EIGHT

-Indy POV-

I watch Fiona standing there, vulnerable, almost shy. She’s staring at the black wolf and my mind can’t follow it. “What is happening?” I whisper, mostly at myself. I have mixed feelings about this. I decide to not say anything, and just observe.

“Can you shapeshift? I want to talk.” Fiona says.

The black wolf shakes his head, his fur is waving. “I’ll bring you a blanket, wait.." Fiona runs away to come back with her blanket. “Here, we won’t look.” Fiona turns her head away and calls my name: “Indy!”. Oh wait, she’s right. I feel how my cheeks turn red and look away.

We wait for like ten seconds and then turn around. I look into the face of a young man. His eyes are the same blue as his wolf, obviously. Eye colors never change after shifting. He has black hair and his face is quite handsome, to be honest. But besides the blanket, I can see he’s thin, like he hasn’t eaten in months.

I look at Fiona, and she’s just standing there, frozen. The guy is doing the same.

“Is anyone going to say something, or?” I ask, carefully.

The guy clears his throat and says: “Uhhh yeah, hi, I’m Hunter. I’m so sorry for all this, I don’t know why I acted like that. I didn’t want to harass the two of you. But, your scent.. I just got crazy. Wait, why am I not smelling it anymore? It’s there, but only very vague…”

Fiona is irritated by his words. “It’s mating season, that’s why. Didn’t you track time? I know it’s early this year, but come on! Well, I should’ve known.. men like to put their dicks in girls, right? When it’s mating season, they have an ‘excuse’ and you probably like it.” she starts walking away, to the tent.

“Wait!” The guy yells. “Mating season? What’s that? What are you talking about?”

Fiona turns around, flabbergasted. “Are you saying that you have never heard or experienced mating season before? How’s that even possible? Who are you?” she asks, sceptically.

“I - I’m hunter, lived as a rogue my whole life. I'm raised by my parents, but they’re dead now. What is mating season?”

Fiona shakes his head, confused. I’m confused too. I look at her and ask: “Is that possible, Fi? Isn’t he just lying, trying to save himself?”

Fiona shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t know, Indy.”

She looks back at Hunter and says: “After the war, there were not many wolves who survived. It got difficult for them to find their mates and recreate. As a last resort, nature found a way to survive: mating season. Every year, at the end of winter, male wolves change. They aren’t able to think clearly and are only able to follow their animal instinct. They mate with every fertile she-wolf around, trying to impregnate her. It normally takes a few weeks, before everything goes back to normal..”

I look at Hunter’s reaction and I can see he’s stunned by Fiona’s words. His reaction seems real. Then a wave of disgust appears on his face: “That’s gross! Why would the Moon Goddess allow such a disrespectful thing?”

I say: “The Moon Goddess IS nature, she created this idea.”

“For real?” He asks, confused.

I nod. “But if it wasn't for the mating season, how did you find us?”

“I picked up a scent when I was patrolling, but I lost it. I never see humans or wolves around this area, so it was very confusing for me to found a scent that was clearly not mine. But, it was not any scent. It was -- uhhh -- almost mesmerizing. I had to find it. My wolf also got frustrated and wanted to find it again, so I gave him control and he tracked the scent back to this cave. I - uhhh, he took your backpack, sorry.”

His cheeks are turning red, I can tell he’s feeling uncomfortable. Fire is spitting out of Fiona’s eyes: “How dare you! That was all my clothes and personal stuff. Don’t say you touched it, you pervert..”

Hunter is holding on to the blanket as strong as he can and looks away. “I can give it back to you, I - I promise that I didn’t mean to touch it. I got mesmerized by the scent on it, I had to smell it.” he says, softly.

Her hand flies through the air ‘till it meets his face. The sound of her hand slamming his cheek, fades in the air. Hunter gasps for air, and looks back at her face, confused. I can see in his face that something has changed. His eyes look determined now. He grabs Fiona’s right wrist and growls: “MINE!”

I watch them both and I feel sad. I’m the third wheel of the wagon here, and I don’t like it. I know Fiona deserves to find her mate, but what does it mean for us? For mating season? I feel how I walk backwards and I say to them: “I - I uhhh, might go. I’ll leave you two alone. Yep. I’ll go.”

I turn around and feel how tears are falling down my cheeks. I wipe them away. Why am I crying? I should be happy for her! I run into the tent and close the zipper. I just want to be alone.

“Indy! Wait!” I hear Fiona’s voice. I don’t want her to come cheer me up. Instead, I mindlink her:

Don’t bother, I’ll be fine. Talk to your mate, do the things mates do. But please, don’t leave me. I’m still scared…

I can feel Fiona’s hesitation but she answers to me. Are you sure, sweety?

Yes

I’ll be here if you want to, we won’t leave. Sleep well, child.

I curl up, like a little pup. I’ve never felt so alone. Is Fiona going to leave me, now she has found her mate? Are they going to make pups of their own? Is she going to kick me out? Why would she want me, if she’s able to have her own children, her real children? Who wants me, that fat pig, anyway? I’m not even a real werewolf...

I cry myself to sleep, not knowing things are about to get worse...