The wolf bows once more, his golden eyes filled with quiet reverence, before turning and leading me toward a small entrance hidden beside the rocks. I follow him, the air inside the cave cool and damp, but there’s something else—something off. A scent.
It smells… ill.
As my eyes adjust to the dim light, I make out another wolf, just as large as the first. Her scent tells me she’s female, and the way she moves is slow, cautious. She’s sick, or no—she’s worried.
The male wolf greets her, and I watch as they nuzzle their noses together, a quiet moment of affection that makes my heart flutter. Behind them, tucked in the shadows, I see the source of the sick smell.
A pup.
It’s small, frail, and trembling on the cold stone floor. My heart clenches at the sight, and instinctively, I step closer.
The pup… it smells like poison.
I look toward the male wolf first, and without hesitation, he bows and steps aside. The female hesitates for a moment, her eyes searching mine as if weighing my intentions. Then she, too, bows and moves to stand beside the male.
I nod to the wolves, a silent exchange of trust passing between us. Slowly, I approach the tiny pup. Its body shakes with fever, its whines weak and pitiful, and the stench of sickness is overwhelming. My eyes fall on two small incisions on its back leg, oozing with a dark, sticky fluid. Venom. It looks like the bite of a large spider—a venomous one.
The poor thing. It’s dying.
Tears well up in my eyes. I’ve never felt so powerless. I don’t know anything about poisons or antidotes. I don’t know how to help. My hands tremble as I kneel beside the pup, my heart heavy with despair.
Instinctively, I lean down and press a gentle kiss to the top of the pup’s head.
The moment my lips touch its fur, a soft, golden light envelops the pup’s body, pulsing with warmth. I jerk back, wide-eyed, as the oozing wounds begin to dry, the dark pus vanishing before my eyes. The trembling stops, and the pup’s tiny body steadies. Its breathing evens out, and in seconds, the incisions close, leaving behind only clean, healthy fur.
I stare in shock as the pup bounces to its feet, tail wagging furiously as it nuzzles against me, yipping with joy. My heart swells, and before I can react, the mother wolf rushes over, licking me gratefully before showering her pup with tender kisses.
I sit back, overwhelmed, watching as the wolves reunite. A soft glow on my arm pulls my attention away from the scene. Another symbol is etching itself into my skin, glowing faintly before settling alongside the others. It’s beautiful, just like the others.
Did I… did I just heal the pup? Or was it something else? Can I heal on command?
The questions swirl in my mind, but the sight of the pup, now healthy and playful, brings a sense of calm. I’ve never felt so connected to the world, to the energy coursing through me.
I give the wolves one last affectionate pat before stepping out of the cave, back into the forest. As I walk, I glance down at my arm, admiring the intricate symbols now etched into my skin. They really are beautiful, like ancient tattoos marking me for something greater.
Whatever this is, I’m starting to realize it’s only the beginning.