~ Griefs new Gifts

Ember yelled out almost crying when he felt Silvia let go of him and fall off. As Gray sped away he desperately turned his head to look for her and could see the black beast standing before her as the trees covered his view.

"NO!" He cried out as he lost sight of her. Why? Why did he have to lose everyone? His parents, his friend and now someone that saved him! Why?!

The roars of the black moving mountain filled the forest and a new wave of determination filled him.

He desperately pulled on Grays bridle as he tried to get her to stop but the way her head moved and the way she ran was clearly full of confused terror. The speed at which she was going would soon cause her to tire then maybe he could go back but as more time set in the more, he realized that his new friend was gone. Chilling loneliness set in and soon Gray slowed down to a frantic but determined trot.

Ember finally pulled her to the side of the road and just sat there. Contemplating what just happened was the only thing he could do as Gray panted and lowered her head. She was tired and sweat dripped for her neck and chest to the ground. Finding strength Ember got off and haltered her, untacked her then high lined her.

He was an idiot. No one took the mountain passes without a wizard that could slay a monster. No one. That's why no one was up here! That's why the valley of Nira was so hard to get to and why all the wizards, witches, and magical creatures discriminated against or killed for sport lived in Nira.

The main mountain pass was in the canyon of Never End and it was a straight path along the side. Down the middle was a bottomless pit. No monsters dared to live there so wizards turned it into a highway for the refugees running from discrimination, slavery, and being hunted. These mountain passes hadn't been used in over 500 years but what else could he do. Nira let the humans take the pass and the humans killed anyone on the cliffs.

Nira wanted a war, that's why they let the humans take control of his hometown. So they could have a base that the wizards could destroy. Nira was mad for power. It was mad with blood lust. He had to get out of that country but dire bears, griffons, serpents, manticores and so many more horrible animals lived in this forest.

When they say 'banishment is worse than death' it is true. No one could survive. His childhood fantasy had just gotten his partner killed and himself doomed. He walked away from Gray and screamed. He banged his fist onto a tree and a burning intensity filled him. He was such an idiot.

His anger filled him and he started to pound the tree relentlessly until his body felt like it was on fire. As he stopped he felt a shift and pain-filled him as a moment of resistance took over and he fell to the ground. Once the moment was over and he could think and he took in his situation.

He was a dog… again?

He was so small but yet still big enough to see above the bushes. He looked at his clothes which were singed and smoking. The smell of burning cotton and wood filled his nose as he took in the sight of the tree he had brutally beaten. It had a hole burned into it and a small flame could be seen in the deeper part of the aftermath of his tantrum.

He sat down and just looked at it thinking. What was he? How was this possible? What happened?

"You know taking your frustration out on that poor tree was not necessary."

Ember jumped, all his hair standing on end and also making the highest pitched sound he had ever made. With a flurry of movement he scrambled very clumsily behind the tree and peeked around.

An old man stood there leaning on a cane, hunched over with a small bright smile on his face. "Hello!" He leaned into his introduction widening his eyes with happiness. He seemed to shake a little as he stood.

It looked like he hadn't spoken in forever as his lip shook. "No need to be a frightened young pup. I'm no enemy."

The weirdest part of all this was that there was a man in front of him. No one lived up here, now how the heck did this old-timer appear before him?

"I bet you have a tone of questions? Good, now let old man Baker tell you all about his day and the feeling of joy to finally have a friend join me in this life of banishment." The man started to waddle away leaving Ember just standing in dazed confusion. What?

He soon followed and found that the old man had gotten Gray saddled and untied while he was dilly-dallying. The man was a lot stronger then he looked but took his sweet time slowly walking up the path.

"Oh sonny, I was on a nice stroll when I heard your angry fit. At first I thought you were a wizard when you beat up on the tree using fire but then you changed." The old man started to talk as they walked down the path.

"You looked like something truly had hurt you and when you changed I could feel your anguish." He huffed a sad tone. "Did you lose a companion to Mr. black? You came from his territory and seeing your pain that must be it."

Ember looked down at the gravel path and his sad whimper was all the old man needed. "Ah. I'm truly sorry for your loss."

They walked in silence for a minute as Ember walked next to the grandpa waddling on his stick. "Werewolves are rare, don't you know? It's pretty easy to keep genetics if you're pureblood but nowadays most are half-bloods and sometimes not even that. The majestic being we are has been hunted for the sport not just by humans but also by wizards. It's a wonder we still live but compared to your power and the pure fire I see in your soul you're a pure breed, Fire Wolf."

Ember desperately wanted to talk now just so he could ask questions but he was a flippen dog how could he talk.

"You're not a dog and I can hear those loud thoughts very clearly. What's on your mind sonny?"

Ember stopped and his thoughts exploded. He couldn't even think clearly but one thing stood out more than most. 'You can hear my thoughts?!'

"Oh yes. Thought communication is common for werewolf. When I can, I guess I should teach you all that I know. Pass on information to the next generation."

Ember noticed a small cabin not far off and there looked to be a barn, a greenhouse, and some other things too. "You know I've lived up here for about one hundred years and I was no prime young lad when I moved up here. My wife and I worked hard on this farm here. I'm glad I get to share it with someone before I follow my dearest to the great beyond."

Ember's thoughts converged around condolences as he walked along.

"Yeah a human life only lasts for 80 or so years while werewolves can last up to three centuries. I'm quite happy with my two centuries though. One just being an idiot and this one loving and cherishing the one the gods gave to me as a soul mate. Your companion, it must really weigh on you to have lost someone so close."

Ember thought of Silvia and how she had saved him, how she was vulnerable, and how he couldn't protect her.

"Oh the poor dear." The man seemed to be full of the purest grief as he opened a gate and closed it once Ember and Gray were through. Quietly he took Gray into the barn which was opened up into two parts. A pen where he put Gray and then a storage area with gear and other things. He placed the saddle on what looked like a really old plow and the bridle on an empty wall hook. Easily the man tossed in green hay collected in a corner for Gray.

Ember watched this all from the door where he had sat and silently mourned Silvia. He was so bitter and sad about all this but he also was given great opportunities. He didn't know how to feel.

The old man beckoned him out of the barn and into the dusky air. The sun had started to set and the two moons started to climb the sky. The night was very clear, usually, only one moon could be seen but good fortune always followed when the second could be seen. So dim yet such a soft velvet white blue.

"Okay sonny let's go find your friend. It won't be pretty and Mr. Black will have feelings about us taking her but he's got plenty of other things. I want to see this sweet girl laid to rest right." The old men stepped forward and changed in an instant. His old body was replaced with a large black wolf's and his clothes burned away as his cane dropped. He was clearly old but it still looked terrifying and incredible. What was happening was all hard to take in as Ember's thankfulness and grief clouded some of his judgment but he was grateful. He would see Silvia put to rest right.

The old man jumped his wall and picked up a steady lope that made an Ember rush to keep up. The older wolf seemed fine with the forest and not worried at all that they were about to challenge a dire bear for its dinner.

'To be honest I don't like Mr. Black but I can't just let this go. We will get her back."

Ember focused on his will to understand. 'Why would you help me?'

'My own grief drives me. I lost my daughter at that age. That's why I and my wife lived in this god's forsaken forest. We wanted to live for that sweet girl. I see her in that Silvia of yours. I feel like she deserved better.'

Ember understood and again centered his mind around his condolences. The run after that was quiet and full of jump scares. Anything that moved or made a sound made Ember jump. He was worried he would jump right out of his skin as they ran.

Something screeched and Ember looked that way growling as his heart jumped and flipped in his chest. As he tried to calm down he ran face-first into something hard. When he finally recovered he saw it was the old man's leg planted stiff. Ember got up and staggered next to old man Baker. 'What was that for?'

Ember was able to come back to full scenes and noticed Baker was just staring. No emotion, just a blank stare. Ember looked at what Baker was staring at and a rush of emotions filled him as he ran forward.

In the middle of the trail, laying in the moonlight was Silvia.

As he came next to her he felt his body shifting and his human form kneeled next to her. She was shivering but the best part was her breathing. She was alive. Ember had no clue, no understanding, and no care for how this happened but there in front of him lay his traveling companion.

He reached out and touched her arm but immediately pulled back and yelped. Steam came off of his hand as he grabbed it and looked at what had hurt. She was cold.

No she was beyond cold. She was frozen.

Old man Baker appeared next to him looking at her with soft and a sad understanding. He took a deep breath and blew over her. Ember could feel the heat coming from the breath as it covered her.

This time when Ember touched her the cold of her skin didn't burn him as he gentling lifted her up into his arms.

'Place her on my back and focus on emotions of anger and hate to turn back into a wolf. There is no way you are walking all the way back on those pitiful human feet. Ember nodded in acknowledgment and laid Silvia on the old man's back.

It took a few tries but he soon figured out how to turn back. The long walk back was plenty of time to really ponder and wonder what was going on and when they entered the little farmyard Ember had decided that the world was way weirder and stranger then he had ever thought possible.