Just as I’d figured and hoped.
Once we kicked the leaves out, we could maybe use one of my shirts to screen the window and give us privacy. Standing there watching the fire burn low, I realized the direction of my thoughts. I wanted to clean the place up as if I intended to stay, not just until I learned more about them, but permanently. Did I really want that?
Despite what had happened, I did. This place had no electricity or plumbing; and, without the generosity of the people here, I had no source of food. Was I crazy? I didn’t think so. I realized there was a high threat here. I allowed my fingers to drift up to my collarbone, but I caught myself before touching my wounds. I didn’t want to contaminate the bites. Was the threat here any higher than in the real world? No, it was just different.
In the real world, I could picture myself caught and taken to a secret lab where cold-hearted scientists would poke and prod me. It would only take one person of importance to believe Penny. If they caught me by surprise and knocked me unconscious, my ability wouldn’t save me. Here, I had a chance at freedom. These people didn’t want to dissect me, they wanted to, what? Date me?
Decided, I walked to the door and opened it. All the wolves in the yard turned toward me. I didn’t look at them and tried to pretend my heart hadn’t just leapt in fear at their attention. Instead, I focused on the sun angling through the door. The light warmed me.
Sunlight and fresh air won over a cage.
I took a step back from the door, then turned to get my bag. From a pocket, I pulled the money I’d hoarded during my journey. Ms. Lewis—Winifred—had asked them to make me welcome, and Mary said they would be willing to help me. Standing with the money, I nervously approached the door once more.
“Would any of you be willing to get a few things for me? I’m not sure how close the nearest grocery is, and you’d need clothes to enter the store.”
Immediately, several of them dashed from the yard into the trees.
“It’ll take them a bit to find clothes,” Mary said from behind me.
“They have them hidden somewhere?”
“No. Usually they take them off a laundry line. Some of the clever ones can get into houses without being noticed.”
I glanced at my bed. “You mean these things are stolen?”
“How else would we get them? We have nothing to trade.”
“Only Winifred has a job?” I asked.
Mary stared at me for several long moments.
“She says there are a few others. But not many. Mostly, the men only resort to jobs when they want something they can’t steal.”
“She says?” I asked. Then I realized she meant Winifred. “You’re talking to her now? How?”
“In my head. Elders like Winifred connect us all. They help us communicate with each other. That’s how the families know to meet here for an Introduction and how the unMated males know when to show up.” Mary looked outside at the remaining wolves while I tried to wrap my head around what she’d said. Winifred’s abilities were impressive.
I followed Mary’s gaze and found the remaining wolves watching us. My pulse jumped a little; their scrutiny unnerving me.
I’d hoped to send one of them for supplies and to start cleaning. But to start cleaning, I’d need to leave this room. The idea of walking around out there...well, I was having a hard time picturing it without them running after me.
“Can I go out there?” I asked.
“Sure. Why?”
“I was thinking. If we took a bunch of that thick grass at the edge of the clearing and tied it into a tight bundle, we could use it as a broom and start cleaning this place out.”
However, my feet stayed where they were, safely inside. My hand drifted up and hovered over the marks on my neck. I closed the door, walked back to the bed, and sat down. Logically, I knew I could stop them from biting me. I’d felt their wills; they weren’t just wild animals I couldn’t control. But, that understanding didn’t overcome my fear.
“Are you okay?” Mary asked.
“No,” I said. The sound was more a hoarse rasp than a word. “I can still feel their teeth on me. Seeing all of them out there...”
She didn’t say anything. I stared at the dying coals until someone knocked on the door. We both turned toward the sound, but neither of us moved. It wasn’t fear that held me this time. It was surprise. They knew to knock? I looked at Mary. She looked at me and shrugged.
“Yes?” I called.
“We have the grass,” a rough voice said.
Mary walked to the door and opened it. Men, wearing pants, stood outside. Each held a bundle of grass. When the ones in front saw Mary, they shifted their positions in an attempt to see around her. Those behind them craned their necks, too. They wanted to see me. However, they didn’t try to enter. They just waited and watched, each holding a clump of long grass.
I forced myself to stand and went to the door. The first man held out his fistful of grass.