Page 26 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
He blushed and mumbled, “It’s kind of girly.”
Melissa shifted her hands so they supported his. “You bringstrength to the name your sire chose by taking pride in it.”
Torloo smiled shyly, revealing two dimples, and bent to kissher forehead. “May I know your name?”
“Melissa Armstrong, newest employee of Founders. Rooksuggested I make myself available to True if she needs tending.”
“That would be good.” He turned to the black she-wolf. “Youknow it would calm you.”
True pointedly shut her eyes.
“Maybe you could start with my brother’s Kith,” Torloosuggested. “They are trail-weary.”
A matched pair of dark brown wolves lifted their heads, earspricked, tails swaying. Melissa had to smile, for they showed no sign ofweariness.
Torloo crooked his fingers. “Risk and Dare are my brother’scompanions.” His chin lifted proudly. “I have been traveling with Naroo-soh,and he asked me to watch over them.”
Melissa knewthatname. Naroo-soh Elderbough wasAdoona’s firstborn and leader of the Elderbough trackers.
“Brother said it was for their safety, but I think it wasprobably for mine.” The tip of Torloo’s tail tucked. “He thinks me too youngfor this trail.”
“He doesn’t want you to see the crime scene?” she guessed.
Torloo sighed. “Brother is cautious, and for good reason. Ihave much to learn before I can be useful to him.”
“You could be useful to me.” In Melissa’s experience, Amaranthineof the same clan always seemed especially perceptive when it came to the likesand dislikes of their Kith. “Will you help me understand what True wants?”
The young wolf hesitated. “What did Rook tell you abouther?”
“He implied that it might take some time for her to acceptme.” She addressed herself directly to the she-wolf. “But he did think we couldget along.”
Torloo hummed. It wasn’t a very encouraging hum.
Melissa sighed. “Can I do anything to make you morecomfortable, True? Other than leaving?”
“What if that is all she wants?”
“I would bow to True’s wishes, of course. But I think Rookwould be disappointed in both of us. And I can’t help wanting to please him.”
True growled deep in her chest.
“Why?” asked Torloo. “Why are you courting Rook’s favor?”
Melissa opted for honesty. “Because I miss my mothers.”
Torloo’s brows drew down in obvious confusion, but Truegrumbled and lumbered to her feet. She was leggy and large for a Kith, hermuzzle higher than Melissa could reach on tiptoe. Suddenly, that muzzle was allshe could see. But True was no longer growling.
A nudge. A snuffle. A sneeze.
Torloo asked, “Your lineage, please?”
Melissa held her ground. “My biological father’s name isChristopher Armstrong.”
True swung around and pawed at a stack of hay bales—pale greenand smelling like summertime.
“More bedding, I think,” said Torloo.
“I’ll help,” Melissa quickly offered.
