Steven woke in his own bed at his farm; it had been a day since Azkaban. Now he felt the soft cotton sheets against him and smiled except for the odd cluck of chickens everything was quiet. Slipping from the bed he sat for a moment his feel on the wooden boards although old he had cleaned them up and polished them so now they looked as good as new and felt as if varnished against his feet as he moved to the bathroom , brass taps sat on white ceramic of the sink , turning it fresh warm water flowed into the sink as he washed away the sleep of that night he knew he had to get to Brian’s farm for his duty sift and so was quick in dressing in a clean light blue shirt and black jeans along with his usual black boots and hat.
Moving to the kitchen he set the kettle boiling and then started on his breakfast, bacon, egg toast and beans with a hot cup of black French roast coffee. Moving to a chair he sat down to eat loving each mouth full he felt himself become more awake. Soon all the food was gone and he took that first wonderful sip of the coffee sighing as he felt it cool and slid down his throat. A soft scratching from the door made him stand up on opening it she saw the she wolf sat waiting "what’s up?" he asked her, she just tipped her head at him "you were still sleeping I thought something was wrong" she said chuckling "No humans need at lest eight hours of sleep " he said now sitting out on his porch. She moved to sit next to him " and now your done sleeping, you hunt? " she asked again he chuckled "no we have food already caught for us, come" he stood up and lead her threw to the kitchen opening his freezer to show her "ah" she said and moved back out to the porch. Steven took out a stake he had been given from the barbeque and thawed it out placing it on a plate he walked out and placed it in front of her "here breakfast" he said she quickly ate "mumm, you humans do have tasty food " he smiled "well you did a good job guarding my home only fare I pay you in some way, so you earned it , kinda like hunting with out the effort " he said taking a sip of his coffee as he sat down.
He looked down at her as she lay next to him "why have you staid surly you have your own den some where? " he asked her. She looked up at him " no was taken by humans, you don't like my company?" she asked Steven smiled "Ow yes I do its just strange for a wolf to want to stay with a human ” he said she chuckled now” I stay because I want to, because I like it here " she said. Steven looked down at her "ok then you have to help me , not just around the farm , my friend has been having problems with hunters, if you help I will make you a part of what I am making it impossible for any human to hurt you or your kind" he waited for her decision.
The she wolf thought for a while she remembered how he had taken care of her while she was hurt, and the others around him, she still smelt the steak he had give her "ok but I will not wear a collar " she said Steven smiled "no but you have to wear something that says your a part of our group". moving his hand he made a brass chain collar appear on it sat a medallion similar to one he wore and held it out to her " Will you wear this , its light and it won't get caught" moving forward she cautiously sniffed it she saw the medallion and sniffed it then moved to his she smelt his scent and smiled as she liked it "yes I will " she lowered her head for him to placed it on her.
Steven finished his coffee and then walked back into the house with the she wolf following she moved around the hose finally settling on a large cushion that was placed in a corner "I claim this ” she said lying down. Steven smiled "that’s fine with me it was just left over from the renovations " he said smiling as he washed his plate and cup dried them and put them away. He moved to the door "I have to go out again you coming I can introduce you to some other people" he said waiting at the man doors. She quickly moved to his side following him out.
Once out on the grass he bent down and held the collar lightly aperating to Brian’s farm, "this is where the poachers are seeming to be gathering " he said watching as he looked around "leave that to me, I passed this place " she said but followed him as he went inside she just sat waiting at the door.
Steven walked in to the smell of coffee and breakfast he saw Jack and Jessica with there twins all eating and smiled as he saw Robert with Abby "good morning all, I'd like to introduce you all to some one" he motioned for the she wolf to follow she moved inside and sat next to him "this is Cara , I hope you don't mind she's our newest member and is going to cure your poacher problem" he said with a smile Cara bowed her head looking at the young ones "cubs you didn't tell me there were cubs here " she said "this makes it more important I protect " . she could not help but feel this was right for her . She had her freedom as he never once asked her to do anything she did it because she liked this human.
((Word count : 1031))
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