26 Hermit

Tatin was lonely that day. He was young, barely a teen. He put on his wolf form one night and ran in the forest. There, in the forest, he met an old man. His long beard hanged from his chin. He had white hair and white eyebrows—the wrinkles showed on his forehead and the jaw lines of his face. He asked Tatin for water, and Tatin looked for water. He knew the place. He knew he could find water, and he did. He then asked for food as he said he was hungry. Tatin cut some root plants from the forest, improvised a kettle, and built a fire. The old man smiled as he drank his water and ate his food.

"You are a good man," he said.

He asked Tatin where he came from. Tatin asked him if he ever knew the wolf-dom. He said he did. He knew. When he was about to leave, he left a word: "To one who is good, a reward is bestowed, with only the heaven as witness. One who is, earns more."

"Pick up that rod," the old man told him.

Tatin picked the rod that was sitting on the ground that time.

"Whatever you think, your mind obeys you; whatever you tell that rod to do, the rod obeys you, but, only when you are good."

"What is good?" he asked the old man.

"Mercy. Justice. Truth. A contrite spirit when one erred— a forgiving spirit, a loving spirit."

Tatin did not understand. But by the time he was old enough, he did.

One day, he saw a black man who was being beaten by white men at a crossroad. The sight of violence being inflicted on the helpless man infuriated Tatin. He ran to help, but was stopped by the men. They turned to him—they'd beat him. But Tatin only threw them away one by one like they were light pieces of woods. And they got afraid of him.

The man thanked Tatin for his help.

There was a teenage girl who was different in color, too, as she was white. Five dark girls went to her and beat her and she never knew why they did. Tatin who was also dark, pacified the girls and chided them for beating the white girl and divesting her of her earrings, necklace, and money.

"Why did they beat me?" she asked Tatin.

"They're crazy. Go home."

The girl was very thankful to Tatin.

Tatin realized what the old man was trying to tell him many years ago about mercy, justice, and truth. He strived to be good.

For his other exploits, people heard, and he earned the respect of many wolves. Women adored him. He was the object of their admiration and affection including Jezebel, who, he met because of Azazel. She was favored by his father, but not by Bijou, who was aware of the real intention of Jezebel. She had been observing her.

"She wanted power," she told Tatin one time. "That's because she was rendered powerless by her own family, her step mother, even his own father who couldn't decide on his own but trusted the second wife instead. Abused, that's what she is. She needs love. She'd need control, problem I see is, she, hardly has control."

Even as Bijou passed away, her words rang in Tatin's consciousness.

Now that they were older, he realized that what his mother told him were all true. Jezebel was giving him a hard time. He did not know what to do with her jealousy, and her greed.

However, it seemed like it was too late for Bella and Jezebel to make amends. They had decided to fight until the end.