The first thing Ethan Collins noticed was the cold ground on his cheek. He remembered walking into the staff break room at the zoo after a long morning of cleaning enclosures and running a quick check on the red pandas. He had sat down for one second and blinked a little too slow. Now he was on dirt not tile. The air smelled nothing like home. It was heavy with damp leaves and a sweet wild scent he could not place. A forest surrounded him and the sunlight came down in soft sheets through tall unfamiliar trees.

He sat up slowly trying to figure out what he was looking at. He worked in a zoo for years and could identify most smells and signs of animals but these tracks around him were different. They curved in odd ways as if whatever left them had claws that bent inward. Ethan rubbed his head and whispered to himself trying to stay calm. He had fallen asleep maybe this was a dream. He checked his pockets. He still had his keeper gloves his multitool and a half eaten granola bar. Nothing else made sense though. The forest moved with sounds he never heard before. Low hums. Soft clicking. Leaves rustling even when the wind stopped.

A faint whine reached him from somewhere behind a thick fallen log. It was the kind of sound a scared young animal makes. Ethan focused on that for a moment because animals were the one thing that made sense to him no matter where he was. He stood slowly approached the log and peeked over it. What he saw made him freeze. A small wolf like creature lay curled against the wood. Its fur was silver but glowed faintly like moonlight caught on water. Its legs were thin like it had not eaten in days and one side of its body had a cut pressed full of dirt and dried blood. Its eyes opened and shone a deep icy blue. It looked afraid but not aggressive.

Ethan knew the look. It was the look an injured animal gives before deciding whether to trust or bite. He crouched low and kept his voice steady the same way he would with a frightened fox back at the zoo. He did not reach for it right away. He gave it time. The creature watched him with ears flat but tail still. Its breathing was shallow and uneven.

He spoke softly telling it that he meant no harm. The creature did not understand the words but the tone helped. Ethan tore part of his shirt to make a temporary bandage. He walked closer in small steps. When he reached the creature he let it sniff his hand first. It hesitated then touched his glove with its nose. Ethan worked fast cleaning the wound with water from his bottle and removing the dirt with careful pressure. The creature whimpered but did not snap. When he wrapped the cloth around the wound he felt the heat of its body and the strange soft glow pulsing under its skin. This was no wolf from home.

When he finished the creature sighed and lowered its head. Ethan stroked its neck gently. It accepted the touch like it wanted to believe he was safe. A rustle came from the trees behind him. Ethan turned expecting another animal. Instead several people stepped out wearing leather armor carrying crude spears and looking nothing like anyone from his world. Their eyes went wide when they saw the glowing wolf at his side.

One of them shouted that the beast should be killed before it attacked. Ethan raised his hands fast and told them to stop. They did not understand his words but his stance made them pause. They approached with caution looking between him and the creature as if confused why a beast had not torn him apart yet.

The leader asked something in a language Ethan did not know. But he understood the intent. They wanted the creature dead. Ethan stood between them and the young wolf and kept his palms out. He shook his head again and again making it clear they were not to harm it. The leader looked frustrated. Another man poked the creature with his spear handle. Ethan stepped forward and shoved the spear aside. The act shocked everyone including Ethan.

The group murmured among themselves surprised this strange man defended a monster. Ethan pointed to the wound then made a gesture as if caring for something hurt. He mimed cleaning wrapping and helping. The men exchanged uncertain looks. One of them finally lowered his weapon a little. The leader sighed and gestured for Ethan to follow. They pointed toward a village path deeper in the woods.

Ethan looked at the creature. It was too weak to walk. He carefully lifted it into his arms. It was lighter than he expected but warm and trembling. The men reacted again with disbelief. He carried the glowing wolf as if it were a regular injured animal and followed the group toward the village hoping someone here understood compassion even if they did not understand his words. The creature rested its head against his chest as if holding on to the only safe thing it had left.