Kaari tore through the forest on her loyal horse, Cirrus. Kia and Quill were gliding above her, twittering in their owl little language. Since she had a gift, she could understand all the animal languages and she could even have conversations with them. 

Her dark brown hair streamed past her face as she galloped from her house. Cirrus' hooves pounded the ground in a steady rhythm, luring Kaari further from her cottage.

Suddenly, Kia screeched and dove sharply, Quill right behind her. Cirrus reared on his hind legs to avoid hitting them. "Hey!"

"Watch out!" Quill hooted at Kaari. She glanced around her for danger, calming her steed in the process. He whinnied and shook out his mane of hair. "Above you!" Cirrus snorted. He jerked forward just as Kaari looked up to see an avalanche of acorns tumbling down on them. 

Multiple nuts hit her head and she threw her arms up to cover herself and clamped her legs around Cirrus' flank to keep from falling as her horse escaped the shower.

After Kia, Quill, Cirrus, and Kaari narrowly escaped her brothers' trap, she turned her mount around to face the twins. "William! James!" She shouted at the foliage. The owls perched on each of her shoulders and peered at the shaking bush. Kia flapped her wings behind Kaari's head and she hooted at the  thick brush. 

Finally, after a few moments, the twins appeared. William came first, his dirty blonde hair a mess with leaves and twigs. Next, James came with his similar hair in a better condition, only a few leaves stuck. 

They were both laughing. Kaari glowered at them and Cirrus stamped his hooves in the dirt. "Seriously? It's getting really old. How are you still laughing?" She exclaimed, anger blazing inside her. 

James gasped for air and said, "We should do that again! That was fun!" William began to agree when Quill screeched and flew at him, beating his wings around his head. The boys swatted at the bird and the owl retreated with a threatening hoot. 

Now the twins wore scowls on their faces. Quill hissed to Kaari, "Serves him right." She nodded, happily agreeing with her feathery friend. James huffed at him, his glare deepening. 

William raked a few leaves out of his hair, "How come only you can understand them?" He gestured to the animals.

"Because I'm special." Kaari said.

"Only special ed," James muttered. "Look who's talking," she backfired. William opened his mouth to defend his brother when they heard a rustling sound. 

The twins turned their heads in unison towards the noise. Kaari watched their expressions as she waited. She knew who was waiting in those bushes. That was the whole reason of coming. 

Her brothers' faces turned from anger to genuine fright as a white wolf stalked out of the shrubbery. Kaari smiles and waved at the wolf. The wolf's blue eyes glittered as she emerged and snarled. Akira sauntered towards the twins menacingly.

Kaari knew the wolf wouldn't hurt her brothers but they had never seen Akira. They didn't even know she existed until now. 

"Uuuuh...I think we should go," William stammered, not taking his eyes off the white wolf. James agreed and the two scurried off after a moment of initial terror. 

Kaari and her animal friends watched them go. After the boys disapeared Akira turned and wagged her tail, all the anger replaced with joy. 

Kaari laughed and dismounted Cirrus, the owls fluttering just above her. Cirrus snorted and trotted forward to greet Akira. The animals always loved seeing Akira. It was mostly Loki, her brother, who came to meet since Akira was alpha of the pack. 

Cirrus best his neck to nuzzle Akira's head and she licked his snout in return. The two white animals parted to let the others in. Quill landed on the wolf's back and twittered happily. Kia circled around Akira's head and hooted a greeting. 

Kaari loved her adopted family. She approached her mother-like companion and stroked her head. Akira barked, "How are you, little one?" 

"Great now that your here," she said, laughing. "Where's Loki on this fine day?" Akira sat down and curled her tail around her white paws. "He's hunting for the pack today. I asked him to do some of my duties today since I planed on meeting you. Where's Luna?"

"She wasn't feeling well this morning but she wanted to come. I'll tell her you said hi though."

"Okay," Akira flicked her tail at Quill who was nestled in between her two front paws. He stared up at her in awe. Quill was only just a year old and he admired Akira. Once he had told Kaari that he wanted to be a leader like her someday. Kaari told him that she thought he'd make a great leader. He had soaked in her praise.

For the rest of the afternoon, Kaari and her friends sat in the forest and exchanged stories, filling Kaari with happiness.