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Little Thiren sneezed. The sun was beginning to set, and the cold, early autumn wind blew relentlessly. If it weren't for his fur, he'd be soaked to the bone.
He thought he had to get some food before it got too late, if he waited until nightfall again to do it, not only did he run the risk of having the trash taken from nearby restaurants or supermarkets, and having to search through the trash near people's houses. The reason was very simple: supermarkets threw away food after its expiration date, but that doesn't mean it's spoiled. The same goes for restaurants and leftovers. On the contrary, with other trash, there was a greater chance that something would upset the food.
He also ran the risk of encountering drunks or people with bad intentions the later he went out to look for food.
He shook himself, trying to get some of the dirt out of his fur, and looked for the dumping ground. He had to be careful not to be seen. Not everyone was kind enough to let him rummage or give him food.
He grabbed the edge of the container with his small claws and used his legs to propel himself forward so he could get a better look. After much searching through rubbish, he found the remains of a half-eaten sirloin.
—Something good!— exclaimed the little white-furred wolf cub as his curly tail began to wag happily.
Without a second's hesitation, he gobbled it up in one bite, his ears twitching with joy and a smile on his face as he decided to keep digging.
He found a piece of bread, but it was soaked with alcohol. With resignation and flattened ears, little Thiren brought it to his mouth.
He hadn't eaten much of that sad piece of bread when he heard footsteps from inside the kitchen. He tried to jump out quickly, scared, but in the process fell to the floor, landing on his butt.
—What are you doing here, beast? Go rummage through someone else's trash!—shouted a grumpy cook.
Hearing the scream and fearing that the little wolf might hit him, he ran away from the place with his tail between his legs.He ran and ran as far as his little legs would carry him. He sat down, hoping to recover a bit in another alley.
In the distance he could hear snorts and meows, curious he approached and discovered two cats fighting over a chicken leg.The little wolf cub's stomach was still growling, and for a moment he considered jumping into the middle of the fight and keeping it for himself. But he decided against it, he'd find something to eat later.
The little wolf cub let the winner eat his just reward and left that alley.Looking for a trash can to eat from, he was hit by a pleasant smell, it was definitely food, many kinds of snacks and sweets.
He was guided by the smell and listening to the voices of several people laughing and happy, he came to a window which was a little high, but if he hooked himself onto the sill he could see what it was.
The little wolf cub grabbed the windowsill with his hands and with difficulty managed to climb high enough to see what they were doing.
He could see a happy family, carrying a cake with candles to a little girl who seemed to be his age and they placed it in front of her and sang her a happy birthday song, everyone smiled while they handed out the cake and the little girl opened the presents.
That little Thiren decided he had seen enough, his stomach was growling and a loneliness colder than the wind that blew, stirring his fur and making him shiver.
He already knew it was a birthday, he had seen it many times, because wherever he hears the song days later there are leftovers, but that was not enough consolation for the little wolf cub.
Resigned and without desire, he returned to his hiding place. It was a little-traveled place because there was a risk of expansion of a nearby hollow. He curled up into himself with his back to a wall as he muttered.
—How does it feel to celebrate a birthday?...I would like to have a birthday...and be able to celebrate it…
He fantasized about that idea until finally sleep overcame hunger and he slept until the sun came up.
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Once again, October 4th arrived, and he got dressed and ready for work. The fact that it was his birthday didn't exempt him from his responsibilities.
Luckily for the wolf, it was a simple job; his employer was having a party soon and he wanted the place spotless.
That's how the hours passed until the end of his shift. Lycaon was eager to get home. Last year, Rina, Corin, and Ellen had given him a birthday present, and this time he planned to return the favor by doing something for them.
Upon arriving at the Victoria domestic services headquarters, he put the key in the door, wondering if it was too late to do anything; he wouldn't want to keep them waiting either.
When he crossed the threshold of the door and entered the house the wolf could perceive quite a few smells, Corin, Rina, Ellen and Butler, as expected and two that caught him by surprise these belonged to Robin, Miss Vivian Hugo, also the smell of something sweet in the air.
Lycaon turned on the light in the room, his ears pricked with anticipation.
—Happy birthday!— they all said in unison.
—I hope you liked the surprise!"—Corin stammered nervously.
—Calm down little one, just look how he can't stop moving his tail—Hugo replied to the little maid.
—I'm sorry you didn't try the cake I baked, Mr. Lycaon, but everyone wanted a piece and there wasn't any left for you. Luckily, Miss Vivian was able to buy one in time,—Rina apologized, truly distressed.
Lycaon looked at everyone present worried that they would get into trouble because of Rina's cooking, but they seemed to have dodged that bullet somehow.
—It's a real shame, but I'd be happy to try it another time,— he replied politely to the eldest of the maids.
—Next time I'll make sure there's enough for everyone,—Rina declared more cheerfully.
—Let's light the candles and let her blow them out,—Ellen said with a yawn.
—I'll light them then,— Vivian declared with a smile.
They sat down and lit the candles, together they sang happy birthday to an embarrassed but happy Lycaon.
Finally, the time came to make a wish and blow them out. The wolf thought of a wish, since the thing he had most wanted as a child had long since come true.
So finally he thought and wished “I wish my birthdays are always with the people I love” and gently blew out the candles.
—What did you order, old man?—Hugo asked with a half-mocking, half-sincere smile.
—If I say it, it won't come true,—Lycaon declared with a smile.
He couldn't ask for a better birthday, with his family and the love of his life. He didn't believe that if you say a wish it won't come true, but what was true was that that wish gave him the strength to strive to support all the people he loves.