Chapter Text
Light filtered through the leaves of the forest, scattering golden spots across the lush grass. You cut your way through the trees, holding a basket of berries you had freshly picked from the nearby bushes.
Life for you was quiet. You foraged, gardened, explored and baked. It was peaceful. Slowly a log cabin came into view, you quickened your pace, your red cloak flowing behind you. It was something your grandma had given you before you parted. You wondered how she was doing now. Coming to a stop, you wiped your shoes on the doormat and walked inside.
You walked into the kitchen and rinsed the berries before throwing them in the already bubbling sugar. Once you had completed the batch of cookies, you heated up the oven and sat on the couch to close your eyes. Today was exhausting and you still had 3 more hours till sundown.
You awoke to the sound of whining. Could someone have gotten injured? You stood up, stretched and yawned quickly, then threw on your cloak.
Following the whining, you proceeded deeper and deeper into the woods. You had only been this far a few times and your surroundings were almost completely unfamiliar. You turned a corner and was startled to see a massive black wolf. A bear trap had caught its hind leg. You crept towards it, showing your palms in hopes that it understands that you weren't a threat and just wanted to help and -- surprisingly -- it worked.
The wolf wasn't bearing it's teeth or growling so that was a good sign. You pried the jaws of the trap apart and the wolf removed it's paw, whining in pain. Quickly, you released the trap and narrowly avoided getting injured. You stood back for a moment, trying to assess the situation.
All your medical supplies were back at home and you couldn't just leave the wolf here to be easy prey. You could pick up the animal but would it let you? And could you even carry it all the way home? Only one way to find out.
“I'm just going to pick you up, okay?” You explained like the wolf could understand you. You stepped closer and lifted the large animal. He was almost as big as you.
“God, you’re heavy.” You groaned and carried it home.
The wolf let out a deep growl suddenly.
“Sorry sorry.” You winced, thinking you hurt it more. The idea that it knew what you said for a second popped in your head. You laughed at the idea.
The door clicked softly behind you and you let out an enormous sigh as you carefully set the animal on the ground, petting it's head quickly before walking to the kitchen.
“Get comfortable.” You said before opening a cabinet above the iron stove. There was clean white bandages and some handmade ointment. You carried them over to the wolf and carefully lifted it's leg and examined the damage. The wound wasn't lethally deep and it didn't feel like any bones were broken. Meanwhile, your other hand absent-mindedly scratched behind the wolfs ear. The wolf leaned into your touch and wagged it's heavily furred tail. The canine let out a small whine as you pulled your hand away to unscrew the lid of the jar of ointment. Carefully, you applied it to the wounds, the animal sniffed at it as you did so. Then you reached for the bandages and wrapped the leg tightly.
“Good boyyy.” You said as you scratched its soft chest, that it now had puffed up with pride. You cleaned the floor then washed your hands. The tray of unbaked cookies caught your attention and you quickly threw them in the oven, quietly humming to yourself, trying to figure out the next step. Should you let it go? Let it stay? If you let it go it was bound to get attacked… You passed by the wolf, who was still wagging it's tail, and slumped on the couch with a book. Minutes later, the black wolf came to join you. He lousily jumped up and laid it's head on your lap with a huff.
You glanced up at the clock 30 minutes into your reading session. Shouldn't they be done now?…
Beep beep
The canine lifted it's head towards the source of the noise. You stood up and walked towards the oven, grabbing the mitts and gently taking out the fresh batch of thumbprint cookies, the jam bubbling from the heat. You picked one up and blew on it before taking a bite. The flavour of the berries melted in your mouth and the butter in the cookie perfectly added to it.
“Want one?” You called behind you. You jumped to find that he was already right next to you sniffing the cookies, its nose a little too close to the pan.
“Back up, your going to burn yourself,” you chuckled, “Here.”
You blew on another cookie before putting your hand out. It chomped up the cookie with such quickness you were worried you were going to lose a hand.
“You’re hungry.’ You said in a half-laugh. Cupping its smiling face in your hands, you crouched down.. “Tell you what, you stay here and be good and i’ll go get you something to eat, okay?” The canine wagged its tail merrily. You stood up, grabbed your crossbow and threw on your cloak.
“Be good.” You said pointing a finger at the large dog. Hesitantly, you stepped outside and shut the door. You weren't too keen on leaving a wild animal in your home unoccupied but it seemed tame enough to be trusted.
You slowly and silently made your way up the trail to your usual hunting grounds, your crossbow held firmly in your hands. You glanced at the horizon, the sun just barely meeting the land below.
Perfect.
You crouched down low, semi-hidden behind a tree. You drew your bow silently and aimed just at the entrance of the rabbit hole. Everything was silent besides the trickle of nearby creek and the stirring of the grass in the wind. The forest song almost put you to sleep when a small brown nose poked out of the hole, sniffing the air nervously. You tensed for a moment before realizing that you were thankfully downwind. You mentally scolded yourself for not checking beforehand.
Slowly, the rest of the rabbit came into view. You drew back your slackened bow and aimed right where the neck meets the head.
You released the arrow and with a sharp whoosh it met the rabbits neck. You walked over towards the bloodied animal and whispered a thanks to the forest before picking up your kill and heading home.
You wiped your feet on the the mat, the carefully skinned and boneless rabbit on a small metal tray in our arms. As you opened the door, you held your breath, ready to see the destroyed home. You never could've prepared yourself for what you were going to see. Where the wolf was previously sitting there was instead a grown man with black hair and deep brown eyes much like the wolfs. He wore slightly torn suit accented with black fur. The fluffy ears on the top of his head turned back as he saw you. You dropped the tray and drew your crossbow, aiming directly at the mans heart.
"Who are you and why are you here.” You asked sternly, gripping the bow.
The wolf-man coughed before raising his hands in the air in a surrender.
“You brought me here.” He said. You assessed him quickly, his right pant leg torn to expose a newly bandaged gash. The exact wound you had bandaged just an hour ago. Questions began filling your head causing it to hurt.
“Stay where you are.” You said and loosened the grip on your bow
You've heard stories of people like this but of course you didn't believe them. You glanced at the man then recalled how the wolf looked in your head, and weirdly enough, they were almost identical.
“Shape…shifter?” You offered.
“Something like that.” He said, glancing towards the living room before looking back at you.
“Prove it.” You said, demandingly. You didn't want to fully believe it, though it did explain everything.
“I got this injury from a bear trap.” He said “Your medical supplies are above the stove.”
You inhaled sharply realizing he might literally be the wolf from earlier. Another thing suddenly clicked. You had been taking care of a grown man this whole time. You pet him and called him a good boy and let him lay his head in your lap, thinking it was just a dog, but it instead was an entire man.
“You’re a weirdo and a pervert. Get out of my house.” You stood up and clutched your bow. Without another word, the man stood up and took a single step before groaning and collapsing back onto the floor.
“You managed as a wolf, just change again.” You said, crossing your arms.
“Can’t” He shook his head, his ears still facing back.
“Why.” You asked, demandingly.
“It's…complicated,” He responded.
“Humor me,” You glared at him. Was this another trick of his?
“When i'm injured, i'm stuck in one form until safety" He sighed “When you helped and fed me, it did something to make me change back and now I can't transform back into a wolf until I'm healed enough.”
“Seriously?” You groaned.
He nodded.
“Whatever.” You said, sighing “You're getting out of here as soon as you can walk.”