“Callum?” I called out. “Are you alright?” 

“Just a moment, my boy!” I heard him call back to me. “I just have to get through this mess and to the door!” 

While he navigated his “mess” I heard more crashing and soft cursing. I hesitatingly reached towards the doorknob, not sure if I needed to enter and help him. I wasn’t sure if the door was even unlocked. I definitely wouldn’t keep my door unlocked if I lived out here. 

Finally, the door swung open and Callum stood there, his gray hair sticking up, but a fond smile on his face. 

“I’m so glad you’ve come to visit me!” he exclaimed. 

A smile spread on my own face. “I said I’d come visit you and I even brought my friends.” 

The crow flew down on my shoulder at that moment. I adjusted the rabbit in my arm who was twitching his nose. 

“How lovely! Come on in, there should be just enough room for everyone! And is that one yours as well?” 

I turned back to see the cougar standing several feet away, still stalking me between the trees. I turned to Callum. 

“It’s…It's injured. Do you think you could help it?” I asked. 

Callum beamed. “Why of course! Even if it is one of the strongest predators around here, I’m always happy to help a friend of yours! Now hurry inside, come come.” 

I couldn’t help feeling nervous about the whole thing but I entered anyway. The “mess” seemed to be stacks upon stacks of books, papers, and even random things like pots and pans. I wondered if the crashing sounds were those pots and pans falling over. I could barely see his dining table and chairs because they were almost completely covered by the clutter. 

“Sit wherever you’d like!” Callum said. “Sit on the books, the pans, the floor, I don’t mind! If you’re really picky, I guess I could clean off one of the chairs though.” 

And where would he put those books he’d have to move? There was barely any walking space as it was. I tried to smile kindly. 

“That’s okay, I can stand. We’ll have to head out again soon so we can make it back to the palace before sundown.” 

“Ah, of course. It’s quite the walk, hm? I couldn’t be happier that you decided to make the trip despite that though! Now where is your large friend? Are they not coming in?” 

Callum went to the doorway and peeked out. He ushered the cougar closer. “Come on in, I can’t heal your wound from way over there, now can I?” 

As he continued ushering it forward, I eventually saw the cougar’s head peek inside the cottage. We locked eyes and I couldn’t help tensing up. In a small space such as this…there’d be no escape from it if it wanted to attack us. Is this really such a good idea? 

To my horror, Callum bumped the cougar’s bum with his hand to push it into the house. The cougar quickly turned its head to hiss at him. Callum only laughed. 

“Let’s get a look at your injury now, hm?” 

I pointed it out but it was pretty obvious with the gashes covered in dried blood around its back leg. Callum kneeled down and examined the wound first. Then he raised his hands to its leg. 

“This might sting a bit but it’ll only be for a moment! Hang in there!” 

Callum muttered a spell to himself and a warm glow surrounded the cougar’s wound. The cougar growled, most likely instinctively, probably because of the pain that Callum warned us about. Thankfully it didn’t bite Callum’s head off and only growled quietly as its wound was healed. 

When the glow burned out and Callum stood, sighing with relief, the cougar moved its leg as if it was testing its mobility. 

“That should do it! Come back if it becomes unbearably itchy, yes?” 

“Is that a side effect?” I asked, my mouth agape.