Hello There! I wanted to post this chapter sooner but as I was writing it, I had to be somewhere, so I closed down the laptop I was using and then later I went to go back to, and it didn't save it. So now I'm starting over. And if anybody knows how to copy and paste things on here without it showing up as a bunch of codes. Then please tell me! But I hope you like this chapter as I try to write from memory. *Sighs* Welp, here we go...again.

Enjoy :)

- Joyful Wild

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE HELP OF A FREIND

"And that's how we ended up here." Nia said wiping tears from her eyes. Esben and Rudric had tears on their faces too. They had found a fallen tree which was the biggest tree they had ever seen. It was hollow on the inside and was as long as a house. All they had to do was cover the floor with soft leaves and branches to make it more comfortable. Then they found something to eat which was quicker since Esben had a good sense of smell and hearing. Once they had finished dinner it started to rain a bit, so they went inside the tree.

Esben laid down on his stomach with his paws in front of him and asked Nia what had happened when he and Rudric were gone. It hurt Nia to recall all that had happened in the past few months but was still strong enough to tell her story. Esben remembered seeing his eldest son with the Maker but didn't actually stop to think that he had died, and it made him cry. Nia leaned into Esben's shoulder and cried into his soft fur. Nia was sitting on Esben's left side and Rudric was on the other side but little further away and looking at ground. Lately both Nia and Rudric had been quiet. Thinking. It felt a bit awkward, and Esben wanted to say something to get them talking like they used to in the past.

Esben put an arm around to comfort her and shed a few more tears. Esben looked at Rudric again and waited for him to look back. And when he did Esben smiled then Rudric smiled back but he knew it wasn't a real smile. Rudric looked back down to the ground. Esben looked back at Nia who had laid down on his other paw and fell asleep to the sound of Esben's steady breathing and the light rain. Once she fell asleep Esben had an idea, "Hey Rudric," Esben whispered, "Remember the time it was winter, and we built a ramp on the side of a hill and launched off it on a sled only to land on an icy lake and crashed into a tree?" Rudric laughed and then covered his mouth quickly. They both looked at Nia who only stirred a little bit in her sleep.

They both looked at each other and did their best to laugh quietly. "Oh, I got one." Rudric said, "Remember when Artham would talk in his sleep, and we had a full conversation with him?"

"Yes. Now that was entertaining."

"And you never knew what he was going to say either."

They both laughed quietly again then fell silent once more. "Rudric," Esben whispered, "When my family came to the Hollows was Artham with them?"

"Yes, he was, but he left the next day."

"Why?"

"Well, when they came to the Hollows Kalmar was Fang as you know, but we had to arrest him. Artham came with this black canvas around him, and he seemed to act his normal self, so I thought nothing of it. The next day everyone came to the Keep, to discuss what to do with Kalmar. So, Nia stated to tell us what had happened after the attack of the Fangs then everyone started to get into arguments then Artham stood up and revealed his mighty wings and sharp talons. He started telling us about when he went to go rescue you from the fire. But he only got to the part where you said you would come back then that was when he started acting...off. It was as if the Artham we knew was replaced by something or someone else. He flew up into the tree and everyone started to panic including me.

"Then Janner climbed up the tree, called out to Artham and then jumped and Artham caught him and brought him to the roof of the Keep. And that was the last time I saw him. Later I learned that something from the Blackwood scared him off but nobody mentioned anything about the Blackwood."

Esben thought about this for a moment. "Maybe it was the memories." He said.

"What do you mean?" Rudric asked.

"Sometimes when a cloven remembers their time in Throg or something terrible like that they would go mad. But it's only certain memories that would make them go mad. I remember a little bit of some cloven just hearing the wrong word or name and they would go mad and run off. I...I think that's what happened to me. I remember having a dream of the kids on a ship and sailing across the sea. That's why I ran to go find them. So maybe Artham hard or tried to say something but it drove him mad."

"Wait, if Artham is going to Throg won't that mean he might go mad?"

"Maybe a little but everyone else is with him. I'm sure they'll help him remind him of who he is."

They both looked out into the rain and sat their silently a little bit more. Then Rudric thought of something that scared him. "Esben, if you go to Throg won't you go mad too?"

Esben was silent for a few seconds which scared Rudric even more. Still looking at the rain Esben spoke, "I'm not sure. So far I haven't' felt anything like that happening and I'm sure the Maker will prevent it from happening. He knows that we're going to Throg. He told us to go there. Besides I think for now he wants me to be in this bear form. I think we'll be okay."

"But what if the Maker does allow you to mad then what are we going to do?"

"Well, you could help me remember who I am." Esben looked down upon Nia. He didn't want to admit it but he was a little afraid of what they had to do. Afraid of the unpleasant memories. The pain, the sorrow, the grief, the lies he believed about his family and home being gone forever, the lies of there being no hope. He didn't want to say he was afraid. He knew it would help but he didn't know what to say about it. "Although I'm not saying you have to. But if I do go mad and you want to help, I think helping me remember who I am is what you should do. Of course, you might want to try to find safety first if I..."

That was all Esben could say. More tears started to fill his eyes and threatened to spill out. Rudric went up to Esben and put his hand on his shoulder and Esben looked at him. "Esben," Rudric said. "Of course, I would help you. You're a servant of the Maker, the King of Anniera, a husband, a father, a brother, and my best friend. I'll be there for you just like how you were there for me." Esben smiled at Rudric and he smiled back. This time he saw a real smile on his face.

Rudric turned so that he leaned back against Esben and slowly went to sleep. Esben looked back into the woods that was wet from the rain that had just passed. Esben prayed for everyone else who was out there in the middle of the Blackwood. And he prayed to the Maker asking Him to give his brother peace and strength. He thanked the Maker for the blessings that he didn't deserve but received them with thanksgiving. Then Esben gently laid his head down top of Nia careful not to scare her awake or hurt her. Then finally he went to sleep.

...

In the morning the trio woke up surprisingly feeling refreshed. They noticed that something was different in the air. None of them said anything but they all thought that it could've been the Maker. Soon they had found some breakfast and continued their journey and this time it wasn't as awkward as before. In fact, if it weren't for the occasional Digtoad or Quilldiggle showing up and trying to eat them for breakfast it would have felt like a walk through a garden. "Guys when you were with the Maker did you see Janner at all?" Nia asked.

"Yes we did!" Esben said.

"I remember Janner walking up to the Maker and got excited about something that the Maker told him." Rudric said.

"Did you see my Papa there?" Nia asked. Both Esben and Rudric wanted to say yes but they couldn't remember seeing him there.

"No, I don't remember seeing him there." Eben said.

"Me neither." Rudric said. Nia looked a bit concerned and Rudric looked at Esben who looked at him trying to think of something to say. "Well," Esben started, "There were a lot of people there so maybe that's why we couldn't see him."

"I hope so." said Nia. Esben looked at Rudric to see if he had any ideas, but Rudric looked at Esben for the same reason. Then a light breeze came from one direction and Esben caught a scent. He froze and looked around while smelling the air for any more scents. "What is it?" Nia asked.

"There's... something close by." Esben closed his eyes and sniffed the air again.

"Can't you tell what it is?" Rudric said tightening his grip on his sword.

Esben didn't speak for a few seconds until, "I think...it's... a human?"

Nia gasped, "Do you think it's Kalmar?!"

"It could be" Esben said opening his eyes, "But I'm not sure."

"Where's it coming from?" Rudric asked.

"Straight ahead." Then they all started to run, well, Rudric and Nia ran, Esben slowed his pace a bit to make sure he wouldn't lose them. As they got closer Esben got a stronger scent. He smelled a pool water close by now and it felt good to breathe it in. There was just something about the smell that warmed his heart and gave a feeling of excitement. once they stopped running, they peeked past a few bushes and the most beautiful thing ever. The First Well. But in front of it was a boy who sat there staring at the water obviously thinking about something and Nia recognized him immediately. She ran after the boy and yelled, "KALMAR!"

The boy looked up in shocked and ran into his mother's arms while calling her name. Nia held Kalmar a tight as she could not wanting to let go. Esben and Rudric slowly walked out of the shadows and into the faint light from the morning sun. After Nia had given Kalmar many hugs and kisses, she finally stopped and looked behind her and Kalmar gasped. Right there. Right in front of him he saw a man and bear. Esben and Rudric! "H...how...h...the...they...their...I..." Kalmar was speechless. Esben laughed and walked up to Kalmar and gazed at his son. The last time he saw him he looked like a wolf, but now he was a boy. "P...papa!?" Kalmar looked up into the bear's eyes. It had him. Kalmar knew those eyes from anywhere.

"Yes, Kalmar," Esben said as tears fell from his eyes, "It's me. Papa!" Then Kalmar wrapped his arms around his father's neck and cried. Kalmar was very confused but grateful. And hoped that this wasn't a dream. When Kalmar backed up a bit he looked and found Rudric next to Esben. Kalmar smiled, "Rudric?"

"Oh good," Rudric said, "you remember my name!" Kalmar laughed and then gave Rudric a hug. Rudric who was surprised by the hug looked at Esben and Nia who both smiled at him which told him that everything was okay. So Rudric hugged him back. When Kalmar had backed away Rudric looked at the boy and realized that he still looked the same and yet completely different. "I guess now it's weird seeing me as human now huh?" Kalmar said with a smile.

"Well, it's quite different seeing you as a boy." Rudric said.

"How did either of you get here?" Kalmar said looking back and forth between Esben and Rudric.

"The Maker brought us here." Esben said while enjoying the sight of his son's shocked face.

"So no one gave you the water from the First Well?" Kalmar asked. All three adults shook their heads unable to hide their smiles. "This is a very strange morning." Kalmar said. They all laughed.

"How about we tell you while we go to Throg." Nia suggested. Then Kalmar's stomach started to growl ferociously.

"Or maybe over breakfast?" Kalmar asked.

"Don't worry I'm sure we're bound to find something." Rudric said. "Especially with Esben's sense of smell."

"Speaking of which," Esben said sniffing again, "I smell something good and we might just be able to get it."

"Oh great let's go!" Kalmar said running off only to turn around and walk back up to his dad. "Where did you say the food was?"

"Luckly it's towards Throg." Esben said starting to follow the scent with everyone else beside him.