Were he able to stay in that moment forever, he would have given everything he had. Yet, the outside world was calling them.

Part of him ached, when she stepped back. He watched her, careful and slightly bewildered. He hadn't felt this vulnerable in a long time, but that didn't mean he disliked it. His heart continued to hammer in his chest, his breath quickening.

Her dark gaze settled on Kit, she seemed to think for a moment. Her cheeks a little flushed from the encounter but the smile on her face was obvious. "If you feel capable of it, there is to be a meeting in about two hours. Let one of the nurses know if you want to go, they will help you get there." She explained.

For a second, Kit didn't respond. Thinking. He let out a heavy sigh, the thought of moving alone was enough to exhaust him. Yet from the way she spoke, the fear to her tone, was enough to tell him she was scared about what was to come.

"I'll be there." He promised, despite the growing wish that he could simply fall asleep and never wake up. Already his eyes were beginning to droop, as though weighted down with lead as he struggled to stay awake.

"Good luck," Romany said with an attempt at a chuckle, only to wince when she tried to do so as she lifted herself to her feet and made to leave. "Try not to get yourself killed whilst I'm gone?"

A short laugh came from Kit, causing a jolt of pain to go through his own system and making him wince. Payback. "I don't think I'll be moving much, there's no need to worry about me," he said weakly.

Romany had learned the hard way not to laugh, and all she replied with was. "I'm pretty sure even you could find a way."

She didn't give Kit the chance to reply, and was gone through the door before he could as much as take a breath or think. He watched her go, silent. His heart continuing to hammer away in his chest, accelerated from the mere idea of what had happened.

A small glow seemed to fill him, surprised from what had happened.

Kit was about to do as he had been told, when the door clicked open a second time. He opened an eye, expecting to see a nurse, or perhaps even the return of Romany. Yet he was faced with a stranger's face.

It took a moment for him to realise who it was, then it clicked. Why fury lit him when he saw the man's face. The last time he had seen this man, he had possessed four legs rather than the two he now stood on.

For this was the man who had attacked him within his first ten minutes of being on the mainland again.

Shifting a little, tense. He turned his gaze to land solidly on the other wolf. Following him around the room carefully. More aggressively then he had probably intended, but the annoyance was on the surface of his skin. For he now felt like he had something more to protect.

"Good morning," the man greeted. Kit didn't even know the strangers name.

"My apologies that we got off on the wrong foot."He doesn't sound sorry.

Watching the stranger from the corner of his eye, on edge. Ready to spring. He didn't fully understand why his anger burned so deep, but he had enough common sense left to be on edge around another wolf. Kit only shrugged, he didn't give it a verbal answer.

"Now it appears that you may be one of our more powerful allies in this fight, it was not my intention to insult you."

Once again, all Kit did was shrug. Though this time he added a short nod into the mix.

"Please, do forgive me. For I believe that I have a proposition which could prove to be of interest to you."

"Why is it not your alpha speaking to me?" Kit spoke for the first time, still not acknowledging anything else which had been said.

"My alpha was killed in the fire."

Everything Kit needed to know became apparent in that one sentence. The stranger's voice was void of compassion, or even an ounce of emotion. Not to the extent that he could be described as hiding them, but that they almost didn't exist.

"However, that is not what I have come here to talk to you about."

"It wont have escaped your notice, that a war is coming to our land. And you, are one of the more knowledgeable about the threats that will come to our peoples."

Compliments on any other day would have been enough to soften Kit up, even if it was just a little bit. Yet now, Kit was still like stone. Almost as emotionless at the stranger standing before him.

The stranger stepped forward, to stand so that he was in the line of sight of Kit no matter what he tried to do about it. "My proposition, is that you join my pack."

That, was not what Kit had been expecting.

"You will prove a great asset to our pack. And we can help you in turn. Our wolves will protect you, and you will be part of a family again."

On paper, it sounded like a brilliant offer. A kind one. Yet every instinct told Kit to get as far away from this man as was possible.

But before Kit could tell him to leave in a less polite manner. The man had turned around and made for the door. "Of course, there is no need for an answer now. But think about it."

For a short while, Kit watched him stroll leisurely to the door. It was a parade, this stranger felt no need to be quick. He felt no need to show the wolf in the bed that kind of respect. He seemed to believe he was King.

"I already have a family."

Smiling menacingly. The stranger paused by the door, turning to look back in on them in silence for a second before responding with.

"What good will your little ragtag group do, with the war which is coming. Think about joining a people who will give you back what you can put in..."

He paused, stepping back in pointedly and taking a deep breath. Now with a whisper. "Your sweet little Romany is only a human, she will need protecting.

Instantly Kit snarled, angered. He was about to leap from his bed and beat this stranger a second time in the short time he had known him. Even with the extent of his injuries being as bad as they were. But the stranger stopped him with a raise of his hand.

"Don't make us your enemy, that will be something you will live to regret."

Then he was gone through the door. Leaving Kit to think about what had been said, a shiver running down his spine.

Angry, but too tired to truly understand the feeling. Kit began to lower himself once again into the bed, exhausted from the events of the night before. If he wanted to be in a fit state to go to the meeting. He would need to be rested. He closed his eyes, and let the lull of sleep overwhelm his senses.

When Kit awoke, the deep golden of the room around him made him guess that it was nearly sunset. While the ache still covered his body, but he could feel the healing affects beginning to set in. It would hurt for a long while, but there would be no life long effects from the night before.

Whether the same could be said about the others who had been there. His memory lit with the flames of the monster, destroying everything in his path. He shivered, breath catching in his lungs as the idea. He shook himself, and pulled himself into a straight position.

Pain splintered him again when he moved, but he persisted. Tensing his jaw to keep a hold on his consciousness. He used the rail to keep himself on two legs, he paused. Recollecting himself as best as he could.

"Hello?" he called. He hated how desperate he sounded, helpless. Looking to the door hopefully, praying someone would hear his words. He didn't know how much louder he could stand to say it. He didn't know how much longer he could stay standing.

Fortunately he wouldn't have to wait for too long, as the door clicked open, and an older woman was revealed behind the doorway. "You could have waited for me to wake you up," she scolded as she made her way over.

"Patience was never my virtue," he grunted in response. Gritting his teeth as he waited for her help. Watching her with a level of caution which was probably not needed, the pain making him less comfortable around strangers. The animal instinct trying to hide his vulnerability around a newcomer.

After everything he had been through in the last five years, he didn't feel it was all to bad a position to take.

Yet the nurse paused, uncertain.

More impatient then he had intended to say, he let out a low growl. "Will you get on with it?"

She didn't move.

"Calm down or I will leave you where you are," she warned. The nurse didn't necessarily sound scared, more angry and cautious. "I have dealt with enough of your kind to know what you're like with a temper. If you want my help, you will get rid of that tone."

It had been a long time since someone had taken a motherly tone with Kit. It amused him highly.

Sighing lowly, Kit bowed his head. "I'm sorry, I wont hurt you." He said, lowering himself slightly, a more submissive stance to the person who wanted to help him. He may not have been born a wolf, but he knew how to act like one.

For a moment more, the nurse paused cautiously. She seemed to think for a moment more, then made her decision and stepped forward. Gently checking his bandages and bruises, the burn marks and anything else which covered Kit's body. Then nodded her head. "Do you wish to use a wheelchair, or are you capable of walking with me?"

Uncertain, he paused. Part of his more animalistic nature made him detest the idea of showing such weakness. The other wolves already thought of him as a weakling, he didn't want to deepen that concern.

"I can walk," he decided quickly. Not caring if he would live to regret that decision.

Forcing himself away from the rail to which he had been clinging, he managed to stay upright. Even if it was through gritted teeth and an only just bearable pain. "Shall we go?"

The nurse seemed to be about to argue with him, only to decide against it at last minute. She offered Kit her arm, like a gentleman welcoming his partner for a dance. Kit took it and stepped forward.

Proud that he didn't stumble the moment he took a step, the two made their meticulous way through the corridors.

What Kit found most concerning as he walked, was the fact that this wasn't the place where he had first come to. The scent told him that this was somewhere quite different.

It made him worry as to what had happened to the original place, the great building made from corrugated metal and looked like it would fall over if he were to blink in it's direction.

More worrisome, was as to what had happened to the people who hadn't managed to get out in time. He pushed on, in spite of the pain ricocheting through him he continued to walk. Holding his head as high as he was able.

The pair seemed to walk for an eternity, it terrified Kit to see how many occupied hospital rooms they passed. The great stench of death was everywhere, it was overwhelming and terrible. Taking control of his every sense.

Then at last he was in the open air again, he gasped for air. As though he had been plunged back into the depths of the flames for a moment and had at last been relieved. He stumbled to his knees as he did so, hitting the ground hard.

Kit was too busy caught in his own little world of chaos to realise that he was being watched. When he managed to find the energy to return to his knees. That was when he spotted the council in the shadows of the nearby treeline.

Waiting for him.