You were staying up at your cabin in the woods. Luckily, you could work remotely and your hours were flexible. So why not be in the middle of nowhere as long as you could get satellite internet. That way whenever you were off you could spend hours tramping around the wilderness without another soul in sight. It helped to keep you from brooding on things. Like the faithful dog you just lost, your companion for over a decade. Thankfully it was a peaceful death from old age, but that didn't make it easier. So your walks became longer. And deeper into the forest. And later than usual.
So the sun had already set as you trudged back to your cabin, lantern in hand and a pack on your back. You had been out here long enough that you knew the way back to the cabin even in the dark, but nighttime still had its dangers. The moonlight barely broke through the tall trees that surrounded you, but you weren't nervous. After all, it wasn't like anyone was waiting at home for you.
What made you look off into the distance? Was it a noise? Or a bit of movement? Either way, something felt off. You should have stayed on the path, but for some reason, you decided to investigate. Not a smart move, but what was there to lose? That's when you stumbled across it.
Lying spread out in a thicket was a large wolf, the largest one you had ever seen. You almost wondered if it was part buffalo wolf considering its size. You had the time to be that analytical because the wolf wasn't moving. In fact, it seemed like it was barely breathing. All across it's dark fur were darker patches surrounding deep gashes. Dried blood.
You should have left it. After all, it was the way of nature. Not to mention a wolf this size would probably easily have you for dinner. But for some reason, you couldn't leave. If you left, the weather was going to be bad the next few days. It definitely wouldn't survive. Was it the beauty of such a majestic creature there in the dim moonlight? Or the memory of the dog you just lost, a distant relative of its wild cousin before you. Either way, you didn't leave.
Instead, you fashioned a muzzle out of some rope and cloth. Then, using your small axe, you cut two relatively straight branches, and using a crosspiece and your tarp, you made a rough travois and dragged the wolf back to your cabin. You knew better than to bring a wild animal into the cabin itself, but the attached shed should be okay. There was a door leading outside, and a window so you could see if the wolf woke up or toss it some meat. Worst come to worst, you could always rig up system so you could open the door while on the roof and let the wolf go running off.
The wolf didn't wake up that night, though, even when you washed and disinfected its wounds, but it seemed to rest easier in the warmth and shelter of the shed. You weren't sure if it would survive, but you had done your best. Laying an old blanket over the wolf and removing the muzzle, you closed the shed door and went back inside your cabin in the wee hours of the morning. The moon was just about to fall behind the mountains.
Waking up mid-morning, you remembered your guest. Bundling up and grabbing your axe for protection, you headed to the shed, which looked undisturbed from the outside. Going to the window, you peeked in. But what you saw wasn't what you were expecting. Instead of a wolf's muzzle, there was a human head poking out from under the blanket you had left behind. What happened? Had a person let out the wolf and decided to squat in your shed instead?
Carefully, quietly, you entered the shed, axe in hand. You weren't angry; after all, sometimes in an emergency people just needed shelter for the night. Still, there were also crazies out there. You reached out cautiously to awaken the stranger, unsure how they would react. However, before your hand landed on their shoulder, an arm shot out from beneath the blanket and the hand grabbed yours.
You found yourself staring at a pair of golden eyes in a rugged but very handsome face. So handsome, in fact, it took you a minute to realize the man was naked under the blanket. And even longer to spot the fresh scars on his body. There was something...familiar, about the scars. But you had never seen this man before, how could it be...and that's when it hit you. It wasn't the scars themselves that were familiar, it was their locations. After all, you had spent the night tending to similar wounds. In spite of yourself, you gasped incredulously at your illogical conclusion.
"That's not possible..."