Soven nods at the wolves and two large creatures saunter up to you. They sniff you curiously. :This is our beta pair, Kreed and Talyn. They are second in rank in the pack.: Soven sneers slightly while making this comment, making you dislike him even more. Kreed and his mate, a dainty grey female, nod their heads to you.
Before you have time to breathe, let alone speak, Soven has moved on. He turns to the tiny black pup, who stares up at you with large blue eyes. You feel your heart melt. :The pup is Crelix, Ilanca and my son. Someday he will lead the pack in my stead.: Soven nuzzles the Crelix, who licks his father.
:Soven, you really ought to slow down. I can sense great good in this human. No, the human will not cause harm to the pack. The only harm that will come is if the leader does not choose wisely for the pack!: A voice as ancient as the ground, sounding like the wind blowing through the trees enters your mind. Soven turns to glare at a strange-looking wolf. First of all, it is a yellowish-tan. Second, it looks like no wolf you have ever seen! Mystified, you question Soven, who merely scowls.
The strange wolf smiles at you. :Evina Windrunner,: she tells you, as if in explanation. :I am a spirit wolf, a mystical creature who is living in the pack. I am also the Elder. Soven is just upset that someone would question him, especially one of low rank. But he knows better than to stop me, don't you my dear.: She looks into the alpha male's eyes, a look of power, and he snarls and rolls onto his back in submission. Then, leaping to his feet, he runs off.
:You will regret this, Evina! By the first pair, you will regret it!: Soven calls back to the spirit wolf. His words are almost lost in the wind. Ilanca stares after him in worry.
:Do not fear,: Evina tells her. :He will be fine. He must get used to dealing with the unexpected, the strange, the abnormal.: Ilanca sighs in agreement.
You notice a small grey wolf in the back. Wondering why it was not introduced, you ask Ilanca, the remaining alpha wolf. She nods to the grey creature, who steps forward. You gasp! This is no wolf. It is a furry grey wolf-like creature with wide violet eyes. The creature's tail is bushy, and it is covered with darker grey rings. The animal sniffs your hand curiously. She then smiles and curls up into a content ball.
'No,' she says, 'I am not a wolf.' You start at the voice; all of the others talked with their minds, but this creature can obviously speak as plainly as you can. It continues. 'I am Yvonne, a female ringtailed worax. We are very uncommon creatures, so it is not surprising you have never seen one of my kind.' You nod in weak agreement. This is too much! The wolves grin at you.
'Well,' Kalika says, 'it looks like you've had way too much excitement. Ready to return to the fence?' You nod feebly to the small pixie.