Noel moved the moment the old man's body sagged.
Revenant Fang was set aside without ceremony, the blade's faint hum fading as Noel dropped to one knee beside him. Before he could reach out, shadow shifted low to the ground and Noir slipped free of his silhouette, taking the form of a small wolf pup. She padded forward first, ears alert, nose twitching as she circled the fallen chair and the man slumped against it.
"I've got you," Noel said quietly, hands steady as he helped the old man sit upright. The man flinched when the chair scraped against the stone, discomfort flashing across his face, but Noel kept his grip gentle, patient. They settled him back into the seat at the lighthouse's center, even though his fingers curled into the wood as if it might betray him again.
For a long moment, he just breathed.
Then, hesitantly, he lifted his left arm.
It rose a few inches, trembled, and held.
