The Return of Devius Horon

Chapter 4: New Beginnings

Horon opened his eyes and looked speechless at the snow-covered house in front of him. He pushed open the door and ran outside, Horon wide-eyed at the strange scene. He constantly ran forward, trying to find someone to check on, but the whole snowy area didn't have a house. The cold wind pricked Horon's eyes, and the tears that had just come out before he could wipe them froze. Horon's cheeks flushed from the cold; he tried to remember what had happened but to no avail. The last memory left was of Mrs. Jesica rose to hug him tightly. He was here, but where was Mrs. Jesica?

He sat dumbfounded, not noticing the snow that had filled his feet. When Namio carried the basket back there, Horon looked like a snowman. Namio squealed, "Lion, he's here."

The prominent figure of a wolf with white hair appeared in Horon's sight. His legs had lost sensation; his mouth could not open to talking. Horon could only use his constantly moving gaze to signal to the two wolves opposite. Horon's mind was filled with despair, and he closed his eyes and let his body fall back as if ready to die.

"Pull him back," Lion said.

Horon wasn't too surprised that a wolf could talk. He guessed these might have been wolves from other lands he hadn't known about. Horon had no strength and no desire to resist. Lion kicked Horon flew onto its back, and said in a low voice, "Climb up, Namio. If he doesn't hurry, he'll die."

Namio jumped on Lion's head, nested in the soft fur, and took the most comfortable position to sit in. Lion glanced at where Horon lay, gained momentum, and sped forward, heading for the hut. Horon felt himself lying on a soft, warm mattress. Above his head, the transparent gaze of a small wolf was still overseeing him. Horon didn't know if these two wolves were good or bad; he silently closed his eyes and waited.

Lion dropped to his knees and slowly dropped Horon onto the large nest he had just been lying on. Namio hurriedly slammed the door shut and put more wood on the stove. As the burning flames chased away the cold in the room, Namio contentedly put down the basket of food and couldn't help but grumble, "There's going to be a blizzard; we're going to starve to death with just this much food, Lion,"

"I'll hunt further tomorrow night," Lion replied friendly.

"Where's my mom?" Horon spoke up suddenly.

It was only now that Lion and Namio noticed Horon. Namio was about to speak but was interrupted by Lion, "She's been assigned to live elsewhere,"

"Really?" Horon asked again.

"When you're well again, I'll take you to see her," Lion replied cheerfully. Only Namio knew that his beard wouldn't stop swaying whenever Lion lied.

"Why am I here?" Horon asked.

"We saved you and brought you here," Lion replied with a friendly smile. "You can't die,"

"I've never seen you," Horon continued.

Lion nodded approvingly, pulling out the bottle of wine hidden under the rug and taking a sip, then repositioning it as a treasure. Most werewolves can live as humans when they can fully awaken at 18. It was the first time Horon had seen a wolf drinking with its very being.

"And I've known you long," Lion replied.

Horon's bewildered face made Namio laugh. Now reconciled with the scene, Namio hung the pig's thighs over the fire and said, "He has to see you every day. For the past 18 years, not a day has been lacking."

Horon exclaimed in amazement, "Why?"

"It's a mandate and a trust," Lion replied honestly.

"From whom?" Horon asked curiously.

"An important friend," Lion replied.

In the days that followed, Horon was confined to the convalescent hut. Whenever Horon wanted to go out, Lion tried to force him to stay put. Namio occasionally grumbled about caring for someone she didn't know. But as long as Lion handed her a pinwheel studded with blue pearls, she was enthralled. After nearly five days of living together, Horon realized these two wolves were trying to save him. Horon is trying to think about goals so he can continue to live.

Lion was away often. Horon tried searching around but didn't meet wolves other than Lion and Namio. He didn't know what land this was; Namio was a small wolf with a cute appearance but a brutal temper. Horon needed help finding helpful information on it. On a sunny day, Namio opened the door and said to Horon, "Lion will return today and bring something special that concerns you."

"Why didn't he see me sooner?" Horon asked seriously.

Namio sighed and replied, "Only when you are close to death and despair can Lion save you. It's a persistent promise and an obnoxious curse."

"He doesn't have to," Horon sighed, looking up at the white snow in front of him. "I'm useless with him,"

Thrack.

A large handful of snow was thrown at Horon's body, causing him pain. Namio stood at the door holding another handful of snow, shouting angrily, "It's useless. I told him not to save the life of a useless person, but he still didn't listen. And is this how you repay the man who saved you?"

Horon was stunned by Namio's words. Horon was always thinking about why Lion and Namio had saved him. He still thought they wanted to take something from him, like from a heart or blood. After all, Rack Belona's son still has werewolf blood. But Lion and Namio never once mentioned him for a specific reason. So Horon himself is even more ambiguous.

"Calm down, Namio," Lion said suddenly.

As of today, it has been six days since Lion left. Horon saw that his large body was more than full of wounds and dirt. Namio immediately threw a handful of snow in his hand at Lion angrily, shouting, "You're so stupid, Lion,"

Lion grinned and hugged Namio and rubbed her petulant little head. He bent down and slowly made his way inside the tent. Seeing that Horon's face was much fresher, Lion happily rubbed Namio's head and said, "A nice kid; I know you'll take good care of him,"

Namio's mouth didn't stop squirming but sat in Lion's lap without slowing down. Horon took the bottle under the carpet, drank it, and gave a satisfied look. He let Namio sit on his stomach and said, "Found enough people. They'll come to see you this afternoon, Horon,"

"Who?"

"Your late comrades," Lion replied.

"For me, why?"

"Because you're their leader," Lion replied seriously.

"Are you kidding me?" Horon said sarcastically. "To someone as useless as me, I'm a Beta. Don't you know?"

"He's crazy, Lion," Namio growled.

Lion gently rubbed Namio's head, his eyes affectionately looking at Horon, who replied, "You're the strongest,"

Horon said contemptuously, "Strong in the worst people."

Lion stood up and placed Namio on his shoulder; he reached for the hood on the tower and threw it at Horon, saying, "Follow me."

Lion's giant footsteps lingered in the snow, Horon stepping on those holes to move quickly. Horon had only now noticed that the hut they had been staying in for so long was half covered in snow. And Lion is still absent; where does he go?

Lion leads Horon to the highest mountain in the region, the only one with a still beautiful tree that stands out amid the white snow. Lion motioned for Horon to follow him, then he clung to the tree trunk with his foot and slowly climbed up. Namio sat peacefully on his shoulder without fear, as this often happened. For someone like Horon, climbing a tree is indeed somewhat tricky. While Lion and Namio had been up for a long time, Horon had only half-climbed.

Namio shook his head and said, "Is he the strongest Alpha? I don't feel right, Lion,"

Lion laughed hoarsely, patting Namio on the head, and replied, "His son can't be a mediocre person. Getting him to be strong takes some impact and takes time. They poisoned him for 18 years; it took at least four years for him to wake up his magic. We have to persevere, Namio,"

"I have to protect him until then?" Namio asked sullenly.

"That's right," Lion replied. "If you want to go back to your old form,"

From the moment he learned the truth about the cause of his body. Namio had wanted to kill Horon single-handedly. But if Horon dies, she will forever live in the body of a wolf. She had to protect Horon until he was an adult. Namio felt so miserable.

"You'll get your reward, Namio," Lion said meekly.

Horon lay on the grass above, panting. With his hands covered in scratches and blood, Lion stood up and said, "Let's go,"

Horon's legs ached to chase after Lion. He hadn't expected that there would be such a large building so carefully covered in trees. The walls were carefully cut, and the floor underneath was clean. Lion led Horon to the most spacious room in the center of the castle. From a distance, Horon saw the image he was most familiar with. Jesica's eyes were closed, her face purple with frozen wounds. She was dressed in a white dress, her hair washed and tied neatly.

"For your protection, she's dead," Lion said. "By the time we found her, her body was not intact. Horon, you must be alive and strong as she protects you. Because you deserve more."