*****
Meanwhile, Sylvie was sitting quietly with the wolf resting beside her. It was the middle of the day. The rain had picked up. The occasional rumble of thunder reminded her of her wet travels ahead. She didn't think it was wise going into town with a storm intensifying every few minutes but she had no choice.
The wolf needed help. She knew someone who could. His name was Caleb. He was the son of the island's Blacksmith. They had known each other since she and her mother had relocated here.
He had been obnoxious at first, but she had grown to see him as a friend. If anyone could help her in this time, it would be him now that her mother was gone. Maybe he knew about that too, she thought. She was unconsciously petting the wolf as she let her thoughts run free. She stopped, stood up and located her satchel.
She pulled out a rain poncho. Her jacket, along with all of our other clothing, had burned in the fire. The satchel had been the only thing she had left. She was growing so weary of being alone, and being the only one who looked out for herself. When would her mother finally be the woman she had known in her childhood?
When would she care for her? Was it too late? She was no longer a child. She had to confront the fact her mother allowed her to work in a brothel and be sold like horse flesh. Of course it didn't go that far, but it could have and the sheer terror she felt with all those eyes on her at the tavern, made her feel like she was nothing.
She couldn't help but admit all of that to herself. Yet, she still loved her mother and had a hard time with placing all the blame solely on her shoulders.
She shook her depressing thoughts away, put the satchel on and spoke to the still sleeping animal. "I will be back." she closed the door.
She stood in the porch inhaling the fresh rain scent. She scanned her surroundings and saw no one else present. She walked off the porch and set out for Caleb's...
Caleb Gendry was helping his father heat their furnace when there was a weak knock on the closed door of the smithy. He wondered who it could be. All of their orders had due dates for later in the week. He thought maybe he had misheard until he heard the knock again, forcing him to answer the door. The closer he got he could hear the rain and he wondered who in the hell would be out on a day like this?
He got his answer when he opened the door and there she stood. He was elated to see her. She was dressed in her usual fashion, like a young man wearing a hunter green poncho. He took her by her wrist and pulled her in the extremely warm space. He was wearing a white tank top, brown wool trousers, boots, and a leather apron.
His face and muscle slightly glistened with sweat. Caleb was handsome. Sylvie had noticed how other women around their age stared at him. She wasn't the only one. Fate had a funny way of always keeping them close but not too close.
Caleb was one of the only people who didn't blame her mother for the attack. He made it his duty to try to befriend Sylvie and protect her. That was until his father had his business threatened. It had grown into something out of both of their control. They were preteens then. after that Sylvie went rogue.
She no longer cared for the company of other humans. She was often referred to as 'Wolf girl'. The islanders could be cruel, and they had been to Sylvie and her mother. He knew she was doing her best to keep her connection alive with her mother. It was sad to watch.
The last few years he had eyes on her. He had heard about her working at Wildcats and the massacre the shortly proceeded. She had been promised to The great General Randolph who had been murdered by Amaruq. Caleb was happy about that. No one seemed upset with the young lady.
All fault lay with Madame Bouvier. She was the one who had accepted the Lycans generosity or so the story had been told. No one could confirm or deny it because Bouvier was nowhere to be found on the island. The search party scanned the island hours after the fire. Later, an informant from the dock let them know he had spotted her getting on the ferry to the mainland.
Everyone thought only a few people survived the fire.
Sylvie had not been one. The thought of her perishing in smoke and fire had made Caleb extremely sad. Looking at her now, alive and soaking wet, he found her extremely attractive. He got easily distracted by her petite frame and charm. This afternoon however, she did not seem to be in a playful mood, and truthfully, neither was he.
She looked tired to him. He could see dark circles under her eyes and the left side of her neck was peppered with bruises. "Slyvie, are you all right?"
"I promise. I am fine."
"If you are fine, then why are you at my door?" He asked.
It came out sounding much harsh than he had meant it to. He felt bad about that.
"The Help isn't for me. I-I have a wolf."
"A wolf?"
"Yes. He is injured. Will you help him? Please...He- He has a very bad injury and... I am..."
Caleb walked over to her and gently embraced her. She seemed so frazzled at the moment. A wolf. There was no way that was possible. He and his family were avid hunters and had never encountered any wolves in on this island.
Maybe it was a really big dog.
He interrupted her. "I think you need a proper night's rest"
She pushed against his muscular chest, breaking his hold on her thin frame. "No! I need you to help me. Now!"
He heard the intensity in her voice. "Do you know how maddening you are?" He retorted. "You want me to help you with a wolf! A wolf!"
"Yes, Caleb! A wolf !"
"Sylvie, no one has seen a wolf on this island in over 100 years".
And you want me to believe, all of a sudden, you have an injured wolf laid up somewhere?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you!"
"How-When?"
He seemed flustered. It didn't match his reasoning.
"After the fire. Me and another girl got out. After that I went back to the stables. There was a bag I hid there." She carefully explained. She was still traumatized by the event. Speaking about it brought her back to that nightmare. She continued, "As I was changing. Someone came in..."
She couldn't stop herself from thinking about that terrifying moment when she felt utterly helpless. She had been almost raped by a beast. Her hands began to sweat.
She continued, "He recognized me from Bouviers and..." She trailed off, getting caught up in her own memories. Her face was still throbbing from the blow. She had been so happy the wolf had appeared and saved her.
Caleb was angry at hearing this. "That bastard !" He cursed through clenched teeth. "Did he hurt you?" He asked, concerned.
Sylvie was moved by his reaction. She answered him. "No- No he didn't. The wolf.... The wolf saved me. After, I grabbed my things and I ran. I ran to the only place I knew. My old home. When I awoke there was a wolf beside me. He is badly injured. More than I have the skill for. I know you know about healing animals. Please help me."
He looked at her. She appeared to be telling the truth.
"We must go now before it floods from the rain and I can't get home." She cried.
Caleb looked around the room. He had noticed his father had left. Looking at her bruised, dirt-smudged face he decided to help her. She seemed like she needed it. He needed to grab his coat and tell his father the news.
"Wait here. I will return shortly." Caleb stated and went in the direction of the other heavy door that led to his home.
The Smithy was connected to there home. It was a 10 foot long hallway with another closed door on the opposite end. When he had been his father's apprentice a few years ago. He had asked him why the corridor was so long and had the heavy doors. His father explained to him about the Hallway being a safety precaution in case of a fire.
In all of his years of working with his father. He had never seen any fire get out of hand in the shop. He removed the large piece of wood by pulling on a rope built into the ceiling. The door opened and he went inside to find his father sitting at the dining table stuffing his face with a large turkey leg. His mother was a beautiful, yet quiet woman.