"This is the Nursery. We are sleeping in here, but SilverSnout has not yet finished enlarging our Place." BrightEyes was giving me a tour of the Pack.
"Uhhhh...Place? Like, where we sleep?" I was figuring out what things meant: Okay-Hospital= where we are healed
Place= where individuals sleep
Unborn= unborn Pups (ex: BrightEyes Pups).
"Actually, I just finished." A petite silver wolf with striking blue eyes exited the den we were standing outside of.
"SilverSnout!" BrightEyes barked, "How exciting! Now we give Keen the Grand Tour!"
"Oh, cool!" I said, in awe of the outward size of the place. It was so big!
We walked though the hole, and I gasped. "Wow! How'd you do it!?"

It was bigger on the inside. There were kind of, like, houses(?) along a street(?) which was confusing, but cool.

We entered the first, which was the closest one to the door in the middle of nowhere that lead to the Pack- to the outside.

It had a room with several...lumps first.
"What's with those lumpy things?" I asked, wide-eyed and curious.
"Those are for eating. You put your Killed-Prey on them. See the smaller ones? Those are for BrightEyes' Pups."
"Cool! So they're kind of like plates! Plates are these things we ate on at home- why are you staring at me."
Because they were, you know. Staring at me. Intensely. Like they wanted to eat me. "Heh." I started to sweat, "Why are you staring at me like you're going to eat me?"
"You do not mention 'home' this is your home now. If you want to avoid death, you don't mention your birthplace." SilverSnout glared at me.
"Ooookay then. Got it." I thumbs-upped.
We continued on, as though nothing had happened.
We walked into a plain room, with nothing in it.
BrightEyes said, "This is your Place. It will change to suit your personal taste once every three years. Scan your eye."
I did so, and the Place transformed into the absolute dream. This room (and this room only) had a SmartHouse (watch the new Annie movie), plus a loft, a transparent roof so I could see the stars, a desk, a walk in closet, a dresser, a master bath- it was amazing!
"All for me?!" I asked.
"Yes!" SilverSnout wagged her tail, appearing to grin like Winn Dixie! Calypso music flooded my Place, but the moment we stepped into BrightEyes and RouteNose's, the Macarena was on loop.
The Grand Tour ended, and SilverSnout and BrightEyes left me in my sound-proof Place.

"You get two video calls to your Birthplace each year, and one on each Human holiday. Use them well." BrightEyes' parting words rang in my head.

I turned to the wall near bed— which was all SmartHouse screen.
"Create contact: Mom and Dad." It turned on a contacts screen, and I flipped through their info.
"Email: [email protected].
Second Email: [email protected]."
Finished, I gave another command:
"Video call: SherryLemonLime–top Email."
My mother's face appeared on the screen.
"Mama!" I said, "During History a snake kidnapped me, and tried to eat me! Some wolves killed it, but made me come with them! I do not know where I am!"
Mama cut in, "Are you safe? Happy? I will have the police send out a search party, mija, if I must!"
"No," I told her, "I am safe and happy, do not send out a police search party. I do not know when– if ever– I will return, but I have been integrated into their Pack. I get one video call on Human holidays, and two others each year. I will call you again on the Fourth of July! Goodbye Mama! I love you! Mwah! Bye!"
"Oh, Straw-"
"Mama, you must call me Keen now."
"Keen then. I will miss you! Do not enrage the wolves too badly, my mija! I will find you back one day!"
The call ended. I realized how much I'd miss Mama if I never saw her again, but I had told the truth. I was safe and happy here- mostly.

~~
Okay.
So, I have decided- you know, Coz why not- to make Keen's family Mexican-American. So Bold Italics = Spanish since I barely know Spanish.
Now, my understanding is that mija means daughter, but if Mama was calling Keen Spiced Pickles or Son or Dirty Socks or something, tell me please! I beg of you.
Also, there are 3 references in this chapter:
In the new Annie they have a house that is basically a Smartphone, called a SmartHouse.
Because of Winn Dixie is a short-story collection about a fictional dog with the ability to grin.
Calypso music, my PJ fans who have read past BotL, CALYPSO?
Yeah.
Adios! (that means bye, right?)
Echo!