Way of the Wolf

5

Noira blinked in confusion as Eros helped her onto stable dry land. "T-The...Outcast?"

"Yep. The Outcast. Hey Lily, mind patching up our new friend here?"

It was then that the fairy came over. She was wearing a light green blouse along with a white skirt. Blue eyes and light brown hair. Upon closer inspection, Noira noticed that her wings seemed a little smaller than a normal fairy's. She wondered if she could even fly with wings that small.

"Yeah of course. Now, hold still please, this won't take long."

Soft green light suddenly covered her hands and she placed each of them onto Noira's arm and shoulder. Noira expected pain to come upon contact but she felt nothing. She watched as the wounds started closing up. Lily then removed her hands once the bite and scratch marks had completely closed up. As if nothing had ever happened.

"Hey, someone get the poor girl a change of clothes." Lily said, looking back at the others. "Or at least something to dry herself off."

Noira was about to protest but stayed silent when the human put his jacket over her shoulders. It was a boy with red hair and green eyes. Under the black hoodie that he had just given Noira, he wore a torn brown t-shirt along with black jeans.

"A werewolf huh. First one I've seen up close."

"Don't go fangirling all over her Rowan." the water nymph warned. She had short but curly light blue hair with eyes to match. Noira could only describe the sea-green outfit she was wearing as some variation of a one-piece swimsuit. "And honestly Eros, what were you thinking dragging her underwater when she's injured? You probably aggravated her wounds even more. Not to mention someone's gonna think that something happened if they see her blood in the water."

"She needed help and you guys were the closest." Eros replied with a shrug. "Highly doubt her pack will do anything since they let one of their members attack her."

"I guess that's true..." the water nymph then knelt down to Noira. "You're probably really confused about what's happening aren't you? Wondering why we're all gathered here even though we're all completely different species."

"Why are you guys helping me?" Noira hesitantly asked. "Not that I'm not grateful for you guys healing me but...I'm a complete stranger."

"One of our rules is to always help a fellow outcast in need." the vampire said, stepping in. She looked like a typical vampire. Shoulder-length black hair and red eyes while wearing a black lacy dress. "The fact that you, a werewolf was out alone in the woods and injured means that someone around you that seems to fit in with everyone else that you live with called you out for whatever reason and before you knew it, you were in a fight with that person."

Noira looked down, rubbing her arms. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only because we've all been through something like that."

Noira looked up only to see the vampire extend a hand for her to shake. "My name is Anne."

"I-I'm Noira."

Anne smiled as Noira shook her hand. "Guess introductions are in hand. As you probably know, the siren is Eros, the fairy that healed you is Lily, and the human that gave you his jacket is Rowan. The water nymph is named Nyx, and the one over there," she gestured over to the naga that was leaning against a tree. His tail was green with yellow stripes. He had blonde hair along with red eyes as well. "That's Neo. I'm assuming that based on you've heard so far, you at least have a pretty good idea on why we're all here together."

Noira nodded. "Think the name gave away most of it. But none of that still explains why you guys decided to help me."

"No one deserves to be alone just because you're different." Rowan said, sitting next to her. "And if you can't find company where you live, then you find it somewhere else."

Noira simply nodded, staying quiet for a few moments before giving the hoodie back to Rowan and standing up. "Well it's been nice meeting all of you but I think it'll be best if I go back to my pack."

"What why?" Eros questioned. "Literally like ten minutes ago you would do anything to get away from them. Now you wanna go back?"

"To be honest I don't." Noira admitted. "But I also know that I'll be in less trouble if I just come back on my own rather than them come and find me. And the last thing that I want is for strangers who were nice to me to have to deal with my pack attacking them."

Everyone had a disappointed look when she said that, as if they didn't want her to leave. Noira couldn't figure out why though. After a few moments, Eros simply sighed.

"Well if that's what you really want then we can't really force you to stay. Alright I'll take you back."

"Just come back to wherever you met Eros if you're ever sick of your pack giving you hell." Nyx said.

"Yeah, we'd love to get to know you more." Lily added.

Noira nodded and held her breath as Eros pulled her back underwater. Once they were on the other side, the siren helped her up onto land.

"Think I'll see you again?" he asked.

"Sure why not." Noira said with a shrug. "You and your friends seem nice. Plus I need to find some way to repay you guys."

Eros nodded. "You sure that you can handle whatever happens when you get back?"

"Well I'm soaked so I'm pretty sure that I can use that to my advantage."

"Smart. Well either way, I really do hope that you come back. I don't think I feel alright until I know you found something worth smiling about."

"Then I'll be sure to come back so you can see for yourself." Noira promised before walking. As she headed back, she couldn't help but be confused as well as grateful for everything the Outcasts had done.

'They...actually wanted me around and didn't even know or ask what makes me different from my pack...they just saw me as someone who was alone and needed help and did something about it.'

Though Noira tried to think of a good reason for why she was soaked, all of her thoughts just revolved around the group that she had just met.

'Yeah...I'll definitely be back.'