I've Been Torn

Enelya nodded, and took her side of the trap, and pulled. The combined strength of the two tugged, and pulled, but it seemed like no use. Enelya tried again with all her strength, and she could tell Allen was too. But the metal thing was built to capture animals with much more strength than them.

Enelya carefully let it go, careful not to put the animal in any more pain than it already was. By the caked blood, she could tell that it had been there for a while. A few wolves with bloody mouths apparently had already tried to get it open. Enelya bit her lip. She put her hand on the ground, which a small twisted plant sprouted, and Enelya picked off the flowers. She called for the bloodied mouth wolves to come, and offered them the plant.

“It’ll help your bleeding mouth.” She told them. The wolves snarled, but Enelya’s eyes narrowed, and she snorted. “Fine, let your mouths bleed!” She growled. The hardheaded animals whined and chewed on the plants. “Hard headed dogs they are.” Enelya shook her head, and returned to where the trap had captured the poor pup.

Enelya kneeled, and stroked the pup. “What’s your name sweetie?”

“Donar,” he managed to whine. “Okay Donar, we’re gonna get you out of here, but you have to be patient, okay?” The wolf pup nodded, and closed his eyes. Enelya grew some rare plants, mashed them in her palm, and put the wet plant juice and pulp onto the caked leg to ease the pain. “That should help…” She said.

Enelya sighed, and could feel the intensity of the pack. They all watched her work, and she could feel their ever-judging eyes. To fail would bring unwanted hate upon Enelya. She took a deep breath, and looked over to Allen. “Ready to try again?”

Enelya took a deep breath, and looked up at Allen, “ready?” She grabbed a hold of the trap once again, and began to pull. She tugged, and grunted. Still it wasn’t budging. She yelled at it, and cursed humans under her breath. The Head Mistress should know about this… she thought.

Enelya felt something on the back of her shirt. She raised an eyebrow, and looked over at the wolves. On either side of the trap, about five wolves had grabbed onto Allen, Enelya, and each other. Enelya beamed. “Yeah, that’s right guys, team work!” Enelya was sure with all this extra strength it would get the trap open. The might of the pack and the two people pulled ferociously, and the trap started to move a little, but not enough for Donar to get his leg out.

Enelya let go carefully, and sighed. She rubbed her eyes, and forehead, trying to think of what to do. She looked over at Allen, and she could tell he was as determined as she was to get the young wolf out of this mess.

Enelya crossed her legs, and tapped her forefinger onto her forehead in thought. “Think, think, think Enelya!” She cursed herself. This little wolf didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. It was necessary that she free him. Ideas swam in her head, and she looked around, trying to find something… That would help. Until –

“Aha!” She screamed. She jumped up, and picked up a twig. She put it in-between the two different clenches of the trap’s maw, and looked up at Allen. “Alright, I’m going to expand this twig, which will hopefully separate the two clenches. I want you to pull Donar out when it’s open enough, okay?”

Enelya really hoped this would work. She didn’t want to think about what her other options would be. Allen’s sword gleamed in the sunlight filtered by the trees, and Enelya didn’t even consider it. She looked to Allen for an okay, to start on her next plan.

As Donar tasted sweet freedom Enelya burst with laugher, she took Donar in her arms, and cooed, and stroked the happy pup’s head. She kissed it lightly, and sat on the ground, ready to go to work on its leg.

The other wolves ran to Enelya, ready to show their affection, barking and yipping. Some even went to Allen, happy as can be. They were so sweet, and so grateful, Enelya continued to laugh, overjoyed that she was able to help. Enelya sat down on the ground, and asked the wolves to back away as she worked on Donar’s leg.

The wolves quickly obliged, and they retreated over around Allen. Enelya pressed her hands against the soil, and different plants rose from the ground as Enelya picked leaved, roots, and flowers, crushing them in her palms. A plant with long thick leaves sprouted, and Enelya put her herbal mush into the leaf, and wrapped it carefully around the young pup’s leg with a splint along with it.

The pup yelped a bit, but Enelya stroked his fur gently to make him feel better. Donar stood on his own, and limped over to his parents. Still sitting in the dirt, Enelya smiled, and pushed some hair out of her eyes. “There you go sweetie.”

Adonis walked from the group, and nudged Enelya hand, and Enelya giggled, and stroked his head, and scratched behind his ear.

“I cannot thank you enough, Enelya,” he said in the utmost appreciation. “Donar is the next wolf in line to lead the pack. He is very special to us.” Donar yipped a bit, and Enelya laughed, waving at him. She stood, and wolves nuzzled her with their thank yous. Embarrassed, Enelya scratched the back of her neck, and assured them it was her pleasure.

Enelya walked back over to Allen, and touched his arm. She was so glad she was able to free Donar, and she rested her head on Allen’s arm. “Thanks for helping, too.” She whispered. She watched the happy wolf pack run around. “Now guys be gentle with Donar while he heals, okay? I’ll come back in a couple days to see how his leg is doing, alright?”

"But where to put it... hmm..."

Enelya thought herself, and got the perfect idea. “Let’s take it back to the Head Mistress. For proof. She needs to know that these things are out here, and harming the animals. Not only can it harm more of them, but it can also harm a student. If animals doesn’t concern her, the safety of her students will.” Or at least one would hope. Enelya wasn’t sure she had ever talked to the Head Mistress, but there was always time for a first.

Enelya giggled as Allen scrutinized her kissing the young pup, and merely stuck out her tongue, while putting the young dog back on the ground. She nudged him a bit, and looked up at the Tin Man. “Loosen up, Tin Man. There’s nothing wrong with affection.” She smiled brightly as she saw the wolves happily rejoicing. “Isn’t it beautiful? To see their happiness?” She could see how uncomfortable he was getting with the wolves surrounding him, and she laughed, and shooed them away. “Alright guys, we need to head out, and show the Head Mistress this thing so it won’t happen again.”

They howled their appreciation in unison, and Enelya couldn’t help but stand back, and blush. She removed some idle hair from her face, and had an embarrassed smile across her face. As soon as Allen complimented her with her talents, Enelya only went redder. She waved her good byes, and pushed Allen softly. “Bye everyone, I’ll be back soon!”

"It wasn't really a big deal," he said to her. "I'd do anything to help you or help something important to you."

Enelya laughed. What was a big deal to him then? She raised an eyebrow, and looked up at him. “What counts as a big deal then? Because everything that I’ve been appreciative of, you’ve said is ‘no big deal’. I think they are big deals. Because not every day do you see people helping wolves. Most are scared of them.” She shrugged, for she never really had a fear of animals; unless they were the continuously cranky ones. Like badgers.

~

As they arrived to the Head Mistress’ office, Enelya walked through the door, and thanked Allen for holding it for her. Sure, it wasn’t a big deal, but she couldn’t go without saying thank you.

Enelya tried a smile, but could only managed a crooked grin. “Umm, hello Mistress, I am Enelya Norvayn, and I’m afraid there’s a problem in the woods…” She started, feeling somewhat intimidated. For what reason she wasn’t sure, but she was just frightened of the Head Mistress, never talking to her before.

“We found a young wolf pup caught in a bear trap out there.” Enelya’s intimidation vanished, and her voice found some ground. “I was able to free the poor thing, but I’m afraid there might be more out there.” Enelya motioned for Allen to show her the trap they had brought with them. “See? There’s proof.”

Enelya smiled, “Abigail.” She repeated, making the Head Mistress not feel so old. She looked over at Allen, and smirked. She was sure he knew what it felt like to be old. Not physically… But mentally. Enelya looked over the young Head Mistress, and wondered if she liked her job. She seemed to do a fairly good job at it. Besides the dislike of the buildings, Enelya enjoyed the scenery on the grounds.

Enelya felt herself sigh as the Head Mistress – Abigail assured Enelya that she would take care of the problem in the woods. Enelya relaxed slightly, and looked back at Allen once again with a smile gracing her lips, wider from before. She was pleased that Abigail was going to do something about the bear trap problem. Honestly, Enelya had only seen few bears actually in the woods. She wondered if it had been because of the traps, or if there were just few bears around the island…

Thinking, she wondered where it was exactly in the woods that they had found the bear trap. “It was… By a wolf’s den. I’m not exactly sure where in the woods. Do you Allen?” Enelya bit her lip in thought, and shrugged, without coming up with a satisfying answer for Abigail. “I’m sorry I’m not much help. It was on the way back to the Academy, I know that much.” Unfortunately for Enelya, she was never very good at directions. She smiled, and nodded. “I made a healing mixture, and put a splint on the young one. He should be good as new in a few weeks.”