The sun was well up in the sky by the time Malicade started the ascent of a steep hill that he knew was in front of his village. The hill itself wasn’t particularly tall, but what it lacked in height it made up for in scale. Carrying a dead deer up was no easy or fun task as Malicade, and everyone else, had learned the hard way.

Reculan still rested peacefully on the wolf’s back, which still showed no signs of fatigue after carrying him the entire way. Malicade had offered numerous times to carry him but whenever he’d try to grab Reculan the wolf darted quickly out of reach. The journey from the small creek had taken them longer than Malicade had expected, not taking into consideration the slowed pace they’d have to walk at so Reculan wouldn’t slip off his mount.

Excitement began swelling up inside him knowing he was so close to home. He subconsciously quickened his pace, striding out farther in front of the wolf with each step, who was still strolling leisurely.

Much like his companion, Malicade had also neither shown or felt any signs of fatigue. His legs began to burn slightly now that he was, essentially, running up a steep hill. His foot landed on a patch of loosely sitting pine needles and twigs, causing them and his leg to slide out from under him. Losing balance, he barely managed to save himself from coming crashing down onto the ground. Seemingly unbothered by it he continued up the hill once more, drawing ever nearer to the peak.

Anticipation began to swell up inside him now along with excitement. But also nerves. Nerves that they would scold him for abandoning his friend, that he would face punishment for entering Bear Tribe territory, and above all, he was worried about how they would react to him telling them that he had met Lycaon, and that he had died in his arms. He bowed his head, slowing his pace to a standstill.

The soft stepping of the wolf’s paws grew closer behind him. A look of curiosity swept across its face, wondering why Malicade had stopped. It stopped when it drew abreast to him, head perked up staring into his eyes. He patted it gently, shaking the negative thoughts aside.

“Almost there.” He said more so to himself than the wolf.

With a heavy sigh he was on his way again. The area towards the top of the hill was more steep than down below. The burning sensation in his legs intensified the higher he climbed. He was tired. Having barely slept at all the previous night and journeyed hard each of the last two with very few breaks. The thought of being back home in the warmth of his own bed was a happy one, one that he couldn’t wait to make a reality.

He passed the last of the trees on the hill, powering up the last few feet of the hill. He could see smoke blowing up in the sky, probably from cook fires busy smoking some of yesterday’s bounty. Most of the meat hunted on hunting day ended up smoked for storage purposes, typically heated up prior to eating. The first two or so days after a hunt would have meat freshly cooked, having been kept cold in underground storage boxes that kept it from spoiling.

Breakfast had long since passed, lunch would probably begin here shortly. Malicade could vaguely make out the sound of voices from within the village which he thought was strange, typically from how far away he was that wouldn’t be the case.

With one final burst of effort he ascended the hill’s peak and was finally able to see home.

The village was just how he’d left it. It was surrounded by a large wooden wall made from logs of cut down trees, their tops sharpened into a stake. In the center stood a large town hall, much greater in size than that of the houses. In front of it was a large patch of open ground used for meetings, festivals, and feasts. On the far left of the village near the wall was a medical clinic, which would be Malicade’s first stop for Reculan, and to the right was shops ranging from grain to smiths. The remaining space was filled in by rows of houses lined in a half circle. There were empty spaces here and there as well, typically used as play areas by the children. On the outside of the wall stood small patches of farmland and pens for livestock.

Malicade was ecstatic to finally be back home. He collapsed down to his knees and let out a monstrous sigh filled with relief.

“I made it.” He thought to himself.

The wolf, Reculan still on its back asleep, drew abreast with Malicade and looked down at him puzzled.

Why are you down there? It seemed to ask.

“Don’t worry about it. Come on, let's go.”

With that he shot back to his feet and began down the hill. It wasn’t nearly as steep going down as it was coming up, the flat plain of ground his village was built on stood higher than the ground at the base of the other side of the hill. It was one of the few open patches of land in the northern end of the Western Woods. His village was the second largest in his tribe’s territory, only smaller than the capital city Dire Den. There were many other's spread throughout their territory in the Northern half of the Western Woods, ranging from large ones like his to small ones composed of a few families.

He reached the base of the hill and had to fight himself to not break off running towards the front gate. If he did that the wolf would most likely take off after him and send Reculan tumbling off onto the hard ground.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

There was a guard tower at the front gate, made from logs just like the wall surrounding the village, however it only stood about three quarters of the height. Next to it was a small hut. There were always at least two guards stationed. It was very rare they were needed for anything other than waving people in, but it never hurt to be safe.

Malicade could make out one man standing up in the tower, he immediately recognized him, he also noticed another one moving around in the hut through the window but couldn’t make out who it was. Malicade knew everyone in the village, as did everyone else minus the young children.

The man up in the tower noticed Malicade now and his eyes went wide with shock upon seeing the wolf striding even with the young man.

“Drew you gotta get out here now!” The man on the tower shouted, scrambling frantically to get down the tower's ladder as he did.

Drew came running out of the hut, sword drawn and head whipping back and forth, “Where!? What is it!?” he shouted.

His eyes finally locked onto Malicade and the wolf next to him, causing Drew’s mouth to immediately shoot open.

“What in the world?” Drew said softly.

“I’m just as confused as you.” Said the man from the tower, now next to Drew.

Malicade smiled and let out a soft chuckle. He was still roughly fifty yards away but had heard their entire conversation clearly, which he thought was strange but paid it little mind. He just kept walking at the same pace, letting curiosity swell up within the two guards.

“If you only knew the half of it.” He thought.

When he was roughly twenty yards away from them he called out a greeting, “Good morning gentlemen.”

“Is that you Malicade?” Asked the man from the tower.

“It is indeed Trent.” Malicade responded.

“I apologize for being so late, it’s an incredibly long story which unfortunately there is no time for.” He added.

Trent and Drew continued to stare bewildered, it was a guarantee neither of them had ever seen a wolf that size, let alone walking so calmly and naturally next to a human. Then Drew noticed something strange on the wolf’s back and something important hit him.

“Weren’t you out with Reculan? Where is he?” Drew asked.

Malicade tensed up for a moment, “I’m afraid that’s why there’s no time for the story. He was assaulted by a bear and injured severely.” Malicade started, pointing to Reculan’s unconscious body resting on the wolf’s back. “I need to get him to a doctor immediately. I also request that one of you send word to the village Alpha and Elder that I need council with them immediately, it’s of the utmost importance.”

Both their faces went wide with shock.

“Are you serious!?” Trent shouted out.

Malicade nodded.

“Unfortunately Malicade I’m afraid the village Alpha isn’t here right now.” said Drew hesitantly.

“What!?” It was Malcade’s turn to be surprised, “Where is he?”

“He went out to search for you and Reculan with four others shortly before sunrise this morning, I’m afraid they probably won’t be back until nightfall.”

Malicade cursed himself for not traveling all through the night.

“Did they say where they were going? If it’s at all possible I’d like to send word out to them so they can return as soon as possible. As I said I have something highly important for him and the Elder to hear.”

Drew sighed, “I’ll see what I can do. Trent, you stay on duty, I’ll return as soon as I can.”

“Right.” said Trent, he glanced over at the wolf once more, “I don’t suppose you could explain that to us could you?”

Malicade was shaking his head before Trent finished speaking, “I’m afraid I can’t. The Alpha and Elder must hear about it first, and as I said I have to get Reculan medical attention.

He left it at that and started towards the front gate, wolf following a few feet behind.

He briskly made his way through the entrance and immediately started in the direction of the medical clinic, there’d be plenty of time for reuniting with his mother and father later, right now Reculan was his priority. Being that it was lunchtime now, the village wasn’t nearly as active as it could have been, although Malicade was sure that once onlookers saw him and the wolf that many households would end lunchtime short to get a view of what was transpiring. As soon as he’d entered the village people had been there to see him. Every single one of their eyes went wide with shock, just as Drew and Trent’s had.

Malicade paid them no mind, it’s not like he had intended to keep his and the wolf’s presence a secret. Not that he could if he wanted to.

Drew had slipped in the gate right behind Malicade but it was safe to assume no one had even seen him do it.

Malicade heard whispers and murmurs from among those who saw him.

“What’s with that wolf?”

“I’ve never seen one so large.”

“Is that Malicade with it?”

“Who’s that on its back?”

“I need to go tell my husband about this.”

He just kept walking, choosing to hug close by the wall. He may not have intended to enter in secret but some concealment was still welcome.

He finally arrived at the clinic. It was a large and long rectangular building with two floors made from hardened stone and clay walls and a thatch roof. There was enough room for around a hundred patients if they did two to a room.

Malicade thrust open the door, surprising everyone in the main room and causing the nurse to jump and let out a small panic shriek.

“Malicade you scared the daylights out of me!” She shouted at him, “Wait, weren't you missing?” She asked at the end.

“Just got a little lost is all.” He answered, holding the door open and motioning for the wolf to come in.

“That’s a relief.” said the nurse, “But why are you here? Did you get injured?”

“No I’m alright, but I’m afraid Reculan is in need of treatment. He was attacked by a large brown bear. I managed to patch up his wound and stop the bleeding but he won’t regain consciousness.” He finished.

The nurse looked incredibly surprised, she went to speak but as she did the wolf entered through the door with Reculan on its back and was silenced by shock.

“He’s been unconscious for around a day now, please get him in a room and a doctor in to see him as soon as possible.

Drawn back by the urgency of the situation the nurse responded, “Right, follow me I have a room available just down the hall. I’ll send for the doctor as soon as we get him laid down.”

“Thank you.”

The three of them headed down the hall and went into a room on the right side of the hallway. The wolf carefully lowered itself down so that Malicade could remove Reculan from it back and he gently laid him on the bed. The wolf shook itself off briefly and sat down, staring at Malicade.

Malicade managed to notice that the wolf was female from how she was sitting.

“Thanks a lot for your help girl.” he said, scratching behind her ears and petting her. “I’ll make sure you get a nice buck dinner later.”

The wolf’s face perked up when she heard that.