the other end of the line. "I can. There's a...specialist in Bobby's room right now, helping to keep him quiet. We can stay, if needs-be."

Then the woman asked a strange question. "Do you know anything about the Clarks' ahhh--social arrangements?"

Harry was surprised by the question. "What social arrangements?" he asked.

"Never mind," Ms. Cady replied quickly. "It was a silly question. Are you sure you can get here by midnight? It will mean a lot of driving from your location--wait! Did you say Wolf Bend?" The voice sounded relieved.

"Yeah," Harry replied, starting to sense that something was up. "Wolf Bend, Montana."

"We'll wait. Drive safely." The line went to dial tone.

Harry had written a note for his wife detailing what he'd heard over the telephone, and where he was going, and that he would call when he had to stop for fuel.

That was the Gas-n-Gone convenience store just outside ofBozeman,Montana.

The telephone rang for a few times, then it was picked up and a voice said; "Woof Creek Ransh. Whaaddaya want?"

Harry chuckled at his youngest daughter Serena's response. "It's me, pupkins. Where's mom?"

"She's in the bathroom. Martina stepped in a mud puddle and fell on her tail. Mom's washing her off. Then Martina has to clean-up the car, where she sat. Mom's awful upset. What happened to Bobby?" the last question had Harry's spirits falling.

"Well, pupkins, I got a call from some people in Denver, where Bobby lives. There was some sort of accident," Harry explained; "and it looks like Bobby will be coming to live with us for a while."

Then after a deep breath, he asked; "Could you ask your mother to come to the telephone, Serena?"

"Oh-oh, it's bad. You always call me Serena when it's bad. I'll get mom." There was a rustle as the telephone handset was put down and he heard Serena calling her mother in the distance.

A moment later, the 'phone was picked up and his wife's voice reached his ear.

"What's happened, Harry? I read the note you left me; but it doesn't make a lot of sense." He could hear the concern in his wife's voice.

Harry took a breath, then let it out: keep focused, keep calm! "I got a call from a Miz C-a-d-y," Harry spelled the name; "and she said that Chuck and Jenny got killed in a head-on crash on the twenty-five out ofDenver. Bobby was at home, with a neighbor watching out for him. This Miz Cady said that she'd stay there until I got there. She's with Children's Services or something inDenver. I let out of the ranch about two hours ago, and I'm just pastBozeman at a Gas-n-Gone station. I said I'd call and--oh, no...

"I bet they had gone to tha tElectronicsCity place, to get that kids' electronics kit that we and they had talked about, last time they were here," Harry almost whispered into the telephone, his throat hurt so much.

There was quiet for a moment, then Marina spoke; "That's probably right. Jen said that Bobby was a copy of his father that way," she sighed. Then, more firmly; "You just bring that boy back here, Harry. We're his Sworn Parents, and he's our responsibility now."

Then, wavering, "Harry, what do we do?" Fear was an unusual sound in her voice.

Harry thought for a moment, then said; "What's right. That's what we do. He can learn to ranch, and maybe--maybe more."

Back on the highway, Harry had time to think. He felt sick at the thought that his best friend, his brother-in-all-but-flesh--was gone, and his mate, no; his wife with him. Marina was probably feeling the same way, too. And Bobby--poor Bobby, with his tenth birthday less than a week off... He concentrated on driving.

At the ranch, Marina sat staring at the telephone. Little Bobby, the son of her friend from school, Jennifer. Little Bobby; alone in a hostile world. Little Bobby-who didn't know...!

A tear dripped and spattered on her blouse. Poor child. Poor man-child.

A tug brought her back to reality. It was Martina, clean now; towel wrapped and sober faced.

"Bobby's parents are gone, aren't they, mom?" Wide blue eyes stared into her mother's gold ones.

Marina nodded, still mute, still aching for the child whose parents were no more.

"It'll be all right. He'll come here, and it'll be all right. She said so..." Martina's unearthly calm helped to settle her mother's pain away.

"Let's finish you off, dearling;"Marina said calmly; "You're still leaving foot-marks on the floor."

They returned to the bathing chamber; their nails clicking softly on the tiles.

It was close to twelve-thirty when Harry pulled up to the house where his friend had lived. There were lights on, and two cars in the driveway. One said: "Metro-Denver Child Protective Services" on the side, while the other was plain and unmarked.

He walked slowly up to the door. In the light, he noticed a sticker on the lower section of the door's right hand panel: it showed what looked like a letter "A" only without the horizontal bar. One side of the "A" was white, the other side was blue, and they met in a stylized circle at the top, like two shaking hands.

Harry's eyes widened; he hadn't known! This put a different light on the matter entirely. He knocked.

The porch light came on, and a tired-looking woman opened the door a little.

"Yes?" she said, asking and watching carefully.

"I'm Harry Wolfe, from Wolf Bend," Harry said quietly; "I'm here about a Mother's lost child."

"Who shall be sought until found," the woman responded, unlocking the door; "Come in, Brother."

"I'm Maxine Cady, by the way;" the tired-looking woman said. "While I trust you, I do need some identification for the paperwork," she added.

Harry fumbled his drivers license and social security card out of his wallet and handed them to her. She nodded.

"Uhh- could I look in on Bobby?" Harry asked.

The woman nodded and watched as Harry walked quietly toward the back of the house, seeking Bobby's bedroom. He found it, with Bobby asleep on the bed; and a huge white wolf-dog stretched out beside him.

Harry's Jaw dropped as the wolf-dog slid out of the bed and stood, walking toward the doorway. Harry stepped back and followed the white wolf-not a dog-into the living room, where he sat down in a chair and motioned Harry to sit opposite him.

"Reverend Servant, I didn't know..." Harry began.

The Wolf- or Werewolf, actually, shook his head.

"They were somewhat new to the Council," he explained, "They planned to bring Robert with them this time, to meet his People and friends. Poor child; I've spent hours just talking to him, trying to keep him from grieving until a parent-substitute could show up."

The werewolf sighed; "If you hadn't told Maxine where to find the death directions, we would have been here for all hours searching for them. He'd have gone to a Smooth-kindred family anyway; but having Sworn Parents is so much better."

The gentle eyes looked down a long muzzle at Harry, and asked, "Do you plan on Crossing him? I don't think he'll do well with the quarantine that will be necessary, otherwise. He will need the support of family, and quarantine keeps that from happening."

"Um," Harry began, "I just figure on letting it happen. I have two daughters who will support him no matter what, and a mate that will make up for them when the kids get tired. I don't want to force him, not after what's happened already. He'll Cross when our Mother-Beloved says he will, when he's ready to."

"Such trust," the Servant replied, "is rare these days."

"I don't want my son-" Harry paused, realizing what he had just said; "my son to hurt, not more than he's going to."

"He's in your heart already?" the Servant questioned gently. Harry nodded, "He's the child of the man I loved like a brother, even though he was Smoothskin. His mate was my wife's best friend in high school. They used to visit every six weeks or so- the only thing that t kept Chuck here was the work..."

Using the past tense about the man who had been his friend from Viet-Nam-before he had met his mate and wife, even; broke Harry. He began to weep his grief, as swift, gentle hands unfastened his shirt to avoid its bursting as he Shifted from the Smoothskin lie that he wore so much to his natural form, the Man-Wolf; the Were-Wulf.

He felt a gentle touch and calm began flowering in him, and just for a moment, he saw his friend, Charles Clark smiling at him-and knew that his brother's spirit was at the promised place of Peace, with his mate.

He would raise up their son, to honor them. He was Wulf.

His mate would love that child of his and her friends' getting. She was Wulf.

His daughters would make him their brother, their packmate. They were Wulf.

And, in time, Robert would claim as his birthright the name Wulf as well; when Mother-Beloved chose to let him Cross-Over into Her divine Pack.

Harry's beliefs were simple and unshakable in that matter. He was the son of a line of lycanthropes that disappeared into history's mists as memory and words were forgotten.

Harry regained his self-control, and reversed into the Smoothskin form he wore so much these days, to his continual discomfort.

The Servant's eyes were serene as he watched this ancient lineage Were' regain his Smoothskin form and button his shirt. When he saw confusion at the fact that the shirt had been unbuttoned for him as he shifted, the Servant smiled and pointed at Maxine Cady, seated to their right, concern written large on her face.

"She's always at someone about their clothing," he chuckled.

"Burst clothing isn't funny," she replied. "There are too many people around here that could put two and two together over something like that."

Harry, again looking human, asked for an explanation with his eyes.

"We've had a Council here in the Denverarea for five years now," she began, "and it was only then that the Packs hereabouts could really make inquiries about people going missing for seemingly no reason. We have a large presence here, almost five percent ofDenver's population is either Were' or Kindred. For the last three years one of the local television stringers has been sniffing around about us, and for about the same time there have been disappearances of WolfKin from the general area."

The Servant verbally shrugged at her, saying, "Look, Max; there isn't that much to worry about in this neighborhood. Both of the neighbors are Kindred, and there are three Wolf families just down the street. Let's be glad that this isn't Englewood at the very least. That's where we had to disappear a whole family because someone got fuzzy at the wrong time. The people here are dependable, not move-ins."

"Max" just stared for a minute, then replied, "Pete, I understand what you're saying; and I don't think that this was anything but an honest accident--the truck driver had a record of heart trouble.

"It's just that since January, I've had to find Sworn Parents for three Wulfen families when momma or daddy or both went to the store and never came back. I took this job with Social Services to protect our children, to keep them from winding up with the wrong people. Three occasions since the first of the year, and none for the two years before that--maybe I'm starting at shadows, but I think something's wrong here."

Her face was set deep with concern, and Harry asked, "What do you think is happening here?"

"I think adults are being either killed or abducted to get at the children, well before they start the Change. Each case has been either a single parent or new mating; and each case has involved Wulfen children under the age of the first Change, between the ages of four and eight. In each case, the parent was stable and a part of a Pack; not some flake. In each case, the children were left with Kindred friends; but not Sworn ones," she said, enumerating the facts in her mind.

"And in each damned case, this news-freak Lyndon Barnes had been trying to interview them about the "sightings" in the mountains around here; sightings of wolves in what should be wolf-free environments. Why them? Why not the people who reported the damn things?"

"Well," 'Pete' replied, "in each case they were employed by the Forest Service as naturalists or as game control officers. They'd be an easy interview, and people do like uniforms on their sources of information." A concerned look stole over the Servant's features as he asked, "You've learned something, haven't you?"

"Max" nodded. "Each case has had the 'Church of the New Covenant' asking about the children. Obviously their parents weren't members; so how'd they find out? All that information is restricted to Social Services records until the children are twenty-one. Add in that Lyndon Barnes is a member of this church, and I start getting chills. He has an alibi, I checked. Still, each vanished parent--or parents in one case spoke with the man less than forty-eight hours before disappearing. Even the Cops are starting to ask questions; the timing is too neat."

"If these People were made as Werewolves by Barnes, he could pass on the information and arrange an alibi for himself while others either kidnapped or killed and hid the people he interviewed."

"To get at the children?" the Servant's "eyebrows" rose slightly.

"You know what a medical company would pay for a Werewolf child of their own, as he or she goes through the Change?" Max asked sharply; "They know we exist. They just haven't gotten their hands on a Were' as they Change from human-appearing child to Wulfen sub-adult, not yet. The children would be exploited-literally to death."

The Servant became solemn, even worried. "This does put a different face on the problem. We're an open secret with the Government and with some med-research companies too; but always as assisting our Smoothskin brothers and sisters--not as experiments ourselves. How do you figure-in this church?"

"The church has a nice new building, and is less than six years old as a corporation in Colorado. None of the members seems to have the money to do all the stuff the church does, yet it claims to exist on donations alone," the social worker was counting on her fingers, now. "The Minister has a mail-order degree, and we've had some of our people in for Sunday services, and its 'vanilla pudding' all day long. They have a day-school with good teachers that is free to members..." she paused for effect- "and the line taught is pure Creationism with a twist: anything not human is the devil's making--even Mickey Mouse. They won't even show a cartoon with a non-human set of characters in it, other than as villains."

She finished the exposition by saying; "And they want our orphaned children-by name. They have registered as a 'Shelter and Refuge' for local children, but that wouldn't get them the information they seem to have. They have asked the department about each of the children whose parents have disappeared, supposedly to provide a foster-care facility for them with 'good God-fearing parents'. Fortunately, each orphaned child has Sworn Parents or legally clear guardians to protect them."

The Servant wasn't relaxed any more. He looked like a wolf stalking game out on the prairies.

"I'll contact the local Guardians on this," he said ominously; "I didn't know that things had become so--risky." He turned his face to the woman named Max, sadness on his features.

"I'm afraid I also have some bad news for you, Max; the Council's voted, and they don't think the risk is worth gain for you. That new test, the 'Brulay index' that you took, read extremely positive. Since I'm the Crossing Servant in this area, and since my instincts also say 'no'; I'm afraid you'll have to wait until your next life to join us. Every Goddess-given sense I have says you'd die in the attempt, and we need you, Sister--here and now. You're the only inroad we have to the child-care part of the City and State welfare system; and you are our only protection from having a Wulfen child wind up in Smoothskin custody with no way to trace them through the system. The last time that happened, we were almost caught, rescuing one of our own from a really loving and caring family."

He hung his head; "We still see his face on milk cartons, now and again. We had to hurt good people, just to protect the Secret. You're the only barrier against having that happen again."

Harry had been following the conversation until the name Brulay has come up. "Who is this Brulay fellow?" he asked.

"He's a dedicated man who wanted to find out why some people die, rather than Cross Over," the Servant replied. "He seems to have discovered some kind of allergic reaction to the Crossing Over process itself. He's developed a test for it, piggy-backing it on another allergy test procedure.

"Some people test high for the reaction, and can't Cross; no matter what. There's more development that he's doing, but the People can't supply much in the way of money as of yet, and money is what runs the research. He's using other projects he's working on to get more research done, but he has to move really slowly.

"The saddest thing is that he's discovered that he can't Cross, and marry the Wulf who started this whole thing; may Lunara ease his sorrow..." then the Servant's ears twitched, "hmmm; Bobby's waking up. I let him sleep for a while to ease his fear."

Harry was up at once, headed for Bobby's room and met the child in the hall. The boy stopped and stared at the man he called "Uncle Harry" with too-wise eyes.

"Mom and Dad are gone, aren't they?" he said quietly, making a statement out of the question. The calmness of the words stung Harry like a whip.

Harry knelt and nodded silently. "You're coming to live with us, at the ranch," he said gently. "You'll be our son now, although you'll never forget your real parents. We'll all remember them, and they'll stay alive in us."

"That's what they said," Bobby replied; "I dreamed them; they said that they loved me but that they had to go someplace and rest, but you'd take care of me and be my family."

Seeing Harry's widened eyes, the child continued, "We were in a real pretty place with a white lady who was with mom and dad. She said that they had been hurt real bad and they needed some--peace and renewal to get better. Then the lady said that you would be my dad and aunt Marina would be my mom and Serena and Martina would be my sisters." His brows furrowed for a moment in concentration, then he said; "Then the white lady said to me that I wouldn't ever be alone, and that she would always be with me, even if I couldn't see her. Then she kissed me on the head, and I woke up and heard your voice."

By now Harry's jaw was hanging open, showing the teeth he didn't want Bobby to see just yet.

Bobby stared then asked, "Can I get nice teeth like that if I live with you?"

There was a sound behind Harry and Bobby looked past him and smiled, "Hello Peter, this is Harry, and he's going to be my dad. I did like you said and the nice white lady kissed me on the head--on my forehead. She said you'd know what it meant."

The Servant, still in fur, slipped past Harry and knelt beside the boy. "You've done well, Bobby; and we're very proud of you. Now let's get your things together so you can go with your--father, and to your new family." The WhiteCoat was actually smiling as the boy went back into his bedroom and began to pack.

Glancing at Harry, he spoke in a quiet voice, saying; "Mother-Beloved has accepted him as one of Her own. You might look at his forehead, there's the Goddess' kiss there. This is going better than I had hoped. Now, let's get your son packed. Max and I will see to the sealing of the premises and removal of any dangerous photos or letters. They were of my Pack, within the Council; and I felt it was my responsibility to make sure that their son was taken care of. You and he need to be out of here soon, and-" the Servant paused, "-I'll have to take his memories of this little time we've been together. I can't do much more than twenty-four hours of memory-lifting, so you need to have him away from here pretty soon. The local Pack will see to the personal stuff, as in sending it to your address in Wolf Bend. Max has the address by now, and you need to get your license and other I.D. from her before you leave.

"Oh, and Bobby is seeing me as in Smoothskin; he didn't need to get used to another species as well as the loss of his parents. He's currently calmed; that will wear off in about a day, so don't be surprised if he starts grieving at your home."

The Servant then went into Bobby's bedroom with Harry in tow and between them all Bobby was packed up and his clothing and some toys were loaded into the truck in less than twenty minutes.

Harry retrieved his documentation, and met Peter-the-Servant and Maxine in the living room as Bobby came out of his bedroom, dressed in jeans and sneakers as well as a jacket for the road.

The Servant spoke with the child for a moment, then stroked his hand over the boy's forehead and assumed a look of extreme concentration as memory was scrambled and events became jumbled; soon to be forgotten.

Harry thanked the pair as he and Bobby stepped out of the door to walk to the truck. There were tears in Peter's eyes as he bid the child of his Pack-brother and sister goodbye. The boy wouldn't remember him or anything of the day and evening, other than some distorted memories of police and other official people. That was the price of the Secret; manipulation of another's memory.

As Harry started his long drive back to the ranch, he realized the he too, had been manipulated into hearing a warning about missing Wulfen and dangers to their children. Bobby slept beside him on the truck's bench seat, oblivious as Colorado was left behind.

He stopped for fuel at a truck-stop on I-25 and called his house from the telephone in the diner while Bobby slept in the locked cab of the truck.

"Do you realize it's three a.m?" Marinagrumbled over the line. "Has Bobby eaten anything? Is he handling things at all?" his wife and mate queried worriedly.

Harry chuckled tiredly; "Dear, he's asleep. The Child Care people said he would probably be okay, but to expect some grieving in the next few days. There was a--a guy from the local association there, and he said that they would take care of things, although we might have to come back--for something; I don't remember right now. Anyway, the boy is asleep and likely to stay that way for awhile. We'll be there sometime this afternoon, most likely. Tell the girls, would you?"

"Harry, you won't believe what your daughters have come up with for young Bobby. I won't tell you, you'll have to see for yourself. Now, bye; I love you and don't you dare speed, Harold DeWitt Wolfe!"

Harry chuckled tiredly as he hung up the telephone. There was de-caf in a hot cup he had bought, and water and milk for the boy, as well as some snack foods that didn't need refrigeration. The boy's clothing and other things were in the back of the cab and in the bed of the truck, covered with a tarp. He'd rest at the truck-stop in Casper; there'd been a section where trucks could sit idle while their drivers napped-provided he got tired enough.

And the boy would need a restroom about then, as well.

Actually, it was in Billings that the boy woke up and stared around in confusion until he saw Harry, and then relaxed a little. He asked if there were a restroom he could use, and since they were driving by a gas station right then, Harry had pulled out of traffic and got the key from the attendant. He and Bobby both availed themselves of the facilities, washed up; and then stopped at a restaurant for a meal.

Harry's stomach awakened from the hibernation it had been in due to shock, and grumbled loudly as they waited for burgers and fries and cola at the roadside diner. Bobby smiled a little at the sound, but otherwise remained quiet and passive-until the food arrived. Then, he finished his meal well before Harry did; since Harry didn't dare open his mouth more than a little, lest his "unusual teeth" be noticed.

That was how he had met Chuck. Chuck, his human brother; Chuck his dearest friend--and Chuck-along with his wife Jen-in Mother-Beloved's place of Peace and Renewal. Chuck, Charles Wilson Clark; was gone, and his wife with him.

Their son, Robert, was now his son; by Wulfen law and practice. Bobby; still calm-a miracle, actually. Bobby, still calmer than his new father, Harry.

Harry's appetite vanished; replaced by an ache in his throat and pressure behind his eyelids.

A hand reached under the table and took his, and Bobby was staring at him with mute appeal-for what, Harry could all to easily realize. He squeezed back, and the fear and appeal left Bobby's eyes to a degree.

Quietly, they got up together; and Harry left a tip for the waitress while giving his son the money and the bill.

A silent realization: He did see Robert as his son, already. Sworn Parent or not; Bobby was his son, now; and he would fight the world if it tried to take him away.

Back in the truck, Bobby watched as the farmland gave way to grassland and herds of lazy cattle. They were headed north on state road 87, and passed through Grassgrange as the sun reached zenith and noon came and went.

Route 19 out of Grassgrange became highway 191, and then became Federal Highway 2 at Malta, where Harry turned the truck east; now headed for the unmarked and un-remarked offramp that went south to Wolf Bend, and north to Wolf Creek Ranch--Home.

As they drove east on the big highway, Bobby spoke for the first time as conversation.

"Uncle Harold," he asked, "where do people go when they die?"

"Well, Bobby, I guess that'd be up to God. I guess God has places where people who have passed on can rest and think about their lives. Kind'a learn and grow, y'know."

"Uncle Harold, is God a white lady? I mean all white, like she is wearing a white fur coat and stuff. Could God be a white lady?"

Harry almost sideswiped an eighteen wheeler as he struggled with what his son had asked. With a dry mouth, he replied; "I guess God can be anybody God wants to be; why?"

"Because that's who I saw with mom and dad. She was real gentle and kind, and told me that she would be with me whenever I needed her. She was real nice; and I liked her a lot. Would that be okay, if God was a white lady?"

"Yeah, Bobby. That's just fine, as far as I'm concerned. Bobby, would you just call me Harry, now?"

"Okay, Harry. Are you my new dad?"

"That's what your parents wanted. I would be your new dad, and Marina would be you new mom; if something real bad happened to them. The same thing applied to Marina and me; if something real bad happened to us, they'd raise Martina and Serena like they were their own children."

"Harry, can I call you Dad, and Aunt Marina Mom?"

"Yes, if we can call you son, and 'Tina and 'Rina are your sisters."

"I'd like that. Martina and Serena are neat. They're not like girls at all, they're like family."

"Don't let them hear you say they aren't like girls, they'd get mighty upset."

"You know what I mean. They're like friends, family; girls are just--girls!"

"Yeah, Bobby; I know what you mean. Just don't forget that they think they're girls, and will get mighty upset if you disagree."

The boy settled into silence for a few minutes, mulling things over.

"When I die, will the white lady be there for me, too?"

Harry didn't know what to say for a moment, then the words came; "Yes, Bobby; our Mother-Beloved is there for all of Her children, and I'd say you were one of them, now. Do you know anything else about this white lady?"

"She's got lots of dogs with her--no, that's not right. They're not dogs, they're wolves, and they're all her children. She put the moon in the sky to light the night so her children wouldn't be afraid. Mom and Dad are with her, and they're watching over me, so I'd know that they loved me."

Harry barely missed the concrete offramp divider as he pulled off the highway and almost drove right back onto the highway on the onramp on the other side of the crossroad. He was ever so slightly rattled.

Bobby was still talking: "She said that you would take care of me, and that you'd show me something wonderful in a few days. She says she is proud of you, and you are one of her best sons."

Harry's best effort came out as; "Right, Bobby. Like you say. We're almost home, now." His hands were actually shaking on the steering wheel.

He welcomed the sight of the turnpike that was the gate to Wolf Creek Ranch's main road. He was about to get down and open it when Bobby opened his door and jumped to the roadway and hurried to the gate, then swung it open. Harry drove through and stopped while Bobby returned the gate to its closed position, then returned to the truck.

"Better get used to doing that," Harry warned the boy. "You're going to be doing it a lot." Anything to change the subject!

As they drove the last third-of-a-mile to the ranch house, Harry kept pointing things out to the boy. Keep his mind occupied!

Then they stopped, and Bobby got out. From two directions, Martina and Serena converged on him, wrapping him in a bundle of love and caring while they cried on his chest and back.

Finally, sniffling back her tears, Serena stood a little back and said, "You're our brother now. Nobody better hurt you, 'cause we'll beat them up. Nobody hurts our brother!"

That declaration was the thing that burst the dam. Bobby began to cry as well, and soon there were three young people holding and crying and discharging the tensions built up over the last thirty-two hours.

Harry felt his mate's arms wrap around him. "Wait until you see what our daughters have done in their bedroom." Marina slid into sight, eyes also somewhat red-rimmed.

"You look like a mess, Harry."

"He called me 'dad'. He'll call you 'mom'. We have a son."

"I'm already missing Jen, but Bobby has her eyes. We talked about this, she and I; and she was going to let Bobby stay over for a summer. They'd get the ranch, if we died; and she had said that Chuck would just quit work and move here to raise our daughters."

"Goddess, honey, I miss Chuck so much. I owe him my life, twice over. It'll be purely a blessing having some part of him to raise and care about, in Bobby."

Then Marina glanced at the child-huddle and looked up at her mate, worry in her eyes. "He doesn't know, Harry. They were going to have Peter Morton, their Pack's Servant, explain about us. I don't think he did that, not before they were killed."

"Peter Morton?" Harry mused; "I think I met him at their house. That Maxine Cady is a SmoothKin, in the Children's department down there, to protect our children in case their parents get killed. She makes sure that Wulfen kids go to Wulfen foster parents."

Then he remembered something; "There's this test now, for Crossers. Broo-something. She wanted to Cross and the test showed she couldn't, not and live. I remember that. It was something about an allergy. I was too tired to pay much attention, and too worried about Bobby."

"We'd better check up on it then," Marinasaid firmly; "I am not going to put young Robert on the quarantine schedule. He Crosses or he doesn't, that's up to Mother-Beloved's choosing. Wulf parents have raised Smooth children before, and I don't plan to change, but he has to know--about us; about his sisters. Martina will start the big Change in a year or so, and he needs to know why she's changing, and what she's changing into."

"I could call Luther, in the town, to oversee things;" Harry temporized, "if Bobby can't handle it, Luther can muddle his memories and we can... no."

"No, what?" Marinawas giving him that look.

Harry repeated what Bobby had said in the truck as they had neared the ranch, finishing with; "if our Mother-Beloved can comfort him, She must have decided that he can understand what we are. Let's give him a few days to settle in; we've both gone Smooth that long without breaking anything, then let him in on the Secret right here at home, with his sisters right beside him for comfort and support. It isn't like we're ugly or anything..."

Marina thought for a minute, then replied; "Harry, for once I think you're right. He will know us as people before...where are the children?" Harry looked and there was no trace of the three youngsters.

Marina giggled; "I'll bet I know where they are. Come and look at what your daughters have done, Harry."

Mystified, he followed his wife and mate into the house and into the hallway that led to the bedrooms. Opening the door,Marina pointed at the three children, sleeping on the mattresses that the girls had pulled off their beds and arranged between the box springs.

"Like a pile of cubs," Harry said quietly. He felt a nudge, and his mate was pressing against his chest, tears of happiness running down her face.

"Yes," she whispered, "our little wolf cubs."

Carefully, they closed the door and walked quietly to the kitchen. A cup of de-caf later, Harry started to chuckle.

At his mate's puzzled look he explained; "There's a load of Bobby's stuff in the truck. I don't think it'll fit in the room."

Four days later, Bobby was installed in his own room, across from his sisters. They had come in a bit late for dinner, that first night; but Marina made a rare exception to her own rules and didn't assign them all kitchen duty.

Bobby had already called Marina "mom" and she had cried while hugging him to her breast.

Now it was after dinner, and Bobby had offered to do dishes, but Harry had brought them all into the Greatroom of the house and settled them on the floor in front of his chair. Marina was to his right, in her rocker; knitting--or more accurately, tying knots in the yarn as a result of her nerves.

Harry seated himself, facing the children. The girls looked worried, and Bobby looked puzzled.

Harry began; "Bobby, you know that there are some people who are different from other people. People have big noses, or frizzy hair, or dark skin; stuff like that. If we were like that, would you be upset--would you want to live with someone else?"

Bobby shook his head, no. He looked even more puzzled.

"If we weren't like everybody else, like we were really different, would it make you think twice about living here?

Again the shake, no; and now Bobby was really looking confused.

"If we looked like monsters, really like movie monsters; and your sisters did too; would that make a difference to you--the way you feel about us?"

Bobby just stared. His father wasn't making any sense to his child's mind.

Harry had made preparations in wearing a very oversize shirt, and loose pants with suspenders. First he took off his boots and showed Bobby his feet: obviously not human feet, feet made for a digitigrade creature; a 'toe walker'-not a human being. They were wide and short and had pads on the bottom, while the toes had what looked like filed claws.

He took a deep breath and began the Shift, letting it be as slow as he could control it into being.

He dropped his chin down onto his chest. Slowly, his arms, feet, and face began to look like they were covered with smoke, dark gray smoke. The smoke deepened and became fur, as his feet lifted and stretched, the pinkish skin darkening into pads on the toes. His hands changed too, thumbs thickening and fingers lengthening; while his ribcage went from human flat to wolf-deep.

Then it was over.

The Wolf raised hid head and looked at his son. His ears were now near the top of his skull, and thick dark fur covered his face and he had a muzzle, like any wolf.

"This is what we are, Bobby. My mate, Marina, is like me, and your sisters will grow up to be upright wolves as well. My question, son; is can you accept us as we are? Because this is what we naturally are, Werewolves."

Bobby looked the wolf in the eye and asked; "Are you still my father, Harry?"

"Yes," the Wolf replied. "I am, and I love you as my son."

Bobby stood and walked to his father, the wolf, and hugged him.

"This is what that the white lady said was the wonderful thing you would show me, isn't it?" His eyes opened wider; "and She's a wolf, too; isn't she?"

Harry nodded again. "She' is our Mother-Beloved. In time you'll get to meet her as She is; our Goddess.

"I love you, 'cause you're my Dad and Mom, now. What you look like isn't important. What you are is important, and you're my mother and father; and my sisters and my family. That's what counts," the boy replied in a serious tone.

He hugged his father again--and his father, the Wolf, wept with joy.

End?

Not in the least...

Bobby

A "Wulfen Blood" story

Harry Wolfe stood at the pay telephone in the Gas-n-Gone convenience store, feeding quarters into the slot and hoping to reach his wife and mateMarinaat the ranch.

She had been in town at the market with their daughters, while he had stayed at the ranch house doing the entry work for the ledgers thatMarinawould fill out once she was back from the weekly grocery run.