She came in again, as she did for the last several days. He backed away so that she would not be afraid of him. He didn't want to frighten her, for she had been very kind to him.

He could smell the food she had brought him. It was hot again. It had been hot and dark the last few days, with less and less blood remaining in it. This time, none remained. He missed it slightly, but there was a moisture this time, and the meat was well seasoned. It wasn't blood, but it was still good, and there was plenty of it.

He let her stroke his head while he ate. It seemed to please her, and it was comforting. She seemed to be the only one who cared about him, so it would have been wrong to attack her. As he looked up at her, he saw her eyes widen. She turned to the opening and shouted. "Frona! Come quick!"

Frona – that meant something. No, that meant someone. Those sounds stood for someone. A figure came through the opening; an old woman. She was Frona!

"His eyes aren't red anymore." She moved aside to let Frona look at him.

The old woman smiled as she set a hand on Naomi's shoulder. "Yes, this is what we needed. He is no longer afraid. You have made him feel safe, now he doesn't have to be the wolf anymore." She turned back to him. "You must remember who you are. The beast you have become is a part of you, but it is not all of you. We all care for you, and we want you to come back to us."

To remember; yes, that was important. Now he knew why it was important; so that he could return. If only he could remember enough. The old woman; she was helping him! He turned back to her as attentively as he could.

"I can tell you are listening. Let us see if you understand. Who am I?"

She was Frona, but how could he say that? Looking to the floor, he could see that his claws had made marks on it. Drawing out a single claw, he began scratching it.

F

She smiled to him. "A good start. Now, try hard to remember who this one is."

He looked to her. He felt so warm when he looked at her, and her eyes were always so soft and gentle. Naomi – that was her name! Once he knew that, so much came with it, feelings of warmth and ... and love! She wasn't his kind, there wasn't anything in her blood that was like his; but for him to feel this way, that meant that he had to be her kind.

He scratched the ground again:

Naomi

The woman laughed and rubbed his head. "Excellent, my dear, excellent! Now, all that remains is for you to know yourself. You know me, and you know Naomi. We both are dear to you – use that to find yourself!"

He closed his eyes and fought to remember. Suddenly they came crashing down like a broken dam. He saw a day spent in Diagon Alley – a wand that exploded into light – a train ride to a faraway place – flying broomsticks – caverns – woods – wolves – a campground – dancing – a dungeon – an elf – a giant – an old wizard – his landlady – her husband – goblins – wood – a wand...

Finally he saw a mirror, one that showed a boy relaxing in a meadow while being served by a faithful friend. He had no worries or cares, and he remembered that the boy was himself as he wanted to be more than anything in the world. He knew who he was, he knew all the people around him, and he knew how to tell them he was himself.

My name is Eric

The old woman hugged Naomi joyously. "That's it, my dear child, that is it indeed!" She turned back to him, stroking his head lightly. "Yes, dear boy, you are Eric. Now, all that remains is to get the rest of you to agree with that. To do that, you need to want to come back. Do you want to?" He nodded energetically. "Excellent. Tonight, we will bring you back."

The arrangements were complicated. As Eric lay in the center of the cramped room, symbols were chalked onto the walls while candles were set up and lit all around him. In the distance, he could hear Grandmother Frona singing to herself. He could smell that she was brewing up something, and it was probably vile. Naomi sat with him all the while. It was clear that she had forgiven him for at least this much. More than anything he needed to become human again, if for no other reason than to be with her again.

At last it was nightfall, and Frona walked in carrying a bowl of something that smelled terrible. "Grab him, boys." Kaneus and Fenris were over like a shot, securing Eric before he knew it. "Remove the collar, dear." Naomi stepped over and carefully released the collar that had held him for so long. "Now, go and fetch a blanket. If all goes well, he'll need it."

Frona knelt in front of him, stroking his head gently. "I'm sorry, dear boy, but there's no way around this. The potion will make it possible for you to return. Unfortunately, the potion is disgusting and the process is painful. There is no harm in being afraid, but all will turn out well if you want this to happen. Do you?" Eric was very afraid, but he nodded, which Frona smiled at in reply. "That's my brave child. Don't worry about swallowing enough of the potion – the boys will make sure you do. Now, please open."

He did his best, at which point strong hands secured his jaws. The potion was unspeakably vile and it burned like a poison going into him. He couldn't help but gag on it, his entire body convulsing for escape. Kaneus and Fenris were as good as Frona said, however, and he ended up swallowing the lot of it. He could feel his body twist and contort again, this time under force. It was all he could do to keep focused on his goal; whatever it took, he had to be Eric again.

After what felt to be an eternity, the pain subsided. He could feel a blanket being draped on him, after which Frona came over. "Rest easy, my boy. You did it!" He reached out an aching arm, gratefully seeing a plain hand of five fingers.

Frona turned to the doorway. "Shall I call the others?"

Eric let out a sigh. "Let Naomi in – I need to thank her."

She looked back quizzically. "There are many who care about you, that would want to see you well."

Eric was resolved. "We can tell them now, but let me get my strength back before I see them. I'm sick of bedside visits."

He drew together enough blanket to wrap himself thoroughly. Naomi came in, rushing to him immediately to clamp her arms about him. Finally, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "I thought I'd never see you... Eric; what happened to your hair?"