Haunted Wood see no [more] evil

It did not take long for his mother to arrive. "Mom!" he hollered, when she thundered in and crouched over him. He lifted his head to lick frantically at her - whatever his tongue could find though he hoped for her face. He buried himself against her as much as he could, drawing an immense amount of comfort and relief from her presence. She whispered about his eye, and he spoke up after his guardian. "It was going to kill me," he said matter-of-factly. He did not want her to think the bear-wolf had done it. "I took it out. He scared off a fox. He's good."

He was so focused on his mother that he barely heard the wolf bid them farewell, and certainly did not hear him as he left. That he did not have a chance to thank him would cross his mind later, but for now he was lost to his mother, clinging to her for foundation, for support, for safety.