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Kai

A werewolf, or lycanthrope, is a human being that has been infected with werewolfry or lycanthropy. This infection is caused by the mingling of werewolf saliva with the blood when the werewolf in question is in wolf form. If the werewolf is in human form, the victim will only develop a few minor changes in character, such as a fondness of rare meat. Any injuries inflicted by a werewolf's teeth and claws, regardless of the werewolf's form, leave permanent scars.

"Already studying I see."

Kai glanced up at Jacin briefly, before turning back to open book in front of him. "We promised the centaurs we'd get rid of the werewolves for them. Learning as much as we can about them is as good a place to start as any."

"Fair point, although I'd argue that all "Hairy Snout, Human Heart" will tell you is that werewolves are seriously depressed people."

"How did you know I checked that book out?"

"I saw you reading it in the common room. Speaking of which, maybe you shouldn't be reading your new favourite genre in public areas. People might start to get suspicious."

Kai raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm serious! You don't think people will wonder about your sudden obsession with werewolves? We haven't started studying them yet this year, and you've never been really fascinated with them before. Eventually, people will start to ask questions."

Kai rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine, I'll read in my dorm from now on."

Jacin nodded with satisfaction. "And even better, this way I won't have to listen to you complain about getting ketchup on a library book."

Kai couldn't argue with that. Reading during breakfast has proved itself to be hazardous over the years. The thought was enough to make him close the book on werewolves, protecting its fragile pages with the thick leather cover.

He perked up as a sudden idea struck him. "Maybe I can talk to Wolf about this stuff? You remember, his home gets attacked by werewolves occasionally. He must know all sorts of stuff about their behaviour and all that. Maybe he even knows why that werewolf was out and about on a half-moon!"

Jacin shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea. You heard what Cinder said: the less people involved in this suicide mission, the better."

Kai nodded his understanding, thought he couldn't shake off his disappointment. Wolf was probably a walking-talking encyclopedia of werewolves. Merlin knows he's no slouch with other dark creatures.

"Anyway, while you're embracing your inner scholar," Jacin said as he stood up from the bench, "I'll be doing some study I know will come in handy: defence and offence. I'll see you in Charms Kai."

Kai nodded and shoved some of his sausages into his mouth, already eying his closed book. Surprisingly, he found some of this stuff in them pretty interesting and, no matter what Jacin might think, infinitely helpful. He'd found out that the only way to seal a werewolf-inflicted wound was to apply a mixture of silver and dittany while it was still fresh, which would definitely come in handy at some point. You can't expect to fight werewolves and not get injured! That's just plain idiocy!

Although, on the other hand, Kai wouldn't have had to consider all this if Cinder hadn't temporarily lost her senses and promised the centaurs they'd get rid of the werewolves for them. He understood why she'd done it, and he had to admit, even now he couldn't think of another way out of being murdered by the centaurs. Still, he couldn't help but think that all she did was postpone the inevitable.

Turning in his seat to look at the Titanium table, Kai searched the rows of students in metallic grey vests and black shirts for her. When his eyes finally managed to pinpoint he iconic messy ponytail and leather gloves, a loud screech from above snapped his attention away from the Titanium table. The post was here.

Kai smiled as Nainsi glided gracefully down to him. He stroked her large feathered head as she alighted herself down beside him, noting with no small amount of relief that there was no letter attacked to her leg or clamped in her beak. That meant his father wasn't getting worse.

Glancing over at Cinder again, he saw one of the school's owls unceremoniously drop a letter on her head. He winced in sympathy. He swore that those birds were trained to deliver their letters in the most irritating ways possible. He'd once seen an owl flying around with a howler so the student couldn't get to it in time before the letter blew up, and he'd lost count of how many students couldn't read the letters they received from their parents because they'd been dropped in their bowls of cereal. Thank Merlin he had Nainsi.

As Cinder opened the letter, Kai couldn't help but notice that her hands were shaking. With excitement? Or fear?

She tugged out the sheet of paper from the envelope and read through it. Feeling like he was intruding, Kai turned back to his breakfast. Somehow, he doubted Cinder would appreciate him staring at her while she read her letter.

And he did try to focus on his breakfast. He tried to shove down his curiosity. And, in his opinion, he'd been doing a pretty good job. But he couldn't help turning around when he heard several grumbles from the Titanium table.

Cinder was clumsily getting off her spot on the bench, knocking into her neighbours and earning herself several glares in the process. She ignored them all and tore out of the hall. And though it might have just been Kai's imagination, he could've sworn there were tears in her eyes.

Grabbing his book, he stood up from his seat as well. Breakfast could wait. He had to make sure that Cinder was okay. What kind of a friend would he be if he didn't? And, regardless of whatever Cinder promised the centaurs, she was his friend.

As it turned out, Cinder could move quite fast when she wanted to. It was all Kai could do to keep even her foot in his line of sight. And the heavy book tucked under his arm wasn't doing him any favours either.

Eventually, Cinder turned a corner and continued her mad charge towards a wall made of gleaming steel. The entrance to the Titanium tower. For Cinder, it would be just like charging into water, but for Kai it would be just a solid wall. A solid wall that would be very painful to run into.

"Cinder wait!" He shouted after her. She came to a stumbling halt mere inches from the wall and half turned to him. Her brown eyes were shining with unshed tears.

"I saw you run out of the Great Hall." Kai explained gently, "Cinder, what's wrong?"

Cinder said nothing. A lone tear tracked down her right cheek and Kai's hand twitched with the urge to wipe it away.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me what you're going through." He said.

"There's nothing you can do." Cinder murmured quietly

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do!"

"No, you don't!"

Cinder shot him a frustrated glare. Sighing, Kai placed a hand on her shoulder. He felt her stiffen at the touch. "Cinder, please. I want to help. You never know, maybe there's some solution to whatever you're going through that you haven't thought of yet."
"It's not that kind of problem." She whispered.

"Well, what kind of problem is it?"

Cinder didn't answer at first, and instead just stared at the floor, as if wondering how much she could tell him. Kai didn't say anything. He didn't want to pressure her.

Finally, Cinder sighed resignedly. "You remember that sister I told you about, the one that has a crush on you?"

Kai frowned. "I think so."

"She has letumosis. She moved on to stage three this morning."

Kai inhaled a sharp breath. Unbidden, the image of his father rose up in his mind, his skin covered in red splotches ringed with bruise purple, sweat glistening on his forehead as he struggled to so much as breathe. That was happening to Cinder's sister right now. No wonder she didn't think there was a solution. Letumosis was… well, seemingly unstoppable. Kai should know. He'd read everything he could find on the disease ever since his father contracted it, desperately hoping to find something the doctors had overlooked, something that might lead to a cure. Needless to say, his search had been fruitless. His father had lasted longer than the doctors or even he expected, managing to somehow cling to life despite how fiercely letumosis tried to steal it from him. But Kai had received a letter only three days ago informing him that his father had moved on to stage three. He didn't have long now.

Hesitantly, Kai wrapped his free arm around Cinder, pulling her into a tight hug. He felt her stiffen at the sudden intimacy, but she quickly caved and buried her face into his shoulder. Kai wasn't sure how long they stood there, Cinder sobbing quietly into his shoulder, him saying nothing, only offering what physical support he could.

Something warm seemed to brush at Kai's face, gentle and soft. He glanced around, not wanting to move his head and disturb Cinder, and his eyes landed on a strange glow peeking out from the hem of Cinder's glove.

A/N: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH THE FEELS!

A really tender moment between Cinder and Kai here, and we get a read on the condition of Kai's father. But Kai has noticed the glow of Cinder's hand. Will he try and find out what it is? And if so, how will it affect their relationship?

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