I'd lost track of how long I'd been in that little loft. Sometimes I'd wake up lucid and clear headed, Birdy anxiously by my side, asking to take me to the capital's hospital. But, regardless of whether I was sane or not, I'd beg her not to and that I just needed more time.

Dreams of him still haunted me, and the persistent voice of my subconscious threatened to wear down my will. But I held on, determined.

One time, when I had been able to stay awake for more than a few minutes, I'd learnt that Birdy was a retired healthcare from Ardel, hence her lack of squeamishness caring for me. When asked what it was that I had done most recently, I revealed that I'd been a housemaid but feigned confusion (not difficult) about where.

Whilst the days carried on, my words became freer and I shared in a disjointed and excitable fashion some memories: reading scraps of stories with my parents, days in school, cleaning pots and pans and raving about the scent of butterscotch. I could detect my filtering was not what it should be, nor the logic of my stories making much sense. It was a horrible feeling, not being in full control of one's own mind.

I think it had been a week? Or, more? I wasn't sure. The fever was getting worse and a raging flu plagued me, as my immune system was shutting down just as predicted. I felt guilty even for putting Birdy through this, this kind stranger who owed me nothing.

Aware of Birdy pressing her small hand in my hot, sweating palm I heard her talk to me, "Miss Tyler?"

"Mmmm" I murmured back in response. The fog in my brain made me dizzy and sluggish, but a discordant note sounded in the back of my thoughts. Something was wrong. I struggled to focus my vision, but my eyes were too puffy to comprehend any details.

"Rose Tyler" Birdy softly pressed me again, her cool hand was soothing to my skin.

"Is my mum here?" I asked, hope in my tone. She must be downstairs. She'd come to take care of me.

"Your family is on its way Rose."

Was that guilt I detected in Birdy's voice? I dismissed it, eager for my parents to take me home. Our wonky, thin-walled yet beloved terrace. My tiny closet bedroom next to theirs, and the sound of the whistling kettle in the mornings. Wood pigeons cooing as I wake-up, and window panes that had frosted over in the night if it was winter. Mellow memories of home softly lulled me happily back into a deep slumber.

Before I became entirely unconscious, I felt Birdy's hand withdraw from my own before squeezing my arm, as if to reassure me that everything would be alright.

- & -

Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, Birdy stepped out into the cool evening air. Autumn had fallen upon the little lane and a plethora of vibrant yellow lit up the foliage-lined streets. Somewhat furtively, the old woman walked quickly towards Vale's Wolf district.

The wolf-folks' houses were squatter and more rustic than the human-built homes, with larger gardens and more access to paths leading off into the forest. Of course, there were a few humans who lived amongst these suburbs, but wolf-kind tended to prioritise kinship with nature and thought more tribally than their human neighbours. Yet, there was little ill-feeling between the two races in this small hamlet; having operated in harmony for a hundred years already. It was confidence in this 'harmony' that tore Birdy away from her patient's sick bed and to violate confidentiality.

Hurrying, as Birdy worried Rose would take another turn for the worst, she travelled through the lanes, cutting through dirt paths and hedgerow. When she went past the local Pub, a few friends waved at her but Birdy (for once) just gave them a polite wave in return. Decorating the pub door, as was the local pharmacy and grocers, was a poster reading "Rose Tyler. Missing Mate. If found or having any information, must report." Including a fairly accurate list of her patient's features and age.

These posters appeared just over a week ago, three days after Rose had been delivered to her by her son. On a trip to the local pharmacy to pick her up some cold medicine, Birdy was confronted with the truth of her stowaway; although, she had already known she was a mate to a Wolfman somewhere due to the mark decorating the girl's shoulders and upper-back. Despite being a healthcare for a number of decades, Birdy had stuck to the human parts of the hospital and rarely treated mates. But, nonetheless Rose's mark could not be anything else.

It had only been the girl's fear that had stopped Birdy from rushing to the local magistrate then and there. Enough years of safeguarding had taught her caution, and Rose had grown so sick so quickly that she had had hardly time to leave her side. But, from what Rose had said and blathered in the midst of fever, it did not sound like she was running away from an abusive situation. Birdy was completely stumped. Trying to talk to her about it was now impossible, as Rose could barely follow a conversation in her current state and Birdy had no idea how to help her get better.

The Wolf-folk had always looked after their mates and prided themselves on their traditional family values. Perhaps, Rose was running away as she feared not being able to work still? Perhaps she feared how the community would receive her with her disability? Normally Birdy had always tried to get the full story out of her patients before moving forward with a decision, but it was too late for that. Whatever Rose was running from, surely could not be worth her dying over it. The girl had clearly been sick for some time already. Whatever infection the girl had was a tenacious one, and Birdy cursed herself again for not taking her to a hospital sooner. Hence, she had finally made up her mind to ignore Rose's pleads for silence and reveal her to the magistrate (a well-respected Wolf-Man called Graham, who Birdy had had the acquaintance of since school).

Birdy remembered Graham well, always a friendly if serious chap. Not that the two had mixed much, being in mostly separate classes. Back then, the curriculum wasn't as open as it was now, humans not having the option to take Wolf-centric classes such as their biology and history. Graham had always been well-liked though, coming from a family of Deltas and Gammas, but had not wanted to seek a Royal position or a role over the wider territory.

Thinking this all over for what must have been the hundredth time that week, Birdy came up to the magistrate's home. A similar build to everyone else's on the row, no grander or bigger in anyway. In the window, a soft yellow light shone highlighting the shadows of a couple reading in armchairs. Steeling herself, Birdy made herself knock and disturb their peace.

Shuffling could be heard from inside. A painful long pause, before the door opened. Like all of their kind, Graham stood well over a foot taller than Birdy and even though he was now seventy, was far more agile and youthful looking than her weaker, human frame.

"Birdy?" Graham's voice sounded surprised, but thankfully not annoyed. Another thing about Graham that endeared him to everyone in Vale was that he never forgot someone's name.

Not wanting to lose her nerve, and conscious of how long she'd left Rose alone, Birdy jumped straight in, "I have her. The girl you've all been looking for."

Graham's face screwed up in confusion, unsure of how to link this sweet, elderly lady to matters of state.

Birdy sighed and tried again, "Rose Tyler. She's very sick and in my house."

Graham understood this time, widening his eyes with shock whilst reading Birdy's face carefully for lies. He sniffed the air, chamomile and rose lingering on Birdy's clothes, the very scent described in the private correspondence to all local officials.

"I have to go back to her. Please, you must bring a doctor or her mate or someone to help," Birdy begged; the week's lack of sleep showing on her face and in her voice.

"Of – of course," Graham managed to find his voice and be the magistrate that he was, "I will come with you. I warn you, I will need to update my superior about this."

Birdy nodded, desperate for her patient to get the help she needed.

Graham then went back inside to put his shoes on and quickly explain to his own mate that he had been called out on urgent business. Standing in the hallway, he then stretched out his mind, connecting himself to the great web of conscious all Wolf-folk were apart of within their Pack. He politely tugged on the string that led to the Delta stationed on the outskirts of the city to accept incoming news from local towns and villages.

"Let Gamma Stephan know there is a suspected location for Rose Tyler in Vale. Magistrate, Epsilon, Graham Greene." Graham waited for the message to be confirmed and knew Royal investigators would probably be here in his quiet hamlet within only a matter of hours.

Joining Birdy back outside, the two set off. Graham had to force his long legs to slow down to keep pace with his elderly companion. He tried to ask various questions about how Rose had arrived at Birdy's of all places, but he received minimal answers. Anxiety over her charge had taken over and Birdy said she would rather share once they were back in her home.

Graham chose not to disclose that if Birdy had not come to see him tonight, it was likely that Rose would have been found in the following days as he and the local garrison had been commissioned to conduct a search of every house in the neighbourhood. He had heard his Alpha King's command just like all wolf-folk within several miles of Ardel, and the search had just begun to turn frantic. Not that it had been revealed directly that this mysterious Rose is the Alpha King's long-awaited mate, but it was certainly implied and heavily rumoured.

Turning into the final lane, the two hurried up to the narrow yet friendly looking terrace in the middle of the street, cosy looking with sweet yellow painted walls.

Graham pulling ahead by following the scent up to the door, brazenly pushed it open (rarely did people in Vale bother to lock their doors). His wolf was pushing to the surface, causing his eyes to flash yellow, a protective growl escaping his lips as he entered Birdy's home. The Wolfman pounded up the stairs, an inner-alarm causing him to hurry; his wolf recognising his Luna's scent. Breaking up into the top landing, he paused before the final door where the trail led.