#animal attack

  Adair led Chorl into the woods to the spot they’d left Achilles in. The wolf had disappeared without a trace — except for the scarily still body half-covered by the undergrowth. Adair drew back with a whimper when they saw Achilles’ ashen face, but Chorl knelt beside him, checking his blood-splattered wrist for a pulse. The poor boy looked awful; he had deep gashes across his chest and stomach, and what looked like bite marks in one shoulder, and all of the wounds were bleeding heavily. Chorl felt a wave of horror at the sight, but then a spark of relief as he felt the weak beat of a pulse. He carefully lifted the boy into his arms, wincing at the low whine of pain it elicited, and turning back to Adair, whose face was wet with tears they hadn’t seemed to notice, eyes fixed on their brother as Chorl led them back to the house.

  Back inside, Misken was on the phone to Adair’s father, clearly struggling.

  “No, sir— no, just listen, we didn’t know until— no, I’ve called them already, I- I—“

  Chorl laid Achilles down on the sofa as delicately as he could, then turned to take the phone from his husband. 

  “Mr. de Caine? It’s Chorl Cadenza, yes— both of your children are here, I believe they were involved in a wolf attack. Achilles is seriously injured, but we’ve called the emergency services. We’re in the cottage on the other side of the woods, we’ll see you soon.”

  Chorl hung up as de Caine spewed off angry questions. If he wanted to be angry, he could do it later. The sound of sirens grew closer and Chorl opened the door to let the paramedics inside and inform them of what had happened.

  Then one asked to speak to Adair. 

  Chorl glanced at the child, noting how pale and drawn they looked, rocking back and forth slightly on their chair as they watched Achilles, unblinking.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, they’re very shaken up—“

  “Sir, we need to know exactly what happened so we can best help their brother.”

  Chorl still hesitated, but he knew she was right. He walked over to Adair, sitting down next to them. 

  “Kade, can you hear me?”

  Adair nodded affirmative, but didn’t take their eyes off the scene in front of them. 

  “Kade, the paramedic needs to ask you a few questions, if it’s alright with you.”

  Adair looked at him then, and the paramedic, not looking alright in the slightest but nodding regardless. 

  The paramedic knelt down in front of them and smiled kindly. 

  “Okay, Adair, is it?”

  They nodded. 

  “Great, and Achilles is your brother, is that correct? Can you tell me how old he is?”

  “S-s-seventeen,” Adair whispered. 

  “Alright, thank you, and can you tell me what happened?”

  Adair hesitated, and Chorl wrapped an arm around them, anchoring them. 

  “We… we were in the woods and I was running… he told me to slow down… the-then we heard the howl and I tripped. The wolf came after me first but Akkie stepped on a t-t-twig and-d then… and then it got him. And I ran away. It’s all my fault,” they finished, new tears filling their eyes. Chorl’s hold on them tightened. 

  “Hey, it’s not your fault, okay, kid? You did exactly the right thing coming here.”

  The paramedic nodded her agreement. 

  “He’s right, Adair. You saved your brother’s life. He’s going to be okay, thanks to you.”

  Adair looked up to meet her gaze but then they noticed the other paramedics taking Achilles outside, and panic returned to their expression. 

  “W-wait, where are you taking him, wait—“

  They stood on shaky legs and started after him, but the paramedic gently blocked their path. 

  “Hey, it’s okay, they’re taking him to the hospital,” she explained. 

  “But, but you said he’d be fine,” they replied accusingly, still craning their neck to see their brother disappear into an ambulance. 

  “He will be, but we can’t fix him up here. Trust us, Adair. He’ll be okay.”

  “Listen to her, Kade,” Chorl chimed in softly. Adair looked up at Chorl, his grounding touch helping calm them a little. 

  “Well, can I go with him?”

  The paramedic shook her head. 

  “Sorry, honey, we need to wait until your dad gets here.”

  Chorl noticed Adair flinch a little at the mention of their father, and the fight drained out of them.

  “Okay,” they murmured, sitting back down and wrapping their arms around themself.

  The paramedic met Chorl’s eyes and gestured for them to have a word in private.

  “Do you know if everything’s alright at home?” she asked.

  Alarm bells switched on in Chorl’s mind.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I noticed that Adair has some injuries that weren’t from the attack — the type that we sometimes look for with kids living in dangerous homes. What are their parents like?”

  Chorl stared at her, a ghost of hope igniting in his chest.

  “You really think you can help them?”

  She laid a hand on his arm. “Sir, if something’s going on, we need to know. Then, yes, we can help in any way we—“

  They were interrupted by the sound of someone striding through the front door. 

  “Where is my son?” Angus de Caine demanded.

  Chorl noticed the paramedic stiffen in shock next to him, her face paling. 

  “He’s their father?” she muttered shakily under her breath.

  “Well, yes, but—“

  Chorl couldn’t say any more as de Caine stormed over to them.

  “Where is he?”

  “Mr. de Caine, please calm down, he’s okay, he’s—“

  De Caine glared at Chorl, cutting him off. 

  “Don’t tell me to calm down, Cadenza. I know what you’re like. Putting ideas in my child’s head, and now putting the other one in danger!”

  Misken had reappeared at Chorl’s side and now addressed de Caine. 

  “Don’t talk to him like that. He’s the reason Achilles is alive right now.”

  De Caine opened his mouth to respond, then caught sight of Adair, shrinking back against the chair. He shot them a withering look.

  “Why aren’t you with your brother?” he demanded harshly.

  “I— I—“

  Adair could barely get another word out before de Caine had grabbed them by the sleeve and dragged them out, the paramedic quickly following, spouting apologies and reassurances about Achilles’ condition. Chorl followed after her.

  “Wait— do you want to continue our… conversation later?” he asked desperately.

  The paramedic looked panicked as she glanced between Chorl and de Caine.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary— have a good day, sir…”

  And she disappeared, along with de Caine and Adair, leaving Chorl feeling helpless as that spark of hope for Adair was snuffed out.

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