Sesh 2: Magics work thy Will. Ending 23rd Feb

A cold, wet nose presses against Vasil's neck. Shadow is there, with Taft at its side. "My dominant is waiting, friend," the wolf says. "Let's go."

Vasil squeezes Kata's hand.
Let's talk again soon. I need to go do this.

Kata looks surprised at the wolf's sudden approach, but relaxes quickly. She squeezes Vasil's hand and says, somewhat sternly"Dress warm. Be safe."

Taft arises from his reverie.

"I am ready."

After a short visit with Alva, who bustles him out with a pack full of food, Taft meets the others at the gate. While they wait, Taft removes his leather boots and ties them to the top of his pack. His bare feet are unwashed and calloused. He rubs his toes pleasurably into the dirt and breathes deeply.

"It is a good day to travel. I look forward to this. Which way, Shadow? Perhaps we will pass some of my trap lines and we will find rabbit from last night."

Vasil joins the others after a short stop by his home, gathering his basic travel supplies; a warm cloak, a utility knife, a small whetstone, his sturdy boots, some food, and his spear. He walks to the outskirts of the village, chatting with Oyvind who "needed to stretch his old legs anyway", hands his now empty mug to his old friend, and departs into the forest with Taft and Shadow.

Vasil will walk last in the line, allowing the Forester and wolf, who are more acquainted with the terrain to choose the best path. He watches carefully where Taft places his feet, keenly aware of his weak leg.

Shadow sets off into the forest. The wolf's tail hangs calmly, and its tongue lolls out of its mouth as it pants happily, enjoying the company of the humans. Still, it never stops looking into the shadows of the trees and up into the canopy overhead. As it guides them through the woods to the range, the wolf's eyes and ears are always alert, on the lookout for any marauding spirits.

The woods are thick, and fierce. The coming winter's cold is already here, but by noon there is no frost left, just cold mud underfoot as the three traipse. It will be sundown before they get to the range, and daytime in the woods is only safe in comparison to the night.

Throughout the day, you can hear distant mating calls of birds and beasts, and Shadows stops in its footsteps at least once, and bids you wait as animals pass beyond. Although, with human ears it is hard to distinguish the sounds, as a Hunter Taft recognises the cawing of an Ox-Adler, a flightless avian solitary predator. The three travellers hold their breath as it passes, and then continue on their route.

"The Range" is a grove on top of a hill, which Winter's Third Bite follows its nose to; a large tree in the centre of the grove sends sprawling roots all over the terrain. Near one of them, the wolves stand sentry, and notice the new arrivals. A howl goes out, each of the other joining in turn, each in a different tone.

The hairs stand up on the back of Taft's neck. He has heard the wolves baying in midday before, and often imagined what it would look like to stand among them. Now here he was, and not as a meal.

Taft's plans of speaking with Shadow's dominant quickly fades. He has no idea how to respectfully approach the wolves. But he also knows that showing fear, and hesitating, might be worse than anything.

Heart pounding, Taft walks slowly and confidently into the clearing. He looks towards the wolves, but makes an effort not to hold eye contact with any of them. This would work with the pack of dogs at Kallbacken, but he is not sure if the same practice translates to Wolf-kind.

Vasil bows his head in a poor imitation jewellery of Shadow's posture. He switches leading leg, and then reverses his decision. This looks like a small awkward dance.
To his right, Taft is making better headway. To Vasil's untrained eye - it looks pretty good!
Vasil leans into the performance, barking manically.

Glancing once more to Shadow and Taft, Vasil ends his bow, and stands tall, confident.

Vasil stands tall, hands proudly on hips.
Taking one more bold step forward, he places his foot on an icy rock, and falls spectacularly, unceremoniously onto his back.

If Wolves had the facial capacity to cringe...

As the two humans approach, the wolves seamlessly transition into a half circle. Their dominant, who stands far taller than any of the others, stands by the trunk of the tree, receiving the visitors. Other wolves fan out, quickly encircling the two-legs; one remains by a small den underneath a large root.The dominant opens its gigantic mouth, and says "You have arrived, windsinger and firedancer, you are in only any danger you have brought."

Vasil picks himself up sheepishly, looking at the circle of enormous wolves. He looks to Shadow, then to Taft. He looks back to the circle, and bows his head in deference. As a tradesman, he was once an apprentice. Standing before these masters of the forest, and spirit, Vasil submits to his teachers, much like he did as a young man, in another land. He is here to learn.
Vasil's previous instructors were quite keen on their apprentices not speaking out of turn. Vasil is keeping his mouth firmly shut, until asked a direct question.

Taft nods respectfully and squats on the ground to form part of the circle.

"We have been asked to come and so here we are. It is an honour to be invited among you. This winter brings a different kind of darkness than my peoples' stories can recall. I hope we can work together to weather the storms that are to come."

In spite of the cold weather, Taft is willing to sit and listen for hours, and will probably not speak again until he is asked. He is attentive and genuinely honoured, and will do his best to represent the people of Kallbacken as beings who respect the land and the world of the spirits.

Shadow pads over to Autumn's First Hunt. It looks up at its dominant with gentle eyes and licks under its chin, showing respect and submission. The dominant opens its massive jaws and gently holds Shadow's snout for a moment, acknowledging the gesture. Then, it releases Shadow, and the wolf lies down, respectfully looking at the dominant's feet. The three pups who had been wrestling behind the dominant now crowd around Shadow, smelling the strange, new scents of the village on its fur. Shadow ignores the puppies, glancing towards Taft and then back towards the dominant, yawning and closing its eyes.

Though they have exchanged no words, Shadow has echoed Taft's message to the Dominant. The wolf is happy to be back with its pack and under its leader, but is also glad its trusted human friends were invited and hopes this situation may be a positive and fruitful one.

The pups are hurried back by their Aunt to their den beneath the root, and the Dominant watches its children go. Then the large wolf turns and looks above Taft's head, as if somehow taking stock of his entire being. "Winter's Third Bite was troubled by a spirit in Kallbacken, and we came to our packmate's aid." says the large wolf, before yawning and moving its legs to stand over part of Shadow, accepting its submission.

"I am Autumn's First Hunt. My pack's territory is the forest, from coast to mountain, spanning further than can be seen from either. The spirits here are well behaved." announces the Dominant, proudly, her tail pointed high as if conducting her pack, who mimic her language. "The Ancient Forest Wardens' eyes are watchful."

Vasil nods again to the dominant, he moves next to Taft, and kneels likewise.

Taft can't help but ask,

"I do not know the world of the spirits as directly, but I do feel that they are kind to my people. When we hunt, we always leave some for the spirits.

"But I also feel that there is... something new moving over the land. It is easier for me to see the people. I fear they will return. And if they do... I fear that the dark spirit that troubled Winter's Third Bite return. Does this concern the Ancient Forest Warden?"