The refuge was as if someone had taken a cargo container and had retrofitted it into the most modern piece of shelter on Terra. There was no visible light inside. As I grabbed the door's clutch and pulled I felt the heavy weight of it easily give in to my grip. A short hiss resounding before a faint but sufficient yellow light came automatically to life.

  Inside there was but a small anteroom with another door waiting on the opposite end. We entered, and were surprised to find spare crocks for visitors in a small metallic rack. We closed the hermetically sealed door behind us, and my lupa wasted no time in slipping off her rucksack and shedding her boots in exchange for some comfortable crocks.

  -My goodness, these are so cosy Cassiel!

  Opening the final door which was a simpler model than the first, we gained entrance into the interior proper. There was no automatic light here but the one spilling in from the anteroom. As well as the light coming from the twin moons on our left through that entire part of the wall which was simply a large reinforced glass panel. I flipped on the light switches as I noticed them. The interior of the high-end shelter was lit in the same pleasant light that imitated the sun. Unlike the colder, harsher white lights, that would have tried the eyes of the already weary climber.

  Provence was distracted by all there was before us, and I've let her indulge in it. However, since before the moment I even grabbed the clutch I went back to my old instincts. I had examined the exterior, the state of the shelter and any signs of recent habitation or disturbances. I unholstered my handgun as I went first inside the antechamber and then inside proper. And as she went first to inspect the glass wall I subtly went to quickly clear out the whole abode.

  The toilet, the shower room and the dormitory. Swiftly checking any nook and cranny that might have been suspicious and especially those that weren't. It didn't take long, and after I made sure that there were no intruders, bombs or listening devices in wait for us, I rejoined my lupa. Making sure to close the outer door from the inside before I did so.

  -''Done securing the area, soldier man?'' She asked amusedly.

  -Yes. I'm fairly sure it's safe to inhabit the place.

  -Sloppy work then. There's at least one threat here, and I was aware of it without even looking for one.

  -''What is it!?'' I asked sharply, ready to assess this threat and dispose of it quickly.

  Provence turned around from the glass wall and walked towards me. She pressed her generous chest onto me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. Her head coming close to my ear before biting it.

  -''Rawr.'' She growled with an almost genuine imitation of ferality.

  ''Ah. She meant herself. How arousing.'' I thought.

  -''All alone on a mountain top with a dangerous lupa. What is the last man in the world going to do in this predicament?'' She spoke both amused and with a dominating tone.

  I suddenly grabbed her with vigor, one arm around her back and one tightly onto her ass before giving her an answer.

  -''I am going to make love with that lupa until she'll bear my children!'' I said with a sense of finality as I looked her straight in her golden eyes.

  -''Aaah~!'' Was the last thing she spoke before I kissed her passionately.

  -''Seems the wolf herself is actually in the predicament.'' She said with a sly smile.

  As I held her closely I could feel her tiredness despite her vigorous mood. That, and a strain pulling at her.

  -''You seem like hiding a pain.'' I spoke. My care overcoming my lust for her.

  -My head hurts a bit, but I'm fine.

  -''Sit here, I'll tend to you.'' I said as I pulled my tactical gloves off.

  -''Not sure how you could tend-aah~.'' She moaned suddenly as I sat her down and started massaging her head.

  -Feels good, doesn't it?

  -''Ye-eesh.'' She moaned, almost drooling a bit. ''Aah?'' She inquired hazily as I stopped.

  She was obviously feeling the strain of the entire day coming to her. A strain bolstered by the thinner atmosphere at our height. I perused my medical pouch and served her a quick acting painkiller as well as preparing her an electrolyte rich drink. She took them both, trusting my decision. And I continued to massage her head at a slow pace. Hitting the right spots to release the tension and stimulate the blood flow. Judging by her posture and her ears she was unwinding fully. I continued for a good quarter of an hour before I stopped.

  -Better?

  -''Mmm, much better~. You have a way with those hands of yours.'' She spoke pleasedly.

  I chuckled darkly inside at that remark. These hands had a way with killing monsters, beasts, men and innocents alike... but they were being put to better use nowadays I could gladly say. I bid her to get refreshed and see to having one of the bed's ready while I started on preparing a late dinner.

  The interior of the shelter was well functional as I discovered, with no ornaments or styles to speak of. It was simple, ergonomic and modern. And it was more than enough. There was light and plentiful electricity in its battery stores. There was an electric stove, room heaters, water filtration systems, stainless steel pots and dishes, and even an emergency radio. The shelter, being almost like a square tube container was delimited in two parts. The living and cooking area, and the dormitory side. Both separated at the middle, along with three smaller chambers which consisted of the antechamber for the exit, a shower room and a toilet room. Of which the last three were in the living side of the shelter.

  The living area on it's left end again had its ending wall as a reinforced glass panel. Slightly tilted forward, through which one could see the entire valley below. This side of the shelter ending in a precipice. Besides the one large panel the shelter had a series of round windows along its length that were again hermetically sealed but openable if needed. The dormitory held eight beds connected to the wall. One above another, and four connected on each side. On every bed level there was a round window through which one could enjoy the view, which was eternal in nature.

  I heard the door to the shower room close as I was heating up the largest pan. I took a glimpse at the water meter that was besides the sink and saw that the reservoir was full. She could well spoil herself with a long shower if she wanted. Heck, both of us could. And there would be plenty of water to spare still.

  I emptied three small bags of pasta and two cans of a better quality of meat to prepare a hearty meal. Along them, I brought out my special small stainless steel containers in which I always carried spices. Including salt, pepper, nutmeg, and a few other choices. With which I would always improve even the blandest of meals that were at our disposal, even Hibiscus's cooking.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The pasta I made was nearly divine even by Siracusan standards. I had switched off the lights for us to better enjoy the spectacle still unfolding outside as we ate. The moons still shone brightly, lighting gently the table besides the great window. And there, far out, great flashes lit the sea of clouds close, far, and wide.

  -''Fancy a small drink?'' I asked as I pulled out a flask.

  -What have you brought?

  -Holy wine from the reserves of the monastery at Mount Kjerag.

  -Cassiel, did you steal from the holy temple?

  -No, I asked and got permission.

  -Oh, that's good.

  -Though I would have gotten it either way. They wouldn't have noticed such a small quantity missing anyway.

  -''Oh Cassiel!'' Provence said before she burst out laughing.

  -I'd like a small glass. Where are you going?

  -''You don't drink cold wine here. We'll savour it the right way.'' I said before moving to the kitchen counter and switching on a small heating eye.

  I boiled the white wine before adding a certain amount of pepper, and two more spices. Squeezing an orange in it that I had brought with me. It didn't take long before I was again seated with my lupa, handing her a steaming cup.

  -Try it, it's a mix known in my family line.

  -''Mmm. This aroma is spicy.'' She spoke after she inhaled the seasoned steam.

  -Tingles your tongue but it's still sweet?

  -''Yes. It is so rich in flavour.'' She spoke after tasting it. Her body visibly relaxing as she savoured the drink.

  -It's also a matter of the right wine. I had to taste from ten barrels at the monastery until I found the right quality I wanted.

  -You drank from ten barrels?

  -No, I tasted, then I spat out. Wouldn't do to choose poorly because of a hazed mind.

  Though doing so was more a matter of old habit and principle than anything. I could well hold my alcohol since I was five of age. And after receiving the gift it would be a challenge to get drunk even if I wanted.

  -''Quite a breathtaking view. We came just the right night for it.'' Provence said before she continued while looking outside, almost as if lost in certain memories.

  -Such a scene... would normally bring terror to all those who would behold it from below. It would signify a catastrophe of immense proportions that would be about to strike down.

  -But here... I have to remind myself that it's just the weather. Spectacular as it is above it would be as well below for all those living here to see. This land is blessed.

  -''I thought of it as well.'' I spoke as I looked outside.

  -''They know stability, and peace. Even those that do get infected here are not discriminated as those that are in the rest of the world.'' Provence spoke.

  -''Pockets of normality. People vary. But it is refreshing to see places like these.'' I attested.

  -''It is.'' She said, and she turned to look at me warmly.

  Tired as we were after a long day of hiking we found ourselves on one of the lower beds after I took a shower myself. My lamp hanged on the upper bed's margin above. Shining a weak, warm light on minimum setting as my lupa spread onto me. She was wearing only a pair of boxers and a shirt. The inside of the cabin being reasonably warm. On our right through the oval window the dancing show of lights continued among the clouds.

  -The hot wine was really good. You said it was a secret family recipe?

  -More like a formula, and not a secret really. They shared it with many people and was popular. But there were many other mixes and recipes. My people loved their hot wine.

  -You never talked much about them. Is it alright?

  -Yeah. They were good people. All of them.

  -''You mentioned something that your parents were... special? Because they've met? Though I couldn't make sense of it at the time.'' Provence inquired visibly interested.

  -There were mostly two kinds of people during my time. They coexisted peacefully, but they remained largely separate throughout their settling. My parents were part of those two different groups.

  -Settling? You mean setting up communities?

  -''Sort of.'' I said as I looked outside the window, the stars glimmered brightly tonight.

  -Remember when I told you that there's so much more out there, beyond the void?

  -Yes, but what would there be?

  -There are entire worlds out there. The families of my parents, both came from two different worlds to Terra. UltraMars and Brumalis Prime.

  -What you're telling me... it sounds unbelievable. But I know you are not jesting, you're telling the truth.

  -I am.

  -How were these two worlds? Have you ever been there?

  -No, I've never visited them. My great-grandfathers came as pioneers on this world, so long ago.

  -My mother's family came from the near inhospitable ice world of Brumalis. They were a rugged, no-nonsense people. And they loved their right to bear arms and drink alcohol.

  -My father's lineage came from a world that was thirty times the mass of Terra, thus the name ''Ultra''.

  -''And the ''Mars'' part?'' Provence inquired with an honest curiosity.

  -A name taken from another planet. Since it had near same aspects. A red, dusty and unlivable world with no atmosphere.

  -But it was terraformed. Worked on for a century until it became habitable. Though as much water and green plants as they brought the planet always looked like a massive red ball from space. Thus, the name UltraMars remained for good.

  -What prompted them to come here in the first place? This world is... mmhm, rough to say the least.

  -It was pristine back then. It was named Terra because it resembled Humanity's ancient world of birth so closely.

  -It was a chance for a new beginning for them in a better place. It was a strange world the old ones would always say, though they would never indulge to explain more.

  -''Old ones? Your grandfather told you that, didn't he? I... ah-.'' She interrupted her line of thought, remembering the time I spoke to her of my grandfather's death.

  -''I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up-'' She spoke apologetically before I cut her off.

  -''Don't be. I don't blame you. I don't see you as a monster. I would never see you as one, my lupa.'' I said holding her. Almost with a fear of losing her at the back of my mind, looking at her intently.

  She knew of that old tale, I had told her myself. My grandfather... the only one I knew and had. Had died, mauled and butchered at the fangs of a large wild wolf. He lived alone by the time that I was of the age of five. And alone he continued to live in his native village in the tundra. He had met a wolf on his many excursions in the cold forest, and he became close to her. Spent time with her just looking at each other, occasionally feeding her until she let him pet her. It was reckless I know too well now, but he was a man in his own right. And he made his own decisions.

  He took me once on one such excursion. Little shit and daredevil that I was. It was scary as Hell at first, but he introduced me to a real wild beast for the first time. I got to pet it. And it was awesome. He told me words of wisdom then. I can remember his words as clearly now as he spoke them then.

  -''Since times immemorial they have lived parallel to us. Almost alongside us, but always apart from us. Since we were cavemen on another world and until now. And those distances are set in the very nature of what we are.''

  -''We are human. And they are animals. It will always be so. Their world is a simple one if not hard and cruel sometimes. Such is life. But we surpassed its barriers. Gave it meaning, for better or worse.''

  -''Always have respect for nature my son. We dominate this world. We could easily destroy it. But there is so much more value in preserving what humanity grew along with. Like this wolf.''

  And the next time I would come to see that wolf... was when it had its fangs deep into my grandfather's throat. I saw him die. I held him tight. I bloodied myself and my mother who tried to pull me off of him. And I would have probably died as well if my parents hadn't both burst out from the tree line, armed to the teeth to find me and my grandfather. Looking back, it might as well been a foreshadowing of the bleak future to come.

  Provence, of course, knew all of this. I have recounted it all to her after we got together. And she recognised it was something that deeply affected me.

  -Never feel daunted by what I tell you or by what you know that happened to me. You changed me so much for the better. And I love you so dearly in a way that I never thought I could. I cherish you so much my lupa, you don't even know.

  -''I think I might have a glimpse of it.'' She said and came closer, kissing me lightly on the lips.

  Her tail wagged slowly but happily.

  -''I'm happy you found me. I truly feel as if we were made for each other.'' She spoke softly.

  I pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. In turn, she pressed her head onto my chest. Cuddling onto me.

  -''This is a wonderful excursion we've made. I didn't expect you'd spoil me with another trip after the sojourn in Siesta.'' She said as she relaxed in my grasp.

  -We deserve it. And you have a lot of catching up to do in terms of tending to yourself.

  -Hmm? What do you mean? I was quite fine before.

  -Don't play coy with me, you silly wolf. You know all too well you neglected your well-being.

  -I was not. I always take all the precautions I can make in the Barrenlands. And I always do my check-ups when I'm back on the landship.

  -Not those. You neglect your well-being by not giving yourself true enough time to recuperate.

  -I can't do so when lives are at stake Cassiel.

  -And that is why most messengers, those who truly care for their job, end up traumatised and withering away in the dust.

  Her waggling stopped, and she was now looking at me, unsure.

  -I realise the burdens that come with your profession. And those burdens are especially more heavy to you because you care.

  -You care for people and their lives. That's why it's so much more affecting when tragedies happen. Both catastrophes... and man made.

  -You told me once I hid my pain well, but that you could still see tell-tale hints... the cracks. I tell you now I could also see your strains. The demands of a catastrophe messenger eats at people. As strong as you are, my incredible lupa, I could see it as well on you.

  -I love you. And that is why I took it upon myself to take care of you. To uplift you in return. As long as I live.

  -''Please, continue taking care of me, my mate.'' She spoke softly with a voice charged with adoration, nestling onto me again.

  Her tail rested on us both, and I in turn covered us with a blanket. It was near midnight as I scheduled the alarm on my smart device. Shoving it under my pillow before switching off the lamp.

  Outside the lightning spectacle still ensued, like battling fates at the gates of Heaven. The cold winds just beyond the walls could be heard faintly. And inside I had a wonderful lupa keeping me warm, nursing the fire of my soul.