Disclaimer: This won't come as a surprise but I don't own the copyright on Tenth Kingdom or the character of Wolf. I just borrowed him (admittedly without permission) ever so briefly. He and the show belong to NBC, Hallmark - and I suspect - Simon Moore.
Notes: Wolf. Damn, he's hard to write if you like punctuation. I don't know about you but I sure wouldn't have just accepted "I went off to think about things for a while" as easily as Virginia did. And so, here's one version of what happened to Wolf after he left Kissingtown. Please do not archive anywhere else without checking with me first, 'kay?
Comments, criticism and champagne accepted without demure, Deb. [Ed. note: Write to Deb here or at the link at the end of the story.]

Wolf slept.

If he'd been awake to react to that fact, he'd have been surprised that he was able to sleep at all. He'd walked all through the night and late into the afternoon. And all the time, he talked, trying to keep those other voices at bay - The Queen's as she drew him back; his own as he'd tried to explain at the restaurant. And hers.

"I never want to see you again!"

Whenever he remembered, he felt a howl rise up in his throat. Only the startled reactions of fellow travelers on the road kept him from indulging in that cathartic activity more than once. For the rest of the time, he just kept moving...and talking.

"I can't be that far now. I can smell it. It's either intrigue or rotten apples and I don't see any apple trees. Of course, a cart might have come by. A cart of rotten apples but all in all I'd say it's intrigue. There's a very royal scent about it - castle intrigue so I'm almost there. I'll be there before nightfall and she'll tell me what she wants me to do. I should have stayed away. I should have stayed where I was. I couldn't. I couldn't stay there any more. I had to go. I have a destiny...I have to go help Virginia. She needs...no! Needed...No, she doesn't. Huff-puff, no one does. The queen does. She said so. She asked. Virginia doesn't care. She said so...she won't care. She wants to go home. We could have had a home...No, she wants her home not OUR home. She doesn't want our anything...she doesn't want me."

Wolf found himself, not long before dusk, by a stream. He'd heard the water as he'd moved along the road and had stopped for a brief drink and to try to think. The drinking he accomplished. The thinking was something else again. Thinking meant remembering and remembering hurt. So he stopped trying. He stared up into the sky half expecting to hear the queen speak out of the reflected water.

"She won't bother. She knows I'm coming. She always knows. She thinks she knows everything. Like Virginia. She's like - No, she's not. She doesn't know. Neither does Virginia. It's better that way. I did that at least. I did that right. I didn't tell. They never asked and I never told."

And finally, as if they'd been waiting for him to find some good deed needing reward, his eyes drifted shut and for the first time since he'd left Kissingtown the day before, Wolf slept.

"Wolf."

Wolf stirred in his sleep with a slight whimper but didn't wake up.

"Wolf, wake up." The woman's voice was more insistent this time and this time Wolf was up and in a defensive stance before he was entirely awake.

"No! Go away, I've changed. I..."

"Wolf!"

"Mama!" He spun around, looking frantically for the source of his mother's voice. "Mama, where are you? Where? Oh, you mustn't hide..."

"I'm not hiding, Wolf. I'm right here." The voice was right beside him and so, when he looked, was his mother.

Oh, he knew it wasn't really his mother. His mother had died long ago as she'd fought to save his father from the actions of enraged villagers. She'd hidden the cubs before starting out, making them promise to wait until she returned. Wolf had tried to do as she said. He always tried but he couldn't. He'd rushed out after her, leaving the shouts of his siblings behind.

He'd only been a few minutes behind her but a mob, despite its size, moves quickly and by the time he reached the edge of the forest he could see the fire and he could hear the cries. When he would have rushed forward to do whatever he imagined he could do, he heard the last howled order from his father and for the first and last time, Wolf did exactly as his parents said. He stayed hidden until the villagers had left and then slowly made his way back to where the others waited.

So, however it came to pass that he now sat years later at his mother's knee -- as he had so many times in the past -- whether it was magic or a dream, Wolf didn't care. He needed to talk to someone and never in a million years had imagined so perfect a choice would present itself.

"Wolf, you're sleeping the night away. That's not like you." She pulled lightly at the lock of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes, as she always had. "And you need a haircut. Which is like you."

"Oh, Mama, I'm so glad you're here. You won't believe what's happened. I mean, you will believe because I'll you the truth, of course. Huff puff, you HAVE to believe it. It's unbelievable except that it's true."

"Of course, I'll believe you" she said, her voice sliding into his slightest pause for breath.

"I never went back home, just as you said. None of us did but then things went wrong somehow. I tried to make it work but it just kept not working. We were fighting. I don't know where they went. I looked -- of course, I tried -- but they were nowhere and then I was alone. And tired and there were these sheep - not a shepherdess, Mama, just sheep! - And I tried to stop when I saw but... Oh, Mama it wasn't my fault. I tried!" The last was a wail.

He stopped, his breath coming in gulps. Seeing that she was patiently waiting for him to continue, he took one more deep breath and went on.

"But then I was caught. Which was good, in a way, wouldn't you say? I tried to see it that way, honestly I did. And for a while it worked, but all that time, Mama, and nowhere to run and never a word from anybody. I don't even know if they knew. I tried to get word to them but...And then, all that time went by and one day - this is the part you will not believe - the queen came. Well, she was already there - in the prison - but she came to me! Did you know, Mama that she'd been locked up? She was and she escaped and she wanted me to help her. Me! I know she wasn't good, I know -- but Mama, all those years and nowhere to run."

"I know, dear."

"Well, all she wanted was for me to catch a dog - so where was the harm?"

"That was all, hmmm? A dog?" Wolf saw that look he knew so well and elaborated.

"Wendell, actually - a dog, yes but he'd been Wendell until she changed him...but you know he was a handsome dog, Mama, much better looking as a dog actually."

"Oh, Wolf."

"But, Mama I didn't help her. I wouldn't have actually hurt him. Well, I might have tried but I didn't catch him. I tried but I didn't. I chased the dog and there was this traveling mirror. Huff puff, you wouldn't believe where I went! I went and tracked him and I found him and I found this girl, Mama. She's the most special, scrumptiously succulent girl I've ever known. I've loved her since the moment I saw her."

"Yes, so I've seen."

"You have?"

"I've been watching for some time. When someone like the queen is abroad in the land, even those of us who have departed take an interest. After all, we've loved ones left behind."

"Then you know what happened since?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I've seen you switch allegiances quite a few times in recent days. I saw you give your will to the queen. I saw you promise to obey her and give her your loyalty. And I saw you shift those loyalties to this girl that you say you love - a girl you've been less than truthful with. And now, you've switched sides again?"

"No! Yes, I did…have…but I do love her, Mama!" Wolf jumped to his feet. "I do. I always will."

"Then where are you going?" she asked.

"I..." Wolf stammered a bit, opened his mouth to start again and then changed his mind.

"Wolf," she prompted.

"I haven't got anywhere else to go."

"That's not true. Go to Virginia."

"No, I can't."

"You can. You must. She's in danger and she has no one to protect her."

"She hates me, Mama."

"She doesn't."

"She DOES! She said so. She never wants to see me - ever again!"

Dropping to his knees, his head in his mother's lap, Wolf cried as he told his mother about the perfect evening he'd planned, about the ring and the food and the music. About the argument, the money and the mirror. When he was done, he sat exhausted, still and quiet as his mother stroked his hair.

"Wolf?" his mother asked after a few moments.

"Yes, Mama?" his voice was hoarse from crying.

"Wolf, I know you mean well and I know you put a great deal of effort and thought into wooing Virginia but you must know Virginia is afraid."

"But, Mama I've changed. Really. I didn't just try. I really, really have."

His mother's hands cupped his chin and lifted it so he faced her.

"Wolf, she's not afraid of you. If she had been, she'd have been gone already. No, she's afraid to trust, to love. She needs time to believe." His mother smiled, placing a finger over his mouth when he would have protested. "Not in you. Deep down, she believes in you a great deal. Her belief has given you the strength to resist the queen. Up to now. No, she needs time to believe in herself and in what she feels. I promise you, she will believe it in time."

"But..."

"No, Wolf. I know you. And I know how - how shall I put this? - how enthusiastic you can be. You have always acted impetuously, instinctively. But this once, you must wait. She must decide on her own. Don't you trust her?"

"I do trust her, Mama. I do."

"Then help her. Wolf, she needs the mirror before she can decide whether or not to use it. Show her you trust her to make the decision and she'll realize there's nothing to be afraid of. Will you do that for me?" his mother asked with a gentle smile.

Wolf nodded and his mother brushed away the last of his tears. As she did so her face grew more serious. "There's more at stake in this situation than you and Virginia. You do realize that, I hope," she said.

"Yes, Mama."

"Good. Now, promise me that you will be patient. With yourself. With Virginia. And with what is soon to come. It won't be easy. But try."

"I'll try."

"I know, dear. You always do. Just try more...thoughtfully. Now, try and get some sleep before starting out." She leaned over as her son settled back down to rest, kissed his cheek, whispered good night and was gone.

And Wolf woke up.