“It’s okay, boy–we’re getting you out. You’re coming home with me, just like I promised,” Kiera reassured him.
Dr. A’flerzz’s long, insectile fingers hesitated above the lock.
“You are absolutely zertain about thizz?” they asked, their compound eyes staring uncertainly at Kiera.
“One hundred percent,” she said firmly. Now that she’d had a little while to think things over, she wanted the huge wolf more than ever.
“Very well, then he izz yourzz,” the alien scientist buzzed.
They opened the cage and the wolf came bounding out. He jumped into Kiera’s arms, putting his huge paws on her shoulders and licking her face with a long, taffy—pink tongue.
“Okay, all right!” she said, laughing. He was much taller than her on his hind legs–he actually had to lean down to lick her.
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Iyanna asked, looking on anxiously. “He really is enormous, Kiera!”
“He’s just excited–he’ll calm down in a minute.”
Kiera stroked the fluffy ruff and then took the wolf’s head in her hands. She stared into those strangely human—looking, golden eyes and spoke directly to him.
“Quiet down now, boy. I know you’re excited to be going home with me, but you have to behave if you want to come in the shuttle.”
At once the huge wolf stopped licking and wiggling. He dropped to all fours and pressed his big, furry body against her side.
Though he was obviously trying to control his emotions, Kiera could still feel his entire shaggy body trembling as he pressed against her. Oh yes, he was extremely excited to be going home with her, but he was clearly doing his best to behave.
“What a good boy you are,” she praised him softly, stroking his silky fur. “What a good, good boy.”
Iyanna stared at her, a look of wonder on her face.
“I just don’t get how you do that. He really seems to understand everything you say!”
“Of course he understands—he’s a very smart boy.” Kiera smiled.
To be honest, she had to admit to a bit of surprise herself–she had always had a way with animals, but she had to admit, the wolf obeyed her better than any other creature she’d ever worked with. He really did seem to comprehend the meaning of her words.
But she told herself he was just really intelligent. After all, even if he did mostly look like a wolf from Earth, he clearly wasn’t. Maybe his species was semi—sentient or something. She would find out more about him once she got him home to her animal sanctuary.
Though Iyanna was clearly nervous about riding home with an enormous alien wolf in the shuttle with them, Kiera’s new pet was completely docile during the trip. He settled down between the pilot’s seat and the passenger seat and put his head on his paws. He didn’t even cause a fuss when the Monstrum Mother Ship folded space for them.
While she was unloading the schoonies, who gave him nervous side—long looks as they scrambled from the back of the shuttle into their new breeding pen, he stayed right by Kiera’s side and didn’t even move a muscle–though his long nose twitched as he scented the air of the wide, open plains the sanctuary was located on.
“Good boy,” she murmured, ruffling his fur. “I know they’re interesting, but they’re not prey–nothing here is prey.”
He chuffed once, as though he understood and she scratched behind his ears, which made his eyes turn into slits of ecstasy.
Once the schoonies were safely stored, Kiera gave Iyanna a tight hug.
“Take care of yourself.” Her friend looked at her anxiously. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
Kiera laughed and squeezed her friend.
“You always get so worried about me–I’m fine.”
“But you’re all alone,” Iyanna pointed out.
Kiera shrugged.
“I have the work—bots.”
