Welcome To My Wing Of The Castle

Just then, a howl from outside interrupted your thoughts. Thinking your beloved had returned, you rushed to the door and ran outside. At first you didn’t see anything, until a rustle in the bushes caught your attention. Sprinting past the bushes you excitedly reached the source of the sound. Deflating as quickly as it came, your excitement was gone as the source of the howling was revealed not to be Valko, but a small baby wolf. Amidst your disappointment, you still couldn’t help but lean down and pet it.

“Hey there little guy. What are you doing out here by yourself? Do you miss him too. I’m sure you knew him. After all, you two are partially from the same primordial biomolecular soup.” You laughed to yourself as you remember what he’d told you. Suddenly the little wolf turned around and started digging through one of the bushes. Curious, you watched him as he pulled out an all too familiar item.

“Valko’s headphones? Where did you…” but before you could finish, the little pup darted off with them. “Hey wait, come back!” Swiftly you chased after until the little guy finally came to a stop.

“Finally, for a moment there I thought you would never stop run-“ you stopped as you looked around. Your heart clenched at the sight. Everything from that night, it was still here.

“That one is Orion.”

“Okay then how about that one?”

“Ursa major.”

“And that one?”

“Andromeda.”

“Alright then Mr. Smarty Wolf, how about that one?”

“That’s not a constellation, just a random cluster of stars.”

“Oh really?”

“Yep, really.”

“Actually you’re wrong!”

Valko chuckled knowing you were up to something. “Well then, why don’t you enlighten me.”

“I will thank you. You see that is actually a constellation called Valiant Wolf.”

“Hmmm wonder why I’ve never heard of it before?”

“Well that’s because I just named it silly.”

“Princess, I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“Of course it is! Constellations are there because scientists name a cluster of stars. You’re kind of a scientist and being your girlfriend makes me part scientist, so therefore I can deem star groups constellations!”

Valko just stared at you for a second before breaking out into howling laughter. “You have the strangest logic I’ve ever heard! But I won’t protest. Guess next time we come camping I’ll have to name one after you.”

“What makes you think I named it after you?”

He smirked, raising an eyebrow, “Really, Valiant Wolf?”

“Okay fine, you got me” you pouted and mumbled “it’s only cause you’re lucky I love you.”

“Oh what was that? I don’t think I heard that properly.”

“Oh please you have two pairs of ears of course you did!”

Valko smirked. You shrieked as he tossed you up over his shoulder. “Valko, put me down!”

“Not till you tell me what you said.”

You dramatically put your hand to your forehead feigning stubbornness, “Never!”

“Alright princess, you asked for it.” Suddenly you felt yourself being tickled.

“No Valko! P-please stop! I-it’s t-too much!” You laughed practically out of breath.

“Not till you tell me~”

“F-fine fine! I-I said I love you!”

Finally Valko stopped tickling you and put you down, still holding you in his arms. “Good, cause I love you too.”

And as if it was natural as breathing you leaned in, capturing the sweet taste of pure, true love on each other’s lips. After what felt like both an eternity and a second, you pulled away. Valko smiled at you. “Let’s leave the stuff here. This’ll be our spot forever. We can name new constellations whenever we come back.”

“Yea, I’d like that.”

“Also it’ll save you from spending 2hr trying to set up a tent.”

“Hey! It didn’t take me that long.”

“Fine you’re right, it was an hour and forty-five minutes.”

“Was not!”

“I timed it.”

“…Well you could’ve offered to help.”

“I did remember, but you insisted on showing me your incredible “skills of the wild”.”

“And we were having such a nice moment.”

Valko laughed. “Come on princess, I’ll make you a smore.”

You smiled, tears escaping your eyes as you recalled the memory. You walked over to the tent, hands ghosting over it as if you afraid it would disappear if you touched it.

You watched as the wolf pup grabbed the headphones and scurried into the tent. You bent down, carefully looking inside. The tent was full of wild berries and little berry stained paw prints. The only other items were Valko’s headphones…and one of his hoodies? You looked around, then back at the pup.

“Hey, have you been living here all by yourself?” As if it understood you, the small creature nodded his head. “Where’s your pack?” At the question, the little wolf whimpered, snuggling into the hoodie. You thought for a moment before deciding, it’s what Valko would have wanted. “Hey, if you’re lonely out here, you can always come live with me if you want. My pack is gone too and there’s more than enough space for you. You don’t have to stay inside either, you can run around outside whenever you want.” The pup’s eyes sparkled. He howled with joy as he jumped on top of you leaving wet kisses all over your face.

“Alright alright it’s settled then! Hmmm you got a name?” The little wolf jumped up and down looking up to the sky. “Your name is sky?” He shook his head. “Your name is star?” He shook his head again. He began jumping up and down pointing his little nose up to the sky. “Your name is Orion?” He growled and shook his head again jumping up and down. When you looked up at the spot he was pointing at, your heart stopped. It couldn’t be. “Your name…is Valiant?” He happily panted and wagged his tail. “B-but how did you…” you looked up at the constellation you named and back at the wolf pup. Maybe he was sent by Valko, maybe it was all an eerie coincidence, maybe Valko knew this little wolf? Whatever ever it was, you were just grateful for your little miracle of a companion. Wrapping him up in Valko’s hoodie, Valiant picked up his favorite headphones, and you carried him back to your place.

“Well here we are. You’re welcome to whatever you’d like. What’s mine is yours, okay?” Valiant happily ran around exploring the corners you and Valko used to inhabit together while you went to sleep. Your heart was both a little more healed and a little more broken than before.

The next morning you woke up to a little extra weight on you. Looking over, you smiled seeing Valiant who seemingly decided to creep into your bed last night. You slowly got up careful not to wake the little wolf. For the first time since Valko disappeared, you decided to get ready and make yourself something to eat.

As you washed up, you noticed a little glass bottle on the far corner of the counter that you don’t remember seeing. It looked like a small perfume bottle? As you lifted it up, you saw a small piece of paper underneath. Picking up the paper, your eyes grew wide. It was a note from Valko.

“Hey princess. I was out at the store and saw this. I know you’re not big on perfume, but the scent reminded me a little bit of you. Thought you might like. It’ll help you keep from smelling like a burnt pancake. Just kidding just kidding. Anyway, love ya. See you soon.”

You looked at the date on the note; two days before he disappeared. Tears ran down your face as you held the note close to your chest.

You were drawn from your crying when you heard a crash come from the kitchen. The sight you were met with was certainly one to behold. Pans and dishes were on the floor as Valiant hung onto the handles of the fridge doing his best to open the door to no avail. You walked over and picked him up. “Silly wolf. If you wanted something from the fridge you could’ve just come to get me. Now let’s look, what is it you want…” He barked excitedly reaching his paws out to the second shelf. Your heart sank a little as you saw what he was pointing at. “Well, if you like chocolate milk, I suppose his stash is yours now.” Valiant jumped excitedly as you poured it into a bowl for him.

Later that evening, you were cleaning out some of your drawers when Valiant started sniffing and pawing at one. “What is it? You wanna open that one?” He wagged his tail in response. When you open the drawer, you were met with the sight of an unfamiliar box. “What’s this…” Curious, you picked up the box. Valiant sat on your lap as you began to open it. It was a small disk that looked like a message projector of sorts. Suddenly, an image of Valko jumped out of the device.

“Hey there, this thing on? There we go should be working. Hi princess.”

Tears welled up in your eyes. “Valko! You idiot! Where are you I miss you I was so worried I-“

“Hold up princess, before you start talking to me expecting me to answer, I need you to know this is a message I’m recording. I can’t hear you. But gosh I wish I could, love your voice so dang much.”

“W-what but why-“

“I know you’re probably wondering why I’m recording this. Honestly I can’t really explain. I have this sinking feeling that I won’t ever see you again. I don’t know why but I do. But I don’t want to leave you without a saying a few things. First, I want to let you know that you won’t be alone. I’ve left you someone in my stead. His name is Valiant. He’s a wolf pup I found in the woods a few days ago. I’ve tried looking for his pack. Unfortunately I think there was an accident and he’s the only one that made it. Poor little guy. I’ve been helping him out here and there, small things you know, a hoodie so he could stay warm, chocolate milk to stay sustained, basic wolf needs. He seems to be doing a lot better than when I first found him. I wanted to introduce him to you personally, but looks like I won’t have time for that. He’s a rascal for sure, little guy took my headphones, but he’s strong and loyal. I have full confidence that he’ll protect you when I can’t. I’m sure you’ll meet him soon, if he hasn’t found you already. Impulsive little wolf he is. Tell my little pup I’ll miss him.”

You looked at Valiant who whimpered at the message, trying to nuzzle it as if Valko was actually there.

Second, I wanted to make sure you know that this was not my choice. If I had it my way, I would have stayed with you forever, creating constellations under the full moon until we ran out of stars to name. I still don’t fully understand myself why this is happening.

Finally, if I know you, I know that you didn’t believe it at first; you’ve been waiting for me. Now you’re probably questioning if any of this was even real, wondering if maybe this whole time, we were nothing but a dream. Well I’m here to shut that down. It was real. I may be gone, and may not know when I’ll see you again, if ever, but know this; we were real. Every laugh, every tear, every hug, every finger bite, every adventure, every late night, every kiss, it was real; all of it, I knew it, I knew you, and I will never ever forget you. I want you to remember that. Wherever I may be, I will always love you and be with you. So when you go out at night, just look up at the stars, I’ll be right there, your Valiant Wolf. Oh also, there’s a group of stars next to it that I named after you; Brave Princess. Cheesy I know. I wanted a more scientific name for it but I know you like the cringe. …I don’t think I have much time so I’ll stop here. Remember everything I said. Love you princess.”

As the message came to a close, you cried harder than ever “I love you Valko!” And as if he was there, the final bit of the message played.

“I love you more.”

And with that he was gone. You sat there with Valiant, finally letting out everything you had been bottling up inside.

After what felt like an eternity, your sobs finally calmed down. You sat there silently processing everything. And while your heart was still broken you found solice in his words: it was real. You knew it, you knew him. And while that truth would be the source of a part of you that would never fully heal, it would also be the source of of a joy you would always remember, a life you would never regret.

After a long while, you finally stood up, smiling at your new companion. “Come on Valiant. It’s a clear sky tonight, let’s go look at the stars.”

So the two of you moved forward together, carrying the promise of being reunited with the one who brought you together, the one you both loved so dearly, whether it was here or in the stars.

~Fin~