Chapter 3 The Meeting

Silence engulfed them as she emerged from the bushes. Interpreting his stillness as a signal that an attack was off the table, she gradually lowered her hands. His watchful gaze ensured she wasn't attempting to retrieve a weapon from her attire.

"Please, I beg of you, do not harm me. I will leave you be if you promise to do the same."

Her voice barely carried above a whisper, her expression now pleading. A lone tear trickled down her cheek. He remained fixed on her with his one good eye, not uttering a word or twitching a muscle. He understood the peril humans posed in moments of panic.

If she possessed a gun, she could deal him a serious blow before he could end her life. He had no desire to suffer any more damage to his already battered body.

"If I offer you sustenance, will you depart from here?"

Her last statement piqued his interest. Food. By all means, yes, I crave food! He chuffed through his jowls, blood spattering from his nostrils. He gradually nodded his head. She flinched at his motion and sound. Then, upon closer inspection of him, he intently monitored her for any deceitful intentions.

"You desire sustenance?"

This time, her tone held a touch more authority, almost reaching a normal level. Once again, he chuffed and nodded his head, hoping this female understood his response. She wore a puzzled expression and tilted her head to the side, mimicking the familiar stance dogs assume when they encounter or hear something perplexing.

This struck him as comical and he couldn't resist, he let out a series of chuffs. But then the pain from his wound struck and he came to a halt abruptly, causing him to cough up more blood. The woman observed this display with a look of shock, which then transformed to concern as she saw him cough up blood and take notice of the gaping wound in his side.

"Oh my goodness! You're wounded! You poor creature!"

It was evident to Damien that her voice was brimming with genuine sentiments this time. He had no doubts about her being a threat now. With great caution, he moved his head up and down, his eyes fixed on her every move. As she cautiously reached for the lower pocket of her coat, he tracked her hand's movement, all the while remaining silent.

Carefully extracting a shiny packet with a combination of red and silver, she showed him that it posed no threat. Damien visibly relaxed, realizing that it was merely a food packet and not another weapon. Seeing this as a positive sign, she slowly peeled it open and retrieved a dark brown bar.

Using her forefinger and thumb, she gently tossed the bar towards him. In response, Damien gave her a stern look, conveying a clear message of "Don't you dare move!" He then lowered his head and sniffed at the bar, the scent instantly triggering memories of elegant ladies in frilly dresses, happily popping little brown balls into their mouths and laughing.

After one last glance in her direction, Damien cautiously picked up the candy and started to chew on it. The taste was sweet, with hints of nuttiness that blended in perfectly. He quickly consumed the food bar and looked at her again.

"Apologies, that's all I have with me."

Her tone revealed her genuine regret for not being able to offer more. Damien continued to observe her, waiting for her next move.

"I have more food at my campsite. If you promise not to attack me, I can offer you more."

This time, her voice exuded more confidence, emboldened by the fact that the massive wolf hadn't harmed her and had somehow understood her. Damien studied her for a few seconds before nodding his head and chuffing through his jowls. She then turned to her left and began to slowly walk in that direction.

Maintaining her eye contact, she watched to see if Damien would follow. After a few paces, he finally took a step forward, allowing her some distance before moving again. He didn't want to scare her off, especially if she was willing to provide him with more food.

With a cautious gaze over her shoulder, she carefully navigated her way back to her camp, mindful of any protruding branches that may cause her to stumble. Upon reaching the edge of the small clearing where her tent was erected, she came upon a shallow hole in the earth with pieces of wood scattered within. Keeping a safe distance, she waited for him to approach, still unsure of his intentions. Despite her promise of food, he remained several feet away, not yet willing to fully trust her.

After a brief staring match, she finally broke the silence.

"Do you really not intend to harm me?"

The tremor in her voice betrayed her lingering fear as she realized she would have to turn her back to retrieve the promised food from inside the tent. He simply tilted his head from side to side in response, causing a chill to run down her spine as she marveled at the fact that the massive wolf seemed to understand her words.

With deliberate movements, she turned and opened the flap of the tent, reaching inside to pull out a large backpack. She carefully unzipped it and extracted a bag of beef jerky, tossing the pieces to him one by one. By the third piece, he had approached close enough to catch them in midair.

When the bag was nearly half-empty, he looked up at her and shook his head to signal that he had had enough. After a few more seconds of locked gazes, he licked his lips and began to cautiously sniff around the campsite, searching for a water source. It was at this moment that a spark of recognition lit up in the woman's eyes, and she realized what he was looking for.

"Oh no! You must be so thirsty after eating all that salty beef. Let me get you a bowl and some water."

Her voice had returned to its normal timbre, devoid of any fear. She opened another pocket on the backpack and retrieved a small silver container, removing all the items inside to place the bowl on the ground.