A Nagua

"Let me check, Elder Dolphus", Gregory opened the door followed by Dolphus who's worried the Luna might be caught.

Gregory entered the hut and scanned the entire place with his eyes. He walked towards the dining table. He saw two cups of half-empty hot cocoa beverages and a bowl of unfinished soup. He picked up another bowl that fell on the floor. "I didn't know rodents drink from a cup and eat in a bowl, Elder Dolphus", Gregory said as he continued to inspect around the hut for the tiny rodent Dolphus took in.

Dolphus didn't replied. He took his wooden pipe and put in crushed dried tobacco leaves and vanilla as he lighted it with a match.

Gregory opened the backdoor and saw nothing. When he went back inside, he saw bloodied clothes and bandages in a bin. "Elder Alarick and Beta Stanley wouldn't be very happy with what you did today, Elder Dolphus", Gregory grunted as he face the blind elder. "How could you?!", he growled as his eyes reddened in anger.

"I just did the right thing. The Luna is innocent. In fact, she's exactly what the Alpha needs", he calmly answered as he huff and puff his wooden pipe. When Gregory was about to pounce at Dolphus, Lucas and Gunner opened the door and jointfully shouted, "Where's the Luna??".

Meanwhile, Diana managed to quietly escape before Gregory got in the hut. She saw a couple of wolves coming in as she depart. Running stealthily in the woods as the cold air thins and the sun rays beam, she breathe heavily at the throbbing and burning pain she feels on her back.

A little while more, she reached the banyan tree she assumed where Scott took her initially. She sat under it to rest her weary bare feet. Her pale skin started to feel cold as her cool sweat swelter out. Grazing the neckace she gave to Scott, she removed it and hang it on the branch of the banyan tree. "I wish you were here", she said as she think of Scott.

She looked up and saw how beautiful the sun shines. 'Such a beautiful sight to see before I rest eternally', she thought. The poison might have reached her heart. She clutched on her gray tunic, lent by Dolphus..

Before she closed her eyes, she saw a black bird descend in front of her. Then, it magically turned to a black wolf. Looking at it closely, she noticed its pair of yellow eyes and the scar on its paw. It's the same being that saved her back in the island. It may also be the same nagua whom Scott sensed in her home.

"A Nagua", she whispered as she couldn't believe her eyes. 'You can't find a nagua, they find you', she remembered.

The nagua in wolf form come closer to Diana, sniffing her as it softly growl. "Why do you always come in my most desperate times?", she weakly asked trying to reach its head. The nagua growled as if angry and tried to bite her.

"Are you mad because I got myself in trouble again?", Diana chuckled weakly. "You don't need to help me, it's too late anyway", she whispered as she grazed the scarred paw of the nagua.

The nagua push its head on Diana's back and scratched open her tunic to see a clear view of her wound. Diana closed her eyes and suddenly, she felt a pair of warm hairy hands touched her. She didn't bothered to look back as she breathe in despair.

Slowly, her bandaged were removed. Then she felt a warm liquid dripped on her back, as she heard a familiar voice whispering an incomprehensible incantation. Her back tickled a little, the she started to feel better. When she looked back, the nagua already turned to a bird ready to fly away.

"Wait!!! Why are you helping me??", Diana asked. The bird just stared at her as it opened its large wings. "Thank you for curing my wound. Can I ask you another favor?", the bird snapped it's bill as it make an aggressive sound. "I know it's too much, but, can you help my friends Scott and Sebastian? They are hurt too.. please?", Diana plead..

"Right.. you need something in return? I'll do anything, just please help them too", she said as she tearfully beseeched the superior being. The bird chirped as it strongly flap it wings, then it flew away leaving Diana wondering why the nagua is unbelievably altruistic in its generosity towards her.

Diana stood on her feet, closed her eyes and deeply breathe her another chance in life. She smiled as she folded her arms across her chest. Hearing someone approach as the leaves crunch and crack, Diana hurriedly hid behind the banyan tree, in between the large roots. She held her breath as stay hidden quietly.

*******

Roman knocked softly on the door of the Devlins chalet. He was welcomed by a woman with a sullen face. She didn't speak at all, and just let him in pointing to the room she assumed he's visiting.

Going upstairs, Roman slowly opened the first door to his right. He saw Sebastian asleep on a single bed. Beside him is Priscilla who has puffy, red and moist eyes from nonstop crying.

"He's still asleep.. The healer said, it will take twelve hours until the venom damages all of his organs. Everytime he wakes up, he screams from pain and he shouts for Diana", Priscilla uttered as she sees Roman entering the room.

"Sebastian is a hero. He's the bravest and smartest wolf I've ever known. My friend, Gunner, would have been shredded to pieces if not for him", Roman said as he stood on the foot of the bed.

"My son never wanted to be here. I just forced him to. And here's what I got him", she added.

"No one wanted what happened. Please don't blame yourself"; he comforted the lady whom he realized Sebastian is maternally related to.