Survival Island (reality show)

22.Wolf’s mission

“Would you mind being alone here for a few hours?” Sebastian asks Magnus later.

“Not at all. What are you planning?” The guy answers.

“I want to send the wolf on a scouting mission. To see if there are more traps.” He answers. He already planned the route he wants the wolf to take tonight.

“Go ahead.” Magnus nods. “The wolf is not a pet, is he?”

“No.” Sebastian chuckles. “Why? Are you thinking of petting him? I would advise you against it. He could crush your hand in a second.”

“I figured that. I was just asking.” Magnus nods.

“Don’t get too attached. We are friends, the wolf does what he wants most of the time.” He tells him. “I can ask nicely and usually the wolf helps me out, but when it comes to friends, we are not always on the same page.”

“I get that. I’m starting to see that you might share a body and you have a tight connection, but you two are really different.” Magnus tells him. “Let’s give the wolf a chance to decide for himself. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.”

“That is a healthy way of thinking. I can’t make promises for the wolf, but we’ll see.” Sebastian chuckles. He strips out of his clothes and lays them in a neat pile next to his boots. No need to hide it now that the killer is gone. 

He lets the wolf out and takes a back seat to observe what the beast will do. Stretch out and check his fur over to see if he got clean enough. The white wolf can be vain about his appearance.

‘Just remember we have to go scouting.’ Sebastian tells the wolf.

‘I know.’ His wolf muses. ‘I like him. He gets it, he understands I’m not a pet.’

‘So? What will you do? Do you see him as your friend?’ He inquires.

‘Don’t know yet. Let’s go running. I have to stretch my legs.’ The wolf answers.

He can feel that Magnus is watching him. It strokes his ego; the admiration he sees in the man’s eyes. It feels good to be admired. The wolf is well aware of his physical traits, but those are common at home and he is never out much anywhere else. He would smile, if he could. He takes one last look at Magnus sitting by the fire and then he runs off into the jungle. They have some work to do while he plays around and runs to his heart's content. He doesn’t like the traps on this island. He would be terribly put out, if Sebastian or his new friend got hurt by any of them.

‘West or Southwest is the direction. We know that the North is bad. That wasteland is only good for firewood.’ Sebastian reminds his wolf.

‘It wasn’t fun there. I like this part.’ The wolf answers.

‘Keep an eye out for traps and fruit trees.’ He tells the wolf.

‘I would prefer meat, but it’s scarce on this island.’ The wolf chuckles.

‘Me too. As much as I love papaya, it’s the wrong kind of calories.’ Sebastian says.

The wolf runs fast and sure over the jungle floor. He makes a few circles and doubles back towards Magnus. He sniffed out a few traps and now he’s mapping the area in his mind. Hopefully Sebastian can place those on the real map they have. Or at least avoid them tomorrow. Someone was careless when setting these traps. Maybe he wasn’t using gloves? There were traces of human skin on the ropes and the wolf smelled that. 

And he smelled the wolf traps set out under the leaves. Even the industrial oil that has almost no smell can give away the metal traps under the leaves. The wolf is a master when it comes to sniffing out the impossible. They need to set those off tomorrow. Where did they even get those? Those are illegal for some time now, at least where he comes from. Getting caught in one is bad, very bad. If a human stepped on one of those, he would surely lose a leg. They will have to be very careful tomorrow.

‘Do you remember where the traps are?’ The wolf asks.

‘Yes. I don't like them. It makes me sick just thinking about those diabolical things.’ Sebastian answers.

‘Tell Magnus. You’ll have to teach him how to set those off safely.’ The wolf growls.

‘Yeah.’ Sebastian sighs. He is saddened that people still use the wolf traps for any kind of purpose. These things are deadly to all creatures, not just wolves.

The wolf slows down to a walk before he comes out of the underbrush. He doesn’t want to scare Magnus by just magically appearing by his side. The speed at which shifters move can seem like magic to human eyes. So he pads gently towards Magnus and sits by his side. The guy seems to be thinking about something, his eyes are out of focus, but he’s awake. Did he even see him come back? The wolf thinks about what Sebastian said before. Is it up to him to make the step further? Should he show Magnus that he trusts him?

‘You are on to something there. He is giving you the choice.’ Sebastian tells the wolf.

‘What do you mean? I can’t talk. What am I supposed to do here?’ The wolf asks.

‘Well, it’s up to you. You can growl, you can whine, you can put your paw on his leg to let him know you acknowledge the friendship, you can let him pet you…’ Sebastian chuckles. ‘You have the choices. What will you do?’

‘That’s just mean. Tell me what to do!’ The wolf yells at him.

‘No. I will not force you into anything. You’re on your own. I gave you options, you decide.’ Sebastian muses at his wolf.   

The wolf thinks for a minute and decides to take the middle approach. He lays his paw on Magnus’ leg and waits. He is angry with Sebastian right now. He is not used to this. He is asked to do something and he decides to do it. This is not it! Options! Really? What is he supposed to do with that? He already knows that he likes Magnus. Is it so hard for Sebastian to tell that to the guy and be done with it?

“Will you bite my hand off, if I try to pet you?” Magnus asks the wolf.

‘Sebastian? This is not going to work. He keeps asking questions.’ The wolf whines.

‘He is used to talking to his dog. Dogs don’t speak, they show their affection.’ Sebastian answers. ‘Let him pet you or don’t. Your choice.’

‘I hate you right now.’ The wolf tells him, but he scoots closer to Magnus and lays his head down in the man’s lap. If that is not an invitation to pet his fur, then the wolf doesn't know what else would be.

“Thank you for this.” Magnus whispers to the wolf and sinks his fingers into the soft fur behind his head. It feels good to be petted. Is it wrong? Maybe just for a minute or two? Magnus seems to know exactly where that itch is that he can’t reach on his own. That’s it then? Is this why dogs permit to be petted? For this one little thing? That one damn itch? He’s a wolf, this is just wrong. He extracts himself from Magnus and pads over to Sebastian’s clothes. He’s not doing this anymore. He has dignity and this is too close to domestication for his comfort.

Sebastian is laughing his head off when he shifts back. The thing with his wolf was fun. And all the insecurities the animal part of him feels are funny. The things his wolf thinks are bad, are usually normal for anyone else. He gets dressed fast and then he needs to explain things to Magnus. But the first thing he hears is his wolf telling him that he hates him. It will pass, he thinks. The wolf will sulk for a few days and then he will ask for a rub behind his ears all on his own.

“I have to tell you, that my wolf hates me.” Sebastian keeps laughing. He takes a banana to get some energy back and sits by the fire.

“Why? Is it something I’ve done? I shouldn’t have petted him.” Magnus frowns at him.

“No. You are on the friends list. He is mad at me for making him choose. I usually ask and he obliges. This time he had to make a choice. I’m glad he let you pet him.” Sebastian tells Magnus.

“You two have a complicated dynamic.” Magnus smiles.

“Very.” Sebastian chuckles. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“What did you find out there?” Magnus inquires.

“More traps. Someone was careless, the wolf could actually smell them. But I’m worried about the wolf traps they have set. Those are deadly to pretty much any living being. We have to set those off tomorrow.” Sebastian recaps the findings.

“Wolf traps? You mean those yaws of death? Aren’t those illegal?” Magnus leans forward and he is just as surprised as Sebastian thought he would be.

“In most parts, they are illegal. I have a feeling this whole thing with the show that is not, is bordering on illegal.” Sebastian answers.

“I was thinking about that…” Magnus says. “This The Forest Inc. company reminds me too much of Black Forest security. If they are involved in this somehow?”

“It’s military and top secret, but I haven’t seen anything in the contract that would hint on that. Shouldn’t they make it a top secret contract and not allow anyone to reveal any details about the show?” Sebastian asks.

“Maybe they didn’t expect the others to make it? Or, I was thinking, they gave us different contracts to sign.” Magnus elaborates.

“You might be right. It would be just like them to do that.” He scoffs. Why didn’t he think of that? It was suspicious from the start and he just let it slide away.

If this thing really is a military experiment, the others are screwed. Right now they have a mortality rate of close to fifty percent. Six people are dead that he knows about. Maybe even more. They were going on alternative routes to avoid the others. They probably avoided the traps as well. Did any of the other experts fall into one? He can give them the benefit of the doubt, because he didn’t see any of them. They can be alive or dead and he won’t know till the end. He can only hope that some of them make it over this death island. Who knows how many did the coyote kill? 

Sebastian probably has an unfair advantage, because of his wolf. At least Magnus can benefit from it, because the wolf likes him. And their deal will run out a day before they reach the extraction point. They will see how they stand when they get there. Hopefully without any further casualties. And getting there first would be great. He could do a lot with the prize money, but he’s not counting on it now. Getting to the extraction point alive is the only thing that matters.

“I don’t like this island.” Sebastian scoffs some time later. The quiet companionship is great, but he needs to air his concerns.

“Who does? It’s a pain to get over, not counting the added traps and a killer. I wonder if they knew?” Magnus sighs.

“About the killer?” Sebastian looks over to his friend. “Probably not. Shifters are very good at hiding their misdeeds. I wonder if they know he was a shifter?”

“That is a valid question. Do they know about you? How high up in the command would they need to go to know that?” Magnus wonders.

“Not how high? Just the right person. My last CO knew. A few training officers on the base where I was stationed. I think a few people in the recruitment offices know.” Sebastian answers. “Maybe not directly about me, but there are a lot of shifters in the military on all levels.”

“Not common knowledge, but widespread.” Magnus nods. “I wonder if they will reveal themselves at the end?”

“They will. They have to. Or we make them.” Sebastian chuckles wickedly.