The school week passed in a blur. Next Wednesday was Naomi’s birthday. I woke up on Wednesday morning to my alarm. I felt a little bad for Naomi; her birthday was on a school day. But I knew that she would like that. She loved school. After getting dressed, I went outside. Naomi was just coming outside. I smiled at her. “Happy birthday!” She smiled back. “Thanks, Wolf.” Calli came out a second later. “Happy birthday, Naomi!” “Thanks.” We walked down to the twin’s dorm. Harlow was dragging her brother outside. “Happy birthday,” Harlow said to Naomi, then turned her attention to her brother. “Do you want to be late for school, Brazen?” “No, just let me grab my journal!” Harlow let him go, and he ran back inside and out to us again. “Happy birthday, Naomi.” “Thanks. Let’s get to breakfast.” The twins were in the back this time. Calli and Naomi were talking in the front, while I was in the middle behind Naomi. I kept reminding myself to not bring up the dream now. I didn’t want to ruin Naomi’s birthday. After breakfast, we went about the school day as normal. Naomi didn’t get any special perks for having her special day today, but every teacher wished her a happy birthday. After classes, the five of us went down to the woods. We ran into Shadow and Ren, who were talking quietly in the corner of the clearing. Shadow looked up. “Oh. Hey, guys.” “Hi,” I said. Ren seemed to be holding a small stack of papers. He looked up and nodded at us in acknowledgement, then returned his gaze to the papers again. Shadow snapped, remembering something. “Happy birthday, Naomi. Harlow told me a few days ago,” she added for clarification. Naomi hesitated, then smiled. “Thanks, Shadow.” Since Ren and Shadow were here, we hung out with them for a bit. Shadow and Naomi were talking by a Wolf Fruit tree, which surprised me, since they had hated each other. Brazen, his sister, and Calli raced each other in the trees. Ren stayed where he had been, just sat under the tree. I walked over to him. Ren looked up. “Hello.” “What are you reading?” I asked, sitting down a few feet away. “Letters,” he said, being as vague as possible. “Keeping everything a secret isn’t going to help in the long run, Ren. Believe me, I should know.” He picked at a blade of grass. “I know. But if you know about that, you know that it isn’t an easy habit to break.” I nodded. “Also true. But you can try to break it.” “Letters from a family member. That better?” I sighed. “Good enough.” He smirked slightly. “Remember that feeling when you’re keeping secrets from someone else. Like that dream you had a few days ago.” “How the heck do you know about that?” I asked, more surprised than angry. “Because I had the same one. Slightly different, but the same idea.” “So then how did you know that I had it?” “Because the shadowy shroud told me.” “Not creepy at all.” He laughed. A small one, but it was a laugh. “I’ll give you a warning, but I don’t know how to help. Whatever happens with this, just remember who you are. Remember your identity and you’ll be able to hold on.” I nodded. “You sound like you’ve tested this theory.” He met my eyes. “I have.” He looked down. “It was the only way I made it through the monster.” And on that pleasant note, Ren and Shadow had to get home. The five of us left to go back to dinner as well. “What did you two talk about?” Naomi asked me as we went back to our dorms after dinner. “His monster.” Not the whole truth, but some of it. I really should have told Naomi about the dream then. But I didn’t, and that cost me a lot. Naomi nodded. “You don’t have to hide things from me, Wolf.” “I know. But I’m keeping it hidden for a good reason.” Naomi sighed. “You don’t have to be so secretive.” I met her eyes. “I’m secretive when I have to be.” The five of us went into our dorms and went to sleep. I couldn’t get to sleep instantly, though. I kept thinking back to Ren’s words, and wondering what he knew that I didn’t.
Notes/Credits: So, I am writing a story. It's called The Wolf Boy, and it's about a werewolf. This is Chapter 41. New chapters will come out whenever I add something new. You guys are all up to date! Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534060010/ Chapter 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534063855/ Chapter 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/524407102/ Chapter 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/535116523/ Chapter 5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/539191166/ Chapter 6: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/541091515/ Chapter 7: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/542478639/ Chapter 8: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/543943477/ Chapter 9: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/545518981/ Chapter 10: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/547310742/ Chapter 11: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/547908874/ Chapter 12: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548716751 Chapter 13: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720777/ Chapter 14: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720823/ Chapter 15: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720878/ Chapter 16: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720909/ Chapter 17: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720955/ Chapter 18: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720993/ Chapter 19: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721015/ Chapter 20: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721051/ Chapter 21:https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721077/ Chapter 21.5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721102/ Chapter 22: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721149/ Chapter 23: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721182/ Chapter 24: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/555107764/ Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/559056137/ Chapter 26: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/559059376/ Chapter 27: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/562161495/ Chapter 28: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/580981293/ Chapter 29: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/580981445/ Pt. 1 Chpt 30: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/590179892/ Pt. 2 Chpt 30: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/590181274 Chapter 31: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592461067/ Chapter 32: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592825702/ Chapter 33: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592826345/ Chapter 34: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/601750650/ Chapter 35: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/613171541/ Chapter 36: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/618235455/ Chapter 37: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/625746500/ Chapter 38: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/626070189/ Chapter 39: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/627201519/ Chapter 40: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/627803183/ Credits: Me, for writing it. @aqua_di_angelo for being the first reader & giving feedback. J.K. Rowling, The Princess Bride, Eoin Colfer, & Shannon Messenger for some inspiration. QOTC: Who do you think Ren got the letters from?
