Hello, this is a story for the KWC. Don't post here. Mods, please lock upon reading this. A tale of a Lone Wolf Wolf sprinted through the woods. The police were slow, sluggish. They couldn't catch a turkey leg if it depended on their life. Makes you wonder what kind of person thinks they're good enough for the protection of the people. Life alone was good for Wolf. It helped that he was raised to fend for himself. Food was scarce for most, but he knew how to make the most of it. Efficiency at it's finest. Wolf managed to run the police out. He headed for his tent. He was located in the woods of the low lands. The folk were nice here, so he didn't have to worry about anything being stolen. He went to the river a little past his tent, and pulled out the containers from under the water. A trick he learned from his dad to keep things cold. He took the meats he had stolen and laid them inside. He closed his container and set it back in the river with a rock on top of it to keep it held down. He would eat good tonight. Wolf had gained the nick name "Lone Wolf". He had gained some popularity over the years, helping those who needed it, but nothing more. He was a Lone Wolf after all. Wolf opened his tent and stepped inside. He was tired, so he decided to sleep for a bit. He would wake up later and head to town and get some spices for tonight. Wolf woke up to rain. It was clear all day, why did it have to start now? Looks like his evening was ruined. Well what now? He couldn't travel to the city, and the meat would be bland without the seasoning. Should he just sleep some more? Horseshoes maybe? Something to pass the time... He entered his tent and pulled out his fathers journal. His father wrote in the journal when any significant events occurred. There were entries in there from so many years of his life. Fighting in the crusades, stories of love and mischief. So many great things. His father had lived his life to the fullest, and Wolf was proud he could call him his father. Wolf would read the story of the day his father had met his mother. His father had described every inch of his mother. From her long, silky hair to her long and elegant legs. He said she bore the image of a Queen. She could have been royalty. Wolf fell asleep with his fathers journal in his chest. He woke in the night to some rustling. He set his fathers journal in his bag, and went to investigate. The first thing he noticed was that it stopped raining. The ground was soft and wet, easily giving away under his feet. He was hungry, as he hadn't eaten in hours. He scanned the perimeter of the clearing and saw nothing. He entered the forest to the north. He was very quiet and cautious; one wrong move and he would end up 6 feet under. He knelt near a bush, scanning for any movement. He noticed a figure approaching his food stash near the river. The figure appeared to be female, with peasant clothing. Not a threat to his life, but his food might end up in the nearest out house. He approached the figure silently, being careful not to make any sound. He needed the jump on her. He halted about 5 feet behind the figure. "Stop what you're doing. Stand up. Put the container down. Don't turn around." Wolf demanded. The second he scope, the figure gasped. The voice was definitely female. "Turn around." He ordered. She turned around. Her hair was black (weather it be the night or the color of her hair, he didn't know), and she had dark eyes. Her face was filled with fear and anxiety. "What's your business here? These are my things, and to steal them? Well, that wouldn't be wise." Wolf stated. Her reply was shaky. "I just need some food. Please, don't hurt me." Wolf had to make a decision. He couldn't just stand here staring at the woman. Does he trust her? Does he ward her off, pack up and move on? He didn't want to make that trip in the dead of night with the soggy ground. "Go, sit down. I will start a fire." Wolf said. She did so without speaking. She say nearly in the fetal position. She shivered and was silent. Wolf went in his tent and grabbed one of his blankets. He went outside and wrapped it around her, then started to build a fire. The wet wood didn't help and it took him probably half an hour to get the fire smoking. Within the next few minutes he had a small fire going. He went near the river where he found the woman, and opened his container. She hadn't taken anything. He grabbed two apples, closed the container and laid it back in the river, firmly held down with a rock to secure it from being carried away with the current. He went back to his camp. "Here, eat." He said as he offered her an apple. She took it and ate in silence. With the fire to provide some light, he was able to make out her features. She had dark, black hair. Brown eyes, and a thin jaw line. She was slim and held herself with decent posture. Her parents had raised her with discipline and manners. "What's your name?" He asked. She looked up from the ground. "Elaine." She said. Elaine. That's an uncommon name in the kingdom. "Why are you alone in the woods? It's dangerous to be alone at night." He questioned. She replied with the same shaky tone that she had at the river. "I was out collecting some food, and it started raining. I got lost." She answered. "There's no need to be afraid. You can stay here for the night. I carry two tents with me. Go ahead and sleep in mine and I'll set another up." Wolf said. She finished her apple. She got up and started towards her tent. Just before she entered, she spoke. "Thank you. Goodnight." Her voice was soft. She entered her tent, and didn't make a noise after that. -- Wolf woke to the sound of a fire. He was sore from the run the day before, and he really needed to pee. He exited his tent, and did some stretches. Elaine had made a fire, and was cooking in the pan that Wolf usually carried with him. Whatever she was cooking, his stomach would enjoy. "What are you making?" Wolf asked. "Eggs." She replied, very quiet. "Where did you get them?" He continued. "From your box, in the river." She answered. Wolf was a little angry at the fact that she had invaded his supplies, but he would enjoy it and it would be a nice change from the boring meals he usually prepared for himself. They ate in silence. When they were done, Wolf packed up the plates and began the deconstruction of his tent. "Where do you live?" He asked after he finished packing up the camp. "Tauren. It's to the south." She replied, pointing her finger. He had visited Tauren before. A small village, nice folk. "I'll walk you home. Let's go." He said. The 2 mile walk was nice. Something to wake him up and stretch his aching muscles. He tried to make small talk, only to get short replies. They had reached the outskirts of the town. He walked her to her doorstep, have her some of the bread he had "borrowed" from the town the day before. "Don't go running off in the woods like that again. It isn't safe." He cautioned. "Alright." She said with a smirk. He started to walk away. "Thank you!" He yelled. He turned and waved. Wolf would return to Tauren.