The TimberWolf Effect (Book I)

CHAPTER FIVE - The Night of Two Wolves

Halloween was fast approaching and Timber couldn't help but feel a certain level of excitement that put a smile on her face when she thought about it. All around the neighborhood, there were pumpkins on porches, crunchy autumn leaves on the ground to play in, plastic skeletons in front yards, and smoking chimneys. At home, they watched Halloween movies like 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' and 'Mickey's House of Villains' with the scent of Grace's pumpkin cinnamon candles wafting through the air all day.

Timber had never been trick or treating before and she was looking forward to it. Emily had been telling her all about the Halloween tradition for weeks so she had a broad idea of what to expect. There were no other houses close to where she lived with her parents and she didn't remember Heiligdom, though she was certain the children didn't trick or treat there.

Emily was as excited as Timber. She came home from school one afternoon a week before the big night announcing loudly that she wanted to dress up as Timber for Halloween and she wanted to make her mask. She darted to the bedroom and grabbed a sheet of white construction paper off her shelf of art supplies. She grabbed her box of crayons, and a small pair of pink scissors, and sat down at the coffee table staring eagerly at her cousin. Timber couldn't help but giggle. She Turned and sat still so Emily could try to copy her wolf face the best she could. The look of concentration on her face was remarkable to Timber because she didn't even focus that hard on her homework.

Timber looked down and saw her tracing an outline around her creation. She then began to cut her outline carefully. At the end of the coloring session, Emily held up her mask to show Timber. The coloration was accurate and she was white in the correct places, but aside from that, there was no resemblance. Timber didn't say that to Emily, who was so proud of her creation she was parading around the house with glee with her mask held high in the air. All Timber could do was smile.

The night before Halloween, Chad and Grace called the girls away from their coloring books and sat them down for a serious discussion. Timber was a little worried that she was in a lot of trouble. She wasn't sure what she did wrong, but the only time Elizabeth said she needed to talk to Timber seriously, she was in trouble. Timber sat down on the couch feeling nervous.

"What I'm going to say might be difficult to hear," said Chad. "With Timber here, things are a little tight as far as space is concerned. We think that -"

"Are you getting rid of me?" asked Timber suddenly as her body began to quiver. Did she take up too much room? Did she eat too much? What did she do?

"No, no, no, Honey," said Grace, soothingly. She grabbed Timber and hugged her tight. "We're not gettin' rid of you. Goodness, no. What we're tryin' to say is that we're movin' to a bigger place here in town."

Timber felt embarrassed with herself for bursting out and turned bright pink. She apologized and sneezed and then fell quiet.

"We make more than enough to buy a new house but we want to be out before Christmas," said Chad. "So next week, we're going to look at some houses after Emily gets home from school. You two are coming with us to help us pick a place."

"Can I have a pink bedroom?" asked Emily.

"Of course," said Grace. "Timber, you may also pick a color for your bedroom. You're each goin' to have your room. I know you like sharin' right now but that will change as Timber gets older. She's goin' to want privacy. Emily, you will too."

"You'll both be allowed to pick out new furniture and bedding. Emily, you're going to get a new bed. You've outgrown your toddler bed. You're getting a big girl bed. Timber, you will also be getting a real bed. You won't fit in your basket forever."

"Will this change be acceptable?" Grace asked Timber.

Timber, who had already moved from Heiligdom to a shack outside the city gates, then to Nebraska, and Fort Bragg, was understandably a little hesitant. She had just gotten comfortable here to the point where she could relax her senses and not be on high alert all the time. She knew this apartment complex. She knew the smells in every room. She knew the smell of the dirt turnabout and the feel of the tall, wild grass in the field. Moving would force her to adjust again. She wasn't sure she was ready. As she looked at her aunt and uncle though, she knew moving was going to happen whether she was ready or not.