Awake

Ian was still a bit shocked at the image in front of him, quickly gathering himself, he asked the girl.

" Are you awake?"

Hearing his voice , the girl stopped mouthing and went unconscious again, all the while the wolf was sitting in the doorway staring at two people on the bed.

After a long silence Ian asked again, with a worried tone in his voice,

" Are awake?"

Repeating the same question seemed a bit stupid even to himself, since the girl in front of him was clearly unconscious.

Hearing a slight noise behind his back, Ian looked over his shoulder and saw the wolf was right behind him, sitting on the floor an his hind legs.

"She woke up..." his voice low, a little worried

" It's too soon....she was trying to say something." Ian continued his thoughts.

" I would ask you if you know what she was trying to say but you would just growl at me" Ian said with an amused tone.

The wolf plopped himself on the floor and huffed at what Ian said and closed his eyes to sleep.

" I'm starting to think that you can understand me!" Ian continued his train of thought as to confirm his suspicions.

The wolf let out a small growl confirming, what Ian was saying.

"She isn't ordinary is she?" Ian continued his proding, sensing that the wolf was somewhat in a better mood after his time in the forest.

The wolf opened his eyes and growled again the same way he did before.

Ian took that growl as a yes and carried on with his prodding, just to see how much information he can get out of the wolf.

" Is she of royal blood?" Ian shot the next question and it was met with angry growl and a huff.

"I'm guessing that's a hard "No" "! Ian chided

The wolf gave him a low growl, to confirm to what Ian just said.

" I don't what else she could be , since I've been living in these woods my entire life.You see I don't know many people and I haven't met many people since this place is pretty isolated.

I only know what my parents have tought me before they passed away many years ago".

" If you're wondering why I'm still here, when I could have left this place after my parents passed away. They always said that the outside world is cruel and full of evil and cunning people, and if I want to live a peaceful life , I should stay here and no one will come to disturb me. I guess that's why they decided to move here".

Hearing what he said , the wolf growled low as to confirm that what his parents told him was true.

" Who would've thought that I would end up with a wolf and a battered maiden for company?!" Ian continued his thoughts with a amused tone. The wolf huffed at Ian and closed his eyes to go back to sleep.

Getting the hint, Ian went back to his table and continued making the poultice for the battered girl lying on his bed.

Finishing the poultice, he gently started applying them on the more serious wounds and after moving his attention to more superficial one, which required less attention.

Looking at the wolf sprawled on the floor he went and started cooking dinner, using one the rabbits that had caught this morning.

Grabbing the lifeless rabbit he lifted up in the air and thought "Dinner it's your turn" letting out a low chuckle, making sure to not disturb the sleeping wolf.

"He might bite me ,if I wake him up again" Ian thought to himself.

Getting everything that he needed for his stew, he started preparing his dinner, gradually adding the ingredients in the pot that was hanging over the fire. Soon the smell of food started filling the air around the hut.

Sitting in front of the pot stirring once in while Ian kep quiet and glanced once in while to the girl on the bed as to make sure, that she was alright and didn't need his assistance.

" I wonder how long it will take to come to her senses?" Ian thought himself.

"She should wake up tomorrow or the day after , otherwise her body won't last without any proper nutrition ".

Lost in his thoughts, Ian mindlessly stirring the pot, when the sound of something breaking brought him back to reality.

Jumping from his seat in front of the fire, he quickly turned around only to see that the girl was standing up next to the table gulping water like there is no tomorrow.

She was holding the jug in her hand that now was empty , she looked at him almost on the brink of passing out again.

" Water" she said with a wisper .

Ian was quick to grab the jug and ran outside and came back with a jug full of water.

He was still in shock , he just reacted to whatever she said, he stared at her for the longest time, whe she finally broke the silence .

" Who are you?" she asked looking at him with a pained look on her face.

Ian was still reeling from the shock, without answering her question. He started making his way to where she was. Seeing Ian making his way to her she stumbled backwards only for her to fall on the ground next to the bed.

The wolf just sat on the floor watching the scene in front of him unfold, he grumbled and laid his haid on the front paws, like he watching a show.

The wolf actions garnered the girls attention and she gasped at the sight of the wolf.

Seeing her reaction, Ian got confused . He was not expecting that.

" The wolf, is it yours?" she asked in wary tone.

" No, I thought it was yours" he replied , his voice letting her know that he was as surprised as she was

"Hmmmm, not mine!" she replied and the wolf let out an angry growl and a huff.