Part Five

Lotor cocked his head and flared his nose. The scent wasn't familiar but then again he had only taken in Allura's scent. The door opened and Hunk entered with a friendly smile. "Hi, White Fur. I've got your dinner, boy."

Lotor blinked and woofed in a questioning manner. White Fur? Why is he calling me that?

"Allura chose to call you White Fur until you can talk and I'm here to let you know that you're welcome here." He set up the tray and bed tray before sitting where Allura sat.

Hunk's words and open face gave him comfort and told him that Hunk was sincere. He believes Allura and thus, trusts me. He felt friendly toward Hunk; he even liked his scent. He ate his food and when Hunk went to take the tray, he licked the cheek.

Hunk smiled at that. "You're welcome." He left the room, pleased that White Fur liked him and intended to tell the team. "He likes me," he announced as he sat at the table.

"I thought as much as you didn't immediately come back," Allura said. "I'm glad it went well."

"I explained the name and that he's welcome here. When I went to take the tray later, he licked my cheek. That's when I knew he liked me."

"Hunk's easy to like," Lance said. "It's hard to hate him."

"Could I bring White Fur breakfast tomorrow?" Pidge asked. "I want to see if he'll like me, too."

"Sure," Allura said. "If that goes well, then Keith and Lance can try again."

"What?" Lance groaned. "Once was enough."

"He could be better now that he has a name," Allura pointed out.

Pidge thought Allura had a point and kept it in mind as he headed to the infirmary the next morning. He entered to see the doctor tending to the injuries. "We're looking very good, boy," the doctor said. "I suggest you try to stand on all fours to strengthen those muscles." White Fur barked in response. Pidge suspected he was eager to leave the infirmary and he didn't blame him: He'd want to leave too.

"Maybe some food would help those legs," Pidge spoke up. The wolf shifted around and Pidge said, "Hi, White Fur."

"White Fur?" the doctor repeated.

"Allura chose to call him that until he can talk."

"The name does suit him but able to talk? I don't know."

"Coran's looking into that." Pidge set the tray down. He saw interest in White Fur's eyes and added, "Does that interest you, boy?"

Lotor barked and nodded. He'd like to be able to talk; the problem was that the issue rose conflicting emotions in him. On one hand, he wanted to actually talk but on the other hand, once he spoke, his voice would give away his identity and he would likely be driven away from the castle. He whined at his conflicting emotions as it was making his head hurt and he felt Pidge pet him. "What's wrong, White Fur? You do want to talk, right? Tell us your real name."

He barked and nodded and then barked and shook his head. Pidge was confused. It looked as if he wanted to talk and yet didn't want to talk. Is he afraid we'll drive him out once he talks? Could he really be Lotor? Pidge mentally shook himself. He couldn't let Keith's suspicions sway him even though Keith was his commander.

Lotor waited until he was alone before attempting to stand as he didn't want to embarrass himself. He leaned forward on his forelegs before bringing one back leg up and planting the paw on the mattress. He then brought the other one around and down. He pushed back so that all his weight was evenly distributed. He felt his back legs trembling but they didn't buckle. He panted happily at this. Just the other day, they wouldn't support any weight, now they are. He eased himself to sitting on his back legs and felt only twinges of pain. He was definitely doing better and felt better about the Force. Maybe they're not so bad. They only fight to bring peace, something I can understand. I would like Arus to stay the way it is as I depend on nature to survive and Doom would want to wipe it out. Lotor dwelled on his situation and changing views all morning before thinking of trying to jump. He brought himself to standing, crouched by the bed's edge, and jumped. His forepaws touched down gracefully, but the impact of landing sent his back legs askew so that his butt was up in the air. Okay, not strong enough to jump down. He heard the door open before he could adjust himself.

"White Fur! Are you okay?" came Keith's voice before he crouched down with concern in his eyes and face.

Lotor got to all fours, nodded, and barked. "Did you try to jump down?" A nod and a bowed head. "Well, can you jump up?" Lotor faced the bed, crouched, and leaped. His back legs slipped but he was up. Keith smiled in encouragement. "Not bad. Just keep practicing. So, you don't hate me now?" Lotor responded by licking Keith's hand once he had slid the bed tray over.

Keith sat down as Lotor ate. "I admit, I was suspicious of you. I thought you were here to sabotage the castle. I even suspected you were Lotor." Keith shook his head, missing seeing Lotor pause in his eating. "I mean when I think on it, it seems stupid. What would be the point of turning yourself into a permanent wolf who can't talk? You are stuck like this, right?" Lotor nodded, licking his chops as he finished.

Keith ruffled the head. "Thanks for listening and giving me another chance." He left with the tray and Lotor began washing his face and dwelling on Keith's words. He has no idea how right he is about my identity, but he's wrong about how it happened. It is stupid: No one would deliberately turn himself into a permanent wolf who can't talk.

It seems I was wrong about Keith. Despite our rivalry to win Allura's heart, he is a fair man. Of course, he doesn't know it's me so I'm seeing a different Keith and I like him. He finished washing, got on all fours, and prepared to practice his jumping again.

"He's up on all fours?" Allura gasped. "And he's trying to jump?"

Keith smiled at Allura's reaction. "He is and he likes me now. I talked to him and apologized of being suspicious of him. It's nice that he's giving me another chance."

"Well, he didn't growl at you when you came in, that's what's important. Lance, you're next for dinnertime."

"Okay," Lance said with his trademark grin. "I'm sure White Fur will like me too."

I don't know about that, Keith thought. Lance has more cockiness than anyone I know and it may put White Fur on his guard. At that moment, Coran walked in, looking pleased.

"Coran?" Allura prompted.

"I found it," he said. "The medallion so White Fur can talk. It took some time to look through the royal treasury, but it was worth it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather strap from which hung a round, gold pendent that had the royal crest encircled by the images of trees. "This pendent works on any animal, even those like White Fur. As long as he wears it, he'll be able to talk to us."

"Coran, that's wonderful," Allura said. "Let's surprise him with it tomorrow after breakfast." She could hardly wait to hear White Fur's true voice and how he became a wolf.