Chapter 7

For some reason, I left the house with apprehension, as if expecting that the whole Cooper family would immediately attack me there. But, of course, there was no one at the door. The village seemed to be still asleep, but this silence was deceptive - the day here began very early, and the night quite late. It is very convenient when you have so few hours to sleep. This is another quality that was not included in my gene pool.

The wind died down, and the snowfall exhausted itself, covering everything around with a sheet of snow. The hood was useless, but I still threw it on top, like a cap of invisibility. Although Reed's house was on the opposite side, and I was within walking distance of the first-aid post, my nervous state did not let me go. It would not hurt to clear our small courtyard of snow, a narrow path of aunt's steps led to a common road that ran between the houses and ended at a dead end at the first-aid post. There were only nine residential buildings here, and several outbuildings, such as an infirmary, a car repair shop, there was also an office for receiving tourists and hunters, and all the necessary equipment was located there. All the rest of the jobs were in their own homes. There were no idlers on the street, and children's voices were heard behind the house of Luke and Rachel. So Rachel has already started classes with the kids. This couple appeared in the flock after me, I don’t remember where their former home was, either in Utah, or in Montana. They entered easily, by my standards, I was so envious of them, because I was from here, but I was more alien to everyone than these two migrants. In fact, new members to the pack are accepted reluctantly and hard, most often these are new marriage unions, when the wolf chooses a she-wolf from another pack. It's still like they're adding a new limb, partly because life is very closed here, partly because if the pack grows, it's harder to keep a secret. But at that moment, the pack needed legal services, and Luke turned out to be a good lawyer. Do not miss such great shots. Although it should be noted that only twice, including Luke and Rachel, were alien wolves in our territory, apparently, something serious must happen,

In trying to see the children in Luke's backyard, I missed the moment when Reed appeared from behind a truck parked near the infirmary, holding a pyramid of boxes. He noticed me, of course, earlier, and stopped, and did not carry the burden to the open doors of the cottage. It was as if I saw him again, over the past four years he had broadened in the shoulders and began to look more and more like Morgan. Probably his father, because the older Coopers are very similar. I don’t know if he got stubble a long time ago or if it was a consequence of recent days, but I was very offended that a sleepless night only rewarded me with circles under my eyes. He himself looked rather cheerful, in only a light sweater and hunting trousers, and his cheeks were flushed from the cold and work in the air. So with boxes in his arms, he stepped towards me, either a greeting or other words froze on his lips, when I reflexively took the same step in the opposite direction from him. We, like hunter and prey, froze in our places, intensely examining each other, until the silence was cut by the voice of Mira, who appeared in the doorway.

- There is nowhere to step, you first need to pull out the empty boxes, - she stopped, noticing me and the whole picture as a whole, - Oh! Good morning Lark. Sorry, there is a small production blockage, you will have to make your way to the observation deck sideways. Come in, - she waved her hand at me and disappeared inside. I finally died and, quickly rounding Reed, who followed me with a frown, went into the cottage.

Inside, though, it was a mess. The entire reception room, which also served as an observation room thanks to a screen, was crowded and littered with boxes.

- They brought a new batch of drugs, - Mira explained, inviting me behind the screen. While she was washing her hands and putting on her work white jacket, I heard Reed quietly enter the house, unload the boxes, then, apparently, collect the empty boxes and also silently walk out the door.

Mira did not comment on either the scene or the night action, she only grunted at my haggard appearance. I suppose you can’t surprise them with a howl outside the window, thank God, you don’t have to wait for neighbors with claims so that we tame our little animal.

- Great, the wound on the neck looks good, the mark has almost healed and has taken on a natural color, - she processed the edges of the wound and put the bandage back, - but I don’t like the hand. Strongly worried?

- So-so, - I slightly scratched the skin on the border with the wound. It looked and, indeed, so-so. If I lose my arm, no sense of self-preservation will hold me back! - Sometimes numb, but mostly terribly whining.

“Last time, everything healed on you quickly,” my chest ached unpleasantly from unsolicited childhood memories of life with wolf cubs, “Now you need another remedy, but you won’t like my recipe,” I already had a premonition of what she was driving at, but hope flickered in my imploring gaze, - Wolf saliva is an excellent regenerating agent.

- Do you want to lick me? I winced. Still hoping, still hoping.

“Oh no,” she chuckled, “you need a different variety. Seriously, Lark, I've done everything I could, I can only repeat my methods, hoping that your body can handle itself. But I do not give guarantees, and even more so I do not speak about the timing. Are you ready to risk your hand? Right?

“No, not ready.” I knew she was right. I didn’t even get angry at the messenger, I’m generally surprised that she is so busy with me. But I need to survive this news and sleep, it won’t fall off right now. After all, right?

I stayed just long enough to ask Mira about the car, then quickly said goodbye and headed for the exit. So, in frustrated feelings, I carefully looked out the door - it was empty near the truck. I don't know where Reed went, he didn't go inside again during my inspection, but I was glad that they gave me free space.

On the way home, I only met Doris, who was moving incredibly slowly across her yard in the direction of the Martins' house, which was opposite ours. This portly woman did not greet me in any way, she just looked at me without embarrassment. She was the mother of Rhona, a girl a year and a half older than me, one of those who liked to make fun of me as a child. Doris herself is also a very unpleasant person, although she always smelled of sweet pastry, since she was here like a local baker, and in general was in charge of provisions and was engaged in prey that the hunters brought, but her whole masculine appearance and rather quarrelsome character were repulsive. Even my aunt, who treats everyone very tactfully and without prejudice, did not like her for her tendency to gossip and excessive curiosity. I hid from her in the house as quickly as possible.

My aunt was in the kitchen, minding her own business, sorting out dried herbs. She was silent but friendly and accepted my help. Doing my usual business, I was again mentally transported to childhood. Having no friends, fearing once again to leave the house, I followed my aunt by tail. So the only thing left to do was to help her. She was a healer, but not in the sense of a shaman or a whisperer, she was simply engaged in alternative treatment, so to speak, homeopathy. Here she was called a pharmacist, funny. But, actually, partly it is. Wolves are much closer to nature, and often herbal medicine suits them much better than any antibiotic. She supplied Mira with most of her preparations, but there were also those who personally went to her for an individual recipe. Therefore, most of my childhood consisted of wandering through the forest and meadows, collecting herbs, sorting herbs and drying them. But my aunt prepared her potions herself, before this holy action I was not allowed. Maybe she really was whispering something.

It is not surprising that it became a part of me, along with butelua grass , my attachment to them rubbed into my fingers. My fingers were asked to touch the herbs, it was interesting for me to find all the new information on the use of this or that plant. And in the bedroom there was a whole collection of my albums, where, next to the herbariums, there were descriptions of properties and footnotes on their application. Hence my choice of faculty. I only dream of being useful elsewhere. There are so many beautiful places in the world, and I have not yet left Wyoming.

Almost without talking, we were transported until dinner. After dinner from my room, I heard someone come. But my not so good hearing allowed me to hear only that it was a woman. I hope it wasn't Doris or Laura Martin that got carried in here.