his parents had told him about the tornado, how it had killed things and torn up the earth. and so, with a child's curiosity, Cas had set out to see what he could see. however, the area he traversed, keeping close to the plateau, was rather untouched. disappointed though he was, a mingling of odd scents hung in the air, and the boy wrinkled his nose. "hm."
yet in the next moment, a pair of fighting chipmunks by the river's edge distracted him, and he crouched in the dirt, chortling at their antics and wondering if he would catch one, should he pounce at them.
The pack, and the slave girl's pups, needed to be fed. Taking one of the slaves with him for translating with the natives and helping to round up any prey that they found, he ventured south into the lands where the fire had not touched. Zoratto noted every prey trail they passed, speaking to the slave with clipped remarks about the green lands here. He would have to tell Rakharo about the prey here, if the Khal was within his wits after his brother's death.
The Ezok paused, his pale eyes flitting to a small brown creature in the forest ahead of them, staring intently at two chipmunks. Snacks really, to the Dotharan and the slave. That was nothing for them to bother with. The child though...could they risk stealing a child as a slave? They had plenty. Regardless, Zoratto announced himself with a deep bark, his pale eyes locked onto the younger wolf's form.
the command in the unknown male's voice brought Casmir about with a start, his ears folding against his skull. He shrunk from the other wolf, though curiosity buoyed him somewhat, and he gathered his strength. "Uh ... um ... hello," the boy offered, his tail waving hopefully behind his hips. and yet he stepped away, unable to stop the hackles that bristled along his spine and shoulders.
A great sense of trepidation had overcome the boy, and he wished suddenly, violently, for the safety of his packlands.