Rainfur

Wolves trained by Rainfur: Crookedwhisker
~5 Months~
I looked up at my adopted parent as she taught me the basics of socializing. Since Dusty was very social, she thought it was weird I was not, but we weren't related by blood or anything. She just adopted me into her life when she first arrived here.
Apparently Alabaster had found her wandering in the woods. No surprise there, I mean, Dusty is very active and adventurous.
"Now, Tinsley," Dusty whined. "Why won't you just talk to someone?"
"Dusty, I don't like to talk."
"You talk to me and Jeep all the time," she replied, twitching her brown ears.
"That's different," I replied.
"How so?"
"Because," I replied, following her as she led me to meet Bleiz, one of our scouts.
"Bleiz looked up from under he weird cloth thing that covered his eyes. "What's up, Dusty, Tinsley?Where's Sparrow?"
I looked back over my shoulder at Sparrow laying on his back sleeping. "Sleeping in a very funky way," I replied.
"That's true," Bleiz replied, licking his paw. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have this celtic cloth, but it helps my eyes."
"What's wrong with your eyes?" I asked, tilting my head with curiosity.
Bleiz smiled down at me. "The sun hurts my eyes, so during the day, I have to wear this cloth so I can go out scouting."
"Do you like scouting?"
"It's nice to get out, but I wish I could bring a friend or something. It gets awfully lonely and quiet," he replied. "I'm gone all the time. I want to get a mate, but I love to run, and scouting gives that opportunity. Dusty's lucky because she doesn't have to do her role yet, she only has to train pups, which is what she loves to do."
"I don't like to talk."
"Well, you are talking fine with me," Bleiz said, laying down and stretching out on his side, motioning for me to do the same. "Do you mind saying why you don't like talking?"
"Well, when I first got here, I loved talking. I would talk all the time to Olyvia and DaKota. But Remington and Ozzie always told me to shut up. Bleiz, it makes me so sad. I want to talk, but what if every thinks I'm annoying?" I asked.
"Remington's a, um, mean wolf and you don't have to pay attention to him, Tins. I like you just the way you are and that's all right. You don't need a whole lot of friends. I find the smaller the amount, the more loyal your friends are," Bleiz told me.
"How many friends do you have, Bleiz?" I asked.
"Three."
"Who?" I asked. How could Bleiz only have three friends?
"You, Sparrow, and Dusty."
"What about Alaska? He gets along with everyone," I replied.
"Alaska is a popular wolf with a popular mate. They are the best of the best. I don't like cocky wolves like that."
"Oh."
Me and Bleiz just laid there for a while, in comfortable silence, my head on his front legs, the rest of my body splayed out beside him.
"Bleiz?" I asked.
"Hmm?" I heard him hum, eyes closed.
"When do you have to leave again?" I mumbled, hardly audible because my mouth was buried in the thick fur of his chest.
"I don't have to leave at all again today," Bleiz said. "I'm resting for a few days now."
I didn't hear the end of his reply because I'd already fallen asleep.
And that's when my journey started.
~5.5 months~
Its been half a month since I've talked to Bleiz last. Alabaster keeps sending him out scouting as soon as he has energy back. He always comes back with a toy, which I make sure to take one of the ones he brings home.
I've been watching him pass me with a weary glance and smile every time his walks through the bush that guarded our camp. The regular guards, Aura and Bardalph, were always taking a rest when he walks in.
I know Bleiz wants to talk to me, because no one else tries to talk to him but Maya. She only talks to him to flirt with him, but I can tell he doesn't like that.
I decided today while he was resting, I would go lay next to him like I would before he got super busy. Keep him company.
"Hey, munchkin," Bleiz said. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too," I replied.
"Remington still bothering you?" he asked.
"Little bit."
"He's irritating," Bleiz replied. He caught sight of the small apprentice walking to the prey pile. "Remington, get your hind over here," Bleiz said.
Remington came over, ears pinned back. "What do you want, Bleiz?" He spat out Bleiz's name.
Bleiz stood up stiffly, guarding me from Remington's sight. "Don't talk to me like that. I am your superior wolf and you will not speak to me in such cold ways.
Remington side-eyed him. "Yes, I will. I don't want to hear it because all you're gonna do is talk to me about leaving that little shit Tinsley alone."
"Don't talk about Tinsley like that," Bleiz said, his lip lifted in a snarl. "She's a good pup." I pinned myself against Bleiz's fluffy leg. He twitched slightly but nothing more than that.
"She talks more than a wolf would wish her to."
"She used to. Until you traumatized her into being silent," Bleiz snarled.
"For the better," Remington replied smugly.
I've never seen Bleiz lose his temper, but boy did he. "You listen to me, you no-good mangy mutt," Bleiz growled at him, leaning forward to intimidate him, causing Remington to sink against the ground. "Tinsley deserves to be treated like any other wolf, and she can talk as much as she wants. The wolf that deserves to shut his mouth is you. I don't know why your mother chose to bring you here, but I can tell why your old pack didn't want you. If I hear you ever, ever, tell Tinsley to shut up again, I will injure you in ways you didn't think was possible. You hear?"
Remington whined in a plead to get away and nodded in agreement, afraid to speak.
"Are you good, Tins?" Bleiz asked, licking in between my ears.
"I'm fine," I replied, still stunned with everything he said to Remington. "Do you think he'll go running to Maya?"
"Yup," Bleiz replied. "Listen, Tins. Don't let him tell you what to do or what you are. Somewhere within, he's struggling and that's why he's a bully. I know I just bullied him, but you let me know if he does anything to you and I'll make sure to talk with his mother, you hear?"
I nodded.
"Alright," Bleiz said. "Let's take a nap." He layed down flat and motioned for me to do the same.
~
Later that day, in the nursery, I ran into Remington again. "Watch out, you little brat," he said. "I know you've been telling Bleiz that I'm mean to you, but it's merely a joke. Quit talking to you're little boyfriend or I'll show you what's not a joke."
My newest sibling, Rawlings, jumped between me and Remington. "Leave Tinsley alone!" His small voice exclaimed.
"And why would I be scared of a runt like you?" Remington asked.
"Remington, please just stop," I begged him.
"Don't tell me what to do, you little brat." Remington slashed out with his paws, scratching my face.
I whined and backed up, making sure Bleiz wouldn't see what just happened. I didn't want him to get banned because he attacked Remington.
"Rem, that's enough," Everleigh told him. "Leave the poor pups alone or I will abandon you."
Remington glared at me.
~6 months~
I was so excited. Today was the first day I get to go scouting with Bleiz. I haven't seen him in a week and I finally got to spend a bunch of time with him.
I'll admit me and Bleiz got oddly close. If there's more than friends feelings there...I don't quite know yet. But it wouldn't be a bad idea...
Okay, I think there's more than friends feelings. On my end anyway.
Maya was still flirting with him even after his run-in with Remington, and it disgusted me. Could she not get a hint when he looked pointedly at me. His look always said, "Can you not see the puppy next to me?"
Maya was irritating. And not charming. I, on the other paw, am very charming. According to how Sparrow and Rawlings described me when I asked them what they thought of my personality.
I smiled at Bleiz, bouncing up to him, overjoyed to finally see him. He made me so happy.
He smiled and we went on our way.
~7 months~
If it was possible, me and Bleiz got closer. We ate together, napped together, and we always went scouting together. It didn't matter where or when, I went with him.
~8 months~
I just want to grow up so I can scout and hunt and train little puppies. And have puppies. I want little puppies. They're so cute. I love Lorelei and Lizzie and Isabella. I love teaching them and playing with them. Being a puppy, able to play a lot more, was fun. I miss it.
"Hi, Tinsley," Rawlings said, padding up to me. "Sparrow is six months today."
"Yeah," I replied.
Rawlings glanced at me. "You know, Tins, you should talk more."
"Naw." That was the end of our talk.