Hey guys! Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I got caught up on getting this edited after I got it back from my beta. Anyway, fun chapter time.Thank you for over 200 reviews! :D

Chapter 46

The Wolf Tamer

Zelda's PoV

I wake up to pressure against my right arm and then the sudden sensation of wetness on my hand. I look over and shriek, making my hammock sway as the wolf looksup at me, sitting down. It licks its lips and whines, nudging me again.

"Hungry? Me too." I say a little shakily.

Link is still snoring away as I get out of my hammock and stretch my arms over my head. I grab my backpack and pull out the pouch of wildberries I picked yesterday before sitting down. The wolf plops down next to me and watches me eat so I hold out my hand with two in it and he sniffs before licking them up.

"I wasn't aware that wolves liked fruit." I say and I toss one up inthe air and watch him catch it.

Link rolls over with a murmur then his snoring resumes and I snort before scooting over closer to him. I lean down and kiss his cheek repeatedly until he opens his eyes.

"Good morning." I tell him with a smile.

"Morning Zel-uuuh!" Link starts to say but is interrupted as the wolf excitedly jumps between us and gives him a big slobbery lick to the face. I gasp at our new friend's timing. I burst out laughing when I see a patch of his bangs are now stuck straight up in the air. It's even funnier since Link's expression isa complete look of disbelief before he wipes his face off with his hand. He pushes the wolf off of him as he sits up.

"I think he likes you." I say, still giggling.

"Uh...yeah...But I'd have preferred just getting your kisses."

I smile before leaning over and kissing him on the lips.

After we eat, we agree to go back to Tarrey Town so I can buy a new bow. My horse is not fond of the wolf who refuses to leave our sides. Starlett makes quite a fuss when he comes near her, stomping her hooves and snorting. Epona on the other hand, hardly seems to notice him when he comes close. Once we are about halfway to town, we hear a loud whistle and the wolf bounds uphill towards an old man.

"That must be his owner! Let's go meet him." I say excitedly and turn my horse in that direction, trotting her uphill. We dismount our horses and I greet said man cheerily before we introduce ourselves.

"Nice meeting the two of you. I'm Lawrence. I see you've met Shadow. He's always finding travelers and bringing them home." He says with a chuckle.

"I'm so happy to finally learn the name of the sweet wolf who saved my life." I say looking down at Shadow, who is circling us curiously.

"Is that so?" Lawrence says, looking surprised with his eyebrows raised. "Would you two like to come inside? I would enjoying hearing the details of that story."

"Sure."

After walking our horses up, we enter the house through a red door into a wide living room. The house is adorably decorated with many colorful accent pieces that complement the furnishings, not at all what I'm expecting the man's home to look like. I have to assume his wife is the culprit of the homey decorating. Lawrence sits down in a very old armchair whileLink and I take a seat on the couch opposite the hand carved coffee table in the center of the room. Shadow lays down at his master's feet on a rough looking woven rug. I go right to telling Lawrence all about the wolf attack and how Shadow literally saved me in the knick of time. Link listens just as intently to my tale as well, which has a few details I didn't mention to him yesterday when I explained what happened. When I'm donestorytelling, Shadow gets up and rests his head in my lap and I pet him.

"You're very lucky indeed. He was very protective of my wife too. However, Shadow usually doesn't take to strangers. You must be someone special."

I realize that Lawrence said the word "was" and with the look on his face now I wonder if his wife passed recently.

"I dunno about that, but I'm glad that Shadow likes me. I'll be eternally grateful to him."

Lawrence talks softly as he speaks next, gazing at his wolf with a sad look in his eyes.

"My wife Molly was the one who named him. He came to us a pup. We were nervous about taking him in as wild animals are very protective of their young. But his mother didn't come for him for over two weeks, so she took him in. At first I was against it, but I never could tell her no."

"You guys did a fantastic job training him. I'm especially impressed with how he makes himself less threatening when someone raises a weapon toward him."

"That was the first trick we taught him. But Molly was always afraid that someone would kill him anyway. I'm still glad that hasn't happened."

Lawrence goes on and on about Shadow and I listen with a smile. He explains that they raised him on fresh meat until he was big enough to hunt for himself. The man laughs recalling the first time he brought home a kill "...he dragged a small boar into the kitchen. And not just pieces of it, the entire thing! Surprised the both of us!"

"Geez."

"Did that happen more than once?" Link asks.

"Too many times to count. Though I have to admit it was nice to not have to hunt occasionally, especially in the cold months."

Lawrence invites us to stay and enjoy some stew he just finished making before we came along. I eat it only out of respect when he tells me it's made with fox meat. I try to fool myself into thinking it's any other type of animal. It makes me feel sad just imagining one of those cute little red foxes being maimed.

Shadow stays with his master when we leave to continue on our way to Tarrey Town, like we were before our unexpected detour. I hope I can find a good bow when we get there. I'm really bummed about breaking the one I have, which now lives in my saddlebag. That bow is especially important to me since I won the Golden Arrow with it, but I guess it's my fault for traveling with such a prized possession. Link tried bringing up my spirits by telling me maybe we can find someone to repair it. I hope such thing is possible. Even if I can't use it anymore, I'll at least have it to perhaps hang up on a wall at home in Lurelin. Perhaps next to my trophy. That's probably where it should have been all this time.

It's mid afternoon by the time we arrive and the place is crowded with people. It takes only seconds for us to find out why, with the huge banner stating: 'Tarrey Town Annual Weapons Contest. All ages welcome!' hung between two of the posts of the pretty water fountain.

"We we have impeccable timing for events." Link thinks aloud.

I laugh. "Right? But that's fine with me. I'm due to win a contest again."

We pass through the bustling crowd in the middle of town and head right into the weapons shop. Like I'm expecting, it's packed in here as well, the owner is busy with a line of least ten people in line in front of the desk. A few people greet us excitedly when a little girl points us out, milling over to surround us instead. I end up signing my name on three pieces of paper, the hilt of a sword and the inside of a man's paraglider. I've never given my autograph before, it's crazy weird, but it makes me feel cool. Perhaps accepting my famousity isn't so bad. Link also writes his name on people's belongings, a grin on his face. I do believe he genuinely enjoys the attention this Golden Arrow status gives him and I'm finally starting to understand why.

I excuse myself quietly as he entertains our fan crowd to take look at the wall of bows hanging on the right wall of the shop. I contemplate there for a while, picking a few up and examining them, testing them without an arrow. None of them feel like mine, but I have to admit a few of them are aesthetically pleasing to look at. Link joins me and I sigh telling him I just can't find one I like. Link speaks quietly as he answers me.

"That's the problem with shop bows. Most aren't particularly built to the standards someone like you or me would find acceptable."

"You or me?"

"Accomplished archers. We're picky." He says with a smirk. "Someone just told me they are giving out weapon prizes for the contest winners. They are displayed over behind the checkout desk. You should take a look."

A minute later the owner catches me looking at a purple limbed bow with gold and silver accents. I ask him if I can hold it and he looks around his shop and I do the same, finding there's no one else in here now.

"Alright. But be quick. I just told a man they were off limits for handling."

Special treatment again? Last time I was here he gave me a two hundred rupee discount on my paraglider. He gives me a creepy smile like he did before as he hands me the bow. When I pull the string back I'm met with a good resistance that tells me it's got a powerful shot. I take a look at the finely crafted details on the limbs and grip and fall in love with it. I grin at Link, who's been watching me, and nod.

I've decided.

This bow is going to be mine.

I hand the beautiful weapon back to the shopkeeper and watch him hang it back up. I step back over to the bow wall and ask Link to help me pick one to use to win today's contest.

"Nah. Use mine. No need to spend money that you don't need to." I guess he's got a point, but I ask him what bow he will use then.

"Who says we can't share?"

I tilt my head and I smile. "Okie. I'll use your lucky bow."

The event is held outside town and up on the flat section of land parallel the giant land bridge. We coincidentally made our camp up here a few days ago, paragliding for the first time about fifty feet behind where we stand now. There are about thirty other people here, more than half of them participating. The event host welcomes us and gives a speech on the history of their yearly weapons contest before he lays down the rules. He also says the competition is going to be fierce this year, pointing the two of us out, and I shrug as I hold Link's bow in my hands. Archery is the starting event so there's no waiting for us. Besides, almost everyone here has a bow with them.

There's quite a few good competitors here who keep up close scores with ours between rounds. I enjoy that we're not blowing everyone away, but it makes me a little anxious. I really really want that gorgeous prize bow. I decide not to watch till it's my turn after the third round using my old tactic and reasoning; 'I'll do better if I don't know how well my opponents do.' The last time I did so was that fateful day I met Link, and just like then, it seems to work as I make it to the final round along with him.

Once again we stand as two of the last remaining contestants together for the final round. I can hardly stand still as we wait for the last round of targets to be set up. They're a little bit more creative than the event runners were in Hateno, setting the targets up high in trees and lower to the ground. One even swings back and forth on a wooden contraption that has irregular timing like they had during the Golden Arrow competition. That's the only one that concerns me but I pump myself up before I take my place on the "stand," a simple square rug they've placed on the ground. Apparently it's been used since that very first contest held here. The crowd cheers me on saying kind things with the name Sheik, and I give them a grin before I start shooting.

I do pretty well, yet that moving one serves to mess up my score and I sigh. I hope my archery skills are not degrading. Oh well. I shrug and tell Link and Joa, the other awesome lady contestant, good luck as I step away to wait. I cross my fingers for both myself and Link, but I really hope that I turn out the victorious winner. Even though my back is turned I cheer with the crowd and watching some of the spectators is actually quite amusing. A few of them are very exuberant and I aim to somehow cheer louder than they do, which probably makes me look ridiculous but I don't care. A few people ask me why I don't watch and when I explain my strange reasoning and get a few weird looks.

Once Link and Joa have finished, we all stand together for the final results.

My mood and heart drop. It feels like I've been hit in the chest with a rock when the host announces me third place. Third. Not first or even second...but third.

Ouch. Damn it. No!

It's kind of like a kick to the stomach when when I look to the crowd watching us and notice a few people are frowning and shaking their heads now. Some even give me looks, like I should have done better than that and I have disappointed them. This actually irritates me. As if I should always win just because I won the most prodigious archery award in the world? Ugh. I shrug my shoulders at those people as not to let them know they've gotten under my skin.

I turn my attention back to the two beside me and listen as the host drags out the winner. I cheer as he announces Link's name and Joa claps good naturedly before she shakes his hand congratulating him. The host hands him the bow and he holds it up in the air with a grin while looking at me.

"Congrats!" I say enthusiastically.

The crowd surrounds us a moment later and they give Joa just as much praise as they do us, which clearly means a lot to her as she's practically beaming. She tells Link and I it was an honor to get to compete aside us and even if I lost to her, she knows that I'm still the more talented one. I love how humble she is, but I tell her that she's wrong and say she's just as good of an archer as I am or possibly better. I get a tight hug in response as she giggles and tells me "Thank you, Sheik. You're really as cool as I knew you would be."

Half way through the last event of the day, spear throwing, someone screams and points downhill from us. I stare as none other than my saviour wolf, Shadow, comes trotting toward the crowd. A girl is running toward us, clearly believing that he's chasing her, which couldn't be further than the truth. Upon seeing me, Shadow darts my way and the man next to me raises his bow and at least two other people follow suit.

I run toward the wolf without thinking, putting myself in their line of fire. Two arrows whoosh past past me, missing by inches. I practically dive to the ground throwing my arms around the wolf as I scream to everyone to stop shooting.

"Sheik run!"

"What are you thinking?!"

"Get away from it, you stupid girl!"

I ignore the shouts, screaming and insult behind me as I tell Shadow to lay down, which he instantly does, head on his forepaws again. I thank Hylia that Lawrence and his wife trained him well.

"Everyone lower your damn weapons now!" I hear Link yell and everyone shuts up. I look over my shoulder to see him standing right behind me. I glance around to see many people still standing ready to attack, others staring in complete confusion, and some lowering their weapons like they were told.

I stand up, still in front of the wolf and everyone's eyes shift to me. I start speaking before I even know what I want to say.

"Listen! I know- I know what you're thinking. It's a wolf, a dangerous predator. Maybe he even looked like he was chasing her." I pause and point to the little girl who was screaming and running. "But this wolf saved my life the other day. I know that sounds completely insane but I wouldn't be here today it weren't for him."

Everyone looks at me with various levels of judgement and I hear a few of them muttering to each other. Link takes over defending Shadow next, which I don't expect.

"It's true. This wolf saved my girlfriend while I was taking a nap. She came back all beat up and bloody and that evening-" Link pauses and walks over next to Shadow "-he came up and I reacted just as you did. And you know how this wolf reacted? Just like this." He says gesturing to Shadow who still hasn't moved an inch.

I notice most of the crowd is taking what we've said in and I breathe a sigh of relief. The rest of the weapons pointed our way lower and surprisingly nobody says anything.

"We met his master yesterday." I say. "The man lives in a small house up near Skull Lake. He explained to us that Shadow here was raised like a domestic dog from the time he was tiny, and trust me, he's very well trained. If you'll all trust me, I can prove it."

We hear several mutters and people look to other nodding and looking nervous before someone calls out "Alright. Show us."

"Okay." I say, nodding and not really knowing exactly what I'm doing. I kneel down to Shadow and put my hand on his head.

"Come on buddy. Help me show everyone you're super friendly. Kay?" I say quietly. Shadow raises his head and looks me in the eyes. I tell him stand up and he does, slowly.

"Very good." I say bending over and taking his big head in my hands. When he gazes up at me and wags his tail I know he's ready to cooperate with me.

The next few minutes consist of me giving Shadow simple commands, though I don't know if he actually knows them before he reacts. Sit, lay down, roll, shake, stay, come...etc. I keep it up until I can't think of anything else. I smile as Shadow does everything I tell him to with hardly any hesitation before I turn to the crowd. I'm relieved to see that many people look much more relaxed and a few are even smiling.

"If anyone would like to meet him, you're more than welcome." I say lightly.

"He doesn't look so bad." The little girl who was running from him earlier says. She starts to walk toward us before a lady behind her grabs her shoulders. The girl looks over shoulder and says "Mommy. Come on. He's a good wolfy. I trust Sheik."

The mother looks back and forth between the wolf and her daughter before she nods slowly, looking warily at me. They both walk over slowly and Shadow keeps sitting like I last told him to do. I watch as the little girl walks right up to him without a hint of fear and places her hand on his muzzle.

"Oh wow! He's so soft!" She squeaks before placing her other hand on top of his head. The girl's mother kneels down slowly beside her and tentatively reaches out to touch Shadow as well, who throughout all of this just sits still until she scratches his ears. When he lets out a grunting noise and leans his head closer to both of them and they both laugh. I can't help but be amazed and touched by this moment, it's so sweet.

"She's right everyone. He's definitely the tame." The mother says looking around at everyone.

Link's PoV

After the little scene, several people walk over to us. Some with hesitation and others excited to meet the wolf who is apparently attached to Zelda. Honestly, I was just as shocked as anyone to see him when he suddenly appeared. Zelda acted before I could even register her moving and I'm damn glad she wasn't accidentally struck by an arrow or two. Though I also threw myself in harm's way when she did, so I guess we were both lucky.

After everyone who wants to has had their chance to meet Shadow, the host brings everyone's attention back to the spear contest that was currently going on. Zelda and I decide to go back into town and of course the wolf follows us. At the gate the stable man stops us, freaking out, and we both laugh. He doesn't see what is so funny until Zelda explains. Still, he won't let him come into town with us so Zelda tells Shadow to run along and be good. We both stare as he just turns around starts walking back across the bridge as if he understands Hylian.

I follow Zelda around Tarrey Town, in and out of shops then to the fountain in the center of town. We sit down on one of the benches and I pull both the bows I have off my back.

"So Zel, which one do you want?"

"Well I only really have one choice. That one is your Golden Arrow bow."

"So?"

She huffs and gives me a look. "So...isn't it important to you? That was why I was so upset when mine broke."

"I guess. But I know how much you like it."

"Well, I have to admit that had you asked me when we first met I might have said yes. But I've taken a real liking to this one now." She says as she picks up the one I won today. "Though the odds of you winning two amazing bows like this in contests; it's too good to be true."

"I thought of throwing the contest so you could win it yourself. But well, things didn't work out just as planned."

"You mean me getting third place." She mumbles. "If I had gotten second, you would have let me win?"

"Yes." I answer without hesitation.

"That's sweet and all...but I wouldn't have felt like I deserved it. And what would have been the point of letting me win if you were going to give the bow to me anyway?"

I shrug, I hadn't really thought of that. "Maybe so you would feel better." It's not like I would have admitted losing on purpose had she actually won.

"Well. Thank you for the bow, Link. I really like it." She says sweetly.

"You're welcome."

There's something hard underneath my head when I open my eyes, and when I lift my head to see it's a rock. It's morning and a shaft of sun is shining down onto my face through the trees above my waking place. I shield my face with my hand as I roll over on my side and the hot spring comes into view. A few people are leant up against it or laying awkwardly across the flower petals. Zelda lays on the ground a few feet away, her mouth hanging open and arms up above her head. Shadow is lying next to her with his head on her stomach.

I sit up and squint through the pain that spikes through my head. I don't remember coming over here, so I must have gotten as wasted I faintly remember Zelda being last night. I have a glimpsing memory of her standing on the bar and singing on the top of her lungs but other than that, I don't remember much. When did we even leave the bar and come over here? I walk over to the spring and scoop some water into my hands before splashing it on my face. I hope I didn't black out on the ground before she did.

When I turn around Zelda grumbles before she sits up with a groan. After rubbing her eyes she blinks slowly as she looks around at our surroundings in clear confusion. It seems we have that in common. She says good morning when we meet eyes then Shadow bumps his big muzzle against her head and she smiles before resting her face in his fur.

"I still don't know why you like me so much." Zelda says to him. "What about Lawrence? He's your master after all, you silly wolf." In response Shadow knocks her over and licks her face over and over. She giggles as she playfully pushes him away.

"It seems he'd rather be yours."

"Nah. I'm sure that's not true."

Zelda's PoV

Waking up once again unable to remember how I got here, check. Judging by the empty liquor bottles skewn across the grass and the other zonked out people around the hot spring, it seems that Link and I were not alone in getting completely trashed. We get up and slowly make our way back to town, where the stable keeper hands me three letters and one to Link. We wait until after we've eaten breakfast in the tavern to open them.

The first one I read is from Purah and her greeting tells me exactly what to expect.

Dear Zelda, or should I say "Sheik!?"

The newspaper paper has blown up Hateno. It takes a lot to render me speechless but you have done it! How could you hide such a thing from me?! I let you stay in my home! Everyone here is totally psyching out over how they met the amazing Golden Arrow winner Sheik and they had no idea! They want your autograph and everything. I talked to my mom about it and she said everyone in Kakariko already knew who you were. You all left me out of such important information! Goddess.

Anyway, I'm grateful to know you're both okay and that you're all better. Keep me in the loop from now on, got it?

Love Purah

I feel a little bad that I didn't tell her now. I kind of assumed she would have learned my identity from her family at some point. I mean...wouldn't it have been obvious back when I wrote to her in Zora's Domain? I didn't really think about it at the time, but I should have expected this sort of response from her then. I write back to her apologizing and explaining why I kept it a secret. I also tell her that Link had no idea till the Festival of Warriors and all about the drama that ensued when he found out.

The next letter is from my sister.

Zelda!

I never thought you'd out yourself to the newspaper. I'm kind of shocked, but I'm proud of you for breaking out of your shell. Speaking of that, you jumped off a cliff to paraglide?! Damn, I honestly didn't think you had it in you. Tell Link thank you for me for giving you some guts. Oooh ooh ooh...Link took you to lovers lake huh? You're really gonna make me wait for who knows how long to tell me about it in person? I expect all of the details in your next letter.

-Tetra

Her letter is a lot shorter with a lot less teasing than I expected. I really wish I were home with her right now. I don't think I could write out what she wants to hear from me.

Link hands Aryll's letter to me as I trade off the two I just read.

Hey brother,

Purah actually came home to visit us for once. She was so mad at everyone for not telling her Zelda is Sheik.

Paya and I are planning a trip to Rito Village. This is the first time I'll have traveled so far away from home and I am sooo excited! Paya is really nervous but I know she's not going to back down as it was actually her idea. Impa isn't too thrilled about it though, but I think it's only because we'll be leaving her all alone here in Kakariko. I blame you and Purah for the anxiety and protectiveness that she's projecting all over us. She's probably afraid that we will decide to start traveling Hyrule as well. That's a silly worry though, I don't think I could live like you and Zelda do as nomads and Paya certainly wouldn't go without me. I'll definitely tell you more about it when the time comes.

Love, your little sister

"Looks like you inspired your sisters to go on their own adventures."

"I guess. I hope they make it there safely."

"Are you worried?"

"Not really. The road there is mostly through farmland until they enter Tabantha. They'll make it with no problems. Paya is also a surprisingly skilled hunter, so they won't go hungry either."

Just as we finish our response letters, I hear the beautiful sound of someone's ocarina playing outside the stable. I ask Link if he's still interested in playing music with me, recalling our forever ago conversation under the stars about learning to play music ourselves. I'm a little surprised but happy when he says yes without questioning what I'm talking about. I pretty much drag him to the little music shop I remember seeing here in town. The sign outside the second floor shop has a painting of gold cello shaped like a leaf beside the words "Akkala's Finest Instruments." The shop keeper welcomes us and says to try anything we would like.

The interior of the place is elegantly set up in three sections; wind, string, and percussion. The walls are decorated with various instruments alongside beautiful paintings of people playing them. I notice the far wall has been turned into a gorgeous mural of not only Hyrule's most famous musicians like the Indigo-go's, but also of some other traveling groups. I recognize Makar, Medli, and Saria below the name of their group: The Woodland Spirits, in the top left hand corner. I have to commend whoever the artist is, the features of their faces and the many others are all spot on. I really hope we meet the trio again. I had a blast hanging out with them during the Kakariko Pumpkin Festival.

I walk over to the left side of the room, which holds a variety of harps, violins, cellos, and other string instruments I have never seen. They really put thought into how they displayed them, the lights shining down from the ceiling accentuate each of them nicely. I pick up a small gold harp that reminds me of Hylia's Harp, the real thing depicted in religious paintings as well as my favorite constellation in the sky. It's lightweight and polished so immaculately that my clean fingertips make smudges on the surface. I hold it like I remember Medli holding hers and slowly strum by fingers across the delicate strings. One of the most beautiful noises I've ever heard fills the air and I'm immediately in love with it.

I try out a few more of the other harps but for some reason their noise, though nice, doesn't match up the same. I bring it up to the shopkeeper and buy it for a hundred and fifty rupees. I don't worry about the cost whatsoever too much considering it's mostly taken care of with the money I won in yesterday's archery contest. The man gives me a brown leather case and a soft microfiber cloth with my purchase. I thank him with a gleeful smile. I practically skip over to where Link stands by the ocarinas and hold it out proudly between us.

"Nice Zel. I think I'm going to go with this one." He says, holding out a midnight blue ocarina with a gleaming gold band around the mouthpiece.

"It's beautiful. You should give it a try."

Covering three of the holes with his fingers, Link blows into the mouth piece and the noise is rich and smooth.

"Shall I buy it?" He asks.

"You shall!" I say, my voice coming out high pitched and airy. I just feel so happy and excited. I can hardly wait to start practicing together. Link buys the ocarina, which also comes with a leather bag to hold it, and we also each get a copy of a beginner's book named Songs of the Lost Woods. We thank the shopkeeper and the chime of the bells on the door follows us out.

Shadow is waiting for us when get to the end of the land bridge. I wonder why he hasn't gone home yet and if Lawrence is worried about him. We ride our horses up to the hot spring before getting our new toys out again. We study our music books for a while first before we help each other break down the basics. It doesn't take too long for each of us catch on and we spend the next hour or two half practicing from the book and making up songs. Shadow howls along with our tunes which just makes it better. He sounds so cute. I smile and giggle a lot as we play.

"This is even more fun than I thought it would be." I tell Link.

"Agreed. I knew you'd be a natural with music. Though I think most of it is the harp's doing."

"Gee thanks." I say sarcastically before I smirk. "You're not as bad of a musician as I was led on to think. You did tell me before that both Impa and Aryll told you to quit."

"I shouldn't have listened." He says before starting to play the song called "bolero of fire" again.

We enjoy the hot spring once again before heading back up into Northern Akkala. I hum a few of the songs we learned, as they are already stuck in my head. We head up to Lawrence's house as Shadow is still following us around. When we get there, the man is sitting on his porch carving something wooden with a knife.

"Ah, you're back again. With my wolf no less."

"He won't seem to leave our side."

"Your side." Link corrects me.

Lawrence stands up and sets his carving project on the table beside the chair. "I had the feeling he was with you. When I opened the front door yesterday morning he bolted outside so quick I hardly saw him bound over the hill towards where you went. It got me thinking, I've never seen him react that way toward anyone except my wife. Then I've hardly seen him since you two came along." He pauses as he strokes his beard for several moments before he continues. "After a lot of thought...I've decided it's time I let him go. Of course, you don't have to... but, if you'll have him, I'm sure Shadow would love to join you on your journey."

I stand there staring at the man for several seconds. Link is silent as well and we look at each other before he nods and says "It's fine with me."

I process everything Lawrence just said in my mind twice more before I answer.

"But...uhm...didn't you say you raised him from a puppy? You must love him dearly."

"I do. But it's time that I let him go."

"Are you sure?"

"A wolf belongs in the wild anyway. Besides, I'm getting pretty up there in age."

I must still look concerned or unsure or something, because Lawrence steps over and rests his hand on my shoulder. His words are slow and steady as he speaks next.

"I've had an amazing nine years with Shadow. I wouldn't give him away to just anyone. Deep down I can just see the two of you already have a bond, and I'm a hundred percent sure that you will take great care of him, miss Sheik."

I hug Lawrence, which takes him by surprise and he chuckles. I let him go and smile before I say "I certainly will."

Watching Lawrence say goodbye to his wolf is something I can only watch with a heavy heart. I can't imagine leaving Starlett behind or letting someone take her. That would be unbearable after six years. It's clear it tears him apart to give Shadow to us, but he definitely is serious about doing so.

I hold onto Link's hand as Lawrence wipes his eyes and kneels down to hug Shadow tight to his chest.

"You better behave for them, boy. Don't come running back here. I may not be around."

He gets a low whine in return before Shadow raises onto his hindquarters and pushes him back onto the floor and starts licking his face repeatedly. Link and I laugh with the old man who has to wait till Shadow will let him up. Link and I mount our horses and Lawrence squints up at us in the sun, hand shading his eyes.

"Well, I hope to see you all again someday."

"Of course. Don't worry, I will definitely take great care of Shadow."

"I know you will."

"I'll write you."

"I'll be looking forward to it. It was nice meeting you two. Y'all have safe travels now."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

"Bye Lawrence." Link says.

As the man walks back into his home, I notice Shadow staring at his back before he lifts his head and lets out a long howl. It's a heartbreaking noise, low and almost painful to listen to, but I smile as Lawrence turns around at his door and howls back before calling a final farewell and walking inside.