Chapter 3: Healing Time.

This girl is unusual, she has no fear of the woods or of wild animals. But she is also kind, gentle and patient.

I lay there, enduring the slight pain that is being caused as she cleans my wounds, but each time she finishes with one, that area feels infinitely better and little by little, the pain is leaving my body.

**

"Don’t get too comfortable with her. She hasn’t even taken us to the house to do this."

"I noticed that too Hades but think about it. Her parents might have said no. They are human, so a fear of wolves is natural."

"Then why is she not scared of us?"

"I don’t know, but I’m grateful she isn’t, and you should be grateful too. My accelerated healing ability is not mature enough yet, so we will heal slowly. We need her help."

"I still don’t fully trust her."

"Well, I do and I’m in control, so just try to keep an open mind about this."

**

Hades retreats to the back of our mind again, and I return my attention to the girl.

She looks tired, but she is diligently working on my wounds, determined not to miss any. I’m sure by the time she is finished, we will look like a wolf mummy and the thought makes me chuckle.

“Was that the sound of a chuckle? Can all wolves do that? And what is so funny anyway?”

Her voice rolls over me, like waves on the beach and her scent fills my nose, as she crouches close to my face. The scent of pine and cinnamon is intoxicating, and distracts me from her question, as I begin to emit a wolfy purr. She chuckles and scratches my ear, which I love, before continuing to treat my wounds.

“Done!”

She exclaims triumphantly, and I can hear tiredness in her tone. I look over to her and see she is wiping her brow, but she can hardly keep her eyes open. I whimper out to her in concern and she smiles at me.

“I’m okay. Only tired. Phew, that was a lot of work, I almost ran out of bandages.”

I watch her pack up the remaining supplies, and notice her hands are shaking, when she is finished, she collapses to the ground and sits looking at the moon. I inch closer to her and press the side of my body against her, I sense that she is cold which worries me. She leans into me a little and we sit like this for a few minutes, but then there is a change in how much she is leaning against me.

When I look over, I see she is falling asleep, I adjust my position so she can lay down and then place myself next to her, to try to keep her warm.

**

"Hades, she really needs to go back to her house, it’s too cold out here for her. What should we do?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you are my human, you know how humans would react to most situations."

"Sigh, if we take her back to the house, then the method makes the difference. If we drag her back, they will panic and see us as a threat."

"Okay so no dragging, what else can I do?"

"How strong do you feel?"

"Strong enough, why?"

"The only other option, would be to carry her on your back."

"Oh."

"Mhmm exactly, it would open up the injuries again. It’s your choice."

**

Hades goes quiet again and leaves me to ponder what to do.

As I look down at her wondering which choice to make, I hear voices drifting over from the house.

“Lydia!!”

“Lydia!! Where are you?! It’s late! Come home!”

It must be her parents and suddenly, I know what to do, I gently move away from her and slowly walk out from the trees, so I can be seen. I let out a small bark, and as their gazes snap in my direction, I turn my snout to point to the trees, and then turn back to face them barking again. They seem to understand and run toward me, so I turn back to go stand near her.

When they arrive to our spot they pause for a moment, and I can tell they fear me. So, I step away from the girl, I now know is called Lydia, and lower my head to show I’m not a threat. Her dad steps forward to pick her up, and with one last look in my direction, they carry her away to the house. I feel bereft at losing her company, but she needs to be warm, and her home is best for that. I look around for a place to sleep and find a small bush that has enough space below it, for me to slip into, then finally sleep overcomes me.

In the morning, a sense of urgency surrounds me, and I rouse myself to look around, I see Lydia, standing in the spot where she treated my wounds last night, and she is looking panicked. I realise she must be looking for me, so I force my stiff body to move, and emerge from the bush. Her gaze snaps in my direction and a dazzling smile appears on her face at seeing me. I pause for a moment, frozen in place by the image of her in the sunlight, even Hades is interested.

She is wearing black sneakers, blue jeans, and the same red hoodie, she had on last night.

“Good morning Pup, I was worried you were gone. I’m glad you are still here.”

“Arf.”

I bark and she continues to smile, as I slowly step closer to her.

“Feeling a bit better today?”

She scratches my ears as she speaks, and I lean into her touch gladly.

“Looks like you impressed my parents last night, they have changed their minds and said that I can bring you to the house to heal.”

I look up into her blue gaze and see joy and a sense of relief in them.

**

"I knew it! She didn’t want to leave us out here, it was her parents' decision."

"Yeah, yeah, okay, Mr. intuition, don’t let it go to your head though."

**

Hades is cynical, but I sense he is also happy to learn of this, so I don’t respond to him and gladly follow Lydia to the house.

They have a nice home, surrounded by a good amount of land, that appears to have been a working farm at some point. We walk, up onto the veranda that surrounds the house, and she leads me around the side of the building, until we reach a large size doghouse.

“Unfortunately, they still don’t want you inside, but this is better than you, being alone in the woods. And the best part, is my room is directly above here, so just bark if you need me.”

I stare at her in surprise before I approach her, she crouches down so our heads are the same level, and I quickly lick her cheek.

“Aahhh! Hahahaha. Thank you.”

She exclaims in surprise, but chuckles and smiles at my action, which pleases me, and I step away to go and enter the doghouse.

It is spacious inside and a blanket that has her scent all over it, has been placed inside. I cannot help but sniff it, and feel the tension leave me.

“I have to go to school now, but I will be back this afternoon. Here is some food to keep you going until I get back.”

“Arf.”

“Bye.”

I watch her leave and content myself with watching the trees sway in the breeze. I miss her already, but her scent on the blanket is helping.

The hours pass slowly and occasionally, her mother wanders outside, doing various chores, I watch her, but don’t move from my house when she is out here. When she returns inside, I then take those moments, to either eat or wander off the veranda to do my business in the grass.

I’m napping in the early afternoon, when I hear noise inside the house, and I stir a little listening.

“Hi mum, everything okay?”

“Yes dear, how was school.”

“Nothing interesting, Billy tried picking on me again, but I ignored him.”

“He is young, and young boys are often mean to girls they secretly like.”

Her mum’s words anger me, and I let out a low growl. I don’t like the idea of Lydia being close to other boys, especially boys that are mean to her.

“Urgh! Even if that was true, I don’t want anything to do with him.”

“Okay dear if you say so. Now go upstairs to do your homework.”

“But I need to see the wolf first.”

I feel excited thinking that she wants to see me.

“No, it’s fine, I have been watching it for you today, a couple more hours won’t hurt. Now homework, and don’t disobey me further.”

“Sigh, fine.”

I feel disappointed that I have to wait longer before seeing her, but then, I hear a thud on the veranda roof, the creaking of the trellis and then, she is here right before my eyes.