Looking in the direction the pup was facing I realize what’s got him so riled up. Emerging from the grass, seven shadows, all walking low and slow begin to encircle me the pup and the grave. Feeling overpowered the pup retreats to between my feet, tail tucked ears down softly whimpering.

I can’t blame ya little guy, I wanna do the same right now.

I try to keep a brave face and slowly turn to try and keep eyes on all the shadows as they finish the circle and then I realize what they were. Each of the seven wolves looked similar in appearance to the mother I just buried, aside from being a little smaller. They continue to approach until out of nowhere a single voice is herd.

“Hold your ground.”

The voice was quiet but loud at the same time, and had enough power to it that even though I wasn’t moving, I also wanted to stop. I start to turn to look at where the voice came from, the pup beat me and began to bark.

“Grrrr…Arf, arf….arf arf”

While the pup’s giving it to the person vocally I get a look at the guy.

T….tall…

He had to be over six foot. Standing there looking at the grave solemnly as if he knew the one buried there. Unkempt gray hair down to the middle of his back, wearing a simple grey cloak with a single black star n his right shoulder and a couple simple gold rings, he continued to stand quiet for a few seconds more. All the while the pup was still going at him from between my feet.

“That’s enough.”

Again the force behind his words was incredible, but it felt more directed this time towards me and the pup. i stagger a bit just from the shock alone. Once I collect myself I look back at the pup whose gone quiet, just to find he’s passed out.

“He’s a brave little pup…..but stupid. One should know when they are about to enter a fight they cannot win.” The stranger looks at the pup with sad eyes.

“He’s young you shouldn’t be so quick to….” I attempt to defend the pup and his actions but the stranger raises his hand to stop me from continuing.

“In this world, there are not many people who would show compassion to a dying beast. Much less decide to take on the burden of caring for their young, yet you are different.” He take a second to look up from the pup at me and into my eyes. Deep green eyes that seem as if they are looking at more than just my physical body, but something deeper.

“Not only do you take responsibility for her young and defend him when you had no reason or duty to do so, but you gave her peace in her final moments.” His eyes move to the grave, over which a pale blue haze begins to form and condense into a spectral form of the mother. She slowly walks up to the unconscious pup and gently press lays her head against his for a second. She then looks up at me, then my hanging hand, softly nudging it with her nose. Slightly confused I raise my had to be level with her face.

“I could hear the mother’s cries for help, and even though I came as fast as I can I was too late. Through the entire ordeal I could hear her, but they weren’t cries for herself. They were cries for help to protect her pup. Even in the end when she was at her last breaths, she still cried for her pups’ protection. That is until you came across her dying body.” The mother gives the back of my hand a soft lick. I don’t notice much until the spot she licked started burning.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“GAH!!!” I fall to one knee, griping my hand tight until it seemed like I was cutting off circulation. All the while the stranger walks closer to me and places a hand on my shoulder.

“Endure it, in the end if you can’t deal with this minuscule amount of pain then how could you be qualified to care for one of my kin.”

Slowly the pain in my hand started to fade and move up to my wrist. Taking a look I notice the shape of a crescent moon with a single black star forming on my wrist, no bigger than a standard wrist watch.

“You answered this mothers cries for help, when even I was too late. You’ve shown care and compassion to beast that most would try to kill on the spot and you protected a pup that’s not your own. All with no thought of yourself or looking for benefit. I, Titum, Leader of the Black-Star clan, and companion of Rasha, and father to the pup there before you. I grant you the crest of the Black-Star, our strength and powers are yours, and I give our protection for these plains and forest of which I rule over. Do with these as you see fit, and teach the pup well. When you come across another of the Six Great Clans, mention my name and they will show the due respect and cooperation.”

After he finished his speech, the spectral mother beside me gave a single long howl. Soon followed by the other five wolves around me, and then nearby and in the distance I can hear countless howls throughout the plains and forest around me. Standing and turning around to look, I notice the number of wolves behind me has increased to an uncountable number.

I do not know your intentions in this world Mr. Allen, but do well to know and remember. There are many conflicts and infighting between the humans and other races in this world. What you choose to do is not for me to judge, but I will be keeping eyes on you and my child. Raise her well, raise her strong, and raise her to be a leader who will one day take my place as the lead.

Speaking into my mind, Titum said his final message before disappearing into the grass back in his animal form, quickly followed by the rest until only me, the pup, and the mother remained. Giving the pup one last lick she looked at me and slowly nodded and walked back to her grave.

Treat her well, and raise her kind. If you head to the east you should come across some human adventurers. I hope they treat you well.

Saying her last words the mother laid over her grave and the spectral form slowly started to disperse. Most of her went back to the grave, after which grass quickly grew over and a single white tulip rose out of the ground above her. Feeling another tingling sensation on my wrist. Looking down I notice some of the mist started circling around and began to get absorbed by the Black-Star Crest, but there was also some around the pup around the spot where the mother licked causing the pup to wince a little in pain in its unconscious state. I pick up the pup to try and comfort it as I begin to walk away from the setting sun. If this world works anything like my last then the sun still sets in the west, so if I go opposite of that I should run into the others the mother mentioned.

Not too long after I started walking the pup began to wake up, but still exhausted from the encounter there was no struggle because of me carrying it. I began to go over the encounter in my head once more when one thing kept popping up at the end.

Both the mother and Titum kept calling the pup a she, I guess I never really checked before I did i? Well not like I had a chance really. But just to make sure.

I stop walking for a second to turn the pup over and look at its underbelly, still groggy there was no resistance and the pup calmly rolled.

Huh, so you are a girl aren’t-cha? Well now that I know what you are…what am I going to call you? I can’t keep calling you pup now can i.

Smiling to myself I roll her back upright in my arms and continue walking.

I’ll think of one later, for now let’s just relax and walk for a bit.