IV

Stephen was just an ordinary young boy living an ordinary life with ordinary life events.

But that changes when he calls upon a white wolf to save his ass in trouble when he visited his grandmother.

Now, this white wolf won't stop bothering him until he agrees to help bring him back home. It be should be easy, right?

He thought so, too. But after what happens with the picture and warning, this is even worse than he thought.

He knows that this will be impossible because he still thinks that he is dreaming but the moment he opens his eyes, the wolf is standing by the door peering out his head like a ghost and asking if someone could see him.

He knows the answer to that but he is hoping that he could not be the only one who could see the white wolf.

He sighs heavily and proceeds on researching about the place called Biringan.

He had heard about the place before but just like normal people that don't believe what they can't see, he doesn't also.

He thought that the legend of the white wolf is not true. But after what had happened to him, he is starting to believe in every single thing that his grandmother ever told him.

All of it; the legend, the wolf, the curse, and the sacrifice. All of it was real but he is still not sure about, the wolf's home.

Because, according to his grandmother, the wolf lives in a forest called Gliffan. His grandmother never told him anything about Biringan.

He clears his throat to get the wolf's attention back to him. The wolf looks at him very curiously and asks, "What's wrong?"

The boy looks at him with glaring eyes and asks, "Don't you live in the Gliffan forest?" The wolf looks at him then sat down beside the bed.

"I do. But that was already a long long time ago. That forest does not exist anymore," the wolf sadly answers.

The boy looks at his drooping ears as if saying to never ask about the forest anymore but he can't help him unless he tells the whole story. "Can you tell me what happened?"

The wolf looks at him with sad eyes and exhales a heavy sigh before sitting comfortably near him.

He gets a notebook to write down every important detail he could get from the story that could help him in case something will happen during their trip.

Any information from this story could come in handy. The wolf sighs and starts his story.

"I actually don't know where to start since I don't recall my past or who I am before I became a white wolf.

The first thing I knew is that, I woke up in a grassy land filled with beautiful flowers and magical creatures.

Magical creatures like faes, dwarves, various colored wolves like me, and many more. There is a queen in that place and she was happy that I came back home.

They showed me the place where I lived before but something is still missing.

I did try my best to ask her about my past but even she doesn't know anything," he said while reminiscing every single detail of his story.

"Years passed and I start to stop counting. I've seen many of the magical creatures die and reincarnate but I have been asking myself, what will I be when I die.

Because when faes die, they become the most beautiful flowers that decorate the place.

When dwarves die, they become the sturdy trees that give us shade from the bright yellow sun.

When other wolves die, their bodies will turn into stones that decorate the entrance of the Gliffan Forest but when I die what will I become?

A sturdy tree, a beautiful flower, or a stone?" he added while he looks at himself in front of the mirror.

He looks away and looks back at the boy who is busy taking down notes.

"After years and years of waiting for me to die, I suddenly heard someone calling my name, and the next thing I knew, I am trying to reach out to you so you could hold my hand and I could save you from drowning.

You're just a little kid at that time. So small and so fragile, I don't know what came to me and I don't usually save people from growing but I just have the urge to save you," he said.

The boy looks at him that instant and he just smiles,

"I thought that will be the last time someone will call me and I would just die after saving you but even after many years had already passed, I haven't died and I was rescued, if you will call it like that, by the people of Biringan and brought to their kingdom.

The moment I left the Gliffan Forest, it died on its own. As if I am the only one keeping it alive," he said in a very sad voice.

"What will happen to you if you didn't leave the forest?" the boy asks. The wolf looks at him very sadly and answers, "I will die along with it."

The boy is shocked unknown to what to react.

"You see, in our world, if humans stop calling us for help, we die along with the forest we lived in and be reincarnated as something else.

Something that humans will be able to appreciate just like the beautiful flowers, the sturdy trees, and the magnificent statues of different creatures.

That's how we fulfill our lives. There is no heaven and hell to us. We will all go back to nature where we all started," he added. He sighs while he caresses his tail as if subconsciously he pats his back.

The boy had the urge to hug him but that will be awkward for both of them so he made up his mind that he will help the wolf get back home.

He clears his throat and said, "This will be my first trip to Maras but I know it will be worth it." The wolf looks at him, shocked.

He gives him the biggest grin he could come up with and nods, "You will love it there," he said.