13 Chapter 13

Looking over towards the horizon, he could see Marewood, seeing that nothing had gone arie, compared to if he had meddled in the town's affairs. He could only hope one day that it would be freed from the Faremin kingdom and give Luna a place to come home too. Where she could live in peace until her day's end, but he knew that it wouldn't happen. Though Lovell needed to beride of the darkness within some manner, yearning to take him over at any moment. Lovell felt more aware of what he was, why he sought out Luna and the possible reason why his mother told him to save her life. He felt torn to return to his friends but knew if he did, it could end in disaster.

Finding some courage, Lovell ventured off in hopes that he could find a way to combat the darkness within his heart. Letting his feet take him where ever the wind took him, hours passed as night fell Lovell notice a small shack. Feeling a chill in the air, Lovell warmed himself a bit before heading over. As he touched the door, a sharp pain ran through his body. Collapsing in the doorway, Lovell began to lose consciousness, trying to force himself to stay awake. Lovell fell into a deep sleep.

Lovell's eye slowly opened, a hand placed a cloth over his forehead. Not sure what just happened, the person walked away as Lovell tried to set himself up. The person rushed over. "Don't get up to quickly; you have a fever. Rest for now." Lovell was able to see it was a young wolf beastman woman. Her grey fur seemed familiar to him but couldn't figure out where he had seen it. She laid him back down, as she did Lovell could smell her scent. It seemed soothing and familiar, as well. Lovell was passing out once more before he could say anything.

Lovell woke once more this time; she was not around to help. Lovell sat himself up as he looked around, he noticed that the place he was in was the same cabin as before. The woman opened the door, saw Lovell was up. "How do you feel?" Her smile warming.

Lovell looked over, "I feel much better… umm…?"

"Ulva."

Lovell shook his head, "well, thank you, Ulva, for helping me, but I must be…" the words seemed to leave Lovell's mind as Ulva sat beside him. Her hand was checking its temperature. "Um, Ulva?"

Ulva smiled as she got up. "I'll make some food. You just rest. You still have a darkness fever."

Lovell turned to her, "Darkness fever? Never heard of it?" Confused by what she said. "what is a Darkness fever?"

Ulva plucked some herbs as she started to prepare some food. "It's a soul fever where dark thoughts and clouded minds attack a pure soul," She began chopping some ingredients away. "by tempting it with dark pleasures before taking hold of them."

Lovell sat back in the bed, "So, I'm being tempted to turn evil in a sense." Lovell looked at his hands, remembering the vision that Flora had shown him. "So, why save me, Ulva?" Turning his head to her, Ulva continued what she was doing. "Okay, don't answer me then?"

Lovell turned away, Ulva stopped for a moment. "Because Lady Lunatica needs you to stop him." Lovell whipped his head at her. "Surprised I knew, Lovell Queasy Krisnik?"

Lovell stared at her. "How did you know who I am?" Ulva chuckled at him as she continued. "Ulva, who are you?"

Ulva finished what she was doing. "That is for you to discover, little wolf." Her smile misleading; Lovell sat back as he knew he wouldn't get more out of her. "now eat, you need you'll strength to fight your inner darkness." Handing him a bowl of soup, Lovell grabbed it thanking her for the food. She sat at the small table. "Now Lovell, what is it you think is good and evil as a whole?"

Lovell breathed on the soup before eating it, "Well good is where….no, wait the evil is…?" confused by Ulva's question, Lovell couldn't find the answer.

Ulva turned to Lovell, her tail swaying in excitement. "Oh, well, lets put it this way then." Lovell looked over at her. "If a person helps another by giving them lots of money and then invites that person they helped over, are they a good person?"

Lovell gripped his chin before looking over at her, "Yes, they are, they are helping them."

Ulva busted out laughing, Lovell became confused. Ulva collected herself, "Yes and no, ask yourself what underlining reason does this supposed good person have to gain by helping him way too much?" Lovell tried thinking on it, "The good person was buttering them up to harm them later. See, the person is trying to win false trust, and most people fall for it. It's just how darkness works. Sometimes a good thing is a bad thing, and a bad thing is a good thing." Lovell stared at the food, "Kind of like you vision, right?" Lovell turned to her. "Yup, you thought you were doing the right thing, and, in the end, you caused a tremendous amount of pain in your heart, allowing the darkness fever to settle in." She pointed at Lovell's chest.

Lovell gripped his chest. "So, how do I get rid of this darkness?" His eyes filled with fear and regret.

Ulva stood up. "Finish eating and rest for now. We'll talk more once your strength has returned more." Rustling his hair. "Okay?!" Lovell looked up at her, Ulva smile was reinsuring as he nodded, "Good, now eat and rest. Doc's orders!" Lovell finished his food, handing Ulva the bowl as he laid back down to rest.

The next day Lovell woke, Ulva was gone once more. Looking around, Lovell noticed a picture in the distance. Feeling stronger, Lovell sat up on the edge of the bed to get up, as he did, he felt all his physical strength vanish. Forcing him back down on the bed. All Lovell could do was wait for Ulva to return and ask her about the photo. Moments later, Ulva returned, her honey blonde hair in tangled with twigs and leaves, as she placed a basket of herbs on the counter. Lovell watched as she began to prepare what seemed to be tea.

"What is it you are making this time?" Lovell was trying to distract time.

Ulva turned to him, smiled, "Nothing more than a simple herbal tea that boosts strength." She used a spell to speed up the drying process. "Are you hungry?" As she asked, Lovell's stomach growled at the word. Lovell turned red, "I'll whip something up for you then as the tea brews."

Lovell thanked her, looking back at the photo Lovell decided not to ask her what the picture was. Instead of but out of her life. Ulva glanced out of the corner of her eye at him, and she seemed pleased by his presence. Handing him a plate of food, Lovell took it from her and began eating. His gaze was returning to the photo once more. Ulva was saying that she'll be back later to see how he was doing, Lovell nodded as she closed the door behind her. Lovell, alone once more, tried once more to stand. His legs were shaking as he stood up. He could tell that his strength was returning quite fast, though Lovell wondered if the darkness fever would ever return, like any other sicknesses. Lovell was trying to make his way to the chairs, fell his legs giving out beneath him. Lovell started to curl into a ball. Tears of fear streaming down his face, he sat sobbing in his wallow.

Ulva returned to see him in his state, went to comfort him. "Just leave me. I'll only cause you misery and your death just…" Lovell's voice was cracking, as Ulva pulled him close to her. "Just like everyone, I loved or cared for did."

Lovell buried his face in Ulva's shoulder, her smell filling his nose, seemed to calm him as he fell asleep. "Poor thing, I wish I could have been there for you much more than I have been my boy." Tears began to stream down her face, holding Lovell tight to her chest. "If only you knew how much I miss you, my little wolf pup if only you knew." Ulva picked Lovell up and placed him back in the bed, kissing him on his forehead before making some tea.

Hours later, Lovell woke to the smell of warm food, sitting up Lovell noticed Ulva rocking by the fire. She was singing to herself. Lovell recognized the song, a lullaby about hope. Looking at the food, Lovell took the food and sat still, staring at it.

Ulva had stopped singing, looked over at Lovell. "You need your strength."

Lovell shot his gaze at her, shocked that she had noticed he was awake. "I know, ma'am." His heart was heavy from the pain within. "Hey, Ulva?" Ulva walked over to him, pulling a chair over, sat down beside him. "Thanks for everything."

Ulva cradled his face, "Dear, I know you're in pain but honour their lives." Ulva leaned back. "Morris would be distraught to see you in this state." She chuckled, "He probably would smack you silly till you started yelling at him like Ark." Ulva burst out into laughter.

Lovell turned to her in surprise. "You knew Morris?"

Whipping the tears from her eyes. "Yes, they were my friends at one time before…" The kettle began to whistle, "oh, I'll get you some tea, you never got any earlier." Ulva raced over to the kettle, avoiding saying anything else to Lovell about her friends. Handing Lovell the tea, "Here drink up, I need to be somewhere. So, try and stay put your strength will be at ninety percent tomorrow, okay?"

Before Lovell could protest, Ulva was gone. Looking at the tea and food, Lovell sighed and wolfed the food down. Taking a sip of the drink, Lovell felt rejuvenated and feeling as if things were finally turning around. Tears were creeping out as joyed seemed to fill the pain within. Finishing his tea, Lovell closed his eye's and thinking about Ark, Gale, and Lance and how they were still alive even though Morris, his birth parents and his foster mom, Maria, have left him.

'Where are you?' a voice called out.

'What do you mean I'm right here, and who are you?' Lovell was answering the voice.

'Me, I'm Luna.' The voice answered.

'Luna! Wait, you're here!?' Lovell yelled.

'Yes, I'm searching for you, but I can't find you anywhere. Please, guardian of light, show your self to me. Please, I'm begging you...' Luna's voice faded in the distance.