(Fenrir's POV) Animalistic

[Fenrir]

"Hann munu dey í dag, at Coyote." (He will die today, that Coyote.)

Since morning, Fenrir stood at the same spot in front of the castle. It seems as of late, he has been begrudgingly coming outside more and more because of a certain boy. Both of them had defied his words and left the premises. Did he not say 'no'? Was his English not fluent enough to understand?

Since he can't leave Festr Castle, the only option was to wait for their return. The other servants tiptoed around him, wordlessly wondering why the most powerful demigod in the southern aurora waited in the cold.

To keep his mind at bay, he concentrated on not starting any storms. It was taxing to keep his inner wolf calm, particularly when Fenrir felt Hyeon's heart stop briefly earlier.

In the late afternoon, he sensed a vehicle pass through the barrier. There were two individuals including that Coyote and...what's the second one?

The green car vroomed with racing speed on the path. The tires kicked beige dust into the air. Fenrir walked down the stairs to greet them, although 'greet' was a light way to put it. Pulling around the circular road with squeaking breaks, his scheming colleague slowly extracted the keys to shut off the engine. Sani took his sweet time to unclick the seatbelt, adjust his suit jacket, and open the driver's side door. The deliberate snail's pace made it obvious that he didn't want to confront Fenrir.

What's more, the passenger seat was empty.

The wolf barked inside his head, *He left it behind to be eaten! He needs to pay!*

Fenrir's endurance to stay composed was waning. A stormy wind began to pick up, blowing fallen leaves in the air and rustling the plants.

Sani stepped out and raised his arms high in the air to stretch, followed by twisting his back. There were loud pops from flexing his tense joints. When he was finished stalling, Sani turned around and acted surprised to see him.

"My Lord! I didn't see you. Did you do something new with your hair? It's not styled like usual. It looks good," he buttered up, but instead of the butter spreading smoothly on sliced bread, it sizzled in a hot pan.

Fenrir didn't respond to the fake comments and glared.

"Uh, this trip didn't go quite as planned but don't worry. I'll make sure to get the—"

A rumble of thunder boomed in the distance. The sudden noise made Sani stop the rambling. Fenrir couldn't hold in his storm-causing-anger anymore. "Where is he?"

Sani pinched his nose and stared at the ground, not wanting to break the news. "In the back."

"It doesn't feel like him," referring to Hyeon's aura. "Is that not the spirit I sent you to catch alone?"

"It's not. While I was out searching the forest, Hyeon was attacked by the demon and he sort of...changed."

"Changed in what way?"

"His ability is developing too quickly, Fenrir, and not in the way it's supposed to. Without his family to help him with the process, I'm afraid you'll have to intervene soon."

That's to be expected. Families of dýr children help build up their powers when they're young. A dýr's ability fully matures when they turn 18. It takes years for a normal individual to control their animal. For Hyeon Falken, it occurred in a few months. His body and mind must be in shock.

"Show me," he demanded.

Sani tried to say, "I think it's best if I put him—"

"OPNAð þAT!" (OPEN IT!) Having enough, he lashed out. A zigzag of lightning struck an apple tree fifty yards away. Wisps of smoke curled into the sky from the toasted wood. A light drizzle descended from the shadowy clouds above.

The Navajo deity hastily went to the Jeep's rear door. Fenrir followed. After unlocking, he hesitantly cracked it ajar to make sure Hyeon wouldn't come barreling out. Sani fully opened the door when he was satisfied that such a thing wouldn't happen.

The sight made Fenrir furious.

Hyeon was balled up in the charred corner. His head hung low while eyeing their every move. Dried blood flaked around his wrists from struggling against the restraints. The scratches on Hyeon's face from the attack were healing quickly and already scabbing over.

But the multicolored strands of hair and unusual purple-blue irises remained. Despite the ragged appearance, the expression within his eyes was what made Fenrir enraged. They were savage, like a caged, wild beast. There wasn't any trace of humanity in them.

Fenrir sucker-punched Sani.

His glasses flew off to the side. Stumbling backward but not falling down completely, Sani held his struck cheek. His eyes glowed. "I guess I deserved that," he grumbled.

"You went against my orders and brought him with you, knowing how unstable he is. There's a reason why I declined your idea," Fenrir roared. The chain was about to snap. Freezing rain started to pour in fat droplets.

"You're right, you're right," Sani said peacefully to not upset the wolf further. "For now, let's take him inside so he can recover. Coty can place him in the padded room."

They were getting drenched. Lumps of white hailstones scattered around them.

"Don't bother," Fenrir brushed off Sani's advice. He reached inside for Hyeon. The feral halfling flinched and growled to back off.

In response to the warning, Fenrir's instinctual reaction provoked him to snarl in return.

He tried again to remove him from the car. Although closer this time, Hyeon snapped and bit Fenrir's hand like a food-aggressive dog.

Change of plans. Retreating his arm, he never broke eye contact when he swiftly hopped in the back. They were almost touching, causing Hyeon to make an odd hissing sound. He tried to bolt out until Fenrir pulled him back in by snatching onto the coat's collar.

"What are you doing?!" Sani questioned with alarm. Hyeon was thrashing to escape.

"Close the door. Now."

Right before he slammed it shut, Sani asked, "And what do you plan on doing?"

"Breaking him."