By the time they made it to the village square, where Orihime had set up her shields to defend everyone and was now healing those few who had become wounded, the wolf was already there. One of the villagers was kneeling on the ground, her arms wrapped tight around the wolf and face buried in the wolf’s fur. Another villager stood over the two of them, a fond look on their face.

The villager glanced at Ichigo and Uryuu as the two of them approached, their gaze lingering briefly on the heavy claws both of them sported, before they nodded in greeting. “I am glad you are safe,” they told Ichigo. “I am Ren, and this is Mami and Rerugen,” they introduced, gesturing towards each in turn.

“Kurosaki Ichigo, and this is Ishida Uryuu,” Ichigo said. “Rerugen-san found me in the forest and helped me out.”

“Mmm, I see,” Ren gave him another considering look, then turned to Mami and Rerugen. “Did you find what you were searching for?” they asked Rerugen, then frowned at the head-shake they received. “I see. Mami…”

“Yes, of course,” she let go of Rerugen and rose, stepping towards Ichigo and holding out her hand. “If I could have his bags? Thank you,” she smiled warmly at Ichigo as she accepted the bags from him and slung them over her shoulder, then looked at Rerugen. “Rerugen-san? Would you prefer to change or remain until the moon descends?”

Rerugen glanced at her briefly, then stepped closer to Uryuu and Ichigo, muzzle lifted to scent the air around the two of them and his ears tilted in confusion. Whatever he was scenting off of them only seemed to confuse him more, and he stepped back to Mami’s side with a sneeze.

He nudged at Mami’s leg, making her laugh and step backwards in order to keep her balance. Her free hand settled on the nape of his neck, fingers curling into his thick fur, and Rerugen didn’t even make a token effort at shaking her hand free.

“We’ll see you back home,” Mami told Ren with a warm smile, then inclined her head to Ichigo and Uryuu and continued, “You and your friends are invited as well, Kurosaki-kun, Ishida-kun.”

“Thanks,” Ichigo replied with a nod. He and the others hadn’t intended to stay long, but the chances that Rerugen was like them… Ichigo wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. And from the death-grip that Uryuu had on his arm, his brother wasn’t about to let him, either.

(Another Quincy. One like them. Who didn’t immediately turn them away or chase them off.)

(Ichigo couldn’t blame his brother in the slightest.)

“I’ll bring you to our home once you’re all ready,” Ren told him with a nod. “Just let me know.”

They strode off before Ichigo could do more than nod, gaze focused on several of the other villagers. Ichigo watched them for a moment, then looked to Uryuu and cocked his head in question.

“Small reserves, but there,” Uryuu answered his silent question. He looked at Ren a moment longer, then turned away and tugged Ichigo towards the rest of their pack. “Trained, I think. Probably by Rerugen, if he’s a Quincy.”

Ichigo made a questioning noise, following Uryuu across the square.

“I couldn’t sense him very well,” Uryuu admitted with a grimace. “I almost thought you brought a normal wolf back with you, at first.”

“Ichigo did what now?” Tatsuki asked with a scowl, hands on her hips and every inch the foreboding pack leader except for the feel of her warm-worried-interested reiatsu. She scanned both of them as they approached, gaze lingering on the tears in Ichigo’s attire and the blood he knew was visible as he moved.

Uryuu scoffed and turned his head away, pretending nonchalance as he said, “Ichigo’s normal luck took effect, is all. He got separated and then was saved by someone we think is like us.”

Tatsuki’s gaze sharpened and she looked between the two of them. “You think is like you?”

Ichigo shrugged and swayed into Chad as his best friend came up behind him, nudging the other with his shoulder in silent confirmation that he was fine, honest. “Well, a wolf destroyed a bunch of Hollows with some sort of power, and then understood and answered my questions as best he could, and had human-style bags that he wanted to bring back.”

“Ren-san recognized this, too,” Uryuu admitted, raising his free hand enough to catch Tatsuki’s attention and curling his fingers to make his claws more obvious. “And Mami-san asked the wolf if he wanted to change or ‘remain until the moon descended’.”

“Not like them, then,” Chad said thoughtfully.

Ichigo winced and shook his head, remembering the way the Wandenreich had reacted to both Uryuu and him. Revulsion was the kindest word he could think of.

(It was wrong, he knew, to take the opinions of fanatics like that at face value, but…)

(Even Uryuu’s father had grimaced and looked anywhere but their wolf-traits.)

“So, when do we get to meet him?” Tatsuki asked.

“Oooh, meet who?” Orihime broke in as she came up to them, fairies still fluttering around her body. She made an exasperated noise and stepped up to Ichigo’s side, hands coming up as she murmured the name of her skill and the signature golden shield formed around Ichigo where he stood.

“Either they found another werewolf, or Ichigo was saved by a really smart wolf.” Tatsuki shrugged and flashed Ichigo and Uryuu a grin. “Given the sorts of things I’ve seen so far, it could be either.”

Uryuu made a noise of frustration, and Ichigo cut in before his brother could take Tatsuki’s teasing the wrong way. “We were invited back to their home when you guys are done helping out. We just need to talk to Ren when we’re ready.”

Orihime pursed her lips and cast a glance over her shoulder, clearly gaging the state of those still lingering in the square. Ichigo let her be, not wanting to rush her when there was little reason; no matter how anxious he was to speak with Rerugen, he was still… hesitant, wary of the man and the judgment he’d seen in every other Quincy’s gaze.

(If it wasn’t for the wolf, it was for his heritage. He could never win.)

(And what of his brother, who never fully changed? Would Rerugen look down upon that?)

“Alright,” she said, letting her barrier drop and looking up at Ichigo with a soft smile. “You were the last one I needed to heal. Let’s go meet this werewolf that saved you.”

“He didn’t save me,” Ichigo muttered, rolling his eyes. He elbowed Uryuu in the side when his brother snorted, then ducked around Chad’s other side when Uryuu spun to retaliate. “He helped me, there’s a difference. I could have made it out on my own.”

Chad made a soft noise, one large hand settling on Ichigo’s shoulder and the other on Uryuu’s, carefully holding them apart. “Who are we meeting?” he asked.

Uryuu leaned briefly into the touch, before he tugged himself free and gestured towards Ren, who was on the far side of the square talking with a group of villagers. “Them. The person in the dark blue kimono.”

Ren looked over as the teens approached, then turned back to the group of villagers and quickly finished their conversation. As the villagers dispersed, Ren turned towards Ichigo and the others and looked them all over. “Is this everyone?”

“Yeah,” Ichigo said. “Ren-san, this is Yasutora Sado, Inoue Orihime, and Arisawa Tatsuki.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Ren said with a polite bow. “Have you completed what you need?”

“Yes!” Orihime agreed, smiling brightly. “Everyone should be healed now.”

Ren’s expression softened at Orihime’s words, and they smiled warmly at her in response. “Thank you for the consideration. Shall we, then? I’m certain Rerugen-san is interested in speaking with all of you.”

“All of us, huh?” Tatsuki frowned a bit, glancing over at Ichigo and Uryuu, then squared her shoulders and nodded. “Alright then, lead on, Ren-san. And thank you for this chance.”

Ichigo shared a look with Uryuu as Ren exchanged a few more pleasantries with Tatsuki, then turned to lead them to their home. Uryuu was almost instantly glued to his side again, shoulder pressed against his and matching step.

(At least he wasn’t the only one nervous about this meeting…)