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Really, it was just an act of kindness. There was no ulterior motive, no hidden agenda, no secret purpose; other than the purpose of doing good for the sake of doing good. Arthur, at the time, had no idea how his journey to the forest would impact himself and those close to him. How it had the possibility to change everything.
He lived a quiet life with his family. Raised on his farm that had been in the family for generations, nestled in the quiet county. They were completely self-sufficient, opting to not rely on the influence of the outside world too much.
Their impressively large fields kept vegetables growing year-round. The herds of cattle and livestock kept meat and protein in their bellies. And the nearby river provided fish and water. Arthur never wanted more from his life. He lived quietly with his wife Annabelle and their young son Simon. Though, perhaps his greatest regret, was that he had always wanted a dog.
So imagine his surprise when he found an abandoned pup in the snowy trees one fateful winter. The poor puppy was shivering despite its dense fur and was horribly skinny. It simply laid there, half-covered in the snow. Staring at Arthur with terrified, intelligent eyes as he inched closer.
“What happened to you?” Arthur asked calmly, scooting closer. The poor thing hadn’t even the energy to snap at him as he picked it up and wrapped it in his scarf. It looked at him with intelligent, multi-coloured eyes that seem misplaced on the pup, enough to make Arthur uneasy under their prolonged gaze.
“Don’t worry. I will help you,” Arthur decided aloud as he picked the unbelievably light creature up and brought him to his homestead.
His family was pleased with the company and the prospect of having a dog around the house. Even young Simon, who was little older than 3, instantly bonded with the animal. The two were inseparable and would spend hours chasing one another throughout the fields and nearby trees. As the months went on Arthur realized it wasn’t just any dog. Its features were distinctly wolfish. With a long snout and razor-sharp teeth that only revealed themselves when the dog yawned. And still, those intelligent eyes suggested something more than even a wolf.
It grew at an alarming size too and had a tendency to disappear for nights on end. Soon enough it was the size of a young sheep and soon enough its excursions would last up to a week. It spent less and less time inside the house and rapidly grew more independent from the small family. Though that didn’t stop them from leaving out food and water at the edges of their property, just in case their pup happened to want it.
One year the puppy, now an adolescent wolf by Arthur’s observation, simply didn’t return. It had been over three months since they had last seen their furry friend and eventually, Arthur said he had likely rejoined his pack. Still, though, the food at the edges of the property was still routinely eaten, though Arthur argued it could be any wild animal taking advantage of their kindness. Stubborn as little Simon was, however, he still refilled the bowls every night, insisting it was their dog who enjoyed the snacks.
What was strange was from that point on the livestock and cattle never had issues with wild animals. Before, roving packs of coyotes and wild dogs would sometimes claim the lives of a few before being chased away by Arthur with his rifle, but ever since the wolf left, nothing ever came. Though the family could still hear howls coming from the trees every month.
Many years later, there was the fire. A blaze that started in the dead of night under the new moon. The result of a teenage Simon accidentally tripping over an oil lantern in the cow’s feed trough. The flames, fueled by hay and loos grass, grew out of control at an alarming rate. Arthur and Annabelle rushed out of the homestead and watched the barn burn, trying to find a break in the flames to get inside. The wooden beams crumbled and the roof sagged, the building threatening to topple at any point. Arthur, an old man, prepared to simply crash through the burning planks, assuming them to be weak from the heat. He was only interrupted by another man doing it first.
The newcomer must have been a traveller from somewhere far, as other people simply didn’t exist on their farm or anywhere nearby. Despite him not possibly knowing the family, he charged through the wooden beams with reckless abandon, as if saving someone close to him. The beams crumbled around him. Just a few moments later he emerged from the burning rubble with Simon in his arms. The boy was conscious and remarkably uninjured but still had a glint of terror in his eyes. The Traveller set him down and prepared to leave without so much as a word.
“Who are you?” Simon asked, his voice hoarse. The Traveller did nothing but smile. His build was properly huge and he towered over the teenage boy, being taller than even Arthur and twice as thick. His arms were covered in thick hair that almost resembled fur.
“No one,” He said, his voice slightly raspy, “Just a concerned citizen who saw the opportunity to help.”
Annabelle, who shook herself out of shock, took the traveller by the arm and smiled up at him, “Well thank you, kind sir. At least let us make you a meal,” She said, dragging him towards the homestead before he could even answer.
Not long after, the family was sat in the dining room with their large guest as Annabelle brought out freshly cooked chicken and vegetables. The traveller kept looking out the window, eying the smoking remains of the barn.
“My pack could help with the repairs,” He said, rubbing his chin. Simon took notice of his abnormally sharp fingernails.
“Your pack?” He asked.
“My people.” The Traveller explained calmly, though his expression seemed slightly nervous, “We’re a small band of hunters that roam the countryside. Usually from here to Haddock Pass,”
“That’s a huge range,” Arthur said, “Take months to make it on foot,”
“We pride ourselves on endurance.”
Annabelle sat down as she finished dispersing the food throughout the table, “I’m sure we’ll be fine. Arthur and Simon are good with their hands. We wouldn’t want to trouble you,”
The Traveller ate the meat with his hands, avoiding the silver fork and knife that were on either side of his plate. “As you wish,” He said finally.
“Something I don’t get,” Arthur said, taking a sip of water, “That fire was intense, why would you risk yourself in something like that?”
The Traveller smiled and his multi-coloured eyes twinkled. “It’s the least I could do, repaying an innocent act of kindness.”