The village appeared after a long path of twisted trees and uneven stone. The houses were built from rough wood and clay with small windows and slanted roofs. People stared at Ethan the moment he stepped out from the forest trail. Their eyes widened at the glowing creature in his arms. Some backed away. Some shouted warnings. A few grabbed stones as if ready to throw.

The men who found Ethan shouted something to the crowd and made them hold back. The villagers were uneasy but obeyed. Ethan kept his steps steady and slow. He wanted them to see that the creature was not raging or attacking. It tightened itself against his chest but stayed calm. He felt its breath warm and shaky across his arm.

They brought him to a central building made of better wood than the rest. The leader pushed the door open and gestured for Ethan to enter. Inside was a broad room with a long table and a few older villagers who seemed to be council members. They studied Ethan with suspicion. When they noticed the creature their faces twisted in fear.

Ethan placed the young wolf on a blanket on the floor. He stayed close and waited. The council argued about him in their own tongue. The leader spoke rapidly pointing to Ethan then to the creature then mimicked Ethan’s earlier gentle treatment. The elders looked doubtful. One of them approached the young wolf and tried to prod it with a stick. Ethan grabbed the stick and pushed it away before thinking. The room fell silent.

Ethan knelt beside the injured creature and pointed to the wound. He showed the still fresh bandage. He pressed his hand to his chest then held it toward them trying to convey that he helped not harmed. The elders whispered among themselves watching how the creature looked at Ethan. It did not snarl or snap. It only breathed softly and kept its ears low in trust.

The eldest council member bent down and inspected the bandage. He touched the glowing fur with caution. The creature did not move. That alone shocked the room. The elder asked Ethan something that sounded like a question of why. Ethan repeated the same gesture he used before pointing to the wound then crossing his arms like protection then touching his chest again.

The elder nodded slowly but the room was still filled with unease. A loud knock struck the door and a hunter rushed in demanding the beast be killed before it grew into a danger. The hunter told the council that glowing wolves were known for unpredictable aggression. He insisted that keeping one alive near the village would bring disaster.

The council looked torn. Ethan moved to shield the young wolf again. He knew he could not speak their language but he still had one universal tool his tone. He spoke with a calm steady voice saying it was scared hungry injured and not violent. The words did not matter but the tone did. The elders watched him talk to the young wolf as if it were a child who needed comfort. The creature pressed its head against Ethan’s leg like it understood who kept it alive.

The hunter grew irritated and tried to pull the creature away. Ethan stepped in front again holding his ground. The hunter pushed him once. Ethan did not fight but did not move aside either. The room felt ready to break into chaos. The elder raised his hand and everyone stopped. He pointed to Ethan then to the creature then waved toward a small storage building outside the hall.

The decision became clear. They would not kill the creature yet. They allowed Ethan to keep it in the old storage building for the night. The hunter protested but the council insisted. A test they said. If the creature survived the night without harming the village then they would reconsider. Ethan understood the tone even if not the words. He nodded grateful.

They led him to the small building at the edge of the village. The room was empty but dry and had enough space for resting. Ethan set the creature on the straw and checked the wound again. The bleeding slowed. The creature looked up at him with tired eyes. He stroked its neck gently. It leaned into his hand.

Night came fast. The village shut their doors early. Only torches flickered outside. Ethan stayed with the creature quietly. He shared his granola bar with it letting the creature take small weak bites. Then he talked to it about home the zoo the animals he used to care for and how he did not know where he was now. The creature listened in its own way making soft hums that matched his voice.

At some point the creature placed its head on his knee. Its breathing grew steady. Ethan relaxed for the first time since waking in the strange forest. He leaned against the wall and watched moonlight filter in through the cracks. This world did not make sense but the one thing he knew remained true. An injured animal needed a calm heart and gentle hands.

If he was stuck in this world then he would do what he always did. Protect the creatures first. People could catch up later.

The creature slept peacefully. Outside the torches burned low. Ethan stayed awake listening to the stran