Jarem walked steadily forward. he had one good and one bad meeting, but ended well, so far with the wolves, an even bargain. he was now meaning to meet those that troubles with wolves, hoping to the strike gold. The ranch seemed to be te best place to stop, knowing of the almost daily raids. Before entering the clearing he grabbed his 11 month old pup and strapped a gentle leader and leash on her, not being a fully trained dog yet. He held her in a soft heel, making sure she was paying attention to him. Upon reaching the ranch's door he halted with meaning, making sure the pup sat down as he did so. She did so he handed a her a small treat. He then gave the stay command and knocked heavily on the door.

Jaws did not mind the gentle leader and leash, much rather have it off. She obeyed though, responded to his commmands almost immediantly. It was very hard though, there were so many smells to investigate! She gave a lively, prancy walk as she heeled, sitting quickly but relunctly. She barely noticed his stay motion but sure heard his spoke command. The pup sat prefectly, tail thumping hard on the deck.

Gator followed somewhat behind the duo, never enjoying the fact the pup was getting more attention then he. As the two sat he too sat in hsi position a couple of yards behind them. He waited anxiosly for the door to open.

Black and white collie saw the trio frrom her spot unnder a large tree. She got up and barked, fur on her neck raising. The knock on the door made her bark again, on high alert, her body tense.

Pit-mix barrelled forward toward the strangers. She had gone outside after she was sure the wolf inside would not harm her mistress. She came quickly to Bonnie's side, rubbing shoulders with the canine in greeting, and then stepping a little to the side, bristling as well. A low snarl emitted from her throat. She called out to the older dog. "What business have you here?"

As the dogs showed aggression, but did not move forward, Jarem quickly gave signal for his larger dog to lay down, and then ressured the dog on his leash. Jaws whinned slightly, always anxios to met new friends. Gator though, who was on his way over to teh dogs hackles raised, laid reluctantly. HIs fur was still bristling though, low rumble coming from his throat. He spoke powerfully, "We mean no harm to you if you mean no harm to us. All he is going to do is speak to your human, no harm done."

It wasn't long before Mark came to the door, the husband of the Ranch. His face showed instant curiousity at Jarem and his two companions. "Hello." he said, giving a faint nod and waiting to see why he was here. The man glanced to Bonnie and Rihanne, always relieved to see his pets and know they were alright. So much fighting lately had him worried constantly of their safety.

Jarem smiled as the door was opened, ignoring his dogs now besides the occanisional encouragement to Jaws to keep her still in her sitting position. "Hello there, I am Jarem Wolf, new to around here. I was assigned to the canine wildlife around here, I here there are many troubles with them around here. Any you tell me anything?"

Bonnie stoppeed her barking when Mark came, but she still kept herself growling. She didn't trust too many strangers not that the wolves began attacking...

When Mark appeared, Rihanne ceased growling, though she remained alert and kept herself planted between Mark and the others, just in case. She spoke softly. "I am Rihanne, the wind, guardian of my masters and mistress. Is that one your master?" She was still enough puppy to be curious, but old enough to still be alert.

Jaws was having a hard time staying in her sitting position, and was frequently checked by her master. She whinned softly, annoyed that she could not say hello to the dog right in front of her nose. For the most part she stayed, but her body was wriggling as her tail wagged furiosly. When the dog spoek her floppy ears perked up slightly, a bright doggy smile appearing on her face. She not being a year old yet and not faced with much troubles was not alert all that much, sure she was alert for possible potential friends, and little rodents, but that was it. She began speaking loudly and excitingly almost instantly. "Yep yep yep!! Jarem is out master. He can be annoying, especially when he sticks this thing on my face." she swiped at her muzzle to show it, "I am Jaws! What is your name?"

Gator, being much older and wiser then the pup, gave a dog's equivalent to a raised eyebrow at the pup. But she told the dogs what they wanted to know so he stayed silent for the time being.

The big pit-mix came forward, keeping an eye on all the dogs, and coming to Jarem's feet. Her capable nose investigated his shoes and trousers, before her cranium turned upward with a soft whuff to look at his face. His eyes had a squint from one who spent a lot of time looking into the sun; the skin of the face was weatherworn. She turned her face up a little more and tasted his hand: it was roughly textured, with a salty taste.

When Jaws spoke, Rihanne turned a slightly softened face to the pup. "I am Rihanne. The wind. Those durn silly things that you are wearing are annoying. They made me wear one back at the Pit, when I was just a young thing. I hated it. What is your master like? Does he like dogs, or does he side with the wolf demons?"

She remembered she was supposed to stay sitting as the other moved around did so, and Jarem rubbed her on the ear for a treat. She gave a lick at his hand then turned back to the dog as she spoke.

"Jarem loves animals, especially as canines. He only puts this thing on me around other humans and domesticated dogs. But he is a real gentle guy must of te time, he never hit me or Gator. But he also acts this way to the wolves, he got bit on the way here, but he just spoke to it and it ran off on its own accord. Strange really." She spoke quickly, almost in one breath. She wagged her tail at the animal, maybe she would be her friend!

Rihanne was rather amazed. Two odd-balls in one day! She almost laughed, and let her tongue hang out in amusement. "Boy, oh, boy do we get the strange ones around here! There's a boy inside, a young one I think, who travels with a wolf who doesn't attack people. We've had our share of strange today. I guess this can't be any stranger." And suddenly making up her mind, she bumped her head into the man's hand, begging for an ear scratch.

The small wolf pup wandered around bored, she was supposed to be in Moon Spirits pack, but she didnt fit in with any of them. Roxie's orbs fell upon the other small pup like herself. Vixen walked towards Rihanne but stopped as she looked up at the human, then back down at Rihanne, a small yip was emitted from her maw.

Esprit had wandered off from her mother, Aava, to search this small world. She was still a small pup, very small. Her body steadily walked along through the grass which was tall to her. She knew she should be at the packlands, but she had gotten too bored there.
The wolf pup stopped nearby the humans and the other wolf pup. She growled slightly and bared her teeth. She was usually like this; being too over protected. But she had learned to act like that from her mother, which was usually cold and mean.
Esprit knew that Aava would be along to take her back, but she knew her mother wouldn't be welcomed here, after all of the things she did.

Esprit continued to snarl and growl and show her teeth until her uncle, White Eclipse, came by and snatched her up in his powerful jaws. Not wishing to start a fight right now, he took a quick look and aimed a loud snarl at the humans and their canines and he wheeled around and bounded off. He had started the big fight here long before. If he hadn't ben wandering around here the fight would have never happened. He was glad that the fight had started, though. It reduced the ranch guardian population.

The boy came padding slowly up to the scene, more curious than anything else. Scratching his shoulder, for the hide garment he wore itched, he watched them for a few moments from afar. All the dogs and the noise were very interesting. As he came closer, the sun went out of his eyes, and he saw all of them: Bonnie, Mark, Jarem, Gator, Jaws, Rihanne, Roxie.

Tahmores sat immediately to put all the dogs at ease, careful to keeps his hands away from his sides, laying relaxed on the ground, mouth shut to show no teeth, and chest and belly facing the canines. Elder Brother, too, lay down, a few feet to one side, head down, mouth closed, the picture of relaxation, though he kept an alert, interested eye on things.

Tahmores kept his eyes on Jarem, who interested him very much. Why was this man dressed so strangely? And what of that thing on the pup? Why would he confine the pup's only means of defense? It was very confusing to the wolf-boy. He said nothing, partially because he wanted to watch for a while, and partially because, living with the pack, he had learned not to speak very much. Though his eyes flicked occasionally to Brother to see that he was behaving, or to Roxie, with a slight whimper to reassure the pup, his attention was mostly for Jarem, whom he watched with interest, waiting to see what was going to happen.

Bonnie saw Tahmores and Brother, watching curiously now. This was getting nowhere...

Jarem came back to the man's attention as he spoek again, "I am sorry to hear all of that. Well, I guess there was a true reason for me being sent down here then. I was not sent to kill the wolves though, only to see if something is wrong with their habitat that makes act such ways and to improve the relationship here. I first want to get different views from the people around here, is there anyone else you think I should contact?" His eyes darted over at the boys curiosly, what were they doing? They were making the correct, non threatening stance, but they seemed especially interested in him. Maybe they should be his next contacts? HIs eyes drifted back towards Mark as he waited for his reply.

Gladiator watched all happenings with a keen eye, making sure that no one was threatening his master. He stayed on the ground however, in his down-stay position. But the boys were who interested him most. They showed themselves non-threatening as much as a human could, and seemed oddly different then a normal human. He tilted hsi head side-ways for a moment and just stared.

Jaws could hardly contain herself, so many canines and people, and she couldn't jump on them! In play of course. Her tongue lolled out in constrained happiness. though the thing was around her muzzle, she could very easily bite, chew, and basically everything else with no problem. It was only when her master gave a shot check did she feel any pressure at all on her muzzle, much like a fellow canine would do. She was also interested at the boys near-by, but then again, everything interested her.

Tahmores saw the man's glance land on both him and his wolf, and thought it was good that they interested each other. He reached out a hand and laid it on Brother's side, a silent command to stay and behave. Orbs looked up to him in confusion, but Tahmores put a slight growl behind the command, and the wolf merely flicked an ear to the side, and lay his head down, a signal he would obey. Tahmores, staying on all fours at the canines' level, crawled forward closer to the newcomer, and sat back on his haunches, still careful to keep his mouth closed and his hands clear of his dagger, Torgny.

He gave a glance to the pup with the restraint, and put a slight bit of authority in his posture as he gave her a look that said "Relax and quit wriggling so. I'll meet you in a minute." It was only a look, but he had learned his face well, and he hoped he would convey the message he was attempting to.

Then, turning up his head, he looked at Jarem. He made no move to get up, but spoke instead. "Wolves have many problems. Our young and old die in our dens as the Big Cold comes and the prey runs to keep pace with the sun. Humans hunt us when we have done them no wrong, other than be what a wolf must be. Why do humans hate us? You are a human. Tell me why." He had been a part of wolves for so long that he had forgotten to say "them" instead of "we." He often thought of himself as a wolf, even though he knew that he was human. It came from such a strange upbringing. He kept his eyes focused on Jarem, waiting for an answer.

Jaws saw the look and momentarily stopped, tilting her head to the side. But that did nto last long. Though the human seemed to be one with the canines he was still a human to her, and there were only really three human expressions to her; happy, indifference, and angry. And look was classified as an indifference, and she happily barked with another burst of tail wags, hoping to get the young human 'happy'.

Jarem rested a hand on her head, quieting the barking, but nothing else. She would learn. He listened to what the boy had to say, quite caught off guard from the strange displays of him. "Yes, this sounds about right. The first two are natural. teh beast try to stay alove as well as the wolves. And death must come, better in old age then young. The human hunting is my main concern, I hope to strengthen the relationship between the two species. But as of now, I believe the humans hate the wovles for reasons Mark has said. Hunting deer and such is all fine, but the human race generally (and sometimes rightly so) get angry when a lifestock, one that may have a good deal of money and time put into them, gets chewed on by the canines. And then the is the entire different breed of humans." He talked as if he was not one as well, he did not want to be related to canine haters anyway, he was far from that. the different breed he spoke of was the abusers, fighters and such. He never quite understood their methods. But a matter of fact, his own dog (gator) came from one. It took many hours to fix him.

Seeing the little pup wriggle, the boy held out a hand to be sniffed and inspected. After all, she was young. Some tolerance had to be exercised. He put a little whine behind it, a signal of contentment, and a basic "nice to meet you." He turned his face up again to Jarem, wondering about this way of thinking. He turned back to Brother, and his brow furrowed. "Brother has seen it. I wish he could speak with you."

Jaws seemed to jump on the hand with all the excitement she put into the gesture of the human. Her haunches stayed on the floor though, as she sniffed the hand once (making sure it contianed no food), licked it a couple of times, and then laid a sandy paw ontop of his, looking bright-eyed at him.

Jarem smiled at the pup and replied to the boy. "Yes, that is a fine wish that I held for many years. About as long as I had Gator I believe." He glanced over at the big dog, getting a return glance from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. I am Jarem Wolf."

Mark listened to the speech and was again caught off guard by Tahmores strange ways. But it was good that the boy was here, for it made Mark watch his thoughts when he replied to Jarem, "The ones that attack here are both wolf and hybrids." He frowned slightly, shaking his head, "Sometimes they don't even bother the livestock, and instead go straight for our dogs. I'm about fed up with it though; I've invested all I can with my dogs, but I just hate to have them getting hurt and killed as they are." There was evident frustration and anger in his voice as he thought about the attacks. "There is an old lady that lives several miles at that way," Mark went on, his eye glinted slightly, "She's a strange one though, taking in the injured wolves. Heck, I'd bet she'd even take in the wanted ones and keep it a secret." The man shook his head angrily, not realizing how close he was to the truth.

Crawling under the deck, the orange striped tom cat approached the side nearest to the canines. One hind limb looked badly injured and the other was slightly cut-up. But ignoring the pain, Lion sat back on his wounded haunches and gazed out casually at the lot. He was especially fascinated by Tahmores, but a bit unnerved as well. He seemed to communicate with the canines extremely well. With curiosity peeking suddenly, Lion called out and a low meow, "Heya, human!" He didn't know that Tahmores couldn't understand him, but he gave it a shot anyway, then looked around to see if his siblings were around to see him, for he felt embarrassed by this attempt to speak with a human.

Tahmores smiled at the pup and ruffled her ears with the other hand. His head lifted as Jarem spoke again, and took a small wolf-bow, not familiar with the whole shaking hands idea. "I am Tahmores, the wild dog. I have lived among wolves all my life. And this," And he gestured for Brother to come forward, "is Elder Brother, the last of my pack. I have watched him grow from just a pup, and yet somehow he is older than me. Perhaps if he could speak as we do, he might help you."

Elder Brother came forward cautiously, sniffing at Jarem's trousers and hands, though keeping an eye on Gator and keeping his mouth closed. His tail wagged slowly, and he sat quietly by Tahmores, watching the dogs carefully.

Tahmores' head turned as the cat called to him. Of course he couldnt' understand the cat's words, but he understood that it was a form of greeting. He gave the head bob and blink that he had come to know as a greeting among cats and watched the young one for a moment before turning back to Jarem, awaiting his answer.

Jarem listened to both talk, and understood the man's concern. He addressed the boy first though. "Hello Talmores, arn't you the lucky one." he smiled as memories of himself as a young boy, pretending he was raised by wolves. This boy was actually raised by one, how ironic. "I can understand emotions of the canines, but hardly anything then that. We might be able to work out something." His words were spoken true. He thought that if one tried hard enough and put enough effort into it, the species can understand eachother. He smiled, not showing his teeth, as the wolf came and inspected him. But did not make any other move then that, letting no interfence for the canine's inspection. As the cat came out he glanced at it with an indifferent face, checking on his pup who was sure to lunge after it. He had nothing against cats, but nothing for them either. He could remember some cats he warmed up to as a boy, but they were nothing like a dog. All he saw in this one was something his dog might go after, he had a canine matter on hand anyway. He turned to Mark. Jarem understood his frustration, but at the moment could not figure a solution. "Either there is a shortage of prey in the wild or the wolves decide they rather go for the easier prey. But I never heard of such frequent attacks from what we think to be sane wolves, not rabid anyway. They normally would stay away from the humans, maybe not so much from a lone pet dog, but still." He paused to think for a moment, eyes landing on Gator. "Well, thanks for the information Mark," he offered a hand, "unless there is anythign else you wish to tell me I will leave you alone and check on the lady you speak of." He gave a friendly smile, the meeting did give him a start anyway.

Jaws tried to lick the boys hand as they went to ruffle her ears, making things difficult as always. She smiled in her dogish way, sitting happily now. The cat came out and she instantly jumped up, only to be sat down again by her master. The pup gave a face equivalent to a whine but did not make any noise, just watching the cat intensly.

Gator moved as if to get up when the wolf approached his master, gruffing softly in warning. But he did not show any threat so he moved back to his relaxed position. This conversation was quite boring to him, though it did involve interesting characters. The boy and his wolf was quite extraordinary, as well as Mark. His ever watchful eye laid over all of them constantly and carefully, making sure all was well.

Elder Brother, noticing Gator's unease, turned toward him as he went to sit back down. "Don't worry. I mean your master no harm. He has a good smell. Besides, my boy would be very angry with me if I hurt your master. My boy is very fond of we wolves, but he likes humans as well. In a way, we are both his Pack. We are his family. I am Elder Brother. You are?" And he awaited the dog's answer.

Eyes rested upon the wolf as he spoke, after he briefy glanced at the cat. Floppy ears erected slightly, but he seemed very much relaxed. He spoke deep with deep mutarity, but not roughly, Your actions told me enough Elder Brother. My name is Gladiator, though my human referrs to me as ‘Gator’. Jarem has always had a strange love to the canines. I say strange because his family hated them, they lived on a farm some what like this as well. He paused, eyes surveying him quickly. Can you tell me why the wild canines act as they do? As Jarem stated, it is odd for such a number to openly attack the humans.

Stats

Name Gladiator

Breed Loenberger

Height 29.5 inches at the withers and hip

Weight 120 pounds

Gender male

Age 5

Description BIG dog, though he has no help from the wolf breed.

Mark reached out his hand and shook it, "Thanks for stopping by. I'm ready to do anything to end this wolf problem." He watched the congregation of canines, wondering where his other ones were. He had still to meet Stallis again.

Lion froze like a statue at first, then calmed down and smuggly puffed out his chest. Like his grandmother and some of his siblings, Lion had a habit of seeing just how far they could push canines. It was especially fun to mince by them as close as possible why they were sleeping. Of course, it was no fun when they woke up and began a chase, and even less fun when they won the chase.

"No problem, I expect to be seeing you around." He smiled and left the man's porch. He wished to speak to the boy more, but he believed he got all he needed from the man for now. He loosened his hold on his pup as he moved, Jaws instantly going over to try investigate the cat. But could not get very close without getting a check from Jarem.

Gator jumped up at a silent command his human gave, instantly at his left side. He was granted a rub on his ears, and he smiled at the boy and wolf as they approached.

Seeing that Gator approved of them, Tahmores relaxed. As they moved to go, Elder Brother spoke again to Gator. "Most wild wolves hunt among the human supply only when game is scarce and their families are starving. There ARE those who hunt here all year round, because they hate the humans for some reason or another. my pack was not one of them." And his eyes went to the ground, for they had been betrayed by one... "In any case, I wish that humans could tell the difference. There are those of us who really mean no harm."

And for his own comfort he nudged Tahmores' leg, and the boy rested a hand on his shoulder, scratching gently and absentmindedly untangling matts in the wolve's coat. His attention was on Gator, reading different body signs on him: an acceptance of Brother, a fierce loyalty to Jarem, and a love of living, all in one moment. He smiled without teeth, and watched them, sorry that the strange dog was leaving with his MIGHTY strange human. They were interesting.

Jarem was happy that the boy and wolf seemed to like his canine friends, and turned to them. "I would like to talk to you more Tahmores. Maybe you would like to join me at meeting the lady?" He moveed his hands while speaking, taking the muzzle part off Jaws. She shook her head and smiled again, licking Jarem's hand as it went back up. The gadget was still around her neck, behind her ears, but the gentle leader had no real effect now expect keeping her 6 feet away from Jarem.

Gator listened intently on what the wolf had to say. I heard of wolves attacking the human's stock when in need and such, and wild dogs attacking them because they did not know how to hunt. But there has got to be a way to stregthen the relationship. Do you know if the humans are doing any harm to the ecosystem? He spoke as if not realizing that his master was about to depart. He could always catch up if it came to that.

Tahmores smiled again, without his teeth, and spoke again to Jarem. "I am always interested in meeting new people. New people are interesting." He reached down his other hand, tugging at a particularly stubborn mat in Brother's coat, making the wolf whimper and snap playfully at his boy's hand. Tahmores gave the wolf a look, and Brother simmered down. After all, they didn't want the humans thinking he was aggressive. "I would be glad to go with you." And he turned to Martha. "I will come and visit again soon. Perhaps by then I will have thought of some way to thank you."

Brother's ears perked as he listened to Gator. "Over at the bay where the large not-fish swim, people dump things in the water. They do this in the not-lake where the alligator lives as well. Anywhere there is water, there is trouble. The two-legs put filth in the water. And it makes us sick. But I do not believe that is why the two-legs hate us so. I think that it is because they fear us. They do not understand us, and they fear what they do not understand. When my boy and I used to walk in their big territories, with their iron trees and their rolling houses and so many strange things (he of course doesn't know of skyscrapers and cars and such) they were afraid of me because they did not know what a wolf was doing in their iron forest. I never hurt them but they were still afraid. I think that the answer may be to somehow show them that not all wolves are bad."

Jarem's smile brightened, though as the boy did, no teeth were shown. "Alright then, should we be off?" He turned to go and started walking back to the forest. The man was not exactly sure where he was going, but Mark gave a direction and with some help of his dogs and the duo he had just met, he was sure he would find it. As soon as they hit the forest line he sat Jaws, which she obliged, and gave her a small morself of a treat. He gave her the 'stay' command by moving his hand once across her face and unsnapped the gentle leader completely. Jerry had Jaws in stay command for a moment then offered her treat in a dismissal, which again she obliged. He continued walking, aware of any signs that could mean trouble or they were going off path.

Jaws did as she was told, accepting the treats with joy, and pranced off, her tail high in the air. She investigated things and here, not exactly with the group, but she made sure that they did not get out of her eyesight. If she did get too distracted by some really interesting smell a short whistle from Jarem brought her bounding back.

Gator, realizing they were in fact leaving and that the two were coming along, listened intently to the other. His choice of words were difficult to understand. Iron trees? He could mean fence poles or electricity poles, but those weren't so scary. He tried deeply to get on his point of view, towers maybe? Houses? Big territories of the humans... cities! So the iron trees were... um... skyscrapers! OKay, then the rolling houses. There were the mobile homes, but those weren't common in the cities. Then the cars maybe. His train of thought was quick, any confusion masked well. So the humans were doing rotten things to them, no wonder some of them felt rotten towards them. But it was true, many people were afarid of the canine race. He once brought fear in tons of them, he being only a fighter's dog at the time. A wolf or a figther's wolf would strick much more he imagined. "That is quite true. And I believe that jarem knows of these as well. No other problems?" He talked as he walked, staying on one side of his human.