Blood.
It mingled with the dirt and the hair and the rough prints left in the crunchy dry snow, and Tawyn crouched over them, bits of leftover slush clinging stubbornly to her fingers as she ran them softly over the ridges made by this… creature.
For that’s what it was, something in the canine family probably, judging by the prints and the smell and the texture of the fur.
The night elf closed her eyes and breathed in the scent one more time before flicking her fingers behind her; one sharp motion that simultaneously shook some of the snow off and also beckoned a brilliantly hued magenta raptor to pad silently up behind her, his glittering eyes scanning the area and his breath coming in puffs in the crisp northern air. Tawyn never lifted her gaze from the tracks and finally she arose and slowly walked along them, followed closely by her raptor, Wash.
A faint rustle of leaves. She paused; the quarry was near. The blood pooled a bit at the base of a nearby bush, and a smell was on the wind– it was still alive. Tawyn bristled and instinctively reached for her rifle, and was comforted by its familiar touch, as behind her Wash stared unblinkingly at the bush, awaiting one command…
…that came in the form of his master loosening ever so slightly and breathing “easy,” the word itself a mere whisper, but enough for the raptor to relax his stance– just a touch– and return to his previous behavior of scanning the surroundings. The thing in the bush was no longer a threat.
Tawyn crouched down next to the bush; The Thing was cornered now and began making nervous growling and spitting noises– it was still willing to put up a fight, wounded as it was. The hunter peered in and saw a wolf of some sort staring back at her: bruised, beaten, bleeding. Its eyes flashing with anger and pain. Tawyn stared back, and the staring contest went on for quite some time before the wolf buckled, shutting its eyes and letting out a quiet whine of anguish. This was followed by a low and near imperceptible rumble. The wolf’s stomach was growling.
With movements that were slow and precise, as not to startle the creature in the bush, Tawyn pulled her backpack from off her shoulders, reached inside, and pulled out a piece of dried venison. She pushed it under the bush, a few feet from the wolf’s nose, and set it there. The wolf recoiled at first in fear, snarling, but Tawyn pulled her hand back quickly and simply waited.
For several long minutes, the wolf feigned disinterest in the meat and didn’t move. His eyes gave himself away, however, and then his nose, and finally he inched forward and chomped the meat down eagerly before returning to his original position. Tawyn pushed another strip of meat into the same place. The wolf only waited about half as long before eating, now, and the hunter noticed that his tail made a few weak thumps against the snowy earth– this was interesting in and of itself, as normal wolves did not wag their tails past their youth. A hybrid animal, perhaps? Or a young wolf? It was hard to say; the creature was slightly smaller than the average wolf but this could have spoken for either theory. Regardless, it was heartening to see the animal improving, if only a little.
One more strip of meat. This time, though, Tawyn held it out with her fingers, not letting go of it.
The wolf didn’t move, but he eyed the meat and Tawyn could tell from his eyes that he was considering it. The elf remained perfectly still, arm outstretched. Finally the wolf tenderly plucked the meat from her hand with his teeth and pulled back again to eat it.
Tawyn smiled thinly. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless, and a step in the right direction.
She next reached into her pack in pursuit of frostweave, and hissed a sharp Darnassian curse under her breath upon finding out she didn’t have any. She would have to go into town…
…she glanced back under the bush at the wolf. He was looking at her with a somewhat expectant expression now.
“I’ll be back,” said Tawyn softly. She stood up and motioned something to Wash, and he picked up on her cue and remained standing guard as she disappeared into the wood.
***
“Whadaya need today, Tawyn?” the pixielike gnome winked. “Here, sit down, let’s chat.” She seated herself by the fireplace and gestured for the night elf to follow.
“Frostweave,” Tawyn replied tersely, and if it was almost anyone else she would have refused to sit, but Trixy had rather grown on her so she pulled up a chair and sat down.
“Frostweave, hmmmm,” replied the gnome as she rummaged through a large sack. “I don’t know, I mean, I’ve got threads, dyes, and ooooh what’s this?” she pulled out some sort of shiny contraption.
“Trixy, I don’t mean to rush you, but we’ve… ah… I’ve got a bit of an emergency situation. D’ya know anyone who would have any, if you don’t?”
The gnome’s eyes glittered as she inspected the shiny thing, but she set it aside and stuck her tongue out in concentration and plunged her arm back into the bag and finally pulled out… some frostweave. “There ya go!”
Tawyn snatched it from her, ripped it in two, and began to nimbly shape the them into bandages. The gnome watched intently. After a minute or two she asked gingerly, “What are they for?”
Before Tawyn could reply, she heard a familiar noise from outside, mingled with the calls of the soldiers of the 7th Legion. She leapt to her feet, dashed to the door of the inn, and pushed it open– to see the wolf limping painfully but determinedly into town, followed by an exasperated Wash who looked like he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to handle this. Some of the soldiers nearby were gaping and pointing their guns at the spectacle, although most of them looked like they weren’t about to waste any bullets on this, what with a greater threat outside the walls of Wintergarde. Besides which, Wash was a familiar sight to most of them by now.
Tawyn stood in the doorway, wondering at the unusualness of it all. Again, she was struck by that brief zap in her mind that there was something distinctly un-wolflike about the creature’s behavior…
The wolf buckled and Tawyn was out in a flash; bandaging his wounds with the Frostweave bandages she had just crafted and quickly mixing up some sort of salve with the myriad flasks and herbs she carried around in her pack and massaging the creature’s legs with it. The wolf stood steadfastly through it all, although it was clear that he was still in pain.
Tawyn heard someone approach from behind them– Zybarus, the stable master. “Zybarus thinks he likes you,” he said in his curious manner of speech, a slightly squeaky voice that for whatever odd reason spoke in nothing but the third person.
Tawyn shrugged and continued working. “People do strange things when they’re in pain. Animals do too.” Of course, she wasn’t telling the whole story. She didn’t tell the part about how she thought there was something unusual about this wolf. How he seemed to be acting like this wasn’t the first time he had extended trust to a person. She didn’t talk about his uncharacteristic tail wag.
No, she didn’t talk about how there was something unusual about this creature that she was determined to pin down. And perhaps it would explain the cause of his injuries as well– Tawyn leaned back and looked at him. A young and strikingly handsome creature possibly just hours before, he was now a wretched sight of blood and scabs and missing patches of fur. It would heal up eventually, but there would be scars, and he would never quite look the same. But his eyes were bright and Tawyn found that she thought the creature was, in his own broken way, still strikingly handsome.
“Your pet now?” Zybarus asked.
“No,” said Tawyn bluntly. Zybarus and Tawyn had a sort of odd love-hate relationship, one that the latter tended to form with others of similarly strong personalities, and this is what caused the stable master to grin and goad her on with “Ohh? But you’ve got a name picked out, dontcha? Zybarus thinks you do!”
Tawyn shot him a brief glower and then busied herself with adjusting the wolf’s new bandages. Finally, she muttered one word under her breath: “Perezvon.”
Very very well written.
But…what happened to Wash?
So, there is a beaten up wolf pet out there? Was he plagued or something?
Z
Great story! Loved it!
Great story, it’s always good to see one of your tails of acquiring a new companion. but.. what does wash think of this interloper?
Good story, love it, keep up the good work!
Heeheehee! I can just see Wash trailing behind, looking so confused.
Poor Wash.
I bet Perezvon is in good hands, though.
@ Zwingli – Yes, there is a diseased wolf skin you can snag in Felwood or Plaguelands. http://petopia.brashendeavors.net/html/skins/skin_wolfskindiseased.html
@ All the people wondering about Wash – don’t worry, my story rules differ from game rules. Tawyn did not release Wash, and she alternates taking all her pets on adventures, and for the most part all her pets are all okay with it and each other. They see themselves and Tawyn as one big team. Newcomers to the team are welcomed. In the storyverse that I present you with here, Tawyn often has more than one pet out at a time.
Nice story Pike,
I actually just did one like this the other day, however I’m thinking of making it a long storyline, initially though it is going to be about my switch from Shadow to Discipline on my Priest and the craziness that ensues. Great story though. This has always been my favorite wolf model, they always show a true warrior spirit. I hope you really enjoy him like I enjoyed mine.
An interesting story, and very well written. Despite the occaisional typo.
I woulden’t be surprised if this made it into Vintage Pike. 😉
@ Cynere – were there typos? I’ve read and re-read and proofread the story too many times for me to notice. Point ’em out and I’ll fix ’em *nods*
Aw, puppy love… <3
I got my boy in Hinterlands… one of the Vilebranch wolves from Jintha’Alor. I initially tamed him for a new level of dash, I believe, but liked him so much I kept him and he’s been my raiding companion (even over my ghost saber) ever since.
Guess I’m just a dog person. 🙂
Loved the story! One of these days I’ll have to toss together something fun like this.
Like everybody else said, love the story! I really enjoyed Wash’s antics – so cute to imagine in my head! 😀
To be honest, I’m rather excited you decided to tame a wolf – and better yet, the wolf model, not those weird worgs or saber-wolves. >.> My first pet ever (waaaaay back in Dec ’05) on my first hunter Watermist was the “coyote” (tan-skinned wolf). He was with me every single level since then. I’ve received light-natured teasing from my guild about it: “Hey, where’s the puppy? How’s the puppy doing?”
Hope you enjoy huntering with Perezvon! 😀
Something tells me that this was not a spare the moment tame in wow. I’m guessing that you, too have heard the tail of wolfs now holding top dps since furious howl now stacks…*sigh* Not that I mind, but I’ve been using my Ramps wolf forever, not many people have one and I love my Jake dearly…but I logged on and in the south Dalaran bank, I swear I counted 8 of them, not counting my own. Maybe I’ll go tame a new wolf and give it the same name…but write a new back story of how I freed him or something…or at least there will be one in my head…I’m not much a writer…though your beautifully written story makes me want to write, hehe.
Furthermore, if my prediction was wrong, please forgive me. 🙂
Nice story, would like to read more 🙂
@ Voldenmist – To be honest that is how it’s always been with me– I tame a pet to “test” its DPS, and then I get attached. That is how I got Locke, Wash, Eltanin, and now Perezvon– four of the five pets on my “main” hunter. (Though to be fair– Wash I’d originally tamed when I was like level 25. Then I abandoned him and “re-tamed” him later.)
Seeing as the wolf just now hit 80 I’m excited to do some testing with him. It appears that I did, in fact, get attached in those five levels. But yeah, as I said, not an uncommon thing for me at all. I love all my pets regardless of the reason I tamed them.
Ah, the typo I spotted was ”Tawyn snatched it from her, ripped it in two, and began to nimbly shape *the them* into bandages.” And I’m not sure, but I think Night Elf is supposed to be capatalized. ^^;
Nice story Pike! 2 Paws up!!! ^_^
Great writing. I liked imagining what an exasperated Wash looks like 🙂
I got excited after reading the first few sentences because I knew that this meant you got a new pet. I’ve always adored the wolf pet and its nice that they’re getting their day in the sun. Best of luck with it!
Pike I love your writing!
It was such a nice surprise to come to your blog and have a story to read. :
You should do this more often, time permitting.
Guilty, I’m running with one of those sickly looking Cavedweller Worgs right now. Mainly because I could tame one that was already level 80, instant gratification. 😉 Plus, it randomly changes skin color, epic fun! If it works out though, I’ll probably go back to Hellfire Ramparts and grab one of those armored up wolves from there.
And thank you, I really enjoyed the story. 🙂
I didn’t say you did not love them, hehe, I was merely pointing out your reason for taming him in the first place, lol. I am the same way however, I tamed a gorilla to help me out with soloing and instance runs before 3.1. However, now I love him so much that I cannot get rid of him versus my turtle whom I recently tamed. But there are so many pets out there that I want that I am serously thinking about rolling another hunter as well, lol.
Niiiice!
More please.
😉
@ Voldenmist
Whatever you do don’t name them. I tamed one of the cats in the Basin to use as a trash pet while looking for the Spirit Beast.
After a while I got tired of seeing “cat” above his head and I called him Scrub.
/sigh
Only one slot left in the stable.
As an aside… has anyone else noticed that their wolves aren’t making the howl noise anymore? They still do the physical howl action, but it’s silent. 🙁
You inspire me to start writing again. These stories are the reasons why I visit your blog.
@ Viktel
To late for that, I dubed him mako. But now I want a spirit beast…and with no room in the stable. I am thinking about giving up my emerald owl, but that thing is so sweet, and snatch is an awesome ability. Idk, maybe a spirit beast is not destined to me…though I do not want logue…not very interested in that one….I have a much better one in mind! 😀
I’m just wondering where you came up with the name! It’s neat 🙂
the name… is that russian? because that word actually has a meaning in russian that would fit the wolf and his howl quite nicely. its russian isn’t it 😛
love your stories by the way 🙂
@ Eirwen and Leah – It is, in fact, Russian. A sort of double-pun on the meaning and on the fact that it is the name of a dog in my favorite book.
Great story, as always.
I like stuff like this… I did only ONE piece of fiction, for a friends blog a while back (Gun Loving Dwarf chick, my guild leader)
I have since posted it on my blog. I’d like if you gave me your thoughts on it… It’s here…
http://www.afkautoshot.net/2009/04/01/tracking-the-abomination/