Luna ran to pull up their catch as he collected the pole and his staff to head back toward camp. Luna looked about as panicked as she had been at him telling her about cats, but she kept to his side and her ears stayed up as the roars continued through the forest.

They got back to the camp by the road with Vivian holding tight to Dexter's arm as he seemed to be trying to go out into the woods after the noise.

“See you idiot. We have no plan now, no way to coordinate anything that’s safe to pull this off.” Vivian was saying. “We don't even know how big it is or if it's the right one. This is why you can't just go around setting traps everywhere. My plan was to bait an area and strike at it while it was pinned and have fall backs where we could lead it into more foot traps while we struck.”

Dexter spotted them and came back into camp no longer resisting Vivian's pull when his eyes fell on Luna. Micheal saw her ears go straight, perhaps in surprise as she noticed too when his eyes softened before he looked back at Vivian with his usual arrogance.

“There it's no problem now that they are back. I was just going to make sure it didn't get free and go after the nearest person it smelled.” Dexter said with resigned defiance.

“Sure.” Vivian said with a sigh. “We might not need that bait, but now we've got to act fast. Micheal...” Her tone was strict and commanding at first, but as she looked at him she softened both visibly and in tone of voice. “Stay with me. Use what I taught you if you have to, but focus on hard jabs to vital areas and soft tissues. It won't do much to kill it, but it might stop it from charging you down.”

Luna had stopped to pull out her harp and looked to Vivian as if awaiting commands. Vivian looked at her waiting there, sighed and nodded.

“Luna support spells for our attacks and stamina then focus on confounding the Bear Dog. It's likely already enraged. Stick behind Micheal and I. Dexter will lead the way and mark out where he's laid other traps as we go. We'll double back to them if...”

The roaring went silent as another snap of metal trap jaws rang through the air. It wasn't as loud as before but unmistakable all the same. They shared a look. It was clear to all of them that the creature had managed to free itself from the first trap.

“Keep steady.” Dexter said as the forest suddenly went completely silent. The birds and insects nearby had either fled from the noise or gone totally still. The resulting silence was a little eery with only the wind through the trees to cover their sounds of their discussion. “It's likely wounded now and angry with it. We should be able to follow a blood trail too, but we'll have to chase it down now since it seems to have found a way to pull itself from the traps. If it wants to, it will be able to run quite a ways even on three legs. Stick close. We'll do like Vivian says.”

The party went in file into the woods after Dexter's lead. Vivian looked determined and gripped her spear in ready hands in a stance that told Micheal she was ready to plant the end in the ground and face down a charge at any moment. Dexter had his bow strung and one of his thick arrows knocked with practiced ease. The tall broad head on it looked like it would cut into armor about as well as flesh with its long tip on a near finger thick shaft. An arrow like that wouldn't likely fly very far, but it was meant to do significant damage to whatever it hit. Dexter's bow looked like a solid piece of wood too. Micheal doubted that the Nomad lacked the strength to readily handle that bow either.

They went ahead and eventually found the trap Dexter had laid out before with Dexter pointing out the locations of others nearby. This one was in a tiny clearing next on a game trail that went near a tree that was half ripped up by an old windstorm. It seemed to have weathered the last storm with ease and heavy thick roots ripped up the exposed rock and soil providing the old tree with excellent footing now. The trap itself was easy to spot on the disturbed ground. The chain was tied to the largest of the old trees gnarled roots and trapped in its blood jaws was thick black fur matted with the Bear Dog's blood.

Dexter pointed ahead and moved up at a sound from the Bear Dog in the close distance. He made a half draw on his bow looking ready to fire as everything around them went quiet once more. Luna's ears went straight up, darting this way and that as her eyes stared at the catch of fish in her hands still. She had carried it all this way without anyone noticing because of the heat of the moment and the fact that she was in the back.

Dexter looked back to shush everyone and then his eyes went wide as he saw Luna with the fish. Vivian turned to look and began making quiet motions for Luna to throw the fish before the brush broke open behind the two of them.

Micheal only had time to react as he threw himself in front of the much smaller Luna and cast out his staff to strike at the charging Bear Dog. It smacked his blow and him aside with a heavy shoulder, but tumbled off course and back into the woods trailing blood and whimpering on three legs.

As he lay stunned on the ground he realized he had just gotten his real first look at the 'monster'. It was like an overgrown Newfoundland almost exactly just way too heavy in the shoulders and ran head low to the ground much like a bear. He had always wanted one of them, but it would never happen until he had a house...a BIG house, and a big yard. He was breathing hard and quickly did a check on himself to make sure he was intact. He wasn't so much as scratched thankfully.

Dexter and Vivian were already back on their feet from where they had dodged aside in haste, both almost put on the ground themselves, with Luna being the only one left standing. Neither had wounds. Dexter was cursing softly and trying to pull on another bowstring as the current string seemed to have snapped, but both Vivian and Luna rushed to his side to check him for wounds before coming together in a shared moment of hesitation before Vivian took up her spear and told Luna; “Help him up.” Before taking a defensive position by them.

The Bunnary woman was surprisingly solid when she had her feet planted and was able to help him up with one hand.

“Thank you.” She said holding the stringer of fish and her harp in one hand.

“It's hurt if we go after it now we can kill it.” Dexter said.

A moment of inspiration came over Micheal as he thought of the brief encounter with the Bear Dog. It hadn't been angry, but afraid. He had seen its eyes meet his own, the split second decision made then when the Bear Dog could have slapped him down with its claws but instead clobbered him with its shoulder. It had stopped after smelling fish because it was hungry before. It had followed them almost up to the village and to their camp the one night they had stayed by the stream. Even in the report it hadn't hurt people, but chased them off for their camp food.

However Luna, Dexter, and Vivian had told him that Bear Dogs did go after people even if this one hadn't yet. When they got hungry enough to need to attack people they did. Bunnary like Luna had a special sort of hatred and fear of them because of their tendency to go after their smaller kind elsewhere. Dexter claimed they were beasts, and Vivian had told him much the same.

Still he reached down and took the stringer of fish from Luna as a strange sort of instinctual knowledge seemed to possess his mind. She looked up at him confused, and concerned.

“Wait.” He said as Vivian and Dexter moved toward the fading whimpering sounds. “I have a plan.”

“You're completely mad.” Vivian said with wide eyes. “This mark is something special, and I think may mean special things between you and I, but this is a monster hunt.” She said, emphasizing the last words with her spear. “Monsters end up like this all the time before they end up going after people like Luna's or my own. They even come near human settlements too though they don't seem to bother them quite so much. To Bunnary these creatures are complete monsters tearing apart farms and families when they grow too bold or their packs too strong.” She said pointing at Luna who looked on and flicked her ears nervously.

Dexter nodded at her points, seeming to want to say much the same, but not willing to repeat outright what Vivian was saying. He was eyeing Micheal at the same time.

“I'm telling you I have a feeling. Just back me up. If things go wrong your plan will still work, but I need you to stay back. I saw its eyes. I can do this.” Micheal insisted. Vivian raised an eyebrow at him as she noticed he was getting fish slime onto her thigh high leather boots, but she sighed loudly, sucked in a breath, and then sighed again. She looked at Dexter who shrugged and made a mostly open face of curiosity.

“Let him try. I have a few potions if things go really bad.” He said. “At least we can shake him of this notion if the Bear Dog goes for his throat.”

“We don't want him to need those potions.” Vivian growled, but Luna came forward and put a hand on her arm. Her ears were turned toward and tuned in on the whimpering sounds in the distance. They had come after some little ways away as Micheal explained his 'mad' idea, and she had stuck by Micheal as he talked.

Vivian looked at her friend and met her eyes for a time and then looked at Micheal.

“You get one shot at this. One hear me.” She said, Her eyes were firm as her voice, but even that couldn't hide the clear light of concern deep inside. “Then we go in. If it so much as snaps at you--” She let the rest go unsaid as she finished with a sharp gesture of her spear.

Micheal nodded and left with just the stringer in hand. He could feel it. Something like before with Vivian. Different this time, much different, but he could feel it, and it almost seemed like light was shining from the colorful lines of the mark on his left hand.

Micheal made his way ahead as quietly as he could until finally the Bear Dog came into sight. It was under a tumble of trees formed by another wind storm, but as big as it was Micheal would have to crouch to pass beneath the fallen timbers. The branches above still showed green with life, but the underside was fading. The trail of blood ran up to the Bear Dog's big black furry body.

It was whimpering, and clearly very hurt from pulling its paw from the trap. Already he could see that it had been one of the front paws that had been struck. He came through the brush and the Bear Dog stopped whimpering to turn around toward him, its head low in the hollow. This was where it had bedded down for the storm and there was a trap off to Micheal's right that he could barely make out in the leaves. It would have to be quick if he failed, but that trap and Dexter's timely arrows were his only hope if things went wrong, but still somehow he was confident.

He stepped forward from the brush with the fish out before him. The Bear Dog eyed him and the stringer with caution for him and hunger for the fish. It shifted forward and began to growl looking between him and the fish in turn. Still Micheal could feel it, the odd sensation and surety inside his chest, or maybe even his heart, or wherever it was that magic manifested. Luna had said magic intertwined with the soul. Maybe that was what he was feeling.

Micheal put a hand out toward the Bear Dog in a soothing gesture, and pulled the nail of the stringer back through the gills of one of the trout. The Bear Dog watched him with its big black doggy eyes shining, cautious, curious, and seeming to wonder. Micheal could feel the strange sensation in his chest rising, reaching, and then finally, the vaguest notion of contact with the wounded, frightened creature before him. It drove him on, and settled some of his fear. His heart was pounding in his chest all the same. The Bear Dog was the size of most black bears he had seen when he lived in northern Minnesota. If it charged him it could do some damage, and likely weighed more than him besides regardless of Micheal's size.

Micheal mocked the throw once and then threw to fish to the Bear Dog's feet.

The big Bear Dog sniffed it after a long moment of staring up at him with its big dark eyes. Up close to the fish it really put into perspective how thick and huge the thing was. It wasn't a Newfoundland; well it was like a Newfoundland that ate two other Newfoundlands to gain their shoulders and paw width, but it had the lips of a bear, and its front paws were a little more bear than dog with those big claws on them. Its head was a wide thing with powerful looking jaws and sharp fangs, but its eyes seemed to hold a soft kindness and a curious intelligence. It had a cute little feather duster version of a tail and big folded over flap ears like a newfy however. Its eyes lit up on the fish and while watching him it pulled the fish further in and started chewing on it once it was close enough. The bear watched him closely even as it ate, but its eyes seemed to grow a little less hungry, and much less scared, and grew more towards sated and calm, but clearly one fish would not be enough. He felt the bond, the magic if that was truly what he felt, growing. It would have been a wonder on its own, but he was too in the moment to analyze the sensation more clearly. He could feel something binding between him and the injured beast, like the final steps of his standby fishing knot coming together as he pulled both ends.

Micheal waited until it finished before he tossed the other trout to it.

“Like that?” He said as he tossed it. “Here's another for you big guy.”

The Bear Dog eyed him and had to come forward a little to grab the fish and pull it back into its cover. It eyed the woods behind Micheal, perhaps when Vivian or Dexter had come a little too close, but then began eating that fish too.

It pawed at the ground before it when it finished the other trout perch thing. When Micheal didn't respond it crawled a little forward, careful of its wounded paw to pat at the ground where he had thrown the second fish. The magic surged. He swore he could almost see it just out of sight, and the sensation in his chest was stronger still, his heart was beating like a drum in his ears as he took in the beast's great claws and massive jaws. His instincts were at war inside his mind, but he pressed on. It's head alone looked large and tough enough to barrel him down with a swing of it, and their was nothing but nervous terror to be found in thoughts about what it could do with those great big black claws on its forepaws.

“Can't just toss you this one bud.” He said to the Bear Dog sounding calm though his heart beat hard in his own ears. He hesitated for a short moment wondering just what the hell he was doing before something inside drove him on replacing his fear with certainty. He felt the magic. That had to be it. He could feel it tying and tightening in on the Bear Dog, feeling its will, tired and lonely longing for the warmth of a pack around it again. “You gotta come to me for it.”

He patted the top of his thigh and gave a soft whistle. A voice in his mind screamed that he was mad and hoped Vivian and Dexter were ready to save him. But on the outside he was smiling, feeling the energy passing between him and this creature filling him with exhilaration.

“Here boy.” He said and felt something from deep in him come out with his words.

The Bear Dog's ears went up alert and surprised and then laid back again. It growled a little.

“Come on boy.” Micheal said, his heart racing and sweat trickling down the side of his face. “I know you're hurt and hungry, but I can feed you- and take care of you. You just gotta come here. Come on.” He said and patted his thigh again. The feeling inside, the strange magic, felt like it had been drawn tight between the two of them and it began to strain.

The Bear Dog growled and shook its head. Its wounded paw stayed lifted from the ground as it used the other to rake at its head and ears as if it had an itch every time he talked to it. Micheal's hands felt clammy and shaky. Something incredible was stirring inside his chest, growing in strength with the bond. He could feel it. He remembered how it had felt before mixed in with the afterglow of being with Vivian, but now on its own it was clear in his mind. It felt like his spirit was reaching out, and trying to take the Bear Dog in. The difference here was that it had felt then like Vivian was reaching out to him as much as he was now reaching to create a bond with this animal.

“You've been following people around for food.” Micheal said. “You come here, and be a good boy, and you won't have to follow any strange people hoping for food. Just me and my friends; and mean guys with traps like Dexter will stop bothering you.” He said gently, offering the fish once more.

The Bear Dog growled a little more and snorted.

Micheal stepped forward, and the Bear Dog's growl increased in volume. He was actually mad for doing this, an objective part of him decided; he could feel that part of his mind crossing its arms and waiting for disaster like a frustrated parent. This creature was moments away from getting up and tearing him apart and he was getting closer to it. Still something pulled at him and his mind to do this like some sort of mysterious calling or recollection of a skill long forgotten. He could feel still, it was stirring inside, growing stronger, its effects taking in the Bear Dog. He knew it, and could feel it working--feel the Bear Dog starting to give in. It was lonely. Afraid.

“Come on boy. I'll feed you every night. Come on. Just come out, and come to me.”

He could almost feel Vivian and Dexter getting ready to attack, and for a moment as the Bear Dog growled louder and louder he thought about making for the trap to his right, but he would almost have to dive next to it to make it in time now as close as he was. He couldn't really see, but by the Bear Dog's posture it looked ready to spring up and take off after him. His heart was absolutely pounding in his chest, but he kept focused and stared the creature in the eyes. In that small moment he made a choice yet again and trusted the magic and the feeling that had been rising and binding him to the creature. He gave himself into it taking another step forward, heart racing.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

And then light shone from his hand. The stirring feeling from before faded. The copper light glowed from his hand as the Bear Dog slowly crawled forward with its growl becoming a soft pained whimper. It came out of the fallen tree, it's head nearly as tall as Micheal's waist with all four, well three, paws down on the ground. It limped forward and Micheal could only then make out how skinny the creature looked for its size, the loose skin and fur hiding its poor state from his eyes until the creature came close. It's face was almost gaunt and hollow under all that fur. Its belly looked large, but that was again only loose skin and fur. Its hips showed through the black tufts as it moved, and too loose skin hung from the backs of its hind and fore legs.

Still it came forward slowly sniffing at Micheal until it came close enough to take the fish from his hand with a tired eagerness. It lowered itself down on the spot, careful of its wounded paw and began pulling apart the fish. Its eyes went to the forest around them, and back to Micheal in turns. Micheal for his part stood stunned at the large creature's approach, but then moved before he really had time to think of much else.

His hand went into slightly damp but soft black fur atop its large head. The Bear Dog closed its eyes and stopped eating the fish for a moment to give soft whimpers and nudge his hand for attention. Micheal remembered a dog his aunt had once had. A dog he loved and would specifically go to his aunt's house to see. You could never replace an animal once it passed, but you could remember them and honor their names.

“Jack.” He said to the Bear Dog and copper light shone in its eyes like the light had from his hand. The light didn't seem to bother the Bear Dog, but it did look up at him. New understanding shown in its eyes. Understanding of its own weakness. Of its own fear. And more than that, trust in his new chosen master. His little feather duster tail started up wagging happily. A jolt of exultation ran though Micheal and he let out a breath that was half laugh, and his heart finally seemed to calm as all of him became sure that this creature was his, a partner, and new found trusted companion.

Jack only pulled his paw away slightly as Micheal sat down and tried to investigate it, but Micheal did manage to turn the paw enough to see how badly it was hurt. Jack was pretty taken in by the meal of fish he was tearing into, but his eyes did flash back to Micheal as he investigated. Micheal smiled at the big Bear Dog. He had the feeling Jack was still very much a puppy and there was a lonely sad look to his eyes that Micheal just couldn't shake from his thoughts.

“You're alright now boy. No more being alone.” He said and began working behind Jack's ears. His little tail starting swishing even more happily and he pushed his big head onto Micheal's knees to rest on his lap after he made quick work of the big fish. Micheal wondered just how much bigger these Bear Dog's got, but was content for now to pet his new friend. Jack leaned into him and pressed his big head into Micheal's middle, his back leg picking up and kicking as Micheal found the spot just behind his ear where the big puppy liked his petting most.

Micheal laughed and gave the petting his all. Jack's tail was going so hard that his butt was taking in the movement along with his leg kicks. It was like watching those videos of dogs that were seeing their owners for the first time in months. Jack even let out happy little whimpers and even weak and tired as he must have been he thrust his head against Micheal with affectionate force. Micheal laughed and dug his fingers into the soft black fur feeling the loose skin and rubbing the muscles down his neck and back. It was amazing. Micheal suddenly felt like he had this creature since it was a cub.

Vivian stepped out from the nearby forest a ways off with a curious, cautious look on her face as she forward. Jack popped his head up to look at her, but he looked at Micheal and back to Vivian. Vivian stopped to lay her spear on the ground at Micheal's prompting, and that seemed to relax Jack.

“That's Vivian Jack. She's a High Elf and very important to me.” He said to the Bear Dog. Jack looked at him with his big black eyes and his tail started up a slow wagging. “She's a good friend to have so be nice to her okay?” Jack responded by opening his mouth in a bear like version of a doggy grin.

Vivian eyed Micheal's left hand atop Jack's head as she approached cautiously, and Jack moved with his good paws to sniff her as she offered a hand to the creature. Jack startled her with a happy bark that stuck like a heavy drum beat from deep within his chest. Micheal laughed and urged Vivain to sit next to him. She eventually did while watching him and the Bear Dog with curious eyes.

Soon enough though, Micheal had Vivian digging her fingers into Jack's thick fur, and Jack half on his back with his tail and hind leg sweeping small clear patches of the forest floor clean. Luna's head peaked out of the forest where Vivian had come after she heard Vivian laughing. Jack was nuzzling and licking her hands as she petted him. The Bunnary's eyes went wide as she got her first clear look at the scene playing out.

Jack noticed too and rolled back upright as he caught her scent. When his eyes fell on Luna she went stiff as a board, and looked about to bolt with Jack looking ready to chase, but Micheal gave him a stern pat on the head.

“No Jack.”

Jack whined and put his head down for a moment before catching what must have been another scent in the air and began to growl. He stood in a wounded defensive stance near Micheal and Vivian as Dexter came out from behind the tangle of fallen trees.

“Jack.” Micheal commanded, but the Bear Dog locked eyes with the hunter and continued to growl.

“Bear Dogs have incredible senses of smell, Micheal.” Dexter said with his bow in hand.

Micheal waved at him to put the weapon down as Jack clearly understood what the weapons meant, but Dexter did no such thing.

“They have been known to find Bunnary settlements and dig out their clan homes.” Dexter continued neither rising or lowering his weapon. “They terrorize the farms of other Fae Born as do a number of other monsters, but a Bear Dog pack of mother, father, and cubs can take apart a farm, or family in moments.” Dexter went on in a cold voice. Luna shied back into the trees in the other direction. Jack continued to growl. “Whatever charm you have over this creature will fade to their baser instincts. They scavenge when they can, but they are predators all the same.”

“Dexter stop.” Vivian demanded. “Micheal's manifested a clear beast mastery skill.” She stood and put her hand on Jacks head. The Bear Dog's growl cut off and Jack looked up at her sheepishly with his tail wagging. “It might be an odd affinity or something, but Micheal's able to tame these creatures now or at least has this one.”

“An affinity huh?” Dexter said raising his eyebrows in mock surprise. “How strong will that taming hold when this monster sees children or livestock? Easy pickings for those big jaws. Yeah its a little one yet, but all the same for Bunnary like Luna.”

Vivian gave Dexter a hard look, but hesitated and looked at Micheal and Jack. Jack quit growling again to wag his tail at her glance, but Vivian did give Micheal a worried look. Micheal stood from where he sat at her glance. Jack watched him rise, but kept his defensive stance pointed at Dexter.

Micheal walked out in front of Jack and gestured.

“Jack this is Dexter.” He said to the Bear Dog. He pointed back toward the trees and Jack's eyes followed. “The Bunnary was Luna.” Micheal told him. Jack wagged his tail in response to Micheal speaking to him.

Micheal ignored Dexter's bemused look and knelt down in front of the Bear Dog. He looked the creature in the eyes. Jack, like most animals, didn't like to be challenged that way, but as it was unique to dogs in his world Jack did keep his eyes on Micheal's for a time. His tongue lolled out and he scuttled forward until he was in range for pets once again leaving Vivian behind where she sat. Micheal smiled and took Jack's head in both hands already feeling a strong sense of familiarity with the animal. Like a puppy he had lived with for a year or more. The puppy might be trouble, but it certainly meant nothing bad.

“Good dog.” Micheal told him, and Dexter scoffed.

“The only good dog is a dead one.”

The callus remark made Jack break into a growl once more.

Vivian walked over to him looking stiff and angry. Dexter gave her a grin as she approached raising his hands to her stern gesture for Dexter to leave.

“Beast Masters have done good for people in the past. Most tame monsters we have these days come from the efforts of one beastmaster or another. No matter how or what you feel on the matter I'm not going to let you throw what chance Micheal might have to bring similar change to the world. Besides, it's more magic than you or I have ever managed to manifest so maybe you should be more supportive of it. --Ask a question or two about how Micheal did it or something instead of putting him down for something neither of us have the talent to do ourselves.” She said in a growl all her own. The intensity of it even cut off Jack's growl and the pup looked to his master for reassurance.

Micheal patted Jack on the head. “He just doesn't understand Jack. Don't worry boy.”

Some time later they were back in camp. The tension was clear as Luna sat close to Dexter who remained armed and alert at all times. Vivian was out scouting after Dexter had mentioned spotting some unusual tracks in the area while they had cleaned up some of the remaining traps. That left Micheal sitting across the fire from the two other adventurers with Jack sitting with his head in his lap. Luna watched Jack like he was going to get up and eat her at any moment, and Dexter fiddled with the fletching of his thick shafted arrow knocked to his bow between his fingers with it laid across his lap.

Vivian had wanted Luna to break down Micheal's two new abilities while she was out, but Luna wasn't willing to come very close to Jack, and Jack, still hurt, was not willing to leave his master's side. That left Micheal with the one thing he could do which was to patch up and clean the wound on Jack's front left paw. The bear trap, things just as vicious, if not more so than the ones he knew back in his own world had likely broken or at least damaged bones underneath and he worried Jack would have a permanent limp if he didn't take care of it quickly. Even so Jack had let Micheal put ointment and bandages on and over the wounds and even tolerated some binding of the limb. Like Micheal had felt before Jack felt like a dog he had had for years already. Jack obeyed commands as best he could understand, which was almost a little startling. Jack would sit, come, go to where Micheal pointed, and had even wondered off at the 'potty' command to go do his business before coming back to camp and resuming his doggy doting of his new master. He was nervous and a little clingy like a new puppy, but Micheal didn't mind even if Jack's skull alone seemed to weigh about forty pounds.

Jack's ears perked up and his head lifted to warn Micheal, but still Jack barked and even Dexter almost jumped out of his seat on the log across the fire. Luna scampered back behind Dexter and the clamor of that kept either Micheal or Dexter from hearing Vivian as she finally got back. Micheal knew she was coming though, somehow already understanding Jack's barks when he made them. The bark he had just made was a clear replica of the first bark he had made at Vivian, a thing like a greeting. Vivian sighed as she came into the camp taking in everyone and made her way over to Jack. She didn't seem to hesitate at all as she came to the Bear Dog. Jack scooted forward on his three good paws, mostly remaining seated like a too eager lab, but lolled out his tongue and wagged his tail happily at Vivian's approach. She rubbed the Bear Dog's ears and stroked down his back fondly.

“He does like to be petted just like Hillsland Shepard's do.” She said, seeming to muse at Jack's clear enjoyment. “You can't show a Hillsland any fear though. He'll think he can chase you around and will herd you into the village back where you belong.” Vivian said with a soft laugh. She scratched under Jack's chin which made his back leg thump the ground enthusiastically. Vivian took a moment to lift up Jack's left paw. Her look was curious. “This doesn't look as bad as I thought it was.”

Micheal gave her a skeptical look and came over to look. Some of the tenderness had gone away because Jack didn't pull away as she touched his paw, and while it was hard to see with all of Jack's fur it looked like the swelling had gone down. Micheal fingered the loose ties on the makeshift brace he had tied tight not an hour or more back. He felt at his head feeling a slight ache that might have been growing in his head for a little while.

Vivian eyed the back of his left hand as he did. She smiled up at him with a sly look in her eye.

“What?” Micheal asked.

“More skills?” Vivian remarked with a raised eyebrow toward his hand. “You've got first aid on there now. And one that looks like some sort of spirit mark ability.” She mentioned that last with a wary eye on Micheal, but it wasn't unfriendly, just a wondering sort of look until Dexter spoke up. Then it turned to ice.

“Oh is that it?” Dexter asked with a wry laugh. “Maybe he's got you tamed to his liking too Vivi--” He cut off with a yelp as steel flashed through the air and Vivian's belt knife thumped into the log between his legs. He tumbled backward off the log as his body's reaction didn't quite meet evenly with how he was sitting. Maybe he was still a little shaky from being startled by Jack's bark, but either way he tumbled over backward into Luna who cried out as he fell atop her.

Vivian's gaze held satisfaction until she heard Luna's discomfort and she turned to quickly go over and help them to her feet as well as retrieve her knife. Dexter looked offended until Vivian forcefully took his hand and apologized.

“Sorry Dex.” She began looking frustrated still. “Just don't joke about that until we know exactly what Micheal's abilities do. Being with him is my choice and if you want to be my friend I won't have you remark on it, but in the gentlest of fashions understand?”

Dexter looked half ready to pull his hand away, but his anger seemed to break down even as he seemed on the cusp of a sharp reply and then he simply nodded instead. Vivian took him in a hug that he returned, only spoiling the otherwise friendly moment to give Micheal a jealous glance as he did.

“Are you okay Luna?” Vivian asked.

Luna was brushing her dress off and holding her harp case to her chest. She had twigs and dirt and leaves stuck to the lace of her dress and staining the fabric. Vivian went to her and assisted in cleaning out the lace with quite comments about 'proper field wear' mixed into the whispered talk she had with the cute Bunnary.

That left Dexter and Micheal looking at each other over the firelight.

“You find anything Vee?” Dexter asked in a much nicer tone of voice than he had used previously.

Vivian gently slapped her own forehead mid cleaning and sat up on her knees.

“Yes I can't believe I forgot to say anything.” She said with a self depreciating sigh. “Those were orc and goblin tracks. Had to be. Unless there is a family headed through the woods with a horde of children in tow, with most everyone barefoot.”

Dexter stood and sighed looking up at Jack and at Micheal.

“So we should head back to the village yeah?”

“Probably.” Vivian answered. “It could have been just the one pack with the recent raid, but they could have come together since or maybe found another smaller camp nearby we hadn't noticed or found. There's a lot of wilderness out here to keep track of.”

“And the Dog Vee?” Dexter asked.

Jack grumbled a little at Dexter's eye contact and turned away to push his head into Micheal's arms. Micheal soothed the big dogs ill ease with some chin scratching and a good rub down of his ears. Jack's fur was a little oily like most big dogs left out alone tended to be, but he wasn't exactly dirty. He still could benefit from a bath however. Micheal thought about that while the other two talked; listening as they spoke. He hadn't thought of what he would do once he got back in town with Jack.

Vivian stood from Luna's side and put her hands on her hips. She tilted to one side and then back and then came past Dexter patting him on the shoulder as she passed him by.

“We'll have to figure something out at the Inn's stable I think.” She came to Jack who eagerly approached her once again for pets like the big nervous puppy he turned out to be. “You'll have to be a very good boy to make an impression on Mrs. Alree.” She said to Jack with glances at Micheal. “She already doesn't like me very much.”

“Orcs?” Micheal asked. All three adventurers turned to him as he spoke between gathering up their things. “Shouldn't we be fighting them ourselves not just returning to town?” He asked trying to sound sincere. “I'm not eager to see another orc, but aren't they...” He trailed off as he lost track of just what he meant to say.

Dexter and Vivian shared a glance and seemed to understand. Dexter eyed Micheal, but looked about their little camp, and then gave Jack a long considering glance.

“They're dangerous.” He said finally after another glance at Vivian. Vivian nodded as she collected her spear and pack from the log she had been sharing with Micheal before dark. “We'll fight them yeah-- if we need to, but mostly to get away or drive them off. If its a camp, even a small one, or even a big one like the one Vee pulled you out of, we'll be best off scouting them out and making a report. The guild association will put together a contract with the local authorities, then a bounty and notice will be put together for the job.”

“We should get first dibs if the threat we find is in range of something we can deal with, but you should never go after orcs in any state but over prepared. Even if it's an even match with just what's in the camp we don't want to take those odds. Orcs need to be crushed hard so we don't lose people.” Vivian added to what Dexter was saying. She patted Jack on the head and handed Micheal his pack. “We would be well served to find some others who can either scout themselves or form up with Farren as a vanguard to catch and deal with returning patrols or reinforcements moving into the camp. Orcs are organized badly enough that sometimes patrols come back randomly or return from month-long raids. The orcs themselves do everything by feel without plan, but are tough and determined enemies.” Vivian took his hand and helped him to his feet, though he didn't really need it. She was strong enough to almost be able to lift him up with one arm however. He was impressed by that and remembered that her part of her adventurer mark's functionality gave her extra strength.

“Besides.” Vivian went on brushing his shirt and touching his bare arms. “We don't even have armor for you yet. Let's get you some more training and figure out what you've been able to do with your magic before we rush headlong into anything more than a simple monster hunt okay?” Her fingers made chills run up and down his arms as she smiled up at him. His awareness of their surroundings faded as he looked into her green eyes as they caught the edge of the firelight and the setting sun. He could see in her eyes that she was now about as curious about him as she was attracted to him. There was that dull hunger in her eyes again mixed with the sharp edges of her intellect. She was absolutely captivating and all he could manage to do in response was nod to her at that moment. And gulp.

She smiled wide and collected herself as she turned away.

“Luna?” She asked.

“Oh right!” Luna piped as she scrambled at her belt. She pulled out a small silver lantern and sang a little chant to it. “Light of night, stars and moons so bright, give me little stars of my own to shine tonight.” She sang in a soft chant and the little lantern burst into bright white light before they scattered about the camp and through the woods.

Dexter dumped the tea kettle onto the fire and kicked dirt over the embers. He motioned Micheal and Jack toward the road.

“Let's see if that Dog of yours is any good for scouting. Go on ahead. Stick to the road. Have him bark if he smells anything other than himself.”

Jack growled at Dexter until Micheal put a heavy hand on his new companion's head. Jack looked up at him wagging his tail, but looked a little guilty.

“Can you do that boy?” Micheal asked.

Jack barked in response. Luna was the only one who jumped this time at least.

“You...” Dexter began staring at Jack in wonder, but Jack limped out onto the road at an easy pace. He still held his front paw up protectively, but it certainly did not seem as bad as it had been. Micheal wondered at that, but didn't let it show as he waggled his eyebrows at Dexter's bewildered face and followed after Jack with his quarterstaff in hand. He gave another moment to touch his head. Maybe he hadn't noticed while being a slave in the orc camp with all the pain he had been in there, but it seemed his chronic headaches followed him into this world too.

Vivian and Luna followed after him with Dexter as rear guard. Luna and Vivian both seemed fascinated by Micheal's apparent beast mastery skill, with Luna spoiling it only when Jack looked back at her panting with a big doggy grin on his face. They discussed what Vivian could make out of the complex runes that described his new found beast mastery ability or binding magic. From what they were saying it sounded like a bit of both, but he wasn't paying as much attention to what they were saying as he would have liked. He tried, but his mind felt oddly fatigued. It was hard to focus on much more than walking.

Jack limped along fairly happily in the darkening evening light. Luna's lantern lights, the silver glowing stars, shot through the forest around them casting shadows, but providing clear sight lines through the forest. It did manage to stir up all sorts of Horned Rabbits, giant Barking Squirrel, and other lesser monsters, of which many were only a problem because Jack wanted to go after them. He showed his magically gifted discipline however and stayed by Micheal's side with a some gentle reminders and wagged his tail at praise for being a good boy. Like any of the pets he had over the years, seeing them happy helped his aching head.

They managed to return to the village not too long into the dark and the guards jumped at the sight of Jack beside Micheal, but he brought the Bear Dog over to them. Had Jack sit, and then roll over once after Vivian explained he had gained a beast mastery power. The human guards were generally impressed. One of them even called Jack over experimentally, jumped a little as Jack obeyed, but then was crouched down and rubbing both of Jack's floppy ears affectionately to Jack's supreme enjoyment. They did warn however that there were a number of Bunnary in the village who wouldn't appreciate Jack's charms nearly as much, and one of them walked along with them as reassurance to the villagers as much as they were a guide to keep the party along paths that would keep Jack out of sight.

The guard had them around the back of the Potted Pickle in no time and got a hold of the stableman. The guard and he moved horses around inside so that when Jack was brought in the back door he wouldn't cause a riot in the stable by startling the other animals. It wasn't too long before Micheal was leading Jack inside a stall. It worked for the most part though some of the horses still smelled something off in the stables. The restless ones were soothed, and Jack was given strict instructions not to bark.

Vivian was already inside talking to Mrs. Alree, and Dexter and Luna had returned to their rooms to retire as it was getting late, but he was stuck reassuring the nervous Bear Dog. Micheal took him by the head as Jack whined. He patted the dog gently.

“You will be alright boy. We can hunt plenty of food for you in the morning. We'll set some snares and you can sit with me as I catch you some fresh fish.” He told Jack. The big dog caught Micheal's face with his tongue and seemed to grin as drool leaked from the sides of his mouth.

The door to the stable swung open and closed again as someone came in. A peak over the edge of the stall made clear that it was Vivian coming back in. The stableman was outside with his lantern raised. He looked grumpy and not very pleased at the prospect of having a 'wild unpredictable monster' in his stables, but Mrs. Arlee had agreed. She seemed to like Micheal, but from the tense look on Vivian's face she had yet to improve her attitude with High Elves.

Jack almost knocked Micheal over as his nose went wild sniffing the air. Vivian suddenly began to smile as she came through the dark stable and into the light near their stall. She had in her hands a bundle wrapped in wax paper that dripped dark fluid, and carried the heavy smell of fresh meat.

“It took a little convincing, but I talked Mrs. Arlee into returning one of the packages of meat we gave her. She had this one defrosting for the morning, but it should be more than enough to keep Jack happy and full through the night.” She stepped into the stall and held a finger out to Jack as he sniffed at the package. She set it on the floor and untied the stings keeping the paper tight and then offered it over to Jack.

Jack stamped his feet and looked about to tear into the meal when he stopped and gave Vivian his puppy dog eyes and then slapped his big wide tongue across her cheek. Vivian smiled as she wiped drool and slobber off her cheek and wiped it on Micheal's pants. That got them both laughing.

“Good boy Jack.” Both of them said at once and shared a smiling glance before their new companion dug into his meaty meal.