''Hi, little one, don't worry, we are the good ones, we came to get you home.'' He scrunched his nose.
''Come here, are there more inside the room?''
Yuze shackled his head in a negative manner and took a breath before adding
''No. That's where they disposed the bodies, I hid myself there.''
D nodded understandably, ''I'm Dassan by the way, What's your name?''
Yuze thought for a while. ''What if I don't have a home to get back to?''
The other guy, Vekt, interrupted, ''Well, we can get you to back to your realm, the Kings are really kind and they'll help you get back on your feet in no time. Every species has a reintegration program.''
Before he could respond the radio sounded again.
-PZZZZZZT-
''Team alpha to team Delta, we are done here, we are gonna proceed with the plan, copy?''
-PZZZZZZT-
Dassan took the radio, ''Team Delta to team alpha, we are also done, we'll proceed with the evacuation phase, copy.''
-PZZZZZZT-
Dassan looked at him, ''We need to keep moving, it seems like the other teams are done, we need to regroup and get you to a safe place, are you hurt somewhere? well, besides the obvious.'' He looked at his neck.
''I think my wings are broken'' he felt a change in the air, Vekt and Dassan looked at each other in a knowing manner. That look, he knew that look, it meant bad news for a patient, only this time, he was the patient. ''Let me take a look, cutie" Dassan touched his shoulder and looked at his ragged wings, he didn't say anything, he didn't need to.
''Let's get out of here first'' His expression had changed into a much darker one. Personally, it wasn't much of a loss for him, in his past life he was a human, which meant no flying abilities, having a set of broken wings meant he needed to be a little bit more carefully navigating narrow spaces, and no more sleeping on his back. He could live with it.
On their way back they met the rest of team Delta, a big buff woman with a wide back and tan skin, she looked very similar to Vekt, except for her nose, and two other guys, one fatter than the other, their features, unremarkable. They were taking care of 7 individuals in various stages of emaciation, and sickness, they were the slaves that were too sick to serve the clients. Yuze, not being separated anymore by a room from the rest of them quickly approached them, making a mental note on the severity of their conditions. If this were his hometown he would be able to do so much more, first aid would have to be enough.
Dassan saw him taking care of others, not taking his eyes off of him, it seemed like the cutie was a nurturer by nature, one day he could learn to be a healer.
Yuze discovered there were 3 teams in total, team Alpha, Charlie, Delta each one consisting of 5 warriors who varied in age, constitution and species. As soon as everyone was reunited they formed a group of 34 former slaves, 4 captive vampires and the remaining were IFA soldiers.
Lonan, the campaign's chief, got a blue crystal out of his pocket and crushed it, a big blue hole appeared just above the floor. ''Injured first, Dassan go up front and guide them''. The big guy looked at him, he looked like he was about to say something, but he looked at the portal and entered first instead.
The travel stirred Yuze's insides, almost to the point of throwing up, he leaned to the first solid thing he could grab on and leaned in.
''Sorry, I forgot to warn you, you'll get used to it in a minute'' Dassan's breath almost touched his ear, as he was giving him some back rubs he continued explaining. ''We are in the IFA quarters, let me get those chains off and get you to a healer, let them see your wounds.'' He looked at his back.
Yuze was so tired the minute he sat on the hospital bed he fell unconscious.
---
As he woke, up the smell of medicine and disinfectant reached his nose, the beeping of the machines and bustling from the hospital centered him, he was back. It was all just a nightmare.
''I'm sorry to say this, but the damage on his wings is irreparable, he seems to have had them clipped for a long time, I can't do anything once they've healed. I'm sorry Dassan, but all we can do is give him some anxiety medication, once the flying urge surfaces he is gonna have a rough time, we don't know how long he was held captive but detoxifying him from the vampire's poison will be our priority.
''I don't envy you my friend.'' The doctor sighted, ''I'm glad you found your mate, but be patient, he may not feel the pull like we do, and only the Goddess knows what sort of things he had to do to survive.''
''You don't need to tell me Ikal, I saw him hiding in a room full of corpses and taking care of the other victims, he is a fighter.'' The last sentence was said endearingly.
''In that case, may the Goddess bless you in all your lifetimes and bring your union endless happiness''
''Thanks, I hope she blesses you with a mate too''
''From your mouth to her ears my friend, I've been ready for a long loooong time'' He laughed.
They reached the edge of the bed, Yuze pretended waking up. He noticed his unshackled wrists and ankles, he felt so much lighter. ''Uhm... good morning, nice to meet you, doctor...?''
''Ikal, don't try getting up'' He hadn't tried to. The medic continued.
''I need to ask you some questions, you can skip them if you feel uncomfortable, but know that they can help me get you the best treatment"
He nodded. ''I know''
''What's your full name?''
''Yuze"
''Date of birth?''
"Don't know"
Ikal raised his eyebrows.
''Age?''
"Don't know"
''How long were you in that place?''
"Don't know, more than a month?" He raised his shoulders, Yuze figured out that avoiding his death and subsequent transmigration was the better route, he would pretend to have amnesia until he figured things out.
''Do you not remember or were you held captive for as long as you've been aware?" Dasan looked concerned.
''hmmmm, good question, I don't know. Both? My oldest memory is from a month ago, anything before that is gone.'' He said, fidgeting with the sheets.
The doctor took a moment to think, ''Have you ever heard of the IFA? No, wait" He interrupted himself ''Do you know that the people who held you captive were doing bad things?''
He laughed halfheartedly. ''Yup, I know that much... I don't know what IFA means, but I guess they beat bad guys?'' He looked at Dassan, who was right behind his friend.
''Do you know what a mate is?'' Dasan blurted.
He shook his head. Dassan sighted, ''Well, it means I will protect you always, and be by your side in times of need. I... I will love you no matter what and never lie to you'' Ikal hit him on the head with his notepad.
''You're scaring him, look how pale he's gotten, you are a brute. Don't worry Yuze, nobody is gonna touch you without your permission, what he means to say is that we are werewolves, and there is a special existence among our species, we call them a mate, whose sole presence can bring peace and happiness. Not all mates are romantic. Anyways, Dassan's wolf has recognized you as his mate and as such he is unable to hurt you in any way. You'll be the safest staying with him for the time being, it's not healthy to stay in a hospital when there is no need to, your wounds are not severe and there is no reason to keep you here for longer."
Yuze nodded, he had read some romantic novels, so a mate is equivalent to a soulmate, only more magical. The doctor continued ''If you ever feel unsafe or don't want to stay with him for any reason you can always come here, Dassan is my friend but I am a doctor first and friend second'' He nodded again.
''Thank you doctor, I'll keep it mind.'' He would be lying if he said he wasn't scared going to a stranger's house, specially when said stranger claimed to be his soulmate. But truth be told, he had never felt attracted to anyone before until he met Dassan, it's not like he can get back to his world, that idea died when he woke up in here.