into the far reaches of the cold mountains he had withdrawn, even unto the storm-tossed sea and its cool sands. he had left behind the child with gaelic upon his lips, and fallen into a long dream of donnelaith, accursed glen to which he could not return. not without the blessing of the witch, and he did not know where she had gone, his siku, his dark revenant.

the darkfurred man threaded his way carefully through the faintest light of early morning, his paws aware of the dew, but his heart was filled with the everlasting grief he had not been able to cast aside, the sense of abandonment, and beneath that, the lurking anger. swampwater eyes lifted to the night-darkened branches of the plateau, and here he paused, albeit for reasons he himself did not comprehend.

he turned at the sound of a voice ringing stentorian with confidence, and swamp-gaze alighted on a darkened, muscular creature, a lovely diabhal with eyes that shone green in the dim light and quite put to shame the brief hints of emerald in taltos' own. he was not alone, lasher noted; a sable child tagged at his heels, and he observed her for the briefest of moments before he returned his attention to the man.

opposite lips that formed a question, taltos lowered his stance in obeisance, ears sliding back to a politely folded position along his skull. but he was struck dumb by the other's beauty, and quite ignored the child, wishing to creep forward into the scant inches of space encasing the devil. perhaps his search for a witch must now be ended, or put aside for now. a home, taltos murmured belatedly, gaze falling to caress the ground, for as sure as the sun was beginning to rise, he had been staring unabashed at the man.

at first, he did not understand what the other asked; it had never been a practice of his to line out his attributes, and the inquiry was vague enough to imply that these were not needed. siku had not wanted him for what he had brought; she had desired him for what he was, her devoted slave. he had brought nothing, but he had gained much.

myself, he answered simply. he could hunt as well as any other, track, fraternize. and the devil would know this, simply by way of his species and his physique. i bring myself, and the willingness to learn what it is you require of me, what my place among your wolves should be. he raised his eyes as he spoke, meeting the dark male's only briefly before fixing on a more suitable point beyond the other's shoulder. and i was not in search of a pack. yours has the fragrance of strength. what more would i look for?

it was lasher's turn to tense somewhat, but the gesture left him as soon as it had arrived. peregrine, as the man called himself, did not know the levels of loyalty he had felt toward siku, toward tonravik; he could not know the insult he was putting forth toward the man. my pack disbanded and our leader left us behind. i sought out her daughter to follow, for she had come in the first's stead, and she too departed, he said softly, gaze traveling affectionately to the littlest of the wolves.

i am loyal, but this is something i must prove to you and yours. i am lasher, also called taltos. call me one, call me the other. i shall answer. he dipped his muzzle to osprey, the princess, and proffered a wan smile. peregrine had introduced her as one of his offspring; so the devil was virile as well as beautiful. for a moment, murkwater gaze met the tantalizing verdancy of the sable male's eyes, and quietly he conveyed again his willingness to bend his body in service for peregrine, before he respectfully removed his gaze and awaited the word of the leader.

it was upon the tip of his tongue to tell peregrine he was lovely in lasher's eyes, but he did not know how it would be taken. add to that the presence of a child, which in taltos' experience, relayed the insistence for feminine company, if only to sire offspring, and he would be better off silent. a gentle nod was given the dark male, and he smiled at the girl's outburst, falling into step behind the pair.

the sun was surely rising, and its growing light cast the trees into varied shadows and silhouettes, while magnifying the myriad little details. taltos was forced to pause for a moment, murk-gaze sweeping the land with quiet appreciation, and for once his eyes showed their emerald tinge in a glancing flash of morning beam, before he blinked and lengthened his stride to catch up with peregrine and his child.

taltos paused as peregrine did, and watched as his new leader sent the little wolf off with a fatherly warning. it had never been part of him to long for the conception and rearing of children, and so he was not envious of the male. it was touching to his heart to see the interaction between sire and offspring, nevertheless.

the devil spoke, and lasher heeded, words evading his lips even as he nodded silently and fell into step with peregrine. as he had said before, he would do what was needed of him; if the male intended him to be a hunter, then that is what he would do, though taltos fancied himself a hunter of souls rather than edible flesh.

the sun rose higher over the plateau and lasher found himself most pleased in the other's company, speaking when it was required of him as they moved in an inexorable rhythm toward the thrill of the hunt and the blood-slaking afterward.