Tahmores came padding in quietly to the place that was the closest he had to a home. He had been traveling with Jarem Wolf, but had gotten lonely for the Ranch, which was the nearest he had to a home. And so he had come back to visit, though he would rejoin Jarem shortly. He had changed a lot since his first arrival at the Ranch. His hide garment was gone, replaced with the more supple and comfortable cotton garments most people wore. His hair, though still worn long, was neatly trimmed and tied back in a horsetail, a few wisps escaping the string he had used to tie it back. These few hairs blew around his tan face in the light breeze. The care-lines in his brow had softened, and he had finally gained weight, so that, though he was still slim, he was no longer skin and bones. And on that face was something no one human had ever seen before: a broad smile, teeth and all.

Elder Brother trotted quietly by the boy's side, he too showing the benefits of their new life. His coat was thickening into its silky winter texture, and it lay smooth and burr-less upon his back. He too had gained weight, and was now a heavy but fit wolf. His tail streamed behind him, wagging furiously. He was glad to come back here. These people had been kind to them.

Tahmores let out a piercing whistle, and that set Brother to barking, hoping to attract someone's attention.

Reane walked along. After a long practice, her black karate clothes still gripped her sweaty body, a black headband + belt were tied to her waist and head. She wiped sweat from her forehead and spotted Tahmores and the dog again. She smiled and waved; walking over carefully.

Bonnie and darth strode by her sides, their wagging tail waved faster and harder. Bonnie barked and ran ahead, sniffing Brother. Remembering his scent, she wagged harder than ever and barked.

Darth was a little more cautious, his tail wagged but he stayed next to his owner faithfully.

Tahmores smiled and waved back to Reane, one tenative hand reaching out for both dogs to smell if they wished. He spoke, smiling broadly still. Hello. I'm back for a little while. I decided it was time to visit again. Look! Even Brother missed it.

And it was true. Brother was barking as avidly as Bonnie, leaping about just a bit in sheer excitement, tail flashing about furiously.

Incredible. Tahmores watched the two. I could have sworn that Bonnie would never trust a wolf. But I guess Brother is one of a kind, eh? Not quite dog, but not quite wolf. And he shook his head, just glad to be back.

Good to hear. She said chuckling, watching the enthusiastic dogs.
Bonnie really doesn't like any wolves. She lookde back. except for a select few.

Bonnie licked Tahmores' hand and looked at the other two with a cocked head, tongue lolling out, eyes flashing brightly. She turned and lowered a play position.

Darth cautiously sniffed Tahmores (after he was sure he wouldnt hurt him and a friend of his master) and decided he was good enough. He wagged his tail.

Tahmores let out a low laugh as Bonnie licked his hand, and scratched behind her ears lightly before she dropped into the bow. Darth was a one girl dog, and that was fine with Tahmores. Brother was that way, too. He would be friendly to other people, but he always ensured that they wouldn't harm Tahmores first. The boy understood that well enough.

Brother responded immediately. Here was someone he could play with without hurting them. Bonnie was of a height with himself, and probably about the same weight, maybe a little less. Letting his tongue loll out in a silent laugh, he returned the bow.

Reane was quiet. Something was up in her mind, quite obvious. But a silent aura of joy, confidence, and power, that combination was an unbeatable group. She smiled again.

Bonnie pounced playfully on Brother. Smiling her dog-smile, she growled playfully.

Dath was going to play, but is attention was caught by a Squirrel. He barked and chased it around.

Tahmores watched as Brother grinned back at Bonnie, growling lightly in protest as she pounced on him. He flopped to his back and rolled, quickly but gently, coming to his feet and leaping for her.

The boy, living with wolves so long as he had, thought a little differently, and heard things others could not. Now, he caught a distinct thinking sound from Reane, what he thought of as a "mental hum", and it made him curious. What has you so thoughtful, then?

Reane shrugged.
"I dunno, something struck me hard and It made me think. But I dunno what i is. All strange oi?"

Bonnie was knocked to the ground when he leaped and smiled her dog smile. Panting in laughter, she nipped at him with a playgrowl from under him.

Tahmores nodded at the question. There are many things I find odd. Like doors. What purpose do doors serve? They shut out light and close you in so you can't get away if someone attacks. The wolf in him was showing. Doors of course, were useful things, but he always thought of them as traps.

Brother growled back and smiled broader when he was nipped. He nipped back lightly. It was just a lipping really, because he didn't like to use teeth on friends. Leaping back suddenly, he paced, smiling. Come on and get me then!

Reane shook her head.
"Doors do get in the way."
Which is one reason she was beaten, whenever she ran into a door, she'd get frustrated and snap it in two.

Bonnnie was upon her feet in a flash. She snickered a light way and pranced after him.

Tahmores stared at her for a moment, taking her measure. With a flash of revelation, he got just a bit of Reane's past, but not everything. Just that she was afraid of someone. His eyes showed clearly that he read the truth, but he spoke nothing of it, only murmured, I think that why I find it so confusing is that you humans seem to think that all danger lies outside. In my pack, danger lay inside as well. Traitors, wolves looking for revenge. The disease that killed my pack came from the inside. At least without a door you can see what is coming. With a door you can neither see it, nor escape. And he turned away for a moment, remembering his own less-than happy past. One might say the sun got in his eyes, but there a single tear tracked down one cheek, and he wiped it away impatiently. But when he turned back, his face was dry, the piece of his soul that had come through back in its hiding place.

Brother pounced about, daring Bonnie to dash at him. He was chuckling shamelessly, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Her curiosity sparked. She watched him with furrowed eyes for a moment, which flew to regular state.
You were wolf once, or raised by olves. 'S that Not C'rrect? Questioned her southern accent.

He looked to her, smiling softly. Yes, I was raised by the wolves of Rising Sun Pack. They took me after my human mother died. This he said with surprising calm, for he'd been only an infant when the indian squaw died, and did not remember her. They were all the family I ever knew 'til the plague took them all. All but Brother. He was with me in the city. And he got quiet, listening to the canines play, but ears still perked for Reane's answer.

Reane nodded understandingly.
I uhn'erstant.

He listened to her, and spoke quietly. As Darth Vader is your family, I take it. A good companion, that one. He's yours, all yours. As Elder Brother is mine, as Gator is Jarem's. And he smiled, thinking.