ARTICA LOBOS

The day was particularly cold, but for ARTICA it was a mere breeze. It seemed she was made to withstand the cold. Her long white hair reached the middle of her thighs. With an exquisite figure, she was sixteen years old. She looked at the landscape from the top of a tree and spotted a helicopter approaching in the distance. It had been a long time since she came to live with the old woman who had saved her from the storm, allowing her to stay. The water had closed the roads, so she learned to hunt and defend herself from animals. She REMEMBERED as she watched the helicopter approach.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I would wake up early to my mother's call, as she would be late for class. It wouldn't be just any day; it was the last day of the field trip. Next year, I would be going to secondary school. I happily got up, greeting my mother and father with a kiss. My little brother was staining his shirt with breakfast, and my mother was complaining that it was getting late to leave. Everything seemed normal, just another day, nothing out of the ordinary. I went outside, taking a breath and filling my lungs. There was a fresh scent, like wet earth.

"IT'S GOING TO RAIN." My mother assured.

"DON'T SAY THAT, TODAY IS THE FIELD TRIP." I chirped dejectedly.

"THE FORECAST SAYS IT WILL BE SUNNY ALL DAY." My father assured, looking at his phone.

"I DON'T WANT TO GO." My little brother, who is in the five-year-old class, complained.

"I DO WANT TO GO TO YOUR CLASS... THEY PLAY... THEY PAINT... THEY EVEN GIVE OUT CANDY... INSTEAD, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH FRACTIONS." I complained, as mathematics was a torment for me.

"ALRIGHT, CHILDREN... GET IN." Our mother said, looking at the sky and twisting her mouth as if she didn't like the feeling in the air. She didn't need an app to tell her if it was going to rain or not; she had a special ability that allowed her to know exactly what would happen with the weather.

They dropped us off at our school. I accompanied little Polo to his classroom, who, upon seeing his teacher, forgot all about me. I walked to my classroom, where my friend Paty had saved my seat.

"HELLO BLANCA (It's the nickname she gave me because my hair is white and my eyes are blue to gray depending on my mood)."

"CALL ME ARTICA." I said with annoyance.

"FOR ME, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE BLANCA... IT SUITS YOU. She teased me."

I came out albino, so I always wear long-sleeved shirts and jeans, or whatever covers my body, as well as a cap and special glasses that I use to go out in the sun. My brother didn't come out like me; he's lucky he can enjoy the sun. In my case, I have to hide myself; I can't expose myself too much, or my skin looks like scales if I don't protect myself.

"STUDENTS, YOUR ATTENTION (Our teacher tells us)... YOU MUST CHOOSE A SEAT PARTNER... AND NOT SEPARATE FROM THE GROUP... THE FIELD TRIP WILL BE IN THE NATURAL RESERVE... YOU KNOW THE SAFETY MEASURES... YOU WERE GIVEN THE LIST LAST WEEK... IF EVERYONE HAS THEIR PERMISSION SLIPS... TAKE YOUR THINGS AND WE'LL GET ON THE BUS. The teacher concludes."

"HURRAY... BRAVO." The boys cheered.

"PATY, DON'T SEPARATE FROM ME. I warned my friend, who was mesmerized looking at the cute boy in the class."

"TODAY I DECIDED TO TELL HIM I LIKE HIM. She assured me, biting her pencil."

"YOU'RE CRAZY... IF YOUR FATHER FINDS OUT, HE'LL GROUND YOU FOR A MONTH. I reminded her of what her father had said."

"YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER LIKED ANYONE." Paty said, which is true, but as strange as it may seem, I never felt that anyone was for me.

We took our backpacks, which weighed a ton as we carried our supplies, heading towards the bus. Paty asked me to sit towards the aisle to be next to Marcos, who was sitting in the other seat with his friend Luis, and I sat by the window. I didn't mind; I could enjoy the breeze blowing through the window. We arrived at the natural reserve after a four-hour trip. A guide showed us the cabin for the girls and another for the boys. With us was our teacher "Sonia" and with the boys, the physical education teacher "Gabriel." I had a strange feeling that I ignored, focusing on having fun with my classmates.

"VERY WELL... PREPARE YOUR BACKPACKS... WE WILL START THE TOUR WITH THE GUIDE. Our teacher Sonia announced."

"GOOD MORNING... AS THERE ARE THIRTY STUDENTS BETWEEN GIRLS AND BOYS... WE WILL DIVIDE INTO TWO GROUPS... THE FIRST WILL TAKE THE EXCURSION TO THE NORTH OF THE RESERVE AND THE SECOND WITH MY PARTNER, WILL DO IT TO THE SOUTH. The guide announced. Paty and I took each other's arms to walk together. I put a lot of sunscreen on my face and hands, which was what I had exposed."

"YUCK BLANCA... THAT SUNSCREEN IS STRONG. Paty complains."

"I KNOW... BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE... OR ELSE... MY SKIN WILL FALL OFF. I commented, and she made a face of disgust."

We walked a stretch, listening to the guide's stories about each species we saw. For some strange reason, when I approached the area where the pumas were, they began to get restless. Their roar stunned the group. They moved nervously and seemed to want to jump over the fence that kept them away from the path where we were passing. The same with the monkeys; as I approached, they moved away nervously, climbing to the top of the trees they had nearby.

"THE ANIMALS DON'T LIKE YOU. Paty joked, seeing that I couldn't take any pictures of them."

I smell a strong, particular scent that attracts me, and I walk in that direction without thinking. I see an enormous black dog in a cage staring at me. I smile, feeling that it doesn't move away, so I take my camera, take off my glasses to take the picture more comfortably, and see that it sits up, looking at me steadily, its black hair puffing up on its back. I give it a smile and take a picture of it.

"THANK YOU... YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T MOVE AWAY. I commented to the animal aloud."

"GIRL... YOU SHOULDN'T APPROACH LIKE THAT. The guide says, calling my attention."IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS ANIMAL. He says, pointing to the warning sign.

In the blink of an eye, a strong wind appeared.

"GO BACK!. The guide shouts, gathering everyone to return."

The wind blew my hat right into the big dog's enclosure. I tried to reach it with a stick, but I couldn't. The wind began to kick up dust, making it difficult to see. I couldn't see the group and where they went. I saw that the big dog pointed with his head to its refuge. I hesitated for a moment, but the storm began to approach. The raindrops could be heard from afar. I didn't think twice and went into the black dog's enclosure.

"DON'T EAT ME... OR YOU'LL GET SICK. I threatened him and went into that kind of burrow. The animal stood in front of me, covering me from the gusts. I don't know how much time passed, but the storm outside was strong. Loud thunder and wind lashed. I fell asleep. For some strange reason, the animal's warmth cradled me, and its scent didn't bother me. When the storm ended and everything was silent, the animal stood up, letting me out. I could see that one of its paws was injured, so as a thank you, I thought of healing it."

"IF YOU DON'T MIND... I'LL HEAL YOUR PAW... DON'T MOVE... I'LL POUR WATER ON IT." I said, spilling the liquid from my bottle on its right front paw. The animal seemed to understand me and left it still so I could heal it. "AND THIS CREAM WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING INFECTED... I ALWAYS HAVE IT... MY SKIN IS DELICATE. I commented, I don't know why I'm talking to him, as if he understood me. Then I got up, looking at the landscape. There were fallen trees, and the giant dog's enclosure was without the fence; it seems the wind was strong."AND NOW WHERE ARE THE CABINS?. I complain in a sob, not knowing where to go.

The dog bumps me as if calling my attention, so I look at it, and it gestures with its head for me to follow it, or that's what I understand, so I walk behind it. Along the way, I invited it to have some of my sandwich and my bottle of water until I see a little house in the middle of the field, surrounded by trees and very beautiful flowers. Again, it makes a body gesture, pointing to the little house.

"AH... YOU WANT ME TO CALL... I'M SCARED... I DON'T KNOW WHO LIVES THERE. I comment, and it presses its body against me, pushing me to the door. I hesitate to knock, but in the end, I do."

"WHO IS IT?. The voice of an old woman is heard."

"I'M ARTICA... I GOT LOST... CAN YOU HELP ME." I said, and an older woman opens the door, small in stature, with short gray hair and a dress that covered her ankles, who opens her eyes wide when she sees me. "EXCUSE ME FOR BOTHERING YOU... I CAME ON A FIELD TRIP WITH MY CLASS... BUT THE STORM STARTED... AND I GOT LOST... CAN YOU HELP ME?. I reiterate."

"OH... THAT'S A PITY... YOU ARE... YOU ARE. She was trying to put together a sentence, so I hurried to answer."

"YES... I'M ALBINO... I WAS BORN LIKE THIS." I replied, guessing what she wanted to ask me.

"YES OF COURSE... AND YOUR FRIEND. She asks me, looking towards the big dog, but it had already moved away."

"HE GUIDED ME HERE." I replied. I feel nervous and scared, but the old woman's gaze calms me down somehow.

"YOU HAVE A GIFT WITH ANIMALS. The old woman tells me."COME IN... YOU MUST BE HUNGRY... TO BE HONEST... I DON'T RECEIVE MANY VISITORS... EVERY MONTH THE PEOPLE FROM THE RESERVE LEAVE ME PROVISIONS...BUT NONE STAY FOR LONG. She tells me.

"Why is that?", she seems friendly". I think.

"DON'T YOU HAVE FAMILY?. I ask curiously."

"I HAD... BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER HERE... EVERYONE MADE THEIR OWN LIFE. She tells me, and then we hear that the weather is turning dark and stormy again."THIS WILL TAKE A WHILE... AT LEAST YOU'RE UNDER A ROOF... IT'S NOT VERY BIG... BUT YOU WON'T BE COLD HERE. She says.

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH... AND AGAIN, EXCUSE ME FOR BOTHERING YOU... AS SOON AS I AM WITH MY FAMILY... THEY WILL COMPENSATE YOU FOR YOUR TROUBLE. I reply."

"DON'T WORRY CUB... I DON'T MIND THE COMPANY. The old woman tells me."

"Cub?... I'm not a dog". I think.

I check my backpack and find the chocolate I was supposed to give to Polo, and I hit myself on the forehead.

"MOM IS GOING TO SCOLD ME... I DIDN'T GIVE POLO HIS CHOCOLATE. I say aloud."

"WHO IS POLO?. The old woman asks, placing a cup of tea in front of me on the table."

"MY YOUNGER BROTHER... HE IS FIVE YEARS OLD... I DON'T EAT... MOM SAYS I'M ALLERGIC... THE TRUTH IS I DON'T REMEMBER EATING AT ANY TIME. I tell her thoughtfully."

"HOW OLD ARE YOU?. She asks, sitting on a small log bench and drinking tea from a small aluminum jug."

"Eleven" I hesitated nervously.

"YOU DON'T SEEM SURE. She says, looking at me steadily with those almond-colored eyes like the lanterns that light up the square."

"IT'S JUST THAT I TURNED RECENTLY AND I FIND IT HARD TO GET USED TO. I tell her. Outside, the wind lashes against the trees, making them lean, and the water is pouring down. I look out the window worried."

"DON'T WORRY... THIS AREA IS HIGH... THE WATER FROM THE STREAM DOESN'T REACH IT. She comments, sipping her tea calmly."

"DO YOU MEAN IT CAN FLOOD?. I ask her worried."

"EVERYTHING CAN HAPPEN ... I WASN'T COUNTING ON YOUR VISIT AND HERE YOU ARE ... I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD RAIN SO MUCH... BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO END. The old woman comments calmly."

"I WON'T BE ABLE TO LEAVE LIKE THIS... MY PARENTS MUST BE WORRIED. I tell her sadly."

"YOU'LL SEE THEM... THEY'LL PREFER YOU TO BE SAFE. She says confidently."

"YOU'RE RIGHT. I sigh heavily, and sleep overcomes me, so I yawn loudly without wanting to."

"YOU'RE TIRED... YOU CAN LIE DOWN THERE. She says, pointing to her bed, which I see has a straw base and a blanket on top of it."

"THANK YOU . I reply, and as soon as I get close, I fall asleep."

I had a strange dream as if I were surrounded by wolves, and they were bowing before me. Then I felt that some light blue eyes were staring at me steadily, a gaze as deep as the sea, like the infinite sky. I woke up and saw the old woman by the light of the fire she had in her chimney, sewing against a rug spread out on a square base.

"IT'S NIGHT ALREADY. I commented, sitting up."

"YES... AND THE RAIN CONTINUES. She replies."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?. I ask, approaching curiously."

"I'M WEAVING... A BLANKET... IT WILL BE COLD SOON. She says, and I see how she passes a stick between the threads. I sigh heavily, and she turns to look at me."YOU'RE SAD... YOU MISS YOUR FAMILY... YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT... YOU'LL SEE THEM... WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO STOP RAINING. She says, encouraging me, to which I nod, but I feel my heart crushed by sadness.

A lot of time passed since then. We saw the water cross, washing away everything in its path, about fifty meters from the little house. I got used to the old woman, whose name is Cielo, by the way. I held out hope that they would come to my rescue, but time passed. The woman I affectionately call grandmother ran out of strength, so I took care of her. I learned a lot from her, such as how to heal with natural remedies, weave my clothes, and especially how to hunt to feed ourselves. Seeing the helicopter, I wave to it, and I see that they spot me, so they approach.

The helicopter pilot rubbed his eyes as he saw the young woman at the top of the tree waving her hands.

"I MUST BE HALLUCINATING," he wondered confused.

"SIR... I SEE SOMEONE IN THAT DIRECTION." He notified the officer accompanying him.

"HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?... WHO IS IT?" He asked, astonished to see how the young woman balanced herself on the top of the tree, moving her arms. ""LET'S GO."He ordered him to head towards her."

"WHAT JOY... HELP ME... MY GRANDMOTHER IS IN BED." Artica told them as soon as they landed. Just as she had climbed quickly, she descended from the enormous tree in the same way without problems.

The man who descended from the helicopter was wearing a light brown suit consisting of pants and a warm jacket. He looked at the young woman in a surprising way, he never imagined finding anyone there. He nodded to what she said, accompanying her inside the small house. He saw the old woman lying in her bed and asked his partner to bring him his briefcase.

"I'M GOING TO CHECK HER." He warned Artica, who was watching every movement expectantly.""WE MUST TRANSFER HER... SHE IS VERY WEAK."He affirmed, so he went to the helicopter and brought a stretcher and between the two men they carried the old woman, Artica grabbed her old backpack, saving some things in it, followed them and settled in the seat where the officer fastened her seatbelt and sat holding the stretcher when closing the door."

ARTICA felt unwell due to the trip, it was her first time in a helicopter, they arrived at a runway where the helicopter descended and an ambulance was waiting for them.

"I WILL ACCOMPANY YOU... AND YOU WILL TELL ME HOW YOU LIVED IN THAT INHOSPITABLE PLACE." The uniformed man told her.

They arrived at the high-complexity Hospital to urgently admit the old woman whose state of health was not favorable. The young woman had routine check-ups that came out all right. ARTICA did not want to be separated from the old woman who had cared for her all those years, she was her only family after so long.

"LOOK AT ME... I KNOW YOU ARE DISTRESSED... BUT YOU MUST COME WITH ME... THEY WILL GIVE HER THE NECESSARY ATTENTION." The officer told her, calling her attention when he saw how tears welled up in the young woman.

"I don't want to leave her... I want to be with her." She said between sobs.

"I INVITE YOU TO EAT... MY WIFE MAKES A DELICIOUS PIZZA." He said trying to cheer her up, he felt sorry for having to take her to the station and especially because she wore an outfit that highlighted her feminine attributes, he had given her his coat to cover herself and be in the sanatorium. ARTICA wiped her tears and nodded, not very sure to go with the officer.

Upon arriving at his home, his wife was already informed that he would bring the young woman who rescued with her grandmother from the area surrounding the water.

"LETICIA... WE ARRIVED." Officer Gutierrez announced upon entering his home.

"DARLING... YOU... ARRIVED..." She stopped in the air when she saw ARTICA, a tall albino young woman with an exquisite figure whose parts were covered by knitted garments and her long white hair that was like a coat on her back.

"HELLO... I'M ARTICA." She introduced herself courteously with some timidity.

"Welcome... Before dinner... You can take a hot bath." She told her kindly without being able to stop looking at ARTICA's bright eye color.

"THANK YOU." She responded, observing everything around her.

"EXCUSE ME... I'LL GO CHANGE." Her husband warned Leticia.

"YES... Artica, come with me." The lady asked, feeling astonished by the beauty of the young woman.

"GOOD THING LUCIANO IS NOT HERE," she thought, remembering her eldest son who was studying at the university.

"THIS IS THE BATHROOM... THERE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED... I WILL LOOK FOR SOME CLOTHES FOR YOU TO WEAR." She warned her and Artica, with some timidity without knowing how to tell her, was encouraged and confessed.

"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THAT... WOULD YOU MIND TEACHING ME." She asked, embarrassed, pointing to the bathtub.

"OF COURSE NOT... IT'S NO TROUBLE... TELL ME... HOW DID YOU BATHE?" Mrs."Leticia asked."

"IN THE WATER MIRROR." She replied, looking at the buttons that the lady pressed to load the water into the tub.

"AND TELL ME... IS YOUR GRANDMOTHER YOUR ONLY RELATIVE?" Leticia asked curiously.

"ACTUALLY... I HAVE LIVED WITH HER FOR FIVE YEARS... BECAUSE I GOT LOST FROM AN EXCURSION OF MY COURSE... AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND MY PARENTS." Artica told her and Leticia turned around, looking at her surprised.

"HOW DID IT HAPPEN?" She asked her to tell her, feeling that she had gained confidence. While helping her take off her clothes and enter the tub and offered to wash her hair. ""LET ME, I'll wash it for you."She clarified when taking the shampoo."

"WELL... IT WAS THE LAST DAYS OF CLASSES... WE WERE GOING ON AN EXCURSION THROUGH THE NATURE RESERVE... THAT DAY A STRONG STORM STARTED... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXCURSION... WHEN WE HAD TO RETURN WITH THE GUIDE... I COULDN'T SEE THE WAY BECAUSE OF THE DIRT THAT THE WIND LIFTED... AND I LOST SIGHT OF THEM... I TOOK REFUGE IN A WOLF'S BURROW." Artica told her.

"OH MY GOD!... WEREN'T YOU SCARED?... DIDN'T THE ANIMAL ATTACK YOU?" Mrs."Leticia asked worried while washing her long hair."

"NO... IT SEEMED TO PROTECT ME... AND THEN IT GUIDED ME TO GRANDMOTHER CIELO'S HOUSE." Artica tells her.

"AND AFTER THAT DIDN'T YOU TRY TO CONTACT SOMEONE?" Leticia asked, rinsing her hair with a hand shower.

"THE STORM CONTINUED... IT RAINED FOR A WEEK NON-STOP... IT FLOODED AROUND THE LITTLE HOUSE... IF I WASN'T THERE... THE GRANDMOTHER MIGHT DIE... I HELPED HER IN EVERYTHING... WE ALWAYS TRIED TO SEE IF ANY HELP APPEARED... AND ALMOST EVERY NIGHT IT RAINED... IT DAWNED SUNNY... BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TOWARDS THE ROAD... WHICH AT THE SAME TIME... I HAD NO IDEA WHERE IT WAS." She tells her, shrugging her shoulders.

"AND WHAT DID YOU EAT?... WHAT DID YOU DRINK?" She asked, helping her out of the tub and put on a bathrobe.

"I LEARNED TO HUNT... WHAT CROSSED... AND GRANDMOTHER HAD HER LITTLE GARDEN... WHICH SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAINTAIN... THERE WERE FRUIT TREES... I TOOK CARE OF CLIMBING THEM AND GRABBING THE FRUITS... AS IT RAINED OFTEN... WE COLLECTED THAT WATER... WE BOILED IT... GRANDMOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE FIRE... SHE HAD SOME STONES THAT SHE SCRAPED TOGETHER AND THAT'S HOW... SHE MADE FIRE." Artica tells her.

"AND DIDN'T YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE?" She asked.

"MY PARENTS DIDN'T WANT ME TO HAVE ONE... THEY SAID I WAS STILL A CHILD... THEY GAVE ME A CAMERA... I HAVE IT IN MY BACKPACK." Artica tells her.

"FROM WHAT I SEE ONLY MY ELDEST SON'S CLOTHES WILL FIT YOU... PUT ON THIS SHIRT AND THIS SWEATSHIRT... TOMORROW WE WILL GET CLOTHES LIKE FOR YOU... AND UNDERWEAR." Mrs. Leticia tells her.

"I'M NOT USED TO WEARING UNDERWEAR." Artica confesses.

"AND HOW DID YOU DO WHEN YOU GOT YOUR PERIOD?" She asked.

"THE WHAT?" Artica asked, puzzled.

"THE PERIOD... THE VISIT... THAT COMES TO ALL WOMEN AT YOUR AGE." She says and sees that Artica looks at her in a way without understanding.

"DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU HAVEN'T COME YET... THAT THAT YOU (Tries to explain nervously and the words didn't come out)... DO YOU GET RED STAINS SOMETIMES?" She asked.

"AH... YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I'M UNWELL... YES... I USE PADS THAT GRANDMOTHER MADE FOR ME... AND I WASHED THEM TO USE THEM LATER." Artica replied.

"AH... AND WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?" She asked curiously. Artica checked her backpack and took out some knitted pads that had a filling in the center. ""THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THE TOWELS THAT ARE BOUGHT IN THE SUPERMARKET... HOW DID SHE MAKE THEM."She asked."

"SHE USED AN OLD SHEET... THAT'S WHY I TAKE CARE OF THEM... IT COST HER A LOT." She tells her.

"WELL... DON'T WORRY... THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SUPERMARKET... YOU DON'T NEED TO WASH THEM... JUST CHANGE." She informs her.

"ANYWAY... IT ONLY LASTS THREE DAYS... FOR ME." She comments.

"SO WHEN IT APPEARED... YOU USED THAT... THAT YOU COULD HOLD WITH THESE STRIPS." Leticia comments, looking at the interesting design it had.

"THIS IS THE CAMERA, THAT MY PARENTS HAD GIVEN ME... ONLY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY... SO I COULD NEVER CHARGE IT." Artica tells her.

"AHA... GET DRESSED... I'M GOING TO PUT IT TO CHARGE... SO WE CAN SEE THE PHOTOS... THEN I'LL TELL MY HUSBAND... TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS... BUT THAT'S TOMORROW... IT'S ALREADY VERY LATE." Mrs. Leticia comments, so Artica nods and puts on the clothes that her eldest son had provided.

While she was changing, she heard the screams of a child who ran into where they were.

"MOM... MOM... THERE'S A BOOGEYMAN IN MY ROOM." Shouted a child of about eight years old, scared.

"JOSE... I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT YOU MUST KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING A ROOM." The mother reproached him, placing herself in front of him, blocking his vision towards Artica.

"IT'S TRUE... I HEARD IT UNDER THE BED... COME ON." He insisted, grabbing her hand to take her.

"JOSE... YOU ARE BIG... YOU MUST STAY IN YOUR ROOM... BOOGEYMEN DON'T EXIST." The mother scolded him because her son always said that to go to sleep with them at night.

"IS THERE REALLY A BOOGEYMAN?... I'LL GO KILL IT." Said Artica, appearing in front of him, who, seeing her, fell silent.

"He only says that to sleep with us." Leticia whispered to Artica.

"LET'S GO SHOW ME... YOU'LL SEE THAT I ELIMINATE HIM... I'M A HUNTER." She affirms, looking at him directly and crouching down to see him face to face.

"COME ON." He said, grabbing her hand and running to his room.

Leticia snorted, following them, maybe if the game was followed, he would lose his fear, she thought.

"THERE... UNDER MY BED." He pointed with his little finger. Artica took a bat stick, entered the room, closing the door "So that it doesn't escape," she told them and walked slowly to where she listened attentively. Outside Leticia and Jose waited impatiently and heard some growls and a dry blow as if Artica hit something, after a while she came out with the sweatshirt in her arms as if she was carrying something.

"I ALREADY CAUGHT HIM... I'LL TAKE HIM OUT SO HE DOESN'T BOTHER YOU ANYMORE." She said and when Jose wanted to snoop, he heard a squeal and the sweatshirt moved, so he ran away so that she could throw it out. Artica came out and made it look like she dumped something in the outside trash can, giving it another blow and returned before Jose's attentive gaze.

"YOU ELIMINATED HIM." He said happily.

"HE WON'T BOTHER YOU ANYMORE... HE KNOWS WHAT AWAITS HIM." Artica tells him. ""I'M SORRY TO DIRTY THE SWEATSHIRT... IT WILL HAVE TO BE WASHED."She tells Leticia, handing it to her, winking her eye."

"YES... I'M GOING TO WASH IT... IT'S DIRTY." She expressed, complicit in the armed treachery.

They entered the house and Jose asked Artica:

"HOW DID YOU HIT HIM?"

"JUST ONE BLOW TO THE HEAD... THAT DAZES HIM... SO HE DOESN'T ATTACK YOU." She comments, making the gesture of the blow.

"ARE YOU REALLY A HUNTER?"

"OF COURSE... WHERE I LIVED THERE WERE NO SUPERMARKETS WHERE TO BUY... AND IF I WANTED TO EAT MEAT... I HAD TO HUNT." Artica comments.

Mrs. Leticia smiled as she listened to them talk, she could notice the way Artica expressed herself, she was innocent, kind, she was quick to create that scene to convince Jose, she was sure she was the one who made those animal sounds, she thought.

"WELL... HELP SET THE TABLE." She said, seeing them so comfortable sitting and talking. Artica stood up willing to help, Jose made a face of annoyance but seeing Artica excited to help, he wanted to follow her.

"THAT SMELLS VERY GOOD." Said Mr. Gutierrez, making himself present.

"DAD... ARTICA DEFEATED THE BOOGEYMAN... SHE HIT HIM IN THE HEAD AND THREW HIM IN THE TRASH CAN." Jose tells him excitedly.

"THAT'S GOOD... THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM." His father tells him.

"I'M STILL SCARED IF HE RETURNS." He comments huddled.

"IF YOU WANT I CAN STAY TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T APPEAR." Artica tells him.

"SLEEP IN LUCIANO'S BED... HE'S NOT HERE." Jose comments.

"IF YOUR PARENTS DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM." Artica says, looking at them.

"YOU CAN STAY ARTICA... WHILE YOUR GRANDMOTHER RECOVERS." Mr. Gutierrez assures, looking at his wife who nods at what he says.

"YOU HELPED US WITH JOSE... AND THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE... AND TOMORROW WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS." Mrs. Leticia tells her.

"YOUR PARENTS?" Her husband, Officer Gutierrez, asked.

"I'LL TELL YOU LATER." His wife tells him.

They ate the pizza happily, Artica after a long time tasted one again, with the old woman they only ate vegetables, fruits and meat. They watched her eat without a problem and she finished a whole pizza by herself.

"YOU ARE A GOOD EATER." Mr. Gutierrez observed her.

"IT'S DELICIOUS." She comments.

"GOOD THING I ALWAYS MAKE TWO." Said the lady.

Artica yawned, she was already sleepy and Jose imitated her.

"VERY WELL... YOU MUST SLEEP... IT'S NINE O'CLOCK." Mrs. Leticia commented, so Artica stood up, took a glass of water, before going to sleep.

"GOOD NIGHT." She said goodbye and Jose took her hand, guiding her to the room.

"YOU SLEEP THERE... THAT'S LUCIANO'S BED... HE SLEEPS NEAR THE WINDOW SO NO ONE ENTERS." Jose tells her.

"WHERE IS LUCIANO?" Artica asked.

"DON'T WORRY... HE'S IN THE BOARDING SCHOOL... HE'S STUDYING TO BE A COMPUTER GENIUS... HE COMES WHEN HE DOESN'T HAVE EXAMS." Jose tells her.

"AH... I UNDERSTAND." Artica replied, settling in bed, she felt it soft and comfortable, she closed her eyes feeling an emotion that she could not explain, she was closer to being able to reunite with her parents.

"Artica... Are you sleeping?" He heard the little one's voice.

"No." She replies.

"HAVE YOU EVER FELT FEAR?" He asked, in that Jose's mother listened through the device she had in the room to hear when he called her, like a babycall.

"YES... IT'S NOT BAD TO BE AFRAID... THAT HELPS YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF... IT'S YOUR DANGER SENSOR... IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AT NIGHT... DIFFERENT SOUNDS ARE HEARD... AT FIRST I WAS AFRAID... THEN I LEARNED TO DIFFERENTIATE THEM... AND KNOW WHICH ONE TO TAKE CARE OF." Artica replies.

"YOU ARE BRAVE." Jose tells her.

"NOT SO MUCH... BUT AS I TOOK CARE OF MY GRANDMOTHER... THAT MADE ME HAVE COURAGE... THE DESIRE TO PROTECT WHO I LOVE." Artica replies.

Jose's mother listened attentively and her heart ached imagining what that girl went through.

(Artica)

I sigh, trying to fall asleep, I pray that my grandmother recovers, I don't know what I'm going to do without her. She was the one who made me see who I really was, she taught me how to control my instincts, and the birthmark I have on my shoulder can already be seen in the shape of a wolf.

*I remember how I found out what I really was, I was returning from looking for food when a puma was stalking my grandmother, cornering her at the back of the house. Something inside me ignited, I felt something burning rise from my stomach and spread throughout my body, I looked angrily at the feline who, upon seeing me, shrank back growling. I responded with growls, as I always did to scare away animals.

"ARTICA... IT'S GONE NOW." I heard my grandmother say, looking at me with wide eyes and without moving from her corner, she stared at me, still, it seemed she even stopped breathing when addressing me.

"ARTICA... IT'S ME... JUST YOUR GRANDMOTHER... WE ARE NOT IN DANGER ANYMORE." She clarified with a firm voice. I turned my attention to where the feline had run, I tried to follow it, but my grandmother insisted.

"IT'S GONE... HELP ME PREPARE DINNER." So I breathed and the fire I felt extinguished, I shook my head, returned my gaze to my grandmother more relaxed and extended my hand for her to get up, she looked at me calming her expression.

"THANK YOU... YOU ARE A GOOD CUB... NEVER FORGET IT." She said clinging to me.

Later, while sitting at the table, she asked me what I felt when I faced the animal.

"TELL ME ARTICA... WHAT DID YOU FEEL WHEN FACING THE ANIMAL?... DID YOU FEEL ANY CHANGE?" She asked me.

"WELL... I DON'T KNOW... IT WAS LIKE A HEAT THAT ROSE FROM MY STOMACH... I ONLY WANTED TO PROTECT YOU." I answer thoughtfully.

"IS THAT ALL YOU FELT?" She asks me.

"YES... WHY?" I ask her.

"YOU TURNED INTO A GIANT WHITE WOLF." She tells me bluntly.

"WHAT?!... HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?" I ask her worried.

"YOUR PARENTS... MAYBE THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING... SO YOU WOULDN'T FEEL DIFFERENT... AND YOU COULD LIVE WITH THOSE YOUR AGE... THINK... WHAT DID YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER DO?... SOMETHING THAT CAN GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU ARE." She suggests, so I start to think.

"MY MOTHER ALWAYS MADE ME WATCH ANIMAL SHOWS... SHE TAUGHT ME... MMM... AH... YES... SHE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT HOW WOLVES WERE RESPECTED BY EVERYONE... BECAUSE THEY WORKED AS A FAMILY... SHE ALWAYS DETAILED TO ME IN THIS WAY THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY... ALTHOUGH SHE NEVER TALKED ABOUT HERS... I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW MY GRANDPARENTS... AND EVERY TIME I ASKED HER... SHE SAID THAT WHEN I WAS OLD ENOUGH... SHE WAS GOING TO TELL ME." I answered thoughtfully, I still couldn't assimilate what she was telling me.

"I SEE THAT YOU ARE INCREDULOUS TO WHAT I TOLD YOU... LET'S GO OUTSIDE... AND I WANT YOU TO STAND NEAR THE WATER MIRROR... TRY TO RELIVE WHAT YOU FELT... AND THERE YOU WILL SEE IT... THE MOON ILLUMINATES AS IF IT WERE DAY... YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT." She says to me, so we get up, I was curious to see what would happen, she stood away, she said it was huge, the truth I didn't feel it that way, I tried to do it but nothing happened.

"I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING." I tell her embarrassed.

"CONCENTRATE... YOU MUST MANAGE WHEN TO DO IT... IF YOU COME BACK TO YOUR PARENTS... AND THEY LIVE IN THE CITY... YOU CAN'T LET IT JUST COME OUT... WHEN YOU GET ANGRY OR SCARED." My grandmother tells me, so I concentrate sighing deeply and I can hear the breeze, the animals and smell the air that when I get the smell of the feline not far away my gaze lights up again, it had not gone very far, it was still lurking.

"THE FELINE IS STILL NEARBY." I warn my grandmother.

"CONCENTRATE ARTICA..." My grandmother tells me, but in a second I see myself running, when looking towards the water mirror I stop.

Is that really me? I asked myself looking in the water mirror, I saw a white wolf that seemed to reach the sky, with a bluish-gray eye color. I remembered that my mother had black hair and a white strand in the center of her head. I looked at myself and suddenly I took my human form again.

"I must learn to control myself"

"I can't introduce myself to my friend like this"

"She will be scared."

I reflected, I returned walking to the house, I don't know how I got so far away, the truth I had speed.

"ARTICA... ARE YOU OKAY?" My grandmother asks me looking downcast.

"NO... I NEVER IMAGINED BEING A WOLF." I answer her somewhat sadly.

"DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT... THERE ARE MANY LIKE YOU... I WAS ONE... A GRAY WOLF." She tells me and I stare at her astonished.

"I NO LONGER HAVE THE ENERGY TO CHANGE... AND I STOPPED DOING IT BECAUSE IT ONLY CAUSED ME TO BE FEARED... AND PERSECUTED... THAT'S WHY YOU MUST BE CAREFUL WHOM YOU REVEAL YOUR TRUE SELF TO." She tells me.

"BUT... YOUR FAMILY... WHAT HAPPENED?... WASN'T IT THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS UNITED?" I asked her curiously.

"THE TRUTH IS THAT I WAS THROWN OUT OF THE FAMILY... THEY CONSIDERED ME USELESS... I COULDN'T GET A PARTNER... I COULDN'T MAKE THE CHANGE NORMALLY... THAT IS FROM HUMAN TO WOLF... BUT YOU ARE UNIQUE... YOU HAVE AN AURA THAT DISTILLS THAT THEY RESPECT YOU... AND YOUR METAMORPHOSIS YOU DO IT NATURALLY... YOU JUST HAVE TO EXERCISE CONTROLLING WHEN IT SHOULD ARISE... YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO FORM YOUR OWN FAMILY... IT'S A PITY THAT THE WOLF IS THE IMAGE OF AUTHORITY IN A PACK." She tells me thoughtfully.

Listening to what she was telling me reminded me of what my mother taught me about who the Alpha was and that everyone should respect and follow, he was the one who maintained order in the pack, and he was chosen for being the strongest and largest who could defeat anyone.

"A hollow pure muscles, I thought." Remembering what my father said once, it seems he didn't like him.

But he told me that what should matter to me was being humble and intelligent, and above all having wisdom to know how to be a true leader. At that moment I didn't understand what he was telling me, but now I'm starting to understand.

*Reflecting on my future, I finally fell asleep. Suddenly I felt like someone jumped on me, so I wake up scared.

"HEY. I shouted jumping out of bed and I see a blond boy who upon seeing me gets up astonished looking at me."

"WHO ARE YOU?... WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING IN MY BED? He asks altered."

At that moment Mrs. Leticia and her husband enter turning on the light when hearing the scream.

"WHAT HAPPENED? The lady asked worried. And when seeing the young man they are astonished."

"LUCIANO ... WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?... WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN YOU WERE COMING? Mr. Gutierrez tells him."

"AND COVER YOURSELF SON. The mother tells him throwing him pants and I turn seeing him in his underwear so I turn red covering my face. He hurries to put them on nervously."

"SINCE WHEN SHOULD I WARN... IT'S MY HOUSE... I HAD ALREADY FINISHED TAKING THE EXAM... SO I DECIDED AT THE LAST MOMENT TO COME... BESIDES MY CELL PHONE RAN OUT OF BATTERY. He clarified nervously and checked me out from time to time frowning seeing me with his sweatshirt on."

"ARTICA COME... LET'S LET HIM GET DRESSED... YOU WILL SLEEP WITH ME. The lady tells me taking my hand and taking me out of the room."

"WHO IS SHE? Luciano asks his father nervous."

"HA HA. The gentleman laughed sitting on the bed." YOUR FACE... IS FOR A PHOTO... A GIRL SURPRISED YOU IN YOUR BED... WASN'T IT THAT YOU HAD THEM ALL. The father teased him reminding him that he boasted of his fame with the girls.

"DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME... TELL ME... WHO IS SHE? He insisted again."

"SHE IS OUR GUEST... SHE STAYS WHILE HER GRANDMOTHER RECOVERS IN THE HOSPITAL... I RESCUED HER IN ONE OF MY EXCURSIONS CONTROLLING THE PLACES COVERED BY WATER... SO BEHAVE... SHE IS NOT LIKE THE YOUNG WOMEN YOU KNOW. His father tells him seriously gesturing with his fingers that he would watch him."

Luciano breathed heavily put on a shirt and went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water to calm down from the bad time he had. He remembered the shiny eyes that observed him in the dark that surprised him, until the mother turned on the light and found the young woman with skin as white as paper, as well as her hair, was almost his height.

"HELLO SON... I MANAGED TO CALM ARTICA... YOU SCARED HER... SHE IS SLEEPING IN MY BED NEXT TO JOSE... I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT MOMENT HE WENT TO SLEEP WITH US. His mother commented entering the kitchen."

"WHAT DO YOU TELL ME ABOUT ME... I WAS GOING TO REST AND SOMEONE PUSHES ME... HIS EYES SHINED IN THE DARK... I CAN SWEAR I SAW THEM AS A WHITE OR YELLOW LIGHT. His son tells him."

"REALLY?... THE COLOR OF HER EYES IS UNIQUE AND STRIKING... BE KIND... SHE IS GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME. Her mother tells him."

"I'M GOING TO SLEEP. He answers annoyed."

"DON'T BE LIKE THAT... REST. His mother tells him seeing that he walks away to his room."

Mr. Gutierrez seeing that his bed was occupied by his youngest son and Artica, goes to his children's room, settles in Jose's bed and seeing him Luciano shakes his head in denial.

"I WILL KEEP YOU COMPANY. His father tells him closing his eyes to sleep. Luciano sighs heavily and settles in his bed, approaching the pillow he feels a soft aroma, the girl had left her scent on it so he turns it somewhat annoyed to sleep."

Mrs. Leticia lay down accommodating Jose in her arms and watched Artica as she slept in profile at one end without moving.

Early in the morning Luciano woke up as usual to go for a run and looking out the window he saw a huge white wolf running on the sidewalk, he rubbed his eyes and looked again but it was the young woman whose hair was swaying on her back as she ran away.

"I have visions"

"Exercise", he thought.

Leaving his room he put on his hands-free headphones and went for a run, he saw her turning the block, he tried to reach her, he had to run faster than normal, he reached her agitated.

"DO YOU LIKE TO EXERCISE?" He asked calling her attention.

"YES. She answers him that she had realized his presence a while ago so she took her human form quickly."

"DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE A WHITE WOLF?... I THOUGHT I SAW IT. Luciano tells him."

"NO... HOW STRANGE... HERE IN THE CITY. Artica comments pretending not to know."

"MAYBE IT WAS ONE OF THE PUREBRED DOGS... SOME NEIGHBORS HAVE THEM... BY THE WAY... I DIDN'T HEAR THEM BARKING... THEY ARE USUALLY NOISY. He comments and looks towards a neighbor seeing how his great dane was huddled with his ears low towards a corner of the house, he found it strange, he always barked at him, but now he seemed scared."

"IT COULD BE... I DIDN'T SEE ANY. Artica tells him and they arrived in front of the house, she entered calmly, he looked at her from behind."

"YOU ARE WEARING MY SWEATSUIT. He tells him indicating what he was wearing."

"I WILL RETURN IT TO YOU... I WILL HAVE MY CLOTHES. Artica answers him somewhat embarrassed."

"GOOD MORNING GUYS... YOU WENT FOR A RUN. His father greets them as he heads to his work."

"YES DAD... WE EXERCISED. Luciano answers him."

"ARTICA... MY WIFE TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR PARENTS... DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA THAT YOU PROVIDE ME... SO I LOOK FOR THEM. The gentleman said remembering the conversation with his wife before sleeping."

"YES... IN MY BACKPACK... I THINK I HAD WRITTEN DOWN THE CONTACT NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS. She says running to get her backpack."

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING SON? His father asks him seeing him so thoughtful."

"THAT I FOUND IT STRANGE ... SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE NEIGHBOR'S DOG... HE ALWAYS BARKS AT ME WHEN CROSSING... BUT NOW HE SEEMED SCARED OR SICK. Luciano comments thoughtfully."

"HE WILL HAVE GOTTEN USED TO SEEING YOU. His father tells him patting him on the back"

"HERE IS MY BACKPACK. Artica passes him showing him the inside of it."

"THE ADDRESS IS WORN OUT THE INK... YOU CAN HARDLY READ IT... BUT THE PHONE NUMBER YES. He says taking note and of the last name and name of her mother." NIEVES LOBOS ... WAS THAT YOUR MOTHER'S NAME?... IT SEEMS THAT WAS HER CONTACT NUMBER. The gentleman comments.

"YES THAT'S HOW SHE WAS CALLED... AND MY FATHER WAS JULIO. Artica answers him feeling encouraged, she had the hope of seeing them again."

"WELL WITH THIS I WILL START... DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVED? He asks."

"MY PARENTS SAID IT GREEN MEADOWS... FOR ME THAT'S HOW IT WAS KNOWN. Artica tells him."

"WELL... WITH THAT I WILL FIND OUT... SEE YOU. He says saying goodbye."

"DIDN'T YOU LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS? Luciano asks curiously."

But Artica looked at him sideways without answering, she had no desire to tell him anything, she didn't like his attitude towards her.

"ARTICA... WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?... DO YOU HAVE CEREAL... MILK. Mrs. Leticia tells her."

"MILK I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FOR BREAKFAST. Artica comments."

"WE ALL HAVE BREAKFAST AND WE WILL GO TO THE SHOPPING CENTER... I WILL BUY YOU FOR YOUR ATTIRE... THEN WE CAN SEE YOUR GRANDMOTHER AT THE VISITING TIME. Mrs. Leticia informs her."

Artica nodded satisfied, she missed her grandmother and wished she could see her.