Day 14 of Owlcatober, Wildlife, featuring a wolf meeting a werewolf. And Kalikke learning a few of the differences from dogs.
[Ao3 Link]
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Ekundayo had badly needed the sleep, given his injuries at hands of the trolls. Harrim and Tristian had managed to heal the worst of it, but as Jocelyn knew from experience restorative magic was no replacement for proper rest. Dog was curled up next to him, but not against him. The ranger was still uneasy with the idea of a companion, and Dog had understood what Jocelyn meant by him needing to come to grips with everything.
“So you can understand him? The wolf.”
Kalikke’s question about Ekundayo’s companion was to be expected all things considered. Nonetheless, Jocelyn looked around to make sure before she answered.
“It’s hard to describe,” the paladin admitted quietly. “Think of it less like speaking, and more like understanding. Sort of like how you can read Diabolic, despite never learning the language.”
“And Dog, he can understand you?”
Jocelyn nodded as the wolf’s ears perked up. “Broadly.”
“So that was why you led ‘us’ after him so readily.” It had actually been Kanerah, though evidently she had given her sister an extremely detailed breakdown of what had happened as they reconsidered who would be best against these trolls.
Luckily, none of her companions had questioned why she led them after Dog. Those who already knew like Linzi, Tristian, and Kanerah knew what happened, while those that were unaware like Octavia, Regongar, Harrim, and Jubilost took it as seeing what was going through the trouble. And as soon as they found Ekundayo, it all clicked into place and seemed normal enough. Jocelyn could even point to how it was not uncommon in rural Rostland, or that older brother was a ranger like that, and still be telling the truth. Just not that both of them were werewolves, and that played a role in Konrad’s bond.
Dog seemed to have decided to join the conversation as he carefully got up and trotted over, keeping his posture low and licking her face after she signaled he could approach. Kalikke put a hand to her mouth to cover her snicker as Jocelyn tensed, but smiled as she put a hand on the wolf and gently urged him that it was enough. Dog seemed to understand as he pulled his tongue back into his mouth and settled in front of them, making a quiet greeting whine.
“Aw, I think he’s sad.”
Jocelyn shook her head. “He’s curious. I think he wants to know what we were talking about.”
“You, silly,” Kalikke said to Dog. Then recoiled at a warning nip as she reached out to pet him, though she was not actually bitten.
“He’s a wolf, not a dog.”
“So, no fetching a ball?”
Jocelyn chuckled, shaking her head while Dog watched, understanding that it was something amusing but not quite what it was.
Dog began to move a bit, making low inquiring whines. Jocelyn was able to understand the intent behind it, while Kalikke tilted her head at the display.
“He’s wondering if I went far from my pack, like him,” she explained, then added more as she realized that Kalikke would not have the context. “Wolves leave their packs as they come of age, and form a new one later.”
Kalikke nodded, watching the exchange in fascination.
Too bad Linzi was not up to see this, but no doubt a scene like this would play out again. If Linzi could tell the full story one day, this kind of passage might help peasants realize that wolves are not monsters that breed unnaturally fast to eat everything but creatures that were curious, had their own norms, and did not like strangers intruding on their territory. Not that they were harmless, mind, but people could be far more aggressive about feeling threatened or if in competition for food.
Dog was even right in a way, given that being a baroness would mean that she needed to secure a line of succession. A matter for later given the trolls and building the barony in the first place, but an issue she would need to address, eventually.
Kalikke lowered her voice further. “I take it he knows, then?”
Jocelyn nodded. “Or at least knows there’s more to me.”
“Do you think he would tell Ekundayo?”
That was a good question. Some rangers had a particularly strong bond with their companions, or magic that could let them outright speak to animals in general. It was not impossible, and she did not know Ekundayo yet. Only that he was hurting, seeking vengeance, and that he was a Toragdan granted the gift of nature magic.
Still, it was early yet. And then there was the other question: why did Dog follow Ekundayo?
As it turned out, Ekundayo’s answer on that matter was more or less right: he had called for help.
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