Alvin turned and the wolf turned too.. both walking in circles, hesitating.

  The wolf stepped back one step.. eyes fixed on Alvin, scanning every movement of his body.

  Then it growled.

  somewhere behind him the campfire crackled.. but out here everything had gone still.

  why hasn't he attacked yet? Alvin thought as he stared at the wolf.

  "AWOO.. a awooo!!!" the wolf howled.. then stopped staring at Alvin.

  he will attack? is it the end..?!

  Alvin dropped to his knees, both knuckles clutching.

  "DON'T KILL ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Alvin shouted desperately, throwing both arms out , covering himself, stepping back.

  But he slipped on a rock.

  the ground was cold. somehow that was the thing that felt most real right now.

  Once Alvin dropped his head.. a sound came to his mind.

  Not the impact of the drop.. but something sharper , echoing in his head like a phone ring.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Confirmed. Due to [first conversation], Unique Skill [Beast Language] has been acquired."

  something shifted behind his eyes.. like a frequency adjusting.

  what.. what's that sound.. what language?

  Alvin breathed hard, staring at both his hands.. trying to figure out what that thing inside him was.

  Suddenly he heard a deep sound coming from in front of him.

  "Don't toy with me.. Girk...." the wolf said, tilting his tail.

  Alvin turned to the other side.. trying to figure out if there was someone called Girk.. or if the wolf had actually spoken.

  Then he turned back to the wolf.. and spoke.

  "Toy with you..?" Alvin stood up, his knees barely holding him.

  did I do something wrong..?

  The wolf laughed. "After all you've done.. you're trying to mock me?" the wolf gave a sideways glance at Alvin.

  "Don't play clueless." then it turned away.

  Alvin stood there, mouth half open.. unsure if he should run or speak.

  Once the wolf started walking away, Alvin shouted . "hey.. Come back!"

  The wolf stopped without turning.. but only for a brief moment.

  "Sorry.. I'm not brave enough to face the hero of the tribe."

  Then he vanished into the grass.. without another word.

  the grass swallowed the sound of his steps almost immediately.. as if he was never there.

  Alvin dropped back to his knees, breathing heavily. thank god.. I thought I'd die..

  the crickets came back. slow at first.. then all at once.

  but man.. hero of the tribe.. that's really something..

  Alvin dropped his body into the grass, staring at the stars.

  that's why they celebrated for me back then? he thought.

  the more important thing.. what was that sound earlier..? sounds like someone just called me with an unknown number..

  Alvin closed his eyes for a moment.. thinking.

  wait a minute.. Beast Language?

  ..that only means..