Sufferin' snorkelblatz!

As the vividly marked blue pup crept from around the trunk of the tree, Regulus looked him over with concerned fathomless sapphire eyes until he was reassured that the boy was unhurt. The question the child posed was one of those awkward ones that children seemed to adore chucking at the ears of adults. Not because it was one of those ‘You’ll learn when you’re old enough’ questions, but because he wasn’t entirely sure what had happened here.

Honestly, he answered, “I haven’t a clue.”

His head turned to look at the two large cats, and the female caught on that maybe an explanation was in order. She bowed her head, every inch a picture of dignified grace, saying, “My name is Aello, and this is my husband, Artashir. We are Mountain Lions of a small family clan from the Mountains to the south east. Our clan is the only one of our kind to choose to live in a group, or to service ourselves out to others as companions. My husband and I have been searching on the word of one of our elders, for a great red wolf to serve.”

Artashir finished for her, “You took me on with no hesitation, red one. Thus, we believe you are the one we were sent to serve.”

Regulus stared at the two cats for several beats, letting it sink in. Companions. And they’d chosen to be at his side? This would be interesting to explain to Solveiga, let alone the whole pack. Usually, wolves and cougars didn’t get along, but he was reminded of his grandmother’s story about the female mountain lion that she had worked out an agreement with—the cat could live within Valhallan borders as long as she didn’t cause trouble with the pack, and assisted in defending the pack from sieges.

He sighed. “Very well, then… I accept your companionship.” The cats nodded, and Regulus continued to the whole group at large, though his gaze shifted back to the boy as he finished, “My name is Regulus Adravendi, Archangel – or leader – of the pack Celestial. What’s your name, boyo?” His tones toward the child were warm, his deep affection for children taking over from the bizarre nature of today’s events.

He padded over to the boy, lowering to his level, belly to the snow. “And what are you doing so far outside your pack’s borders?” There was a gentlly teasing reprimand there, but he wasn’t going to chew the boy out. Whomever his mother was, he’d let her give the real tongue lashing.