Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“What is it? An animal? Is it hurt?” He shook his head and I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew Daddy would help any animal in need, but I hated the thought of one being injured. “What is it?” I couldn’t see anything, as my eyesight wasn’t as keen as his.
“I’ll have to get closer. It definitely wasn’t there a few days ago. It’s yellow and kind of looks like…” He turned to give me a sad smile as realization hit him. “A tent.”
“My tent,” I surmised. I wasn’t sure exactly where I had placed it. I had wandered through the woods until I was too scared to walk any further, and that’s where I set up camp. I went looking for food, found the holly berries, and the rest was history.
We walked hand in hand until we reached the tent, looking just as I’d left it. I stood there staring at the yellow nylon, unsure what to say. The sight brought up a mix of emotions in my stomach; sadness and anger at my father for rejecting me, but also gratitude for finding Weldon.
“We should take it down,” Daddy finally suggested quietly. “If someone happens to find it, they may think a hiker is lost.” I nodded and watched as he disassembled the tent and stored it in the bag it came in. I offered to help, but Daddy politely declined. And honestly, it was also healing to see him do it; he was cleaning up the mess my father made in more ways than one.
“We’ll take this camping one day,” he promised, patting the carrying bag, “But it will just be for fun.” I nodded with a smile, imagining how fun that trip would be. “For now, I have another idea; would you like a ride home?”
I clapped my hands excitedly. “Yes, please!”
I assumed he meant a piggyback ride, or even a seat on his shoulders, but I realized that wasn’t quite what Daddy had in mind when he stripped off his shirt. I watched in lustful shock as it shucked the rest of his clothing and stuffed them inside his backpack.
When his body morphed and reshaped, I didn’t worry about the loud cracks coming from him this time, knowing they didn’t hurt him. I smiled when thick, brown fur sprouted all over him, and he stood before me completely shifted into his beautiful animal form. “There’s my Daddy Bear.”
He lowered his body to the ground to allow me to climb onto his back. My legs were spread wide across his large frame. To keep my balance, I gripped onto the fur on the back of his neck, making sure not to pull.
Daddy scooped up both the backpack and tent bag in his strong jaws and began the trek home. I not only saw his strength in what he carried, but I felt it in his body beneath me. His muscles bunched and flexed with effortless power. With him by my side, I had nothing to fear. He knew about the world, and would keep me safe from everything within it. I had a protector forever.
Chapter Nine
Weldon
The walk home through the forest was fantastic. Tatum pointed out pretty birds along the way, imitating their whistles. He also recounted what plants he could remember, making my chest swell with pride. He was like a cute, curious sponge, soaking up everything I had to teach him. I couldn’t wait to show him the world.
The best part of the return trip was that it seemed to cheer him up. I sensed that he was saddened when we encountered the tent, and surely the memories attached to it. But riding on my back did the trick, judging by his happy commentary.
Heavy footprints sounded as I climbed the stairs onto the porch. I stopped in front of the door, knowing I couldn’t open it while in animal form. Tatum slid off of my back, onto the wooden slats, and sank his fingers into my hair, giving my scalp a good scratch.
“Thank you for the ride, and for letting me help you with your work. I had a lot of fun. Oh, let me get this for you.”
He opened the door, but my broad shoulders wouldn’t fit through the frame. I dropped the bags from my mouth and shifted back into human form, the process feeling like an invigorating stretch.
“Thank you for helping me,” I countered. “You make a very good scientist.”
Tatum giggled and wrapped his arms around my waist in a tight hug. I hugged him back, assuming it would be a quick embrace, but I was thankfully proven wrong when his hands traced up and down my spine, and his cheek nuzzled into my chest.
“Daddy?”
“Hmm?”
“I…I’m saying the word.”
It took a moment for his meaning to hit, but once it did, the sweet and cuddly moment turned heated in an instant. I scooped him into my arms and barreled through the open door, kicking it shut behind us.