Chapter 108 - One-Hundred-Four (1/2)

We were able to travel back quite swiftly. None of our persecutors could keep up with our four legs, and after I put all of the hound and Isa inside my shadow, well… we were literally leaps ahead of them as I dashed from shadow to shadow.

But even my sturdy self gets tired at some point, especially using my magic like this, and with the possibility of finding trouble in the near future makes me slow down to stop and rest, letting everybody out of my shadow as I go under a tree shade, this being the first moment where we were all able to talk without shouts chasing us out behind us.

”Who are they?” Isaac asks as he settles on the opposite side of me, looking wary at the hounds, presumably his lack of trust in magical creatures kicking in once more.

”It's a long story.” I simply say, not in the mood to explain. ”But they are trustworthy, don't worry. Well, most except those two.” I say, pointing at the girls who were not paying attention to us, instead having their own quarrel.

We did not intend to stay still for long, our one secret place wasn't that far, so no fire or accommodations were made as we simply sat down and take a breather.

”Never thought complete darkness like this for so long could be so tiresome…” The red female says, only for the wolfhound to say:

”Were you scared? Want me to comfort you?” She says, brushing her furry body on the red side.

”Scram!” The other said, earning a laugh from the wolfhound.

…Why does this scene seems so familiar?

They were speaking in hound tongue, so for outsiders like Isaac it only sounded like barks and shuffles and an occasional strange barky laugh.

As I rest and the younger hounds play and the females fought; or flirted?; Isaac sat in complete silence and I knew not to disturb by merely taking a glance at the gloomy glint over his eyes, his mind somewhere else.

But still I curiously wondered…

Was he worried? If so, about what? For the life he left behind, or for the uncertainty that the future holds for him? Either way I had no intention of comforting him, even more because he wasn't the type who would like such action, it would be like brushing against his face his own flaws and weakness.

Pressing the weak spot I would say.

So I simply say nothing, enjoying my little break since I was, in the end, the only one really working and running here.

As I was enjoying a bit of morning sunlight passing through the leaves and painting the floor with wavy shadows and forms, however, I hear paws approaching.

”King” The old hound calls me with a hoarse voice from the side, making me look over my shoulder as he comes closer and sits down in front of me so we could have a smother talk.

”Thank you for this, young king.” He says as his eyes quickly pass over the others. ”How impolite of me, let me present myself. My name is Demonpaw and I will do my best to help you deal with these young bloods. They may be difficult to deal with sometimes, but they are good kids, I hope you have the heart to understand them. Come and introduce yourselves!” He says back to the other hounds, unaware that I already knew their names because of the pop up from before.

Well, no harm done in getting to know them a little better right?

”I'm Lightfang. ”Says the red female while escaping from the grasp of the wolfhound by kicking her. ”And those two are Von and Vok.”

”Hm. I'm Palarran Thilgon Mìnaothon, but you can call me Thilgon.”

”Hey, what about me?” We all ignore the wolfhound, Swiftpaw.

”Is that an elven name?” Aks the old hound as I nod. After that we chitchat for a while, talking about how I grow on the woods, and how they were raised by humans; except for the wolfhound that, without being asked, told that she felt in love with the red female so that's why she ended up there, not serving any humans, but trying to help her escape, or rather, taking her away against her will.

With all said and done I thought to be a good opportunity to bring a subject to light.

”Well, since we are here already, how about we decide the abilities that you will receive uhm?” I say, crossing my low front legs and looking at them. ”Might as well get that out of the way now than later.”

They stay silent, as if thinking, but say nothing in the end, probably unable to decide since they could not tell my skills apart; and since I had no intention of reading my status out loud, I end up deciding for them.