THE MOMENT THE monster octopus disappeared under the water, the blurred outline of a large dog advanced towards him. Afraid of having his arms bitten off just like the octopus' tentacle, Andy used the plank as a swimming board and swam to safety towards the other end of the lake.

However, the huge dog reached to him first and carried him by the scruff of his neck. Andy's feet dangled and skimmed over the water. He grabbed hold of the dog's face and pulled its fur apart as he kicked and screamed to be released.

"Where are you taking me? Let go of me! Elsie, anyone, help!"

But the dog would neither budge nor flinch at the boy's weak struggle. The beast seemed to be walking on water as it crossed the lake towards the west in no time.

Andy landed painlessly on a soft bed of grass as the dog carefully released him, though it remained close to him if he attempted to escape. The boy could hear its heavy breathing behind him as hot air fanned the side of his face. As Andy roamed his eyes around, he could make out more of their semblance, large and intimidating, and they surrounded him like an invincible barricade.

Terrifying as they may, the group of not more than twelve large dogs kept still and didn't make any sign of ever hurting him. Even the cold wind caressed his skin as if telling him that everything would turn out fine and there was nothing to be afraid of.

There was a defined short crunch of the blades of grass behind him. The nervousness pressed in on him as he fought the urge to turn around. Then there came another crunch, this time lighter and slower as if the noisemaker was trying to be quieter, to sneak up on him perhaps. But as if having no more patience to be covert, that someone's feet slapped the grassy floor, sending her jetting past the looming figures that blurred in her speed. She leaped and threw herself on Andy, and they both fell on the slightly muddy ground. Andy coughed as he disentangled two arms squeezing his neck.

"L-Let go," he croaked, and thankfully, those arms loosened themselves, allowing him to breathe freely. "W-Who—"

Whatever he meant to say flew away with the wind as the sound of sniffs and hiccoughs made him pause. And as that person spoke, Andy realized she was no stranger to him.

"A-Andy, I'm so glad you're alright. I-I thought something bad happened to you and we would be too late to get to you. I'm so sorry."

Andy's ears flapped, and his heart leaped in joy from hearing Elsie's voice. They'd been apart for only hours, but it felt years since he last saw his friend.

Friend. Could they be considered friends now? Andy had only known Elsie for days, and they hadn't bonded that much like ordinary kids—play toys, ride on a bike, study together, and steal ice cream from the fridge and hide as they finished a whole tub of it in secret. For the first time, Andy was genuinely thrilled and ecstatic to finally have a real friend that was not one of his tools or inventions, who would care and worry for him like how Elsie showed it.

Andy spun around, reached for her cheeks (he realized he loved to pinch them all the time), and squished them between his palms.

"Elsie?" It was indeed her. Bright red eyes clouded with tears stared back at him. Her magical witch hat, which can fit anything inside, stood atop her head. "It's really you!" He beamed at her widely. For a moment, he forgot they weren't alone, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes were watching them.

"Owf, wight," she said in a muffled voice. Elsie took off her hat and fumbled inside. Andy could hear objects clanging as she did so. Seconds turned to minutes, and all of her hidden stuff was scattered on the ground around them. She drew them out in a hot pile of a mess until she found a round-rimmed glass. It didn't look exactly like the one he had, but they would do.

"Here you go." Elsie adjusted the glasses to fit them comfortably on his face. "Good thing I keep one with me."

Andy smiled at her now that he could clearly see the new pair he was wearing. This would do before he asked his parents for a new one. "Thanks. Where do you get all these things, by the way?"

"Oh. They're my, uh... collections." Elsie's ears burned bright red, the same color as her eyes.

"Why would you include eyeglasses in your collection? What kind of collection is it anyway?"

Elsie placed her hands on her hips and pouted. "Sheesh, just a thank you is enough."

Andy glanced at the two tiny figures not far away from their left. His face lit up when he saw the grumpy-looking Chip and the ever nonchalant Hex. The little pug lowly grumbled as he sat and stood over and over again, stopping himself from interfering in a moment.

"Chip!" Andy called, and the dog's ear perked up, his tail wagging excitedly. Chip looked intently at Andy and panted, his tongue hanging out. "Come here, boy."

And Chip didn't hesitate to run into Andy's arms. He showered wet kisses all over the boy's face, and the once eerie night was filled with Andy's laughter.

"I was so worried about you, buddy. I'm glad that you are okay." He scratched the back of Chip's ear, and the dog returned the gesture with more dog kisses. Andy averted his gaze to Hex. "Hi, Hex. Aren't you going to hug me?"

The cat only gave him a bored look (if cats were even capable of that expression) and curled himself into a ball to pretend to sleep.

"Hex may not show it, but he cares for you," Elsie whispered to him.

"Right," he drawled. It was only then he became aware of the additional company they had. The same wolves they encountered in the cave surrounded them, watching their little reunion. He leaned over to Elsie and whispered in a shaky voice, "W-What's happening here? Why aren't they attacking us?"

Elsie clapped her hands, ran over to the group of wolves, and hugged the front leg of the white-silver wolf with a stunning electric blue eye. "You're not going to believe it, Andy. Wolfie's not a 'he.' She's a girl!"

Now, this didn't come as a shock to Andy. He was more worried about what these wolves might do to them than knowing Wolfie's actual gender.

"I-I don't understand."

Elsie sighed as she stroked Wolfie's cottony fur, and the wolf nuzzled her head on the young witch's neck.

"Well... the night we were running away from them, I think someone had bewitched that rock into knocking us off my broom."

Remembering that sinking feeling, Andy rubbed his arms. He was still in his wet clothing, which only worsened the chills. "I don't think I can ever ride a broom again. Who do you think did it?"

Elsie shrugged. "I don't know, but Lupa said they do. They just don't want to tell me yet."

"Lupa?"

Elsie smiled broadly. "It's Wolfie's actual name."

"Oh, right. But that doesn't explain why you are with them. A-And isn't he the wolf who got burned by your fire inside the cave?" He pointed at the charcoal black wolf, looking unharmed and appearing tough and broody as he stared down at Andy.

"Oh, that! Thank goodness we didn't use all of Lupa's tears when we cured your wounds. There was enough left to heal Rolf's deep burns."

The charcoal black wolf named Rolf nodded once.

"Woah! Those tears really can cure anything," said Andy, amazed.

Lupa lightly shoved Elsie with her short muzzle, and the young witch nodded in return. She ran off, hopping and skipping as she went where Andy was and said, "Andy, Lupa wants to talk to you."

The boy wished he heard her right. Maybe it was just one of her frequent silly remarks, which only made sense because Elsie always loved to fool around.

"T-Talk to me?" He let out a nervous laugh. "Now, don't be silly. How can I? I don't have the power. I'm an Outlander, Elsie. Have you forgotten?"

"Tch, tch. You're wrong," she said as she wagged her finger in front of his face. "Everyone can communicate with animals, though there's this kind of seal which prevents you from doing so. The reason non-magical beings can't freely hear them is either because they're not aware of the seal or they don't know how to unlock it."

"So, you're saying that to speak to Lupa, I must unlock the seal?"

Elsie nodded. "Mmm-hmm."

Andy could no more deny his bubbling excitement. He grasped Elsie's shoulders, leaned over her, and asked with sparkling eyes, "How?"

"The easiest way." Elsie took a step away from him. She withdrew her wand from inside her robe in a swish and tapped its tip on his forehead twice. Nothing strange happened at first. He felt perfectly fine and normal. Not until something clicked inside his head as if a key was inserted in a keyhole, followed by the creaking sound of a door opening and then silence.

"Well?" Elsie stared at him expectantly.

Not exactly sure what to say, Andy picked himself up from being slumped on the ground. "Um, I only heard a lock clicking and a door opening. Is that normal?"

The young witch gasped as she jumped up and down, clapping. "You did it! I told you it would be easy. Simple and painless." She turned around and looked at Lupa. "Andy's ready to speak to you, Wolfie." Then she left him and joined the rest of the pack while Lupa softly padded on the grass floor to cross their distance.

Young child.

A soft and mellow voice reached his ears. They stared at each other for a moment, eyes unblinking, until Andy fully grasped what he had just heard.

He pointed at Lupa, his hands a bit shaky. "She talked! B-But how? She didn't even move her mouth."

Lupa laughed tenderly at this question. Her laughter was a stone bouncing across a glossy lake, creating ripples of joy where there had been none. She circled him and eyed him with total interest as if Andy was some kind of a newfound species. The wolf's beautiful electric blue eye illuminated like a star, though one of them seemed to lose its shine, for it was gray and milky.

"W-What happened to your left eye?"

The wolf laughed once again. Will that be the first question you ask me, dear child, out of thousands of questions you have in your head?

Andy clamped his hand over his mouth and panicked. He said in a muffled voice, "I-I'm sorry. Did I offend you? I just remembered that when I first saw you in the cave, both of your eyes were shining bright."

Offend me? No, not at all. Lupa pressed her forehead onto Andy's, the gesture soothing him. My shed tears caused the blindness to my left eye—no, no. Shh, she immediately added when Andy opened his mouth to speak. I don't want you to blame yourself. I decided to offer you my tears. You saved my life, dear child, when I was in need. I wouldn't let my dear friends suffer when there's even a way for me to help.

Andy glared down at his feet. Despite Lupa's assurance, Andy could not have it in his heart to be relieved. He remembered Elsie mentioning how losing too many healing tears could kill a silver wolf. How could someone be as generous as that? And the fact that it was his fault that one of her eyes was blinded would never leave him at peace.

It is true, dear friend, said the owner of a harsh and heavy voice. It was the wolf who saved him from the monster octopus, the one with the mottled grey fur and a missing right ear. The wolves parted to the side to make way for him and every step of his caused a slight disturbance on the very ground they were standing on. In fact, I am eternally grateful to you for saving my beloved mate. The wolves' rubbed their bodies against each other. Andy wasn't sure if there was a need for him to turn around or cover his eyes, for it looked so intimate.

Andy settled on looking at his bare feet with keen interest as he rocked them back and forth. "I-It was not me who saved Wolfie, er... I mean Lupa."

The big alpha wolf gave a strong whop, causing a sudden tremor that almost threw everyone off their feet. A friend of Elsie is a friend of ours, lad. And for saving my mate and the pack's Luna, the Nightshade pack shall give you the aid when the need arises.

Fenris is correct, dear child, Lupa said, placing her right paw on his shoulder. In fact, we would love to welcome our new friends to our den.

Andy's head shot up, eyes widening. "You want us to go with you?" He roamed his eyes and caught Elsie looking at him with a complacent smile. "B-But Fairton Hill—"

Fenris inadvertently cut him off. About that, dear friend, we wish to talk to you about this journey of yours. But not here where it's not safe.

The alpha wolves' attention steered in the direction behind Andy. They followed his gaze and found the very same crow of perfect black inky wings descended upon a nearby branch. Its shedding feathers rained down like charred snow on the vibrant green grass. Opening its beak, the raven let out a sharp cry. Those almost skeleton wings spread wide, and as it fluttered, a gust of wind howled. The bird finally took off, circled over them, and disappeared behind the thick leaves of the trees, and it was never seen again.