FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter I

A wave crashed into the side of a small wooden ship sailing to the distant shore. The dark mystique blue rocked the vessel as it listed to and fro momentarily before leveling off again. It was a typical transport of the new era, that is the time after the largely unknown apocalypse where wood was the main building material on hand. Constructed mostly by hand by laborers, it was a large investment for the crew that owned it. Considering the weather all of the sailors felt lucky. The ocean waves were less choppy than the morning, a good sign for the crew wishing to return south. Seafaring was dangerous no matter how experienced those on board were. There was an old saying, 'for every anchor at port, there's one lying on the seabed.' Sayings never comforted anyone, especially passengers. The soft pattering of an evening drizzle could be heard above the muggy congestion within the lower deck. Everyone on board quieted any small talk as the small vessel careened closer to the now visible shore and town. The passengers were used to this tumultuous order on their week long journey from Nehpeira to Madeira, and finally to Hibernia, although most had never stepped onto a boat before in their lives.

Nearly everyone had a firearm accompanying them, slung over a shoulder or in hand like a commonplace walking staff. Their destination was hardly worth comparing to the garden of Eden, but it provided some hope for a better life. Crowded shanty towns plagued with corruption and violence drove those on board to flee despite a potential storm at sea. The ship creaked and groaned as a few anchors were dropped into the harbor with heavy splashes. Local fishing boats didn't take any notice. Something that big made entirely of wood had a tendency to do that. Two platforms were laid out bridging the upper deck with the dock. A brief round of shouting ensued from crew members signaling for those on board to depart. Fresh spring air was greeted as a blessing to the lower deck as everyone assembled to exit. The only woman on board was allowed off first before the two dozen or so men and boys exited behind her. Grumbles and aches sounded off as muscles stretched and muggy air was replenished by fresh air. The last man to leave the ship walked slower than the rest, choosing to admire the muggy weather rather than internally scold it. The view was more than he had hoped for.

'Hibernia.' Mathew grinned strolling down the dock behind everyone else. Sailors quickly hustled to empty remaining cargo below and above deck. The sounds of waves lapping ashore and numerous seagulls were like those of any seaside town, only freer. A few people were out to see the boat sitting at port, but they didn't receive a grand welcoming. The town itself was primarily wooden in construction giving it an archaic colonial appearance rather than the mix of adobe and wood in Nepheira. However, some of the buildings were partially made of stone and concrete blocks salvaged from ancient city ruins deemed safe enough to carry. That or the builders and colonizers were desperate enough to haul them back as construction material.

"I heard the growing season is shorter here than southern settlements across the oceans for crops we are accustomed to." He heard someone ahead say.

"The land looks better for crops." Another replied walking onto the cobblestone street where everyone from the ship was directed to a large building and ushered inside by an armed colonist. The interior was open and spacious compared to most cramped homes. Deer heads were mounted along one wall, and so was a native bow and spear. The room even smelled wild. A short blonde haired man stood by a podium with two dozen armed colonists by his side. Their similar styled clothing reminded Mathew of a company of soldiers back home.

"Welcome to Hibernia." The man pleasantly stated. "I am Captain Ducroix, the leader of this town's militia. There are no cars here, as if any of us could afford one." He and a few others beside him chuckled at the quick joke. "Everything out there is real and can kill. Myth has it that before the apocalypse this entire island was inhabited by humans with giant cities." The crowd didn't look very believing of his word, but he pressed on. "Sure there might be ruins to prove that hypothesis, but that won't help us today like everything you gents left behind to be here. You all are here, however, to held defend this town, one of the few remaining human settlements on Hibernia from the savage natives that kill in the blink of an eye. So whoever here is not able to join the town militia, please leave the hall now." A few seconds ticked by before six young boys barely in their teens left the barracks quietly. Mathew sighed in dismay.

'I hoped a colony would be peaceful.' He thought as the captain continued his lecturing speech.

"All of you should know that too much metal will likely pick up magnet radiation from other sources of contaminated metal. So be careful around any stray parts you may find in the wild." He was talking about magnet radiation, the scary phenomenon that made re colonization so hazardous in previously heavily populated areas, and exposure was most likely fatal. All it took was having a large enough piece of metal, or large amount of parts on your person and being in close proximity to an affected piece. Within a few days a strong fever would set in paired with chills. Uncommonly, lymph nodes would swell and the skin where the metal had been in close contact would turn grey. It spelled certain death and it took a mere eight days to kill. To counter the deadly phenomena one could only carry a small amount of metal outside of a known safe zone, and an old gun was usually the limit. However, fear of the unknown kept nearly every human inside known safe zones. The few who dared to venture out to establish a colony or explore rarely returned; and those who did changed for the worst.

"You will learn to be a soldier first and foremost to defend the town before helping with another occupation. This land rivals that of hell in terrifying monsters." He reached behind the podium and pulled out a large black claw and an equally large white canine tooth. Murmurs passed at the. Mathew was speechless at the size of both. "And these are merely the weapons they are born with." Ducroix gravely stated setting the two pieces aside. "These wolves are adept in using knives, spears, and bows. One wrong step and your mangled body marks your own grave. I want everyone in this room to remember that. Spencer here," he motioned to a rugged blonde haired individual, a product of the wilderness and violence from abroad, "will lead those newcomers who are able on a small scouting run to become familiar with the terrain. For tonight, get ready for the morning. Pick a room and someone to board with in the barracks next door. Dismissed." He briskly finished. Like corralled sheep, the newcomers gradually filed outside. Mathew clutched the straps to his small pack and headed outside. He took a sharp right and bumped into someone.

"Sorry." They both hastily took a step back and apologized. The man combed a hand through the messy short black hair atop his head. He was a little taller than Mathew and had fair tanned skin, probably from a life of working outside.

"I'm Darren." He extended his hand with a friendly smile.

"I'm Mathew." They shook hands. A chicken darted out from an alleyway, zipping between their legs before running into a small hole of a dilapidated building.

"This whole place is bustling with activity." Darren sarcastically noted the lack of people around. Only half a dozen or so, besides the sailors behind them, were seen doing basic daily chores. Hanging clothes out to dry, or carrying one good or another marked the lazy day. All that mattered out here was surviving what was thrown at you from outside the wooden walls. "You look like one of the older gents on that wooden box of a boat." He looked at Mathew.

"Really? I'm nineteen, still technically a teenager." He half grinned.

"You don't look it," Darren admitted, "and I'm twenty three. We aren't going to live much longer."

"Isn't that the truth." Mathew quietly nodded with pursed lips looking around the town. Life expectancy was forty at the most in a few areas. Although no one knew what it was in a colony across the ocean. A cool breeze ruffled his hair. "I did a little bit of reading before I departed for Hibernia."

"You have a library in your hometown?" Darren was mildly surprised.

"No. There are a few stories lingering in the small villages by the ocean, and documented travels from the sea. One record claimed that New Haven had been settled forty six years ago, another, fifty two years ago."

"They're both accurate." Darren grinned. Even books were largely based on hearsay. "Any other ridiculous tales you've heard? Krakens that swallow ships whole? Lands full of magma and fire that burn eyesight?"

"Nah. Nothing of that nature." He found even those to be outrageous. "I overheard a sailor talking about ancient city ruins a few miles north from here. Past a forest or something."

"You don't seriously plan on going there do you?" Darren looked at him like he was crazy.

"No, but I want to see the old city from a distance one day just to see how big they were rumored to be."

"That still makes you insane. Tens of thousands could live in one I heard. There's probably only say, eight hundred people living in New Haven including us." Darren guessed looking around the shanty town.

"You're probably not far off your mark. Wexford only has three hundred settlers including children, and Havenbrooke has two hundred at the most from what I've heard on the ship."

"I'm surprised that neither have been razed by savages yet."

"Let's find a room before we're razed in the rear." They both shared a laugh.

"Do you want to share a room?" Darren asked. "I mean, it's fine by me."

"Sure. You're the only person I know so far." They entered the barracks together and sauntered down the hall. Simple wooden doors lined both sides in close quarters down the short space. "What's with savage beasts living here? I haven't heard of half human wolves living in other radiation zones."

"No one returns from radiation zones." Darren shrugged. "Who knows what worse things lie out there." They walked down the short hall and entered an open room to their left. Expectedly, the two were greeted with a less than adequate space. A cold brown color dominated the small space. Warped wooden floors, a dingy window, and two small beds were all to see. The beds were hard and equally cold in dingy appearance alone, typical. Despite being in the doorway, the room was poorly insulated and plagued by a draft. Floorboards creaked lamely as they stepped inside the drafty room. 'I wonder what those savages live in?' He imagined a large hole in the ground or a cold cave where one would emerge, ready to kill. A gust of wind battered the little dingy window pane causing the glass to rattle as if in pain. Under the gap between the mattress and the bed frame, a glint of metal caught Darren and Mathew's eye. There were a few bullet casings under his bed, most likely to a bolt action rifle, which was something common in any Nepheiran home.

"Sheesh." Darren shivered looking at the floor.

"What?" Mathew looked at the briefly uneasy human.

"You saw how large that claw and tooth were didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"I'd imagine anyone's skin wouldn't look too pretty after taking a bite or a punch." Darren managed a nervous laugh. Maybe he was just better at hiding his fear than Mathew.

"And we get to leave the town's palisade for a whole day." Mathew spoke below a whisper to himself while Darren talked.

"They would make hard working slaves if they could be captured and tamed." His eyebrows raised looking at the drab walls as if they could be painted.

"Slavery practically runs everything back in my town. You know when you're strong and when someone else is weak." He had witnessed a lot of suffering in the poor dusty lands of Nepheira.

"Where are you from?" He set his small pack of clothes by the bed.

"I'm from Grey Bay in Nepheira." Those words were laced with heaviness from bad memories.

"I have a cousin who lives in Nepheira. When I last saw him two years ago he said it's tough to live there with all the frequent crime."

"Crime is one of the many problems plaguing the area."

"Isn't that the truth for every town." He shrugged.

"Where are you from?"

"Truxton. It's right on the tip of the continent, northeast of Nepheira. The homes are really small and dusty."

"Likewise. How did you hear about New Haven?" Mathew asked out of curiosity.

"There were a few people talking about a ship that had recently visited Madeira and the two colonies of Wexford and New Haven. They told stories about the colonies in a far away land with wide open spaces under the threat of monstrous savages. I was one of the few interested and decided to go. There wasn't much for me to do in Truxton anyway."

"What did they say about Wexford?"

"The same thing. We would be fighting alongside colonists for the survival of the town. Not too many were thrilled to hear about fighting monster wolves."

"I didn't think that we would be fighting as soon as we arrived despite the rumors."

"What did you think would happen? You brought a rifle didn't you?" He looked at Mathew's weapon slung over his shoulder.

"It was supposed to be for self defense. I left home for Hibernia because of all the anarchy and violence there."

"But there will be plenty of fighting out there." He pointed inland.

"True, but none of it will be with a neighbor or a strongman tyrant."

"Savage wolves are our neighbors now." Those words hung heavy on Mathew's shoulders.

"Can't there be some peaceful resolution?"

"They're wolves Mathew, peace doesn't exist in their language. You saw the claw and tooth born to kill."

"If they have a language then-"

"You know there won't be any talking between us and them, especially when the Captain wants us to go around scouting out there in an armed group."

"I have to admit, the Captain's demeanor is odd. If the savages are even remotely as terrible as I heard then we won't last a day outside these walls.

"Odd?"

"Having guards everywhere is strange to me." Mathew stated an example.

"With savages outside born to kill, you have to be ready for an attack." Darren presumed.

"That's crazy. The town has a palisade wall for protection."

"Maybe it's all that magnet radiation being emitted from deeper inland." Darren chuckled. "I heard that a bunch of nuclear weapons went off across the globe two hundred... no, five hundred years ago."

"I've heard something like that too. Some say longer ago than that."

"Yeah. No kidding." He lied down on the plain mattress. The bed creaked like a dying cougar sending a chill up Mathew's spine. "I wish we had some to use against those savage wolves."

"It's kind of ironic that everyone involved perished and no records about the details survived."

"Don't worry about the past when we need to survive today. I'm glad there's more opportunity here than in Truxton."

"Yeah, we'll need a good night's sleep." Mathew sat on the edge of his bed, wincing as it squeaked. The cold mattress resembled a block of wood rather than a place to sleep. A hammock would've been more comfortable. He set his rifle next to the bed within arms reach, just in case. Mathew looked outside the cracked window towards the west where the savage wolves supposedly lived. From what little he could see past the buildings the sun already setting below the horizon. "I wish I could hold the sunset so the bad things of tomorrow wouldn't come."

"That would make you a sunset catcher!" Darren couldn't help but laugh a little at the name.

Chapter II

The hard tack that was supposed to be breakfast made Mathew's stomach uneasy in the cool morning like water sizzling in contact to white hot iron. A hunk of bread was stuffed inside his vest jacket along with a small packet of rolled oats for later. He left his pack at the room, opting to have a lighter load while walking all day. The group assembled at the west gate was mostly newcomers that arrived from the day before. Very few talked under the stern gaze of their "officer" who was in charge of the scouting group. The fellow that the captain had called Spencer didn't look friendly. Although he had given everyone small hand held radios if someone went missing or if someone back at town had an important message. Mathew felt over the dotted speaker section of the device in his pocket hoping there wouldn't be a need to use it. Spencer unanimously decided to start their day and gathered everybody's attention.

"We will walk to a salt marsh and a fresh water marsh north of here, and then we'll go in an arc inland until we reach the coast down south." He declared. "Let's march!" Their "officer" ordered leading the militia out of the city gate. The mostly cloudy sky would be fine to travel with. An earlier rain shower lightly sprinkled the area leaving the ground with an extra coating of morning dew without promise for more rain. The group filed out of the town walls and witnessed their first taste of an open countryside. There were small farms in the grassy meadows surrounding the town. Further inland was speckled by trees and hilly moorland where a few shepherds cared for their flocks of around two dozen sheep. Lush grass lightly crunching beneath their shoes was an odd sensation to most. "Forward!" The officer ordered leading them. The group trekked northward for a few miles, pausing only for the officer to point out various landmarks to remember. Mathew watched the ocean apprehensively. A fog was rolling in from the coast, slowly blanketing the fields and moors with a misty veil. When they reached the edge of the marshes, they turned and traveled southwest in a large arc.

Small herds of red deer were frequently spotted along with other wild life. The free and open countryside made Mathew forget he had a gun slung over his shoulder for self defense. It was hard to imagine packs of giant wolves hiding in the beautiful hills, marshes, and forests. The grass, trees, and foliage were vibrant from the rainy climate. It was paradise compared to the scruffy hot landscape of Nepheira in appearances alone.

The group reached a wooded hill and stopped for a quick break. It was late in the afternoon and they had traveled for a good amount of time across the countryside. The light hazy white became an increasingly worrisome sign that no one in the group wanted to become lost in. Mathew peeked over a steep incline that descended a few meters to a thicket below. The fog wasn't enough to hide in at a close distance, but it distorted vision at a longer distance.

"This reminds me of a bad dream." Darren whispered to Mathew.

"Yeah." He agreed taking a step away from the sudden drop off.

"I think we should turn back. This fog isn't letting up anytime soon." Someone suggested out loud. The officer in command turned to the young man who had spoken.

"You do not give orders! You receive them!" He yelled. The standoff grew hot only to suddenly be doused with the sound of death itself. A single howl broke through the trees followed by many more from what seemed like every direction. The officer's face changed into pure terror. "Everyone form a-" A thrown axe cut straight into the man's chest, knocking the dead body back from brute force. The air filled with howls, barks, and screams as the militia descended into chaos. Everyone fired into the dense thicket surrounding them. Arrows zipped into the human crowd picking off any on the outside of the group with ease. Mathew looked through the brush and trees seeing figures moving closer. The murky figures fired arrows or launched spears into the fray of the unorganized. He took aim and pulled the trigger. The centuries old designed weapon fired creating a loud wooden crackling sound. He quickly fired more rounds into the woods. Each bullet tore through leaves and splintered bark rather than hit their intended mark. He quickly reloaded with the remaining bullets he had on hand. Blood and powder residue flooded his sense of smell.

Darren suddenly fell down with a choked cry. Mathew turned to see an arrow sticking all the way through Darren's neck. Blood poured from the fatal wound as other cries of agony echoed around him. Startled at the sight of his new friend's suffering and fast death, Mathew jumped back over the steep decline. He tumbled down the hill and into a thick patch of brambles. Thorns scraped exposed skin and tugged his clothes as he jumped to his feet. Uphill he could see the remaining men being cut down like weeds in a storm. One man in particular tried running away only to fall by a thrown knife and three arrows. He turned and ran through the patchy forested field to escape. The terrifying screams and barks gradually faded, but the thundering drumbeat of his heart did not. He ran through fields, sparse areas of trees, and even jumped over a creek fueled by his desire to survive. The landscape became a whirl of color until his adrenaline burst wore off. Mathew was panting heavily when he finally stopped running. A quick look over his shoulder ensured that no one had followed him, but that didn't exclude a slow chase to hunt the human down. He pulled out his emergency radio as his last beacon of reaching help from New Haven.

After a minute of fumbling with the controls he found the switch to turn the device on. However, the signal area failed to light up on his radio. His heart sank. He didn't know where New Haven was from his position, and there was no way for him to contact anyone. He panted and scanned around his area hoping for some memorable feature to jump out at him, however, the thicket didn't provide any signs for him to follow. The smell of peaty moss and spring oaks stung his nose causing his eyes to water. Mathew's head snapped back catching movement out of his peripherals. Grey and white fur blurred past a tree sending a fresh dose of adrenaline through his system. Discovered, a mottled grey wolf, decorated in tribal attire, barked jumping out of the brush. White fangs bared in a snarl with golden eyes. Mathew turned his gun and clenched the trigger out of instinct. The world could've paused hearing his shot echo. The bullet tore into the edge of the wolf's lower leg and went straight through the muscle. A shrieking yowl of pain pierced the air like a second gunshot causing Mathew to stumble backwards onto his rear. The wolf's small shield and spear dropped to the ground as he held his bleeding wound.

Mathew froze on the ground, unable to blink as the wolf scrunched his face in agony. Seconds of huffing and growling passed before Mathew found the strength to stand up. The grey wolf tried to stand but fell back down to his hands and knees. The immobilized wolf glared at the human before noticing the gun in his hands. There was only one thought that pulsed through Mathew's mind: it could've been the same wolf that killed Darren. Anger flared through him as he raised his rifle, aiming the barrel at the savage's head. The wolf's brown eyes seemed stoic at the apparent inevitable. His head defiantly held high and stared back at Mathew, but his ears lied flat along his furry skull resigned to fate. Mathew's finger clenched the trigger staring at the savage. Seconds marked by heartbeat ticked relentlessly, but his finger failed to budge. He couldn't do it. So much blood was spilled in a single day that anymore would make him nauseous. All of the suffering that sickened him so much back in Nepheira seemed to follow him here despite how hard he tried to escape it. The confused native waited for his end, but the human didn't budge. The canine's triangular grey ear's perked up in disbelief seeing the human's weapon lower to the ground. Savage or not, the wolf was suffering enough before his eyes and it felt wrong to kill someone who couldn't fight back. He would be turning into the violent tyrants of Nepheira.

"Nohuta... Ghem ahi?" The wolf panted trying to control his breathing. Mathew turned his back to the wolf and slung the gun over his shoulder. He covered his eyes to stop from crying.

"Just go home." He nearly choked before running away. He wanted to get back to New Haven more than anything else as he quickly left the wolf behind. Mathew had to slow down several times to wipe his eyes from crying so he could see where he was running. He had witnessed a massacre that shouldn't have happened, and he lost a new friend but couldn't have done anything to stop it. The endless cloudy sky seemed to accept the human's tears as they drooled down his cheeks. Worst of all, Mathew didn't have anywhere else to run despite the amount of land that his legs traversed. The terrain changed from patchy forest to meadows frequently, but by the time Mathew had run out of breath he found himself on the edge of a small marsh. He settled down by a small tree int he tall grasses, too tired to complain about the situation. The wooden rifle felt smooth and warm in his hands compared to plastic or metal. It served as his only protection. Crickets and frogs quietly hummed throughout the watery sedges and reeds. The sun was about half an hour from sinking below the horizon, and it looked like a new fog was slowly forming along the cloudy plane. 'I'm lost on the edge of a marsh.' He looked around the strange surroundings with the realization that there was no sign pointing back to the town.

"Help!" He yelled. Not even an echo replied. The human panted feeling lonely and afraid. No one in the militia's company was alive to his knowledge, and who would leave town to come looking for a bunch of newcomers so far inland? A wolf howl echoed from faraway sending a frightened chill up his back. He clutched his rifle dearly. The night was going to be a long one.

The glimmering edges of sunlight kissed the foggy sky with the faintest of orange rays. Mathew shivered standing up. Hardly a full hour passed before he was woken up from some unknown noise around him that wasn't a cricket or frog. Luckily, none had been a wolf looking for him. Mathew rubbed his cold ears and nose before surveying his surroundings.

'This is not good.' He looked around the thick morning fog. The low white screen made visibility almost nonexistent. 'But I cannot stay here.' He fished in his vest pocket for the pack of rolled oats. The small pack was downed with gusto to fill his stomach for the morning. He brushed his shirt clean and readied his rifle before leaving his place of temporary rest. Mathew bit his tongue staring at the undergrowth and scattered trees before him. The scene looked familiar to where the lone wolf attacked him, but cast under a strong mist. A loud shrill noise startled Mathew up with a jump. He held his breath and looked up only to find a bird chirping in the morning fog on a limb. His body slackened and gave a sigh of relief. Any noise had Mathew checking his shoulders through the poor visibility. "Nothing is there." He had to tell himself before taking his first steps through the sparse foliage. The quiet thrum of crickets in the marsh faded as he walked on. He gritted his teeth for every dead leaf and random twig that he stepped on. Crossing through the small forest lasted an eternity, but a nervous weight lifted from his shoulders as he entered the misty moor.

'I'm in the open.' He couldn't see anymore trees nearby, but no one could see him from far away. Cautious steps proceeded through the meadow, head peering left and right frequently. One misplaced move could lead to a back full of arrows and spears. Knuckles whitened maintaining the life sustaining grip on his rifle strap at the thought. Compared to the marsh and small section of trees, the meadows were eerily quiet and void of morning life. Mathew approached a relatively flat section of meadow and he caught sight of something ahead. He crouched down making out a fuzzy figure ahead in the fog. It was a lot smaller than the large wolves the scouting group fell prey to, but an unmistakable tail could be seen between a pair of digitigrade legs. 'A little wolf!' He realized staring at its back. The cream and grey furred wolf wore a loincloth that draped from his waist to his knees like the other adult wolves from yesterday.

The basic garment was held together by a lone leather string tied around his waist above his tail. His mane had grey and cream fur that resembled hair reaching just past his small shoulders with a braid or two along the sides. Each was adorned with a tiny feather. Were the savage creatures evil enough to send their young to fight? A whimper from the small canine diffused the theory and compelled Mathew to help. He took a step forward and extended his hand. His eyes shut and he stopped to shake his head. 'No! That's a future monster wolf.' He argued with himself taking a half step back. 'This is so stupid! I should leave!' The grass crunched beneath his fidgeting shoes. When he looked up again the little wolf was facing him. Widely opened brown eyes gawked at the human in disbelief. Triangular grey ears lied flat against his skull. Mathew instinctively grabbed his rifle, but quickly let go. He couldn't shoot someone so innocent and young no matter how deadly they could potentially become. Mathew swallowed and carefully approached the young pup. "A-are you okay?" Mathew reached out to nudge the pup from its trance like state. He blinked, barely able to catch the movement of its mouth.

"Ouch!" His arm was suddenly bitten with a muzzle full of teeth that growled. "Let go let go let go let go!" He quickly decided to rub the pup's back rather than pry off the muzzle and potentially lose his arm. The frightened pup stopped as the large pad less hand harmlessly rubbed his back in earnest. The mouth full of sharp teeth unhinged leaving small cuts in his sleeve. Mathew quickly rolled up the fabric revealing red pinpricks of oozing blood in the middle of his forearm. He dabbed the spots with his other sleeve to stop the minor bleeding. The pup sat down, away from the human, and hugged his legs close to his body. The small canine's dark grey ears were pinned back out of guilt and probably twice as much fear.

"Hama-ahee." A pitiful whine penetrated the quiet morning air. Mathew didn't know if a wolf could cry, but it definitely wasn't pleased about their current situation.

"Hey you don't need to cry." The canine's head turned to Mathew, but he didn't have a clue as to what the human was saying. The taller human cautiously approached and knelt down in front of the small canine. Mathew wrapped his arms around him in a comforting hug. The pup's crying softened and soon stopped in the human's embrace. Mathew wiped the pup's watering eyes on the clean sleeve and took a deep breath. "I can't believe I'm helping you, but I don't see why I shouldn't." He shook his head mustering a grin for the tiny frightened wolf. "I don't suppose you speak the same tongue like me huh?" He looked down at the wolf pup wearing an expression of bewilderment at the human talking to him. A loud grumbling from Mathew's stomach reminded him about breakfast, or the lack thereof. He fished around in his vest pocket and retrieved the large hunk of bread stored within. He was about to take a bite when he noticed the pup staring at him with hungry brown eyes. The canine nose wiggled preemptively. The canine didn't exactly look as if he had eaten any better. "Here. It wouldn't be good if either of us walked on an empty stomach." He broke off a piece and handed it to the smaller anthro canine.

He sniffed the foreign food carefully and watched Mathew take a bite before doing the same.

"Mm, nahatoh!" He exclaimed with a mouthful of bread. Mathew found it amusing that the pup's tail wagged appreciatively. The rest of the partially stale bread was broken into pieces and quickly devoured.

"Oh. Sorry little guy, but that's all I have left." The pup licked the crumbs off his lips and sniffed the air hoping for more. "See?" He opened the vest pocket revealing its emptiness. Looking around, Mathew noted the lack of visibility in the rolling meadows. "It is very foggy." He looked out unable to see anything clearly far away, but the air was gradually clearing. 'We should get moving.' Mathew stood up and stretched but a fast aching in his arm halted him. He rolled up his sleeve only to frown seeing the skin. 'My arm doesn't look too good.' The reddish spots of inflammation bothered him, but he did his best to shake off the pain. He took a few steps forward but the wolf simply stood back and watched. "Come on, you can't stay here by yourself." He motioned for the wolf to follow. It took a lot of coaxing, but the wolf pup finally followed him from a distance. Mathew didn't have an honest clue as to what he should do with the pup, but he knew it wouldn't be right to harm him. They walked through the cloudy plain without any general direction other than a straight line. Mathew checked over his shoulder occasionally, surprised to find that his "companion" had not run away and was still following him. However, his tail was tucked between his legs where the loincloth hid most of the light grey appendage.

"So... I guess you live out here somewhere." Mathew spoke up. He wondered what a group of wolves lived in. A image of a large hole leading underground to some sort of den seemed plausible for hordes of savages. The little wolf looked up at him despite having no clue as to what the human was saying. "I know you're kind can't roost in trees." He added.

"Uh?" The pup's higher pitched voice questioned.

"I hope you have a good home to grow up in wherever they're built. I did for a few years, but it quickly went into a bottomless pit." Mathew explained staring across the misty meadows. Talking helped ease his current fear of dying, and more importantly it gave him means to pass the time. "Weapons are practically currency where I come from. That and fear." Mathew recounted basic life where he had grown up, and the reason for leaving it behind. "I had to sail on that old boat all the way here to escape Nepheira. Part of it used to be called Morocco or something, but that was ages ago before that apocalyptic nuclear war started or whatever happened that caused ninety percent of the earth to become uninhabitable for humans." Luckily that slowly changed to the estimated eighteen percent zones where radiation was believed not to be a problem. The other eighty two percent remained too dangerous to inhabit. At least, that's the estimated amount of land too dangerous to colonize based on that fear alone. "I hope we're still in a safe zone." He kept an eye out for any sign of an ancient metal structure. Having a heavy exposure of magnet radiation would still be dangerous, metal on hand or not. Twenty eight years had passed since the last radiation cloud had been spotted in a human inhabited area that he had heard of, but that hardly suppressed his fear way out in uncharted lands.

Mathew looked down at his arm carefully swinging by his side. The pinpricks in his sleeve were evident of the bite on his skin. His arm throbbed where he had been bitten by the little wolf, but Mathew shrugged it off and continued walking. He couldn't worry about that way out here. The pup by now walked beside him rather than at a distance. The wolffish expression, pardon the pun, was wide eyed with curiosity and showed little signs of direct fear anymore. They passed several hills through the cool morning, but a steep one in particular slowed them down. "Huh?" Mathew halted feeling a hand tug his shirt. The wolf was beside him, looking up at the human.

"Avii nahetmo hot." The pup reached up to Mathew with outstretched hands. His triangular ears were pinned back as he balanced on the tips of his digitigrade toes. Mathew bent forward and picked the little wolf up. He squirmed in the human's arms before finding a secure hold around his shoulder and neck, but claws incessantly dug into his clothes for a better grip. Mathew felt the hair on the pup's back and was surprised at its soft texture. It felt identical to fur, yet it was strands of hair. A furry grey shoulder pressed under his chin. He even smelled like the wilderness. Mathew maintained a secure grip on the young one as they walked along a forest bordered meadow.

"Don't worry, we have to be going somewhere." He tried to reassure his furry companion. The pup clung to the human as he was carried across the moorland. "At least the fog is getting better." He could probably see fifty yards out at the most rather than ten. Mathew slowed as the pup turned his head and sniffed the air excitedly. "What's wrong-?"

"Arooooo!" A piercing howl echoed through the field causing Mathew to halt mid step. The hair on his neck rose and his heart raced as silence set in. He turned and looked around the fog only to see nothing. The pup squirmed and wriggled free from the human's hold and bolted towards the howl's origin.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" He yelled as the pup quickly disappeared through the fog. A higher pitched whine was soon heard before it became eerily silent once more. 'This isn't good.' His cold hands clutched the rifle protectively hearing another howl masked by the fog. A long round of howling and barking ensued making him quake in his shoes. He spun around unable to see any owners of the bone chilling howls. The misty moor left him blind to defend himself. Fear taking hold, he ran blindly through the mostly unseen terrain. Mathew half stumbled in the grass hearing a bark from nearby, but he quickly regained his footing. His legs carried him across the treeless landscape in an aimless line, but without anything decent to eat in the past twenty four hours he wouldn't last much longer. He scanned his foggy surroundings while running, hoping for a way to escape his pursuers. A spooky canine figure nearby caught his eye. Mathew slowed down to a halt and quickly readied his rifle. He couldn't have a single one know where his location was or he would certainly die. Mathew turned and aimed at the shadowy figure to his left. A piercing shot rang out as he fired.

The figure disappeared behind the hill, easily evading the wide shot. The terrified human spun around as another howl broke the eerie silence. Shadowy figures moved along the hill nearby to his right, slowly following him. He looked around for one to shoot at. That would be his best chance of keeping the savages at bay. Mathew held up his rifle aiming at one and pressed the trigger, but nothing happened. "No! Not now!" The trigger failed to budge at all as his finger emphatically tried pressing it. 'It's jammed!' He slung the weapon over his shoulder and broke off into another run. His pursuers followed in chase. Mathew panted running as fast as he could across the grass. He couldn't hear the wolves following him, but he knew the savages were very close. How long could he run from them? There wasn't a single tree to hide behind that he could see within the radius of the thinning fog. Images of snarling faces and muzzles full of sharp teeth spurred him faster along the grassy green meadow. The ground started flattening under his footsteps as the hill under him leveled off. Looking ahead, he could start to make out larger structures ahead that weren't trees or wolves.

They were homes! A relieved smile enraptured Mathew's face as he slowed his strides looking down the gentle slope before him. "Yes! Town!" He triumphantly exclaimed. Palisade walls would be protecting his back soon enough. The shadowy shapes hidden by the thinning misty clouds were much different than he remembered, and the ocean was nowhere to be seen. He skidded to a halt seeing small wooden homes and basic lodges scattered around a winding creek. "This isn't New Haven..." The smile left his face as his eyes widened in terror. It was a native village! The morning fog finally dissipated revealing a large amount of tribal homes beside a winding creek down the gentle slope in front of him. A few wolves were already outside starting their day and could be seen walking around. Mathew stared dumbfounded at the sight before him. "No... No..." He desperately wanted to lay down and cry, but more urgent matters needed to be addressed. One by one, over a dozen had him circled towards the meadows leaving the village as his only escape. 'I don't want to die!' He trembled seeing canine figures carefully approaching him from the rolling hills on all sides as if they were ghosts taking him to the underworld.

Predatory canine faces glared at him intently with long spears in hand. Panic taking control, Mathew sprinted towards the edge of the village hoping to outrun the canine creatures for a little longer. They swiftly followed him in pursuit. Freshly collected dew scattered into the morning air as footsteps were followed by paw steps. The two hundred meters or so between him and the village was quickly shortened in record time as he reached the first home.

"Ooskioo!" A wolf screamed as he ran by a home, knocking over a clothesline. A pup screamed and jumped out of Mathtew's path, dropping a pile of furs on the open ground. Mathew zigzagged around the mostly wooden homes trying to evade his pursuers and avoid any other wolf in the open. The human panted feeling the past day's stresses, physical and mental, taking their toll on his body. A sleeve quickly wiped a line of respiration forming on his forehead. Excited barks and yells sounded off at anyone who spotted him laboring on through the close homes. He jumped over a smoldering fire feeling the last of his endurance expire.

'I'm too tired!' Mathew panted, but he didn't have time to catch his breath rounding a home with so many on his sore heels. His foot caught a small stack of woven baskets sending him tumbling to the ground. Mathew scrambled to his feet as a spear brandishing wolf caught up to him. The canine swung with the pointed stone blade aiming straight for the human's head. The moment nearly blurred as he held up his rifle as fast as his hands could move. Their weapons collided with a loud thwack that pained his ears. The great force knocked the rifle out of Mathew's hands and hit his leg. The attacking wolf jumped back from the firearm giving him just enough time to move. 'Ow! My shin.' He hobbled around a hut feeling the pain throb and radiate. His assailant easily caught up, and Mathew spun around to defend himself. The wolf snarled and raised a clawed hand to strike. Mathew held his breath watching each sharp black talon descend towards him. His arm reflexively rose to defend himself. The wolf's hand descended and his claws tore three gashes in the human's arm over the pup's tooth marks. Luckily, two claws missed. Mathew jumped back clutching his arm as blood oozed out of three new wounds.

A stinging sensation quickly manifested itself only as other wolves quickly appeared around him. They surrounded the injured and exhausted human leaving him without an escape. Each cautiously stepped closer with teeth bared, and weapons and claws pointing at him. Mathew collapsed on the ground only to gasp as he was lifted up from behind. Powerful arms pressed on the arteries in his neck without choking him. 'Sleeper hold!' He grunted as darkness creeped inwards from his peripherals. Mathew grabbed a handful of the wolf's torso fur feeling a sudden rush of dizziness. 'Is this where I am going to die?' His heart pounded knowing he had only seconds left of consciousness. Each canine face watched his face grimace fearfully. Darkness swiftly took over as he fell into unconsciousness. With Mathew's body fully slackened, his savage captors released him.

Chapter III

"Vorastom lisse machounika uomanak."

"Oochaha?"

"Yana huchiocka. Sansoo nen hyu yi." The two voices sounded watery and echoed though Mathew's ears like a dream.

"Nestichiss ke burleoo." The first voice retorted. Mathew couldn't make out any meaning to the words floating around him as he came to. His body felt like a rag that someone had twisted dry and left in the hot sun to shrivel up.

"Kehanu... Murgadir." His left shin hurt in a dull ache as the odd voices bickered around him. The air smelled somewhat musky, but more like a tree or the ground if that made any sense to his brain. A faint fragrance also permeated the air and smelled like meat cooking. He shifted his arms feeling a tough soreness on his left. It was enough to stir him fully awake. Mathew opened his eyes and found himself staring up at a stick entwined roof with a small opening in the center. He could detect a puffy white cloud of some size through the opening that allowed more than enough sunlight inside. The sight mystified the human for a good minute before his curiosity shifted. Looking down he found that his shirt had disappeared leaving him bare from waist up, but his pants could still be felt under an animal pelt. Cool air could be felt along his feet indicating that socks and shoes were gone as well. Mathew looked to his left and gratefully found his left arm intact. His bites and scratches had been wrapped securely in some bandage like material from wrist to elbow. His arm hurt the more he stared at it.

"Kachessin mono fuss."

"Pemnee." Mathew heard the voices continuing to talk nearby. Turning his head, Mathew quickly remembered where he was and why he was there.

'Fire.' He could hear the flames of a crackling fire. 'Native village.' He thought turning his head to the strange voices revealing the rest of the small hut and its occupants. An adult wolf sat nearby looking away from him. He felt his heart rate increase when her mouth opened in a yawn revealing a large set of sharp white canine teeth. The pure black wolf in front of him was undoubtedly a she due to the tasseled garment around her protruding chest and tasseled loincloth protecting her otherwise sex. The wolfess had long black fur resembling hair that went down from the back of her head and neck to the base of her tail. A few strands were even braided and a white feather was stuck in one. Despite being female, she looked stronger than him by a long shot. Her torso appeared just slightly longer and thinner than a human's, but that barely added to her already dominant height. Her two digitigrade legs were powerfully built. Strong muscles, especially above the knee, helped the canine walk on her tricky paws.

Mathew shifted feeling something soft underneath his back. It was some sort of tan furred bed, maybe deer, but it didn't smell musty. Mathew didn't have time to learn about the local flora and fauna due to the captain's haphazardly organized scouting party, although he had a feeling that no one would have a lot of information. He concentrated only to hear the wolves whispering rather than talking aloud. He turned his head and looked back at the black wolfess only to lock eyes with her. Fear pulsed quickly through the human, paralyzing him as she turned full attention towards him. Her deep brown eyes resembling nature itself didn't blink. The wolfess crawled to him on her hands and knees allowing her loincloth to drape to the ground. Mathew shivered seeing how much her hands resembled paws when they fully touched the ground. The claws each finger harbored left tiny indents in the ground as she approached before kneeling down at his side. Her loincloth was a plain brown, but the stitching appeared seamless much to his surprise. Mathew's peripherals could see the other's head peeking at him from further away, choosing to remain where he was.

He stared open mouthed at her as she edged closer with a black furry hand reaching out towards him. The human was too tired and afraid to sit up even if it would save his life. Her large hand rested over his entire forehead unexpectedly causing him to blink. The strange wolf hand was covered in a leathery pad on the palm and fingertips, and was very warm. Claws could be felt on his scalp as they harmlessly prickled his skin. Hair-like fur spilled over her arms and sides reaching the ground next to him. He closed his mouth as she stared at him with two deep brown eyes that seemed amused with his plight.

"Koto nen." She told her companion nearby and retracted her hand.

"Distonda." The other wolf replied. Mathew sighed with relief that she hadn't clawed his head like his left forearm had been. The second wolf, who was undoubtedly a male with the subtle bulge behind his loincloth, quickly crawled up to Mathew but remained partially behind the female. Arms and digitigrade ankles were decorated with bands and bracelets, not to mention feathers of various colors and sizes. Mathew's eyes were wide with fear as the grey and white face stared at him next to the raven black one. The male was intrigued with the human, but not as much as his female counterpart. "Nestichess armohee." The male whispered and tried poking the human with a claw only to have his hand slapped by the female.

"Nen!" She scolded him. His ears flattened briefly and he backed off. The wolfess returned her stare under two dominant brown eyes down to the fear paralyzed human.

'Oh... damn.' Mathew swallowed hoping that she didn't plan to use those claws on his skin. The tassels hanging from her chest piece subtly moved with each breath she took, but her hands didn't attempt to prod him like the male. She whispered something in her foreign tongue to the other wolf. The male nodded and turned away and left through a door flap. Mathew remained still and tried not to think about her muzzle full of teeth or claws.

She remained by his side and stared at the human cathartically. The wolf's large hand returned to his forehead when he began shivering. Another rested on his chest. Both padded and fur covered hands warmed him instantly to help curb the fear driven shaking. Mathew nervously swallowed feeling claw tips touch his skin. With every rise and fall of his chest, he could feel her. The black wolf's hands suddenly retracted hearing the door flap move.

"Choshinem habaskeassa." The male wolf returned with a small load of wood and set them beside the fire.

"Fesh." She murmured before joining him. Mathew watched the two wolves add sticks to the fire resulting in a fresh round of cracks and sizzles. A stone pot was hung over the bigger flames to cook.

'Oh dang.' He closed his eyes feeling his heart race. 'I AM alive.' He couldn't believe it. However, his ecstatic luck descended into worry. He was inside a wolf's hut in a tribal village that was far away from a human settlement. 'How long was I unconscious?' Hours? Days? The question whirled around his head without a clear answer until he became dizzy. Mathew looked down his bare upper body where her hand had touched him. He hadn't felt anything like it before. His head unconsciously tilted up and inhaled. Mathew's mouth watered smelling food cooking over the renewed flames. His stomach was empty from using bread and oats. He carefully rolled onto his side to see what was cooking, but a simple fire and small pot was all to be seen. The black wolf tended to the food inside by stirring it occasionally with a carved stick. Her ears dialed back hearing the human's stomach growl. Mathew tried to sit up but the soreness plaguing his body radiated made it difficult to simply prop up on his elbows. A black hand startled him by resting over his chest. The she wolf gently nudged him back down. She pulled up a folded animal fur and placed it under the human's head to prop him up.

Mathew watched the wolf closely but was surprised to see her hold a wooden bowl of soup beside him. He reached with an unsteady hand to grab the bowl, but a furry hand stopped him. 'She's going to eat in front of me?' His mouth watered enviously. It was some sort of soup with small pieces of meat and medicinal herbs in it. The smell made his stomach gurgle unabashedly. The wolfess gathered a spoonful and held it before his mouth. Mathew blinked dumbly until she nudged his lips with the wooden end. He opened his mouth and she spoon fed him. "Mm." He closed his eyes tasting the good soup. It made oats and bread resemble dirt. The she wolf's ears perked up as she gathered another spoonful for the human. The whole bowl was emptied without wasting a drop. Mathew licked his lips savoring the taste while she returned to the fire. The two had a quick exchange of words and the male quickly stood up and left through the door flap in a hurry. 'What's going on?' Mathew watched the black she wolf set a few mats similar to his own around the hut's floor. Talking outside caught his attention as the door flap rustled. One by one, wolves entered the home dressed in various tribal attire filling the small home to its carrying capacity.

One female in particular had a double layered loincloth. The first layer was a plain long strip of leather about two feet long. The second was only the size of his hand, had beaded tassels, and bore an elaborate pattern resembling the sun stitched in the center. Others had feathers sticking out from braided hair, whereas some had most of their long hair in a single band to create a "tail." Each one terrified Mathew.

"Irawah." Each touched noses with the black wolfess and sat down in a circle with their digitigrade legs neatly tucked underneath their bodies. It creeped Mathew out to no end seeing how the wolves' hands could bend to resemble a large paw, especially when one was pressed to the ground. All of them whispered and stared at Mathew as if he was the monstrous demon. The black wolfess sat over by the entrance outside the circle and patiently waited.

'I hope they don't plan on eating me.' He swallowed nervously watching one female wolf licked her lips. One male wolf in particular led the discussion and motioned for silence.

"Ooskioo distonda so netlin." He pointed over to Mathew with his nose. "Maha tahoosh nen?"

"Orotoko hessnuha nen." An older female wolf answered.

"Norhad sooriut hohin." Another interjected. The wolffish voices elaborated and discussed something important within the house all while Mathew cowered on the deerskin mat. A couple of times one or several wolves would point at him with their large claws causing Mathew to shiver fearfully. The home grew dark as the talking drew out leaving the fire as the only source of vibrant light. The flames' shadows made their canine faces appear even more ghoulish. Many frequently shook their heads in some sort of disagreement during the discussion, primarily towards its end. The main wolf around the fire abruptly held up his hand ending the lively talk.

"Tahamat sende ooskioo hacha." He spoke in his deep wolffish voice as the firelight vaguely illuminated his furry face. Other nodded and one by one they left the hut until the main wolf's tail slipped out the door flap.

"What just happened?" He was left alone with the black wolfess who moved the deerskin mats around the fire. The wolfess looked at him but didn't say anything and put out the small fire with a bowl of water. If it wasn't for the moon, Mathew wouldn't have been able to see the most obvious outlines in the dark. He could make out the black wolfess moving a few things before fumbling with the leather string on her back. She took off her top revealing two youthful breasts modestly covered in dense black fur that hid her nipples. The loincloth was slipped off next with a flick revealing her black furred nether regions. The wolfess was entirely pitch black from ear to toe, except for a small diamond of white on her lower tummy. She yawned setting her garments aside and checked the dying embers in the fire pit one last time before retiring to her bed. 'She is feminine despite being a wolf.' He acknowledged as she laid down on an animal pelt like his, not even bothering to grab another as a blanket. The she wolf's fur was more than enough to keep her body warm in most conditions. Mathew patiently waited in the quiet darkness. A few crickets began chirping outside in the young night.

Without the others present he only needed to pass her and leave the hut to find his way back to New Haven. He stared up at the hole in the ceiling where a little moonlight was able to enter. The calmly casted glow helped him conjure a rough plan. An unknown amount of time passed before he mustered the courage to escape. 'I might die, but it's now or never.' He held his breath and propped himself up on his elbows. With one final heave Mathew sat up for the first time. A small phase of dizziness passed through his head as he regained his bearings holding onto the deerskin mat. His eyes locked onto the sleeping wolf nearby. Her black furry form was almost invisible in the darkness of the hut, but the gentle rise and fall of her chest convinced him that she was asleep. 'Where did they hide my rifle?' He peered around the dark home with only a small ray of moonlight from the roof to see with. 'No. It's probably hidden and would only weigh me down.' He looked back over towards the entrance where a little more moonlight could be seen through a few gaps. Abandoning everything except for the pants on his legs, he set his sights on the door flap leading outside.

At the pace of an inchworm, Mathew crawled to the entrance on hands and knees. The animal skins and ground felt alien underneath his hands and knees with every step. Every few seconds Mathew would freeze and snap his head back expecting the wolfess to wake up, but each time he turned his head back relieved. It might have taken him an hour to reach the entrance, but he was happier being alive than dead. He reached out and poked the door flap, but the fabric tugged as if sealed by a sturdy hinge. 'How do I open this silently?' Mathew felt around the edge of the thin veil and the hut's wall. His hands scoured the entrance before touching a small rock. He removed the odd fixture and his hand immediately glided past the sheet bring a small grin to his face. He carefully peeked his head outside into the moonlit night. The village was quiet except for a band of crickets scattered throughout the grass, and not a single wolf was seen. "No one is guarding me." Mathew peered around both sides of her home seeing a few huts before looking dead ahead to the small grassy hill. He hesitated to enter the dark night but the wolf inside the hut helped spur the human forward.

Joints crackled and popped as he stood up in a comfortable, yet sore stretch. The cooler air chilled his upper body, and it felt liberating. The first thing Mathew did was relieve himself around the corner of the home. All of the stress and anxiety had his body on lockdown. He quickly zipped up his pants finishing. 'I don't know where to go, but anywhere is better than here.' He looked around the silver lot grass before heading into the cool night of the moor. Hopefully he would end up back east along the coast near town. The grass softly crunched under his feet as he reached the base of a gentle sloping hill. The cool night air chilled his skin without a shirt to protect and warm him, but Mathew trudged forward while looking over his shoulder. "I'll run as soon as I-Oof!" He bumped into something tall and covered in fur... A wolf!

"Huh! Trek Ooskioo?" The wolf hidden by a shadow huffed, sending chills down the human's spine. Mathew looked up and bit his tongue to stop himself from screaming.

"Uh-I um-" He was picked up like sack of flour and carried back to the village.

"Vehax nauhik lewah quod." The male simply chuckled at him. Mathew trembled like a leaf in the wind as they approached the home where he was being imprisoned temporarily. It felt like he was reliving the whole nightmare from the morning. "Otskoo hestheri hoc." The wolf carrying Mathew said with amusement ringing in his voice.

"Hathoran." A distinct female voice lightly replied somewhere in the shadows. The black wolfess was waiting for them at the entrance to her home much to Mathew's surprise.

'How did she know I was gone?!' Only her shadowy figure was visible until she yawned. The sharp pearly whites could've shined under the present moon. Mathew had stopped shivering because of the wolf's warm fur, but he was quickly set on his feet where the black wolfess directed him inside the home.

"Osseh." She thanked the other wolf and bade him a safe night. The familiar odd scents returned to him as Mathew was pushed inside. He quickly crawled ahead of the wolf entering behind him, afraid that she would nip at his heels. The wolfess nudged him to his bed before she went over to hers. Mathew wrapped the deer skin tightly over his body and lied down doing his best not to shiver. Waking his captor up a second time may not end so peacefully.

Mathew found sleep to be more than elusive throughout the night. Barks and an occasional howl pierced his ears that made the hair on his neck stand up stiff. Not only that, but the smelly pelt he lied on didn't make the ground any softer for him to lie on. The wolfess woke up and started a fire after dawn broke through the horizon. The second wolf entered the hut not long after and helped her cook something over the fire in the same stone pot. Mathew sat up with the second deerskin around his upper body, and watched them talk quietly and cook. She served him a small serving of soup in a wooden bowl like before, but didn't hand feed him.

"Thanks." He exhaled. Mathew needed something good in his stomach to assuage the nauseating fear inside him. For the first time, Mathew looked around the hut in detail as he ate. The walls were made primarily out of wood and the roof contained a mixture of wood and thatch-like reeds and rushes. The opening at the top allowed enough light inside and smoke outside from the fire. A stack of small of rabbit and squirrel furs rested to his left and larger deerskins used as mats to sleep and sit on were nearby, but most of the deerskins were laid out along the ground. Baskets and basic cookware lied to his right along the other wall. Decorative feathers and various cloths and bands were resting in a large basket or folded neatly on a fur. Some were hung from the walls like curtains. Weapons were likely hidden from view because he was inside. And the heart of the hut was the fire pit. The whole place was very alien to Mathew. He felt like a work in a bird's nest. 'Will they keep me here forever?' He worried feeling over the wooden spoon in his hand. Mathew stared into the empty bowl of soup feeling his emotions conflict synergistically.

He came to Hibernia to escape the strongmen, meager survival, and obtain a chance at living free; but the opposite seemed tied to fate the day he stepped foot off the boat. The town was under the thumb of a warlike captain, the land was inhabited by savage beasts, yet Hibernia was supposed to offer a new lease on life. Mathew swallowed emptily and his eyes watered. All of the horrors and events since leaving the town's gate overwhelmed the human, and the moments watching everyone die around him hurt the most. There was little chance of escape if his captors could always see him and run faster than him. On top of that Mathew didn't know where his gun or radio were to call for help, and he didn't have a better means of escape. Even then he wouldn't be able to navigate during the night or find his way to New Haven. Mathew clenched his teeth. "I'm afraid." He quietly sobbed covering his eyes as the emotions boiled over. Both wolves watched the human in mild surprise as he shed the fearful tears. They looked at each other and then back at the human.

"Massahootina."

"Yassu... Nen." The male frowned as the black she wolf approached the saddened human.

"Get away from me wolf!" His voice sobbed pathetically. Mathew scooted back and held up an arm defensively watching her approach. The wolfess grabbed his hand and immediately lowered his arm. Mathew clenched his eyes shut seeing her other hand reach to his face, half expecting her to slash his face to pieces. No such beating occurred. Instead, a supple padded finger wiped the teary stream off his face without letting the claw touch him. Mathew cautiously opened his eyes and found her brown eyes staring curiously into his own. She dried his eyes with the fur on her hand while the human looked at her utterly confused.

"Chahok nen lena." She whispered.

"Nen hasset Aitu." The male whispered in frustration. The female shot him a fast glance and attended to Mathew. The human quieted enough to stop crying. He didn't know what to make of the soft brown eyes staring down at him, but the hands cupping his face and the thumbs wiping under his eyes were comforting. "Tahochonemima." She whispered retracting her hands. Mathew didn't know whether he should feel comforted or more frightened.

"Aren't you going t-to... kill m-me?" He swallowed roughly fearing the outcome. Her ears perked forward at the strange words but she didn't say anything more. The black wolf turned around much to his surprise. Mathew looked over the wolfess's shoulder hearing voices at the entrance of the hut.

"Imwas Aitu in Hannu." A small family of five entered: one mother and father, two adolescent daughters, and a little male. The smallest one caught Mathew's eyes. Grey hair with hints of cream color descended from his mane on the back of his neck.

'The lost pup!' Mathew realized. The black she wolf left the human's side and touched noses to greet them with the male.

"Tahma Ooskioo!" The youngest pup pointed at Mathew. The human flinched at the sudden high pitched yap. He ran up to Mathew but the black wolfess quickly caught him by the tail. The pup's family looked at the human with greater caution, but with some persuasion and whining he was allowed to approach Mathew alongside the black she wolf. The mottled grey male talked with the rest of the family and watched from a distance. The she wolf nudged Mathew to lie down, and he immediately complied. He blinked at the pair kneeling beside him with their heads looming over his body. The pup wasn't threatening, but the black wolfess was far more than intimidating.

"Acka yassu tethcla." She whispered keeping a protective arm around the pup while he curiously looked over the human. The pup felt the human's shoulder with two smaller padded furry hands and sets of claws. Mathew looked at the adult. She bared her front teeth warning him not to do anything stupid, as if he was in any position to do so. He remained limp and stared at the ceiling while the pup curiously stared at him.

"Ma sen yapahatu." The curious wolf looked at Mathew, but the human didn't know how or if he should reply. The pup picked up Mathew's undamaged right hand and carefully felt the entire palm. The pad on skin contact felt odd, but human. Their fingers intertwined pressing the wolf pup's warm main pad against Mathew's palm. Mathew softly returned the gesture and stared at the clawed creamy fingers on his hand. For the briefest moment Mathew didn't feel like he was alone. Wolf and man weren't that different. "Shooneruhe, me bam." He whispered to the black wolfess.

"Capsusam hess." Their hands loosened and the pup was guided back over to his parents. The pup sat on his dad's lap and the black she wolf joined the small circle. The human didn't have the slightest clue as to what was going on, but it didn't appear to be about him. The family talked with the two wolves that watched over him for a while. No one looked serious and even a laugh or two was given. Occasionally, someone would look over at him lying alone only to return to the conversation wearing a homely grin.

'Their paws do look odd.' Mathew looked at the way each wolf had their legs tucked underneath their bodies while sitting. With nowhere left to go their long feet stuck out far behind leaving bulky black paw pads facing upwards. Without knowing what was said, the visiting family arbitrarily stood up and slowly walked to the entrance, talking as they went.

"Arichi Nehok." The visiting wolves said as they left.

"Osseh ooskioo!" The pup looked back at Mathew openly grinning before leaving through the door flap. The mottled grey male followed the family outside while the female remained inside. The hut returned to its normal quietness and the she wolf returned to the fire to eat. Mathew looked at his hand remembering the sensation of the pup's smaller hand. It was warm. The pads were supple, and the fur was soft. The claws weren't very sharp when they touched him.

'He acted like a kid... Not a monster.' Mathew was once that happy and curious despite the rough world he grew up in as a kid. The black she wolf curiously watched the idle human and set aside her empty bowl before crawling over to a small basket. Mathew ignored the light shuffling and stared at his hand. A sharp clicking sound brought him out of his deep thoughts. 'That sounds like plastic!' He looked around only seeing the wolf nearby. 'But wolves don't have that-' Mathew noticed the black she wolf holding something in her hands only to realize it belonged to him. 'My radio!' He watched the wolfess inspect the small device. If Mathew could retrieve it and find a signal area then he would be in New Haven in no time.

"Tokchaw." The wolf smelled its surface. She didn't seem to know what the human's radio was and looked it over before giving it a testing bite.

"Hey! Be careful with that!" He watched as she bit the speaker end of his handheld radio. Her teeth clacked around the plastic, but a noticeable bend made his eyes widen. In an instant his device was loudly crunched into several pieces. "Ah! No! Why did you do that?!" He covered his eyes with a hand as she picked up a spring and sniffed it curiously. 'Now I'll never be able to contact a rescue party.' Mathew struggled to keep himself together, but his options were few and far now. She gathered the broken pieces and set them aside while the human humbled and moped to himself. All Mathew could do was stare at the broken pile by the fire. The black wolfess approached and knelt beside the hopeless human.

"Akeechee." She pressed her palm to his chest and gently eased him down. Mathew complied feeling the claws touch his skin and relaxed on the deerskin. Her furry padded hand traced down his front giving him goosebumps. She stopped at his pants and grabbed the center undoing the button. The wolfess quickly pulled his pants down to his knees leaving his undergarment in place. Mathew's cheeks turned a shade of red watching her feel over his thighs. Her gaze focused on a spot in particular and picked at something.

"Ouch." He grimaced noticing that she had pulled a tick from his leg. 'How did she know a tick was on me?' It was quickly disposed of in the morning fire without a second thought. She then licked her thumb and pressed it gently over where the tick had been for several seconds. A soreness was felt on his leg where her thumb rested, but it quickly dissipated. She didn't seem to have any lingering interest there and pulled his pants up before moving to his damaged arm. The wolfess lifted the injured limb by holding his wrist and carefully unraveled the bandage. His teeth gritted feeling how raw his wound was. The red pinpricks from the pup's sharp teeth were less visible and had more pink around the healing spots than red. However, the three claw marks from the wolf looked deeper and more serious. The jagged lines were sensitive to the touch as she finished unraveling. Bandages set aside, she held his arm up to her nose and sniffed the wound. Mathew shivered feeling the warm breath over his skin, but did his best not to appear afraid. That was easier said than done for someone who wouldn't be able to defend himself. His fingers clenched seeing her lips begin to part. To his surprise the wolfess stuck her tongue out and lapped over the cut as if his flesh was a sweet piece of candy. "Hey, don't lick me!" He tugged his arm only for her to hold him with ease. A modest grip was maintained without curling in her fingertips and claws due to her anthropomorphic build. Even twisting the limb around couldn't release her powerful grasp. The wolfess eyed him suspiciously and clutched his wrist in warning so her claw tips could be felt. 'She's strong.' He gave up as her warm tongue continued to bathe his wound. At least the the slick appendage was smooth and gentle on his skin. His skin and wounds looked shiny from its unusual treatment when she finished. "Gross." He watched her wrap up the saliva coated arm in a new bandage.

"Naruset hatiha." The wolfess looked at him and finished the bandage with a secure wrap. Mathew could've sworn that his arm made a squishing noise as she laid it carefully across his chest. The wound did not sting as much to his surprise.

"Thanks." He mumbled as the wolfess turned her back to him and walked away to the entrance. Mathew hastily drew his pants up and buttoned them securely. 'I hope they don't plan on dressing me in their clothes.'

"Ashooka hetnaha Kithos." The black she wolf opened the door flap and greeted someone. He watched a new wolf enter the hut. Unlike the others Mathew had seen, this male was completely naked in regards to clothing. A loincloth didn't shield his canine malehood, nor did any bracelets or leather strings adorn his limbs. His hair didn't even have a single thread of leather to tie it together as it freely draped over his back. His fur was primarily dark brown but his fingertips, tail tip, and toes were solid white. The two wolves touched noses before sitting down on two deerskin mats. Mathew didn't bother listening to their wolffish gibberish and lied down. They could've been planning his death or saying a joke for all he knew. The foreign words only lasted a minute when the black she wolf suddenly departed, leaving Mathew alone with him. This new wolf kept his eyes closed and remained silent for the most part while smoking an elaborately decorated pipe. The puffs of smoke curled out of his nose in small jets with steady exhales. After a few more puffs, he set the pipe down and approached Mathew. The big wolf knelt down by his side tucking his legs underneath his body. Mathew turned his head away from the naked wolf. He couldn't look at the canine's eyes without crying like a newborn. They scared him too much now. However, the wolf was focused on the human's pants. He drew a claw over the hem of the foreign material. The wolf's triangular ears twitched hearing the raspy sound his claw made against the fabric.

'What now?' Mathew looked down feeling a strong tug. The clawed hands tugged at the center to lower his pants but the button frustrated every attempt.

"Neyassu..." The male grumbled picking at the metal button. Fearful of being hurt, Mathew reached down and undid his pants for him. He didn't want to get between the wolf and what he wanted. Mathew watched him pull the zipper down wondering if he would yank them down like the black she wolf had done. The naked wolf pulled his only two garments enough to reveal the human's patch of pubic hair. Mathew felt embarrassment burning under his skin but the canine appeared absolutely fascinated by the sight and quickly ran his hand through the curly hairs. The wolf looked at himself and Mathew in comparison while trailing his fingers through the black patch. Mathew winced when claws brushed his skin below, expecting one to cut him. Thankfully that did not happen. When the odd curiosity was satisfied the wolf suddenly yanked Mathew's pants and undergarment off with a single fast motion. He blinked watching his clothes being slipped past his feet leaving him completely naked.

"H-Hey-!" Mathew rose to his elbows, but quickly held his tongue. One set of the strange male's clear white claws rested on his waist, lightly prickling against his skin.

"Hasenyu." The wolf's deep voice softly spoke. He eased Mathew back down and rested his hands over the human's abdomen. Brown eyes keenly looked over the smooth fleshy surface. Mathew watched the large hands trace over his stomach and sides. The male's pads were supple and warm like the female's, but goosebumps formed where his claws harmlessly grazed his skin. Mathew held his breath when a hand cupped his most private area. "Tohakanoom... Tashu." The leathery hands carefully inspected him and moved on as if they had shaken hands. He exhaled as his legs were lifted and looked over. The sore bruise on his shin was barely given a glance. The strange wolf felt over most of the human's body, inspecting it meticulously as if he was looking for something specific. Joints and limbs were carefully lifted and moved before being set down. He carefully picked up Mathew's left arm and smelled the bandage covering his wound. His skin cringed feeling the puffs of warm air through the bandage material. The wolf's nose traveled lower to the human's elbow, then shoulder. The cold black nose chilled his skin as it explored him through scent. The wolf sneezed after smelling under Mathew's arm and quickly set the limb down. Seemingly satisfied the wolf retrieved the human's clothes, including his missing shirt, and handed them over. The male's brown eyes curiously watched the human sit up and dress before abruptly leaving.

"I'm glad that's over." He watched the white tipped tail disappear behind the door flap. He was happy to have a shirt on again as well, although the long tears on his sleeve would have to be managed. The door flap quietly ruffled catching his attention. Mathew tensed seeing the black she wolf enter again. 'Calm down. She won't hurt me.' He took a deep breath trying to relax, but his body started shaking anyway. The she wolf didn't take much physical notice to the scared human, but her nose and ears were acutely aware of the slightest changes. Mathew relaxed but soon started fidgeting feeling a normal bodily sensation. "Where do I..." He looked around realizing that no one used the hut as a toilet. Yes they were tribal, but a wolf had to go somewhere! He stood up and the wolfess stood up as well. Her height alone intimidated him. "I need to go." He tried walking by but a clawed hand halted him. Mathew opened his mouth but realized that the wolf wouldn't be able to comprehend his words. He needed to think of a way to show her. "Bathroom!" He whined covering his crotch and buckled his knees. Something in her mind must have clicked because the wolfess quickly led him outside to the back of the hut and pointed at the ground.

Mathew could see that the grass was sparser here than elsewhere, but other than that nothing was out of place. 'In the open?' He looked around. A wolf was far away across the field walking towards the forest, but no one else was within sight. 'I guess... here.' He unzipped and lowered his pants consciously, but the thought of someone watching him made it nearly impossible to go. Mathew peered over his shoulder. At least her back was turned.

"Choolect met keh." The she wolf impatiently folded her arms. After another minute Mathew finally found the nerve to relax and relieved himself. He zipped up his pants and tapped her on the shoulder to let the wolf know that he was done. The black she wolf quickly led him back inside by the hand where they returned to their respective mats. Mathew fiddled with the broken bits of his hand radio for the time being while his captor attended to other things in the home. At some point in the early afternoon the male returned to take the female's place before leaving again without a word. The female continued watching the human periodically but otherwise remained inside with him.

"There's no use. It's broken." Mathew picked up the partially assembled radio only for it to crumble in his hands. He shook his head feeling angry at himself for walking straight to the savages' village in the first place. But would he really be doing any better back at Nepheira? Mathew stared at the bandage covering his left forearm that reassured him the wolves wouldn't kill him. 'Are they going to interrogate me?' He wondered only to realize that they couldn't even understand each other's language, much less communicate properly. "What are you going to do with me?" He quietly asked despite a concrete thick language barrier sitting between them. Ears flicked, but otherwise no indication was given that she wanted to talk. He frowned wishing that he could get some answers. The wolf sat by the dormant fire with a bored look on her face and poked at the ashes with a stick. She didn't appear to enjoy the situation either.

"Oh Aitu." She sighed shaking her head. Black hair like fur swayed back and forth. The feathers and braids swayed briefly as well before settling down once more within the fine strands. The human concentrated on an idea.

'Maybe I can catch her attention.' Mathew reasoned hoping that he could learn something about his captivity. "Aitu." He mimicked the accent causing the canine's ears to straighten up. She looked back at him with a surprised expression.

"Nehet ame Aitu?" She pointed to herself with a black claw. The human's eyes widened in realization. That was her name!

"Hold on-Stop! I didn't mean to offend you Aitu!" He shuffled back as the wolfess quickly approached him on all fours, canine teeth openly visible in an excited smile.

"Cheshoonuk harraninoo." Her voice excitedly barked picking him up by the shoulders. Mathew tried to use his legs to gain a proper foothold on the mats and ground only to be overpowered.

"Hey! What are you doing?" He asked as she dragged him outside. The human was properly set on his feet and pulled along before he could scurry back inside. "Wait slow down!" He struggled to keep pace with her longer strides.

"Harshu! She hushed him. Mathew clung onto her arm like a fearful child as they passed by other wolves. The whole village looked like a bizarre nightmare to him. All were donned in the loosely draping loincloths, and females wore the extra chest piece. There were plenty of remarks barked at the pair as they walked by. The ones carrying weapons on their person and baring pointy teeth intimidated them him the most. The padded furry hand tugged his arm incessantly to hurry up. She led him halfway through the village to a wooden hut and motioned for him to enter. Mathew crawled through the door flap with the black wolfess on his heels, but the human froze in place on his hands and knees inside. A dozen sets of canine eyes watched him keenly sitting in a semi circle. His nose could vaguely smell the intermingled scents all around him, and they were subtly overpowering. Aitu brushed by the scared human and approached the first in the semicircle. She touched noses with all of the wolves present in the hut while Mathew shivered in front of the entrance. The canines' gazes frightened him to the core. Across from him was a tall well built male wolf.

Brown and black fur with hints of auburn covered most of his body where the auburn was more prominent in his long hair, most of which wasn't braided. Black fingertips adjusted a necklace adorned with two crimson red feathers. His loincloth and a small band around his upper right arm were elaborately adorned with tassels, patterned stitches, and dyes. This wolf looked very important, and judging by his rich splendor he was most likely the village's leader, or something that acted like a leader.

"Ooskioo." He growled seeing the human inside his home. The glare from his hazel eyes was interrupted as Aitu sat down before him at the edge of the semi circle. She turned around and beckoned Mathew to sit beside her with a pointing claw. He nearly stumbled on the mats of deer fur before taking a seat. He looked around the semicircle of tribal wolves with nervous eyes. One male in particular had a quiver full of arrows strapped on his back and a bow lying at his knees. The grey marbled female next to the male harbored a decorated stone knife at her side.

<Please speak.> The top wolf motioned to Aitu.

<Nagao,> Triangular ears intently listened as the black wolfess began, <I do not believe this one is evil like the others of his kind. If we teach him our tongue then we can understand him and his kind. They must be like us in some ways.> she finished her introduction almost out of breath.

<What reasons do you have to believe that?>

<He never attempted to harm me or my brother, and he cried this morning.> She recounted. Most of the wolves didn't believe her and found the last fact impossible.

<Anything else you wish to add?> The chief looked oblivious to her claim but remained reserved.

<He spared Ashan's life. I don't think this one wants to fight->

<After he shot his leg. Do you realize that he still can't walk yet?> A large white and grey wolf sitting beside Nagao frowned. The two braids among his free strands of hair rustled as he shifted in his seat.

<He's been joking with shaman Kithos about his fast recovery.>

<It sounds as if you're defending this thing.> The large white and grey wolf scrunched his nose. <Did it not try to escape during the night?>

<No one would speak of killing a captured wolf from a warring tribe.> Another replied.

<That monster is no wolf!> The wolf beside Nagao growled. <Every fur less, flat faced human we have encountered wants to kill us. How do you think my family has suffered since fighting such monsters? How does everyone here believe our chieftain fares from losing three of his sons to those demons!>

<That demonic monster led Watambi home after taking care of him for a night! Someone forced him to fight!> Aitu proclaimed receiving a disdainful look from Kazan, a yellow cream and white wolf.

<Why are you so vehement on keeping him here when we could send him away to another tribe?> Kazan retorted. The chief's hand raised and everyone went silence immediately with simmering attitudes.

<What do you think Kithos?> Nagao asked their village's shaman, the same wolf that had inspected the human earlier. <Should we just kill him or keep him?> The nude wolf rubbed over his jawline deep in thought over the dilemma.

<He did not try to harm me in Aitu's home, nor did he show any aggression to me.>

<Isn't the thing sick?> Another asked.

<No. I checked his whole body this afternoon. He is healthy and his arm is recovering well.>

<Any cut can be healed by the tongue.> A wolfess to the side muttered crossing her arms. The wolves talked quickly back and forth with intensity, between those who wanted the human to be killed, and those who wished him to be spared. A growl or a bark was sometimes thrown into the mix causing teeth to bare out.

<He learned how to speak a word.> Mathew leaned back as she suddenly pointed to him. The leader's ears perked up.

<What word?>

<My name.> She calmly stated as everyone looked at Mathew and her suspiciously.

<Can you show us?> He requested. Mathew felt a claw poke his shoulder and looked at the black wolfess beside him. Her expression looked eager and serious. She held her hand up and then slowly pointed to herself.

"Aitu." Mathew pointed to her. The wolves were surprised and quietly whispered among themselves until Nagao's hand silenced them once again.

<What is his name?> Nagao looked over at the human sitting fearfully beside her. Aitu turned and looked at the human.

"Aitu..." She pointed to herself, and then to him. Mathew shivered feeling the claw touch him as his mind drew a blank. All eyes were on him.

<Is it stupid?> One smirked.

"Nasuha!" She grunted and poked the human's stomach.

"Mathew." His meek voice was picked up by those attentive canine ears. Murmurs passed before being silenced by the chief's hand. Nagao held his muzzle in thought as everyone else silently awaited an answer. Mathew could feel the tension in the air and patiently waited for a verdict. The black wolfess beside him looked confident and expectant.

<You came here wanting him to be spared, is that true Aitu?> Nagao finally broke the silence.

<Yes chief.> She curtly nodded.

<Then I only see this fair if you take care of him.> He replied causing half of the wolves around him to frown in disapproval. Aitu sat up straight with a giddy pulse. The other half remained neutral. <Teach him how to talk our tongue. We will learn all that we can from him when he can speak to us, and then I will decide what shall become of him. I'll have someone watch within sight of your home at night in case he escapes. However, if he harms any wolf then I will have to take a different course of action.> He held up his hand finishing his answer. The others appeared mildly satisfied at the outcome and watched Aitu and the human leave. Heckling and prodding remarks were given as Aitu half dragged Mathew back to her hut. He found her constantly wagging tail mystifying and somewhat annoying as it slapped his legs. When they reached her hut Mathew was quickly ushered in.

"Lefka." Aitu patted a mat for him to sit on. 'Let's see what he can do.' Aitu thought excitedly. Mathew nervously watched the wolfess look around the hut on all fours for something. The tribal loincloth obliviously draped to the ground where only her tail could cover her backside.

'What's going on?' He was afraid to speak again after being surrounded by a scary group of wolves for a second time. The wolfess come back from the entrance holding up a rock.

"Ton." She excitedly handed the rock to him. Aitu sat down and watched the human inspect cold object. Mathew looked over the typical rock finding nothing special and tried giving it back to the enthusiastic wolfess. She pushed his hand back. "Ton." She earnestly pointed at the rock. Mathew froze up the more she became irritated with him.

'What does she want me to do with it?' His bewilderment didn't help the she wolf's impatience. Aitu swiftly snatched the rock from his hand.

"Ton!" She growled and barked at once holding it at him. "Sessa!" She covered her eyes with a hopeless hand as her ears pinned back. "Nampo yuk deferru." She muttered waving her hand around as if to throw the rock before harmlessly dropping it. The older male wolf beside Mathew busted out into a barking laugh that irritated her even more. Aitu barked at him and turned back to the scared human. The wolfess took a deep breath and refocused. Mathew watched her pick up the rock and hold it out to him. "Ton." She plainly spoke.

"Ton?" Mathew accepted the rock and looked at it. That's what they called a rock!

"Fesh! Ton." She smiled and nodded emphatically. He relaxed seeing her mood improve. The wolfess held up one thing after another having him repeat its name, and thus began the most intensive course on native language he could have imagined.