The boy had no name. He was little, ten years old at best, with eyes. light-sliver in nature, filled with nothing, reflecting a voldless forest canopy. He was afraid, undeniably, but a strange calmness held him. His heart beat steadily, a regular rhythm against the backdrop of the whispering woods. He was still trying to piece together the chaotic jumble of events that had led him here, lost and alone, with a wolf cub as his only companion.
He remembered something, snippets: a roaring fire, a woman's frantic voice, the jarring lurch of a wagon. Then, darkness, and waking up disoriented amidst the towering trees. The forest was alive with unseen creatures, rustling leaves and snapping twigs hinting at hidden eyes. But the most immediate presence was the young wolf beside him.
It was large, bigger than the boy himself, with Sharp paws. Its yellow eyes, however, held a spark of wildness that belied its size. It also had horns on it's shoulders. It was weird.
"Are you supposed to have those?" He questioned. and was met with silence. The wolf, just stood there.
It's.. I don't know how to say it, I can't think of anything— uh I mean words to describe it. It felt off.
the wolf stayed close, nudging his hand with its wet nose as if offering its own form of silent gratitude.
"You won't eat me, will you? " the boy whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. The wolf tilted its head, its ears perked, as if trying to understand. It let out a soft whine and licked his fingers. The boy took that as a good sign.
Seeing no issue with it,, he stood up and wave to the wolf to follow him.They walked for what felt like hours, the boy leading the way, or rather, stumbling forward, guided by some wolf. It seemed to know the area better than he would never will. The forest floor was a carpet of fallen leaves, damp and smelling of decay. Sunlight streamed through the canopy in golden shafts, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The boy was hungry, his stomach gnawing with emptiness. He hadn't eaten since… he couldn't quite remember when.
this.. well this is frustrating, I have eaten since I woke up here.
"It will be problematic going on like this... Sighs deeply"
Walking a few more minutes or so. He spotted a cluster of berries growing on a thorny bush. He hesitated, remembering membering something about poisonous plants.
What even is a poisonous plant?
"Are these safe? " he asked the wolf, as if expecting an answer. The wolf sniffed at the berries, then nudged the boy's hand towards them. He plucked one cautiously and popped it into his mouth. It was sweet and juicy, a burst of flavor that momentarily quelled his hunger.
As dusk began to settle, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, they came across a small stream. The boy knelt down and drank deeply, the cold water refreshing his parched throat. The wolf lapped at the water beside him, its tongue flicking in and out.
Suddenly, a twig snapped nearby. The boy froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The wolf growled, its fur bristling. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, with a longbow slung across his back.
It was a man, his face weathered and lined, his eyes sharp and watchful. He wore clothes of tanned leather, and a hunting knife hung from his belt. He looked like he belonged in the forest, like he was a part of it.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice a low rumble. "What have we here? A lost cub and a… well, a lost cub of a different kind. "
These two... What's wrong with that kid's mana? It's... Non-existent that should be impossible. With those bruises and scars all over him and that wolf.. I have never seen one like it before, it's face.. what happened to it? And horns on it's shoulder? What have I stumbled upon today. He thought to himself, analysing the two anomalies in his presenc.
The boy stared at the man, fear warring with a flicker of hope. "Are you going to hurt us? " he whispered.
The man chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Hurt you? Why would I do that? I'm just a hunter, passing through. " He paused, his gaze sweeping over the boy and the wolf. "Though, I must admit, it's not every day I see a child wandering around the woods with a wild animal. "
"He's not wild," the boy said defensively. "He's my friend. "
The man raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? And what's your name, little one? "
The boy hesitated. He didn't know his name. He couldn't remember. "I… I don't know," he mumbled.
The man frowned. "You don't know your own name? How did you get lost? "
"I don't remember," the boy said, tears welling up in his eyes. "I just remember nothing…"
The man's expression softened slightly. He knelt down, bringing himself to the boy's level.
"Nothing really? you say? There was a caravan attacked a few days ago, not far from here. Bandits, they say. Burned everything to the ground. "
"Are… are..you saying…? " he began, but couldn't bring himself to finish the question.
The man shook his head sadly. "I don't know, boy. I only heard the rumors. But if you were with that caravan…"
The boy burst into tears, burying his face in the wolf's fur. The wolf whined and licked his face, trying to comfort him.
The man sighed. "Come on," he said, standing up. "It's getting dark. You can't stay here. I have a small cabin a few hours from here. You can stay there for the night. We'll figure something out in the morning. "
The boy looked up, his eyes red and swollen. "You'll help me? "
The man nodded. "I will. Now, let's go. And bring your friend with you. "
I can not let those two out of my sight. I still don't know what they can do... the man thought to himself.
They walked through the darkening forest, the man leading the way, the boy and the wolf following close behind. The man's name was Silas, he learned. He was a solitary man, a hunter and trapper who lived a simple life in the woods. He didn't talk much, but his presence was reassuring. To his allies.
When they arrived at the cabin, it was a small, humble structure made of logs and stone. A fire burned in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the interior. Silas offered the boy some stew, which he devoured ravenously. The wolf, after some initial hesitation, accepted a piece of meat from Silas's hand.
As the boy lay on a makeshift bed of blankets, he listened to the crackling fire and the hooting of owls in the distance. He felt safe, for the first time since he had woken up in the forest. But the memories of before that, still lost. It haunted him.
He looked at the wolf, who was curled up at the foot of his bed. "We're alone now," he whispered. "Just you and me. " The wolf opened its eyes and looked at him, its yellow gaze filled with an unspoken understanding.
"You don't have a name yet too huh... how about Sliver? I think it's good no?"
The wolf only wiggered his tail. The boy took that as a yes.
He knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult. He had no name, no family, no home. But he had the wolf, and he had Silas. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to start over, to build a new life from the ashes of the old.
I don't know if I never get my memories again but even so, making new ones doesn't seem so bad right?
He closed his eyes, and as he drifted off to sleep, he made a silent vow. He would survive. He would find a purpose. And he would never forget the little wolf who had become his friend in the heart of the whispering woods. The journey had just begun, and the forest held its breath, waiting to see what the nameless boy would become.