Sunrise... the blush of a new morning awakened the boy, filtering through the boards of the porch roof. For the third night in a row, he'd slept outdoors, watching... waiting for Brother to come home. He sat up stiffly, running his left hand back through the dark hair. It was growing long again, almost shoulder-length, and would need to be cut soon. Maybe he'd ask Martha to shear it off today...

With a repressed moan, he stood, slowly strecthing each part of his body, limbering up a bit before he stepped off the porch into the sunshine. He began to hum to himself, a lilting, haunting tune, trying to get his mind off of his worries about the wolf. Brother could take care of himself. Finally, he moved forward, drawing Torgny and beginning to work through his morning routine.

High above, a slate body circled on the warm updrafts, cursing silently in a foreign tongue. Stupid deer... well not a deer but... oh who cares! The important part was that the annoying creature had stolen her human, taken the attention that rightfully belonged to the goshawk.

As she soared overhead, cursing softly, her golden eyes lit on a moving form below: another human, not hers... but so similar... She didn't usually like other humans... but if it would make Ravenwing jealous...

In a split second, she made up her mind. Turning on the wind, she dove, fluttering her wings for a moment before landing on the post of the porch, staring out at Tahmores as he turned to see what had gone by. With catlike grace, he came toward her, voice soft. Well now... what's a prize like you doing here, wind-sister?

The trio had been sleeping under the porch, lounging after an early morning hunt, and preparing for what would be a hot day. As Tahmores woke and began his stretches, Nivi crawled out from under the deck and perched himself in the lawn, a few yards from the teen. Yawning widely, the tom began to clean his fur. Shortly after, Jack and Elf roused and joined their brother in a morning bath. The lot had grown considerably, with lean but powerful bodies that likened them to miniature lions. If it weren't for the random stripes of light brown, they would indeed look like little versions of their African counterparts. All except Elf perhaps, his tall pointed ears and long, tapered face more closely resembled a fox.

As the trio cleaned and groomed, a shadow from above made them stop. They were use to the turkey vultures that soared with the thermal drafts the rose from the heated yard, so this predator didn't immidiately alarm them. It wasn't until she landed that the three expressed any real curiousity.

"Woah, check that one out! What the heck is it?" Elf questioned, with his big eyes even wider than normal. While a less than impulsive Jack remained in the background, Nivi joined his fox-eared brother in investigating the hawk.

Padding daintily forward, Nivi looked up at the raptor on the post and cocked his head to the side, "What kind of bird are you?"

The boy's only acknowledgement of the cat's presence was a soft smile: his audience amused him.

Elderwild, on the other hand, was NOT amused. She turned her golden eyes to them, and if they payed close attention the cats might see them narrow as she leaned her head forward in anticipation of a strike. But a soft word from Tahmores stopped her. She reached out her head to inspect his outstretched fingers, nibbling along them gently with her beak. Finally convinced that this new fellow was safe, she moved her taloned feet and climbed beak over claw up his shirt to rest upon his shoulder.

Miharn, lapathis plarath, si, were the boy's soft words, and the goshawk gave a delighted trill, rubbing the top of her head against him, catlike. Finally, she looked down at the cats, still snobby, but no longer eyeing them as food. I, she said grandly, am Elderwild, the goshawk. And I am better than the likes of you, her face said.

Elf caught the initial look that Elderwild betrayed, and the fur along his back bristled up while he took a few hasty steps back.

Nivi and Jack remained still, having never had a bad encounter with a bird. Usually, it was them who the birds feared, so it never dawned on the two that this hawk could quite easily kill them. "I'm Nivi, nice to meet you." The brother replied, oblivious to the air of superiority that the goshawk carried.

Jack, on the other paw, did catch the look. "That arrogant feather-brain!" He hissed disdainfully under his breath, tail low and flicking in an uneasy way, "Don't waste your breath on that creature, Nivi."

"Jack, be civil! If Tah likes Elderwild, then she is alright with me too." Nivi said, being the calm and easy-going fellow that he was.

Tahmores felt, more than saw, the displeasure and uneasiness of the cats, and sent Elderwild a soft but sharp word. The bird had the grace to look a little ashamed, and proceeded to keep her mouth shut, though the look in her eyes was far from friendly.

Tahmores had turned to speak to Jack and the others when a hawk's shriek hit the air, though with a slightly odd tone that told the shriek was not from a hawk. The bird on his shoulder gave a responding shriek, though the disdain was clear in her voice to those who knew a bird's attitudes.

Within a few moments, the swift running of feet was heard, and the movement of brush indicated that someone was approaching. The rustling stopped for a moment as the man hesitated... and then came forward out of the brush: shirtless, with skin of copper, and tatooed in various places over his body. The most notable was a raven in full flight emblazoned on the crown of his left shoulder, with a black feather crossing the bird. His hard brown eyes lit upon this stranger who was holding Elderwild, and gave a second shriek, one that commanded obedience.

Elderwild sniffed and turned away from Ravenwing, deliberately flipping up her tail to tell him just exactly what she thought of his earlier behavior, but she did not come to him as he commanded. He shrieked again, with more power, but still she ignored him.

Tahmores watched all of this silently, but when Elderwild would not return to her master, he spoke softly. Have you had a fight with your lady, here?

"Stupid bird." Jack just couldn't help but dish out another insult, as his attitude was much more harsh that either of his brothers, though he was surprisingly obliging to those few humans he trusted. "I'm getting out of here. I..." The tom's noise was lifted to the air, twitching curiously. "...other felines!" He spat, smelling the presence of unknown males in their terra.

Nivi and Elf exchanged glanced before they and Jack headed away to investigate.

While the three brothers were leaving, John was just approaching. Failing to hear the sounds of fighting coming from the Barn, he trudged towards the house from the opposite side of the yard as Ravenwing. Swinging lightly from one hand was a bucket laden with black raspberries. Enough to make a pie and a few jars of jam for the winter months. At first, he was lost in his own world and failed to notice the departing cats or the arrival of a stranger. It wasn't until the teen was halfway across the yard that he suddenly spotted Tahmores and Raven.

His brows were furred just slightly in a curious way as he approached the porch, setting down the heaping bucket. A questioning look was sent to Tahmores before he looked to Ravenwing, "Hey..." A uncertain greeting to the stranger, as he hoped Tah would explain his presence.

When Elderwild refused to respond to his latest shriek, Ravenwing cursed softly at her. First, play the anger. Threaten the bird with leaving her here. It wouldn't do to let her know how much he really needed her...

Tahmores' words had no effect on Raven, except to turn those dark eyes toward the younger boy for a few moments, studying him. Yes, this boy was only a few years younger than he. Seventeen, eighteen, maybe? And he spoke some foreign tongue, though he looked so much like Ravenwing's native people.

John, however, made the young man dart back, and Elderwild's sharp eyes turned to scowl at the boy. How dare he frighten her man, just as she was luring him back in. With a sharp note, she narrowed her eyes at John, turning back and forth between this annoying human and her own.

All this time, Tahmores was watching, baffled. Okay, so apparently English meant nothing to Ravenwing. When John arrived, you could almost see his ear perk in that direction, taking notice of his "brother" without looking at him. With Elderwild perched on his right shoulder, he swiftly moved his left hand back at John, palm flat, hoping that the younger boy would take the hint to stay put, so he wouldn't spook their visitor further.

Finally, softly, he raised his voice, and spoke a single word, translatable in all tribes regardless of differences in language. Jarkishan.

From his little shelter in the trees, Ravenwing's sharply-tuned ears caught Tahmores' soft word, and he dared for a moment to stick his head out between the trees, calling back a soft word that barely carried across the clearing.

Ah... so that's it. Tahmores nodded a little to himself, and flipped that little switch in his head that allowed him to move back into English. He spoke to John without turning, eyes still on Ravenwing. Our friend here is from a tribe that was once allied to my mother's, before the great burn that ravaged the lands.

He stopped for a moment... Great Burn, Great Burn... crap what's the English word? A light turned on in his brain, and he spoke again. Before the Great Brushfire. He is Blackfeather clan. And he flipped another switch in his head, moving into Blackfeather more slowly, for his skills in that language were rusty. Fliar... Fliar maj liko mas. Ke pal?

From the trees, Ravenwing waited, considering suspiciously. After all, whether this one spoke Blackfeather or not... he still was obviously at ease with the White Boy. Surely, he couldn't be trusted...

Planting himself uncertaintly near the porch and Tahmores, John turned a furrow-browed stare to the timberline, where Ravenwing's head once poked out from. The strange language that Tah used, as well as the single-worded reply from the stranger, only baffled him more. But what he could translate was the pysical language. Who ever this fellow was, he certainly wasn't at ease.

"Blackfeather clan? Do you..." the younger teen momentarily drew his eyes away from the trees to look inquisitively at his 'brother', "...know him? What did you say to him?" Dozens of questions began to swim in the teen's head now.

With his instincts now very close to the surface, John's confusion hit Tahmores like a wave, and he flinched, not noticing he had done so physically until the movement was already complete. So he flipped a switch in his brain again, speaking slowly in English. Know him? Not really. I only know his clan by reputation. A peaceful one, thankfully, and because I am Wolfbrother and he is Blackfeather, it means we are as kin, and are not to harm one another unless one is betrayed by the other. The first word I used is translatable in all tribes, and it is a basic way of asking what tribe you come from. This is important because it establishes whether or not your visitor is to be feared or not. In this case, his answer means that it is safe for me to help him.

Ravenwing watched silently as the two went on in that strange language that many spoke, and he called out to Tahmores. Plena mayen se bakos?

Tahmores gave a soft smile and a good-natured chuckle, and spoke softly again. Mi tervad, placo. Yvane lat mesto. It was becoming easier to remember his Blackfeather with each word he spoke. Smiling still, he turned to John. He wanted to know if you meant to hurt him. I told him you are my brother, and as long as he didn't try to make a meal of the animals, he is safe.

Ravenwing stifled a chuckle. This was a cultural joke, because even an Indian knew that you did not eat another man's animals. But he stepped forward finally, cautiously, and came up near Tahmores. Ravenwing Blackfeather he said, pointing to himself.

Steelfang Wolfbrother was Tahmores' response, and then he pointed back to John. John.

Ravenwing looked up at John when Tahmores spoke, looking the teen over. This one was just a youth, and certainly could not be much of a threat yet. The wheels in his mind ground and turned, but finally he clasped a closed fist to his chest in greeting, giving a half-bow.

Tahmores smiled, and spoke softly. He says hi. Bow. It is a greeting.

Greatly intrigued, John listened to the strange language wash over him, comprehending none of it. Where he might have been very interested in the presence of the goshawk alone, he scarcely noticed the raptor at the moment.

Needless to say, he was glad to hear that Ravenwing was not an enemy. It was one thing to have wolves and other wildlife attack you, but they had been lucky so far not to get touched by human violence here. Well... except when Timber and Shimmer were stolen... but that wasn't really violence.

The names were fascinating the teen, though he felt a bit akward when his own name was given. So simple, so short. Not 'cool' sounding, as he thought the others' were. In an attempt to prove he was friendly, John tried to mimick the greeting that Ravenwing had given to him. "Where did he come from? Does he... need help or anything?" He was so use to others arriving at the Ranch for help, that it seemed a logical question to ask.

Ravenwing gave John an appraising look as he returned the greeting, eyes still hard on him as he attempted to determine whether the boy might be a potential threat. Nothing personal, really, just an old habit that one develops when his life is dependant upon his own skills. Finally, he gave a nod and spoke a few gruff words in that strange, lilting language.

Tahmores soft voice came in translation. He says... "You strong boy. Make strong man." And the elder teen hid a smile behind his hand before he spoke again. It's a compliment, of sorts.

The proper niceties had now been performed, and so Ravenwing now turned to the goshawk, who was looking significantly annoyed. She was being ignored, a sensation she was not used to. Ravenwing spoke a few angry words in Blackfeather to Elderwild, though even to John it would be obvious he was demanding that she return to him.

Elderwild sniffed arrogantly and turned her tail-feathers on him again, ignoring him as he let forth a stream of low curses, and every insult to her lineage he could think of. When he'd finished, she rubbed her head affectionately against Tahmores again, nibbling gently at his hair and cooing contentedly. She was teasing her man, making him beg her, and she was basking in every moment, knowing it was making him frustrated.

After dishing out every insult he had on her useless head, he stopped for several moments, glaring at her, and it seemed as though he might now be at a loss at how to get her back. But really, he was just coddling his dignity a little before breaking down. Telling himself that it was necessary, he took a lilting, persuading tone, and spoke once more to his bird in his native tongue. Come, pretty miss, my queen of the skies. You've been my companion these eight years, and now you'd drop me for a lad who hasn't even his warrior's bars yet? You know you're my favorite. Come back to me.

She twitched her crown sideways as he spoke to her, clicking her beak rapidly in a tone of "listening attention". If the bird could have smiled, a grin would have spread her face, for she'd once again gotten her way. She could usually hold out long enough to earn a little praise from him. Finally, with a sigh that was all pride and victory, she nipped Tahmores to tell him that she wanted him to raise him arm, and wandered back along it to perch on Ravenwing's outstretched forearm. He continued cooing, soft and sugar-sweet, and she sidled along his arm, up to the shoulder, where she nestled against his wild mane of hair, nibbling along the rim of his ear affectionately as he emitted a gusty sigh.

Tahmores spoke with a soft smile in his voice, indirectly answering John's question. Apparently... his lady friend flew away, and she's used me for revenge.

Though he had been slacking lately with his usual chores, John had always prided himself on getting his work done and proving himself capable. Since last year especially, he had struggled to fill his father's shoes and ease the burden Mark's loss had put on the household. Hearing the transalted compliment from a stranger meant more to the teen than he let show. "Tell him he... well, thanks." He fumbled, not sure what compliment he could give back.

Fascination continued to dwell his John's blue eyes, almost mystified by this strange tounge that he heard. And what he couldn't understand of the words, he picked up on with the tone and physical language. Ravenwing's frustration with the goshawk was plainly evident, as was Elderwild's blatent 'cold shoulder' treatment to the other.

John almost laughed at the scene that played out before him, but held back. The last thing he wanted to do was transgress some boundery and accidentally insult Ravenwing. When the raptor returned to her master, John took his chance to respond, "That's incredible... I mean, how the two interact with each other." John mused, before a new question popped into his mind, "Does he use her for hunt? Or... is she like a pet?"

John's question sparked another conversation between the two copper-skinned people, and after a few moments of conversation with Ravenwing, Tahmores turned back to John, nodding. That's what I thought. The Blackfeather are notorious for keeping animals... sort of in the sense of a familiar, but not quite. They call them "bond animals", or in this case, a "bond bird". It's sort of like a pet, in the way that Brother is technically my pet, but he is also more.

A hint of sadness showed in his eyes for just a moment at the name, but he supressed it quickly. Privately, he was beginning to share Martha's fear. Brother had never stayed gone this long, ever. If he hadn't returned, there were only two possibilities. Serious injury, or...

But only a hint of this flickered across Tahmores' face before he continued, turning to survey Elderwild. Little jypsy, you are, miss. Bond bird you may be, but with an air of pixie. He translated this for Ravenwing's benefit, and the young man laughed, finally seeming to be at ease with John and Tahmores.

"Bond animals?" John repeated as he mulled on the term. Dogs, horses, and cats had been the traditional pets in his life, though he had always been fascinated by the stories of his grandma. Keeping foxes, skunks, raccoons, and all sorts of wild creatures as pets. The more he thought about it, the more intrested he became. "What type of animals do they have normally?"

Where Martha would have caught the subtle tell of sadness, it was not picked up by John. Brother's absence had been noted by the teen, though it didn't quite dawn on him at the moment. The slightest of grins tugged at the corner of his mouth as he listened to Tahmore's description of Elderwind. "She has quite the personality, doesn't she?"

A small ripple passed over Tahmores as he made a thousand tiny instinctive adjustments, moving into the position known by wolves as the "Crown of Teaching". Where most humans would have settled themselves more comfortably and leaned forward toward the learners, Tahmores stood up a little straighter, arms bent at his sides, neck high in a way that would have looked awkward on anyone else but strangely suited the boy.

This process fascinated Ravenwing, whose eyes never left Tahmores as those million infinitesimal changes were wrought in the teen. In an instinctive reaction, he dropped to the ground, ignoring Elderwild as she gave a shriek of indignation and circled a bit in the air before coming to rest again on Raven's shoulder. He sat as a child sits, legs crossed, arms resting in the lap, head tilted back to watch those above him.

Tahmores began to speak, pausing every once an a while to confirm a fact with Ravenwing. Blackfeather, for the most part, usually keep ravens, or some other form of bird that are completely black, though some have been known to keep black animals of other sorts. They will not keep prey animals, because prey animals are not suited to warriors, but I believe fox are another common bond animal, and I've heard tales of some keeping cats. The older generation will still only keep birds, but that tradition is fading as it is harder now to persuade a bird to trust you. There is only one set rule that applies to bond animals: they much have black on them, somewhere. Whether it be a black feather or a black patch of fur, they must possess some form of black, and the more the better. His eyes turned up momentarily to the slate-bodied Elderwild, turning back to Ravenwing with a soft question.

Ravenwing nodded to Tah's question and gave a short whistle, causing Elderwild to take flight again, displaying her belly to the watchers on the ground. Surely enough, a single black feather rested near her left leg, close to the foot. Elderwild was barely legal.

John absorbed the information like a sponge. For reasons beyond him, these sort of things greatly interested him. History and things of the past, traditions, and different cultures... they were all fascinating. And witness it all in front of him, rather than read it from a book, was beyond awsome.

"Would Timber be a sort of Bond Animal for me?" He questioned next as the idea popped into his mind. The collie was almost completely black, aside from the ends of his toes, tail, and a spot on his chest being white. As he asked, his eyes drifted towards Elderwild, catching sight of the single feather that carried the important color.

Tahmores nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. Yes, I believe he would, that. Your mother's Rihanne would be an unacceptable bond animal, however, close as she is. She hasn't a speck of black on her, that I've seen. But, then again, it is not common for the female Blackfeather to have bond animals. It is usually an honor reserved for warriors, though that again is changing as Blackfeather numbers decrease and more and more women seek the warrior life.

Ravenwing reached up to stroke Elderwild absently as she landed on his shoulder, and his soft words asked for a translation of John's question. As Tahmores gave it, Ravenwing's eyes never left John, studying him. For a young man who'd grown up among copper-skinned people such as himself, John was just as fascinating to him as he seemed to be to John. The boy obviously had a brain, thank goodness, and he asked intelligent questions. And Raven couldn't stop listening to that strange, harsh-sounding tongue that Tahmores and John used. He'd heard it many times, and it seemed to be the main language of people in the area, but it still held his attention. Finally, he raised his voice again for the first time in several minutes. Lintra mey natum, Steelfang?

This drew Tahmores' attention almost instantly to Ravenwing. It had been... some time... since anyone had called him by his use-name. His green eyes met Ravenwing's for a moment, and then he finally spoke, almost uncertain. They don't have any. Raven's confused look brought him back to himself enough to translate his statement into Blackfeather, and then he turned up to John, still speaking a little hesitantly. Ravenwing asks what your true-name is, your second first name. Then, anticipating the confusion on John's face, he spoke again quickly. I am Steelfang Wolfbrother. That is my use-name, the one that I give to strangers and to people I know but do not trust. Tahmores is my true-name, the one that defines the soul, that some tribes believe gives you power over the person if you possess it. I told Ravenwing I don't think that the Pale Ones have names like that. Is that true?

The teen felt a smile spread on his face, small but still present. It was an interesting concept for him, and new as it was to him, he felt a small bit of pride at having Timber labled as his own bond-animal.

There was indeed a look of confusion following Tahmoreh's question, though it dissipated as the other explained the meaning. After a moment of careful thought, John began to speak at length, "Not quite; but we do have three names; a first, middle, and last. My full name is Jonhathan Harold Johnson - John is a nickname." He glanced from Tahmores to Ravenwing, then back again as he added more, "Nicknames are used between people that know each other pretty well, I guess."

Tahmores was traslating fairly easily now, though every once in a while his head turned toward a sound that only he seemed able to hear. As he conveyed the idea of first and middle names to Ravenwing, his gaze kept flicking over to the side, toward the trees, trying to find the source of the sound...

When the faint sound of feet coming through the undergrowth became loud enough for all of them to hear, Tahmores drew Torgny and put himself in front of the unarmed John as Ravenwing drew his bow and loaded it with a shaft, raising it to the ready with a frightening swiftness. He did not need a translation to understand the sound he heard. Elderwild rose aloft on the warm updrafts to keep an eye from above.

For several tense moments, the two stood tensely, feeling the adrenaline rush through their veins and welcoming the heightened hearing and sight they provided. Then, with a final crush of leaves, a badly limping, gray-patched four-legged form entered the clearing.

The knife dropped from Tahmores nerveless hand as he rushed forward without knowing it, a whine hitting the air as he went down on all fours and threw his arms around Elder Brother's neck. For several moments, nothing could be heard among the chorus of whines and half-barks of the brothers reunited.

Ravenwing made a face as he put his arrow away and re-slung it over his shoulder, bending down to retreive Tahmores' knife. The was very stupid, running in front of a loaded bow... the older man did not quite understand why Tahmores was hugging a wolf, or what the commotion was all about, but then he didn't know Tahmores very well yet. For the first time in the last few minutes, John knew more about the situation than Raven did.

Feeling his muscles turn to ice, John strained to hear the noises that the other two had detected, but he failed to pick up anything at first. Half tempted to call out to his mother, the teen refrained and waited for the unknown creature to show itself. In the time that Tahmores had been here, John had learned to trust in the other's impressive skills. Hell, Tah was better with his knife than John was with his gun!

When the source of the noise was revealed to be none other than Brother, John instantly relaxed. A smile lit on his face, surprised by his own joy at seeing the canine return. It was so common for the pets to 'disappear' and never return again, that John had conditioned himself to not expecting to see their return. Finally seeing a happy ending for once was a great surprise.

John kept his distance at first, letting the two have their time in greeting before he joined in, "It's good to see him back. Should I get Mom?"

Ravenwing was certain that Tahmores had lost his mind. But John seemed unsurprised, and so he maintained his lax pose, raising an arm for Elderwild to perch on as he watched them. Obviously, his new acquaintances were happy about something...

Only Tahmores' keen hearing made John's words hearable over the tumult. He stood again, finally, though a hand rested on the canine's back as though he were afraid to let that go, just yet. Now that he could see Elder Brother well, he noticed that his companion was quite thin, not starving, but thinner than he should have been, and only now did he notice the limp. But even that could not diminish the glow of smile on his face as he replied to John. Yes, yes. Get Mom out here.

"Right." Smiling ear to ear at the rare gift of a pet's long awaited return, the teen dashed into the house. His loud calls could be heard from outside as he searched about for Martha.

In short time, John was bounding back outside, with a confused Martha stumbling behind him in her slippers. "John, I don't..." She stopped short when she stepped outside, her eyes first landing on the stranger. "Oh, John didn't tell me we had a visitor." She said, with a pleasant smile in greeting, not yet knowing that Ravenwing didn't speak English.

As if not hearing her words, John sprung down from the porch and hurried towards Tah and Brother, "Mom, look who's back!" His excited exclamation nearly drowned out his mother's words to Ravenwing.

"Tahmores! I'm so happy for you!" She beamed, stepping carefully down the steps, "It looks like he could go fora good meal or two." Martha looked back to Ravenwing now, wrongly putting connections in her mind, "Did this nice gentlemen bring him back for you?"

Ravenwing was looking bemusedly around at everyone, now supremely confused. What with three people babbling in that odd tongue and a wolf and strange woman appearing out of no where, he had no idea what was going on, and that was a bad thing. For the second time in barely ten minutes, he ducked back behind the trees, this time weilding Tahmores' knife that he'd picked up for him, eyes lifting vaguely to Elderwild as she rose into the air and swooped above them.

Tahmores gave Martha a beaming smile as his fingers scratched familiarly in Brother's ruff, about to say something when Ravenwing suddenly bolted. His face grew serious in an instant as he turned his eyes to follow Raven, but it was Martha he spoke to. Oops... you scared him. He's... kind of skittish, and he doesn't speak English. Flip the switch, and... Thema ven taruo, Ravenwing. Frenir de ti Hernes. Hernes was one of only a few words that translated directly from Tahmores' native tongue into Blackfeather.

Raven watched them all, Tahmores' words bringing doubt into his mind. Tahmores was People, like himself, not Pale. Martha was definitely Pale. Again... something that did not make sense...

As Martha came out of the house, Rihanne left the husky-mix she'd been visiting with and pulled up beside her mistress in her accustomed place, cursing silently as a pulse of pain raced up her bandaged limb. Crap... there had to be something wrong there, because though the leg was healed, it still hurt. But she waved her stump of tail and scrubbed her head against Martha's leg, giving Brother a smile. Good to see you back, my friend. We'd... thought the worst... And her voice caught in her throat for a moment, eyes going down before she raised her head again to welcome the wolf with a smile.

When Ravenwing vanished into the timberline, Martha's previous excitement wavered a little. All until Tahmores explained the problem, to which she offered an appologetic smile, "Oh, I'm sorry- could you tell him that for me? I didn't mean scare anyone." She explained, feeling a bit guilty now. Feeling a familiar touch, Martha leaned down and offered her guardian a friendly rub on the head as she looked to the nearby woods.

John opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it. He wasn't sure just how to explain the situation to his mother.

Tahmores pushed a hand back through his lengthening hair, giving Martha the smile of a son caught doing something the oughtn't to have been doing, but who knows his mother won't punish him. Flip And Tahmores chattered to Ravenwing for several minutes, explaining that he lived here with Martha and John, that they would not hurt him, and no, they wouldn't hurt Elderwild, either.

With the nimbleness of a monkey, Raven scaled a nearby tree as he spoke with Tahmores until he was hidden completely from view by the numerous branches and leaves. As the conversation finished, a leather bag and canteen dropped from the upper boughs into Tahmores' waiting arms before Ravenwing himself hopped down as though the ten feet up were mere inches. His eyes were suspiciously on Martha still, but he did not hide again. A hawk's shriek left him and Elderwild swooped down to perch on his arm again, climbing foot over beak up to his shoulder and scowling at Martha, chattering nastily.

Now that these small tasks had been accomplished, Tahmores took the opportunity to introduce everyone. Ravenwing, Martha. Martha, Ravenwing. Martha, Elderwild. Elderwild, Martha. It was very simple language that all of them could understand without him translating it, and he was starting to get a headache that meant he'd been thinking too much. This was the easiest way.

Much like John, Martha found Raven's speech very intruiging. And as the two went to discuss things, she spoke excitedly to John, "Oh, isn't this just exciting? I wish I knew how to speak that tongue! Just look at that!" She marveled, speaking one word after another before John could put his two cents in. The woman watched as both teens scaled the tree.

Easily embarrassed by his mother, John stuffed his hands in his pockets and gave a quick, monotone response to her jumble of comments, "Yeah." Truthfully, he too was just as fascinated by all this, but her overly enthusiastic tones and expressions got on his nerves for some reason.

"A goshawk, would you look at that!" She mused in wonder, watching the large bird settle herself on Ravenwing's shoulder. A bright smile beamed across her face as she failed to recognize the less than friendly implications of Elderwild's chattering. Now to the introductions, to which Marth gave a bow of her head, "Nice to meet you, Ravenwild. And you too, Elderwild."

John groaned mentally when her mom went on to greet the goshawk like she could understand her. "Do you think Ravenwing would like to stay for dinner, or something?" The teen asked, distracting himself from his mother, "I mean, if he doesn't have anywhere else to be, or something."

"That's a wonderful idea, John! Yes, please tell him he's more than welcome to stay here." Martha responded with great enthusiasm. She absolutely loved having people over. It helped a little to fill the void of Mark's absence, if only for a short while.

Martha's instincts served her well in giving her a proper greeting, and Ravenwing gave her a returned nod and a vague, crooked smile as if he was trying to make her think he understood what she'd said. Elderwild's chattering paused for a moment as Martha used her name, and she turned her head so that one large, golden eye rested heavy on the woman. It lasted barely a second though, and off she went again, chattering noisily.

Another flip, more translating, and a few explanations later, Tahmores turned back to Martha. Yes, mah nuth pats... And he paused, shaking his head a little to clear it. Now he was getting his languages confused all in the same sentence. Closing his eyes for a moment and mentally forming the words in English, he tried again. Yes, he says dinner would be nice, and says not to worry about Elderwild. She can find her own dinner, he says. But... and he smiled conspiritorially, I think outside would be a good idea... considering... His fingers never left Brother's back through this entire recital, and his smile grew as he let his eyes rest on Martha. He knew Martha would remember his severe claustrophobia, and understand the likelihood that Ravenwing would not like the house, either. Another flip, and he chattered to Ravenwing as he knelt down to examine Elder Brother's foreleg. After a moment he gave an exasperated sound, reached down, and scooped all 120 lbs of Brother up into his arms as though he were no more than a pup. Plah mei nath, (whimper whine squeal bark). Broken, no less.

"Wonderful! I will start supper right now then." The woman declared, beaming merrily as she ran through all the different foods in her mind. With Tah's suggestion of an outdoor setting, Martha caught on quickly and gave a nod, "Of course, and it's such a lovely day. Johnathan, will you get the picnic table ready out back? We can use those new napkins I bought the other day, with the autumn leaves..." As she was getting caught up on all the little details, she suddenly scolded herself for neglecting attention on Elder Brother, "Oh, poor Brother! Supper will have to wait a little bit until he is treated."

John remained quite during all of this, aside from giving a heavy sigh when he was instructed to set the table. But like his mother, he grew worried when he noticed Brother's busted limb.

He gave Martha a smile, noticing how seamlessly she picked up on the hint he'd dropped, and as he shifted Brother's weight a little, he began to head toward the porch, chattering to Ravenwing and beginning to explain things, to kind of catch the older man up on what was going on.

Ravenwing spoke softly to Elderwild for a moment, and then gave his left arm an upward fling to set her off into the air. The bird gave a shriek as she rose, and then disappeared into the skies, off to find some supper. Then the man trotted to catch up with Tahmores, chattering some more as he began to understand everything that had confused him in the last few minutes.

Mounting the porch, Tahmores set Brother gently down on the planks, issuing a whine of comfort as a whimper left the wolf. He sat very close to Brother, stroking and comforting in a soft voice, waiting for Martha to find the materials she needed.

After watching Elderwild take flight, Martha disappeared into the house. In the past, she had taken their hybrids and wolves to the vet out at the Wolf Center, but now she was wary of doing such things. Things had gotten rather unstable with concerns to having wolves as pets, and Martha didn't want to risk having Brother seized by the authorities. As long as his wounds weren't beyond her capabilities, she would continue to mend him right here at her home.

It took little time for Martha to gather her stuff and return to the porch with Tahmores and Brother. "Poor Brother, what have you been up too?" The woman sympathized, stroking his head before taking a careful look at the limb. Very gingerly, she felt down along the length of the limb, trying to assess just what damage had been done. If the bones were still aligned, she would only need to splint the leg to prevent further damage.

As she assessed the leg, Martha glanced up to John and Tahmores, "If either of you two are interested, it would be nice to have a pheasant for dinner as well. Or some fish."

Ravenwing watched, fascinated, as Brother nudged his crown into Martha's caress, tame as a kitten. He hadn't been afraid of the wolf, having grown up as he had, but for the most part, bond animals were usually closely bonded to their people, but not to anyone else. He'd seen hands bitten because someone had gotten too close to another person's bond animal, so he found it odd that Brothe permitted Martha to pet him. He said these things to Tahmores, who smiled softly and began once again to explain.

Brother lay still enough, trying not to whine as she felt down his leg, tail beating the porch a little to let her know that she was in the right place and that he trusted her to fix him up.

Tahmores looked up from petting Brother at Martha's words, and spoke softly to John. How about it, John? Interested in fetching dinner? I'm sure Ravenwing will help if I explain to him what we need.

Putting the talk of the others to the back of her mind, Martha focused on her newest patient. Speaking softly and quietly as she went, the woman was pleased to find a break that wouldn't require anything more than a bit of bracing to ensure a straight heal. She took a long gray package out of her home-made medical kit and opened it up. Unraveling a length of moist gauze, she began to wrap it around the damaged limb, forming it snuggly against the leg so that it would brace the healing bones, but not restrict bloodflow.

The moisture was quick to evaporate, leaving behind hardening agents that formed the once pliable gauze into a sturdy cast.

He looked from Tahmores to Ravenwing, quick to respond, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Man, I haven't had pheasant in a loong time." John commented, before sending forth a question, "Do you know of any good places to go?"

Brother held still as Martha applied all of her healing elements, and gave her a lick as her hand moved away. Tahmores was still chattering to Ravenwing, but he paused for a moment as John's question reached him. His face screwed up in thought for a moment, and he spoke slowly. I never have hunted pheasant before, so I'm not aware of their habitual resting places, especially in this area. We didn't have many pheasant back home, so I never have the opportunity. You'd probably know better than I would where to look.

He deliberately did not ask Ravenwing if he knew of any places to get pheasant, because the young brave probably did know some places, and Tahmores wanted to give John a moment to shine. He'd felt his brother's discomfort at feeling "less cool" than he and Ravenwing were, and he wanted to make him feel better without being too obvious about it.

Ravenwing sat quietly, watching them, his eyes turning back and forth between them in tennis-match fashion as if he understood what they were saying. A shriek from the air caused him to lift his right arm reflexively, allowing Elderwild to alight there, a large mouse clasped in her beak. He sat very casually, not at all disturbed by the sight and smell of the dead rodent. It was something he'd grown used to. He stroked Elderwild's crest, a light praise for her hunting prowess, and she settled and began to devour the mouse.

Oblivious to what Tahmores was trying to do for him, John did indeed get a spark of joy at being put in 'command' of the little hunting expedition. The joy was tempered only by the thought that his father would not be accompanying him on this trip, as he had every time in the past. "I think I know of a good place. There's a bunch of scattered fields to the west end of the Prairie. It should be perfect for finding pheasants. I'll go get my gun, and we can head out."

Martha hid a smile as she heard the excitement in her son's voice. John may not have caught on, but the mother had an inkling about what Tahmore's had tried to do, and it worked quite well. "You three have fun. And be careful out there." Martha warned, before heading inside to get things prepared.

John soon returned, gun read and a packback slung over his shoulders. "It shouldn't take too long to get there." He said, as he began to head out to the Tall Grass Prairie.

A soft smile lit Tahmores' face at seeing John's pleasure, and he turned to Ravenwing, chattering along for a few minutes. After a small debate, a cry sent Elderwild to the roof, there to rest and finish her meal. The elder man would be accompanying them, the bird would not. Tahmores gave Martha a satisfied smile, promised to be careful, and soon both he and Ravenwing followed John.