Opening the Cage by B. A. Tortuga

worry, and she pushed farther into the shadows, even giving a warning growl.
    “Hush, now.” Canyon bent to peer at Riana. “You don’t have to. You don’t have to hide, either. You can sleep on the bed.”
    He heard Riana’s tail thump, once, and he grabbed Canyon’s arm. Out.
    Outside.
    He wanted to see.
    Canyon put the slippers over his soft socks and led him outside, where the chill in the air didn’t seem so bad with the clothes on. Really, it was almost like fur. Almost.
    The snow was falling, and there were cubs, tussling and playing, their tiny growls on the air. It was like a story. He watched, waited to see what to do, what the others did.
    Mostly people and wolves just moved past them, like they had stuff to do. Some waved at them. It was an old lady who came forward, though, to grab Canyon’s arms and kiss his cheeks.
    She smelled a little bit like a witch.
    Not a lot, but a little.
    She had pretty, twinkly eyes, and a grand smile, like she knew there was bad stuff out there but had to smile anyway, just because life was good. Wend liked her.
    She touched his arm. “You’re Wend.”
    “Yep.” He wiggled a little, just the barest bit unnerved.
    “Welcome to the pack. I’m Minnie.” She was so warm, her hand touching his arm seeming to heat his skin.
    “Minnie.” He whined softly, nodded. “I’m new.”
    “I know.” Her hand left his arm and she raised it to cup his cheek with her palm. “Like a babe. It’s good to meet you, though.”
    Something about her eased him, bone deep, and he smiled. “Good. Canyon brought me. He gave me socks.”
    “He did, didn’t he?” She tucked his arm into hers and tugged him along. “I knit socks.”
    “You make socks?”
    She didn’t smell mean. She smelled like yummy food and cloth and flowers.
    The last witch they’d known was mean.
    “I do. I make them for everyone. Are you hungry?”
    “Canyon fed us today.”
    “Well, we eat more than one meal around here. Have you ever had pie?”
    His head tilted and he reached for Canyon with his heart, sorting through memories and no, no he hadn’t. “No. Canyon likes pie.”
    “He does. He ate a whole pumpkin pie one year, sneaking off to the pantry as a little wolf thief. He was so sick.”
    Wend chuckled. “Pumpkin pie.”
    He could try that. He could. With the cream.
    “Hey! It was spicy. I like spicy.” Canyon chuckled, trailing behind them.
    “What’s spicy?”
    “Um.” Canyon made this noise that sounded like pure confusion.
    Minnie just laughed. “It makes your tongue tingle.”
    “Oh. Oh! Like Riana!” He chuffed happily. “I like spicy, too.”
    Very much.
    Canyon snorted. “Riana is more like electricity.”
    “And when do I get to meet her, Canyon?”
    “When she’s ready. She’s scared.”
    Yes. Yes, she had a right to be. She always got bit.
    Always.
    “Well, Junie and I are looking forward to it.” Minnie led them into a building that was warm and bright and smelled like so many good things it made him dizzy. So many good things.
    “Mmm. Pie.” Canyon caught him when he staggered away from Minnie, holding him close.
    “Canyon.” He blinked up, a little bit scared. “We’re okay? It’s okay?”
    “We are very okay. You’ve just never had this many smells, huh?”
    Wend loved that, how Canyon knew him, just like Riana. He nodded, nuzzled Canyon’s jaw.
    “Well, come sit. We’ll have a tasting.”
    Canyon drew him down into a chair, both of them sitting together as Minnie dished up plates with so many things. Before it was put in front of them, another female came in, another witch.
    “Hey, Granny. Canyon, love.” She kissed Canyon’s temple. “We missed you.”
    “Hey, Junie-girl.”
    Oh. Oh! This one smelled like Canyon, smiled like him. This was his sister. He’d talked about her.
    Junie smiled at him. “You’re Wend. I’m Juniper.”
    He reached out, hugged her. Sisters were good. This one was very good. She loved her brothers, and she thought it was