Zen’s Side: Queen of the Pack

Two days… two days in the village and Zentella was already bored. She understood it was apparently it was her fault that they are here, but why should that matter? They were meant to go and get the red shard and so she wanted to get it. She had wanted to retrieve it herself, but when she asked Cor where that direction lead the wolf girl informed her that she should ask a grown-up before going there. It was Cor’s parent’s fault that they overreacted.

“Hup…” She jumped out of the chair she was on and took her “homework” with her. Her Uncle kept making these stupid things saying she needed to know this stuff. She can already do math, why did she need to know how to write it?

Making her way around the house Zen saw the guild girl. They had her Uncle’s fancy shoes and were looking over them. Zen did admit that they seemed very interesting. She remembered one night where she tried them on. Despite the obvious size difference they were weird. Zentella then went up to her and tugged at her sleeve.

“Ah!” Sophia jumped and tried to hide the shoes. “Oh, Zen what is it?”

“Here.” Zen then gave her her homework. She was done and her Uncle was still training with Lupa. They both told her she could get rid of them when she was done.

“Oh,” Sophia said finally relaxing, “Ok, here. Do you want to go over them?”

“No.” She completed her assignments, why would she like to see them again?

Sophia let out a nervous chuckle, “Heheh, ok then. Well if you are done you can go. I’ll look over it.”

“Where to?” Zen ask as she had no idea what the guild girl meant.

“Uh… you know… wherever you want.”

Zen nodded before she decided to leave the house. She went to check on her Uncle who now spent all his time training. He would rest as soon as he was done and hardly talk to her. She understood. Her training back with her clan was taxing on her as well.

Lupa sensed her and turned and waved, “Hey Zen!” she nodded in acknowledgment, “He is going to be busy today! I’m going to push him into a waterfall!”

“At the bottom right?” Her Uncle asked as he was doing sit ups.

Ignoring his plea Lupa called out, “You can find Cor in the village! She could use the company!”

Zentella nodded again. That could be more fun than hanging around here.

“Make good choices!” Her Uncle called with a hint of fear in his voice. It was obvious he wanted to come, but he was stuck. At least that was what Zen thought of the situation. Looking up at a tree with a suitable branch for her waiting Zen began to climb and proceeded into the rest of the village hopping from branch to branch.

Cor was… interesting. Her Uncle had said to befriend the wolf girl cause she was alone. Apparently she did her job too well somehow. The little wolf pup had now idolized her (even despite her blunder with the money) and always wanted to play. Zentella didn’t find herself minding all that much. She wasn’t too loud and she always seemed to get Zentella’s intentions. Most would see Zen’s short responses as an act of enthusiasm, but it was just faster to say quick things than just dragging it out. Cor would get what she meant and not see her as pushing away. It was… nice.

She spotted Cor with her mother on a stroll. Zentella stopped in her tracks in the tree. She… shouldn’t interrupt. Her chest tighten seeing them together. While Zen hadn’t exactly spent all the time with her mother cause of her training, moments like this felt… important now that her parents are gone.

Zen’s heart raced faster when the two looked up at her and waved. She was so focused on speed that she forgot to hide. Seeing as her cover was blown she climbed down and went up to them.

“Zen-Zen!” Cor greeted.

“Hello Zentella. Did you come to play with Cor?” Cor’s mother asked with a smile.

Zen nodded. She liked Cor’s mom. She wasn’t angry like most of the other grown-ups when she came by.

“Ok you two have fun. Be back before sundown.”

“We will Mama!” Cor then ran to Zen and started pulling her. Zen followed and waved bye to Cor’s mom.

She had no idea where Cor was taking her, but she hoped it would be fun.

“Come on Zen-Zen! Everyone should be this way!”

Everyone? Who is she talking about? Zen’s everyone was back at Lupa’s house. Accepting her guide’s advice they traveled through the village. Again as she was crossing through the village she notices the other Demi-Humans weary glances. They still didn’t seem to trust her or her Uncle and were making sure to keep a watch on them.

Soon they reached Cor’s destination where there were a group of wolf children playing with a ball. They turned to see the two girls coming and waved.

“Cor!”

“You brought the red hair girl!”

“We can finally play!”

Zen looked at the group and then looked at Cor. “Play?” What was stopping them form playing if they were waiting for Cor?

“Yeah, they need me to play Forest Return.” Cor said proudly. Zen titled her head still not understanding, “Yeah, I can ask spirits to retrieve the ball for us.”

“Yeah watch!” The young boy then went to the edge of the clearing with a patch of trees. He took a look and threw the ball. It bounce off three trees. Then Cor clasped her hands together and soon the ball was then returned back to the boy. “See, we try to see who can hit the most trees before it falls.”

“Ok.” Zentella nodded understanding the rules of this apparent point based game.

“Wanna play?”

Zen nodded as she took the ball offered to her. She then scanned the play area and took note of the trees location. Taking a deep breath Zen then threw the ball. With just enough speed and angle the ball hit ten trees before dropping.

“Wow!”

“She’s strong!”

“I didn’t know you could hit that one!”

The wolf children all came and circle her praising her and asking questions. This closeness was a little much for Zentella… well at least she wasn’t bored anymore.