Helping Terra

It took a while. The Alpha was not happy that they wished to leave for a while but eventually she conceded to their wishes and allowed them to leave without an escort. While Tearnyn and Morgana prepared for the journey, Yurik found and memorized the route they would be taking to the neighboring city. It should not take them more than three days to reach if they ran in their wolf form and stayed on the path already worn down by other travelers.
The next day with backpacks specially designed for wolves, the three Scouts set off. They initially started on foot but once they approached the outskirts of the village they stripped off their clothes and placed them in their bags. After slinging the loose bags across their chests, they shifted into their neglected forms and began running. Along the way Tearnyn turned her head to see shadows running alongside the small group. She made a small yipping noise which was readily answered. She gave a wolfish smile at Leaf Blend before bidding her farewell and leaving Roik Territory.
It felt wonderful to be running on all fours. It had been too long since the three Scouts felt so free and alive. As much as they enjoyed their human form, being a wolf was unlike anything else. The form was full of raw energy and instincts dominated the human intellect. They could feel the different animals mulling about the forest as the wind they created blew wonderfully in their faces. They picked up scents that even their heightened human noses could not normally smell.
Tearnyn had been yearning to run fast and hard for a while but never had the chance to. In Green Willow she was restricted to always have some sort of guard with her while with the Silver Pack she was watched over just as close. Even when she was home she felt confined because of the forest being on a ship and not planet. With a planet she felt the boundlessness, the ability to run as far and fast as she could and she would never hit a wall. She was aware that eventually a lake or ocean would stand in her way, but aside from that there was an infiniteness that came with running on a planet that was not there on a ship. She was literally confined to the metal walls of Myrra or Tristis, but on Terra there were no walls while she was outside. She wanted nothing more than to keep running, but was aware that soon enough she would have to stop and face reality. She would have to stand up on her two human feet and help her pack mates figure out how to get home.
The journey lasted almost four days. It would have taken less but they decided to take it easy so they could take in the surrounding areas and enjoy it. It was really the first time in months the three were able to hunt for a meal and they reveled in it. While the werewolves on the planet took it for granted, the three Scouts loved working together to take down their prey. After they hunted for their final meal, they shifted to their human form and dressed in long deer leather pants, and mid-shin boots. Yurik wore a deer leather clasp vest while Morgana and Tearnyn laced up their leather bustier that covered everything but their arms. Once they were dressed, the three walked the last half mile to Winter Birch City.
After checking in at the gate, they walked in and stood for a moment in awe. The place was different than Green Willow but nothing like the cities they were use to. This place was definitely a city but instead of metal and glass, everything was made out of nature. Buildings were made from stone, granite, or skillfully craved from trees however the latter were still alive. The trees seemed to have worked with the werewolves to contort into a livable place to protect them. As they passed different buildings and sculptures, the Scouts could not help but touch everything they passed. Tearnyn felt jealous of the planet that worked with nature rather than try to conquer it. She was aware that her culture was not as bad with their pollutants and was more careful with what materials they used but they still had enough human in them to try and shape nature to their needs by force. If nature did not cooperate then they make it. Hell, there were even planets that were converted to almost an entire city like place; little green still existed.
Once the initial wonderment wore off, they decided to find a place they could stay for a few nights. They wandered to two hotels before they found an affordable inn and placed a reservation. The person behind the desk smiled at them as he handed them their keys and then frowned when he caught their scent. The trio did not stay behind answer the unasked question, instead they turned to find their room. Since they did not have many things with them, they used the bathroom and headed back out. They spent their first day in the city exploring. They managed to find the library, which was absolutely gorgeous, and the electronic market area for Morgana. She lit up as her eyes landed on different types of technologies and gadgets. Yurik and Tearnyn literally had to drag her away from the tables and stores before she spent all their money. Many wolves laughed as they watched two grown adults drag away another whining one.
The next day the trio began their missions. Tearnyn gave Morgana paper and a pencil to write down everything she could buy and how much each item would cost. Once Yurik and Tearnyn made sure Morgana would not go mech crazy and had her communicator on her, they left for the library. Once they stepped inside, which was grander than the outside, Yurik nearly wept with anticipation. He looked at Tearnyn with permission and with a sigh she consented to him going crazy. He hugged her and ran off more excited than she had seen him in a while. For a little while Tearnyn coasted throughout the city. She got to know the different streets and shops. She talked to some of the inhabitants and tourists. She found out Winter Birch was one of the biggest cities on the Northern Hemisphere. Every so often she would check in with her mates and once satisfied they had not been kidnapped she would go about her business once again.
It took her a little while, but Tearnyn realized how low key the mating season appeared to be in the city. She spend another hour or two observing the wolves in the city to find that although many were coupled off, the males were not as ready to fight someone away as in the village. She asked a bartender at a pub she stopped by and apparently the mates in the city were so use to other wolves being around they did not mind as much. However, if another male showed to be some sort of threat they would react like any other wolf would. What surprised her even more was what the bartender added. They would not only defend their mate, but also another wolf in general. They would never turn a blind eye to another wolf if he or she was in an uncomfortable situation. They would never jump into a fight if two wolves went at it, but if an unmated wolf was being accosted, they would protect him or her from the assailant. Tearnyn smiled at the friendliness of the act. She asked why they would protect someone who was not in their pack or mate and the bartender smiled. ‘It’s what makes Winter Birch so special’ was his reply.
After two days of doing absolutely nothing productive for getting them home, Tearnyn found Morgana chatting it up in the mech section. She asked if Morgana needed anything and received an apologetic smile. Tearnyn waved it off and told her not to get into trouble before walking to the library. She found Yurik in the back corner with four stacks of books and a tablet full of notes. She plopped down in the chair next to him and whined, “Please tell me you have something for me to do.”
Yurik looked up and mirrored Morgana’s look. “Sorry Tear, I’m solar here. Meg has been helping me find books and helped me translate some of the older books.”
“Meg?” Yurik nodded his head in the direction over Tearnyn’s shoulder. She turned to see a young female wolf looking through a stack.
“Well, I won’t disrupt your research time with Meg.” Tearnyn smirked as Yurik blushed.
“It’s not like that.”
“Hope not. If you need me just call.” Tearnyn stood up and started wandering the stacks. She was in the civil war section of the library when she was startled.
“Do you need help miss?” Tearnyn jumped and then spun around; her claws pricking the wolf’s neck. He put his hands up in surrender as he explained, “I am a librarian I swear.”
Tearnyn’s mouth dropped and she immediately took her hand away. “Sorry, you snuck up on me.”
“It is okay.” The man smiled embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I am sorry I startled you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
He cocked his head and commented, “I have never heard your accent before.”
“Not from around here.”
“From the north?”
“Not really, don’t really call one place home.”
“Ah, a nomadic werewolf.” He smiled. “I am rude, I am Theta Lowell Raid one of the librarians of this fine place. Is there any way I may help you miss?”
“Scout Tearnyn Aldwin and,” She paused to think as she looked over the books. “Do you have books on the Tunglþræll Pack?”
“Of course we do, what kind of library would we be if we did not?” He sounded appalled by the idea. “This way Scout Aldwin.” He led her through many stacks until he came across a particular one. “The information you need to know about our founding pack. Any particular reason? Doing a research paper on them?”
Tearnyn’s eyes scanned the titles of the books as she replied, “Thought I should brush up.” She gingerly pulled three books out and flipped one open. She ran her finger over a beautiful picture of Alpha Genevieve before everything went to hell. “She’s beautiful.”
“I concur. Almost as beautiful as you.” He gave her a brilliant flirty smile.
She looked over at him with a knowing smirk. “Flirting with me won’t get you anywhere.”
“Flirting? That would be unprofessional. I am merely stating a fact.”
“You sure know how to flatter a woman. Or do you do that to all your patrons?”
“Only those who catch my attention.”
Tearnyn returned a flirty smile as she warned, “I’d be careful if I was you, I’m not like most wolves, Theta Raid.” She turned and headed out of the aisle.
“Lowell and if you need anything do not hesitate to call.” He called down the stack to her.
As Tearnyn was about to turn down another, she paused and smirked, “Tearnyn and we shall see.” She found a small table shrouded in the shadows and began reading about her family’s history. Lowell came by a few times to ‘make sure she did not need anything’ and ended up staying longer and longer with each visit. She never revealed more than she needed to and smirked when she decided an answer was not going to be given. Lowell became more intrigued with the mysterious woman with each passing minute.
Tearnyn was halfway through her second book when Yurik came by to fetch her. She left a note asking Lowell to save two of the books for her and left to pick up Morgana. Morgana and Yurik excitedly told her all about what they learned and how wonderful this planet and its inhabitants were. Tearnyn could not help but smile at her friends as they talked passionately about all they were learning. Morgana found the right material for the shuttle but it could cost more than they wanted to spend. She tried bargaining the price but only got it a little bit cheaper; it was still going to be expensive. Tearnyn informed her to try a few more times before deciding if it was worth it. Yurik informed them that the Milky Way was completely self sustaining (like it was way back before Old Earth decided to expand outwards) and did not communicate with other galaxies. He also told them what has been happening since humans left and Terra became completely werewolf. The rest of the night the three went out and mingled among the residences and tourists in the city.
Two days later, Tearnyn was back to browsing the shelves for more books on her ancestors. “I thought you would get bored of the family.” She looked up to see Lowell leaning on the shelf with his arms crossed. “Even if you are nomadic everyone has heard their story thousands of times.”
“Maybe I haven’t.” Tearnyn returned to looking through the books. “Or maybe I’m a masochist and love the pain in their story. They created something so amazing only for it to be destroyed right before them. They tried so hard to protect the other packs that their pack was destroyed along the way.”
“You sound like you know how they feel.”
“I’ve seen the effects of something similar.”
“Have you?” Tearnyn hummed an affirmative as she picked out another book. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have had to. No one should.”
“That’s life especially after a collapse of a government.” She whispered. Once she was satisfied with her book choices, she turned to leave. “You should get back to work Master Lowell before you get in trouble. Later.” She walked off without him saying a word. It was another hour before he tracked her down and sat across from her. Without looking up she said, “You’re going to get in trouble and I won’t defend you.”
“I’m on lunch.” He smiled.
“Waste of a lunch if you’re talking to me without actually eating.”
“You are so critical, Miss Tearnyn. Now I have a question for you that has been bothering me since I helped you find this lovely family.” Sighing, Tearnyn put her book down and waited, “Why do you not smell?”
“Wow rude.”
“I did not mean it that way!” He blushed a bright red as he tried to correct himself. “I mean, it is mating season you should smell heavily of pheromones.”
“I’m not in the mating kind of mood this year.”
“Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“Yes, when my pack or I are in danger.”
“Where is your pack? I have only seen you alone.”
“About.”
“You are very secretive. What do you have to hide?”
“Everything and nothing. Now if you’ll excuse me I have more books to find.” She got up and started back towards the book shelves. She placed the books back only to decide to explore instead of find another book to read.
Lowell tagged behind her as she went towards the older books. “These are some of the oldest books in the area. We protect them the best we can but they are slowly deteriorating. It is a shame to be losing so much history to time.”
“Time buries things like this planet.” Tearnyn commented without thought. A particular book caught her attention and she head over to the glass case.
“That is the oldest book here. We cannot read it, but it important.”
Tearnyn looked down and inhaled sharply. “Do you have the key for the display?”
“Yes, why?”
“Open it now.” She commanded as she called Morgana. “Morgana, library now.”