There was a knock on the door followed by the doctor and nurse entering.

“How is he?” asked the doctor.

“The same as he has been for the last day, I’ve been checking his wound periodically but there’s been no new blood flow. He hasn’t had a fever either.”

The doctor thought for a moment.

“I’ll take a thorough look at him. Don’t worry, I’ll see to it that he’s alright. What you need to do however is go home and get some rest. I’ll send word to you if anything changes, I’ve already sent for his family.”

"Thank you." Malicade said.

"It's my job, you don't need to thank me."

The doctor finally noticed the wolf and raised his eyebrows as high as they could go.

Malicade chuckled softly.

"As curious as I am to hear the story revolving around that, I'm afraid it will have to wait. Please, head home now Malicade. You need rest."

As the doctor said that he got a puzzled look on his face, staring directly into Malicade's eyes

"Hmm, now that's interesting." He said.

"What is?"

"Oh nothing. Just head home."

Malicade sighed deeply and made his way to the door, the wolf quickly stood up and followed. He held the door open for her to get out and then closed it behind him, heading down the hallway towards the door.

As he got to the main room at the front of the building the front door shot open and a woman came running it.

Malicade instantly recognized her to be Reculan's wife. He bowed his head, staring at the ground. He felt horrible and worthless.

She looked frantically around the room and spotted him, completely ignoring his furry companion.

"Malicade what happened? Is Reculan alright? Are you alright?" She said through tears.

He didn't respond, his fists were shaking as he held back tears.

"I'm sorry." He managed to say, "It's all my fault."

She looked surprised, "Don't say that Malicade I'm sure it's not."

"Yes it is!" He shouted, voice quaking. "I-I abandoned him."

His entire body was shaking.

She grabbed his shoulder, "Malicade, tell me what happened. Please. I want to hear it from you, not anyone else."

He steadied his breathing.

"We failed our hunt, so I chased after the buck. Reculan ran after me. After we both knew the day was lost we decided to head back, and on our way everything got unnaturally quiet. W-we both knew something had to be wrong, and then a large bear came running out from the brush. We both took off running. He was running behind me urging me on, telling me to keep going. But I noticed his voice was getting quieter, so I turned around and noticed he'd stopped running and drew his sword. He yelled at me to leave him and keep going. So I did, I abandoned him fully knowing he was going to die, yet I left anyway. I'm worthless!" He finished, unable to hold back tears.

She smiled at him softly, "That idiot." She started "Always having to play the hero." She said, trying to console Malicade. Fighting back her own tears.

She knew how hard the situation must be for him, her maternal instincts rushing forward wanting to calm him down.

"I went back for him." Malicade started, "When I got back to where I left him I couldn't find him or the bear anywhere, nor any signs of struggle. I was so confused, eventually I picked up on tracks and followed them to a clearing where I found Reculan. I tried desperately to stop his bleeding, eventually it did. She carried him on her back all the way here." He pointed at the wolf, "He's alive, but he's been unconscious for at least a day now."

Reculan's wife breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank Lycaon he's alright."

Malicade was silent at that remark.

She let go of him and began petting the wolf, "Thank you so much for carrying him all the way here."

Malicade wiped his tears away.

"None of this was your fault, stop blaming yourself. He ordered you to do something and you did. That's what you should've done. But, I'm glad you didn't listen to him in the end, if you hadn't gone back for him he wouldn't still be here. Thank you." She said, eyes watering.

He didn't say anything. Just looked her in the eyes.

She looked a little puzzled when they made eye contact, same as the doctor had.

"I'm gonna go see him now, you go home and rest now." She said.

"R-right." He responded.

She started to walk away but stopped and said "Have you happened to look in a mirror yet?"

He was puzzled, "Uh- no not yet, I came straight here."

"Hmm" She said, walking down the hallway.

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

He looked after her puzzled.

"Alright girl, let's head home."

They made their way out the door and began walking down a side road in between houses. Malicade lived with his parents and younger sister in a house a little past the center of the village towards the opposite end of the clinic. There had been a crowd gathered outside the clinic all waiting to see him and, more specifically, the wolf when they exited. All their eyes went wide with shock just like everyone else's had so far. Once again he paid them no mind.

The walk back would take some time but he wasn't in a rush, opting to walk at his normal pace now that Reculan was taken care of. His stomach grumbled viciously.

"I guess I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday." He said defeated.

A couple minutes later he heard footsteps running after him from behind. He felt a strange instinct stir up inside him and he immediately turned around, ready to attack anything that posed a threat to him.

The wolf jumped around the same time he did and bent down snarling at whoever was running after them.

Malicade recognized them instantly and relaxed. It was just Henrik, the Alpha's messenger. The wolf on the other hand didn't relax, continuing to snarl and growl. Henrik stopped dead in his tracks and looked a little scared. Even if being killed by a wolf was viewed as a good death it didn't mean he wanted to have it happen.

"Relax girl." Malicade said, rubbing her head.

She relaxed now, eyes still locked onto Henrik waiting for him to make a move she didn't like.

"How can I help you Henrik?" Called Malicade.

Henrik, drawn back to his senses, responded in a like tone, "I've received word from Duncan, he'll be back shortly and has requested you to await him in the hall."

Malicade inaudibly sighed, he was looking forward to resting at home for a bit. But he knew speaking with Duncan, the village Alpha, and the Elder was more important.

"Very well, we'll make our way over now." He responded.

Henrik nodded and turned to walk away.

"If it isn't too much trouble could I get a meal while I wait, I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday and I promised my friend here a nice dinner for carrying Reculan all the way back."

If Henrik was surprised earlier than he was a level beyond that now, no one had ever heard of such a thing.

"Uh-um yes, I'll see what I can do. What would Lycaon's descendant like?" He asked.

"Buck or Doe meat." Malicade responded, "However that can wait until after I've met with Duncan. I would prefer my meal before if possible."

Henrik nodded, turning to leave once more.

"Thank you." Malicade called out.

The wolf turned to look at him, clearly unhappy with his comment about her food being able to wait. Malicade smiled at her and let out an innocent chuckle.

"Come on, let's go." He said.

I'll remember this. She seemed to say.

----------------------------------------

When they got to the hall they were shown to a private waiting room. Someone laid out a nice blanket for the wolf to lay on, which she did. Spinning around in a circle before plodding down and sighing. A few minutes later a service lady brought in Malicade a platter of food, along with a raw slab of venison for his companion, looking puzzled when she looked at his eyes.

"Thank you." He told her as she left.

Once the door closed behind her he looked at his companion, who was happily snapping away at her meal, and said "What's up with everyone looking perplexed when they see my face?"

The wolf didn't answer or even pay attention to him.

"Thanks for the help." He said sarcastically.

The two of them had attracted quite the crowd of observers as they walked to the hall from where Henrik had met them. Word had quickly spread about the abnormally large wolf that was not only in the village but following around a young man like a pet. As they walked Malicade had tried to make out any of his family members in the crowd but was unable to.

"Knowing dad he probably went out in the search party." Malicade had thought as they walked.

They were kept waiting alone in the room for some time after the food was brought in. Malicade reasoned it must have been at least a hour. He'd moved from the chair to the floor to lay down after he'd finished his meal, which only took him five minutes at the most. He'd been given plentiful portion sizes which he was thankful for. Three rabbit legs, two whole boiled potatoes, a cob of corn, and two slices of bread had never tasted better in his life than today.

The ground wasn't exactly comfortable but the load taken off his aching muscles was heavenly. He and the wolf were fighting over open blanket space but when she'd bared her teeth at him Malicade had had no choice but to back down, now he laid just off to the right of it, using a small corner to rest his head. She on the other hand, was curled in a ball sleeping soundly.

"Wish I could do that." He thought, but with his luck as soon as he'd fall asleep Duncan would arrive.

He also figured it best to not keep him waiting due to sleeping when he'd requested his audience to begin with.

A few minutes later the wolf perked her head up alert. Seconds later Malicade was able to make out voices softly coming from what he assumed was the front door.

"Wait, I shouldn't be able to hear that." He thought.

The voices drew louder as they neared, it wasn't long until he could make out the sound of footsteps.

The wolf shot upright and hunched down like she had towards Henrik, growling softly.

But one of the voices approaching was forever burned into Malicade's memory and he knew the people they belonged to would bring no harm.

"Easy girl." He said gently, patting her head.

This time however, she wasn't fully convinced, probably due to the fact she couldn't see what was approaching.

"Sir you can't just barge in there." He heard a woman say outside the door.

"The hell I can't." A man replied.

Seconds later the door was thrust open viciously. The wolf let out a blood chilling snarl that would paralyze even the strongest of men. He froze in the doorway.

"What the-" the man began.

Malicade did his best to calm down the wolf, "Easy girl it's okay, he won't do anything I promise." He said frantically petting and rubbing her head.

She still wasn't fully convinced but relaxed slightly, no longer making a sound. Instead content with studying the situation.

"Malicade, where the hell were you at!? And how on Earth did you end up with that!?" The man shouted.

"It's a long story dad." Malicade responded.

"I look forward to hearing it." His father responded. "You're mother and sister were both worried sick, and so was I. I had someone send word to them saying you were alright and that I was coming to get you."

"I'm sorry." Said Malicade.

"You better be. Now come over here and give your father a hug damnit."

The two men walked towards each other and embraced.

A second man entered the room now. He was taller than both Malicade and his father, broader in the shoulders than Malicade as well but not his dad. He had a clean shaven goatee and hair the same as Malicade's.

"I'm glad to hear you've returned safely." He said.

"I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused Duncan." Said Malicade.

"Well from what I've heard I suppose it can't be helped. I'm happy to hear Reculan is alive as well, it's unfortunate what happened." He finished the last part grimly.

Malicade bowed his head silent, still ashamed of what happened.

Seeing this Duncan decided to change the subject, "I'm very eager to hear why you've summoned me, Ganyu will be here any moment since you requested the both of us. Let's move over to the audience hall, and please bring your friend back there as well."

Malicade turned at the wolf and laughed softly, "I don't think she'd listen to me if I told her to stay anyway."

She was content that neither man was going to cause her any harm and was now sitting and panting.

"I'd heard you had a very large wolf with you but I never imagined it'd be that big." Duncan said.

"I'll explain that as well."

"I'd hoped so." Duncan said with a smile.

The four of them left the room and headed down the hallway. Malicade's dad turned opposite of them, heading towards the main waiting room.

"Won't you be joining us?" Asked Duncan.

Malicade's father turned around, "I'd love to, I wasn't going to uninvited. He did only request you and Ganyu after all."

Malicade looked at his father and sighed, "I'd love for you to join us actually."

"Well then, who am I to refuse both our Alpha and my son." His father said with a smile.