Lance of Earth and Sky

Contrary to Ruby's dire warnings, the camp and wolf pup were both fine, though Altair did look as if he would rather clean his beak with the small creature's pelt than tolerate its curious sniffing about the camp. With the resilience of all young things, the wolf seemed to have adapted to his new “family” well, though with clear partiality for Vidarian. His long, feathery tail fanned the air gently as soon as Vidarian and Calphille crossed into the clearing.

Vidarian crouched and held out his hand, and the pup's tail waved again, this time faster. He ambled toward them, still weak and wary, and stopped about an arm's length away, stretching his neck to sniff Vidarian's hand.

Some lupine decision logic flipped over in the pup's mind, and he walked forward, turning easily and sitting between Vidarian's bent knees. Carefully, Vidarian placed his hand on top of the pup's head. Far from objecting, the pup thumped his tail up and down again on the ground, and panted.

Before thinking better of it, Vidarian slid his fingers downward to pet the pup's neck. A long ruff-spine brushed his hand and pain swept through it, melting his grip into a claw. A stream of invective poured out of his mouth before he quite realized what he was saying.

* I'm impressed! *

Isri's cheek-feathers lifted. “Anatomically—”

“It's a figure of speech,” he said quickly. He shook his hand, willing sensation back into it, mostly without success.

The pup was looking up at him, ears drooped and eyes big. In spite of the pain, Vidarian forced himself to pat the creature gently on the head lest it think him angry.

Sorry, the emotion brushed his mind just as he made contact with the soft fur of the pup's head. Vidarian froze, sure he'd imagined it. He'd lifted his hand as if burned, and now settled it down again on the pup. Sorry, sorry the feeling rushed back into him again, a wordless regret. The pup licked his hand.

“Are you all right?” Isri asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. He started, then looked up at her. Her golden eyes were opaque, curious. Vidarian had known Isri to make mental contact with another of her kind several leagues away—he wondered if it was etiquette or ability that masked his own thoughts from her now.

“Just a bit of a shock,” he said, carefully petting the pup again. “My own fault. It's fine.” He put extra force into his words, hoping the sentiment would transfer to the pup as well. It seemed to; the tail thumped again, gently. “Are we prepared for the return flight?”

“Altair helped me carry our two friends into the craft,” Isri said. “I imposed a sleep on them that should last two hours.”

“How easy is that, making someone sleep?”

She smiled, sensing the caution behind his question, but her voice was colored with sadness. “For them, not difficult, so little is left of their minds. Far more difficult for someone like you.” Her eyes twinkled.

// We thank you for allowing us the refuge of your father's forest, // Altair said to Calphille, who also seemed rather nonplussed both by the wolf pup's shock and Vidarian's invective.

“Calphille will be joining us,” Vidarian said, hoping she wouldn't change her mind.

“My family is not yet awake,” she explained, “and it would be my duty to ensure our alliances are activated as soon as possible, for their safety.” The way she leaned on duty to steer herself through sadness struck deep with Vidarian.

// We are pleased to have you, then, // Altair said, and Vidarian experienced a surge of gratitude for the welcome that radiated out from the gryphon in a feathery embrace.

Calphille smiled, and performed a peculiar little bow Vidarian had never seen before, with the fingertips of both hands together. He was sure her flush of gratitude was unfeigned, and felt another wave of guilty sympathy for her waking alone.

* Don't start that again. *

It's only right that she comes with us, that's all, he thought back testily.

* It's no concern of mine. You're the one'll be crammed in that little boat with a full house. *

Gloomily he realized she was right. He wasn't sure how many the craft was meant to hold, but surely they'd be near its capacity. Carefully he picked up the pup, who didn't know quite what to make of being lifted off the ground, but didn't object. Only one way to find out.