Later in the afternoon, I had my window cracked open. The only thing I could do is write everything down. I had stopped crying and sipped on water my mother brought from the well in town square. We lived near the town square, in fact it was right outside. It was very convenient since all the merchants always camped there with carts and outside market shops.

I liked hearing the sound of merchants calling ‘sold’ and bartering. It reminded me the days when tradesmen and dwarves would come through the main road bargaining with Alpha for resources. As my pencil scratched down some of the next events that were happening I heard a familiar voice that made me stop writing. It was a joyful laugh of a dwarf, it rumbled loudly and obnoxiously.

I only knew of one dwarf tradesmen who like bartering with humans since it was useful. His name was Gerome and was the dwarf with many connections. Many dwarves found humans argumentive and could never come to terms with them but Gerome knew how to play mankind well. You see Gerome told me dwarves don’t like compromising which was their biggest flaw. Compromising was an insult to them but humans selfishly lived for compromise so they could get at least part of what they wanted. Gerome was a very smart dwarf who learned the riches of compromising. It even got him out of trouble with other creatures at time too. He was very open minded and I loved him.

I got up from my desk and ran to my window. Oh could it be true? My Gerome, the fat little man come crossing through my town? I thought I would never see him again, but there he was, just entering town square. He was the same size as me with a long red beard and twinkling green eyes. He wore his brown sock like hat with his big pack full of goods. He was talking one of the other merchants who I didn’t recognize.

I felt my likes shake with excitement and I swung my door open for the first time, just to leave the house. Only Gerome could be able to do this. All the fear I had for the world left. I went down the stairs. I saw my mother surprised waiting for me, my father already left for work so it was just us in the house.

“Hannah?” She questioned. I ran past her saying nothing. The only thing I had said to her since being home was I loved her and missed her. “Hannah come back, where are you going?!” She said very concerned but almost relieved finally seeing me smile.

The sun beamed on my face, like it did at the meadow on hot days. The crowds of people did not give me anxiety even the ones with cold faces. Gerome, still talking to the merchant, yelped as I tackled him with a hug.

“GEROME!” I shrieked and he shrieked as well confused who was touching him.

“WHO DARES TOUCH ME IN THE AFTERNOON?” He waved his hands around until he decided to look at me with a faint gasp. “Of course, only Hannah would invade my personal space.”

He cupped my beaming face, staring at me almost a little broken. “Hannah….”

I held my hands over his, not being able to stop smiling. “My Gerome, I’ve missed you. How are you? How is your children?” I saw my mother at the door smiling at me in approval of me being at least outside speaking with someone, but I didn’t care. I was with my Gerome.

“Yes, yes children are fine….” He said, giving me a puzzled look. “But Hannah, how?”

I gave him the same expression, I looked around seeing I wasn’t with the shadow pack anymore. I frowned but my lips were sealed. I felt myself to emotional to speak.

Gerome pulled away shaking his head, his long braided beard following. “I visited the Shadow pack’s new territory.”

My face fallen and I asked quietly; “How are they?”

Gerome was silent and pulled me away from the crowd so no ears could even catch a single phrase. Werewolves were not popular in this town and were certainly hated. “Boron never came out to see me I don’t even know if he is alive, the beta did, Johnathan. The place seemed so barren. He told me they would no longer be doing trade and that the Alpha was too busy to speak with me. I asked where you were knowing you were the only creature who needed things and loved to talk. I also thought maybe you could fill me in what was happening.

Johnathan told me roughly you were no longer part of the pack. He said, if I ever saw you to give you something that Boron wanted to give you when I came.” Gerome said swinging his pack down to the ground with a large thud.

“They never told you what happened?” I asked.

Gerome shook his head opening the flap of his humongous bag. His hands began to shift around inside, almost his whole head was in it. “No, in fact when I tried to ask Johnathan-out of all people snapped at me telling me to leave the territory and never come back.”

I stood there a bit stunned. I was surprised at this news Gerome brought me. As he went on “I never thought I would see you again thinking the worst, those wolves got you at the full moon that they found one of your hiding places when they turned to their natural instinct completely.”

Gerome pulled out a beautiful silk purple cloak with a hem of cold. “Ah here it is, the cloak Boron wanted to give you.”

I stood there frozen still. “How did you know purple….royal purple, why is it made out of silk instead of fabric?” I asked.

Gerome looked away. “He knew you would ask for a new cloak since the old one was so torn up. He told me in advanced he would like to make a trade of one of his weapons for a royal purple cloak the next time I came.”

“Why silk?” I said trying to meet his eyes. He was silent and I pushed one; “Please…tell me.”

“It was a wedding present, clothes more of-nice white dresses are hard to come by. He asked for one but I was afraid it would be dirtied. No tradesmen would look for one without fearing it would be somehow damaged, even if protected. Especially since the werewolves are country folk it is hard to think the dress could not even be soiled there. So we both agreed this would be something lovely for you to wear when you said your vows.” Gerome explained laying the cloak in my hands. I was reluctant but forced to take it. “You must take it, in memory of those times Hannah, you’ll regret it.”

“Gerome…” I hiccupped in emotion. “I don’t want to remember. I have my family back and a new home.”

“Look at me” Gerome ordered gruffly. I refused so he grabbed my chin and forced my eyes to his. “I can tell you miss them, you miss your old life, and you miss most of all Boron. It is okay to move on of course-“

Before Gerome could go on I pulled away throwing the cloak down, pushing my heel into it from last night’s muddy rain residue. I could see the horror from Gerome’s face as I spoke “I would never miss such a life that brought me so much pain and a person who inflicted it. I can’t even sleep because of it and never will I go back to such nasty monsters.”

I walked away never looking back at Gerome. “Good bye Gerome.” I said loudly. I didn’t want him to see me crying and I went back to my room to continue to write.