Chapter 92: The First Sign of Hope
The first golden rays of the morning sun pierced through the dense jungle canopy, painting the Silver-Grey camp in warm light.
Koda was already awake, efficiently kicking loose dirt over the embers of the fire pit to extinguish the Red Evil before the day’s heat could amplify it.
Kael, who had spent the entire night curled protectively around Nuan, instantly opened his eyes.
He sat up, completely ignoring the stiffness in his body, and looked up at the two giants who were already awake and stretching their massive frames.
He grabbed the empty wooden bowl, holding it out with an unyielding glare.
"Red Root!" he demanded, his voice a gravelly morning growl.
Zuri let out a soft, deep giggle, nudging her sister’s shoulder. "Sister, isn’t he the most intensely caring mate the Witch could have possibly found?"
Amara gave a slow, rhythmic nod. The two massive sisters walked over to Nuan’s still form, their large eyes focusing as they meticulously inspected her vitals. Amara looked up at Selka, who was already standing by Nuan’s side.
"The Witch’s body has definitely reacted to the first dose of the Red Root," Amara communicated, her tone measured. "However, the healing effect is incredibly slow and barely visible to the naked eye. Her body was far too depleted. Let us keep administering a steady, small dose a few times throughout the day."
"We will follow your knowledge," Selka nodded respectfully.
Amara complied, lowering her large head to dig her tusks into the damp soil once more.
Zuri expertly pulled out a fresh, glowing Red Root, pinching it between her big fingers until the thick, blood-colored syrup filled Kael’s wooden bowl to the brim.
Without a single second of delay, Kael leaned over Nuan and began feeding her the potent syrup, drop by drop, waiting with absolute patience for her to swallow.
Amara and Zuri watched for a moment, then turned their large ears toward the former Alpha. "Show us to the river now..."
"Oh, absolutely. I’ll gladly show you around our territory myself," Selka said warmly.
Zuri lowered her huge human palm to the dirt; Selka climbed on, and with a fluid, sweeping motion, Zuri lifted her up and set her securely onto her broad shoulder.
"That way," Selka said, pointing her finger toward the thickest part of the jungle.
As the two giants moved out with Selka guiding them, the camp began to bustle.
The hunter pack quietly slipped into the shadows of the brush to begin their daily hunt, and Koda meticulously began setting Nuan’s clay pottery out onto the flat rock to dry under the mounting sunlight.
The moment Kael ensured Nuan had swallowed every single drop of the medicine, he set the bowl aside and sat cross-legged by her side, his gaze entirely locked onto her face.
An hour passed in absolute silence. Then, Kael’s body violently tensed.
His sharp eyes caught a microscopic movement. Nuan’s long, dark eyelashes twitched for a mere fraction of a second.
A sudden, explosive surge of hope hit his chest, and his tail instantly began to wiggle against the dirt.
He leaned his face incredibly close to hers, his breath hitching. "Nuan...?" he whispered desperately. "Nuan, can you hear me?"
She didn’t wake up. She remained lost in unconsciousness.
However, her smooth brow suddenly knit into a tiny, distressed frown.
Kael’s eyes immediately shot upward, glaring viciously at the morning sun creeping across the clearing. "It’s bothering you," he murmured under his breath.
He hated the harsh glare hitting her skin, but he fiercely refused to allow the other wolves to constantly touch her, pick her up, and move her back and forth into the den.
Thinking fast, Kael reached out and snapped a large elephant-ear leaf from a nearby bush.
He held it manually over her head, casting a deep, cooling shadow over her face, while using his other hand to pull the heavy blanket down past her waist so the summer heat wouldn’t make her feverish.
Standing near the edge of the clearing, Lyra and Tala watched his silent, desperate struggle. They quickly shared a deeply remorseful glance, their hearts heavy.
Moving with quiet determination, they immediately began searching the edge of the woods, gathering three long, thick, and durable branches alongside a handful of exceptionally strong jungle vines.
Carrying the materials, they hesitantly walked toward the Alpha’s spot. Lyra stopped a few paces back, her voice trembling slightly. "We know you haven’t forgiven us, Alpha... but please, allow us to help the Witch."
Kael didn’t say a single word. He didn’t even look at them. He kept his unblinking gaze entirely fixed on Nuan’s face, his arm locked in place as he held the large leaf over her eyes.
Taking his silence as permission to proceed, Tala and Lyra moved with rapid speed.
They began to construct the exact temporary tent structure Nuan had built on that painful night—the very night they had foolishly barred her from using the alpha’s den while Kael lay unconscious.
They dug the base of the three long sticks deep into the earth around Nuan, forming a massive, wide tripod shape. They lashed the top ends tightly together using the durable vines.
"Alpha, please allow us," Tala whispered softly.
Reaching over, they gently took the heavy blanket from Nuan’s lower body.
With careful precision, they draped and tied the thick fabric over the wooden tripod structure, creating a perfect, sturdy canopy right above Nuan without ever having to touch or move her body.
They intentionally expanded the radius of the sticks, making the tent large enough to comfortably shade both Nuan and the space where Kael was sitting.
Kael looked up at the completed structure, watching the harsh sunlight instantly vanish from Nuan’s face, replaced by a cool, deep shadow.
Without expecting a thank you, Tala and Lyra silently turned on their heels, walking quietly back toward their rocky den to leave the Alphas in peace.
Kael slowly lowered his aching arm, dropping the large leaf onto the grass.
Reaching into the wooden bowl of cool water, he dipped a fresh leaf into it and began to tenderly wash her face, soothing her skin from the mounting summer heat as they waited for the second dose to work.