Mwimbaji could feel that his tail was beginning to curl, even wag a moment. Oh, the healer's den. He'd been there he knew it, but he didn't know the rest. Outstanding, absolutely extraudinaire. "Well, I've already seen the healer's den and met the nice lady... Perhaps the meat storage and meeting new members will be best?" he grinned rather eagerly. Meat... speaking of meat, he was rather hungry...
Sheerah grinned. ''This way!'' She happily exclaimed, as she darted off with a playful little jump.
She then trotted right to the storage, and without looking back, just asked; ''You hungry?''
---
The greeting from Mike was all that it took for Kami to remember her own master once. He was kind, gentle, heck, the whole family was. Boy, did she miss them... She panted and her tail wagged as she let out a friendly bark. As he kneeled down, she got up and began to lick his face yipping again before backing off so she wouldn't come off as pushy. Her tail wagged and she yipped again going on her hind legs to dance before backing down once more.
Mike's eyes sparkled; he laughed and patted his knees. He was clearly a friendly man, who enjoyed the playfullness of what he believed to be a dog in front of him.
But he then got up again, and took a step forward, staring at the bushes where Runkle was pointing at.
His hand moved backwards a little... towards his rifle. He didn't touch it yet, but he was ready to grab it, if need be....
Runkle, however, wagged slowly and panted; he tried to get his master to relax, to show him nothing was wrong. But Mike was just cautious... and he knew it. It was the most sensible thing, too. The wild was not a park... and scared animals could attack. Plus, many animals now had young to defend....
Butch sat down, grumbling to himself, and stared daggers at Kami.
He clearly wasn't happy with the situation....
When Runkle had motioned to where Storm was hiding, she gulped. It wasn't suppose to be a good sign to show someone a wolf right away; but Runkle seemed to know his master well. In turn, Kami let out a soft whine, and stared into Mike's eyes with hopeful trust before she yipped, and even tugged teasingly at his sleeve before moving away from him and to the bush.
At the sound of Kami's whine, Mike turned his head at her. His hand moved away from the rifle again, but just a little.
He hesitated.
- ''What is it, girl?'' He didn't try to push her away as she tugged at his sleeve. He watched her stick her head in the bushes, and frowned. ''What's wrong... do you got pups in there, or something...?''
She poked her head in and said softly, "Don't look aggressive. If anything, come out on your belly and give out a nice whine and roll on your back like I did." she said. "Don't think of it as... a pride thing. Think of it as, trying to make peace with a human." she whispered before moving out and yapping with Runkle again, tilting her head innocently with her ear flicking once or twice.
Storm, meanwhile, had seen it all. He had seen the man, the rifle, the way he had greeted Kami.
He wasn't sure if it was save to come out... But as Kami's head appeared, he knew there was no use in hiding, anyway.
- ''I wouldn't dare to care about pride right now...'' he mumbled, as he stared at the rifle. ''Well, if you say so....''
Runkle still wagged his tail happily; Mike looked from him to Kami.
- ''I don't get it, guys... what's the ma....?''
He suddenly fell silent; a nose appeared between the leaves. A canine nose... another dog?
It was not a puppy nose... too big.
Then, he saw eyes blinking between the leaves.
He smiled, naturally assuming that this too was a dog. A friend of the female, perhaps...
- ''Hey there...'' Mike slowly crouched down, his hand close to the rifle, just in case.
As Storm saw the hand move back to the rifle, he took a step backwards. The nose dissapeared back into the bushes.
- ''Come on...'' Mike gently mumbled. ''Come on, it's okay...Come on out, doggy... Are you lost, hmm?''
Storm hesitated; again, his nose poked out.
He knew little about humans; all he knew, was that they where dangerous and bad news. All his experiences with them, where terrible. Hunters... traps... hunting dogs...
But he hád to do this... for Ace.
The thought of his best friend gave him courage.
He took a deep breath, and finally poked his head out further.
Mike gasped; he recognized the head right for what it was.
This was NO dog!
He froze; his hand kept still; he just waited. He didn't stare at the wolf, knowing it would just provoke it. Staring was a threat....
But his heat pounded in his chest; he wondered what was about to happen....
What was a WILD wolf doing so close...??!
Suddenly, he felt a wet nose against his hand, nearly giving him a heartattack.
He didn't move, but looked from the corner of his eyes. It was Runkle, gently nudging him, and licking his hand.
Mike didn't understand. Why had the dogs shown him the wolf...? Had they tried to warn him... was that it..?
Storm saw that the human did not move. He took a small step, his chest and front leg appearing. Then, another...
He slowly sunk through his legs, and began to crawl.
Mike's eyes widend slightly in surprise, as he still tried not to look directly at the wolf.
This wás a wolf... no doubt. Pretty special markings, yes... but a wolf. From the looks of it, a male. But Mike had never seen a wolf crouch down before a human before. They usually ran at the sight, smell or sound of humans.... or, if they where left no choice, they would attack.
But Storm slowly crouched closer, and the closer he came, the more he tilted towards the side, almost rolling over to present his belly.
He began to imitate the sounds he had heard Kami make. A soft whining, his tongue now licking his nose a few times.
Mike could hardly believe it.
He slowly stretched out his free hand, the other still hanging perfectly still near the rifle. The wolf didn't back away... but his ears where flattend to his head. This guy was scared...
But what where they all trying to tell him...??
- ''It's okay...'' Mike almost whispered. ''It's okay, buddy... come here... I won't hurt you...''
Finally, he touched the wolf's fur lightly, just near his neck. Storm shivered, but didn't back away. Instead, he finally rolled over to his belly, and kept whining and licking his nose.
- ''Amazing...'' Mike whispered. He relaxed slightly, and came a little closer, gently, slowly, and patted the wolf's chest. ''It's okay... good boy.'' He said, softly. ''What's the matter, huh...? What do you want..?''
He then backed away a little. Storm rolled back to his belly, but Mike saw it was just to get away quickly, if need be.
The two coloured eyes reminded him of a husky... and they seemed to beg him for something.
Storm crouched forward again; his tongue brushed lightly over Mike's hand, just for a moment. Then, he too backed away a little.
Mike didn't move, and didn't pet him again. This was a wolf, a wild animal. Not a dog to pet.
He then looked at Runkle and Kami again, and the grumbling Butch.
Runkle still wagged happily... what where they trying to tell him...?
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