A Second Encounter

A week had passed since Kaelin's first encounter with the wolf-like man, and she had almost forgotten about him. She was out gathering herbs again, this time in a different part of the forest, searching for a specific type of flower that only bloomed under the light of the full moon. Her mother needed it to make a healing balm for one of the village elders, and Kaelin was determined to find it. As she walked through the forest, her senses on high alert, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. The wolf-like man was sitting on a rock, his back against a tree, and his eyes fixed on the ground. Kaelin's instincts immediately went on high alert, and she slowed her approach, her hand on the dagger at her belt. The man's head jerked up, and he locked gazes with Kaelin. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Kaelin could see that the man was injured, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, and his eyes sunken with fatigue. He was rummaging through a small pouch, his movements clumsy and awkward. "What are you doing here?" Kaelin asked, her voice firm but cautious. The man looked up at her, his eyes pleading. "I'm looking for...herbs," he said, his voice rough. "I need something to heal my wounds." Kaelin's gaze narrowed. She could see that the man's injuries were serious, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him. "What kind of wounds?" she asked, her eyes scanning his face and body. The man hesitated, then pulled up his shirt, revealing a series of deep gashes and bruises on his torso. Kaelin's eyes widened as she took in the extent of his injuries. She recognized some of the marks as being from a beast, but others looked like they had been inflicted by a human. "I've been...attacked," the man said, his voice grim. "By a pack of wolves. I've been trying to find something to heal my wounds, but I don't know what I'm looking for." Kaelin's expression softened slightly as she took in the man's condition. She knew that she had to be careful, but she also knew that she couldn't just leave him to suffer. "I might be able to help you," she said, her voice cautious. "But I need to know more about your injuries." The man nodded, his eyes grateful. "I'll tell you anything you want to know," he said. "Just please, help me." Kaelin hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She began to examine the man's wounds, her fingers probing gently as she assessed the extent of the damage. She could see that he was lucky to be alive, but she also knew that she might be able to help him. As she worked, Kaelin realized that the man's wounds were more complex than she had initially thought. She would need to gather a specific combination of herbs to create a healing balm that would help him recover. She set off to gather the necessary ingredients, with the wolf-like man watching her from a distance. As she worked, Kaelin couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the man, and why he was being pursued by wolves. She also couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye, and that she was taking a risk by helping him. But for now, she was determined to help him heal, and to learn more about him.