Chapter 18 : The Wolf

They finally found the evil spirit in a wolf body.

It looked just like a regular wolf, but Clover knew better and the others trusted her perceptions.

She slowly pulled her axe from her bag and the animal growled ; Beatrice produced the bell from her pocket and the monster pounced on her, making her fall on her back and the bell fly out of her hand. Both Clover and father her rushed to Beatrice's help immediately, pushing the creature away.

It now looked more like a demon right out of the pits of hell than a wolf.

It got back up on its legs, its eyes glowing bright and its teeth so big they could no longer fit in its mouth. It leapt again, and this time it looked like it was flying.

"Don't you dare hurt my daughter-in-law!" the Woodsman shouted as he grabbed the monster by its hind legs and threw it against a nearby tree.

Lorna spotted the bell on the ground and ran to pick it up while the evil spirit was distracted.

It felt so strange, holding it in her hand, shaking it, seeing its glow and hearing its familiar ringing without being compelled to obey it.

The monster stopped moving and just floated in mid-air, its eyes glowing brighter to respond to the bell.

"The… the ringing of the bell commands you! Leave this wolf and never take a body ever again! Never hurt anyone or anything ever again!"

This time, Lorna got to actually witness the spirit that had possessed her for so long leave its host to take the form of a screaming face in the fog before disappearing, only leaving an unconscious wolf and a bell she hopped to never see again.

"Is the wolf ok?" asked Beatrice as she got back up on her feet and dusted herself off. "It doesn't look ok."

"I had to protect you", the Woodsman reminded her.

"I know. Thank you."

"I think we might be able to heal it", Clover said. "You got everything at the mill, right?"

The girl in blue nodded and the old man slowly picked the animal up, careful not to hurt it further.

"We should hurry then", he said, carrying the still unconscious wolf on his back as he walked.

The three girls followed him in silence. That is, until Lorna asked :

"Now that it's… over… why did you call Beatrice your daughter-in-law?"

"…It slipped out. I'm sorry, girls…"

"Well, I guess that's what I am, right?" Beatrice added.

Clover put her axe back into her bag and took her girlfriend's hand in hers.

"After all that happened today and happens daily in the Unknown, this is what surprises you, Lorna?" she pointed out.

The girl with the bonnet had to admit she had a good point.

Also, a few other things made a bit more sense now.

"Just… don't tell my parents", Beatrice told her. "That's my job."

"I promise", Lorna replied. "And also…"

She handed the bell to the girl in blue.

"I guess you can give it back to Wirt now", she explained. "It won't be needed again. I hope."

"We cannot keep a wolf here", Beatrice's mother reminded her as her daughter looked for medical supplies in their house. "This is not a dog."

"I never said I wanted to keep it, mom. As soon as it's healed we'll let it go."

What the teenager didn't mention was that it would probably take a while to repair broken bones.

Clover and her gathered what they needed and went back into the mill, as it was the only place where they could take care of the wolf without being bothered by the dog. Inside, Lorna and the Woodsman were watching over the wounded animal.

"…My only concern is that my daughter is happy", they heard the old man say. "And she is. I want her to be able to be herself without living in constant fear that her own family might reject her. No-one should have to live that way."

"Yes, I see what you mean…" Lorna replied.

Beatrice and Clover climbed the ladder to reach the other two.

The girl in blue had a bit more experience treating wounded animals since she had to take care of her dog after accidents before, so she decided to take the present matter into her own hands.