Mathew leaned down and grabbed his second knife from the wolf corpse. The wolf eating Steve-O didn't pay him any attention. The one attacking Brown either didn’t notice Mathew or didn’t care. Either way it received two knives into its body from Mathew.

It backed away with a yelp. Mathew was only able to pull one of his knives from its body. He stood ready, while Brown stood up, his hands were bloody and cut up from the wolves mouth. “Thanks.” Was all he said.

The wolf didn't like the two versus ones odds, and made a bark mixed with a gruff sound toward the one eating Steve-O. Mathew turned just in time to watch the wolf plow into his shoulder with its maw wide open. The wolf Brown was fighting also leaped at it’s target.

Mathew felt claws rake across his chest, the bullet proof vest saving his skin. He attempted to stab into the wolf, but it thrashed it’s head, causing him to miss. Mathew had a death grip on the knife, knowing if he lost it, he was a dead man.

He continued to try and stab the wolf over and over, occasionally landing hits. He couldn’t feel his right arm anymore, but knew it was still attached. “Die dammit!” He yelled out in both fear and pain.

Soon the wolf let go of Mathew and backed away with a limp on its front leg. Mathew laid there not moving, but watched it. He could see it and think it was worth risking his own life for his. Mathew pleaded silently for it to go away. To just leave him alone.

“Fuck yea!” Henderson shouted in triumph. Soon he heard her running toward Airman Brown to help with his wolf.

Mathew assumed the Alpha Wolf was dead, as the wolf that was attacking him ran off. He closed his eyes and relaxed.

Only a moment later to feel the sting of a slap on his face. “You can’t work at that desk job if you die Mathew. Stay with me here.” He heard Henderson say. Mathew tried to sit up, but Brown pushed him back down.

“Don’t. You will live, and I doubt you will lose any limbs. You lost a fuck ton of blood though. What type are you?”

“Uhh, B? I forget which one though.”

“I’m type A. What about you Captain?” Brown asked.

She smiled. “Lucky for you Mathew, I am B Negative. Looks like we are a match made in heaven, pretty boy.”

Mathew was confused about her words, but started to go back to sleep. Another quick slap woke him up.

“Now field transfusions are typically a last resort, but in your case Mathew, you will be glad we did it.”

Mathew looked around in a daze. “Where’s, Damien?”

Henderson looked around. “No clue, he ran away. Either he abandoned us, or the wolf that attacked him is eating him currently. Let's hope for the former.”

“Steve-O?”

She shook her head. “He’s gone. Nothing we can do for him. You on the other hand, we can still save.”

Mathew nodded, and almost closed his eyes, before he shot them open again before he was slapped. He saw a hand hovering over his face. “Please don’t hit me, I don’t think I am going to die, I promised to make one of those mutts into a fur coat.”

“Then shit on it, yea I heard. Not the best of lines, but I’ll accept it, have you looked at your blue boxes yet?”

Mathew raised an eyebrow but then noticed the blinking light. He opened it up and was faced with a few boxes.

Combat Summary:

3x Wolves, Level 3

1x Alpha Wolf, Level 5

Knives Novice 1 -> Novice 3

Universal Currency Earned: 1,200

Mathew then noticed he leveled up. Three times in fact. He was now Level 5. With it came the fifteen points he had to assign along with another blue box.

Please go to your nearest Hearth Crystal to be assigned a Profession.

“Holy shit, Level 5 wolf?” Mathew asked in bewilderment.

Henderson nodded. “I got lucky by killing it. I threw my gun into its mouth then stabbed it in the gut, cutting it open. Now the bigger question is, why the hell did our bullets do less damage than a foam dart to these things?”

Mathew attempted to shrug, but Brown stopped him from moving his shoulder. “Let me finish bandaging you up Mathew. Then we can head to the base and get you properly treated.”

“Question, what level did you guys jump up to?”

“Four.” They both said.

Mathew made a face. “I made it to five, but I am only saying this because I have no clue, what is a Hearth Crystal?”

Brown raised an eyebrow but shook his head. “No clue.”

Henderson on the other hand hesitated enough that Mathew saw it. “Captain Henderson, do you know what it is?”

“Where did you hear that term from?” She asked slowly, as if she was choosing her words as carefully as she could.

“That depends, why are you not answering my questions?”

“Why are you asking me more questions?” She retorted.

“I asked first, and almost died saving Brown. If I don’t get a medal, at least answer my question since you obviously know what I’m talking about.”

Brown chuckled. “Oh you will get a medal, maybe. I think we have two or three we can give if it makes you feel better. Just pieces of metal in my opinion. Can’t bring back the dead, and it’s an eternal reminder of how shit went bad.”

Henderson just stared at Mathew. “Fine, it’s something I heard from the top brass once by accident. I was walking into a room I thought was waiting for me to be debriefed since I appeared back in the states magically. They told me to forget what I heard, and if someone else mentions one, tell them instantly.”

“How top is this brass you overheard?” Mathew asked.

“Nope, now you answer my question. How did you hear that term.”

Mathew admitted she held her end of the deal. “Blue box, said to find one and I get my profession. I assume it’s because I am level 5.” He at least hoped it had nothing to do with his [Lawyer] title.

Her eyes widened. “I see, well then you might just get that cushy office job now Mathew.”

It wasn’t long before Brown had finished patching up Mathew. He even commented that his [First Aid] skill jumped to Novice 6. Mathew had to lean on Brown for support as they hobbled back to the base. They left Steve-O’s body to be retrieved and buried later, with no way to carry it and help Mathew back.

Once within eyesight of the guards, a small medic cart was rushed to help carry Mathew the rest of the way. Henderson barked orders to send troops back and search for Damien, when she was informed he was already there.

Mathew was escorted to the medical building. Brown was with him until a doctor took over.

“Well Mathew, we are going to need to peel these bandages off to look at how serious it all is. We are going to drug you up so you won’t feel anything, if you feel like sleep is taking over, let it. Your body is going to need plenty of rest.” A female voice said.

Mathew didn’t even feel the needle go into his arm. Soon sleep overtook him

Mathew woke up to find himself in a room alone. He attempted to stretch but his right arm and leg were both bandaged and slightly restrained. He was happy to see them both bandaged, and not missing.

His mind was a little fuzzy still, and he closed his eyes again, but didn’t go back to sleep. His mind wandered toward the fact he survived fighting wolves. “Guess I can call myself a man now. Fought a wild animal with my bare hands. At least Grandpa would say so.”

His grandfather on his mothers side used to be a hunter till the day he died. He hated the fact his daughter married a rich politician. Mathew only met his grandfather a few times when he was a child before he passed away.

A familiar face walked into his room, it was Airman Brown. “Well Mathew, glad to see you are awake. How do you feel?”

“Stiff, thirsty, and my leg itches. How long has it been?”

“The itchiness is good, which means skin is growing back. And in about a couple of days you will have those bandages off you. Can you tell me if you have points in Endurance or Vitality?”

“Yea, two in Endurance, why?” Mathew didn’t lie. There were a few life lessons he didn’t have to experience first hand. Lying to your doctor was a top 5 of things not to do.

He nodded. “Well, your skin is growing back slightly faster than expected. All of your minor cuts were gone in fact when we checked you a couple of hours ago to replace some of your bandages.”

“That doesn't sound normal.”

“No it’s not. Also, it’s only been half a day since you were knocked out. It’s almost lunch time. Are you hungry?”

Mathew nodded. “Tea please as well. And not the shitty green kind. Black tea.”

Brown nodded. “You will be happy Damien made it back. Don’t know if you remember that or not.”

“Yea, he ran off or something didn’t he?”

“Kinda, once Henderson talked to him, he did run, but he also kept not just one, but two wolves away from us. He ran back to help, but once he did we were already gone. That boy is fast, he beat us to the base after we had a head start.”

“In his defense, you two were half-carrying me back to base.” Mathew said

“That’s true. Well I will see about that lunch for you. I’ll be back in a bit.” He went to leave but came back a moment later. “Leo, your friend, will be back this evening. He was a bit worried about you, but once he realized you were going to live he seemed fine.”

Two days later, Mathew was allowed to leave the hospital with only minor scarring showing on his body. The medical staff were very surprised at his recovery rate, saying that it wasn’t only his two endurance points, but possibly something else involved that helped.

Mathew was sitting on his bed, reading one of the books he brought with him. It was Frakenstein, a small favorite of his. Namely due to the fact the moral story and the ramifications it held on modern day stories and movies.

A knock sounded at his door. “Who is it?” He asked loudly.

“I am Colonel Franks. I am here to bring you in for questioning on the scouting mission.” A voice sounded from the outside.

Mathew rolled his eyes. “Didnt’ you get enough info from Henderson and Brown?”

“We want your side of the story. Protocol considering someone died during the excursion.”

Mathew mumbled to himself. It was obvious they wanted to know about how he knew of the Hearth Crystal. But they didn’t know he knew. He could try to have some fun.

“Sure, give me a moment to be proper please.”

“Hurry it up.” Was the only response Mathew received. He took his time getting dressed, still slightly sore and recovering from his wounds.

He opened the door to see a short white man with a guard behind him. “Mr. McGonalds?” He asked.

Mathew nodded. “I am, do you want to come inside for the interview? It will be quick I am sure.”

“No, you are to come with me. Refusal will mean harsh punishment for not complying.”

Mathew didn't need to use his imagination, just simply look at the very large guard. “Fine with me, lead the way Colonel.”

Mathew was escorted to a large building with no windows. It was in the back corner of the base, far from anything else. He saw several armed guards by the entrance. The Colonel pulled out a badge and unlocked the doors. Mathew went through another large and heavy looking door before he was escorted into a small office.

He sat alone and was forced to wait. He wanted to apply his stat points, but wanted to wait and see what the professional ordeal was. “What if it gives me the Lawyer profession? Won’t that be hilarious. Fighting wolves with facts and logic.”