sturmfrei (adj.) || the freedom of being alone

math." She grumbled.

Her father had just left for work a few hours before. It was a pleasant two days for them. They had cooked meals in preparation for the next week and danced to country music playing on her old radio. She really loved her father. He seemed more happy than he had been and she believed Esther was the answer. He could finally be relieved of his constant burden of her nightmare and find love again. She hadn't had the nightmare for about two months, though, and she had high hopes that it wouldn't return.

She sighed, writing the formula on her notepad again, and although she tried her hardest to stay focused, her eyes wandered to her window. The sky had been nothing but a heavy grey with few snow flurries for the past week, yet today the clouds parted to allow glimpses of sunshine and she thought she saw a few peaks of blue sky.

It was beautiful outside and in about a month, the spring season would take its home in the mountain. She couldn't believe how quickly time had flown. She kept herself on track with school, despite the wolf pups, and she was hoping to finish school a bit early this year. She sighed, watching the sun beckon her, and she finally gave in.

She promised herself that she would finish her homework that evening, when the sun couldn't be enjoyed, and she trotted down the stairs. She had stopped bringing the wolf pups into the house. Even though she loved sleeping with them at night, they tended to be too rough for the furniture and she figured they enjoyed the open barn space anyway.

She wandered into the kitchen and devoured a quick snack while picked up some meat scraps for the pups. She wasn't sure how much longer she could refer to them as pups, she swore they grew everyday, and she wouldn't be surprised if they grew another two inches since she named them yesterday. It was hard to believe they were only two and a half months old.

As soon as she stepped out the back door, she leaned her head back and basked in the slight warmth of the sun. She loved winter the most but she also enjoyed the summer months. She smiled as she headed towards the barn. The forest was quiet, not even a breeze whispered secrets to the pines, and she was sure if she hollered loud enough someone in town would hear her.

She approached the barn and tugged on the old barn door. It creaked at her, probably cursing her continual use of it, and she stepped inside into the barn. She barely had a moment to let her eyes adjust when she was assualted with furry bodies.

The pups yipped and whined in excitement, wiggling around her legs in overexcited behaviors. She laughed, bending down to scratch them all lovingly. They licked her hands and wrists, sometimes managing to get her face.

"I missed you guys, too," She said, and pulled out the bag of meat scraps she brought, "Now sit."

They promptly sat back on their haunches, their tails still whisking in excitement, and she frowned when she only counted five pups waiting before her. She glanced around the barn and spotted Cross sitting a few feet away.

"Cross," She tutted, "You Grinch, come over here."

He eyed her and when she placed her hands on her hips, he slowly stood up and walked closer. She would forever be amused by his attitude and when he drew close enough but still out of reach, he sat back down. A huff of annoyance escaped him and he cast his eyes down, refusing to acknowledge her.

She sighed and gave each of the pups a piece of meat. When she presented Cross with his share, he was quick to snatch it from her, narrowly missing taking off her fingers.

She gasped and then frowned, "Cross! You know better than to do that." She grabbed another piece of meat and when he was about to snatch it again, she reached out and pinched his ear. He yelped and glared at her but she shook her finger, "Don't take, I give it you. And don't bite the hand that feeds you, good lord. Try again, now."

Cross eyed her in disdain but he let out another long breath and gently took the meat from her fingers. She grinned at him, "See, that wasn't so bad." Cross seemed to roll his eyes. She had gotten quite used to their personalities and behavior, she never even thought of it as out of character.

"You might be Alpha of your brothers, but I'm the ultimate Alpha," She scratched Thane under his chin, "I take care of you guys and you respect me."

Arch stood and rubbed the entire length of his body against her leg, almost a catlike behavior, whilst arching his back in want of attention. She asked the pups to perform a few more tricks she had taught them, simple ones that someone would teach their dog, and then she went back to the door.

"It's very nice out today, guys," She smiled and pushed open the door, "Let's go for a walk, eh? Get some fresh air in our lungs and explore a little."

She had barely finished talking when Thane barged past her, nearly knocking her over, and jumped into the snow. It gave her a sense of deja vu when Skeet followed, it was almost like the first day she brought them to the barn, when they had all jumped from the little backdoor landing.

The rest of the pups were quick to follow as they scurried out into the snow with tails held high in excitement. She was almost worried that they would wander off and not listen to her, but when she started walking towards the fields on the backside of her property, they followed in a playful manner.

It didn't take long before they started tousling as they always did. They explored the forest with eagerness, rolling about and frolicking in their joy. Skeet would return to her side as if he was unsure but then he would be lured back out with his brothers. Cross would play with his siblings and keep his distance from her at the same time.

She had been midstride when Thane plowed into the back of her knees and she crumpled into the snow with a cry of surprise. Thane stumbled over her and then he was over top of her knocking snow all over her face. She laughed as she shivered and pushed him away but then more pups popped up over her head with curiosity and she found it impossible for a few minutes to stand back up. The pups licked at her face and whined until she finally manged to stand up, then they bound back to their play.

They reached the first field in about twenty minutes. The expanse of white snow nearly blinded her as the sun bore down brightly and she could only see blobs of grey darting across the field. She paused at the treeline and decided to just watch them explore. Once they seemed to be finished with they jostling play, she watched them start digging in the snow.

At first, she was confused, that is until the six of them jumped in excitement and Cross dived at something scurrying across the snow. When he lifted his head, she recognized a small field mouse trapped within Cross' jaws and she was mesmerized as he let one of his brothers eat it while he went off to find another field mouse.

She realized that Cross was teaching his brothers how to hunt. They would sniff about the snow until they found a scent then they would work together to dig and make the catch. It was fascinating. She wondered how Cross knew how to hunt and thought that maybe his mother been teaching him before the snowstorm had hit that night.

A few hours passed and the sun slowly started stretching long shadows across the snowy landscape. She rubbed her hands together to rid herself of the chill attempting to climb her spine and then she called for the wolf pups. They perked from their piles of snow, their eyes seeking her, and when they saw her they instantly left their hunt to bound through the snow.

She grinned, wishing she had a camera to capture the beautiful moment. They tackled her when they drew close enough and she couldn't do anything but laugh. She started towards the barn and she was mildly surprised when Cross led the way as he remembered the direction. She shook her head. No matter what, wolves would always fascinate her.

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