Chapter 6

Richie took a timid step towards Jon, his fear radiating outward. He had to get Jon to safety somehow or another. Inch by agonizing inch he moved towards the prone man whose chest was full of wolf. “Ehh buddy, um bro, I know that wolf looks all friendly, but them’s some sharp teeth it seems to have.” He went to kneel close to Jon only to backup a foot or two when the wolf’s head raised and a very unhappy snarl seemed to plaster itself over the wolf’s mouth. “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit Bro it’s gonna eat me.”

Jon laughed softly, his head turning to watch Richie back up faster than the speed of light. “She’s a sweetie Rich, She’s not gonna eat you she’s smiling at you.”

Richie’s brow arched up into his hairline. “Yeah and I’m Ronald Regan.”

The wolf huffed softly and pounced off of Jon her golden eyes centered on the tall dark guitarist. Richie’s eyes grew round as saucers as his brain raced to come up with an idea. He knew if he ran or showed fear it would be like painting a neon sign for the wolf to come and get him. Freezing in place he risked a glance at Jon only to see his friend lying on his side in the sand a loopy grin on his face. “Well just lay there you fucker, I mean it’s not like this wolf wants ME for its lunch.” Before he could say another word the wolf pounced, Richie screamed and Jon roared with laughter. Richie threw his arms up over his face, praying it would be over quickly and continued to pray until he realized that he wasn’t being chewed on, matter of fact it tickled. Slowly he cracked one eye open before slowly moving his hands away from his face; he started to laugh as a very cold nose pressed itself to his neck and a rough tongue bathed his check gently.

He snorted softly then started to laugh as the wolf hopped off of him and trotted back to Jon who had started to stand. “I told ya she was friendly Bro.”

Richie shook his head as he stood and dusted the sand from his clothing. “Only you would come out to the desert and find a friendly wolf, but we need to be getting back or the guys are going to send out the calvary.”

Without any further words the two men started their walk back to the video shoot with Jon’s new found companion. “So what’s the story about this little wolf Jon?”

Jon explained briefly how he had ran out of gas and ending up nearly freezing in the desert night only to be saved by the wolf, that ended up being the semi-tame pet of a blonde goddess named Dusty. When he got to the part about meeting Dusty his face darkened slightly as he talked of how she left and why. What he didn’t explain to Richie was the faded memory of the wolf and girl becoming one; mainly because he had shrugged that off as something that never really happened. “So you see Rich, the wolf was my companion, and I grew kinda close to her. I always wondered if she had survived and was ok and it was just joy to find her alive and well.”

As they sauntered up to the vid shoot David and Tico came rushing out of a small trailer only to skid to a halt when they saw what was walking with Jon and Rich.

“Is that a” Tico started only to be finished by David “Wolf?”

Richie nodded with a grin. “Yep it’s a wolf, Seems we have fans of the four legged variety as well boys. Well HE does anyhows,” he finished as he nodded towards Jon.

David blinked rapidly a bit unsure about having a wolf there, that although it seemed content to just sit there beside his buddy, was still a wild animal after all was said and done. “Ummm, you sure it’s not just planning on eating us?”

Richie laughed, “Wells SHE, yep it’s a she don’t it figure, seemed to be more into nosing and sniffing and licking than eating.”

One pointy ear flicked forward as the wolf seemed to grin at David. Next thing he knew he had an arm full of wolf standing up paws on his chest. Her nose had buried itself in his curly hair and she was sniffing him as if to imprint him to her memory. “Uh Jon, can ya like call off the teeth there Bro? I know she won’t well I HOPE she won’t nibble, but man, can ya please make her stop?” Before he could even finish the wolf had left him and was already giving Tico the exact same treatment. With an obvious sigh of relief David muttered, “never mind.”

Tico chuckled in that gravelly voice of his and gently caressed the silvery fur. “Pretty girl, go back to lil Jonny now.” The wolf settled back down and padded back over to Jon and sat thumping her tail happily. “They wrapped up a bit ago Jon, its time we got back to town.” Tico finished off as he watched the golden eyed wolf. “Time to leave your little friend and go back to civilization.”

Jon sighed softly and knelt down next to the wolf. “It was real good to see ya wolfie. Damn I hate to just leave but I have to ya know? Wish you could talk, you could tell Dusty I woulda loved seeing her too.” He ruffled the wolf’s ears softly and stood sadness haunting his eyes. Why hadn’t Dusty come along with the wolf? Was Dusty still even in this area? Something deep inside of him ached at the knowledge she may be lost to him forever. With a sigh he turned and made his way to the limo followed his three friends and one lone wolf.

She whined softly as they all entered the limo her body, instinct and need to not lose the man driving her forward. Before Tico could reach over and shut the door she had climbed into the limo and over the the body sitting next to Jon. Wedging herself in between his knees on the floorboard in front of him she lay her head on his knees, her golden eyes pleading to not be left behind.

He looked down at the wolf that was staring up at him pleadingly and grinned. With a shake of his head he glanced over at Tico. “Shut the door she’s not going anywhere.”

But Jon, isn’t she a wild animal? Isn’t there some law against taking in endangered species or something?” David looked at his friend with a cross between worry and humor.

Jon laughed softly. “You wanna get her outta the limo bub?”

David threw his hands up, his gesture oddly mimicked by every guy in the back. “Nope, not me, not today, I need my fingers to play.”

“Then I guess we now have a mascot, right girl?” Jon reached over and gently caressed the wolf’s head to the thumping beat of a tail that could rival Tico’s power on the drums.”

The guys could only stare in amazement at the relaxed look on Jon’s face, a look that had been absent for years and could only shake their heads at the idea that the man who claimed to have no special love for animals seemed to have such an affinity with this one.

As the limo sped back to down, Jon leaned his head back and smiled. If wolf was around Dusty would be close and just maybe, after all these years, he could get answers.