Ask where they are taking him

“Where are you taking me?” asks the prince, attempting to ignore the fact that his genitals are exposed and flopping about in the open as he lets the wolves lead him through the forest.

“There is a cave not far from here that is available for travelers of our kind,” replies Lupina. “It will provide shelter from the elements, and it will be easy to defend against danger.”

“And will there be clothing? Maybe some furs or something?”

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, Duncan regrets them. A low growl precedes Lupina’s answer. “By all means, Your Highness. And perhaps after you have clothed yourself with the skin of one of my relatives, you would like to join my daughters in playing fetch with the thigh bone of one of yours!”

“I’m sorry,” says Duncan. “That was thoughtless. I’m just so cold!”

Lupina nods her understanding and says, “We will be there soon enough, and we will see what is available.”

The three wolves and one human make their way in silence for almost an hour. Duncan, being taller than the wolves, manages to nearly blind himself more than once by running into branches at eye level.

“If you would hold your hands in front of your face, that would offer you protection,” advises Lupina.

Duncan just grimaces in response as another branch smacks him in the face. He is unable to use his hands for that purpose, since he is holding them firmly at crotch level. “If I’m going to lose a body part to one of these cursed trees,” thinks Duncan, “I’d rather it be an eye than a testicle!”

At last the woods thin, and they begin a short climb up a hill. Duncan has been keeping his eyes on the red wolf in the lead, so he is astonished when she suddenly seems to disappear.

Lupina seems unconcerned and does not slow down her pace. In moments Duncan arrives at the location where he last saw Luxia, and only then does he see the entrance to the cave, all-but-invisible behind a tree and boulders. Lupina leads the way inside, and Duncan follows.

The cave is pitch black in darkness, and Duncan stands still, afraid to move, for fear of hitting something.

“Please, make yourself comfortable, Your Highness,” says Lupina.

“Where? I cannot see my hand in front of my face,” he replies.

“Of course,” she replies. “I had forgotten about human eyes. Just one moment.”

Duncan hears movement behind him and turns to see the silouette of Katania as she enters the cave.

“I circled back, Mother, and I see no evidence of anyone following us. I also managed to grab a rabbit. I thought our guest might need some nourishment.”

At the mention of food, Duncan’s stomach comes to life, reminding him how long it has been since he last ate. He eagerly steps out of the cave, and asks Katania where it is. She motions to one side with her head, and Duncan’s heart sinks as he sees his “dinner.”

“It’s a dead rabbit,” he says, forelornly.

“Would have preferred a live one?” asks the wolf.

“No, of course not, but.... Am I to eat it raw?”

He shudders at the thought, but as hungry as he is, he realizes he might actually entertain the notion.

Katania laughs and says, “If you’d like, but if you don’t mind waiting for a few minutes, you could probably roast it.”

She picks up the rabbit with her mouth and takes it into the cave. Duncan follows, and, much to his astonishment, finds the cave illuminated with a torch, which hangs from a bracket on the stone wall.

Lupina is busily at work, adjusting a blanket on the cave’s stone floor, while Luxia is using her mouth to adjust dried sticks into a pile in the center of the floor.

“Where did the fire come from?” asks Stewart.

“As I said, this cave is available for travelers to use. We keep it well-stocked. Now, if you would like to use that torch to start a fire, you may try your hand at cooking the rabbit.”

Duncan reaches up to retrieve the torch. So tired and hungry is he, that it doesn’t cross his mind that there’s no way a wolf could have reached the torch, let alone have lit it. He uses the flame to ignite the small pile of sticks, and with the assistance of Katania’s sharp teeth and claws, does a passable job of preparing the rabbit to be cooked.

The meal is far from elegant, but it is one of the most satisfying Duncan has ever eaten. He is so busy filling his mouth that he hardly has time or energy for conversation. The mother wolf and Katania lay on the cave floor, grooming themselves, while Luxia takes the first watch outdoors.

As Duncan finishes the last bite of the rabbit, Lupina gestures toward the blanket. I’m afraid that’s the best we can offer you, in terms of a mattress. My daughters and I will keep you warm.

Duncan is so tired that he couldn’t protest the sleeping arrangements, even if he wanted to. He crawls over to the blanket and lays down. Lupina and Katania join him, one on each side, and soon the prince is snoring loudly, warm and comfortable between the furry, soft canine bodies.