Tom and the Wolf Friday (20 Sep 2001) Tom faces down a wolf.

The wolf vanishes behind the trees for a moment, but Tom pursues to the point in the brush where he last saw it. As he looks around the bend of a tree, he sees the wolf standing not two feet away. Its coat is grey and white, and it looks back at him with even, yellow eyes. It seems a great deal bigger from this near than it did when he spotted on it a few dozen yards away.

Tom crouches down, green eyes narrow and glinting from between strands of his black hair. "Friend, or foe?" he asks softly, muscles tensing.

The great animal's ears flick back against its head, and its head is lowered as it regards the boy. After a moment, it raises its head and lifts its ears, slightly, regarding him from a neutral posture. Something about its stance seems to say, If I were your foe, boy, I would be ripping your throat out now.

"Not all foes attack directly," Tom says, sensing the meaning of the wolf's posture, "Some lie and wait, examine from afar and wait for just the right moment to strike." His eyes flick back toward the clearing, then to the wolf, "Understand that I do not seek a fight, I seek only to protect my friends from harm. We have been attacked before. Why are you here?" Inwardly, Tom is fighting every urge to run screaming, knowing that he's taking a serious risk. He hopes Agatha heard him back there and that she does flee if something happens.

Kuon stays near Tom's back, ears back, growling faintly. The greyhound does not seem about to attack, but might be announcing his intent to protect Tom, should it come to a fight.

The wolf's yellow eyes flicker over Tom's frame, appraising him. Watching. Taking his measure. When the greyhound beside him draws his attention with the growl, the wolf's demeanor alters, head lowering, hackles ruffled. The wolf's lips draw back on the right side, revealing sharp teeth, but he does not growl in answer. I have a pack, too, but mine is not here, his gestures seem to imply.

"You should return to your pack and leave ours in peace," Tom says slowly, steadily, guessing at the meanings of the posture. "We do not seek to harm anyone. We do not want to harm anyone. But, we will not be pawns. You may be watching us, but we are also watching you. We are on the lookout now, we know many signs to tell us when a House agent is near. If your House, House December, means us no harm then they should simply speak to us directly." He takes in a slow breath, steadying himself.

Kuon's head, like the lupine's, is down and aggressive, but the wolf does not back down. Instead, he ignores the dog, directing his gaze to Tom's eyes. His ears prick as the boy's speech nears its conclusion, and his head lifts to watch him. You would not be a pawn, he seems to acknowledge. Then he stares at Kuon, levelly, for some moments, before returning his gaze to Tom. But whom are you allied with? Look to them, not me, for manipulation, is the apparent message.

This elicits a growl from Kuon, who evidently feels slighted.

Tom peers through his bangs of black hair, eyes following the gaze of the wolf slightly. "At this time, I do not have the knowledge of which side to trust, if any. At least they are willing to come to me, not spy from afar. That speaks highly of them." Tom takes another slow breath, green eyes relocking with the wolf's yellow ones, "All those I meet will be judged by their actions, and their actions alone." Tom then makes a slight gesture towards the forest, "This is my home, my world, and I intend to protect it in the end. Would you not do the same?"

I am doing the same, the wolf implies, standing his ground, looking at the two. He glances to the sun, hanging high in the sky, and sniffs at the warm summer air, the light breeze that ruffles his heavy winter coat. We need our King. We will look where we must to find him. The wolf's great head turns to the way it came, and then it looks back at Tom. I will go now.

Tom nods softly to the wolf. "Then go in peace, friend. I hope we will all be on the same side in the end," he says softly, then adds, "Next time, please, do not spy. Ask. We too wish to help if we can. But we know nothing of your world, and therefore must suspect all Houses. If you want to earn our trust, let us see your world as easily as you see ours." Tom shifts slightly, preparing to rise from his crouch.

The wolf pauses, as if to say, That is not so simple. Then he nods, and slips soundlessly away amongst the trees.

Tom stands slowly, muscles in his legs complaining about being in such a position for am extended period. Shakily, he turns and walks back out of the forest. Back into the meadow of weeds.

Kuon looks back uneasily where the wolf went, then follows close at Tom's heels.

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.