Alia crawled over Alf, shaking him softly. She wanted to call his name, but her lips refused to open; the words were stuck in her throat. She pulled him closer to her, feeling his body on hers, and she cried. Her tears fell on him, and his chest moved slowly.

"Alf," Alia said with a shaking voice. "Don't leave me."

He can't die. He's too young to die.

Alf moaned and slowly opened his eyes. "Alia," he said.

"Alf," Alia said as she hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Alf winced and pulled away from Alia. "I'm fine," he said. "Just a few scratches."

Alia looked at his body; his clothes were torn, and his skin was bruised and bloody. She shook her head. "We need to get you back to the camp."

"I'll be okay," Alf said. "I promise."

Bob appeared beside Alf and hugged him.

Alia quickly turned around as she heard something from behind her; she lifted her fist and tried to make it burn, but no flame came out of it.

Kenji stood there, looking at them, his eyes wide. "Alf, Alia," he said, his voice low. "Bob."

"Kenji," Alia said. "Good, you're here."

"What happened?"

"There were wolves," Alf said. "A lot of them." He breathed quickly, taking no break between breaths.

"Where are they?"

"I took care of them," Alia said. Kenji looked around and noticed the burned bodies.

"You did that?" Kenji asked, his eyes wide.

"Yes," Alia said. "I don't know how. I just did."

He dropped on he's knees next to Alf. "We will talk about this later."

Kenji examined Alf's wounds. "How bad is it?" Alf asked.

Kenji grabbed Alf and lifted him up, holding him in his arms. "I have to get you to Tera, quickly."

"What's wrong with him?" Alia asked. "He just has some scratches."

Kenji looked at her. "They're not just scratches," he said. "He's bleeding put strongly, and adrenaline keeps him up."

Alia watched them leave at a supernatural speed and sighed. "You're fine," she said, turning to Bob. "Let's go to the camp."

Bob nodded, and Alia picked her up. Bob looked at her with big eyes. "Thank you," Alia said as she followed Kenji.

***

"Tera!" Kenji shouted as he landed in front of the camp.

Tera stepped out of her hut with a raised eyebrow. "What are you— Is that Alf?"

"He got hurt," Kenji said. "Take a look at him."

Tera nodded and led him to the big tent. She laid Alf on the bed, and Kenji stepped back.

"What happened?" Tera asked.

"Dire wolves," Kenji said. "A lot of them."

Tera took a deep breath. "That explains a lot," she said. "Get out of here. I need to work."

"I can help—"

"Just get out of here," Tera said with a frown. "You're annoying."

Kenji nodded and left the tent. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "He will be fine," he said. "I'm sure Tera is good at this kind of thing."

"Yes," Naru said as he appeared besides Kenji. "Tera is good at this."

"You and your wife are good at sneaking up to people."

"It's our thing," Naru said. "How did you know that we're married?"

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"Alf will be fine, right?"

"I don't know."

Kenji's eyes fell on the floor. "It was just a lucky guess. That you're married."

Naru nodded. "Yes, we are."

"Can you help him?"

"I'm not a healer," Naru said. "I won't be much help."

Kenji took a deep breath. "I should've been there. It was my responsibility."

"We all make mistakes," Naru said. "Alf's condition is as much your mistake as ours."

"But I could've done something to stop it."

Naru sighed. "Kenji," he said. "There's no point in your sadness."

Kenji looked at Naru with sadness in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"You can't change the past," Naru said. "You can only learn from it."

"You're right," Kenji said. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Can I do anything to help Alf?"

"Yes," Naru said. "A few hours from here, west, there's a doctor."

"But Tera knows life magic," Kenji said.

"She can't heal people," Naru said.

"What? Why?"

"It's complicated."

"How far is it?"

"Two hours," Naru said. "But you can reach there faster. You're a monster hunter, so you'll be faster than us."

"I see," Kenji said. "I can do it."

"Ask for a doctor," Naru said. "Doctor Lam will be the one to help."

"I understand," Kenji said. "Can you take care of Bob and Alia?"

"Sure," Naru said. "Where are they?"

"They were injured," Kenji said. "Tera needs to look at them, too."

Naru nodded. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll take care of them."

"I had to leave them behind to get Alf here quickly."

Naru instantly lifted his foot and began walking. "I will check for them."

Kenji nodded and began running west.

If Alf died, it would be his fault. Kenji clenched his fists. He should have made sure they stay at their home.

***

Naru walked through the forest; he looked out for Alia and Bob.

People got hurt on his watch, but was it his fault? They're not part of his village, so he doesn't have any responsibility over them. But they are children, and they needed help.

Naru took a deep breath. "Where are they?"

He searched through the forest until he found Alia carrying Bob.

"Alia!" he yelled as he ran towards her.

Alia looked up. "Naru!"

"I'm glad to see you," he said. "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Alia said. "We just got a little messed up. Alf got it worst."

Naru nodded. "Tera is helping him," he said. "Come, follow me."

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the camp."

Alia followed Naru to the camp and Tera came out of the tent. "They're back," she said. "Come, let me look at you."

She took Bob and Alia in. "How's Alf?" Alia asked.

"He's fighting," Tera said. "It's good you two came. Let me look at you."

Tera began examining their wounds, and Alia watched her. "Are you a healer or doctor?" Alia asked.

"It's complicated," Tera said. "I am a healer, but I can't heal people."

"Why?"

Tera sighed. "My body and brain won't let me."

"Is it a curse? Maybe Kenji knows how to get around it!"

"Some would argue the mind is the worst of all curses and not as easy to heal," Naru interrupted.

"You have to help Alf!"

"I'm sorry, Alia," Tera said. "But I can't."

Alia frowned. "You're useless."

"I know."

"Alia," Naru said. "Do you think Tera likes this?"

Alia, with tears in her eyes, turned around and ran away. "Alia!" Tera called out. She sighed, went into the tent, grabbed bandages and a cream, and came out of the tent, turning to Naru. "You stay with Alf," she said. "Wash his sweat away with a wet towel."

"Does the goblin need attention?"

Tera quickly looked at Bob and said, "Her wounds closed already."

Naru nodded and watched Tera run after Alia.

***

Kenji finally found a village and a building that said: "Doctor Lam's clinic." The village was quite big with many people. They stared at him, whispering something.

He pushed open the doors and entered the building.

The clinic was a small place with a reception and waiting area. There was a desk, some chairs, and it was empty, except for a woman. "Good day, sir," she said. "May I help you?"

The woman looked mature, but not old. She wore a white coat and had brown hair that was tied into a ponytail. Her skin was pale, and she had bags under her eyes. She seemed exhausted, but also bored.

"Are you the doctor?" Kenji asked.

"No," the woman said. "The doctor is in the back."

"I need to talk to the doctor."

"You can talk to me, sir," the woman said.

"Look," Kenji snapped. "A child is dying. And you better believe me that I won't push you away for that child."

The woman jumped back, shaking. "I'll call the doctor."

She left the room, and a few minutes later, an old man with glasses appeared. His hair was free hanging from his back.

"Good day," the doctor said. "What can I help you with?"

"Naru sent me," Kenji said. "He told me you will be the one to help."

"Oh, Naru," he said. "That's not a name I like to hear. Are you a freeloader also?"

"I'm here for a child," Kenji said. "I don't care if you have a problem with Naru or anyone else."

"Well, do you have payment?"

Kenji grabbed his pouch and threw it against the doctor. "Take it all."

The doctor opened the pouch and counted the coins. He took his time; Kenji was slowly getting more and more irritated. There were a few copper coins, more silver coins, and some gold coins.

"Where did you say this happened?"

"At Naru's camp."

"And what happened?"

"Three children were attacked by dire wolves."

"I see," the doctor said as he turned around. "That's not enough." He threw Kenji's pouch back.

Kenji grabbed him and threw him against a wall. "I won't say it again," he said. "A child is dying and needs you."

The doctor looked at him, frowning. "And what will you do? Carry me for—"

Kenji punched the doctor, his fist hard enough to knock a tooth out and him too. "Yes," he said as he threw the doctor over his shoulder.

"You can't just—" the woman began, but she stopped after seeing Kenji's look.

Kenji ran out of the clinic and back towards the forest, taking a path he didn't know, but he couldn't care about that. He couldn't fail Alf.

***

Alia was crying below a tree, right at the edge of the forest, when Tera found her.

"Alia," she said, her voice low. "Are you okay?"

Alia quickly wiped away her tears. "How could I be okay?" she yelled.

Tera took a deep breath and sat next to her. "I'm sorry," she said. "If I could help, I would."

Alia shook her head. "You said you're a healer, but you won't heal Alf."

"I'm sorry."

Alia looked up at Tera, tears rushing down her cheeks.

Tera sighed. "If I could I would, I promise you."

"Why can't you?"

Tears began to come down Tera's cheeks too. "When my family died, I brought them back."