"Oh, Hessuel, you're finally awake," Dandeline approaches. She's wearing a white loose dress and drying her hair with a towel. I fake a yawn and close my eyes. She sat beside me and her dogs cuddle with her, One lie down on her lap. "Looks like your pet is sweet with you, too," she said for I'm still locking Acro in my arms.
"Yes! Very… sweet." I place her on my shoulder. "I'm sorry I slept too much."
"That doesn't matter. It only took you until night, not the next day." Her laugh made the sultry place worse. I lock my eyes on the furnace because her naked image appears in my head when I look at her. "So, tell me why you came here."
"I— Wait, how did you know I'm coming?"
"The furnace told me. It's filled with my magic for your information. It sparks to alarm me whenever a future event will happen, the scenery plays with the fire."
My jaw was left hanging whilst staring at the fire. "It can show future events... How about the past?"
"No, just the future."
"That's great."
"What?"
"Anyway, I came here because of this."
I showed her the necklace but did not take it off, she moved closer to see it.
"My uncle told me a stranger gave this to him before he adopted me. He was counseled to give this necklace to me when my power reawakens. He left in a note that I have to find my mate and the pond of the Moon’s Order pack, a place waiting for me, too. But I have no idea where to find that. You're the only person I know who can lead me there. And who can help me… understand the life of a werewolf, especially this mate thing."
She leans her back and cuddles with Two, a brown and black dog, and says, "The pond of the Moon’s Order pack is fiction. I mean a legend with fabricated imagination."
"But..." I wasn't expecting that response. "I believe it has something to do with my existence."
"Hmm, I see, you're searching about yourself. Your connection with this legend intrigues me." She crosses her legs with her arms folded, smirking like a genius. "That might be fiction but the necklace and the silver wolf are right before my eyes. This contradicts the myth. There must be an answer to this enigma. However, just like you, I don't know how to start. It's like running in the mist."
"How about the other moon priests and priestesses?"
"Right. We can ask them but that'll be a lot of work."
"If it's bothersome for you, then just tell me what can I do."
"Don't be too hasty. Let me think about other ways to consider. And what’s the other reason again?”
The next thing I showed her is the bitemark on my neck. “My mate. A ghost underwater bit me, Uncle Cor said this is a mate’s bite. I need to find that ghost!”
“... How? Geez. You’re so helpless.”
“H-How should I know! I lived my whole life as a human!”
“I can only give a fact. Werewolf mating is a rule and blessing from the Moon Goddess wherein she chooses who shall be your couple. Your soulmate, in humans' terms. And for you to find her, you must have a connection of feelings and thoughts.
“You might find this werewolf attractive at first sight, you’ll feel hurt when she’s hurt, you’ll feel an exaggeration of concern for her, to protect her, her life extremely matters to you. Once the two mates meet they will feel an irresistible desire for heat over their bodies because that’s the rule: mates should unite and multiply the children of the Moon Goddess.”
“Whoa. Werewolves are so romantic. I thought they were created to freak out the kids.”
“Have you felt the signs?”
I shook my head silently.
“Strange… Your mating case is so strange. As for now," she glares at me, "you need a place to sleep."
“But I just woke up.” I roam my eyes around. "Can't I do it here?"
"No, this place is exclusive for me and the dogs."
I pointed to myself. "B-But I'm a dog, too."
"Not mine."
"Then adopt me!" I beg mischievously. "I may not be able to talk like them. I need someone to teach me how.”
“Teach you what?”
“You heard, your dogs were barking at me and I have no clue about their language! What if they were actually welcoming me and I couldn’t bark back because I might have ten grammatical errors and that would be embarrassing!”
“Then don’t bark, just howl!”
I raise a finger. “...” Then put it down. “You’re right. And I’m left…”
“...” She twitches her head.
“Left behind from being a werewolf.”
“Hessuel, it’s nonsense to study the dog language. And I don’t teach that! I am not paid for doing werewolf tutorials. Now, proceed to the doorway.”
“I-I'm new to this place. I don't know where else I should go."
"I'll tell you," then she speaks rapidly. "From here just take a boat and follow the road in the right direction that'll lead you to the center then look for two pinkish households and cross the narrow path between those and go straightway until you stumble on a three-floored building. You can pay for the bed space for tonight."
I stutter, "I can sleep on this couch, at least."
"Hessuel, I'm a woman and you're the opposite. This is my house, and this is my way of protecting my privacy."
"... Right. Sure. Okay," I said, agreeing wholeheartedly. Because that reminds me of my actions earlier. She delivered me outside, leaving an invitation for tomorrow's simple celebration. And she looks at me thoroughly from head to toe.
"You got taller," she said.
"Oh, I thought you got smaller."
She kicks me on my ankle but I dodge it. "Just get out of here. It's getting late."
Linly was correct, Dandeline is unwelcoming. And it’s hard to imagine that she was the same weird woman in our village.
There are only but few villagers outside at this time around. I follow Dandeline's instruction but I think all the houses looks the same from the way she described it, or maybe because of the syndrome for travelers who're new to a certain place. The easiest way I did is to inquire to reach the dormitory. I rent a room on the second floor immediately and settle for tonight.
I open the window and behold the moon. I can stare at her beauty all night, especially since I just woke up. But Dandeline's image in the bath appeared in my mind again. Sometimes, I hate my mind. At least I have the chance to see her again and occupy my mind with pure images instead.
["You're smiling. Pervert."]
I look at Acro who's staring at me with her wide eyes. So, I avoid it. "I think I should take a bath, too," I said. And after a bath, I look at my spotted skin in front of the mirror. I don't know how to start addressing this with Dandeline. Should I undress in front of her? Acro is bathing in the sink when I heard her tell me I'm a pervert, again. "Come on, I'm not peeping on you
I turned around right away when I heard a rustling sound, and there I found a raven on my bed with my necklace on its beak! The thief flew through the window! It's fast! Acro chases the raven and I have to do the same. I snatch my coat and jump through the window.
I can't lose that necklace!