~Stole My Heart~

Dedicated to Artic Wolf
 

Mckenzie bounded through the snow excitedly, her long brown fur swayed gently as she breathed in all the fresh smells of nature. Her paws sunk slowly into the unmarked snow and she looked around hopefully for someone. She was bored and wanted someone to play with. Suddenly she spotted a handsome young wolf; he was laying casually on a warm rock away from the cold ground. Mckenzie grinned to herself and padded over.
“Hi there!” she said happily. The wolf opened one of his eyes and looked at Mckenzie; he lifted his head up and smiled.
“Hey,” he replied, stretching his paws out and yawning. Mckenzie introduced herself and before long the two got talking. His name was Kopa and there was something about him that made Mckenzie feel good inside. The time quickly got away and before either of them new it the sun was slowly drifting behind the never-ending mountains; casting long vibrant rays across the white snow.
“I should probably go,” He said, “it was great meeting you Mckenzie.” He nodded at her in recognition and darted away. Mckenzie was disappointed but knew she should probably be getting home soon too.

Jaison, Mckenzie’s older brother, was worried sick by the time Mckenzie reached the small snowy area surrounded by lush thick bushes that they called home. The leaves were sprinkled lightly with white and the ground was worn, leaving the small amount of snow that was left very thinned out.
“Where were you Mckenzie? I was so worried about you; I thought I’d lost you! You can’t stay out this late again ok?” He cried as she closed up the entrance with a branch so no one else could get in.
“I was only with my friend! I’m old enough now to do what I want Jase! Why do you always have to treat me like a child?” She shot back defensively. Jaison looked hurt, he was always the sensitive one of the family and he would usually take everything to heart. His face softened and the anger left his deep brown eyes, only to be replaced with sadness.
“Mckenzie, you know I’m only looking out for you because I love you right?” He asked.
“I know, I love you too, but sometimes it gets a little too much for me. You can get a bit over protective.” She said slowly, giving him a hug.
“I’m sorry; I just can’t bear to lose you like we lost mum and dad. You’re the only family I have left and I don’t want to lose you.” He hugged her back before letting go and gesturing towards a small dead rabbit lying on the floor. Its skin was torn but it was fresh and Mckenzie knew this would be her dinner for the night. A feeling of relief washed through her since she wasn’t in the mood to go hunting and clearly left it too late. She thought she would be stuck with nothing to eat.
“I’m going for a walk, ill be home soon Mckenzie, don’t wander off,” Jase said, and with that, he weaved in between the branches and disappeared into the night.

As Mckenzie’s teeth sunk slowly into the corpse in front of her, her stomach rumbled, she hadn’t eaten for two whole days, but food wasn’t on her mind at that moment, she was too busy thinking about Kopa. She remembered the way they made each other laugh, the way his big eyes shone, and the way he talked. They had clicked so quickly, Mckenzie’s not a shy dog; but when she was talking to Kopa she felt so self conscious, she didn’t know what to say and the more she thought about it the more she realized that she was trying to impress him.

She chewed slowly, deep in thought and finally swallowed the last piece of juicy rabbit, the meat slipped quickly down her throat as she lay down onto her back. The crisp snow fell and formed an imprint around her as she got comfortable. She looked up at the stars and wondered where Kopa was at that moment, she ever so badly wanted to know if she was on his mind the way he had been stuck on her. Suddenly the bushes rustled, she sprung to her paws.

“Jaison, is that you?”  She asked, there was no answer, she crouched low and her ears bent back in caution. Her claws dug into the snow and she bared her teeth at what ever was coming into her home. She growled as a white figure emerged, she leapt forward in attack but stopped half way through and smiled. “Mystic! Oh boy, am I glad to see you!” she cried, rushing forward and hugging her brother’s girlfriend. Another dog stood behind Mystic; it was Jenna.
“Oh, hey Jenna,” She smiled at her.
“Jeez Mckenzie; you could’ve killed me! Why so tense for?” Mystic laughed, her big golden eyes shone in the moonlight as she greeted her friend with a hug.
“I’m sorry I just wasn’t ready for someone to come, I’ve got a lot on my mind and since Jase isn’t home I get a little cautious.” Mckenzie explained relaxing once again. She slumped down into the snow and curled up, resting on her tail like a pillow as the cold air whistled through her thick, dark fur.
Mystic shivered; grinning, she lied down and rested her head on Mckenzie.
“What’s wrong hun? Why do you have things on your mind?” She asked cheerfully. Jenna walked over and lied next to the two, she remained silent. Mckenzie turned her head to face Mystic and shrugged.
“I have no idea, I met this guy today named Kopa, and ever since then I just have this strange feeling, and I can’t get him off my mind. I’ve never ever had this feeling before and I know it probably sounds crazy, but I just keep thinking about his smile, and laugh, and voice and everything! He made me feel special and unique, like no one else has before. He was so cute! And I don’t know what it means… I’m sorry I sound crazy, ill stop talking.” Mckenzie babbled on for a while and watched in confusion as Mystic smiled. “Why are you smiling?” Mystic stood up and nudged Mckenzie. Mystic and Jenna looked at each and grinned. Jenna pounced onto Mckenzie playfully.
“Ha-ha! Mckenzie’s in love!” She teased, jumping around and making the snow powder all over Mckenzie’s back, Mystic joined her and caused snow to go everywhere.
“Cut it out guys!” Mckenzie laughed; she jumped up and used her tail to flick a snow clump into Mystic causing her to fall over. She shook the snow off of her and looked at Mckenzie cheekily,
“Oh you’re going to pay for that!” She cried, springing to her feet and biting onto a branch that was just above Mckenzie. She pulled down and a giant mass of snow plummeted down onto Mckenzie, burying her into the snow. Jenna laughed and high-fived Mystic.

The three wrestled for nearly half an hour, they were really close and Mckenzie liked to think of Mystic and Jenna as her older sister. She would tell them everything and for some strange reason, Mystic and Jenna ALWAYS had a solution. They were also one of Mckenzie’s best friends and they would spend hours on end just talking and laughing. Mystic had been with Jaison for a while now and Mckenzie really hoped that they never broke up, because she didn’t know what she would ever do without her. Plus Jase was so much happier with her, and it was like they had a family again.

*Mckenzie laid down in front of Kopa and stretched out her paws; she was listening to the sweet sounds of nature and breathing in the clean smells. She watched as Kopa reached out his paw, he touched hers slowly and looked into her deep green eyes. For a second Mckenzie thought he was going to say something, but he leaned in… he was about to kiss her-*

Light spilled through the trees, throwing rays of bright light into the bushes; disturbing Mckenzie from her deep sleep, and her wonderful dream. She slowly fluttered her eyes open, and stretched out her legs. Looking around drowsily she saw that Jaison and Mystic were still fast asleep, they were snuggling peacefully together and for a moment Mckenzie felt a pang of jealousy rush through her. Jenna had obviously left the night before. She would have to find her and say and apologize for falling asleep. Mckenzie had had other boyfriends before but she was never close to them like these two were close, but she didn’t just want that with anyone, she wanted it with someone special, someone she was in love with, someone she felt the same way about as she felt about Kopa. She stood up and stretched some more before sneaking out of the bushes. She bounded through the snow happily, the fresh morning always made her feel good and she lost all feelings of loneliness and jealousy.

She picked up a loose stick as she was running and through it up in the air, she missed it as it landed on the snow in front of her; as she bent down to grab it her nose caught on the hard snow and she stumbled forward, it caused her to do a summersault and she landed on her back. Suddenly a dark colored head appeared above hers and she looked up, Kopa was standing right above her and he was laughing. As soon as she saw him her cheeks went hot with embarrassment and smiled forcefully.
“Having fun down there?” Kopa grinned helping her to her feet. Mckenzie blushed again and laughed nervously. Then she realized who was standing in front of her!
“Kopa!” she cried, he looked at her with a confused expression.
“What?” he asked, she become conscious of how she just sounded and smiled at him,
“Oh nothing, I just wasn’t expecting to see you again,” she said quickly trying to cover up her excitement. It was really him! The guy who had imprinted himself onto her brain so harshly that he was all she could think about was finally standing in front of her again and she couldn’t be happier.
“I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again either...” he replied, for some strange reason he looked pretty deep in thought.
“Is it a good thing or a bad thing that you did see me again?” Mckenzie asked looking into his big black eyes.
“It’s a great thing.” Kopa looked uncomfortable for a moment, and he smiled awkwardly. Mckenzie’s heart skipped a beat and she almost fainted with relief.

Kopa gestured her to follow him and the two ran along side each other in the clean new snow. Every now and again their eyes would meet and they’d quickly look away self-consciously.
Jaison and Mystic startled the two as they blocked Mckenzie and Kopa’s path.
“So this is who you told me about? He is definitely as cute as you described him.” Mystic winked cheekily at Mckenzie.
“Mystic!” She cried; she could feel her cheeks burning. “I was not talking about him!”
Kopa looked at Mckenzie and smiled, she looked away quickly. She was so embarrassed. Jaison and Mystic glanced at each other and grinned. Mckenzie introduced everyone politely and everyone began talking for a while. But Mckenzie desperately wanted Jaison to leave.
“So Kopa, you wanted to show me some place?” She asked him, giving him a look as if to say ‘come on, lets get out of here.’
“Sure, maybe Jaison and Mystic want to come,” He smiled at them, Mckenzie felt disappointed as she saw Jaison and Mystic nod. Soon they were all running again.
 

Kopa led them through a windy path, the branches hung around the top like a long archway and the dirt was soft under their paws. They seemed to walk for a little while until the path came to a stop, and all that stood in front of them was a large bush wall. Mckenzie was confused for a moment. “I’ve never showed this place to anyone before, so don’t tell a soul about it.” Kopa said to them slowly, the three wolves nodded eager to see what he was hiding. Kopa hesitated before leaning over and pulling away a branch, he stepped inside and the three followed. They gasped at what lay before them. A beautiful white meadow with freshly fallen snow stretched out before them. At the far end was a huge lake, with a waterfall plummeting into the cool water. It was surrounded by plush water grass and lilies of all colors. A huge rainbow extended out in the sky, it shimmered magically in the bright light. The luscious bushes that surrounded the valley were pushed in tightly together so nothing of the outside world could be seen and the leaves and grass sparkled in the sun from the melted snow. The bushes were all sprinkled with snow; it was definitely the most beautiful place to live in the whole world. Kopa couldn’t help but grin at the surprised expressions that spread across Mckenzie and her families’ faces and a proud feeling washed through him.
 

“Wait… so you live here?” Mckenzie asked him, her eyes were glistening as the sun reflected off of them. Kopa smiled at her.
“I wish! No way, I live with my pack somewhere else; this is just the place I come to when I want to be by myself.” He cried. Jaison looked up at the sky, the sun was setting and it threw pink and orange rays across the ground. Light spilled through the trees creating a warm glow as the hills shielded half of the sun.

“Mystic, we have that date we were supposed to be heading to; we don’t want to be late.” He said to her. Mystic nodded, she hugged Mckenzie and said goodbye to Kopa before the two turned to leave.
“Wait, you could have it here if you wanted?” Kopa asked them.
“But aren’t you two staying here? We don’t want to interrupt.” Mystic replied.
“No, I’m taking Mckenzie somewhere else.” He explained.
Mystic looked at Jaison and he shrugged.
“Ok, thanks Kopa,” Mystic smiled.
 

Kopa grinned at Mckenzie before leading her to the back of the meadow. The two went behind the lake to another thick wall of trees and bushes. He pushed through the bushes and disappeared; Mckenzie followed keenly and she gasped when she reached the other side. The thick green bushes squeezed in tightly creating a hard wall and enclosed the two into a way smaller meadow. Night had fallen and the stars lit it up like dazzling lights. The glowing snow was spongy and thick, like a soft pillow and another lake at the end flashed admiringly with all the sparkling fish. It was more beautiful then the other meadow was and Mckenzie was two busy staring wide eyed at what lay before her she forgot Kopa was watching.
“I’m guessing you like it?” Kopa laughed, Mckenzie nodded. He lied down in the snow and patted the ground next to him, signaling Mckenzie to lie as well. She slowly lied next to him and looked deeply into his eyes.
“Wow,” Kopa said, he looked a little distracted.
“What?” Mckenzie asked him.
“I never really noticed how gorgeous you actually are,” He said softly. Mckenzie blushed.
“No, I’m not really; but thank you.” She said, looking away from his gaze. He turned her head back to face him.
“Don’t you dare ever say that again.” He said sternly, Mckenzie thought he was being serious but then the corner of his mouth flickered into a smile. “Or I might have to punish you.” He laughed.
Mckenzie was too lost in his eyes, the deep purple swirls mixed into each other creating a 3D kind of shimmer. She was in a sort of trance and before she knew it Kopa leaned in and kissed her, in a sort of firm but tender way. She was overwhelmed with feelings and her eyes widened at first but as Kopa lied on his back and Mckenzie leaned over him while they kissed, she slowly began to relax and shut them. Fireworks were bellowing in her mind and the fireflies danced around their heads. She pulled away from his lips slowly and looked deeply into his eyes. He nuzzled into her and she rested her head on his chest. His heartbeat slowly drummed her to sleep…

Kopa’s eyes opened slowly and he blinked back the blinding sun light. Mckenzie was already awake but she was just peacefully looking up at him. “Morning,” he smiled licking her cheek. McKenzie’s stomach quivered and she had never felt happier.
“Kopa,” she whispered softly.
“Yeah?” He asked.
“Will I ever see you again after this?” She said nervously. Kopa frowned for a moment, deep in thought and then a smile crept across his handsome face.
“Whenever you want or need to see me, all you need to do is come here. And ill be waiting.” He said soothingly.
“But what if I can’t find you? Or you find another wolf who you like better…?” She assumed.
“That will never happen,” He continued. “I love you…” And with that the two became mates- and remained madly in love.

The End