Chapter 18: Chapter 17

Chris sprinted through the forest on four legs, it was much faster progress as a wolf. He knew from his tour where the guards patrolled the border to unclaimed territory and easily slipped through undetected.

He kept running as he worked out where was best to go. Human territory was dangerous… but so were wolves not under the Kingdom. ’Mate could help.’ Chris shook his head, he couldn’t think that way. With a deep breath, he veered a sharp left, passing through the protective barrier.

Knowing he was in human land, he quickly transformed, throwing on clothes and running his hand through his hair. He had no idea what to expect.

The land looked much like he knew, he was in the middle of a field that looked full of wheat. Pushing his way through, he wondered where he could go. Going to human land wasn’t ever an option, he peered back, it just looked like more field, the only indication of the barrier was a slight ripple. ‘Mate.’ Chris frowned at his wolf, there was something missing in his chest… and that was it… he didn’t feel as incessant, there was a barrier to the bond, a distance that helped.

Shoving the backpack back on his back, he could see a large expanse of buildings on the horizon…

He guessed that’s where he was headed.

It was slower going on two legs instead of four, but within a few hours, he reached the loud streets. They were much louder than anywhere he’d been before. Cars beeped, people seemed to shout at each other. He looked around with wide eyes. It was night, he felt it should have been silent.

He marvelled at the bright lights that basked nearly every building in daylight. The moon was shining above but the rest of the sky was black. There were no stars which was plain bizarre to him. There were always stars. Did humans not have stars?

Making his way through the apparent maze of never-ending streets, he was growing hungry. Would eateries be open this late? He looked around seeing a window with big bright pictures of food. Jackpot. He pushed open the door to see a bright red counter and a few people eating at small tables. The smell of sweet and sour food drove straight up his nostrils. It wasn’t a smell he was used to, but it had him salivating all the same. He looked at a menu which luckily had pictures as he’d never heard of any of the dishes.

“Ready to order?” a stout, dark-haired woman with an accent asked.

“Spare ribs?” He had no idea what was spare about them, but they were meat so he guessed he’d recognise the taste.

“That’s six pounds.”

He blinked. Pounds? What were pounds? Weight?

“Sorry?”

“Six quid, love.”

Quid? What was quid?

Money?

“You foreign?”

“Err… yeah?”

“Cash? Money?”

He blinked completely dumbfounded.

“It’s alright, cutie, I got it.” A male that came up to his shoulder brushed past him, placing some paper on the counter. Gold coins went back to the male. Oh! Gold, well… it wasn’t something they exchanged for food… but… it made a little more sense to him.

…Wait… they did that in films sometimes.

A few minutes later, a box was placed on the counter. Chris stared at it, again a little confused. The male that had passed the paper over the counter picked it up and went past Chris again, “Come on, you can join me.”

He nodded and slid into a plastic seat when the male gestured to it.

“I’m Stephan.”

“Chris,” he replied as Stephan slid the box towards him. He frowned but opened it, displaying brown meat on the bone. “Thanks for-” He gestured to the food before taking a bite. It was strongly flavoured, so much so he struggled to identify the animal that died for his meal.

“Not from around here?”

“You could say that,” Chris replied after he’d swallowed.

“What brings you here?”

“Just…” Chris looked around, trying to think of a reason that would seem normal for a human. “Parents don’t accept me.” He’d heard the phrase in a film and it made as much sense to the situation he could think.

“Gay?”

“Gay?” Chris asked

“Yeah, fancy men.”

Chris frowned deeply, sitting back in his chair almost defensively.

“Dude, it’s cool, you came to the right place, gay pride’s tomorrow.”

“Gay pride?”

“Do TVs not exist where you come from?” the male, Stephan, chuckled.

“Well… yeah.”

“Nevermind, cool contacts by the way, you’re completely in with the crowd.”

“Thanks,” Chris muttered, not really having a clue what the blonde before him was talking about. He demolished one rib before diving into another, as he ate he pushed the box towards Stephan, after all, he’d got them for him.

“Oh, it’s cool, I don’t eat meat.”

Chris stared at him as if he’d just sprouted another head. ’Doesn’t eat meat? What does he eat? No wonder there’s no muscle on him.’

Chris rolled his eyes at his wolf’s musings before tucking in.

“I’m not vegan or anything.”

Another frown crossed Chris’ face, if he didn’t stop his face would set in a frown of sheer confusion. He straightened, realising he was appearing rude.“Sorry, we… where I come from… you eat what you get.”

“Ah, I get it. I suppose when there’s loads of choice you… well… get to choose.”

“I suppose. Thank you for helping me.”

“Hey, no problem, you looked lost. Have you just got into town?”

Chris nodded.

“Got somewhere to stay tonight?”

He shook his head as he picked up another rib.

“Cool, I’m off to the club tonight, you can join me. That will be an experience. Then I’ll let you kip on my couch.

“Thank you.” He bowed his head in gratitude.

“Eat up, you’ll love the club.”