- An Unexpected Friend -
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Several hours had passed before Samuel finally woke up. As he opened his eyes, he realized he was inside a den.
"What a headache... Where am I? Is this a den? What are these things on my arm?"
His body was wrapped in plants and medicinal herbs, covering his wounds — a temporary relief for the throbbing pain in his head. He struggled to sit up and, turning his head, noticed three wolf pups peeking at him from a corner, their curious little eyes fixed on him.
— Hi? — Samuel said, trying to sound friendly.
The pups, realizing they had been noticed, quickly ran away.
"I must be pretty scary to them," he thought.
With some effort, Samuel stood up and stepped out of the den — only to find himself facing a massive pack. Some of the wolves noticed his presence and began murmuring among themselves.
— He's awake!
— That human woke up!
— Who could he be?
From within the crowd, a wolf with yellowish fur and green eyes approached Samuel. His confident posture exuded a calmness that Samuel silently craved.
— You're awake! Excellent! — said the wolf, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
— Who are you? — Samuel asked.
— Who do you think brought you here and treated your wounds, huh?
The wolf's tone was casual, as if they were chatting about everyday matters.
— Why did you help me?
— What kind of question is that? You think I'd leave you out there in the forest, dying? Besides, you don't look like a hunter.
— Hmm, I see… Thank you for treating my wounds. My name is Samuel, in case you wanted to know.
— I know.
— You do?
— Yeah.
— How?
— Found your name in your stuff...
The wolf smiled — a mischievous smile that made Samuel feel a mix of relief and discomfort.
— You went through my things?
— Yep.
Samuel sighed, a blend of frustration and gratitude.
— And what's your name?
— Kuwabara.
The other wolves, noticing their interaction, began to approach, surrounding Samuel and bombarding him with questions.
— Who are you?
— Where are you from?
— How old are you?
— Alright, everyone calm down! He just woke up and you're already throwing questions at him? Give him a break — he'll talk to you soon! — Kuwabara shouted, asserting a certain authority over the others.
The wolves, recognizing Kuwabara's standing, backed off slightly — though they still seemed curious.
— They're not afraid of me? Or angry? — Samuel asked, glancing around.
— They are. But it's not every day we see a human in our pack. Besides, it's become normal to see hybrids passing through.
— Hybrids?
— You don't know? They're wolves that can turn into humans — or almost. They're the result of relationships between humans and wolves.
— Seriously?
Samuel felt a twinge of disgust, though he didn't show it.
— Yeah. I'm one of them.
Kuwabara transformed into a humanoid form, his features still carrying distinct wolf traits, making him even more intriguing.
— Alright then… Do you know where Moonlight Village is? I need to return there — or rather, find someone.
— Oh, is it your crush?
— No, it's not like that. Did you hear about the attack last night?
— I did.
— I was searching for a pup, but I ended up straying too far. Thankfully, I ended up here.
— I get it. But you're still not in good condition to walk. Your wounds were serious. Maybe it's better if you rest. If you'd like, I can ask my alpha to send someone to notify your village that you're safe.
— No, I'm fine. I can walk. Don't worry.
— You sure?
— I'm sure.
Samuel tried walking again but fell to his knees.
— Damn… How can I be this weak?
— I warned you — Kuwabara said, quickly stepping forward to help him up.
— You act like you're used to this — Samuel observed, noticing Kuwabara's ease in handling someone so vulnerable.
— Not really. Come on, I'll take you back to the den.
— Why are you being so kind to me? You don't even know me.
— Well, I might not know you, but I can tell you're not like the hunters. I feel something in you. I saw what you did last night — and that was enough to remove my doubts.
Samuel remained silent, surprised by the trust Kuwabara placed in him. Together, they returned to the den, and Samuel sat down, trying to process everything that had happened.
— You going to stay there? Need anything else? — Kuwabara asked, his gaze filled with concern.
— No, I'm fine. The ground's comfortable enough.
Kuwabara shifted back into his wolf form, returning to his original appearance.
— It's better this way — he said, his voice now softer and more comforting.
— Doesn't that hurt? — Samuel asked, curious.
— Not at all. I just prefer looking like the others.
— If it weren't for you, I'd still be lying in that forest. Thank you.
— No problem, Samuel. Friends are supposed to help each other, right?
Samuel nodded, feeling genuinely grateful for finding an ally in such a moment.
— I'd show you around the pack, but since you're not quite up for that yet, it'll have to wait. Either way, I have to go now. Gotta help a few wolves that came back from the attack — that's my role as a healer. But I'll be back before nightfall.
— You shouldn't trust just anyone so easily. Especially not a human like me.
— I know. But you're different. You're not just anyone.
Kuwabara smiled and left the den.
Samuel lay down, his thoughts tangled with everything that had happened. The weight of worry for Alex — the pup he had lost — still clung to him. He couldn't shake the questions haunting his mind. But as exhaustion took over, his eyes slowly closed, and he drifted off to sleep… hoping that, when he opened them again, he'd find some answers.
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