Meeting New Friends Along the Way? (Anton)

[WolfDreamer]

WolfLover woke the children early and prepared them for the long walk ahead of them.  “Today we are going to an old cabin to collect some things for the garden.  It will be a long hike, but I know you will love it.  Dust and Storm will go with us and maybe we can do a little hunting on the way back.”

 

“But Mama,” Strider yawned.

 

WolfLover held up a hand to stop the complaints before they got started.  “We are going and that is final.  Now, get up and get dressed.  Breakfast is waiting for you on the table.

 

Strider and Ariset whined all through breakfast about being tired, but they wisely never made a complaint about the upcoming hike planned for them.  They were only 3 ½ turns old, but they had learned early on that if they complained, their mother would find something much worse for them to complain about.

 

They left the cottage when the sun was barely up.  The stedding was still quiet, people yet to begin their day.  The cabin was a good hike from the stedding and with all luck, they should arrive before lunch.

 

The early part of the morning was uneventful.  Midmorning they came upon a clearing and the wolves began to pace around the three of them.  WolfLover could smell the other and knew it to be a brother.  She could sense that they had surprised him a little and he was hesitating at the edge of the clearing.  She could also sense his uncertainty, but about what she could only guess.

 

WolfLover called out to him, her voice gentle and kind.  “Dust and Storm will not calm down until you show yourself young man.  Please, the children and I would like to meet a new friend.”  Although her voice was accepting and friendly, she had pulled the children behind her in a gesture of protection.  She hoped that would not be seen negatively, but her children came first.

 

“Who is it, Mama?”  Strider asked.

 

“We won’t know, love, until he shows himself.”  She looked out toward where he was shadowed but continued to speak to Strider.  “If he wishes to remain unknown, we will be on our way in a short time.”

 

“He’s like unca River, huh Mama?” Ariset said happily.  “He’s playin hide-n-seek.”

 

WolfLover chuckled and glanced down at the little girl.  “Well, it is possible.  But he must tell us if he wants to be found.  If not, we will go on our way and let him be.

 

[Wayfarer]

Frowning as he heard the voice call out to him, an older woman but that simply confirmed what Anton had already seen.  A woman, two children, two wolves guarding them though why they felt the need to guard against him he wasn't sure.  He couldn't say he recognised them, that was the reason he had been leery of approaching to begin with.  He hadn't wanted to disturb them, much in the same way he would have liked to remain undisturbed himself.

 

It wasn't that he disliked people though if he were honest with himself, he had to admit he had come to appreciate solitude more over the years.  Especially with the responsibility that he'd somehow managed to inherit from Janna, he'd once been a quite happy wanderer without any cares save for finding employment in the next town, the thing he'd loved most being finding something new on the horizon.  Not that he didn't get to travel as a Tracker, indeed he did quite a bit, but the times he was required to remain at the Stedding chaffed.  He preferred to be out in the world and doing things rather than being here.

 

So, he enjoyed his walks, and their solitude, and not having to deal with everyone for awhile.  But, that was then and this was now and he'd been asked to come out.  Hefting his stave like a walking stick, Anton emerged from the treeline and into the clearing.  Aware of the fact that the woman was studying him, the children that were peeking from behind her made him smile slightly.  The wolves in turn seemed a bit more relaxed now that he had revealed himself, though they didn't intrude on his mind with images.  Maybe the other wolves had warned them of him.

 

Stopping a few feet from the woman, Anton leaned on his stave as he spoke.  "My name's Anton, I don't think I've seen any of you before.  Are you new to the Stedding?"

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw