#kubard

The pups take to Isfan immediately, and watching him handle them with such instinctive gentleness forces Jimsa to reconsider the blond Parsian he had previously regarded as irritating, dangerous and far too serious.

Unfortunately for Isfan, reconsideration soon becomes admiration.

Then attraction.

Then infatuation.

Jimsa has never doubted his own strength, skill, attractiveness or worth as a prospective husband. Isfan deserves the best, and Jimsa is entirely prepared to argue that this includes him.

Shapur, meanwhile, decides that Isfan must find a suitable partner.

Kubard offers to help.

Gieve joins in because Isfan’s annoyance is entertaining.

This goes exactly as badly as it sounds.

At its heart, Wolves, Ears and Tails is about Jimsa recognising Isfan’s worth with complete certainty while Isfan is still learning how to believe in it himself.

The wolves recognise him first.

Jimsa follows.

Everyone else interferes.

Some of what to expect from Wolves, Ears and Tails (definitely not in order):

Jimsa openly courting an increasingly flustered Isfan

wolf pups who appoint Isfan their mother

Shapur expressing love through an unbearable quantity of jewellery

Kubard becoming the camp’s suspiciously popular unofficial therapist (Farangis is called upon when actual reason is required)

Kubard and Shapur behaving far too intimately for two men who refuse to explain themselves

Isfan seeking therapy from Kubard because of Shapur

Kubard deciding that Shapur is the one who truly needs therapy

Gieve spreading rumours for the benefit of absolutely nobody

Kishward telling Isfan stories about Shapur, then revealing his hiding places whenever Shapur comes looking (retaliation for Isfan feeding Azrael fat)

Narsus taking revenge on everyone who interferes with his best night operative

Daryun watching that revenge unfold and regretting his proximity to it

Jimsa guarding Isfan like a dragon guarding treasure

Shapur objecting while behaving in exactly the same way

jewellery for Isfan, Jimsa and eventually the wolves

braids, earrings, ponytails and decorated tails

Shapur and Jimsa competing over who can fuss over Isfan more aggressively

Azrael and the pups fighting over who gets to feed scrawny Isfan (in comparison to Kubard, Kishward and Shapur, he is, just look at this piece of evidence)

Jimsa trying to push Kubard and Shapur together, despite the possibility that there is very little left to push

Isfan learning what he wants from a partner

Jimsa learning that care also means respecting Isfan’s need for solitude

pet names, failed pet names and one simple nickname that means far too much

adoption, found family and a steadily expanding pack