CHAPTER 2

CRYSTAL

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I navigated the winding road back to Lunaheim. The fog was thick, giving this autumn season an eerie vibe. Just finished up another session of my secret training with one of the last witches in Emberwood.

The ancient forest whispered its secrets through the rustling leaves, echoing the knowledge I'd gained. The air was electric with magic, sending tingles up my arms. My senses were sharp, tuned into the mystical energies humming beneath the surface.

When I was about to reach the outskirts of Lunaheim, the fog seemed to thicken, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.

Suddenly, something hit my car hard. Instinctively, I slammed on the brakes almost breaking my toes with force, the screech of tires echoing through the eerie silence.

My heart started to pound in my chest as I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and flung the car door open. A small form lay on the road, whimpering softly. The shock washed over me as I knelt beside it. It was a puppy, its black fur matted and eyes wide with pain and fear.

Gently, I cradled the injured pup in my arms, my heart breaking for the tiny creature. It was evident that it had been through a tough time - there were signs of a recent skirmish, a testament to the harsh realities of life on the streets but it didn't look like a street dog, it was more like a werewolf's pup.

Tears welled in my eyes as I carefully looked for the wounds, my fingers trembling. I knew I had to help this poor thing.

But it was like my mind had shut down because of the shock, I couldn't think straight. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, hurriedly.

I got up and carefully lifted the pup and placed it in the back seat of my car, gently arranging a makeshift bed with my muffler to keep it comfortable. I turned the car around, my destination momentarily forgotten. This little soul needed me, and I couldn't just leave it behind. Not when my great-grandmother had taught me to take care of everyone because everyone feels the pain in the same way you do.

As I drove towards the nearest vet, I whispered soothing words to the puppy, "Don't worry love I will save you", vowing to do everything in my power to help it heal and find a better life.

When I reached the vet and called for the doctor the puppy was bleeding in my hands. The receptionist saw the urgency and she called the vet without wasting a second.

Doctor Cullen came out and I handed him over to the puppy. And I stood there watching with a heavy heart, as he gently examined the wounds and cleaned them up. The pup winced a bit, but it bravely soldiered on.

Every whimper tore at my insides. It was like the tiny creature was trusting me to make it all good.

And after what seemed like an eternity, doctor Cullen finished it up. He looked up at me with a reassuring smile. "This little one's a fighter," he said, "with some care and love, I think it will pull through just fine. Thanks for bringing it here, Crystal."

"No, don't thank me, doctor, it was my mistake, I accidentally hit it with my car." I felt so bad when I confessed it. And in reply, doctor Cullen chuckled, "It's okay, he's going to live because of you, no need to guilt shame yourself. You're always been kind to these animals." He pointed around the injured animals that I've brought here. Whenever I saw one, I couldn't ignore them so I ended up bringing them here.

"Sadly, I couldn't keep this pup here until it gets well, because as you can see we don't have any space left for him. We are full." Doc said with a sad sigh and I knew it wasn't his fault.

"It's okay, I think I could bring him back to my home," I announced with an unsure smile.

"Are you sure, I remember the last time you took back a puppy your Mother, Mrs. Maynard nearly killed you?" Doc said with concern but I knew he was teasing me so I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I can take care of it, Doc. Bye!" I said and stomped my way back with the little puppy in my hand as I kept him closer to my chest so that it stayed warm.

I cradled the little one in my arm, I couldn't help but have a little chat with him.

"Okay buddy," I whispered, "we gotta be super sneaky. My mom's not exactly thrilled about me bringing animals home. I've always wanted to turn 18 as soon as possible so I could move out of my parent's home and have a cute little pet like you, but now I'm almost 18, well exactly 6 months until I turn 18, but still couldn't move out, apparently I'm not a good cook. So, you gotta promise me, no barking, got it?"

The pup looked up at me, those eyes seeming to understand every word. It was like we had our secret code.

I kept talking to him at my home. I parked the car a few blocks before my home so that my mom couldn't see me coming.

"Once we are inside, I'll find you a cozy spot. You'll have water, food, and a comfy bed. Just hang tight. Okay? We are in this together."

Thank goodness, the autumn fog was like a cloak of invisibility, muffling everything around us. I carefully approached the front door, hoping it would not creak too loudly.

Once inside, I quickly made my way up to my bedroom. I looked around and found a perfect hiding spot, it was in between the bookshelf and my window, a space in the corner. I set up a comfy bed for him with a comforter that I hand knitted and some cushion, and I made sure the put had everything.

Looking down at our secret nook, I whispered, "You're safe here, little guy. I'll check on you real soon."

When I came back with a bit of grub for the pup, I couldn't believe my eyes. Some of its wounds looked like they'd patched up on their own, and the little guy... he seemed a bit beefier than when I first scooped him up.

I did a double take, my brain doing somersaults. Magic? Nah, that couldn't be it, right? But Emberwood, Lunaheim, and the surrounding towns were full of weirdness, full of Werewolves, witches, and other creatures, living alongside humans, blending in plain sight, so who knew what could happen?

I decided to shove the weirdness to the side, focusing on the here and now. I set the bowl down and coaxed the pup to dig in. It chowed down eagerly, tail wagging like mad.

I watched, and a mix of awe and worry washed over me. There was something special about this pup, something not quite normal. But for the moment, all that mattered was that he was safe, fed, and on the upswing.