Suddenly, he regained consciousness. A cold sweat ran down his body as he slowly realized he was still alive.

I’m… alive?

His eyes then quickly looked around the room.

Last thing I remember, I was at a cliffside and it was sunset. Now… I’m inside a cave.

Looking at his hands, he blinked and now noticed he was still in his armor. Everything still seemed to be where it was save his sword and shield. He gripped his hands and even slightly moved his legs to make sure this was all real and not a dream.

Then a feminine voice echoed in his mind.

Seems you’re awake.

Alarmed, the knight turned his head right to see a wall, then left to see the entrance of the cave with a wolf sitting in front of it. Perhaps it’d been from surviving a world turned to Hell and back, but seeing a normal canine put him on edge.

The wolf approached him, You’ve been out for quite a while. Roughly two full days. We weren’t sure you’d ever wake up.

The knight turned to face the wolf, quickly piecing together who was speaking to him. Though he wasn’t sure if the telepathy was working both ways.

We?

Suddenly, a sharp, clenching pain ran over every inch of his body. The knight gasped in pain as his muscles spasmed. His fingers curled and relaxed of their own accord as he was forced to writhe atop a stone slab.

Hey, take it easy. You’re in no condition to start making sudden movements. Rather, it’s a miracle you’re even functioning at the moment.

Giving into her advice, the knight stopped struggling against his body and laid down to rest. Only turning his head to face her.

He tried to speak, uncertain if the wolf could hear his thoughts. But all that could come out were broken consonants and slurred syllables. The wolf watched him struggle, and understood his situation.

There’s no need to worry about communicating with me. I am able to read your thoughts, though nothing more. And to answer your question, it was one of my pups that found you lying at the cliffside.

The knight asked, How did you find me?

While your scent is unlike any other in the forest, we sensed your powerful presence first.

What do you mean?

All creatures with the ability to wield some form of magic have a presence. The stronger, the larger. However, yours was unusual. I believe it’s due to your current state, but it was akin to a pot full of water with cracks in it.

So I was leaking magical power?

Not exactly. More like glass about to shatter. Though, your body forcing you to rest for two days has certainly helped you recover some stability. You’re more like a leaky pot than a near-shattered glass now.

I’ll… assume that’s a good thing. But, why did you help me?

The she-wolf admits, At first, we didn’t intend to. Your presence was unlike anything I’ve ever felt in this forest. One wrong step into it and it could suffocate you. But then one of my pups heard what you said before you fell unconscious.

The knight recalled his last words before it all went black.

I’m lucky to be alive at all then. Thank you for rescuing me.

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He tried to lower his head in a kind of bow, but couldn’t do much more than lean his chin towards his chest.

She chuckled, You’re quite welcome. Though I imagine you’re also quite famished.

Moving to the side a bit to let light come through the entrance. Three little wolf-pup-heads peered in. One sitting on top of the other as they all curiously looked into the room at the knight. All having an innocent glow to their eyes as they looked at their mother.

Yes, you three may come in. Please bring our guest his food.

They all nodded and ducked back out the entrance before walking in carrying small baskets of fruits. Each one is made from dried, woven grass and small enough for them to carry things with relative ease. One by one, they trotted to the knight’s bedside and set their baskets down.

The knight asked, Is this… for me?

The she-wolf answered, Yes. My most curious little-one believed you to be a good person. And so, it was his idea to have himself and the others gather some food for you for when you awoke.

The first of the three and leftmost let out a small bark at being mentioned.

It also helped to distract them from being bored or play-fighting all day. So a win-win for a mother as well.

The knight looked to the mother, then the pups.

Thank you, again. I’m… not used to such hospitality.

The three barked in unison.

The she-wolf explained, They’re still growing, so it’ll be a bit of time until they can speak as I can. And… now that I mention it, it is odd that you aren’t caught off-guard by my telepathy. Or that you’re responding to it so clearly.

The knight also realizes this, I also now realize the strangeness.

Gently sitting up and turning himself, he took one of the pieces of fruit and lifted his faceguard only enough to eat. The pups, having sat before him for so long, couldn’t contain themselves and lept onto his bed. The most curious little-one taking a spot in his lap. Unable to control his hand, the knight began gently petting the small wolf pup.

Perhaps it’s due to how, where I hail from, is filled with monstrosities that could speak telepathically. Though they could never hold a conversation like this.

The she-wolf asked, You are from a different world?

The knight answered, Unless I have traveled backwards in time, I believe this to be a different world from where I was born. And I’d share its name, but I’ve long since forgotten it due to countless years of struggling against horrors of both the mind and flesh.

Sounds like a terrifying place.

It certainly was. Though now it rests in the dark abyss of the void beyond time.

The she-wolf thought for a moment. Pondering on a thought before asking.

Do you have an idea as to why you were summoned here?

It was now the knight’s turn to ponder. He thought back to before he fell unconscious and recalled two people. The memories were hazy from how quickly it turned into a brawl, but he remembered a few things about them.

I’m not sure why, but I believe it was to serve as someone’s minion or underling. One was an adult male. He had horns, though one was broken off. The other was androgynous, but wore spectacles and had horns like a ram.

Hmm… they sound like demons, though a broken horn is quite rare, she mused, was there anything else?

The androgynous one brought out a collar or shackle of some kind. I couldn’t quite tell what it was, but I didn’t like the idea of being under someone’s influence.

The idea of him being stuck under another curse or someone else’s will made his hands grip tightly. He’d sooner return to fighting tooth and nail against unimaginable nightmares than be forced into serving another entity.

The she-wolf wasn’t certain as to what happened exactly, but it sounded like a summoning of sorts. And it may not have gone the way either party expected. But that was a matter for another time.

Well, let’s leave figuring out what happened then for another time. But may I ask you to do something for me?

The knight looked at her quizzically, Perhaps?

She chuckled, I merely need you to watch over them as I hunt for food. Berries may be easy to gather, but they aren’t enough to keep myself and three pups fed.

I understand, the knight kept petting the one in his lap, I’ll protect them while you’re gone.

Thank you. I shouldn’t be long.

And with that, the she-wolf mother began with a light job out the door before breaking into a sprint and disappearing into the woods. The knight did worry she wouldn’t return, but noticed the pup below him having a hopeful light in his eyes. It was as thought the pup knew she’d return. Maybe it was him having a soft spot for small animals, but he felt comfortable putting his trust in the pup’s optimism.