Chapter Text
Jaime was trying to sleep in his cage when the wolves attacked. He heard screams and growls, smelled blood and fear. Then he felt his collar loosen and fall off. His magic came back, although it was weakened from seven years of disuse. Most of the magic he had used lately came from the collar itself, which allowed the collar to restrict more of his own natural magic. It took a few tries, but he unlocked all the cages but his own, which was simply deadbolted from the outside for easy access. Hopefully the wolves would overlook him.
The wolf pack reunited with a cacophony of howls. Jaime tried to listen to what they were saying.
"…everyone. I guess it could be a wolf from another pack? I'll go check!"
Jaime tucked himself into a little ball and held his breath.
"Another hunter! I'll kill him!"
Two wolves ran up to the cage. Jaime hoped it would be quick.
"Wait a moment! If he's one of them, why would he be in a cage?"
"Maybe he was hiding? Where's Lada? She'll know what to do."
"Do you want to go get her? I can keep an eye on him."
One wolf nodded and ran off. The other tilted his head at Jaime, leaning forward without stepping closer.
"Are you one of the hunters?"
"I guess so." Jaime said meekly.
"You guess so?! What the hell does that mean?" The wolf bristled.
"I didn't want. They uh. I tried to run away, but… I couldn't. They caught me, and. Well I didn't try to run away for a long time after that."
"What are you saying? You saw what you were getting into and tried to run, and they didn't let you go?"
The wolf looked Jaime up and down.
"I would find that hard to believe, but you certainly look like someone's been roughing you up."
"I never wanted to join them. They took me because they needed a mage. Could you make it quick? Please?"
The second wolf returned with the wolf that must be Lada. She looked regal but weary. Jaime looked down.
"Did you say that they forced you to use your magic against us?"
Jaime glanced up and saw Lada tilting her head.
"Yes. And… I gave in. I- I wish I'd been stronger."
"Was this around your neck?"
Lada pointed to his broken collar on the ground. Jaime nodded.
"I can't say you're innocent, but I can hardly condemn you either, when I would have done the same under such circumstances. You intend us no harm now that you are free, correct?"
Jaime nodded.
"We will bring you back to the den. Tonight, you will heal and rest. I'll hold a meeting next morning to decide what happens next."
Lada looked at the other two wolves, who nodded. Jaime tried to feel relief instead of dread.
"Dimitri, Rukan: Please walk with him. Keep him out of trouble."
The two wolves nodded. Lada opened the cage.
Dimitri, the wolf that had first questioned him, stepped into the cage. Oh no.
"Can you walk?"
Oh. Jaime nodded.
The trek back to the den was not quite as bad as Jaime expected. It was awkward, and Jaime's feet were sore before they even started, but the wolves never were cruel. When they were falling behind the rest of the pack, they carried Jaime instead of forcing him to run.
The den was a large building dug into a hillside. Dimitri sat with Jaime away from the group while Rukan sought further instructions. He returned with a new wolf.
"This is Ash. He's a healer, you'll be with him now."
Ash looked Jaime up and down. Jaime squirmed.
"Can I treat your wounds? I can treat them all tonight, or I could do the most urgent ones and save the rest for tomorrow. I wouldn't normally do that, but we're all exhausted.
"You can do most of it tomorrow, I'm exhausted too."
Jaime hoped he could heal himself before he would have to reveal all his shame.
Ash took him into the infirmary. It was a large room with 3 beds and several cabinets. He nudged Jaime to the closest bed.
"Show me the worst of your injuries"
"They're on my back"
Jaime took off his shirt and turned around. He thought he saw Ash flinch out of the corner of his eye. He cleaned his back and applied some salves, apologizing when it stung. He bandaged him and gave him a new shirt.
"Do you have any other bad injuries?" Ash yawned.
Jaime shook his head. He didn't need to know about the rest of them.
Ash led Jaime to a small room. It had a bed and a table and a chest. There was a pitcher of water, a cup, a bowl of soup, and a lit candle on the table.
"Lada said to keep you in here for the night. Everything in here is for you. I will be barricading the door."
Jaime stepped inside and looked around more thoroughly. There was also a chamber pot under the bed. The chest had some clothes in it. When Ash finished barricading him in and left, Jaime felt a sense of relief and comfort he hadn't for a long time.
He ate his soup and drank and drank. Then he peeled off his filthy pants and put on some fresh ones. He relieved himself before facing the bed.
It had been years since he slept in one. In the beginning of his captivity, Jaime had been allowed to sleep on a too-small cot in the corner. He thought he had earned a better place to sleep when he was invited into the real bed about a week in. He was wrong. So very wrong.
When he woke up in the cot the next morning he was still sore. Not only that, but he wet the bed.
Ever since, he had slept in one of the cages outside. Ever since, he woke up wet. Ever since, he was beaten for it first thing in the morning.
Maybe he could hide it, and clean it up when his magic reserves built up enough? He fell asleep quickly.