Chapter Text
Prologue
For weeks, Wednesday travels across Canada searching for Enid, accompanied by Thing and Uncle Fester.
Weeks have passed with almost no concrete leads. Whenever they discover even the smallest clue, it turns out to be a dead end. At times, Wednesday begins to lose hope, but she made a promise to her friend : she would find her. She will find her, even if it takes months.
Chapter 1
Rain pours down relentlessly when Wednesday discovers an interesting lead in Quebec. Residents of a small town claim they hear mournful howls every night, sounds that resemble crying. To Wednesday, it can only be her friend.
After nightfall, she, Uncle Fester, and Thing head into the forest where the townspeople claim to hear the howls. When they arrive, there is nothing. No sound at all. Determined, Wednesday begins making her way deeper into the dark forest.
The rain never lets up, and Wednesday’s black bangs cling to her forehead.
What she notices first are broken branches. Any tracks on the ground have been washed away by the rain. Wednesday can barely see anything when she finally hears the infamous howls.
There is no doubt in her mind.
It’s Enid.
She immediately starts running toward the sound. She pays no attention to where she is going. Scratches appear across her face, but she doesn’t care. They are nothing. She has to find Enid.
After several minutes of running, the howls grow louder. Wednesday is close now.
She scans her surroundings and notices branches moving. She approaches carefully and discovers an animal curled into a ball.
These are not ordinary howls.
They are cries.
A branch snaps beneath Wednesday’s foot.
The animal springs up instantly, growling. It drops into a defensive stance.
« Enid ? » Wednesday asks softly.
The animal growls, baring its fangs as drool drips from its mouth. It looks weak, but it clearly has no intention of being attacked without fighting back.
Wednesday takes another step forward.
« I’m here, Enid, » she says calmly. « I found you. »
The animal growls again.
It feels threatened.
It doesn’t seem to recognize her.
« Wednesday, » Uncle Fester begins gently, « you shouldn’t get any closer. »
« I’m not afraid of you, Enid. I know you won’t hurt me, and even if you do… I owe you that. »
Wednesday takes another step toward her.
The animal growls louder and advances cautiously.
That’s when Wednesday notices the blood matted into its fur. It glistens beneath the faint moonlight.
Two days ago was the full moon.
Wednesday slowly extends her arm toward the animal.
A gust of wind sweeps across the clearing.
The animal closes its eyes as the scent reaches it.
Then suddenly, it collapses to the ground unconscious.
Wednesday rushes forward and kneels beside it. She places her hands on its body.
She can feel its bones beneath her palms.
Enid hasn’t been eating properly for weeks.
She notices the numerous wounds covering her body.
Thing quickly approaches, worried for Enid as well.
« She’s very weak, » Wednesday tells Thing. « We need to bring her back to the manor. She has to regain her strength if she’s going to heal. »
Uncle Fester lifts the animal’s limp body, which hardly seems to weigh anything.
« Let’s go take care of your Alpha, » Uncle Fester declares as he walks ahead of his niece.
Wednesday says nothing.
She stares at her blood-covered hands.
The blood of her best friend.
The blood of the girl who sacrificed herself for her.
She follows her uncle, with Thing perched on her shoulder.
Both of them are worried about their friend.
***
The animal remains unconscious throughout the journey back to the Addams Manor.
Upon arriving, Wednesday insists on treating Enid herself.
With better lighting, she finally realizes the extent of Enid’s condition.
She has multiple wounds. She has probably fought other animals. But more than anything, she is suffering from malnutrition.
Enid isn’t eating properly.
Wednesday knows Enid has never been like other werewolves.
She hates the sight of blood.
At meals, she doesn’t eat only red meat and grimaces whenever she sees raw meat.
Yet her wolf should be taking over.
Her predator instincts should be driving her to hunt and feed.
Wednesday studies her friend for a long time.
Still unconscious.
Lying on a mattress inside a basement cell.
« You should get some rest, my little viper, » Gomez says as he sits down beside her.
Wednesday closes the cell door, not because she intends to follow her father’s advice, but to preserve her friend’s privacy.
« You’ve given her the best care possible, » Gomez continues. « Now she needs rest. »
« Your father is right, my darling, » Morticia adds. « Enid is safe. When she wakes up, she’ll have a hot meal waiting for her. Lurch is preparing it right now. »
Wednesday nods.
« I’m going to my room. Let me know when she wakes up. »
« Of course, » Morticia replies, watching her daughter disappear up the stairs.
Morticia turns toward her husband and then toward the door behind which the wolf rests.
« Wednesday seems very attached to her, » Morticia says. « She would never have made such a promise to anyone outside the family. »
« You think… »
« I don’t know. I’m wondering the same thing. But I don’t think it’s crossed Wednesday’s mind yet. »
Morticia heads upstairs, followed by Gomez.
***
Days pass.
Wednesday spends a great deal of time in the basement talking to the animal.
The wolf becomes less aggressive.
Every time it catches Wednesday’s scent, it closes its eyes briefly.
It remembers that scent.
It knows this person won’t hurt it.
One day, Wednesday opens the cell door and steps inside.
She locks herself in with the animal.
The wolf lifts its head and watches her approach.
It presses its nose against her outstretched hand.
Something stirs within its body.
It suddenly stands and backs away.
« Enid ? » Wednesday asks, concerned.
Without warning, the wolf howls.
Then it returns to her, calmer than before.
Wednesday kneels beside it and gently runs a hand through its fur.
« You look healthier, » she observes. « You’ve regained some strength. That’s good. »
She remains there for a long time, telling the animal about her search for her.
Night begins to fall when Wednesday finally stands.
« It’s time for me to write. I’ll come see you tomorrow morning, first thing. »
The wolf says nothing.
It watches the young woman lock it inside the room once more.
But it feels reassured.
Her scent still lingers in the air.
In the middle of the night, cracking sounds echo through the cell.
Slowly, the animal recedes, giving way to Enid.
She is breathless.
Naked.
Freezing.
She curls up in a corner of the cell, burying her face in her knees.
She shivers from the cold.
She is lost.
She doesn’t really know where she is.
All she can sense is a familiar scent.
A scent she knows.