The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

3rd Person

The mountain village of Alta Montaña sat so deep in the rainforest that unless one was standing at its center, they might never realize it was there. It was well known throughout the kingdom for its beauty and artisan wool goods, but it wasn’t the sort of place many Southern Islanders went unless they were trading or hoping to soak up some time in nature.

While tourists poured into the town from regions far and wide, the area’s raw natural beauty struggled to tempt locals – as more often than not the entire mountain was covered in clouds. Even when it wasn’t raining, it was a normal occurrence to walk out the door only to disappear into a blinding haze of white fog.

Needless to say, it wasn’t a good place to lose one’s possessions, as finding them again could prove very challenging.

This was part of why the city’s orphan gang proved so successful when it came to pickpocketing and

swindling. It was easy to hide among the clouds and grift money from unsuspecting tourists, for even when their mark realized something was missing, they certainly couldn’t see to track down the thieves.

This was also how it came to pass that Ethan and Jane managed to come within feet of their lost pups,without ever realizing it.

They arrived in the village in the early hours of the morning, having driven through the night to reach their remote destination. They had no way of knowing whether or not the pups were somewhere in the small town, but it was the closest corner of civilization to the jungle where the children were last seen.

“1 don’t know about this.” Jane murmured, gazing around the quaint village. “If they went into the jungle maybe we should start looking there – this is an awfully long way from the turn off.”

“I know.” Ethan sighed, “but somewhere here might have seen them. There’s no telling where they might be in the forest, and they’re smart kids, they’ll have tried to get to people for help.” As beautiful as he found the landscape here, Ethan was less than amused by the constant downpours and relentless cloud cover.

It made picking up on the children’s scent- let alone tracking them – all but impossible.

Jane was not convinced, she nervously gnawed her lower l!p as she scanned the village, trying to put herself in her pups’ shoes. She knew they were smart enough to try and find food and fresh water, but would they trust strangers? Would they go to adults for help after everything that they’d been through? Sometimes she worried there was too much of her in them, or that she’d unintentionally imposed her own insecurities onto them – and that was before any of this began.

She scented the air for what felt like the thousandth time, but like Ethan, the flooded streets and dense fog prevented her from smelling anything but damp and mud. It was so powerful in fact, that she was struggling to even smell Ethan. Her wolf was anxiously pacing in her head, and Jane had to wonder how anyone tracked anything in such an environment.

dozen mosquitos happily svcking her blood. “It’s hot and miserable and just… argh! This morning I found a

Eric, and even then Ethan had been the one to make contact. Jane could only imagine how difficult it must be for her to be separated

know.”‘ She commiserated, hate to think about the pups

they’re probably loving it” Linda suggested, seeming to realize she’d accidentally increased her friend’s concern. “You know how they are with bugs and nature – they’re not

the outdoors. Her heart had always been too weak to go on adventure hikes or exciting excursions, which

want to make things worse for Jane, so he swallowed his concerns

pups were standing hand in hand, listening to Sophie instruct them on the art

and middle fingers – never your thumbs. Pinch them together like tweezers

mark?” Paisley asked

like target, whoever you want to steal from.” Sophie explained

I don’ wanna steals from anyone.”

resignation. “How do we choose a mark in the first place?”

always have lots a money. Sophie reasoned. “Plus the locals know what we’re up to. You can tell who’s who just by the ways they act. If someone is from here, they walk around like they know the place, with a purpose. The tourists bumble and look around at everything like they’re on

can’t see what anyone’s doing.” Riley objected, feeling equally as sulky

our advantage” Sophie turned them around, pointing through the thick

grown ups can’t. And the feet are all you need, rich people

what if we

of you. If one of you gets pinched, the other three can help fight off the baddie” Sophie suggested. “Honestly you’re lucky, do you have any idea how many times I wished there were two of me

asked, wrinkling his

with a big smile. “Besides you’re really little, so the adults won’t ever suspect you and

here very long.” Riley reminded her.”Just until we can make a

a little time. You’re first few scores have to go

pay for our spots?” Paisley