A not-so-secret to make any ware mush is to scratch just under the jawline. It's both a trust action letting a being access to one’s throat, as well as a submissive act of grooming. That’s why when he felt small fingers rubbing that spot on Sino, his eyes flew open. Bright green eyes blinked back at him through dark jade green hair perfectly complimenting her orange-yellow scaled skin; thorns peeked out down the side of her head like double braids. He saw it when she turned her head to say something.

“Hello sleepy head.” Evo’s soft and sultry voice filled his head.

‘Evo. Protect Evo.’ Sino couldn’t think of anything else. Her fingers rubbed under his jawline again and leaned in, which gifted him an adorable giggle from his Evo.

Other voices interrupted her giggle. His head snapped towards the two forms. A human male and a she-wolf. He growled towards them.

‘Protect Evo.’

“They are friends.” Evo’s voice was followed by a scratch behind his right ear. “Mags told me that the force-shift and blood taste has made you rogue-minded driven purely on instinct and forgetting things. Don’t worry. I’ll help you get back to yourself.” She pressed her face into his neck. He nuzzled back, not really understanding her words, but he had to return her affection.

His eyes flung open. He scanned the area. He was in a field covered in bodies surrounded by trees. He glared further into the brush. Something was off. Turning around, a makeshift stage and a pile of items were quickly dismissed, but as he looked past into the trees, he noticed a glow in his periphery.

He cocked his head. He stretched his legs, ensuring Evo was standing. She was looking at him with bright, curious eyes. Sino walked to the items; a figure emanated a warm glow. Voices engulfed his mind. His wet nose touched the figure in the belly, making it teeter. He whined as the voices overlapped and grew in his mind. He shook his head. Whisps of golden magick grew from the belly of the figure. It wasn’t right. He didn’t like it.

“What’s going on Sino?” Evo’s voice asked. He didn’t understand her words, but maybe she could fix it. She approached and kneeled in front of the figure. He put his nose to the belly again. The voices yelled back again one on top of another. He shook his head and whined. He pushed his nose against her arm towards the figure. He whined. The noise was too much.

External voices of a human and the she-wolf spoke in a language he didn’t quite understand. The human approached slowly handing something to Evo. She nodded. The smell drifted to his wolf senses. Thoughts of hunger started to overpower the distraction of the figure. The voice started to quiet as his mouth watered for what was in her hand.

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He watched her green eyes widen as she noticed the immediate change in him. He should care. He didn’t. He snapped his jaw at her hand drool, landing on her lap. He growled a warning. Surely she would give hit to him. Why wouldn’t she? She didn’t.

Instead, he watched her push her hand into the belly of the statue. The figure's whisps grew and then dimmed. The voices went silent. Evo brought her hand back out empty. He wanted to be angry with her, but she looked up to him completely at his mercy. He sniffed her hand, definitely empty. ‘What was it missing.’ He could attack the being, she was so delicate this close to his sharp teeth. Her eyes seemed too big for her face as she looked through her long lashes. He felt her hand back around his neck. Calm. She was so familiar. Did he know her?

A small clicking noise came from in front of them. Then a howl emitted through the bellow of the figure. He responded. Goddess Ishtar. He howled from his belly. The shewolf also howled. The sky seemed to fall, leaving nothing but darkness. The world he knew was now masked by shadow. He heard a small gasp. The figure grew to life, mirroring the woman clinging to his neck. He listened to her her heartbeat race.

He sat and wagged his tail. She cocked her head at him and then spoke toward the figure. Night fungus sprouted around them, glowing iridescently. He bowed his head. The figure smiled. She was the moon reborn in the night. She spoke to the woman. The words they spoke unlearned to him, but he felt the emotion, love. He loved them both with his whole heart. He would protect them until his last breath.

The goddess approached him. She rubbed behind his ears and kissed his forehead right where his blaze was. He felt her warmth. “You have surpassed my expectations little pup.” Her voice deep and feminine. He kept his eyes down on the ground.

“You are so adorable. Its okay to look at me.” She rubbed behind his ears again. He couldn’t help but to lick her face, tasting of happiness if that had a taste. She laughed a deep belly laugh. “Thank you for returning the fertility stone and for bringing my young daughter to me. She is ready for her next adventure thanks to your guidance.” She walked back to the spot she first came to life. “I know you are still hurting little pup, but fleeting love is worth heartache. Stolen love is easy to dwell on what could have been. Then then you miss out on what is right in front of your adorable wolfy eyes.” She moved into position taking a mirror of how the statue sat. “I have a few gifts for you when you get back. Don’t offend me and reject them.” The words were scolding, but it sounded like she was about to giggle again. “I’m proud of you, young pup. I’m excited to watch what happens next. Have fun on your next adventure.” She winked. The golden tendrils came out of her belly and pushed the orange creature back towards Sino. She grabbed onto his nape. Ice’s cold wind blew them back, and he had to close his eyes.