Arrow Inferno
Chapter 31: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Danger and charm… Friends meet!

***

"Aw come on, humour me." Gaia had laughed. "Let's just say you don't have any choice but to pick one." "Hmmm...the vampires are the dead ones right?"

Gaia rolled her eyes. "Just choose."

"And these werewolves...are those supposed to look like wolves or huge hairy motherfuckers?"

Gaia had dissolved into laughter at his question. "Oh my god, don't you watch any movies?"

"Of a truth, I don't get much time for movies. And even when I do, I wouldn't waste my time on that shit."

"The werewolves are wolves."

"Then I'd rather be a werewolf. After all, I love wolves. Besides, who wants to be a walking corpse."

"Typical," Gaia muttered. "You said if you meet one, you'd interrogate them. "What would you want to ask say...a vampire if you came across one?" "Hmmm... I'll probably ask to see their teeth..."

"Fangs." Gaia had corrected automatically.

"Yeah, whatever. Then I'll probably ask them how many humans they've drained."

"And then?"

"And then I'll kill the fucker if it tells me it's killed even one human being."

"You're supposed to be asking them about themselves not murdering their asses, Will."

"Gotta kill it first before it decides to jump me," he'd grinned. "A wolf on the other hand won't even be able to speak."

"They have their human forms too you know," Gaia had chuckled.

"Oh, right I forgot." Then he'd decided to spill. "I have a pet wolf."

"You do?" Gaia's eyes had widened in surprise. And from Will's excited grin, he'd enjoyed seeing how shocked Gaia had been. "Yep. That's why I go for a run every day. I spend some time with it in the jungle."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"The wolf or the jungle?"

"Both."

"I always have my gun on me. Well, except this one time that I forgot to take it and came face to face with a wild boar." "Shut up!"

Will had laughed at how terrified Gaia looked. Women!

"I'm serious. I couldn't believe that ugly pig was about to..." Just remembering made him groan. A groan that had ended in a grin when he pictured his wolf attacking the boar. "But my pet saved the day." "You mean the wolf."

"Yep. It's the best Gaia. Sweet, thoughtful, and too intelligent for an animal." He'd told Gaia a lot about the wolf then. And just talking about it had gotten Will so pumped he found himself inviting Gaia to meet the wolf. "You should meet it. Would you want to?"

"Has Stan met it?"

"That man is a wuss." He'd drawled. "I wanted them to meet but he was too chicken to."

"Is that so?" Will had laughed at Gaia's smirk. "Well, I'm no chicken. When can I meet him...it?" She corrected herself, making him laugh.

"How about tomorrow?"

"It's a date."

**

So there they were, sitting under a tree waiting for Will's wolf to show up.

"Are you sure your wolf is going to show up?" Gaia asked dryly, sounding almost bored. "I have a feeling the twat is deliberately not showing up." "Don't call it that." Will admonished. "It will come."

"Maybe we should have gone to the cave you told me about."

"That's like his home," Will mumbled almost shyly. "I don't want to just barge into his home with a stranger. I don't want to offend it."

"You treat it as though it is human," Gaia commented softly.

"I don't know but to me, it feels more than a mere animal," He groaned. "I know that sounds crazy but..."

"It doesn't."

"I don't know how to explain it. Maybe it's because I talk to it about everything. I see it more as a friend than a pet. Anyway, it will show up."

"Maybe it needs to sense danger before it shows himself."

"Or maybe it's just shy. Probably never seen a beautiful woman before." Will grinned.

"Aw, thanks. But you, my dear, are absolutely gorgeous." She said and then with mischievous deliberate slowness, leaned towards Will...with the intention of kissing his cheek of course. And that's when they heard the growl. "As I said, danger," Gaia whispered, rolling her eyes in amusement but Will was so focused on the wolf he didn't even hear her.

"Hey, come closer." Will got on his knees and beckoned the wolf. "We won't bite." He chuckled.

"Speak for yourself." Gaia drawled, watching Stan's wolf come towards them slowly. She'd met the wolf about five times so they weren't strangers. But of course, Will didn't know that. "Hey, Woofy." She greeted softly, using the name she affectionately called the wolf.

"Remember not to look it in the eye." Will instructed, "And don't touch it. I want it to feel comfortable with you before you attempt that."

"And that's after you've held my hand to his nose, bla bla bla... Got it."

Will turned to look at Gaia. "You're taking this surprisingly well. I'm impressed. Stan should have been here to see this. That wimp!" The wolf, who was standing before them let out another growl at Will's words, drawing laughter from Gaia. "Well, you did say not to let it see me terrified. So I'm only doing what you told me but trust me, I'm terrified, honey."

"Don't be. It won't harm you if you follow my lead."

The wolf stared at Gaia as Will stroked it gently. 'Why did she come again?'

'Be nice. Will clearly wanted her here.' Stan chuckled inside it.

'Does she understand that if she hurts a hair on his head, we'll end her and her entire family?'

Stan chuckled. 'Even Enzo?'

'Except him. Sylver will work that arse as payback.' The seriousness with which it said that made Stan laugh.

'You're so full of shit. She won't harm him, don't worry.'

'Good. I've missed going for runs with her.' The wolf tilted its head, still looking at Gaia. She tilted her head too and gave the beast a broad smile which Will didn't notice. Gaia had refused to go on runs with Stan because she wanted to give the wolf space to spend time with Will on their runs. 'I have missed her.'

"This is my friend Gaia." Will was saying. "I told you about her, remember? She wanted to meet you. See? I told you she's a beauty," he chuckled. "Give me your hand." His gaze stayed on the wolf as he addressed Gaia.

'Err...he knows I'm not a dog, right?' The wolf muttered, making Stan laugh. 'You seriously need to tell him about me. I'm getting tired of all this.' But it remained still as Will brought Gaia's hand to his muzzle. 'Smells like perfume on rot.' The wolf snorted, making Stan laugh even harder.

"Will you two cut out the dissing..." Gaia sighed, guessing correctly that Stan and his wolf were probably throwing shade at her that very moment. It was obvious from the way the wolf abruptly turned its head away. Stan always teased her that his wolf says she smelt like death so she could guess...and correctly too, what that wolf was saying that very moment.