Loden remains sitting in his chair as silence blankets the room. He watches Tibost cradling Kaiden against his side, an envious expression painted across his face. He rubs his hands together restlessly, the hazel hue of his eyes betraying a mix of frustration and unease as he silently fumes at the sight.

  Tibost continues to maintain his composure, casually moving his hand to check Kaiden's forehead.

  Loden's gaze narrows further, sensing Tibost's deliberate actions. He contemplates retaliating, perhaps by throwing something at him or even resorting to physical violence. However, his concern for Kaiden's well-being reigns in his impulses, preventing any action that might further harm or disturb the wounded priestess leaning against Tibost's side.

  Loden watches Tibost closely, turning his head slightly away with a smug smirk and raised eyebrows. Tibost’s gaze shifts downwards toward Kaiden, the side of his face visible by Loden. As Loden watches Tibost purse his lips slowly as he approaches Kaiden's mouth, confusion floods his mind, but then realization dawns. Loden's hazel eyes widen, and he reflexively grips the edge of the table, wanting to intervene but unsure of how.

  Tibost's lips are millimeters from touching Kaiden's when the sound of commotion outside breaks the moment, capturing both Loden's and Tibost's attention. Both men swiftly turn their gazes toward the door, their focus diverted from the intimate moment that was about to unfold.

  A loud crash reverberated from outside, followed by the raised voices of Wulfric. Hearing his voice, Loden and Tibost immediately recognize the source of the commotion. Loden listens as Wulfric's words echo through the door, his tone tinged with frustration, "You did that on purpose! Do you know how long it will take to replace the banister? Stupid wolf."

  As the door slowly creaks open, revealing Brokenfang, his hood down, he enters, still in the midst of a debate with Wulfric. "You're the one who did it," he mutters, his gaze fixing on Tibost and Loden. "Sorry we are late," he apologizes, his ears dropping sheepishly.

  Wulfric follows closely behind Brokenfang, entering the room and closing the door behind him. He crosses his arms, his gaze taking in the scene before him.

  “What happened here?" Wulfric questions, his gaze sweeping over the room, taking in the scene of Kaiden leaning against Tibost and Loden sitting at the table.

  Wulfric and Brokenfang step closer into the room, their appearances now more noticeable as Loden and Tibost get a better look at them. The duo bears numerous small cuts and traces of dirt on various parts of their skin and clothing, suggesting that they may have recently engaged in some form of physical altercation.

  Loden stands up and swiftly moves to block their path toward Kaiden, smoothly intercepting them without drawing too much attention. He addresses them with a serious tone, "We should be asking that of you," he remarks, his gaze fixed on Wulfric and Brokenfang. "What happened to the both of you?"

  Wulfric begins to speak, but Brokenfang interjects, "We had some trouble with the thugs, but we took care of them." Brokenfang's response is brief, but both warriors exchange a quick glance, seemingly sharing a subtle understanding or unspoken agreement. There seems to be an undertone of discomfort and tension in their interaction, as if something unspoken lingers between them.

  Tibost coughs from the bed, drawing attention, and he interjects with a direct question, "You can tell us about your epic battle later; where is the antidote?"

  Brokenfang quickly moves to his satchel, fishing out two vials - one a deep purple hue and one a vibrant blue. Curiously, he presents them on his palmed open hand, confessing, "We couldn't decide which one was the poison and which one was the antidote." He shoots a sidelong glare at Wulfric, then glances toward Tibost for guidance.

  Tibost speaks up, requesting to have a closer look at the vials. "Let me see them; I will be able to tell." Tibost adjusts himself slightly, ensuring that Kaiden remains comfortably resting against his side. He extends his arm, beckoning for Brokenfang to hand over the vials for inspection.

  Loden steps forward a little, placing his hands out in a blocking motion. "Wait, we can't get close to Kaiden," he cautions, his concern evident in his expression.

  Brokenfang and Wulfric give Loden a confused look, with Wulfric shaking his head in disagreement. Brokenfang proceeds around Loden, carefully moving forward without the other warrior hindering him. As Brokenfang moves around Loden, he refrains from grabbing or touching Brokenfang, concerned about the delicate vials inadvertently breaking in the process.

  As Brokenfang approaches Tibost and Kaiden, Tibost becomes aware of a subtle shift in Kaiden. His breathing quickens, and his heart rate accelerates. Sensing these changes, Tibost urgently implores, "Wait, don't get any closer."

  Brokenfang halts his approach upon hearing the serious tone in Tibost's voice and takes caution. Wulfric, observing the situation, shakes his head and moves around Loden, deliberately brushing past him with his shoulder.

  “Seriously, you even got Tibost acting odd," Wulfric remarks as he moves to Brokenfang's side, snatching the vials from his hand before he can react.

  Loden and Brokenfang both attempt to reach out to stop Wulfric, but their reaction is too slow, and he has already made his way to the bed. The vials are now in his grasp, though before he can speak or hand the vials to Tibost, the red energy once again materializes.

  The red celestial energy suddenly lashes out like a striking paw, forcefully propelling Wulfric backward, causing him to collide with Brokenfang and Loden. The two warriors hastily catch Wulfric, stabilizing him as the red energy withdraws back towards Kaiden. Wulfric looks at his palm, still holding the vials, thankful that he closed his hand when he got pushed away.

  Wulfric, Brokenfang, and Loden freeze in surprise, their eyes widening as they watch the red energy spread around Kaiden's body. Tibost flinches away from Kaiden upon feeling a sharp stinging sensation where he had been in physical contact with Kaiden, his expression betraying a hint of pain. The three warriors stand motionless, stunned by the sight of the red energy enveloping Kaiden, covering his arms and now moving to his chest, slowly moving to cover his entire body.

  With Tibost no longer supporting him, Kaiden remains upright, his body not slouching or falling over. Gradually, the red energy completely envelops him from head to toe, taking on the form of a wolf as the process progresses and finishes.

  “Oh my Astryaln..." Tibost murmurs, utterly spellbound by the unfolding spectacle before his eyes.

  Loden, Wulfric, and Brokenfang stand motionless, their gazes fixed on the unfolding scene. Confusion clouds their thoughts. "What's happening here?" Wulfric queries, his voice tinged with concern. "What's happened to Kaiden?" Brokenfang follows up, adding to the bewilderment.

  The red wolf-energy form completes its transformation, inclining its head towards Tibost and then the three warriors. Its gaze is sharp and piercing, with eyes exuding a brilliant silver light. As the form slowly shifts from a sitting position to standing upright, with all four legs standing on the bed. As the form expands upward, it approaches the ceiling, its presence growing more imposing. Kaiden's body moves from a sitting position to a fetal position, curling up inside of the wolf while hovering around inside of its chest.

  Loden turns his gaze to Kaiden's small form within the wolf's presence and then to Wulfric and Brokenfang. He shakes his head, his expression reflecting uncertainty and worry. "I'm not entirely sure," he admits, his voice tinged with concern, "This wasn't happening earlier. I was merely flung back, and the energy created a barrier to prevent me from touching Kaiden."

  Tibost cautiously attempts to approach the group of warriors, taking one step forward. The wolf-energy form, noticing this, swiftly pivots to focus on Tibost, its silver eyes flashing intensely. The red energy making up its form pulsates with an intense surge of power. Without hesitation, the form lunges forward, delivering a powerful lash with its front paw in an attempt to swat at him.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The warriors react swiftly, with Wulfric being the first to act. He swiftly passes the vials to Loden before leaping across the room to grab Tibost, pulling him out of the way just in time to avoid being struck by the wolf's powerful swat. Wulfric and Tibost manage to roll away to join back up with the other two warriors. In response, the wolf lets out a guttural snarl, its silver eyes narrowing as it focuses on all of them.

  As Tibost and Wulfric get up, dusting themselves off, Wulfric asks curiously, "What's gotten into him? What's happening?"

  Tibost shakes his head, equally bewildered. "I've never encountered this before," he admits, "I can't discern what's happening with Kaiden from this distance. The red energy rejected me this time as well." He lightly massages the side of his body, the area still tender from the recent impact. "The energy packs quite a punch," he remarks.

  Brokenfang remains vigilant, his ears erect and alert as he observes Kaiden. He occasionally shakes his head, his attention firmly fixed on the transformed figure.

  Loden holds up the vials, showing them to Tibost. "This energy is going make Kaiden even weaker," he states urgently, "We need to reverse this, and we have to get the antidote into Kaiden. What can we possibly do?"

  Tibost examines both vials, carefully tucking the deep purple one into his pocket. He holds up the vibrant blue vial, gripping it tightly as he speaks, "I can administer the antidote to Kaiden, but I'll need a syringe from my bag to ensure the fastest possible effect. Unfortunately, I can't get close enough to him in his current state."

  The red energy wolf gazes at them with a steely glare, its teeth slowly baring as its lips part slightly. Brokenfang's ears suddenly perk up, his eyes fixed on Kaiden. "Kaiden..." he utters, drawing everyone's attention toward the curled-up figure of Kaiden inside the wolf-energy form.

  Tibost gives Brokenfang's arm a reassuring touch, his voice laced with concern. "You can hear Kaiden from here without physical contact," he observes, a weight of realization in his tone. "Do you know what's happening?"

  Loden and Wulfric catch on to the realization as well, their gazes focused on Brokenfang. He nods solemnly in acknowledgment, his ears flattening slightly, betraying a solemn expression.

  Brokenfang withdraws his arm from Tibost’s touch, his discomfort evident. As he prepares to speak, everyone's attention shifts to Kaiden and the wolf, witnessing the creature stepping off the bed, its head turned towards the group. The group remains uncertain about the wolf’s intentions, their expressions tense and guarded.

  Tibost clasps the antidote tightly, desperation in his voice. "Can you tell me anything about Kaiden's condition? Heart rate, breathing, anything? What information can you provide?"

  The energy wolf advances slowly closer, its steps measured and deliberate. The group instinctively steps back, their anxiety mounting. Brokenfang's words come out slowly, a mixture of concern and focus. "His heart is beating fiercely, and his breaths are rapid but steady. I can also detect the scent of blood," he reports, his perceptive senses keenly attuned.

  Loden's worry intensifies as he pieces together the source of the blood - likely Kaiden's nose, similar to the situation they faced outside the palace with the guards surrounding them.

  The energy wolf continues its advance, it’s tail passing through the table as it moves pass it. It gets closer to the group, its silver eyes fixed and determined, its tail trailing behind. It raises its head slightly, licking its lips, the energy within it surging with another powerful pulse.

  Wulfric and Loden quickly recognize the surging energy, their reflexes kicking in. "Move!" they shout in unison, as the wolf lunges towards the group, using both paws this time in a powerful attack.

  Wulfric swiftly scoops Tibost up, carrying him under his one arm. Loden quickly follows behind the two, moving to dodge the attack. Meanwhile, Brokenfang remains motionless, seemingly indifferent to the imminent danger. His focus still on the wolf and Kaiden, not flinching to the incoming red energy wolf paws. Loden attempts turn to grab Brokenfang but is swiftly intercepted by Wulfric, who grabs him instead. The three of them barely manage to dodge the attack, with a wolf’s paw landing between them and Brokenfang.

  Wulfric, Loden, and Tibost stare at Brokenfang in amazement, their gaze fixed on the transparent red energy that separates them from Brokenfang. Meanwhile, Brokenfang remains unflinching, not turning to look at the group. Instead, he carefully removes his glove and extends his hand to touch the transparent surface of the red energy beside him, making direct contact with it.

  The red energy pulsates intensely in response, causing the wolf's form to convulse, the snarling becoming more pronounced. Brokenfang's expression betrays a hint of discomfort, but he maintains his composure, standing his ground bravely. Meanwhile, Wulfric carefully sets Tibost down on the ground, a mix of concern and uneasiness etched on his face.

  Loden voices his concern, asking, "What do we do?" As he speaks, an unexpected thing unfolds - the pendant that hangs around Kaiden's neck begins to glow bright silver. The red wolf's silver eyes glow even more intensely, and a slender silver thread appears, extending from Kaiden's pendant and moving down the wolf's torso, leading all the way to Brokenfang's hand, which remains in contact with the red energy.

  Brokenfang noticeably relaxes, the pain seemingly receding as the silver energy pools around his hand, effectively hindering the progress of the red energy. As the wolf attempts to move its paw back, it discovers that it is unable to do so, instead emitting a whimpering sound, suggesting that it is experiencing distress.

  Loden and Wulfric look on with a mix of fascination and uncertainty, not quite sure how to proceed. Tibost nudges them, urging, "Do what he's doing, you fools! It might help to dissipate the red energy."

  Both Loden and Wulfric move forward, their expressions resolute. Loden reaches out and touches the red energy flesh of the wolf, feeling an intense pain surge into his palm and up his arm. Noticing Loden's discomfort, Wulfric cautiously removes his glove and positions his hand next to Loden's, experiencing the same pain as his own hand makes contact with the energy. Both men grit their teeth and push through the pain, their determination unwavering.

  Two slender silver threads gradually emerge from Kaiden’s pendant, gradually winding down the wolf's torso and connecting with Wulfric's and Loden’s hands. As the silver threads make contact, a silvery pool of energy pools around their palms, gradually easing the sharp pain and transforming it into a soothing, cool sensation.

  The red energy wolf's whimpers grow more intense, its silver eyes glowing even more brilliantly. Suddenly, Brokenfang grimaces, using his free hand to cradle his head, as if struck by a sharp pain. In response, Wulfric and Loden also feel a similar discomfort, with a throbbing headache and a soft voice speaking in an almost inaudible tone, barely registering in their hearing.

  Tibost cautiously moves around the room, taking everything in as the extraordinary scene unfolds before him. He quickly grabs a needle from his bag and fills it with the vibrant blue liquid, keeping it ready and within reach for the opportune moment to administer the antidote to Kaiden.

  At the same time, all three warriors involuntarily shake their heads, their actions almost synchronized. A soft voice echoes within their heads, imploring, "It hurts. No more. Please. I want to go home. Someone, help me!"

  Brokenfang, recognizing Kaiden's voice echoing in his mind, is the first to speak, his words flowing through his lips. "We hear you. We are here for you Priestess. Hold on," he replies, his voice gentle yet firm.

  The silver pool surrounding Brokenfang's hand pulses, and the thread expands, growing thicker and moving back up toward Kaiden. A slow spread of the silver energy begins, starting from the wolf's tail tip and then gradually encroaching upon its paws, each step accompanied by the red energy receding.

  With urgency, Wulfric quickly speaks up, his words firm and assuring. "We're here for you, kid. Let us help you. We're here to protect you. Come back to us."

  The silver pool surrounding Wulfric's hand pulses just like Brokenfang’s did moments ago. The silver thread expands, growing thicker and moving back up toward Kaiden. With the silver energy continuing its slow spread across the body of the wolf, taking over the red energy and causing the red energy to recede even further. The only remnants of the red energy are the wolf's head and torso.

  As the wolf's whimpering grows louder, the warriors instinctively want to cover their ears, but the sound quickly dies down, leaving the group in relative silence. Brokenfang, seizing the opportunity, leans forward with his other gloved hand and gently places the palm against the wolf's nose.

  Brokenfang and Wulfric steal a quick glance at Loden, a silent exchange of glances conveying a message: it's your turn to speak now. Loden senses their unspoken cue and takes in a deep breath before addressing Kaiden.

  Loden reassures Kaiden gently, his voice soft and soothing, "Kaiden, it's alright to feel afraid. We can feel your pain and hear you. We will help you through this. We are your friends, and we want to help you." Loden's smile is small, filled with concern and compassion, reflecting his determination to reach Kaiden. "Please let us in so we can help you," he implores, his eyes meeting the wolf's gaze, searching for any response.

  The red wolf's silver eyes close as the silver pool surrounding Loden's hand pulses like the other two warriors had. The thread expanding, growing thicker and moving back upward toward Kaiden, quickly taking over the remaining red energy in the chest and head. Inward, the silver energy from the paws, tail, and head starts to dissolve, swiftly merging into Kaiden himself.

  Kaiden's head slowly moves, his eyes flickering open as he absorbs the words of his friends. A trickle of blood trickles from his nose as he is gradually lowered to the ground. In a synchronized movement, Wulfric, Loden, and Brokenfang quickly move to catch hold of him, preventing him from hitting the ground.

  As the last trace of silver energy vanishes, Kaiden finds himself being supported upright by the warriors. He looks around, puzzled and weary. "What was all that about?" he asks, his voice tinged with exhaustion and concern.

  As Loden and Wulfric ponder how to explain the situation, Tibost appears by Loden's side and quickly jabs the needle into Kaiden's arm. The sudden jab startles both Kaiden and the warriors, prompting them to exchange annoyed glares with the physician.