When Cloud started to come to, he heard whispering voices, which fell silent when he couldn't keep in a quiet groan. He blinked open his eyes to see four people staring at him. His eyes widened and his breath caught a bit as Cloud remembered what had happened to cause his passing out.

"What's your name?" He heard the redhead say as he leaned closer, and Cloud managed to stutter out

"C-c...Clou-oud"

Angeal let out a bit of a gasp, while Zack gave an open-mouthed grin, and the others just stared.

"I knew it!" Zack cheered. Sephiroth sunk into his chair with a barely audible sigh.


After Zack let Cloud borrow some of his clothes, they all sat down and Cloud was asked for his story. Apparently, after being abandoned in the mountains, he had been raised by a female wolf alongside her own two pups. They had stayed apart from the rest of the pack, but were introduced a few months after Cloud had been taken in. When a couple years had gone by, the alphas were sent a dream by Fenrir, making them kick Cloud and his 'brother' out of the pack. They stayed together and stuck to the edges of the pack's territory, until one day they encountered a dragon while hunting. Cloud just barely escaped. His brother didn't.

He had hidden in a cave to give himself time to heal, but while he was there some of the villagers found and captured him. He was sold at the first opportunity.

"... That's horrible!" Zack exclaimed "And it doesn't explain why you were a wolf"

"I don't really know how to explain that" Cloud replied "It just kind of... happened. It started with just ears and a tail... then..." He trailed of with a vague motion.

"That-" Zack was cut off by a quiet but firm knock on the door. Everyone stiffened, then sprang into action. Zack picked up Cloud and started for the hall closet. Angeal started for the door once Cloud was hidden.

"Hello?" Angeal said upon seeing Lazard in the hall.

"Ah, Angeal, sorry if I'm interrupting anything but I have something to talk to you about. The others as well" Lazard said as he was let in.


AN: This took a disturbingly long time to write. I blame life... and death (My great-grandmother's funeral)

Thanks for the reviews!

Also, I got a plotbunny last night and started writing it up. The author's note I was putting in it motivated me to get working on this. But I couldn't think of a way to continue this chapter without it being weird, so here it is!

My internet keeps jumping in and out, so it's tricky to time my saves.