The four of us trudged out of the caverns, exhausted from a long day of adventuring. Cal walked close enough beside me that we were touching, since the cavern where the floor had tried to split us apart, he didn’t seem to be able to bear any distance between us. He wasn’t the only one, to be honest. His closeness was an immense comfort to me, and his eyes finally had some of the spark in them that had faded with Wulfe’s presence. I had hurt my leg a little whilst making the giant leap earlier, and I was trying my hardest not to limp so nobody would worry. Quill and Root had both come out of the cavern entirely unscathed, and for that I was immensely grateful. All I wanted to do was head back to our camp and sleep for about ten hours.

We walked slowly up the hill that led to the tree our campsite was hidden in, and as we got closer I could hear hoof steps and a familiar voice, talking seemingly to himself. I recognised that voice. Fury absolutely filled my body, and I had had enough. I had held myself back from attacking Wulfe so far, because of Cal’s plea’s, but I hated Wulfe. I hated that he clearly made Cal feel awful, I hated that he wouldn’t leave us alone, I hated that I didn’t know how he kept finding our campsites. Although, from what I could hear of his muttering, he hadn’t actually managed to find our camp this time.

‘Root, you’re good at traps, right?’ I murmured under my breath.

Root nodded.

‘Any chance that once we get rid of him, you could set some up around here?’

‘Oh, definitely.’ Root said with a big grin, clearly eager to get some payback on Wulfe – after all, he was Cal’s friend too.

Quill piped up with ‘I think I might be able to help you hide a little better too, if that would be of interest?’

I nodded at her. ‘That would be incredible, thank you both.’

I turned to Cal. ‘Hey, I hope you know that whenever you want to talk about any of this – Wulfe, your past, whatever – I’m always going to be here for you.’

Cal nodded, not meeting my gaze.

‘Right now though Cal, I’m going to go speak to Wulfe. Alone, if that’s alright?’

He nodded again, and Quill and Root came over to him, giving me a glance that said they wouldn’t leave his side till I returned.

Nodding, I nuzzled Cal’s neck, and then headed up the hill alone, to have a long overdue talk with Wulfe.