Page 52 of The Wild Man

The pup’s fur is soft when I lay my hand on the top of his head. It jumps up so its front paws are on my legs, lifting its head to peer up at me. I scratch it between its ears, which it seems to like.

Two of the other pups come bounding over, nudging the one I’m touching out of their way, as if saying it’s their turn for some attention. I can’t help but laugh, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.

Wild Man squats down beside me, lifting his own hand for the pups to smell before petting them.

One of them stays back, sitting on its haunches between Vena’s legs. It looks smaller than the others and its coat is almost identical to Vena’s, except its black patch of fur is a line between its eyes. I hold my hand out toward it, but it doesn’t move closer. Vena looks down at the pup, and after a moment, drops her head and nudges her. It falls forward, and when it still doesn’t move toward me, Teeja walks over and gives it a nudge with his nose. As if reluctant, the pup takes slow steps toward me. My heart softens even more. I want to scoop the poor thing up and cuddle it against my chest.

It stops just within reach, as if scared to get too close. I keep my hand steady and let the pup touch its nose to the back of it. After what seems like minutes, it finally moves closer. I gently lay my hand on top of its head, right over the black patch of fur.

“Did you give Teeja and Vena their names?” I ask Wild Man. The pup loses its wariness and flops to its back. With a laugh, I begin scratching its belly.

“Yes.”

One of the pups starts attacking Teeja’s legs, letting out tiny growls.

“Can I name the pups?”

“If you like.”

Happiness swarms in my stomach.

“First I need to figure out who the males and females are.”

Wild Man pats the head of the pup closest to him. “This one male.” He points to the one trying to gnaw off Teeja’s back leg. “That one male.” He points to one who’s attacking his own tail. “And that one.”

I look down at the no-longer skittish one. “And this one?”

“Female.”

“So, three boys and one girl,” I comment and look down at the little female pup staring up at me with curious eyes from her back. “I believe I’ll call you Devika.”

“Devika?”

I glance up at Wild Man at the inquisitive note in his voice. “Yes. It means little goddess.”

The corners of his eyes crinkle and a small smile curves his lips. “Good name.”

For unknown reasons, his praise has pleasure coursing through me, and I can’t help but grin at him.

My attention is stolen when I hear a high-pitched yelp. The pup who was attacking Teeja is down on his stomach. His tail wags a mile a minute as he stares up at his father, who’s also on his stomach, staring back at him as if daring him to attack. I laugh when the pup suddenly bounces up and jumps on Teeja’s back. Teeja rolls, taking the pup with him until the pup is on his back with Teeja’s front paw on his stomach. He playfully nips the pup's ear.

“And his name is Drefan, which means trouble.”

Wild Man chuckles as we both watch the two playfully fight. “Good.”

I look at the gray pup who’s still chasing his tail. “He will be called Khelan.”

“Which means…?”

“Playful.”

“This one?” he asks, stroking the ears of the gray and black wolf pup who’s fallen asleep.

It takes me a moment to find the right name, but then it pops in my head. “Nemu. It means sleep.”

Vena trots over to me, and I run my fingers over the top of her head. Teeja watches, paying no attention to Drefan, who’s currently chewing on his father’s tail.

“Such a pretty girl,” I murmur softly to the female.