And here we go again!
I'm sorry that I have to stretch out the uploads like this, but I noticed that I just can't keep up with weekly uploads. Even bi-weekly is a stretch right now. But I keep trying to make it!

So where did we leave off? Right! The Witch revealed that Will was healed, but at a price. What that will look like, maybe you'll find out in this chapter!

As always: PDF is the way to read!

And without further ado, here we go!

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Somewhere we Belong

Something Smells Off

We didn’t move for a while. Raik was still shaken, still blaming himself. And while I knew I was right, that certainly felt fragile — a truth I held onto with more hope than confidence. The witch had finally fallen asleep, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her dragon’s breathing. The great beast kept one eye on us, occasionally releasing a soft rumble that seemed to vibrate through the earth beneath us.

“What do you think it'll be like?” I whispered, breaking the silence. “The change, I mean.”

“I don't know. I was born this way.” Raik's ears twitched, and he shifted uncomfortably. “Our kind is born this way. Father never said that it could be otherwise.”

The truth was, I had no idea what might happen to me — or who I’d become. I'd grown up watching Raik navigate a world that feared him, watching him struggle with instincts I couldn't comprehend. Now it seemed I was on the brink of experiencing this firsthand.

After a moment, he shook his head — still sad, but his eyes clearer now. “We should leave soon. We’ve waited here for three days. If the hunters track us, they’ll be upon us faster than we’d like!”

I simply nodded. He was right. But Raexorn watched us intently. For the first time he spoke. Not aloud — though even his breath could have passed for distant thunder — but within our minds. His thoughts echoed in our heads, deep and full, yet displaying a young spirit.

You should stay. The danger is marginal. You have slain many, they also need time to regain their strength.

I stared at the dragon. I had known that he wasn’t just an animal and quite likely intelligent, but still I hadn’t believed he would speak to us. At least until now he had only shared his thoughts through the witch.

“You—” I stammered, unable to form coherent thoughts as the dragon's voice lingered in my mind. It felt warm and fluid, like honey poured into the crevices of my consciousness.

Raik's fur bristled, his ears pinned back against his skull. "You can speak? All this time?"

My totem speaks when he wishes, not when it is convenient. The witch’s voice drifted into our minds, though her body remained still — her eyes closed in slumber. Even in sleep she remained conscious — their bond unbroken.

“Uhm… You—“ I still couldn’t think clearly — it was just too far from anything I had ever known.

Raik wasn’t so reserved. “Wait, so you are not even asleep?”

Her body is in need of recovery, her mind stays with me in the meantime. Raexorn’s internal voice thundered through our minds, no less powerful for being silent — like a strong gale.

“Okay, right. Still—“ I had to stop and collect my thoughts. Shaking my head, I tried to lose the feeling Raexorn’s voice left behind. “Still, we need to move on. You may be right that they will not pursue us right away. But every mile between us and them makes it harder for them to track us. If we leave now, we might lose them entirely.”

The dragon exhaled a puff of smoke and growled deeply.

I will not stop you, but remember that you are no longer what you thought you were. Your travels will not get easier if you deny yourself the time to adapt.

“They won’t be any easier if we have to run from hunters either.”

The dragon merely huffed and lowered his head and closed his eye. The witch however stirred in her sleep. She flinched, as if in pain, then opened her eyes and got up. She moved slowly, her exhaustion and fatigue apparent in every motion.

“Then I bid you farewell for the time being. I am sure we will meet again. If my intuition serves me well, it will be sooner rather than later. I hope for a safe haven for the four of us.”

I was unsure what to say. It felt wrong to just leave, but simply thanking her felt off as well. In the end I settled for the latter.

“Thank you, both, for saving my life.” I smiled — a weak attempt to hide the awkwardness. “Can we still help you with anything? Food, water, anything?”

She chuckled quietly. “We will manage. My bond with Raexorn sustains me even when my body fails.” Her eyes lingered on the small wounds on my shoulder — left by Raik’s claws. It seemed as if they were better already. “Remember, I do not know whether the changes will come gradually, suddenly — or not at all. But either way, do not fight it.”

I nodded, though uncertainty crawled through my gut. Raik shifted beside me, eager to be on our way. He growled in approval and started gathering what was left of our belongings. I took inventory. My knife was gone, likely left behind in our escape. My shirt was entirely ruined — and to add insult to injury, it was my last one. The herbs and berries I had gathered had miraculously survived the whole ordeal, as had the makeshift backpack. I stretched a little and was ready to go. Raik waited at the edge of the forest.

“If we hurry, we might reach the first foothills. Maybe even the start of the mountain pass.” Raik sounded collected, but he watched me carefully, as if looking for the first signs of what might be approaching.

“Let’s go.” I inhaled deeply and the smell of the air was thick and full. The air was heavy with the scent of rich earth and damp foliage, crisp pine needles and the faint hint of smoke wafting over from Raexorn. The details were almost overwhelming. The sweet scent of herbs and berries tickled the senses, drifting in from the surrounding forest.

Raik noticed something was off almost immediately. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head. “I just noticed the forest. Smells pretty… lively today.”

He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. “You sure you’re alright?”

I didn’t want to worry him again, or wake the underlying guilt — it had been buried but was still there, ready to emerge again. I walked up to him. His smell intensified slightly. I could pick it out now. A little musky — fur and remnants of blood.

“Raik, I think I smell more now than I have before. It’s a little overwhelming, but nothing to worry about.”

He didn’t say anything. He simply moved closer and inhaled deeply — and growled.

“You don’t smell any different, but you are right. The forest smells… ready. Will I—” He paused. His gaze wandered away. “I will help you in any way I can. Please tell me if something happens, ok?”

“I don’t want to worry you.”

He punched my arm lightly — then ruffled through my hair. “You weak human meatsack are worrying me all the time, so you can give up on that!” His tone was light, but I noticed the deeper worry beneath.

“No, Raik, I am worrying you more than usual. I know it, so don’t play it down. If this is the beginning, I will rely on you. I will tell you what I feel and you’ll have to tell me what that means. I will still be your brother, but… I hope I will still understand myself in the end. You have to help me with this.”

“Promised.” I could see he was not ready, but at the same time unwilling to give up.

“Then let’s go.”

For the third time we began walking again. My body may be changing. I may be losing who I had been my entire life. But I had a brother that would cary me if need be. He stayed close. His scent was almost comforting, overshadowing the smell of the surrounding forest — easing the burden on my nose. Raik was a little over protective at first — observing my every step or trying to catch me whenever I had a misstep. But he noticed and calmed down after a while.

I curiously sniffed every now and then. There where nuances to everything. Every sniff revealed something new, although I could rarely tell what it was. I glanced at Raik, who held his nose into the gentle wind — I tried it as well.

“I smell more now, but I have no idea what it is.”

Raik grinned toothily. “Well, you lack training in that case. But you will learn with time, I guess. Can’t expect a pup to know the forest by scent alone.”

“Not my fault. I didn’t have a wolf’s nose an hour ago!”

He grinned at me. “Your nose is a bit short for a wolf’s. But let’s try it together, okay? Tell me what you smell.”

I described it to him. The forest was alive with a myriad of scents, each one distinct and vibrant. The earthy aroma of damp soil and decaying leaves mingled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the sharp tang of pine needles. Notes of musk and animal droppings wafted through the air. The rich, comforting scent of moss and fallen trees added a layer of warmth to the forest's aroma, while the fresh, cool smell of a nearby stream could be detected as well. Overall, the forest was a symphony of smells that was too thick to make sense of. I tried to detail everything, but his grin grew only wider.

“You make the same mistake I did. Father told me that it’s normal for a pup to try and take everything in at once. But why? Do you need all that information right now?”

“I… guess not.” I thought about it for a moment.

“Of course not. If you are thirsty, then look for a stream. If you’re hungry, look for prey. If you fear you are being followed, look for all that might betray a hunter. Everything else is not important.”

I tried again and singled out what I needed. It wasn’t easy, but I managed — somehow.

“Now tell me, where is the stream and how far is it?”

“It’s over there.” I pointed roughly. “But how far… I guess it’s not too far, a few steps maybe?”

He grinned again and began walking in the direction I pointed out. Quite some time passed and I quickly realized how far off I had been. The gentle babbling of the stream could be heard from a distance, a soothing melody that blended with the rustling leaves and chirping birdsong. It was almost half a league away. The ribbon of silver shimmered in the sunlight, winding through the forest. The smell of fresh water grew stronger as we approached the water, carrying with it hints of mossy rocks and earthy soil.

“Your nose is quite good now. You’ll have to get used to it, but in time—” He looked at me and for the first time, there was something else in his eyes other than worry — maybe a sense of belonging. He was finally able to share his life with me in a way that was impossible before. “In time you will see the world a little bit differently — like me.”

I leaned against him. His fur was a little bristled — betraying his worry — but he was glad I was there. He pulled me against him for a second. Then he moved on.

“Tell me if something else changes. I will tell you what it means.” His words still carried the guilt and worry within and I felt just as insecure. But he pushed on regardless — if it was to push his feelings aside, or to overcome them, I could not tell.

We followed the stream — its cool presence accompanying us. The forest was thicker and more lively around the water. The scents multiplied as well. Raik explained them to me. The warm and earthy scent — reminding me of bark — belonged to a deer. It must have been here to drink and sure enough, after a while we encountered some old tracks. Another nuance was clean, almost herbal, and faintly sweet.

“A hare,” Raik claimed confidently. “Probably drinking here as well, but look over there.” He pointed at a patch of grass not too far across the stream. I strained my eyes and noticed it: a faint movement. “There it is. Want to hunt a little?”

“I don’t have a knife anymore. I’d be of very limited use.”

He looked at me, again the guilt in his eyes. “I’m sorry I left it.”

I looked at him for a long moment — then I punched him. “Don’t sweat it. You saved my life, what use would I have for my knife if I had died instead, because you had stopped to pick it up?”

“True enough. If you have a moment to spare, I’ll catch us dinner.”

He leaned low and almost crawled through the stream. I followed, trying to be just as silent, if not more so. The water was freezing — probably snowmelt from the mountains. I moved slowly, walking in a wide arc to the left of the rabbit. Raik disappeared in the underbrush to the right of it. We both knew how to handle the situation. It was a common tactic for wolves: one would scare the prey into fleeing right into the other hunters. The hare tensed. It might have sensed us, but the trap was almost ready. Occasionally I spotted a hint of fur on the opposite side — Raik was ready. I moved quickly, miscalculated my speed and landed almost on top of the rabbit, before it could react.

The hare darted off into Raik’s direction who was just as surprised as I was. He reacted on instinct and swiped through the air with his claws, connecting with the panicked animal. Blood splattered across the forest floor and the scent hit me like a landslide. Its smell cut through the forest like a blade — thick, metallic, like rusted iron. My eyes widened. There was nothing I could compare it to. The scent overwhelmed me entirely. And what’s worse: it made my mouth water.

Raik saw me, the dead rabbit in his hand. He dropped it immediately and was at my side. “What’s wrong Will, talk to me!”

“Sorry, it’s nothing,” I pressed through gritted teeth. “I just smelled the blood.”

He looked at me for a long second — as if he could see right through me. “You liked the smell. It made you hungry.”

“Yes.” I whispered, barely audible — almost ashamed of myself.

He didn’t explain, didn’t talk at all. He just pulled me close and pressed my face into his fur. His scent drowned out the thick stench of blood almost immediately.

“Don’t worry. I’m here. Just breathe.”

I listened to him, and as he held me close, the tension slowly faded.

“It’s probably the instincts. I can’t imagine how that must feel for a human. But it will get easier with time, I am sure.” His voice trembled a little. “I am sorry. I’m sorry you have to endure that.”

I pushed him away a little. “You moron need to stop apologizing. It’s part of who I am now, or who I’ll be. I’ll get over it.”

He looked at me, still in pain, but he swallowed it.

“Alright. You want to move on?”

“Sure, we can get a few more miles in. But you carry the rabbit. I don’t want to upset my stomach if I end up taking a bite.”

He chuckled, but I could hear it was just half-hearted. We both knew: this was just the beginning.

We continued on our way and gradually I got used to the abundance of scents all around me. It was still a bit overwhelming, but with Raik’s help I filtered out the important information and even learned how to interpret it. I made mistakes, getting confused, but slowly I got there.

Night was approaching quickly and with it, the scents changed — gradually, not suddenly. The sharp, sunbaked scents of dry leaves and warm bark faded, replaced by something damper, deeper. The ground began to breathe — its earthy perfume growing stronger, rich with decay and hidden life. Raik gathered some wood for a fire, while I prepared a small clearing as makeshift camp. Soon the smell of smoke joined the symphony, as the flames licked on the piled branches.

“I will prepare the hare now.” Raik’s voice cut through the forest’s calm air like a tearing claw. “I just wanted to warn you, it might smell.”

I stared at him — blankly. “How do you handle this? I mean… you smell it just like I do right?”

“Yeah, but I smelled blood my whole life. At some point you just don’t start watering the plants with saliva anymore. Give it time, Will.”

“I’ll try,” I murmured, shifting my position to stay upwind of the rabbit as Raik began skinning it.

Despite my efforts, the rich, metallic scent found its way to me. My stomach growled traitorously. I swallowed hard, focusing on the crackling fire instead of the way my teeth seemed to ache with a strange new hunger.

“Tell me more about it,” I said, desperate for distraction. “The instincts, I mean. How do you… manage them?”

He stopped for a moment and laughed. “First you need to stop believing that I “manage” them somehow. I really don’t.” He pointed at me with a sharp stick. “Do you remember how I was when we were really young?”

“No, not really. I mean… we were really young.”

“Yeah, well. I was a bit on the wild side. Father was with me all the time and took me into the forest, so I wouldn’t hurt you while playing.”

“That I do remember. I was often really sad, because he wasn’t there. I thought he didn’t want to play with me because he had you.” I stared into the fire while Raik watched me. He let the silence linger for a moment, while he began to spear the chunks of meat onto the prepared sticks.

“He wasn’t playing with me like you might think.” His voice was calm, sad, somber. I knew he was reminiscing. “He showed me how I could think before following my instinct. Just like you did after the hunt. You didn’t follow your instinct to eat then and there.”

“I was too scared to do so, but—” I couldnt continue. Even upwind the iron-rich scent reached my nostrils and made my mouth water. “But I just couldn’t move. Although part of me wanted to.”

“Right. You decided against it, although subconsciously. Your human rationale fights against it, and it does so with fear. What if I told you to let go and just do what your body tells you to? What do you think would happen?”

“I would probably devour the meat right away.”

“Probably. And what would be so bad about that? You’ll eat it all the same soon either way.”

“I… I don't know. It just feels wrong.”

Raik simply nods. He arranges the sticks close to the fire, where the meat can slowly roast.

“It feels wrong, because it is something you have never done before. You have always restrained yourself to follow human convention. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But—” I saw the pain and guilt momentarily overwhelm him. “But you will be a wolf soon…”

He couldn’t continue. He knows it was true, but he couldn’t accept it. I moved closer, leaned against him. His fur was warm as always, but beneath he was shivering.

“Raik. I will be a wolf, yes, so let me be your pack as well. You did not destroy me. You saved me!”

He didn’t answer — didn’t move a muscle. I could almost feel the turmoil inside him. I just continued.

“I have seen you, even resented you a little over the years. Mostly when you had all of Father’s attention and I felt left out. But I don’t resent you for this. On the contrary — without you I’d be lost. I would lose myself, so please, stay with me.”

This at last shook him out of his silence.

“I would never abandon you, Will. You say I am your pack, but… you have yet to feel what a pack is like. You think you know, but when you experience it as a wolf—” He stopped for a moment. “When you really feel it you will know that there are no words for describing what a pack is.”

He leaned back to look at me. His gaze was pained, conflicted, warm — a myriad of emotions, some seemingly not even fitting together. This time I remained silent, not wanting to interrupt him in any way.

“You are my pack, Will. And I’d rather die than lose you. But now, knowing that you will soon feel what it is like to need a pack… Now I know that you need me more than ever.”

“That was never different. When you left me in the forest with a band of angry villagers on your tail… I was furious. I couldn’t lose you either. Just like you would rather die to save me, I’d do the very same for you. And you know that — or at least you knew.”

“Yes. I know.”

A drop of fat from the meat landed in the fire and sizzled away. Raik reached for the meat and I watched him. In the silence the smells reached me again. The rich scent of burning fat. The spicy smell of burning pine wood. All mixed in the underlying aroma of the surrounding forest. My stomach growled loudly. Raik smirked.

“Seems like the wolf is hungry! Then let’s feed him, unless you are still scared of a roasted hare.”

“Not really. Now I’m hungry enough to eat it raw.”

“That’s the spirit!” He grinned openly now as he handed me one of the sticks laden with meat. But quickly his grin faltered mid-motion. For a heartbeat he didn’t speak. Something shifted in his scent, something tight and nervous.

“You… touch your cheek.”

I frowned and did as told. It was soft, warm, comforting. Fur. It was still short, but unmistakeably fur. The hairs were soft, almost velvety — not like a beard. I didn’t know what to say. It was the first sign that I would not remain human at all. But while it was me that was changing it impacted Raik much more. He stared at my cheeks and the shadow growing there. I smiled and took the meat from his still outstretched hand.

“Raik! You knew this was bound to happen, soon you will no longer recognize me by sight!”

“Not only sight. You already smell a little different.”

“Really? How so?”

“A bit more like Father, fur, musk.” He smiled slightly — a bit crooked. “Even the color reminds me of him. I bet he’d be proud.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“Still, you smell way too human for a wolf. And for a human you stink of wolf. Something smells off!”

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