Thaddeus

The name "Thaddeus" is supposed to mean heart, and the word "deus" within the name means "god." Perhaps it was fitting calling Thaddeus a god; after all, he was an immortal. However, being an immortal infant wasn't all sunshine and roses. He was born among healthy littermates, with perfect snouts and big paws and working hearts. Thaddeus' mother wailed in agony when she saw him; he could feel her howls through the vibrations of her fur as he nestled against her. The pack's herbalist came to check on him, and delivered a grim diagnosis. Thaddeus may be healthy for now, but he had a lethal anomaly. All puppies have short snouts and big heads, but Thaddeus was very wrinkled and visually deformed; as though someone pushed his face into his head. Every breath Thaddeus took was a gasp, and he had to fight to breathe. Still, his mother prayed he would make it. As he grew his tongue became too big to fit in his mouth, which caused him to wheeze incessantly. His eyes, albeit prolapsed, opened before all his siblings. Being gifted the ability to see was more a punishment than a blessing. Day in and day out he could see the anxious look on his mother's face as she watched his lungs fight for dear life. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She begged for someone, anyone, to help her baby, or at least take it away so they could have some peace and quiet. A white wolf visiting the clan heard her outcry, and offered a solution. If Thaddeus consumed an immortal jellyfish and survived, he would gain its power. Thaddeus' heart broke when his mother said she didn't care if he took it or not, just go, just go, just GO. Surprisingly, the white wolf took this as a yes, and gingerly scooped up Thaddeus into her mouth. It was a long journey, and it was hard to breathe inside the wolf's humid mouth. Still, he wouldn't have the strength to hold onto her back and walk beside her, and if she held him from his scruff he would suffocate within minutes. Still, the journey was over soon enough, and Thaddeus was placed gently besides a tidal glowing with tons of jellyfish. Thaddeus told himself that even if he didn't make it the journey was worth it for this sight alone. The white wolf, who introduced herself as Daewn, told him he was a friendly and amiable little guy and deserved a chance at life. She ignored the stings of the jelly as she tore on from the pool, and fed him bits of its flesh. Thaddeus felt extreme pain as shocks racked his body with a supernatural ache, and he blacked out. When he awoke, he realized he had stopped breathing! He still couldn't walk very far or see very well, but his rib cage no longer burned with every breath he took! He no longer felt the stinging hunger in his belly from being deprived milk since he was a lost cause! Being immortal meant no more pain, no more mortal needs. Thaddeus decided to push himself and walk as much of the way back as he could, and Daewn humored him. The little god would never be able to hunt or protect the pack, but he vowed he would do everything in his power to help his new family for the rest of his eternal life.