Knave shook uncontrollably when the face appeared and he was drug out by the scruff of his neck.

“Knave, Calm down!, It’s only me” Phelan said, reassuringly. “We have to get out of here, it’s not safe.” The setter looked at the wolf, still shaken up and noticed the blood running down his right front leg.

“What happened to you?”

“I’m fine, but we need to get out of here.” with that, he grabbed Knave by the scruff once more and carried him through the woods, weaving in and out of trees. The way he bobbed, he could tell the wolf was badly limping. They came to the same boulders where the two had first met and he settled him down behind one.

“We’ll be fine here” he panted and winced as he sat down.

“What happened?” he asked Phelan again.

“Just a bullet”

“It hurt you though” Knave said, looking down at his now blood soaked leg.

“I’m fine, I just need to rest.” Phelan lowered himself to the ground and lied down on his side. Knave saw his chest heaving and didn’t know if it was from exhaustion or pain but convinced himself it was both. He licked the wound on his shoulder and jumped when a yelp escaped the wolf.

“Knave, leave me be” he warned and lifted his upper lip, exposing fangs. The setter sat a couple of feet from the wolf, surprised by his sudden malice. He figured it was mostly from being in agony so he left him alone. A gentle breeze made the branches shudder and the pup stuck his nose out, smelling deeply. No sign of the hunters. He wanted to ask Phelan so many questions. What were those long, metal sticks they had carried? What came out of them that gave so much pain to his new friend? He knew it was a bullet but knew nothing else. How did it make such a blast? Knave sat on his haunches in frustration and looked around. He was glad humans were no longer a part of his life. Well, most of his life. The pup turned back to Phelan and saw the wolf had closed his eyes and was breathing a little easier.

“Knave” he said, without opening them.

“You need to get the bullet out”

“How?” he gasped. “It hurt you so much before”

“I know, but out here, infections are deadly” he opened his eyes and looked at him.

“Get it out.” Knave could have sworn he heard as almost a plead. He bowed his head to his shoulder.

“Wait, we need to find water. There’s a deep stream close by” Phelan said and hauled himself up with much wincing and groaning. The wolf no longer limped on it but lifted it and hobbled on three legs.

“We can’t be long. We’re vulnerable out in the open. The trees help some but not well of hunters.” he said and waded out into the stream, whimpering when the cold water washed onto his wound.

“Ok, ready?” he asked the pup, when he came out, not bothering to shake himself.

“Yes” Knave answered bluntly.

“Good” Phelan grinned and lied down again.

Knave looked down at the wound. His leg was no longer blood stained and he was a little more bright-eyed. He look a deep breath and tried desperately to clasp the bullet with his teeth as Phelan whined in pain.

“I can’t do it. I just can’t get it” he said through a sigh of failure.

“It’s ok” the wolf reassured. “We’ll find someway to get it out”

The pup nodded and pretended not to hear when Phelan mumbled.

“Hopefully, in time”

To be continued…