Miss Ramount came back a little past noon. She went into the kitchen and, thirty minutes later, called everyone to lunch. Before I went in she pulled me aside.

"Chaise I think you've helped out enough already, take the rest of the day to play with the other children. You won't be able to talk to them during lunch, because they eat with a single minded devotion. After lunch you should introduce yourself to the other children and get to know them better. Okay?"

"Yes Miss Ramount."

"You're a good child."

She was right about the way they eat. I don't think they'd notice if a predator came in and started eating them. I'm always aware of my surroundings. I have been since something tried to eat me while I was eating when I was three. It got away with my prey. Once everyone finished eating they started staring at me. Some of the smaller children hide behind other people. Well, Miss Ramount said to introduce myself so...

"Hi, I'm Chaise."

I twitch my ears and wave my tail a little to see if that helps. It does. They start crowding around me introducing themselves and asking questions. They are a mixture of different races: humans, elves, a dwarf, and beastmen. There is twenty three of them total. The younger children gently touch my tail, they're trying to do it without my noticing. Why are people always so fascinated with my ears and tail. One of the children touching me is a beastman, he has his own set so why does he want to pet me!? I try to answer the various question I'm being asked while moving my tail to dodge the hands reaching for it. Seriously the rabbit boy is the most persistent, no one likes getting their tail grabbed, he should know better!

"I lived with a wolf pack for the last five years now I... My mother is alive I just have to find her... I never knew my dad... Got lost... Yes, I can... I hunt... Please stop trying to pet my tail it freaks me out... I don't know you well enough that's why!...I agree cookies are delicious...two wolf pups, they're called Shiva and Asura...."

Apparently my tail and ears look softer than theirs so they want to touch it. It's very rude and intrusive to pet someone who isn't family, is what my mother told me and I very much agree with her.

"Hey, I think you're a liar. There's no way you lived with wolves they would eat you. I bet you can't actually use magic either. You're just trying to impress everyone. Tell the truth you liar!..."

Wow, the old man was right, an idiot that can't judge strength really did appear. I stare at him for a bit, he has spiky red hair and orange eyes and he's probably about my age just short. He gets embarrassed from my staring and starts yelling even louder. *pftt* This kid is hilarious. Ohh? He wants to fight me? He's even started charging at me. I side step him and bonk him on the head with my fist. I didn't hit him hard enough to injure him, not even hard enough to bruise, but it did hurt. He rolls around on the ground for awhile and then sits up with his legs crossed. He pouts angrily and holds a hand to his head where I hit him. Lavender starts scolding him for picking a fight.

Eventually we all go outside. We're going to play hide and seek, they explained to me how to play. Lavender was chosen to be it so she has to wait half a minute before she begins her search. I climb up onto the ledge over a window and just below the roof. The shadow of the roof makes it harder to see me from a distance and the ledge blocks the sight of anyone below me. I watch as one by one everyone is found and join in the search for others. *Hmhmhm* they can't find me~. Eventually they give up and say I win. I climb back down and stand proudly as they clamor about my hiding spot. Since I was the last to be found I'm now the seeker. As much as I like hiding, I'd rather be the predator than the prey. I move silently and swiftly, I can hear where everyone is hiding. I sneak up one the people hiding and put a hand on their mouth to keep them quiet. I tell them where the closest people are hiding and have them do the same thing I just did. It's really funny to see everyone's surprised faces whenever they're found, and their happy faces when they're told to sneak up on someone else. Every one is found quickly, and when it's down to one person hiding I gather up everyone else and lead them behind the last person. We all give a shout and they jump straight into the air. Everyone collapses into a fit of laughter, even the one we scared, who just happened to be that redhead from earlier. We start up a new round, this time I'm not allowed to climb up the house. Artemis brought it up and everyone else agreed. Oh well, that won't make it any easier to find me.

.....

It's dark out now and the little kids have fallen asleep on top of me. They wanted to hear about my hunting experiences and the wolves I lived with. I miss them, but it hasn't been half a year so I can't visit them. I miss my mother too. It's very warm with these kids sleeping next to me, it's similar to the wolf pack. The warmth is *yawn* making me sleepy... Miss Ramount comes and gently shakes me. The old man is here to pick me up. As I leave I see her and the older kids picking up the younger children and carrying them up stairs. There are two adults, a man and a woman, who I didn't see early, helping carry them. I walk with the old man and carry the puppies. The old man brought them with him. I rub my face against theirs and they lick me. Once we get back to the house the old man says goodnight and goes to his room, not the one uses for sleeping, it's his research room. I go up stairs and collapse in bed with the wolves next to me. They have their own pillows for sleeping now, but they are still too small so they sleep with me instead. Once my head hits my pillow I fall asleep instantly...