Chapter 13: Family...?

Kaida's pov.

It was such a nice start to the morning...Waking up to a feather on my faces, getting knocked out, waking up after five hours, then confessing to my crush... it's nice to have one nice day even I've had some shitty ones so far for the week.

I smiled at Raven and stood up to take a walk for a little bit, "I'll be right back." I said to her and she nodded at me. I sighed happily and walked off to a nearby pretty field, "Huh. This place isn't so bad after all." I shrugged and leaned on a tree behind me but then I saw some odd rustling not far from where I was standing. I squinted to see it a little better and placed my hand on top of my eyes to block out the sun from messing my vision up. I didn't know what it was until my vision cleared up. I saw a girl pointing a bow and arrow at me, I panicked and I saw her shoot at me or at least something close to where I was.

I ducked out of the way and covered my head, "YEAH NICE MORNING MY ASS!" I said in regret. I slowly got up and the girl was right there but facing the other way. I ducked back down quickly thinking she didn't see me at all. I breathed in and started to get myself up. The grass was the tall type so I wasn't that seen...or at least I thought I wasn't. I peeked and she was right there, "HEY! What're you doin' in my huntin' ground you Lil' rat?!" The girl said with an accent or something. I jumped and fell back, "WAH! I-I...My friends and I were just camping nearby here and surely this isn't all yours ma'am..." I said.

She snickered, "Nah I'm just kidding! Calm down now! Ya' okay there? Are ya' hurt? Sorry about the arrow, I was just hunting for the day." She apologized and helped me up with a hand. I got up and dusted myself off, "W-Well um...We're kind of in need of help right now." I explained what happened and she nodded, "Oh...Well, I'm so sorry about that friend. Oh yeah! I'm Flare by the way! Nice to meet you." Flare said and held her hand out for a shake. I smiled and shook her hand and nodded slightly, "I'm Kaida." I said with a smile at her.

Flare stretched, "So do y'all wanna come with me back to my village? Maybe y'all need some proper food, water, and some medical care cause you don't look that sharp." SHe said to me in worry. I nodded, "Y-Yeah, Thanks a lot! I'm okay. I can manage." I said. Flare tilted her head at me, "Ya' sure?" She asked just to be sure, "Yes, I'm sure." I said and walked to camp where the others were. I yawned, "Hey guys!" I said to get their attention but I didn't get the expected response since I was with someone unfamiliar to them...Eh, I did what I could to get help, proper food, shelter, and other things needed so.

Raven then stood up quick giving us a glare, "Kaida. Who the hell is that." She asked while her wings started to spread out. I panic and nervously laugh, "Hey hey, Calm down she's a friend. She'll be able to help us around here." I explained, She snarled and her eyes were locked on at Flare. She can pretty much attack at any time. I sighed, "Calm down. She can help us please." I tried to calm her down. She sighs and nodded standing down while Jason watches carefully with Ignatius.

Flare tilted her head, "Y'all don't look all good...I know! How about we make you something to eat and I'll hook you guys up with proper clothes and weapons for the road!" She offered. I smiled and nodded then looked at them, "Well?" I asked and they just nodded and got everything ready so we can walk over to her village. I sighed and went along to the others, following Flare to her place, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Raven whispered to me, "She seems nice so yeah?" I answered unsurely.

While we were walking, Flare stops, "Shh." She shushed us, "Do y'all hear that?" She asked and Raven flinched nodding slowly, "I do." Raven said, "How the hell-" I said confused. Raven held my mouth, "I'll explain. We're not alone." She said while her eyes were going everywhere. I then hear some rustling in a bush, "There." I pointed and Jason pulled his ax out, "Keep your eyes out, guys." He said. I nodded then suddenly.

A knife flies towards me out of nowhere.

I managed to catch it in time before it hits my face, "W-What the?!" I exclaimed, Flare then snatched the knife, "Oh I know this work. It's my dad, Everyone! No need to panic y'all!" She explained, "Are you sure." Raven said and stared at her. Flare nodded and sighed, "Daaad! We talked about this." She said with a groan, I looked confused and a man walked out of the bushes while rubbing the back of his head, "Y-Yeah...Sorry honey, You know I can't help it when my girl's out in the woods on her own..." He explained to her. Flare sighed again and shrugged then turned to us, "Welp, This is my dad. His name is Buck North." She introduced us. He gave us a nod and smiled, "Nice to meet y'all!" He greeted.

I gave him a nervous smiled and waved while the others were silently looking down. As we started to walk towards the village, People started to look at me weirdly as if they just saw an animal. I lowered my head and Raven wrapped her wings around me to hide me away from their judgemental eyes, "They don't know...It's okay, Kaida..." She reassured me. I sighed, "It's like I'm a monster to their eyes..." I whispered and overheard a comment, "Isn't that the Celosian wolf...?", "I heard she burn a group of men...", "She looks too young to be exiled like that..." They whispered and gossiped.

I sniff and wipe a tear away from my eye so my friends won't see how heavy the impacts of those words were. A few minutes passed, We got to her house, "So we're here y'all! Make yourselves at home! Are you hungry?" Flare asked us, "W-Well we could use some decent food..." I said shyly and she nodded, "Alrighty! I'll cook ya up something!" She offered and walked off to their kitchen. I sat down while the others looked around and Buck walked to me and said, "Hey uh, Sorry about the knife thing earlier. I was just being protective of my only kid y' know?" He explained.

I nodded and smiled for a second, "Y-Yeah it's okay." I said then he followed up with, "I just don't want to lose her like I lost my sister..." He said and sat next to me on the couch. I perked up and looked at him slowly, "Oh...I'm sorry about that." I said silently, "Thanks." He said, I nodded and sat up properly, "If you don't mind me asking. How did you lose her?" I asked him gently. Buck then looked down, "She and her husband were attacked...Her husband was a Moon Hound actually, basically a werewolf or something like that. I supported her every step of the way even if our parents didn't at the time then...She was gone...I heard the two had a child on the day she was killed but we never found a trace." He shared.

I perked up, "Wait. Tell me more if it's okay." I said as I wanted to know more. It sounded very similar to how my Uncle described what happened to my parents. Buck nodded, "Well, her husband had a brother who was supposed to be taking that day as his first day as the pack's alpha. But I guess plans didn't fall in. Her name was Alexandrea but we just call her Alex and her husband was Heath." He shared once more. I stood up, "W-What...was the brother's name." I said nervously, "Um, I think it was Elrick. I don't exactly know what happened to him or the baby." He said to me.

"Could it be?! Could they be my legit family?! Or maybe they have another family member named Elrick!" I panicked in my head.

I widened my eyes and sat back down, "W-What did they look like?" I asked him. Buck hummed while thinking and glances at me, "You seem uneasy-... Wait. Why are you asking these questions?" He asked. Flare then walked in, "Hey y'all! The food's gonna be ready in a little bit." She shared. I nodded slowly, "Do you have a picture of her?" I asked Buck. Buck nodded at me and walked off to get it.

I covered my mouth as my head was everywhere at that point, "C-Could it really be...?" I asked myself. He comes back while staring at the picture of Alex with her husband Heath, "Here." He handed the drawn picture to me. I widened my eyes once I saw it. Buck tilted his head, "Uh are you okay?" He asked, "T-They...They're my parents..." I whispered. Buck's jaw dropped, "W-What...?" He asked while backing up slowly. I looked up at him and we locked eye contact. Buck then broke down in tears, "Y-You...Have her eyes..." He balled.