Chapter 113 (Patreon)

In my chosen calling of wandering the entirety of our continent, I have seen most of our world’s natural treasures and creatures. Once, I would have been so arrogant as to say that I had seen all there was to offer. The massive migratory cities of the Indlovu and their ufudoluk mounted Sanctums to Shandr’s deepest mines of the most precious of metals, from the tended wilds of the Martanimis to the primeval forests of Ainakhtsu. When I heard of the strange creatures that the New Empire had been discovered working with, I had many speculations on what they were sure to be.

Perhaps they had somehow tamed the terrible Nanuk from the Sheer Pass during their Great Pilgrimage. Or, maybe, they had encountered the rare infernal wolfstag, the largest of their breed, and had tamed a pack. Even so, the Nanuk cannot be mounted, as the new, strange cavalry required, and there is no wolfstag so large as to be ridden. Thus, you can imagine my surprise upon seeing the wide fields and various stables that housed the cavalry of the New Empire.

-From the third entry from the epistolary travel journal of Kayuktuk the Landlocked.

Though I could tell by her body language and my [System] notification that the wolfstag was willing to submit to my leadership, I wasn’t fool enough to think of her as a pet. This was still a wild animal, and she would bite when bitten, or even threatened, and I couldn’t forget that. The pups behind her peeked at me, curious as to what I was, perhaps. When they made eye contact with me, they bowed their little heads and retreated back to behind their protector. As I looked at them, I realized that there was no way they would be able to get themselves the several miles to our den without help. We could help them, but how could I explain that to their very protective mother?

“Sybil, you can’t talk with them, can you?”

She looked at me, cocked her head, and then, completely serious, responded, “No. Should I be able to?”

“Well, no, I just wondered if maybe you could.”

Shemira, lacking Sybil’s self-control, snorted at me. A hot flash of anger at the disrespect rushed through me, but I was beginning to understand my new mind and how volatile it could be. I took a deep breath before looking at her. Though I said nothing, I couldn’t hide my emotions and could see Shemira bow her head in apology. After continuing to look at her for a couple moments more, I turned away and back to Sybil. “I simply wondered if you had the ability to communicate more clearly with them through your magic, than simply to instill obedience.”

“What is it that you wish to communicate to them? The detail and complexity of your intentions will be the primary limiting factor here.”

“They aren’t safe here. She cannot provide for her young, but we can provide for her, and thus for her young. They will need to come with us, and we can carry the pups to our den, where they all will be safe.”

Sybil thought for a moment before responding. “That may be possible to get them to understand, at least in broad terms. Forgive me my ignorance and impertinence, though—why would we take them to our den?”

I fought against the desire to simply command that she follow my commands. After all, one of Sybil’s greatest qualities was her thorough thinking and need to understand. “Where else would they stay? You acknowledge their strength and possibilities, but these ones are largely helpless at the moment. If we want them to follow and depend on us, what better time to establish us as their superiors than now, in their time of need?”

“It is not the first time you have done so. I suppose it makes sense that you would return to your previously effective tactics.” Sybil didn’t ask any further questions as her magic passed over me, somehow feeling comforting and reassuring. The mother before me relaxed as Sybil’s influence washed over her, and I walked forward to grab one of the braver pups as the magic had calmed her sufficiently. She bristled at my motions, but as I flared [Dominance], she calmed enough for me to hold one, a male as it turned out. He nipped at my fingers, and I let him try to chew on me. His little fangs couldn’t begin to chew through my reinforced scales, and I could feel his rough tongue running over my fingers as he nibbled. After just a short moment, though, I pulled my fingers back from his bite. After all, his father’s blood could be covering my hands right now. The thought sobered me.

The little one in my hands quickly calmed down, and made himself comfortable. Since he was full and relatively happy, I wasn’t too surprised as he began to relax after I settled him into the crook of my elbow.

“Sybil, you and Shemira, get those you trust to grab the rest. Arwa here will follow.” I gave the command while looking at the newly named wolfstag mother. I thought the name funny, though none of my pack would understand it, since the name referred to a prey animal like the Scaled Deer in my old tongue. Since I’d been practicing my Veushten, my mouth could more easily say “Arwa”, though I suspected the name would be quite difficult for the rest of my pack to say.

“Arwa.” I spoke, looking into her nervous eyes. She looked back, her eyes darting back and forth as Shemira approached. Arwa snarled and I reached out a hand and gently held her mouth closed. “Arwa. Look at me.” I couldn’t say she understood me at all, but she did look at me. “We will keep you safe, fed. Come with us. Do not fight.” I released the muzzle I held over her mouth and gestured for her to follow as the rest of the pups were picked up. Some whined and cried out, but I guided Arwa close to see her babies, and when they smelled her, the calmed quickly. 

I led the pack back out of the den, sending Took ahead to warn those who didn’t yet know that we were coming with one of the wolfstags, that they weren’t to be harmed. After all, I would be livid if I’d gone through all this work and then an overzealous keelish killed Arwa or one of her pups. Fortunately, the pack was waiting for us, and though I received no small amount of confused or even angry looks, we made our way back to the den without interruptions, and were even so lucky as to have the rains stop for most of the journey. The pup in my arms nestled deeper into the tight space between my arm and body as he happily snored away, warmed by my body. I smiled, and gestured for Arwa to continue following us as I finally looked at my [Status].