I lay on my stomach in the den, keeping a close eye on the side room where our guest was staying. I swivel my ears forwards, marking sure he was still breathing.

He had yet to wake up, and it had already been a full day since the Hunters showed up.

Sam still looked like absolute shit, but a bit healthier then when I first met him. Not much change can be expected in two days, but I expect him to make a full recovery in a month or so.

The knowledge didn't help much. I'm not sure how long he'd been in that cage, but any length of time was far too long in my books.

I sigh. Not much to be done about it now. He's out, and that's all that matters. But so help me, if I ever come across those elves again...

I cut off my thoughts before they can get too murderous. No one ever got anywhere with senseless slaughter, after all. Well, no, lots of people have, but that's not the point.

I perk up at the sound of shuffling from the other room.

I stand, poking my head into the small room.

Among a pile of discarded bones lay the huntsman, the open wounds on his leg steadily oozed thick, dark blood onto the packed floor of my den.

I scrunch up my nose, grumbling unhappily.

"You're doing a stellar job of dirtying up the place. Which is impressive, considering it's made of dirt," I mutter, glaring at the hunter.

I sigh, collapsing onto my stomach and taking in the hunter's appearance.

He was young, perhaps early to late twenties. Blond hair, stubble, muscular build. Nothing special for this country, average hight of... 5'4? 5'6..? Something like that.

I curl my claws into the dirt floor, blinking slowly. All in all, your average every-day Northerner.

So why do I want him to be a wolf so badly?

It was an itch that needed to be scratched, an irritating desire to sink my teeth into his flesh and tear a wolf out from his soul- A wolf that I can just tell is lurking just beneath the surface.

It was a strange, new... frightening feeling.

And yet, I wasn't afraid. I just know that this will work out in the end. That is if he survives.

I scoot closer to the hunter, lowering my head and tentatively lapping at his wound.

Rich blood coats my tongue. I ponder for a moment how odd human blood tastes compared to the animals I am used to. Not unpleasant, but hardly the first thing I'd want to eat.

Satisfied the wound was as clean as it was going to get, I carefully curl myself around the hunter's shivering body. He had to survive, because I needed him to.

###

"An' you're sure 'e needs to become a wolf?" Sam asks in an undertone, uncertain he'd heard correctly. He'd just gotten back from the river and was taking watch next so that I could go hunting.

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I nod. "Positive," I say firmly, curling my tail around the hunter.

Sam cocks his head. "Righ'," he drawls, frowning. "But... why?"

I shrug. "I'm not sure. All I know is that this is important,"

The other wolf looks so confused and almost hurt. I feel a pang in my heart, smiling gently. "Don't worry too much, Sam. It'll be fine. Trust me," I implore.

Sam nods, slowly. "Alrigh', Darra, I trus' yeh." He shrugs flippantly. "Maybe I shouldn', but I do"

I hum. "I'm glad,"

###

Two Days Later

I shift, looking out of the hole connecting the main chamber to the second.

Flare stands against the far wall, scraping away at the dirt with his claws.

"How's it going, Red?" I ask, absentmindedly flicking my tail.

Flare huffs. "Good enough," he grunts, clawing at a large rock. "I just hope it doesn't flood..." he says, glancing over to the entrance.

"Unlikely. Yours might, though," I say casually, crossing my forelegs.

Flare glares at me without heat, grimacing. "I never said that construction was a talent of mine" he mutters, returning to his task.

"Who's 'ungry?" Asks Sam as he slips into the den, his voice muffled by the fawn between his jaws. His matted fur is coated in mud and water streams off his coat.

"You look like a drown rat," I huff, standing.

Sam struggles to tug the buckling into the den. He gives another tug, stumbling as it pulls loose.

"Gee, thanks. You're so uplifting," he deadpans, glaring at me half-heartedly.

I walk over and take the animal from him before dragging it into the centre of the room.

"How's it looking out there?" I ask, tearing out a chunk of flesh.

"Wet," Sam says, prying open its mouth to get at the tongue.

Flare snorts. "Thank you, Samuel, for that intuitive update," he drawls.

"I aim to please," Sam replies, his muzzle already drenched in blood.

I grimace. "Sam, slow down. You eat like a pig," I chastise.

Sam rolls his eyes "Eh, wha' else is new?" He says, flicking his ears dismissively.

I'm about to counter him when a sound catches my attention.

"Shh," I command, ears perking.

A shuffle. A groan. Heavy breathing.

I scent the air.

Blood. Known Wolves. Dirt. Rainwater. Stranger Wolf.

"I think it's happening," I say, trotting over to the second room.

The other two look at each other, then follow me.

Inside the room, the hunter was cringing in on himself, eyes open but cloudy, skin splitting and revealing dusky grey fur.

"That's weird. He's blond, ain't he?" Sam comments.

I shrug. "My hair was brown before I changed," I say, holding up a dark grey leg.

"Mine was red, but more bright red then red-brown," Flare adds. "You, Sam?"

Sam frowns. "Maybe a bit darker? I never really looked at it too closely,"

I pained cry interrupts us. We turn back to the hunter, who was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating.

I step forward. "Calm, now," I say (In human tongue, just in case) "You're alright,"

He calms somewhat, but not very much.

I turn to my friends. "A bit of help?" I ask, cocking my head in the hunter's direction.

The hunter's head snaps up, looking at us in confusion. He snaps in on himself with a cry of agony.

I back up, sitting calmly on my haunches. "On second thought, you two can finish your dinner. I'll watch him,"

"Call us if you need us," Flare says, walking off along with Sam.

I sit there calmly, watching the hunter's body contort, hearing pained screams and the snapping of bone, scenting his blood in the air.

It takes a moment for me to notice once he'd fully transformed. I blink, lowering my head into his sightline.

"Hello," I greet politely, tail swishing side to side as a sense of right flooded my body.

The now-wolf yelps, scrambling into a corner, his eyes wide in fear.

I adjust my stance to make myself appear smaller, less threatening. "I'm not going to hurt you," I assure, taking a step back. "What is your name?"

He blinks at me, sides heaving, trembling. He looked as though he didn't quite believe this was real. Which is fair enough, considering.

Perhaps a different approach...

"My name is Darra," I say, smiling minutely. "Can you tell me your name?" I ask gently.

"D-Dean," He stutters, shrinking further in on himself.

I nod to myself. "It's nice to meet you, Dean," I say, genuinely happy to have his name.

I turn my head. "Flare, could you bring me a thigh?" I ask.

A few minutes later, Flare carries in the meat, dropping it at the entrance of the chamber. "Thank you, Red," I say.

I pick up the meat, walking as close as I dared before dropping it in front of Dean.

I back up, sighing. "Now, we have a few things to discuss..."