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Chap.6

"I understand that you failed to remain calm after one of these... dreams. Are you aware that you awoke me, and several pups and their mothers with your wailing?"

"I-I wasn't."

"Here we live by a simple rule. Do you know what it is?"

"Do what is best for the pack, or be punished..."

The fire turned green.

"Good. You may not have meant to, but you cost me, mothers, and pups sleep. I can cope, but sleepy pups make trouble for their mothers, and by extension the rest of the pack. You must face punishment."

"Great."

"You really must learn to remain silent when speaking to me. I could have you killed right now, if I wanted to."

"Just tell me my punishment."

"You will go without food for three days."

"What?"

"Did I mumble?" He growled.

"N-no!"

"Good, you seem to be learning. Though I suspect you are, in truth, a dangerous idiot with a larger than average I.Q. Now, about my offer..."

"What is it?"

"You want to return to your human form, correct?"

"Yes."

"But you have no idea as to how to do it?"

"Yes, we've been over this before."

"You really are the rudest human I have ever met."

"Wait, what?"

"What, you believe you are the first to undergo this kind of change?"

"Yes, sort of."

"That's nice. Ignorance is bliss. Anyway, back to where we were. Do you want help?"

I was kind of curious about these "others", but my personal situation was the more immediate concern.

"Help... to turn back?"

"No, help to cope. At least, for now."

"Are you asking me what I think you're asking?"

"If what you think I am asking is if you want a temporary home here, then yes."

I was frozen. I knew there was more to this, something big.

"What do I have to do?"

"Well, it's clear that you have a somewhat concerned disposition, so I ask only this: you help in the nursery, as well as learning some medicinal skills from CloudedPlain, and you can stay until you remember what happened, and figure out how to reverse it."

The offer sounded reasonable, and I guess I didn't have any other options.

"Yes. I'll help."

"Good, good. Starting this sunrise, you will be introduced to the mothers and the pups, and move into the Subordinates den."

"Subordinates den?"

"Yes. It's usually where those who have lost their honor are kept, but currently it is yours and Enigma's."

"Enigma?"

"A... special... person. We found him drifting, unconscious, in the river several moons ago, and he has been with us ever since. He rarely speaks, and since we know nothing of him-"

"You nicknamed him Enigma."

"Perceptive."

"Thank you. Why haven't you tried to figure out where he came from?"

"Because I know what happens if we do."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that his origin is to remain known to him alone," he growled," Unless he chooses to reveal it to the next one."

"That's enigmatic."

"Is that a joke?"

"Was it fun-," I stopped myself," Yes. Yes it was."

"Good. It was funny."

May I emphasize how I really hate this guy?

"Well," he whispered," If that is all... goodbye."

My legs collapsed beneath me, and my vision became blurry.

"What's going..."

I was unconscious before I could finish the thought,

Chap. 7

"Doctor? Dr. Qorat? Are you okay?"

I awoke slowly, and I thought, for just a moment, that I had awoken from this all.

The ceiling was flat and gray, like the lab, and I felt warmth on my side, like when I would lean on the wall of my office, with the heater hidden behind the wall. Then it slowly faded back to the cold black stone of a cave den.

I became increasingly aware of the warmth behind me. Fur. Turning my head, I saw a black shape behind me.

That must be Enigma. So this is the Subordinates den...

_ _ It was almost exactly like the other den had been, except I felt more welcome here.

"I hoped you would."

I rolled completely over, and saw the jet-black face of Enigma. He almost looked exactly like me.

"What?"

"My... friends. I'd rather not talk about it. Or at all, for that matter. Too many... memories."

"Excuse me?"

He stood up, and started licking my neck.

"Um..."

"Dirty," he whispered, "Dirty dirt..."

"Are you okay?"

Enigma laid down next to me, moving close and looking deeply into my eyes.

"You poor unfortunate soul," he whispered," Poor, poor soul... You'll be safe with us..."

"I was under the impression that you didn't talk much. About anything."

Enigma pawed at my belly with his hind legs, seeming somehow... entranced.

"Why are you... um..."

"You're so familiar... like a mirror... a completely different mirror..."

"What do you me-"

Enigma rubbed his head against my neck, and it almost felt... familiar.

"I worried for you, Victor, for all this time... so worried..."

"But you didn't know me until now!"

"I worried that another soul would be turned."

"Another? What? You aren't making any sense!"

"The parents of the Alpha... I knew them both well... in the original..."

"Original what?"

"Home... I loved it the most..."

Enigma closed his eyes and whimpered, his legs kicking beneath him.

"Enigma? Are you okay?"

"Oh, Victor, if only you could see my home... the forest surrounding us, plenty of prey... no one was ever hungry... except for him, yet food could not satisfy his hunger... he needed her, obsessed over her..."

"Why?"

"Love drew him to his greatest joy... and to the place you stand now..."

"Who?"

"Victor, I will tell you the tale some day. For now, I wish to get to know you."

Enigma cuddled up next to me, burying his muzzle in my neck fur.

"I want to learn more about you, Victor," He said, muffled by my fur," I wish to know you personally. You will need friends to make it through this hardship."

Don't get me wrong, I was very disturbed, but when creepy person wants to hear about your life after you TURN INTO A WOLF, you start to roll with even the weirdest things.

"Okay... I don't remember much though..."

"I doubt you do... this amnesia is your way of healing... their way of healing..."

"Who's?"

"Someday, Victor, someday... Now, back to you..."

"Okay..."