FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Fourteen years later...

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Raon held his breath and crouched under his white fur layer, trying to blend in with the snow. His prey, a big snow rat that was digging in the snow, seemed to perceive the danger and sniffed the air carefully, looking in all directions with his little red eyes. However, Raon was the predator this time and he had assumed that his prey would do something like that. He had positioned facing the wind, so that he could smell the rat but the rat couldn't smell him. It was easy to be a hunter if you remembered those little things, but non-evolved species would never be able to maintain those useful tricks in their mind. That made them easy prey.

Finally, the rat turned his back to Raon and began to walk with short steps; the creature must have assumed that there was no danger. It was a deadly mistake. The boy came out of hiding and pounced on his prey, which let out a shriek of surprise before being pierced by the blade of a spear. Fast and lethal.

The joy that seized the boy when he noticed that he had finally caught something to eat couldn't be explained in words. Rukj was going to be happy; for a couple of days, they hadn't found anything to put on their mouth, and despite of the fact that Raon didn't need much food to fill, Rukj was a real predator and he really needed much more food than the boy. But, after all, they were different in many other ways.

In spite being raised by the wolf, Raon and Rukj were truly poles apart. Why? The answer to that question was simple and clear: Raon was a Human and Rukj was a Beast. Different races, different features, different physique and different ways to cover their flesh, either with skin or fur. But, what did that mean exactly?

While skinning the rat by a small lake, Raon saw his reflection in the surface of the water, as so many times. The messy brown hair that covered his hair had nothing to do with the thick black fur that the wolf owned. And then, his face: too much separate eyes, blunt ears, a nose in the place where should be a muzzle, not sharp teeth... Raon's hands were skilled but weak, while Rukj's were clumsy but firm; the wolf was big and muscled, but Raon was... slight. Neither too high nor too strong, and not nearly as intimidating as Rukj was. This was surely due to age; while the wolf had just begun his third decade of life, Raon was only fourteen. It was difficult and unfair to compare them.

Raon put the prey in his bag and looked around before bending over to drink some water. The lake was frozen in some parts; to drink in it was only a possibility during summer, if it was warm enough to keep the lake liquid. During autumn, the lake started to become solid while the ice began to cover the ground. Then, the only way to drink water was taking snow from outside and making it melts on a pot. He and Rukj did it every winter. It was almost a routine.

The boy stopped drinking water and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He stood up and contemplated the huge landscape that stretched before him; he couldn't help but feeling a bit impressed. There was snow anywhere he looked, a snow layer that seemed to cover the whole world. The sun reflected on that cool white powder, making it to shine with red and warm colors which made Raon feel less cold than it really was. And, beyond the snow, the Borderline stood.

Its wall loomed on the horizon, magnificent and frightening, and its shape infused Raon a strange sense of anxiety he couldn't explain. It was large and tall, and seemed to have been constructed thousands of years ago, but still stayed on the same place, dividing the world in two different and opposite parts.

In fact, Raon didn't know much about the Borderline.

He knew that it separated the Beasts' Lands where he was and the Human's Lands where his race was, but Rukj hadn't told him much more. The only thing that the wolf had said him about the Borderline was that the boy should never, never approach it, let alone cross over. That was the only prohibition that his furry adoptive father had ever placed him, and until then Raon had respected it carefully.

And that was because, after all, Raon admired the wolf that had taken care of him for those fourteen years. Although sometimes he wouldn't admit it.

Suddenly, a paw fell softly on his shoulder and Raon turned rapidly, startled, preparing to use his knife if necessary. But, when he saw who it was, he relaxed and let his guard down.

-Oh... it was only you -he said for himself, turning again to the Borderline.

Of course, who had surprised him from behind was Rukj. For some reason, the Wolf had the exasperating habit of appear when Raon wasn't waiting for him.

-What are you doing? -the wolf asked, with his familiar hoarse deep voice.

-Hunting -Raon replied, briefly -. Look, I've caught a snow rat.

-That's good -Rukj mused, with his eye on the Borderline too-. Our provisions are running out.

-You can go to the town to buy something -the boy proposed, carefully.

The wolf didn't respond, but the boy noticed his muscles tensing and his paw closing tightly. Rukj didn't like to go to the near town; Raon didn't know the reason, but it was a fact.

-It's not a good idea -the wolf replied, finally -. Neither is to look the Borderline. I've told you a million times, Raon. Wondering what's on the other side will only bring you problems.

That said, Rukj began to walk to their hut, which wasn't too far away. Raon followed him.

-I wasn't wondering what was on the other side -he explained -, but why it's still there. I mean, it's not difficult to cross. You always tell me that the Humans usually come to the Beasts' Lands. Sometimes, they even invade towns and villages, isn't it?

Rukj let out an aggressive growl.

-Right. But you better don't ask about that. You ask too much -he responded, as he had said many times before.

That was something that the wolf always replied him when he didn't know what to say, and over time it had become a phrase that he had repeated a thousand times. "You ask too much" was sort a way out, and in spite the fact that Raon knew that if the wolf didn't answer it was because he didn't want to, he also had get used to the gloomy words of his adoptive father.

-I think we're having a great dinner tonight -Rukj said, changing the subject. Raon then noticed that his claws were covered with blood -. Yeah. I've been hunting too.

The crackling of the fire was one of the sounds that Raon liked the most.

Unlike Rukj, he couldn't go outside to the frozen wasteland that surrounded his hut without wearing some clothes to protect him of the cold temperature; however, the wolf didn't need more than his own fur. And, whenever they returned to the hut, Raon was shivering while Rukj hadn't noticed the change of the temperature.

But the wolf always lighted a fire. And the sparks of fire reflected in Rukj's eyes, making him to remember ancient days, bloody and terrible days, when he had made a promise that he still was keeping... to take care of that Human. He observed that boy who he had raised as his own cub and thought about his decision. The wolf didn't know if he had been right, or if he had made a great and unforgivable mistake. He still wondered if his decision had been a good idea.

But one thing was for sure: he had suffered for it. His friends and brothers in arms had refused to admit that he had received a Human under his paw, and they all had given back. To Rukj was hard to understand that no one was going to help him... and that if he wanted to take care of that cub, he should do it completely alone. Banished from his own city, he had found that little hut and had made it habitable, even knowing that it was close to the Borderline.

And life had continued for fourteen years, with a calm that seemed dubious...

-Rukj -Raon called, waking him up of those painful memories -. What's the difference between the evolved Beasts as you and the ones we hunt?

The wolf was silent for a moment, thinking.

-We can talk -he responded, finally.

-And what would happen if the non-evolved Beasts could talk like us, but we didn't understand them? -Raon asked, tilting his head.

-Well, I think that's not important. The minor Beasts, as we called them, are smaller, weaker and stupider than us, and that's the reason we can hunt them and eat'em without remorse. It's not like if you were... killing a bull, or a lynx, or a hare, who are with us the wolves the group of the evolved species -Rukj paused -. We hunt because we're hungry, and the minor Beasts are easy prey.

-But, when does a minor Beast turn into an evolved Beast? -Raon kept asking, not giving up -. Does it happen suddenly, or does it take time?

Rukj let out a low growl.

-I don't know, Raon. I don't know. Why don't you stop doing that kind of questions, for a change?

-Sorry. I'm curious -Raon apologized, shrugging -. And we never talk about these things.

Rukj gave him a long look, before turning to the fire again. What Raon had just said was true: they didn't talk too much. They just lived together while, outside, the terrible war between Beasts and Humans continued behind them. Of course, the boy didn't know much of this war, but Rukj tried to ignore it as if it didn't exist, and that wasn't easy living with one of his enemies.

Maybe was that what made him to behave that gloomy way with the boy, although Rukj didn't consider himself as the most affable Beast at all. Simply, the wolf was that way, and neither he nor Raon could change it.

-Pass me the meat -Rukj said a few seconds later -. I think the coals are ready.

The next morning, Raon woke up lazily and, still more asleep than awaken, he pulled the sheet and rubbed his bleary eyes. The dinner of the previous night had been the best of the last week, and waking up with a full stomach put him in a good mood; it was going to be a great day, that for sure.

The sun filtered through the silts in the wooden wall, dissipating the darkness and plunging the room into a mild half-light. The small hut was just that big room, which fit two beds, a pair of wardrobes and the old chimney on the bottom. It wasn't much, but it was Raon's home, and he had learned to love it. Besides, he didn't know nothing but that hut and his nearest surroundings.

The boy got up and started to dress with his white furs, willing to go outside and hoping the cold morning breeze roused him up a little bit more. Rukj was still asleep, spread-eagled in the corner bed, snoring softly. When Raon passed him, he opened a little his eyes and, as usual, he asked with a sleepy voice:

-Where... you going?

In fact, Rukj slept so deeply that when he closed his eyes again he would forget the answer that the Human had given him, but Raon used to reply him and that morning wasn't going to be an exception.

-For a walk. I'm returning in one or two hours.

The wolf nodded slowly and then he closed his eyes, tangled again in the spider web of his dreams and fell sound asleep. Next to him, Raon couldn't help but smile; Rukj was a great hunter and had taught the Human all that he knew, but when he was sleeping he was helpless like easy prey.

The Human opened the door, being careful not to wake him up, and went outside. His thoughts soon started to get clearer as he took a deep breath of fresh air. Rukj used to say that Raon was a restless soul, and he wasn't wrong: the boy could focus easily in a prompt target, but he couldn't stay in one place for long, so he usually went to walk or explore. This, together with his insatiable curiosity, made him a very different creature from Rukj, not only in appearance but in mentality too. It wasn't strange that the coexistence was difficult in some moments.

The sun was shining brightly that morning, high on the sky, and Raon felt a positive optimism in his mind as he walked through the frozen wastes, without knowing exactly where to go first. He just needed to move and drawn in his own thoughts. That was the reason of Raon's walks, the pleasure of a walk.

However, the peace and happiness that he felt since the moment he had awakened was suddenly disrupted when something strange happened. The boy's thoughts were broken by a long howling of pain, a howling that put him the willies and made him realize that something was wrong in that perfect morning. After thinking about it for a few seconds, he took his knife cautiously and made sure that his spear was in the correct place in his belt, going right to where he had heard that spooky howling. Just a few meters ahead, the boy was able to see the cause of the noise.

Calmly, he hid behind a little pile of snow and tried to spy what was going on without being seen. He saw some forms on the horizon, some silhouettes which seemed to be carrying something a little bit bigger than them... When Raon realized what, or better said, who those forms were, he couldn't help covering his mouth with his hand and trying not to scream, surprised.

In the first place, those black forms that highlighted over the snow were Humans. Raon counted five, and they seemed to be walking joyfully while talking about what they were going to do. At the same time, they were pulling a tied creature that crawled after them. The creature was bigger and furrier than them.

It was a Beast.

Raon squinted, trying to see better what specie that Beast was, and he realized that he had the same lupine features of Rukj, although that wolf wasn't black at all but reddish, and his fur seemed to shine as copper under the sun. Would it be blood, not the original color of his fur? Raon didn't want to think about it.

But one thing was for sure: the wolf was suffering.

He couldn't even stand up, and he let out some grunts of pain and desperate screams of supplication that reached Raon's ear and made him tremble with fear. And, when he saw the blood stains soiling the snow it got worse. So the wolf was a prisoner, and the Humans were taking him with them to make him suffer even more than he already had suffered.

Raon clenched his fingers around the knife, wondering what to do. On one hand, those were the first Humans who he had seen on his life, so he must be happy. But the fear and the queasiness, which were the only things that he felt in that moment, were incompatible with happiness.

On the other hand, the grunts and howls of the wolf were affecting him more than he could imagine. It was almost as if he was feeling the same pain as the poor Beast, as if he was the one trapped by the Humans... It was a strange and irrational feeling, and he wondered where would it come from, and why did it scared him so much.

What was he supposed to do, then?

Finally, Raon shook his head and decided that the most reasonable option would be to alert Rukj about what he had seen. A new cry of pain followed by some Human's burst of laughter made the boy shudder, before he ran out to his hut, silently. He made sure to memorize the place where he had found that sinister procession.

A few minutes later, he arrived to the hut and rushed against the door, forgetting that Rukj was sleeping inside. The confused wolf opened his eyes, and with sleepy voice he asked him, as he looked him with glassy eyes:

-You... returned?

-Rukj, you have to see this! -the boy exclaimed, approaching his bed and shaking him by the arm to wake him up -. There is a band of Humans outside!

-Humans? -the wolf repeated; his voice still weak but with a low tone of alert. He got up and shook his head, trying to escape from the doze -. You just said... there are Humans outside?

-They have someone, a prisoner, a wolf -Raon explained quickly -. They're only five; I think we could do something for...

-How far are they from here? -Rukj interrupted him, fully awake -. I mean, could they find the hut?

Raon hesitated for a moment.

-No, I don't think so -he replied, finally -. But that isn't important now! They have a wolf with'em, and if we don't do something... I think they'll kill him.

Rukj stood quiet for a moment, taking a thoughtful expression.

-Five, you said -he muttered to himself -. They must be Trackers.

-Trackers?

-Yeah. They have probably found that Beast wounded, and have decided to take him to a big city, where he'll be publicly executed -the wolf explained, calmly -. Trackers are not used to fight, so they wouldn't be a problem for us... but they're five...

-Oh, Rukj, please! -Raon insisted, increasingly nervous -. We can't leave that wolf in their hands! It wouldn't be fair if we abandon him!

-Well, I wonder if that wolf would do the same for us -Rukj mumbled looking directly to Raon. Finally, he let out a whisper of resignation and gave up -. Okay, listen: we are helping the wolf. But if something goes wrong, we're not staying to see it.

-It sounds good to me -Raon accepted, gulping.

Rukj smiled faintly, showing his sharp teeth.

-Alright -he said, in a whisper -. Let's go then.

They both got out of the hut and started running soundlessly towards the place where Raon had seen the Humans and the captive wolf. The boy hoped they hadn't moved while he had been away, because otherwise, he and Rukj wouldn't be able to find them again.

But, when they arrived to the place, the Trackers and his prey could still be heard not far from there. Rukj and Raon only had to listen carefully to them, following their voices while hiding behind the snow mounds. The wolf was the first, and as Raon followed him he noticed the stealth and determination in the Beast's moves; something in that absolute professionalism made him think for an instant that even a hunter couldn't be so silent and deadly as Rukj was. Maybe that perfection at hunting was due to something that Raon didn't know, something that his adoptive father hadn't told him. Maybe... but the boy didn't want to think at that moment.

Step by step, Rukj and Raon got closer to the group, until they stopped beside the path where the Trackers were going to go. The wolf looked round without being seen, and turned to Raon, who was looking at him amazed.

-Imagine they are your prey -Rukj muttered the boy, with such a low voice that he thought he had figured it.

Still he nodded and waited.

Little by little, the Trackers approached the place where Rukj and Raon were hiding, conversing happily while the wolf's complaints filled the air. It seems they didn't care about their trophy's condition.

As Rukj observed the Trackers' moves, he couldn't help but notice the expression on Raon's face. It was as if the Human was suffering with the captive wolf, as if all that pain was affecting him too. The boy was even trembling, pale as a candle, while looking to the road where the Trackers were about to appear. And he seemed to be the one caught by the Humans. <<What a foolishness>> Rukj thought <<. He's just a bit impressed because he hadn't ever seen nothing like this. That's all>>. But the boy's face, in a gesture of pain, contradicted Rukj's thoughts.

In that moment, an exclamation of annoyance could be heard, just a few steps from where they were hiding. There was a thud, muffled by the snow, as if something big had fallen to the ground.

-Damn... Han! Hey, Han! This is not to move anymore!

Someone walked over the path too near of Rukj and Raon, who held their breath. The boy tried to ignore the pain and to focus on the hunting... because those Trackers weren't more than preys... he had to believe that they were just preys...

-He is unconscious, but still alive -another voice replied, kicking gently the Beast -. Well, if he can't walk, we will never arrive to New Argenta.

-So then, what shall we do?

There was a long, tense silence.

-We can kill him and take him to the city by pieces -the one which must be called Han proposed, finally -. Who cares that he is alive or dead?

Rukj felt a violent chill and unable to keep silent longer, he left his hideout willing to face all those Trackers, even knowing that they were Humans as him. Rukj tried to stop him with a gesture of his paw, but the boy didn't pay attention to him and, before he realized it, he was face to face with the captors of the Beast.

It was strange to be for the first time in front of someone of your own race. While observing the Humans, Raon had the feeling that he was looking himself in a pond's surface which was returning a distorted image. An image that he didn't like at all.

The Trackers looked at him for a second, astonished, until one of them, who was kneeled near the captive Beast, asked:

-And who is this?

-He must have followed us thinking that he could steal our trophy -another one answered, taking with a hand to the knife in his belt.

Raon realized that to appear in front of the Trackers had been a great mistake when he noticed that they were armed. He cast a discreet glance around, trying to find Rukj, but the wolf was still hid behind the snow and nowhere to be seen.

-Bad idea, kid -the one who had talked the first answered, grinning unpleasantly -. We don't like thieves, although they have guts. Don't you think, Han?

-Oh, shut up, you stupid -Han rebuked him. He was a middle age man, with short blond hair, almost white; and he looked to Raon with some sort of hatred and fear -. He's not a thief.

-What?

-Don't you see how he's dressed? -the leader of the Trackers asked, referring to the furs which the boy covered his body with -. He's not a thief. He's one of those deserter Humans who join the Beasts.

That said, he spat to the ground and drew his dagger, with a gleam of ambition in his gaze.

-The people will enjoy watching you burn in a fire. Even more than with this wolf -Han murmured, making a sign to his men to surround the boy.

-No! -Raon exclaimed, a bit nervous, holding his knife in front of his body -. You should... you should set free the Beast or...!

-Or what? What are you going to do if we don't set him free? -Han asked, with disdainful voice -. Are you going to attack us?

The boy sustained his look for a moment, and finally he nodded slowly. The leader of the Trackers started to laugh out loud, and his partners soon started to do the same. Raon remained in the centre of the circle, without knowing what to do and feeling a bit ridiculous.

-Did you hear that? He will attack us if we don't set the wolf free! -Han taunted, still laughing -. Yes, I have to recognize that you have guts, boy. But that isn't what you need right now, 'cause it's not going to help you.

After that, Han started to get closer to Raon, and the circle started to do smaller and smaller. The boy turned to every Tracker, with his knife held high and trying to remain calm, even knowing that there was nothing he could do. He was surrounded, there was no escape, and if he tried to fight, he would end dead. A boy, even being a hunter, wasn't match for five men.

-Stop! -he cried out, but it didn't work -. I...!

In that moment, something big and black emerged from the snow and fell over the leader of the Trackers, who just had time to let out a scream of horror before end on the snow, captured by that thing. The Humans froze in their site, and Raon took advantage of their confusion to get out of the circle which he had been in and situate behind the Beast, who was none other than Rukj.

The black wolf had torn down the leader and kept him against the ground, with his claws dangerously near of the Human's neck. Han, backwards the Beast that had hunted him as a snow rat, was trembling in fear under his powerful paws.

-Do... do something! -he could mumble, trying to break free.

-One step -the wolf said quickly, in what seemed a hoarse growl -, one only step and the trophy you'll get will be his mangled corpse.

The Trackers hesitated, confused, and looked each other, while his leader tried to dispose of the wolf over him, in vain. Rukj was a great hunter, and he never let a prey escape.

-Shit! -the man cried out, desperate -. Help me! Don't stay there!

-Oh, yes... -the wolf mused, looking briefly the Humans and then fixing his eyes in the man under his paws -. It would be better for your friend here that you started to run to the place where you came from... as far as possible from here... unless you want to return home with a man split in two pieces.

Han gulped, and even Raon had to recognize that when he tried to, Rukj could be terrifying.

-No! Don't let me alone!

-You keep quiet... -Rukj growled, approaching his sharp teeth to the man's neck, what made him mute. Then, he turned to the other men -. I want to see you running. Now.

The Trackers hesitated a few moments, confused. They looked each other and seemed to realize that they couldn't do anything, so they did what they had been ordered to do and began to run rapidly to the Borderline. Raon observed with relief how they disappeared in the distance, until they weren't nothing more than black dots in the snow.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Trackers had started to sob, knowing that there was no escape from the claws of the wolf. But the tears weren't going to help too.

-Alright, Han... -Rukj whispered to the Human's ear, so softly that Raon had to make a great effort to listen -. I'm telling you what we're going to do. I'm going to get up, and you're going to run after your partners. I don't want you to look behind. If you dare to look behind, I don't care the reason, I'm going to reach you and kill you.

The man shook his head, scared of this possibility.

-And one more thing: you are never going to catch a Beast again, let alone giving it to your pathetic city -he said, with severe voice -. Because, if you do that... I'll find you and kill you. You know I will.

In that moment, Raon remembered the captive wolf and turned to the place where the Trackers had left him, concerned. The Beast lay on the snow, surrounded by some red stains that made the Human to worry even more. He kneeled near the wolf and looked at him cautiously, trying not to intervene in the whispered conversation that Rukj was having with Han.

The prisoner had similar features to Rukj, but he was certainly much younger than him; about the age of Raon, maybe. He wasn't black but a color between brown and red, which reflected the sun light giving it a coppery appearance that contrasted with the white snow. Raon looked at him for an instant and then decided to put him face-up to see his wounds, but when his hand was placed on the fur of the creature something very strange happened.

Whatever it was, it took place inside him.

It was as if, for a second, something warm and intimate filled his soul, something that made him feel good but disturbed him as any other unknown feeling. Raon tried to escape from that disturbing sensation, but he couldn't until he withdrew his hand from the Beast's body. Astonished, he hesitated for a few seconds. Then he placed his hand again in the wolf's fur...

...and it happened again.

There it was: it felt as if a strange link had woven between the Human and the Beast, and Raon could fully understand the pain and the suffering of the wolf, as if they weren't complete strangers but blood brothers. No, more than that; as if they were the same person... Raon withdrew his hand again, with a start, and tried to order his ideas. Finally, he realized that he couldn't, so started to cut the ropes that bound the wolf's body with his knife, taking care not to touch him. If he did it, that pleasant but awkward feeling returned to his heart, and made him shudder. He didn't know whether it was due to pleasure or fear.

-Poor boy -Rukj muttered, a few seconds after, behind Raon. The leader of the Trackers was running from a while ago, and he was far enough not to be a threat -. If we don't do something soon, he will not resist.

-Is it so serious?

Rukj crouched beside the wolf and put him face-up gently to check his wounds, apparently without feeling what Raon had felt previously. The Human looked at him with curiosity, but didn't say anything. After all, Rukj was a wolf too.

-Yes, he is quite badly hurt -he replied, frowning -. We'll have to carry him with us. Can you help me?

-No... -Raon replied quickly, without even thinking -. I...

-Oh, I see... It is because of the blood -Rukj sighed, misinterpreting the boy's denial -. Never mind, I can carry him by myself.

After that, he put one of the wolf's arms over his shoulders and took him up on his back. Raon looked at Rukj, wondering if he could carry the young wolf; although he was smaller and less bulky than Rukj, he wasn't exactly a lightweight. And he was still bigger than Raon.

However, the black wolf showed no signs of fatigue. He simply glanced at Raon and said:

-Let's go.

They arrived at the hut a few minutes later, and they left the young wolf in Rukj's bed, because Raon's was too small. After having placed him in the correct position (what was more difficult thanRaon thought) they started to search for something to cure his wounds.

-I can't believe that, with the few things we have in this hut, we can't find a needle, thread and some alcohol -Raon commented, as they opened all the drawers, looking for what they needed.

-Neither do I -Rukj grunted -. We need to be tidier for the future.

Finally they found the needle, thread and some alcohol under one fur blanket, and the black wolf got down to work. Raon wasn't especially interested in see how Rukj sewed the new guest's wounds, so he decided to go outside and try to think of what had happened that day.

Once outside, he leaned against the wall and let the wind play with his hair for a moment, before start asking himself if what he had lived that day was a dream, a nightmare... or worse: the reality. What did happen exactly when he touched the captive wolf? It was such a strange indefinable feeling that he could hardly remember it. He just knew that in the same moment he put his hand on the wolf's fur that happened inside him. Something awaken that shouldn't have awakened, or maybe something weak that had became stronger...

The boy shook his head, trying to escape from those thoughts.

That couldn't be possible. He had to have imagined it, it had been the hunger, or perhaps the lack of this. Maybe even the lack of sleep, probably. After a few seconds which his thoughts were silent in, Raon finally let out a gasp of anguish.

What was he thinking? The previous night he had slept without any problem. And a full stomach couldn't cause illusions.

There was something strange in the young wolf, something that Rukj couldn't perceive. He had to ask him about it, although the wolf didn't like him to ask so much questions. If he didn't ask him... that strange feeling would keep disturbing him and he wouldn't know the reason.

Decided to do that, he entered to the hut again and found that Rukj had ended his work, and was now filling a bag with meat and provisions, as if he was going for a journey.

-Where are you going? -Raon asked, surprised.

-To the city of wolves, Frostmoon -Rukj replied, as he closed the bag and slung it over his shoulder -. Have you seen this? -he inquired then, holding a strange medallion that was shaped like an ice crystal. Behind the ice crystal, there was a crescent half-moon. The design was simple, but the boy thought it was beautiful.

-No, I haven't -Raon recognized.

-It hung from this boy's neck -Rukj informed him, dropping the medallion on the Human's hand. The boy watched it carefully -. It's a very popular medallion in Frostmoon, because it's the town's symbol. If the Trackers found the wolf over there, probably the town has been attacked by the Humans.

-So you are going to check? -Raon asked, tilting his head. And then, something more came to his mind -. Are you going to leave me alone with him?

-Yes, but it's going to be for two or three days at most -the black wolf assured him, softly -. I need to know if something has happen in Frostmoon... I was born there.

Raon muted. He never had asked Rukj about his past; in fact, he had been ignoring that it existed. As much as he thought otherwise, the black wolf hadn't been born in that same hut.

-Alright, then -he said, finally, trying to smile -. Be careful.

-I'll be here before you know it, three days at most -Rukj insisted -. And, Raon... be careful you too. When the wolf awakes, he could make it in an aggressive way, and he will probably attack you.

-Don't worry; I'll be alert -he promised the wolf -. Take care, Rukj.

The wolf nodded in silence and after put one of his big paws over one of Raon's shoulders, he headed to the door, passing beside the sleeping young wolf. After saying goodbye another time, the wolf went outside and started to walk towards Frostmoon, as his mind tried to understand what had happened in the big city of wolves for that wolf ended trapped by the Trackers.

If he had known the problems that the encounter between Raon and that young wolf was going to trigger, he probably would have killed him by himself.