~ An Uneasy Introduction ~

SAPHIRA

Saphira pulls the hood of her jacket over her head to shelter her scalp from the falling snow, continuing in her trek through the woods. It's late morning, much later than when she would normally be hiking out to meet Lykos, but she had already sacrificed yesterday to remain at camp. It had been quite the ordeal. Most of the demigods were well-behaved, as ensured by Clarisse. However, there were a couple of boys who were a bit too flirtatious for their own good. They made a move on Chloe, who in turn had struck them both on the head with her bow. Both were then beaten into unconsciousness by the daughter of the war god upon her arrival on the scene.

After an example was made of them, there were no further incidents and the hunters became relaxed when they realized that Clarisse was absolutely serious about keeping her demigods in line. The mood actually became uplifted when the idea of reinforcements settled in. While the Hunt has always held a general dislike for the campers, they had a grudging respect for their capabilities in war. The demigods are tenacious, fierce, and always seem to be ready for a fight no matter how poor their odds may seem.

All they're waiting for now is Xenia's anticipated return.

Once the Spartan girl returns with her company, they'll hopefully have the critical information on the whereabouts of the Wolves of Lycaon, which they need in order to launch an assault and kill as many wolves as they can.

Saphira rubs her arm, a little uncomfortable at the idea of another battle with the Pack. What if there are more wolves who don't wish to be evil like their kin? Newly-turned or even those who are trying to cling to their humanity like Lykos? If there any, they would be killed by hunter and camper. They would learn to fear them, and that fear could fester into resentment, and later into hate.

She heaves a sigh. The chances of there being others like Lykos is next to non-existent. How she wishes she could tell her sisters, and that they would understand and accept him, but that's not how the world works, unfortunately.

Saphira reaches the ravine's entry passage, still semi-absorbed in her thoughts as she weaves her way down into the ravine. Despite the snowy weather, the lake has yet to freeze over, though there is some newly formed ice around the edges of the shore. The blanket of white gives the ravine a whole new mood, almost a sense of wonder to it.

"This is where you've been going every day?"

The voice behind her dissolves the sense of wonder in a fraction of a second. Saphira spins on her heel with wide eyes, her heart already pumping at a million beats a minute. Standing there only a few meters away, is the daughter of Apollo, her closest friend for years.

"Chloe?!" Saphira exclaims, taking a step back. Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it! How did she not know that she was following her?! The girl must be a master of stealth or something!

"What are you-" she's starts, but hesitates for a moment to gather her composure and take a look around. No sign of the wolf yet… she prays that Lykos has gone out for a hunt or something. She has to get Chloe out of here before he appears or things will get very complicated very quickly.

"What are you doing here?" she finishes her statement, this time with a more controlled tone of voice, hoping that Chloe didn't notice her near panic.

Chloe looks a little taken back by the question. "I just wanted to make sure that you were going to be okay, what with you getting attacked by wolves when you were on your own. With everything that's been going on, I was just worried about you."

Her expression becomes somewhat sheepish and ashamed. "And also because I was curious about where it is you go and why you're always so happy when you come back."

Saphira heaves a sigh. She can't bring herself to be angry with her. Chloe's done too much for her to ever be angry, but that doesn't mean that the situation is fine. Any second, Lykos could show up and there's no telling what will happen then. She has to figure out a way to get her friend away from here and she has to figure it out quick.

"I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but I swear to you that I'm fine. Come on, we should get out of here," Saphira says, taking a step towards her friend.

"Hold on, Saph! You're not going to tell me anything? Is this where you've been disappearing to all the time and getting all cheery? I mean, it's certainly beautiful here but…" Chloe protests, holding up her hands.

Saphira bites her lip, taking another brief glance around. "I'll tell you back at camp. I promise."

"Please, Saph? I promise that I won't-"

Chloe's reply is cut short by a very audible, angry huff from behind Saphira that turns her blood cold, and it has nothing to do with the weather. Both girls turn and Saphira grits her teeth upon realizing that her worst fear is about to become a reality. A large black wolf at the perimeter of the ravine, lifting his head up to peer at them from his sheltered spot within the boulders and shrubs. He looks first at Saphira, before flicking his gaze to Chloe as his yellow eyes narrow and his ears flatten.

"Saph, look out!"

Saphira feels herself getting shouldered aside by Chloe, who's already slinging her bow. The action is followed by Lykos' angry snarl and in an instant he's on his feet, charging straight for them in a zig-zag movement with his eyes dead-locked on the daughter of Apollo. She's already nocking an arrow to the string, but before she can take proper aim, Saphira snaps out of her surprise and tackles Chloe to the ground.

"No!" she screams, wrenching the bow and arrow from her friend's grasp and rolling to her feet to hurl it as far as she can.

"Saph, what the hell?!" Chloe cries out, scrambling backwards, but Saphira ignores her cry and practically dives to place herself between the incoming wolf and her friend.

"No, no!" she shouts, spreading her arms to act as a living barrier. Lykos barely slows down to a halt in time right in front of her, but he snarls and snaps; not at her, but at the terrified hunter behind her. He dips left, then right, as if trying to find a way to get around, but Saphira steps in his path each time. Lykos then rears up on his hind legs, and suddenly she has a whole perspective of his size as he towers over her by nearly two feet.

"No!" Saphira repeats, hoping he hears the urgency in her voice. "Lykos, it's okay! Stop!"

The wolf drops back onto all fours, but his fangs are still bared, his hackles raised, and his throat is still emitting a horrible, thunderous growl. He snaps his gaze to her and seems to realize why she's placing herself in his way.

"It's okay," she repeats herself again, cautiously reaching out to place her hands on his head and cheek, hoping to soothe him with gentle pats. "She's a friend. She won't hurt you."

Lykos finally begins to calm down, letting his lips hide his fangs again as his snarls subside into a soft rumble. His ears pin back, as if submitting to her wishes. However, the girl behind her is far from calm.

"Saphira, what are you doing?!" Chloe demands, back on her feet with a hand on the hilt of a hunting knife.

"Chloe, it's okay!" she tries to assure her.

"That's a wolf!"

"I know!" Saphira hisses, then takes a deep breath to compose herself. "I know what he is, but he's not like the others! He's different!"

Chloe's blue eyes are wide with a stare of disbelief. "But it just tried to kill us!"

"No, he wasn't going to! You just scared him!"

"He got scared?!"

"Chloe!" Saphira silences her friend, staring her in the eyes and praying to all the gods that she hears her out. "I would never let anything happen to you. You're my closest friend. You've been there for me, learned and held my darkest secrets close to your heart, and you've protected me from myself more times than I can count."

She very nearly breaks into tears, but manages to keep her composure, turning her nerves to steel before going on.

"I trust you with my life, Chloe. Now, I am begging you to trust me! Please!"

There is a moment of silence between them. Saphira pleads with the Apollo daughter with her eyes. Chloe has been there for her through everything. Without her, Saphira may have very have done far worse to herself during those dark times… she can't let her down now. She can't…

"Okay," Chloe finally says with a shaky breath. Her hand slowly leaves the hilt of her knife, though she still regards Lykos with fear. She meets Saphira's eyes again, nervously biting her lip. "I trust you."

Saphira releases the breath she didn't realize she had been holding and springs forward to throw her arms around Chloe in a tight embrace. Relief and gratitude courses through her as she squeezes her friend, welcoming the warmth of the returning hug.

"Thank you," Saphira whispers as they separate.

Chloe nods with a soft smile, though she still looks uncertainly at Lykos. "Um…"

Saphira knows that she must want an explanation for… well, everything. Where to start? Perhaps the beginning, the night of the raid on the Pack's encampment. She recounts it all for Chloe; the moment she had shot and injured Lykos, finding him in the woods, healing his wounds and befriending him. Chloe listens to her without interruption, nodding as Saphira tells her everything. Lykos has thankfully settled down enough to lie in the snow, though he still keeps his eyes fixed on the daughter of Apollo. He must still be wary of her. Considering how long it took for him to start trusting her, it may take a while for him to learn how to trust someone else again.

By the end of the story, Chloe seems almost amazed.

"So, wolves that don't consume mortal flesh are distinguished by their eyes?" she asks, glancing to Lykos.

"Yes," Saphira answers, placing a hand on Lykos' shoulder and brushing her fingers through his fur. "He's not like Lycaon, or any of them."

"And it was really him who fought alongside you against those other wolves?"

"Yes again. He fought against his own kind, for me. I trust him with my life as I trust you."

Chloe frowns and returns her gaze to Saphira. "But if that's true, then why the secrecy?"

Saphira sighs and shakes her head. She thought that Chloe might ask this at some point.

"Because the Hunt would kill him, Chloe," she replies.

"But if you explain everything that you explained to me, then they'll see that they don't have to kill him. Lady Artemis has learned to keep an open mind. Remember how she used to be until she met the Poseidon kid?" Chloe protests.

"That was different," Saphira says, feeling a little dejected on the inside. "He risked his life fighting Atlas to protect her… and Zoe."

"Yes, and Lykos risked his life to protect you! Do you really think that Lady Artemis and our sisters wouldn't see that and understand that he's different?" Chloe asks.

"I don't know. Chloe, I want to believe so badly that the others would accept him, but we're fighting a war here. How many of us were killed by the Pack this past year?" Saphira reminds her. "We're talking about centuries of hatred and rivalry. That doesn't just go away with a few words."

"It did for me."

That reply catches her off guard. At her silence, Chloe continues. "I mean, I know I haven't even been alive for that long, but still. You actually were alive for all that time of bloodshed and feud, yet here you are, sitting next to a Wolf of Lycaon." She quickly adds, "sorry, I didn't mean that he's with Lycaon but only that he's the same species."

"I know." Saphira brings her knees up to her chest and buries her face in her arms. "It's not that simple, Chloe. I can't just bring him into camp and introduce him to everyone."

"Well duh! That's why we have to think about it first. Plan it out."

A soft rumble stirs in Lykos' chest, but it's not a growl this time. Saphira lifts her head slightly to look at him, meeting his icy yellow stare. He seems almost afraid, as if fearing that they're actually considering an attempt at getting him to be accepted by the Hunt. If it fails, which it likely would, the hunters would kill him, while Saphira and Chloe would at the very least, be exiled from the Hunt or turned into martens or something, by Artemis. That's being optimistic.

Saphira sighs and leans over to embrace the wolf's neck for a moment. "Don't worry, my friend. We won't do anything unless we're one hundred percent sure it would work out okay."

"You'll at least consider it, right?" Chloe asks.

"Just give me a couple days to think about it."

Chloe heaves a sigh of her own, but nods as she seems to accept this with satisfaction.

"How about a less stressful subject?" she suggests. Before Saphira can object or otherwise make any sort of reply, she goes on. "Why is Lykos so small? I mean, he's still pretty huge, but he looks like he's a few inches shorter than other wolves."

Saphira turns her gaze to observe her canine companion. It's a trait she noticed when she first saw him, and one she never understood the reason for.

"I have no idea. I would assume that maybe he's just quite a bit younger than the others, perhaps?" she replies.

She's distracted by Lykos leaning over and pressing his nose close to the pocket of her jacket. He sniffs a few times, then nudges and meets her eyes with a soft grunt. She offers an apologetic smile and caresses the top of his head. She knows what he wants.

"No food on me. Sorry, bud," she apologizes.

Chloe raises a brow at him. "Is he hungry?"

"He's always hungry."

Saphira gets an idea for how Chloe can get to know the wolf a little better and perhaps appreciate him as much as she does.

"Say, how about you come with us, right now, on a hunt?" Saphira suggests.

Chloe looks both surprised and uncertain. "A hunt? For him or for us?"

"Both. Lykos and I split the rewards. That's how I've been bringing back so much fresh-kill lately," she replies.

"You help her hunt?" Chloe asks, directing the question to Lykos. When the wolf nods his head, she looks astounded, with a newfound expression of gratitude. "Oh. Well, I guess I should thank you for helping to keep us fed."

Lykos grunts in reply and nods his head, showing her that he acknowledges her thanks.

"So, what do you say? Come hunt with us?" Saphira offers again. It's the first time in a long time that she's offered for any of her sisters to go on a hunt with her, and Chloe seems to recognize this based on the wide, beaming smile that spreads over her lips.

"I'd love to."