Page 6 of Raw

I was like Papa and Fennec like Mama.

They were both confident, didn’t care about other’s opinions, and had friends who would accept them the way they were.

Papa and I were confident too, but we only showed that trait when we were on our own, deep in the forest.

Confidence was needed when you lived miles away from society, having to fight wild animals and live through snowstorms.

We did care about other’s opinions, but only if they were ones we could turn into something useful.

We didn’t need to be criticized by people who never lived in the wild before or knew what it’s like to do so, but the sad part was, most people didn’t know there was this thing called constructive criticism.

That was a helpful thing, but just like those girls making fun of me, people didn’t know better.

“Do you miss Papa?” I asked.

“Of course I miss him. And I miss Fennec too.”

“Then why don’t you come live with us for the summer? I know they miss you too, and you won’t leave town anyway.”

She laughed softly and shook her head. “You know I can’t live in a tent for that long,” she told me.

“We have the treehouse, Mama. It’s warm and cozy in there. Please…Papa and Fen would love to have you there,” I said, my voice full of hope.

She smiled at me now, her eyes showing me that she was thinking about it. “I can’t. It’s not my world out there, but I’d be happy to have Papa and Fennec come down here and spend some days with us.”

I had to respect her decisions, and she had to respect mine.

“Will you at least drive me up there?” I asked, seeing as we had already silently agreed on me leaving.

“It’s a six-hour drive,” she stated.

“Here you go,” Dianna said as she placed both our drinks on the table.

I smiled up at her and let go of Mama’s hand to take a sip. “Going on a trip?”

“Uh, sort of. Vespyr wants to go live with her father in Wiseman. I’m not sure I can drive twelve hours.”

“Oh, why don’t you ask Jason? He’s right there,” she said, pointing at a booth on the other side of the room. “Said he was picking up a few things and then heading back to Wiseman. I’m sure he’ll take you to your Dad.”

I looked at Jason, an older guy who’s lived in Wiseman his whole life. Papa got to know him when he chose to move to a cabin in Wiseman, and shortly after, he moved into the forest.

Although Papa’s camp wasn’t too far away from Wiseman and the few residents living in that small town, you easily could get lost finding your way to his home.

“Sounds like a good idea. I’ll go ask him later,” Mama said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

She wasn’t happy, but she knew she couldn’t change my mind.

“Don’t. I’ll go ask him,” I said.

Dianna left, and I got up from the table to walk over to Jason, whose Alaskan Malamute immediately sat up as she noticed me walking toward her.

“Hi, Sitka!” I got down on one knee and rubbed her thick fur, letting her sniff my face and finally recognize me as the girl she met a few times before.

She was a gentle giant, and Jason didn’t mind me touching his dog without asking.

“Hey, Vespyr. Didn’t see you come in here,” Jason said as I got back up and smiled at him, continuing to rub Sitka’s head.

“I’m right over there with Mama. Can I ask you a question?”

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