Ignus blinked his eyes open, the world swimming into focus. He found himself staring at the familiar wooden ceiling of Roxy's house. Groaning, he tried to sit up, his muscles protesting from the exertion of the battle. To his left, A'moi lay still, unconscious.
With a grunt, Ignus pushed himself upright and nudged A'moi. "Wake up, A'moi," he called, his voice a mixture of amusement and concern. "Can't believe you let a wyvern knock you out like that."
A'moi stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He let out a weak chuckle. "Look who's talking. You were out cold too," he replied, his voice hoarse.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Roxy entered, carrying a tray. Relief flooded her face when she saw Ignus awake. She hurried over, setting the tray down and enveloping both Ignus and A'moi in a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're awake," Roxy said, her voice filled with emotion. "I was worried sick."
Ignus winced slightly at the pressure of her hug but returned it gratefully. "How did we get back here?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Roxy pulled away and smiled. "After you two passed out, the black wolf you spared... the big one, he carried you both back here," she explained, nodding towards the door.
Ignus and A'moi exchanged incredulous looks. "But he was massive," A'moi protested, struggling to comprehend the transformation.
Roxy nodded. "I know, it's hard to believe. But he brought you back safely and then disappeared into the forest," she said, her voice tinged with awe.
As they processed Roxy's words, the door opened again, and a small black wolf padded into the room. Ignus and A'moi stared in disbelief at the creature, their minds struggling to reconcile its small size with the immense beast they had fought alongside.
Roxy chuckled at their expressions. "He's a shapeshifter. The black wolf can change his size at will," she explained, reaching down to pet the wolf.
Ignus and A'moi were speechless, their minds racing with questions. As Roxy recounted the events leading to their return, they listened intently, grateful for the black wolf's unexpected kindness and relieved to be safe once more.