They had been in the same area for several days while waiting for some one to come, the last village that they had traveled by she had gone in to get some things they needed. It was there that she ran in to some guy in a common room that had some information about a man fitting her brother’s description. What she found out there had her and Shadow Dancer moving fast to try and gain some ground. The words repeated in her head as she sat there by the fire for the third night with Shadow Dancer close by her.

 

“A boy was brought here a few weeks ago, I know the men who were with him and I don’t think that you will find the one you’re looking for. They were headed north towards Andor’s Capitol, I heard one of them say that the boy would bring a good price.â€

 

To much time was passing but she could not make herself leave Shadow Dances to continue following the trail. So they waited longer, how much time would pass she was not sure but this seemed so important to her companion that she could do no other but wait and see who this mystery person they were waiting for was. The next day they went on a hunt for the next few nights, at least the game was in numbers so no one came looking for them when they were hunting. She looked around the trees that they were moving though, all of them were different in shape and color from the ones that she had been use to at home. Home It had been a long time since she had been back; maybe since she was heading north again she should stop in and see her parents. That thought soured her expression and she whistled to Shadow Dancer hoping that he was ready to head back to camp. She got an impression of interest and sadness, those two things had her running towards where she got the impression he might be. It took her a while to actually find him and when she did she almost laughed.

 

He was standing with his tail wagging and his head in a bush. She moved a little closer and heard a small sound, it sounded like a puppy whining. Zie had to take a moment to look around and see if the mother of the cub was close by, taking a few steps away she saw some thing that made her heart sink. The mother had been killed and she could only guess that the pup was in hiding because of what happened. Walking back to Shadow Dancer she put her hand on his back and lowered herself so that she could get a look at the pup. A smile came to her face as she looked at this little ball of fur that was growling at her, reaching in to her pack she pulled out a little piece of meat from dinner the night before and held it out to it. With what seemed like from encouragement a larger wolf, the pup came closer and took the meat carefully. Zie was not sure if she had ever seen a pup that looked like this one, it was a black and tan fur ball. She knew what was going to happen if she left it there and sighed, this was going to be a long trip.

 

“Well bring him along, we can feed him and take care of him until he is big enough to fend for himself. That is if you want to have the little one traveling with us, I am not willing to leave him behind.â€

 

Shadow Dancer of course tilted his head at her and she shook her head, this was going to be an interesting day. She reached over and picked up the pup before walking back over to where they had originally stopped. Zie cleaned up her dinner while the cub and Shadow dancer eat what he had caught for them, it did not take long to get her own cooking so she sat down to try and figure out what the cubs name was. Shadow Dancer helped her with that one, the cub was known as the sound of spring whispering though the woods in the middle of the night. Her little Dark Whispers was happily sleeping right in the middle of Zie’s bedroll. It did not take much to tell how this night was going to go, chuckling she moved over and put some more wood on the fire and then moved the pup a little so that she could lay down. She hoped that soon this guest would come so that she could continue her hunt for her brother.

It was under the starry cloak of night that Anton made his way. Some people might have been disquieted by the ease that he picked his way. Others would have said it was as if he was walking as surely as he would have in the day. For him, it may as well have been day, for even with only the stars and a crescent moon to light his way, everything was caught by the golden orbs that showed him the way.

 

One of the marks of the wolf that was upon him, and most likely upon the woman who he had been sent to retrieve. He didn't know her name, but one who was called Shadow Dancer had spoken of a two leg for whom the howling would come. In fact, it had come, but she had been spared the worst of it so far. She had not had suffered the true struggle to retain her humanity, married it to wolfish thoughts and desires, urges and instincts that were rising within her. One couldn't ignore these things, and if one couldn't make peace between both halves then one could not be truly wolfkin, instead the inevitable end was madness that would lead to being shunned by man and wolf alike.

 

It was rumoured that Janna had once suffered such a loss, that she had come for someone too late. Anton had never asked her about it as he had no wish to refresh such memories for her, but in hindsight he could realise why her concern for him had been so clear when she had first taken him under her care. Especially considering his... condition, when she had finally found him. He didn't want such a thing on his hands, and sometimes he wished perhaps he had become a Watcher instead of a Tracker. But then, if he didn't do it, then the risk would be on someone elses hands for there would always be people in need of assistance during the Howling.

 

It was a time before the camp came into view, but it was a welcome sight after all the travel. He'd started early and pushed hard, and now even as late as it was he'd finally made it. Strolling forward, he smiled as he saw the woman only sat up at his approach. Still, he supposed he didn't look all that intimidating. Shadow Dancer would have warned her to his approach, whom he looked to and spoke with briefly as he shrugged off his pack, setting it on the ground. Dropping his stave alongside it as they concluded, he was informed of the pup that they had found along the way.

 

With luck it wouldn't slow them down, but either way the pup would go with them. Walking with the gait of a worn man, Anton went and sat down beside the girl who he had been hunting for sometime. She was queer in her looks, part of him was inclined to be she was Aiel. With red hair and towering over him by more than half a foot she could have been mistaken for one. But there was none of the trademark hate in her golden eyes, that which made the Aiel perhaps the only people, the only thing that he held a hatred for. But then, that wasn't the woman before him.

 

Holding out his hand, there was warmth in Anton's voice as he spoke despite the weariness. "I am Anton Averdal, I'm sorry it took so long to find you. As you can tell from my eyes, I am Wolfkin as you are. I am here to bring you home."

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

Zierna was not sure what to make of the man sitting so happily in her camp, her first thought was to say hi to him but some thing strange started to move though her. Her body shifted protectively over her pup, * her pup???* And a loud growl started coming from her throat. For some odd reason she had the impression of a mother wolf with her hackles raised and ready to fight the strange male to protect her pup. * Her pup??* This was started to be strange and her reaction frightened her a lot. She had never growled at any one, but then again since Shadow Dancer had found her she had not had to much contact with other people. The only thing that eased her a little was that Shadow Dancer did not seem alarmed at all by his appearance. Was this the one that he had been waiting for and telling her to wait for? It was possible; now that she started to relax a little she took some time to look him over. His eyes were like hers, that came to her in a rush and she started at him with a slight shocked look.

 

“You’re like me and you want to take me home? You mean that there are others like us?â€

 

She had loads of question but she was not sure where to start and what ones to ask him, it was too much and she was not sure what to do. He had said that he was sorry for taking so long to find her but she did not even know that she was in need of finding until now. This was too much for her to take in and she was starting to feel itchy in her own skin, she lifted her head and smelled the air, she smelled the woods, and him. Her head tilted slightly as she looked at him, he was like her, able to see in the dark and smell. She shifted again and growled, not use to the unfamiliar urges that seemed to be at the front of her mind. To distract herself she asked him another question, hoping that he was not aware if how uncomfortable she was starting to feel.

 

“You said that you are Wolfkin like me, but what are the wolfkin?â€

Frowning as his hand remained unclasped, Anton shrugged and pulled it back. All the while observing, she was closer to the cusp than he had earlier thought. The way she was moving around the pup, the growls she seemed almost unaware of, the wolfish nature was sneaking upon her. Too long without people perhaps, then again with people one could easily end up with one's throat cut for having the wrong coloured eyes. Better that it sneak up on her than how it had been with himself anyway. It would perhaps spare her some of the worst of it.

 

Or maybe it would make it worse when it revealed itself.

 

Either way, the girl was quick enough to ask her questions. Questions which only then led to more signs that she was changing. Maybe he wasn't early after all, but rather exactly on time. The wheel wove as the wheel willed after all. Anton contemplated hiding some of it for until they were on their way, but then it would be better for her to be able to walk into it with both eyes open. That and if she were far along enough, she would be able to sense a deception on his part, much in the same way he would be able to smell it from her if she tried.

 

"We are Wolfkin, we are people who are also... Let us say that there is also the wolf in us that lays dormant, it sleeps until it is awakens. When it does, we go through the howling, which is what you are going through now. Notice your senses are getting stronger? You're doing things you normally don't do? You were just growling at me before, its the instinctive wolf nature in you."

 

"If you let it run free, it will overrun you and you will cease to be who you are, you'll become a wolf within a woman's body. But because you are a wolf in a man's body you will also be unbalanced, packs will not welcome you out of fear. Simply ignoring it will not work either. You need to learn to accept it, but not forget who you are either, absorb the wolf into who you are rather than the other way around. That is why you must come home with me. There is a place of peace, a stedding. There reside people that can help you, and I am your guide to them."

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

She listened to what he was saying but it was hard to concentrate, Shadow Dancer moved then and came to lay by the pup. Zie growled at him with less heat and relaxed slightly knowing that he would protect the pup. Every thing seemed to be coming at her all at once, the last village she had been in no one would look her in the eyes or they would point and stare. That was what had decided her to not go in to any other villages unless she had to, one old woman actually chased her out of her inn with a broom. It took her a few more moments before she was able to sit down and understand what he was telling her.

 

There was a safe place, where she would be welcomed instead of run off by people who did not understand what she was or was becoming. She still did not know if what he was telling her was the truth, tilting her head to look at him again she breathed in trying to find the lie in what he was telling her. There was hesitation but no lie or false pretences in what he was saying, but how was she human and wolf at the same time. She could feel the wildness in her, the call to run though the woods and howl at the moon. Most times she was able to push those thoughts away since she was on a hunt and needed to find her brother. It started to dawn on her that the changes in her started a little before Shadow Dancer had come to her one night. The main impression that she got from him was companion, and from that day there had been changes but she did not really notice them at all.

 

Now with this stranger in her camp she was able to pin point all of them, some were frightening to her because they seemed so strange. Her growling was one since she never remembered doing it before, but then again maybe she just did not notice. Growing slightly uncomfortable again she rubbed at her arms, she had a strange urge to jump on him and make him submit. As soon as the thought came in to her mind she was in motion, spinning around she landed hard on his lap. Her arms came down on his shoulder and she pushed him back, there was no telling if is was his surprise or her strength that had him on his back but Zie sat there growling at him softly.

 

Gritting his teeth as he was forced onto his back, Anton wasted little time as the wanderer growled at him. Grabbing her wrists, he ripped them to the right as he unbalanced her, allowing him to roll on top. Her legs kicking as she fought back, he kept his grip and forcing both her arms onto her chest, put his full body weight on them to keep her pinned. His other hand was free to then force her chin up, exposing her throat. He'd show the wolf in her to back down.

 

She hated being on her back, her growl became louder when he pushed her chin up. With her arms between them there was not a lot that she could do, her instincts were telling her to fight and not submit but the human side of her was now realizing that she was laying under him, the more she trashed and fought him the more vulnerable she was. Color started to stain her cheeks when he added more weight to get her to hold still, now the female wolf in her was starting to realize just how vulnerable she was in this position. Slowly her growling stopped and she lifted her chin off his fingers, her eyes would not meet his as she waited to see what happened next.

 

It took a bit of time, but sure enough the woman's fighting soon ceased as she realized she was beaten. In particular, the wolfish side of her realized she was beaten, which was what Anton had been targeting. There was no malice in Anton's voice when he spoke though, it hadn't been something she'd been able to help and he certainly wasn't going to blame her for it.

 

"Do you have it under control?

 

Even though she could tell that he was not mad she still felt horrible, she had never jumped on any one before or growled at them. When he asked her if she had it under control she really had to sit and think about it, she was calmer now that she had been before but she did not know what it was she was suppose to be in control of. Nodding her head she stayed there trying to figure out what had just happened she had seen dogs do the same thing, trying to dominate each other or prove who was leader of the pack. It made sense but still confused her more than she wanted to admit, did this mean that at random times she was going to pounce people. Her thoughts jumped form possibility to possibility before landing hard on one thought, mating season. A blush covered her whole face and would not leave it because Anton was still stretched out on top of her.

 

While it took a bit for her answer to, eventually Anton got the nod he was after. Waiting a little to see that it was genuine, it was then he noticed her blush. Well, the wolf was under control at least, though he felt a bit embarrassed about where he was himself. A little color coming to his cheeks as well, he lifted himself off and getting to his feet, offered her his own hand to help her up.

 

"Sorry about that, but... Wolf side in you wanted dominance. It should be easier to keep under control for now at least."

 

When she did manage to look at him she noticed the color in his cheeks and felt a little better. She was slow to take his hand though, feeling a bit like a bear had beaten her, it was not a physical feeling but more emotional. The possibility of loosing herself to a wolf was not exactly what she wanted and controlling it seemed to take help from others at times. When they were standing again she gave him a shy smile before she could find her voice.

 

“Thank you, it seems there is a lot of things that are going to pop up when I lease expect them and cause issues. Unless I can get both sides of myself in to some form of harmony there are going to be times where it will control me. Is the battle to stay in control always so draining?â€

 

It was a stupid question but she was still not all the way recovered form what had just happened to them both. The wolf in her growled its approval at Anton and that caused her to blush crimson; this was going to be a long night she could just tell.

One of the gifts of the Wolfkin was the ability to discern different smells far more consciously and with greater accuracy. Not only those of the surrounds around them, but ones that emanated from people that not only told you their level of hygiene but also one could discover what sort of emotions they were feeling. A person could reek of relief or assault his nostrils with the depth of their worry. This was one of the main ways that a wolfkin was able to sense if someone else was lying because their emotions would reveal it to be so.

 

It was also useful for discovering if someone was confused, which was exactly what Anton was sensing from the girl. Some of the emotions coming through actually made him blush again, that was something he hadn't been warned about when it came to picking up new wolfkin, but after having known the wolves for so long it came to him. That was now doubt going to be a problem for her during the trip, for him as well if he couldn't keep his face from going red. Times like these he wished he had Aran's self control, the man never seemed to get flustered. Then again, the man did plenty of other things that Anton had no intention of doing either.

 

Letting go of her hand, Anton nodded at her questions before answering. "Yes and no. You cannot let the wolf take control at all if possible, and if it does take it back as quickly as you can. If you ever truly give into it, you'll be lost. Once you and the wolf find your balance you will be as one in many respects, which makes sense because the wolf is you. It isn't some seperate person going off and making decisions, its you expressing yourself through the wolf. If that makes any sense? Its hard to explain, its more something you learn through experience."

 

Thinking, Anton added. "But yes, very draining. Also doable, you are lucky to have Shadow Dancer and Night Whisper here with you. My own experience was not as kind as yours, by the time Janna found me north of Elmora, I thought I was going insane and had hidden myself in a cave. You will be fine as long as you stand firm, and if you need help you ask it."

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

She released his hand with a little reluctance, his hand seemed to be the only thing real to her at that moment, but his words sank in and she looked down at Shadow Dancer and Nights Whisper. Having them made it easier to accept that there were changes coming, it gave her strength to look at what she was becoming and know that it was right. The only thing that worried her was if her eyes changing would make her headaches worse than usual. Frowning she looked over at Anton, he was the one who had the answers that she needed but it made her wonder if he could answer some of them. Now that she was feeling a bit more like herself she thought it best to ask more questions.

 

"I am not sure why it is so easy for me to accept what you are saying, but for some reason deep inside I know that is right and should be this way. I just hope that I can find my balance before any thing else happens that I don't want to...."

 

For some reason she could not finish that thought because if she was to be honest with herself she did not regret what happened and liked the feel..... She blushed crimson again and groaned. If she kept this up she was going to send all of her time with pink cheeks. The look on Anton's face told her that he could at least tell some of what she was feeling if not all and the wolf inside was having to much fun throwing her off balance by making its interest in the male obvious. Zie just knew that she was going to die on embarrassment before the night was out and the wolf just seemed to smirk. She had to clear her throat before she could ask him another question that worried her.

 

"With the changes I have noticed, like my senses being more acute is there a possibility that any problems I had before the changes started will become worse?"

 

She could tell by his look that he was not sure what she meant and that she would have to explain in detail about her vision problem. It was not some thing that she talk to many about because it gave them an advantage in away over her in a fight. She looked over at Shadow Dancer, almost if asking for his advise and he gave her the impression of trust.

 

"I get the feeling your not sure what I mean, ever since I was little I have had problems with the light, it would give me headaches when I was a child. Some times it would keep me in bed for several days before it would ease up to where I could get up and move around again. At night any flashes of light are blinding and painful, some times even during the days as well if the light should glint off of some thing shiny. It was getting better but I am not sure what the changes in me now will do to that weakness, if it will make it to where I am in bed for days again. Do you have any idea?"

Well, this was turning out to be more difficult than he thought and not for the reasons he would have expected. He had to find a girl who was attracted to him, or the wolf in her at least. But then, the wolf was her. Regardless, he could smell the confusion as well as the desire from her, meaning that it was going to be an awkward trip. Especially if his face kept going red, that was going to have to stop.

 

At least she was willing to take what he said at face value. Perhaps a little over trusting of her, but it made her a lot easier to deal with unlike some others he had picked up in the past who had taken a bit of convincing. Still, he wondered if in some ways that might have been easier than what they had now. It wasn’t to say that he hadn’t known a few women in his time, but a wanderer was a cub regardless of their age. There would be no taking her up on her feelings, especially since she couldn’t be sure whether they were her own yet. Nor could he be sure for that matter.

 

Her senses? Of course bu- Listening on as the girl continued, he couldn’t help but wonder if anyone else had come across such a problem. He certainly couldn’t think of an answer to her question, but then that was what the Sages were for. It was not something he had come across before, eyes that sensitive to light that she could sometimes end up bedridden? He could recall having that problem only after a particularly heavy night of drinking but had been fine by the late afternoon.

 

“I cannot think of an answer to that. Maybe it would become worse, or maybe it would improve, or perhaps nothing would change. You would have to ask one of the Sages when we have returned home.†There was the other aspect of her problem then as well, travel. “If light causes you so many problems, we shall travel by night then. I don’t want you hurting yourself uneccesarily. If we then sleep through the day, we should be fine.†And that would be the end of that.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw