Author's note: For the wolf's voice, think of Rick Astley.

--

It was dark and Train could just barely make out what was ahead of him. Where am I? He thought. I can't see anything. It's too dark.

"Train…"

Saya? Train thought as she turned around to look at him with her bright blue eyes.

Everything turned dark and a bright green light shone in Train's face. He covered his face with his hand until his eyes adjusted to the light. He then looked toward the source of the light and saw a massive green wolf with yellow eyes staring at him. Small shivers shot down Train's spine as he stared into the wolf's challenging eyes.

"Hello, weakling," it sneered in a deep manly voice.

"What are you?!" Train asked in astonishment. Okay, so you're a male. Like that's not weird, Train thought sarcastically.

The wolf blinked. "Medulla aestris," it said.

"What? You can't be. That's impossible!"

The wolf snickered, a quiet sound that made Train start to quiver slightly. "But I am. You see, I manifest myself in many different forms inside people's heads. This is how you'll see me, as a wolf, from now until you beat me." It paused slightly before continuing and then smiled menacingly, curling its lips back to reveal sharp white teeth. "That is, if you even beat me!" It faded away and Train heard the wolf's laughter in his head.

--

Train bolted upright, drenched in sweat and breathing hard. Was that Medulla aestris contacting me? His eyes widened and he gasped slightly. I didn't realize that it would prepare to strike so soon. I thought that it would've laid low for a little while, but I guess not. He slid out of bed and went into the kitchen.

"Morning, Train," Sven said. Upon seeing Train's pale and sweaty face, he said, "Are you okay?"

"No," Train said. Eve gave Train a cloth and said man dried his face with it.

"Was it Medulla aestris?" Saya asked.

"Yeah," Train said. "It was in the form of a green wolf."

Sven got the phone and dialed Rinslet's number.

"Hi, Sven," she said. "I was actually just getting ready to call you guys."

"Train wants to talk to you," Sven said.

"Oh," Rinslet said as Sven handed the phone to Train.

"Hi," Train said.

"Hey. What's up?"

"I just dreamed of Medulla aestris."

"You did?"

"Yup. It was in the form of a massive green wolf. It said that it could manifest itself in different ways."

"It says here that you can see it in your dreams. I think that you can also see it when you're conscious, too…."

Train nodded. He made sure that he would look out for any massive green wolves appearing out of thin air.

Later, when he was in the shower and Sven, Eve, and Saya were at the supermarket ("We're only going to be gone for 10 minutes at the most," Saya had said), he turned around and saw the wolf staring at him.

"Hello again," the wolf said.

"Stalker," Train muttered under his breath as he grabbed a loofa and scrubbed his arms.

"So that's what you think I am, huh? Ha! When you and that little girlie of yours fall in love, I'll strike." When Train turned around, it had vanished. Great, he thought sarcastically. So I have to deal with this thing for a few weeks. This is just what I need!

Saya came back and saw Train reading on the couch. She walked over to him and asked, "So, did you see it again?"

"Yup," Train said while looking up from his page. What he saw in Saya's eyes made him stare. Her bright eyes were lit with concern and growing feelings for him. He loved the way that her eyes pierced his soul with affection and tenderness. Train proceeded to lose himself in Saya's eyes, and he began to see deep into the recesses of her soul.

He found himself putting his book down and leaning in towards Saya's face. It was conscious yet unconscious at the same time, and some unseen force was making him stand up and cup her cheeks with his hands. He stopped short a few inches away from her and he pressed his forehead against hers. He stared into Saya's eyes and Saya stared into his.

Sven saw this and let out a low whistle. Eve heard Sven's whistle and looked up from the book that she was reading. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight before her. Train seemed to realize that Sven and Eve were looking at Saya and him, and he stopped staring into Saya's eyes while mumbling something along the lines of, "Sorry. I didn't see you there."

Sven laughed. "It's okay."

The wolf's voice resounded in Train's head and Train sensed that it was standing behind him. "Oh, that was just so cute," he said in a mocking tone. He snorted contemptuously. "Cute?" Train saw the wolf spit on the ground. "I wanted to vomit!"

Train responded with his thoughts. Shut up, scumbag. I don't want to hear from you for the rest of today, you hear?

"Suit yourself." The wolf faded.

Train went to the fridge and got a bottle of milk out. He threw a bottle to Saya and she caught it.

"Thanks," she said.

"Welcome," Train replied. He popped the cap and finished it within seconds.

"Jeez, Train. Can you drink a little slower next time? I don't need you choking," Sven said.

"Sorry," Train said as he threw the milk bottle into the recycling bin. Sven noted the irritation in Train's voice.

"What's gotten into you?" Sven asked Train.

"Nothing," Train snapped.

"Come on, Train. Something's up."

Fed up with Sven's grilling, Train said angrily, "It's that damn wolf! He's been stalking me all morning, and I even saw him the shower! I told him that I didn't want to hear from him for the rest of the day, but he's standing right beside me!"

"It has a gender?" Sven asked.

"Yeah," Train growled. "Can you guys see him?"

"I'm not seeing any massive green wolves beside you," Sven said.

"Great. What happens when I'm in public and I speak out loud to it? People will think I'm nuts."

"But that's why you'll stay here," Saya pointed out. "We'll do the running for you until it—excuse me, he—decides to stop being a total stalker and leave you alone."

"Did Rinslet say if it could physically hurt you?" Eve asked.

"No," Train said. The thought worried him—what if Sven, Eve, and Saya weren't home and it decided to hurt him? What would he do then?

That was when Rinslet called again.

"Hey, Rins," Train said, vestiges of irritation weaving their way into his voice.

"What's up with you?"

"It's the wolf."

"It's been stalking you already?"

"Yeah."

"That's bad, Train. It's intent on striking."

"I know. Can it physically hurt me?"

"Yes."

Dammit! Why can't anything just be harmless for once?! "So it could bite my head off at any second?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Wonderful," Train said sarcastically. "Can Sven and the others see it?"

"Only if the wolf wants them to."

Eve gasped. "Saya, Sven, he's here!" she whispered. Saya stared open-mouthed at the wolf while Sven's eye widened. Train glared daggers at it.

The wolf smiled. "I see that you're Train's comrades," he said out loud.

"Leave Train alone right now!" Saya shouted.

The wolf laughed. "Make me, broad!"

Saya stared in shock and Train hung up with Rinslet. "What did you just call her?" Train growled menacingly.

The wolf smiled. "A broad."

Train glared at the wolf and whacked him over the head with Hades. Blood flew out of the wolf's mouth and landed on the floor.

Train can hurt Medulla aestris, too, Sven thought.

Medulla aestris vanished, and so did the blood.

"Is the word 'broad' offensive to women?" Eve asked.

"Yes," Saya growled while seething.

"Oh," Eve said.

Saya stormed off and took a shower. Train seethed and sat on the couch. Sven and Eve stood there for a few seconds, unsure of what to do.

An hour later, Saya, Sven, and Eve had went to Rinslet's place and were helping her with something—Train hadn't heard what. So here he was, bored to tears, standing in the middle of the kitchen. Train gasped as he saw the wolf before him.

"Didn't I tell you not to come out again?!"

"Yes, but I don't obey stupid humans like you." Medulla aestris smiled, baring its fangs.

Train gasped.

"You realize what this means, don't you? You're all alone with no one to come and help you. That's pathetic, if you ask me."

He leapt at Train.

-

Saya, Sven, and Eve wondered what Train was doing.

"Probably sleeping," Sven said.

"I say that he's drinking milk."

Saya laughed at the mental image of Train being surrounded by empty bottles of milk. "Let's stop guessing and find out!"

She opened the door and gasped at the sight before her.

"Train!"