MOONLIT LOVE

Black Wolf

The ascent to the higher level felt endless. Each step was more painful than the last, and Alice could feel her muscles straining under the weight of supporting Isabella. Isabella’s fever had worsened, her body burning up even as she trembled violently from the chills. Alice was deeply worried, but she refused to show it—she had to be strong, if not for herself, then for Isabella. The stream they had been following had brought them here, but now it wound away into the distance, leaving them without a clear direction. It was only by luck that they had stumbled upon a cave tucked into the hillside, a hidden sanctuary within the treacherous forest.

"Just a little further, my lady," Alice murmured, half to herself. Isabella was barely conscious, her eyes half-closed, her lips pale and dry. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her steps faltered. Alice’s heart raced as she realized that Isabella might not have much longer.

The cave was cool, a welcome contrast to the oppressive humidity outside, but it was no place to nurse a sick woman back to health. As soon as they were inside, Alice helped Isabella sit down against the cave wall. The moment she did, Isabella slumped forward, barely able to keep herself upright.

“I... I need to rest,” Isabella whispered weakly, her voice barely audible. Her eyes were glazed, distant, as though she could barely comprehend what was happening around her.

Alice knelt beside her, feeling helpless as she took Isabella’s hands in her own. The fever was raging, her skin burning to the touch, and Alice knew that without some sort of remedy, Isabella wouldn’t survive the night. But what could she do? They had no proper utensils to boil water or cook anything, and while they had gathered a few herbs on the way, Alice wasn’t sure how to use them effectively.

The idea struck her suddenly—squeeze the juice. It wasn’t the ideal solution, but she had to do something.

"Hold on," Alice said softly. "I’m going to make something to help."

She hurried to where she had stored the herbs and sat down, beginning to crush them with her hands. The leaves were damp and fragrant, but as she worked, Alice realized just how little she knew about these plants. Some of the older women in her village had spoken of remedies made from forest herbs, and she tried to remember their words, but everything was a blur. She could only hope she wasn’t making a terrible mistake.

She squeezed the herbs between her fingers, extracting the precious drops of juice, and then hurried back to Isabella’s side.

“Here,” Alice said gently, holding the juice to Isabella’s lips. "Drink this. It’s not much, but it will help."

Isabella’s eyes fluttered open for a moment. She gave Alice a look that was both grateful and resigned, as though she knew her condition was beyond saving but appreciated the effort. She drank the liquid, her face twisting in distaste, but she swallowed it nonetheless.

"Thank you," Isabella whispered before leaning back against the wall, her body limp with exhaustion.

Alice sat down beside her, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. The herb might have helped a little, but it wasn’t enough. The thought of losing Isabella out here in the middle of nowhere, with no one else around, filled Alice with dread. She refused to give up. There had to be something she could do—some way to save her.

Night fell quickly, the forest outside growing dark and menacing. The cave was a haven from the dangers of the wilderness, but it was cold and damp. Alice gathered what little wood she had found earlier and built a small fire, hoping it would keep them warm through the night. The light flickered across the stone walls, casting long shadows, but Alice’s gaze was fixed on Isabella. She had fallen into a deep, uneasy sleep, her forehead still slick with sweat.

Alice’s exhaustion finally caught up to her. She curled up close to the fire, too tired to think clearly, and allowed her body to succumb to sleep. It was a restless slumber, filled with half-formed dreams and distant howls from the forest outside.

But something woke her—a sensation that sent a shiver down her spine. A cold, wet nose was pressing against her cheek, sniffing her with curiosity. Alice’s eyes snapped open, her body going rigid with fear.

She screamed.

The creature in front of her was no ordinary wolf. It was huge, its black fur blending into the shadows of the cave, except for its bright, intelligent eyes. The wolf stared at her, unmoving, its gaze both curious and unnervingly calm. Alice scrambled backward, her heart pounding in her chest, unsure whether to run or remain still.

The wolf snorted softly, its breath hot against her face, and then it turned its attention to Isabella, who was still asleep, oblivious to the danger. The wolf sniffed at her, and for a moment, Alice feared it would attack. But instead, the wolf wrinkled its nose in apparent disgust, stepping back with a huff.

Alice’s mind raced. She had never seen a wolf behave like this. It was almost as if the creature was…assessing them. And then, to her astonishment, the wolf turned to her and made a motion with its head—an unmistakable gesture, as if it was beckoning her to follow.

Alice blinked, her breath caught in her throat. Was she dreaming? Was this some feverish hallucination brought on by fear and exhaustion?

The wolf took a step toward the back of the cave, then looked over its shoulder at her, waiting.

Without thinking, Alice stood, glancing once at Isabella before following the wolf deeper into the cave. Her hands shook with nerves, but something about the creature’s demeanor made her believe it wasn’t there to harm them. The cave opened into a wider chamber, and there, tucked into the corner, Alice saw something that made her gasp—a bundle of supplies, carefully hidden behind a pile of rocks.

She knelt down and began to unearth the items, her heart pounding in disbelief. There were cooking utensils, blankets, and even food—supplies meant for humans, not animals. She looked up at the wolf, her eyes wide with shock, but the creature simply stared back at her with its bright, intelligent gaze.

The message was clear: take them.

With trembling hands, Alice gathered the utensils and the blankets. She glanced back at the wolf, still unsure what to make of the situation. Why had it helped them? And where had these supplies come from? It was as if someone—or something—had left them here for travelers in need. But who?

The wolf snorted again, this time more impatiently, and Alice quickly took the supplies back to where Isabella lay. The wolf remained by the cave entrance, watching silently as Alice set to work.

Alice grabbed the pot and rushed to the stream outside the cave. The water was cold and clear, and she filled the pot before returning to the cave. When she entered, the wolf was gone, vanished as silently as it had appeared.

She couldn’t waste time wondering about the creature now. There was work to be done.

Alice boiled water and used the herbs she had gathered earlier, preparing a stronger remedy for Isabella. As the mixture simmered, she glanced over at the sleeping woman, her heart filled with both hope and fear.

When the remedy was ready, Alice carefully woke Isabella, lifting her head gently to help her drink.

“Here, my lady,” Alice whispered, her voice trembling. "Drink this. It will help."

Isabella’s eyes fluttered open, and she drank the mixture, her face pinching with discomfort at the bitter taste. But she managed to swallow it all, her breathing still labored but a little steadier.

Alice settled beside her, wrapping the blankets around them both to keep warm. The fire flickered softly in the background, casting gentle light across Isabella’s pale face.

“Thank you,” Isabella murmured weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "I don’t know how… you’ve managed all this."

Alice gave a small smile, though her heart was heavy. “You’re strong, my lady. You’ll get through this.”

As Isabella’s breathing evened out, Alice couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. The wolf had saved them—there was no doubt about that—but why? And where had it gone?

The night was quiet now, the distant howls of wolves replaced by the soft crackle of the fire. Alice watched over Isabella, her mind racing with questions, but one thing was clear: they had been given a second chance. For now, that was enough.