Wingman

Kai watched as humans and beasts alike made their way to the food filled table. There was countless varieties scattered along its length. Any food one could possibly want to eat was available, though they weren't exactly fancy.

There was nothing like a stir-fry or a piece of lasagne, but there were other things that could potentially be just as good.

Platters of fruit, cooked meat of unknown origin and even some candies which had caught Kai's eye.

Kai was lucky in a sense. If this were to happen a week ago he probably would have turned into his Lycan form and jumped over every one in the crowd to secure himself some of the candies and maybe a few apples and pieces of meat, but because of his dream meeting with The Ever-changing the sight didn't seem that appealing.

It's not that the foods Failure had on display were bad, it's just that the ones The Ever-changing had were much better. The godly beer that had helped Kai form a soul, the strange chicken meat that tasted better than anything back on Earth.

There was also other things he tried, but Kai would probably start drooling if he started remembering them.

But just because the sight was lacking for him didn't mean it was like that for everyone else. All the other humans in the crowd were trying much harder to reach the table than the moon beasts.

While the beast's were basically raised by the random scraps they foraged from the forest, humans were not.

Well, some were, just not the ones currently in the hall.

John had a look of hunger in his eyes as he tried to squeeze his massive body through gaps that were much to small for him. The sight of cooked meat must have been too much for the man, who knows when the last time he had some was?

It was strange, actually. Kai had not eaten any meat in at least two months other than in a dream, yet his body didn't start falling apart or breaking down like he expected it to. In fact, it seemed as if it was growing stronger by the day.

Well, if there's beer that can help me form a soul I'm sure there's something in that porridge which gives me all the nutrients I could possibly need.

Kai sighed as he watched everyone try to raid the table. If he were any more awake than he actually was he maybe would have tried to snag a few delicacies, but he was just too tired.

Looking around the spacious hall, Kai spotted a line of chairs against one of the walls. Shrugging, he figured he may as well take a seat and wait for the commotion to die down before even attempting to eat anything.

Umbra emerged from his shadow while he sat down, the pitch-black wolf resting her furry head on Kai's knee.

Kai smiled softly as he tenderly patted her head. It was a nice moment.

Except he was a bit surprised when he saw Wa'rak approaching him.

Wondering what the arrogant yet kind wolf could possibly want, Kai activated the telepathic link with him.

He also tried something different. Because of the much larger Mana pool he had, he could keep telepathic links up for much longer than previously. So why not try two at once?

While he activated one with Wa'rak, he also activated one with Umbra. He hoped that it wouldn't just be two separate links at once but instead one joint link where all three of them could talk.

Luckily, it worked.

"Well, brat, at least you're still alive"

Kai chuckled slightly. Another thing he had learned about the wolf other than him being gullible was that he was a bit of a tsundere.

Wa'rak truly had a good heart.

Just as Kai was about to answer Wa'rak, he was shocked to hear Umbra speak up first.

"Don't call him brat, you are a brat"

Umbra had a defiant look in her eyes, trying her hardest to stand up for her master.

Kai thought the sight was kind of cute and went to pat his familiar's head once more, but he stopped himself.

He didn't know if it was because of the minor memory enhancement offered by the Tunic of Rememberance or if it was just him getting caught up in the moment, but he remembered one thing that Umbra had told him previously.

That Wa'rak was a bully who viewed them as lesser.

One thing Kai now knew was that Umbra's view on Wa'rak was misguided. While the wolf may have been arrogant and sightly condescending, he really did want the best for his kin.

Wa'rak treated those he cared about badly so he could give them motivation to grow. While it may seem like a roundabout way of doing it, it did seem to work.

Also, it's not like there was anyone treating Kai like crap in order for him to grow...

But it seemed Umbra hadn't realised that yet. Then again, had she really interacted with Wa'rak much?

Ever since contracting her, Kai had only ever interacted with Umbra in the odd fleeting conversation. Other than that, it would either be him sleeping while using her as a pillow or Umbra just slumbering in his shadow.

It was like he was taking her for granted.

He had constantly borrowed her power throughout the last few weeks, but he never really spoke to her.

Letting his hand drop onto her furry head, Kai slightly ruffled her black fur while speaking through the connection.

"He didn't mean anything bad, Wa'rak just isn't very good at speaking."

Umbra looked up at Kai, her head titled curiously as she wondered if his words were true.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Wa'rak, on the other hand, looked appaled. It was if he was being treated like a shy child.

"What are you talking about, I'm perfectly fine at communicating."

Kai fell silent.

His mind was working overdrive trying to figure out if he heard right.

Why did it sound as if Wa'rak was...

Flustered?

The silence was broken by a slight giggle from Umbra. Kai didn't really know if wolves could giggle or not, but when it came from her it sounded cute.

"Hehe, you are funny."

If there was one thing Kai loved about Umbra, it's that she was ways kind and nice to those who are nice in return. She may be extremely brave, but she was also childish at heart.

Then again, Kai wasn't exactly sure how old two hundred and thirty wolf corpses would be in human years, but he wouldn't say it was old.

The fact he was just laughed at by Umbra had Wa'rak stuck for words. He really was flustered.

The proud, arrogant and haughty wolf who had so much confidence in every one of their other conversations was flustered.

Kai held up a hand to his mouth so both wolves couldn't see his smiling face. His mind was already racing with thoughts after all.

Does Warak...

Even though Kai never had a girlfriend back on Earth, that didn't mean he was inexperienced.

Plenty of his friends had girfriends before, and for whatever reason they all went to Kai for advice. He didn't know why, but everytime it worked out alright his reputation grew more and more.

Eventually, he was known as the woman whisperer even though he had never really held a proper conversation with one.

While it may have been pretty sad and a role that Kai hadn't given much thought since The Flashing, he decided now was the perfect time to come out of retirement.

He had basically confirmed it at this point. Maybe it was because of the brief moment they shared fighting the Depth Dweller together, or maybe it was because of Umbra's radiant personality which attracted everyone, Wa'rak seemed to have feelings for her.

While Kai knew that moon wolves didn't repopulate the normal way, that they were born out of their parents dead body, that didn't mean they couldn't have their own fun.

Even if Kai didn't know how it worked, he was willing to give Wa'rak a shot.

He felt like a father watching someone trying to take their daughter out on a date. Even though Wa'rak was probably older than Kai.

Wa'rak had earned his approval, and if there was any wold in the forest he would let Umbra be around, it would be him.

Wa'rak was the type to lay down his life to save someone else's. Kai wasn't even sure if he would be able to do that himself. If it came down to it, he probably wouldn't unless he thought that their life was worth more than his.

The other thing was that who's to say Wa'rak won't die in the fight? If it's anything like Kai expected it to be, the battle would be absolutely brutal and unforgiving, so he wanted to let them enjoy themselves just in case.

But who's to say Umbra won't die either? While she would be fused with Kai for a while, what about the time she isn't? And while Wa'rak is a quarter moon beast, Umbra is only a crescent moon one. Plus, Wa'rak has an innate ability.

If anything, Kai should be more worried about the safety of his own familiar rather than Wa'rak's.

But he was still going to let them enjoy themselves, just in case.

Clearing his throat, Kai tried his best to hide his smile as he looked down at the two wolves.

Umbra was currently circling Wa'rak, sniffing him. Meanwhile, Wa'rak was frozen stiff.

It seemed the girl advice he had given Kai didn't apply to himself.

"Umbra, why don't you go with Wa'rak for a while? You've worked so hard since we've met and I think you deserve a break."

Umbra stopped sniffing Wa'rak and looked up at Kai, a hint of curiosness in her yellow eyes.

"What about you?"

Kai smiled and shook his head softly.

"I'll be fine, go enjoy yourself. I'm sure Wa'rak knows something fun you can do."

The whole time, Wa'rak remained silent, but Kai could tell he was panicking on the inside. If the wolf was a human, Kai was sure he would be bright red right now.

"Okay then. Me will return soon."

Umbra then softly poked Wa'rak's hide with her nose, snapping the haughty wolf out of it.

Just as two wolves were walking away, Kai let his smile grow as he cut his telepathic link with Umbra.

Except he kept it up with Wa'rak for a moment longer, whispering two words through the connection.

"Good luck."

Kai couldn't hold back his laughter as he watched Wa'rak freeze on the spot, then quickly compose himself and act like nothing happened.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Kai leaned back into the chair and sighed. Tonight looked as if it might be fun.

Except there was one problem now.

Since Kai had just let Umbra leave with Wa'rak...

He was completely alone in this spacious hall.