Oh, my litttle flashlight

For some reason I managed to erase the first post. Unintentionally though... and there is no way of reviving it.
Me - 17.03.2015.

couldn't resist!!! Wah

The plateau was once more a safe place to roam and Dante couldn't be gladder for it. Though part of him still wished to avoid both women in question, unsure as to how they felt about him (and his rather rude avoidance), he knew that was completely stupid. It was his job to make himself as available to everyone as he could, and he counted both as friends. If they were miffed, he was sure they'd let him know, and he would try to fix it as best he could.

So when he saw Osprey, instead of heading off in his former direction, he walked over. "Lose something?" She seemed rather intent on the hole, paw grasping for something unseen within the earth. What could possibly be in there he had no clue, but he was intrigued.

He intended still to act as though nothing had happened, though whether she would do the same had yet to be seen.

ooc: I am glad you joined. :)

Osprey had found the hole by accident - while she searching for food she had caught the unmistakable scent of a frog. Wet, earthy, fishlike and something she couldn't name, but that only the amphibians beheld. Having experience at tracking, she had soon found it's hiding place only to realize that the prize was not going to be that easy to get. Deep down a muddy hole in the ground, lied the tasty hibernating beauty, waiting for someone to scoop it up and eat it. And Osprey just knew that she had to be the hero of the story - if only she could figure out how.

The process of thinking and planning was interrupted by the arrival of Dante. She paused and regarded him with a long and thoughful look. The madness was over and with her rational thinking back she understood his actions completely, yet she couldn't deny that something about the whole situation had cut her deeper than it should have. Eventually she swallowed the uneasiness and cracked a grin: "Not afraid of me now, are you? The spell is gone, but you do realize that I can still hex you?" She finished on a more playful tone, hiding any hurt feelings that could resurface.

i feel like every time we thread I get to develop Dante more, I love it <3

She didn't look thrilled, though her joke lightened the mood some. Immediately guilt settled upon him again, for he had not meant to upset her. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, really, but thinking hadn't been something he did well during that encounter. "Well, you are rather frightening," Dante responded, but the joke was weak and fell flat. While he felt his actions had been the responsible ones, it wasn't her fault he couldn't control himself but to get away from her. She had shown no sign visible to his thick skull that she was interested in anything and he would never be the first to approach, not a friend like Osprey.

"I can only apologize, sorry for being a complete spaz to you." He shook his head. "That was a hell of a spell. I can't imagine what a hex would be like." He offered a smile in return, a hopeful peace offering.

"Am I?" Osprey narrowed her eyes, sensing his uneasiness and feeing a little bit glad about it. In the big picture she should have been grateful to him for being a gentleman, not giving and thus not making things more complicated than they were now. Yet with all her empathy and understanding of the actions of others, she was allowed to be shallow and have a short view of the problem. Wounded (alright, merely scratched) pride was a tricky thing to deal with.

Then she glanced down at the hole, where the frog was still sleeping untouched. It would be fun to let him suffer a bit longer, but her better nature won. He was her friend first and foremost. And past was past. It wasn't as if she hadn't had fun later. "Well... I could turn you into a frog and put you down here," she tapped at the edge of the hole with her left foot. "And then you would have to wait for the beautiful princess to kiss you and release you from the curse. What do you think?" She said in a light-hearted manner. All was well. "It's the special offer for today."

ooc: that's nice to hear. Osprey has changed a great deal too over the year. I have begun to discover her not so good side and it is so exciting to play out.

i need to get Dante into situations where I can explore his more but it is difficult :P perhaps that will become a goal

Dante hadn't thought to worry that she'd make him squirm, though he had been willing to sacrifice a bit of his dignity to appease her. She forgave swiftly, though, her tone gaining a more sincere friendliness, and he felt a great sense of relief. They were good, then.

"I think, as we are fresh out of princesses, you would sentence me to life as a frog." He replied, passing over the fact that at one time Perry's daughters had held the title. And still did, in a way. "Still, not a bad offer. What's the alternative? I like to know my options, you know, to make an educated decision." This was said dead seriously, as though he were ordering something important and not discussing hexes.

Dante pointed out that princesses were hard to find these days. "I beg to differ," she said, crossing her forepaws and preparing for a long discussion. The frog, which was still hibernating soundly, wasn't going to disappear, so it did not require her constant attention. "A princess is a metaphor for a person that accepts and loves you for who you are and not what you look like," how very wise and boring, but it was modern times and in the modern versions... "It could be a prince too - fancy to be kissed by a prince?" she teased him, tilting her head slightly to the side and watching his expression.

"Oh... a smart one," Osprey furrowed her brow in response to his question about alternative options. "Do you think that hexes are that easy to come up with? No... ordinary people..." she rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Come again tomorrow - you might get an alternative... keep in mind though that it can be worse than this one."

"Well, that may change things!" He said, considering. Honestly he had never drawn the distinction between genders. It was there, obviously, but the thought of being kissed by either was equally improbable. "Life as a frog may not be that bad either," he went on, smile growing despite himself. "Plenty of food, hibernate all winter. Though there is that nasty side effect of everything trying to eat you, but still... Think you could hold the fort here while I hopped about searching for princesses or princes?"

Hunching down, he took a few experimental hops, then stretched as though limbering up. "Alright, I think I'm ready! Frogify me, my lady." This was said as dramatically as he could without busting out into laughter.

Dante seemed to accept the possible life as a frog with ease. He was right - food was abundant, you slept through the cold months, you hadn't much worries about with whom you mated, who you cheated or even bother, what became of the kids. A frog could sit on the bank of a pond - the surface of the water covered with millions of spawn - clap itself on the back for a job well done and hop away. When he asked, if she could keep harm away from him, she pondered briefly and then answered: "Nope. Sorry - I wouldn't be able to tell you apart from other frogs. I might as well eat you."

Come to think of it, how many cursed princes never met their rescuers and were eaten by accident. That one frog-prince of the fairy-tale had been super lucky to end up, where he had ended up. Osprey chuckled, when Dante got in the game so far as to getting ready to getting cursed. He was adorable in a way, plus, it was nice to see him leaving all the serious business aside. She liked him a lot better this way. "You are sure you want to be a frog?" Osprey got to her feet too and stretched, preparing to do the magic. "The pond is round, you wake to a croaking sound, white is the fog and you wake up as a frog," she canted a silly verse. While coming up with stories was her field, she sucked at poetry.

"Hmm, too bad then. Guess I would have to hop away, can't really lead a pack when you are particularly edible after all." There'd go his responsibility, he thought with amusement. Was it a bad thing that he wouldn't mind that for a short while? Things had been quiet, sure, but still having an entire pack's welfare resting on your shoulders was rather wearing. He'd been considering making another short trip outside the territory in any event, partially to have a rest and partially to investigate Saena's claims of strange creatures.

As she prepared to do the spell, he shifted to a lying position, laying his head down and clenching his eyes shut. When she finished he opened one back up, appraising her. "Well, how do I look?" Could frogs speak wolf? Ah, who cares. She was a witch, right? So in theory she could speak all languages? He didn't profess to know the rules, but it seemed as likely as anything. He couldn't stop a smile, though, despite the fact that it sort of ruined the illusion.

"You can try," Osprey replied to his notion of escaping her. No such luck - she was a witch for a reason and catching up with people that had escaped or finding those, who were lost, was far too easy. Put a little effort and - wham - you had them. Things got more complicated, if the other party that was involved in playing the "cat and mouse" game knew, what they were dealing with. Or worse - were witches or warlocks themselves.

Despite her warning Dante lied down and accepted his fate with ease. A moment later he opened his eyes and asked, how he looked. "Hmmm..." she said, getting to her feet and stretching in a leisurely manner. "Delicious!" and with that she charged forward in full speed, intending to bring him down.

He had suspected she might react as she did, but expecting and being prepared are two very different things. He was hardly ready for her to spring at him with so much enthusiasm, and as a result was bowled over with a surprised "oof!".

"Good witch, please don't eat me!" He pleaded, "after all, it is bad luck to eat a frog prince! What if you are caught in your own enchantment?" He said this with absolute sincerety, as though it were a true and solid fact.

This was a game between friends, so her standing over him now was taken affably and without much thought to dignity. Another in his station might have seen allowing himself to be knocked over in such a way as a breach of station, but he hardly had the ego for such thoughts to matter.

Osprey was built for speed, not for fighting. Her chances of winning a fight were very slim, therefore it felt great to gain an upper hand in this game. Dante was a force to be recognized after all, but her attack had come as a surprise to him or so it seemed to her. She looked down at him with her eyes slightly narrowed, as he - the frog prince - pleaded for his life and after he was done, she tilted her head to the side, as if contemplating his offer for a while.

"Nope," she shook her head and pretended to feel almost sorry for his lack of luck. "I will take my chances. Any last words, frog prince?" she asked, as if she was doing a great favor to him.

He was silent, as though considering his words carefully. They were, after all, very important if they were to be his last. She couldn't expect him to pull them out instantaneously, could she?

"How about a trade, then? Surely there is something you would like, a favor? Even from a poor little frog such as myself." Knowing full well the outlandish requests she could give, he would likely follow through, for it was the spirit of the game. And it wasn't something he was willing to ruin. He was always amazing with her ability to keep things fresh, for conversation just naturally was interesting when it was with her. It was likely the fantastical edge, the feeling that anything was fair game, that kept it so. Likely a side effect of her story-weaving wizardry.

"A trade? Huh!" Osprey huffed and leaned her head back a little to give him a measured look. She had got in the role and enjoyed it. Maybe a bit too much, but then again Dante was free to slow her down, if needed. "What could a pitiful frog like you have to offer to me - The Witch Strong and Almighty?" she said arrogantly like a true witch would had her friend really been a frog. However, it was a bit difficult to keep the role realistic, because his size was so not like tiny frog's.

"But I will be generous today. Again," she retreated some steps to let him rise to his feet and have his ground. "Impress me!"

So she was to leave the choice of task up to him. Wasn't really the way a trade worked, per say, but he supposed it was enough a challenge that she forced him to get creative. She couldn't always be in charge of leading the game, after all. He'd hardly be a fair story partner if he let her do all the work. "Hmm, a task perhaps, or a tale from the lands of my princehood? Mayhaps you could give me trials, though what labors a frog could do I don't know. After all, I have not been one long." He couldn't help but smile, and his mind went to Hercules and his 12 labors. He'd always loved that tale, though the ending was decidedly gruesome. As were most tales heard in his youth.

He wouldn't mind giving her a tale, in fact might enjoy practicing his chops against her own expertise, but was unsure if she ever tired of them. They seemed to forever fall the focus, and so he gave the option among many instead of alone. She was an all powerful witch, though, so what besides knowledge he could offer he wasn't sure. Maybe there was a magical item he could retrieve, or a creature he could try to best with his frog-like fighting skills. Jupiter almighty, wouldn't that be a sight to see?!

At the mention of "tales from Dante's princehood" Osprey's eyes naturally lit up in excitement and expectation. This, however, was in conflict to the role of the evil witch she was playing. Roleplaying was about getting into and understanding better a character that you had very little to relate to. The less like you it was, the more interesting it was to explore it's character. On the other hand... what could she possibly make a frog do? An inexperienced one especially? It had so little to offer that... oh, well... she would give in.

"Three tales, if I like them, you are free to go," she said with a sly grin. "Add a fourth - a very good one - I might even consider turning you back to wolf," she said, this time the grin grew wider. "However... if I don't like them..." here she let her voice trail off, leaving room for imagining all the horrible things that a witch could do to a frog.

True to her obviously great power, the witch did not let him off easily. Instead she demanded not one, but four stories as payment. Dante's brow lifted, but he did not argue. If he were truly a frog, would he really attempt to bargain with the one who held all the cards? He had to have an internal giggle though... she sure knew how to drive a hard deal. Surely he couldn't pass up the chance to be turned back into his former shape! "Alright then. Four tales." He had to think, however. What four stories to deliver to her. Unbeknownst to her, he truly would be telling tales of his princedom before the plateau, because in essence he had been. Heir to the devil, some may say, but a prince all the same.

"I guess it would make sense to start at the beginning, with my land's founding.[b]" He enjoyed this tale a lot. "[b]There was a lone wolf, his name Caius, who roamed the lands far in wide in search of a claim of his own. A seventh son, he had lived long in the shadow of his siblings, but he wished for the respect and deference that he knew he deserved. The life of a loner, however, is a hard thing for one not suited to it." He looked at her askance, for could relate, and wondered if Osprey would as well. "It was not long before Caius grew weary of his isolation, speaking only to the trees and the wind. It seemed there were none anywhere near who, like him, were seeking a new home."

"Now most know that, as the seventh born, he held the favor of the gods. Jupiter himself watched over his trials and saw that he was unhappy. This was back when the gods still loved to meddle in the affairs of mortals, so he decided to aid the young wolf in his search. The life of a deity could get rather dull in watching all the time." He said this knowingly, but couldn't help smiling.

"He could not appear in his true form, since that would give the wolf quite a fright. Instead he took the shape of a great eagle, known to be some of his favorite messengers. Caius was astounded when confronted with the great eagle, but he could not be mistaken in who had sent it, though he did not know it was Jupiter himself who spoke."

Imitating a god was difficult, but Dante figured he could be forgiven for butchering the voice. He was a puny frog, after all. "'Caius. The gods have seen what you seek, and they wish to help. But first you must do them a favor, to prove that you are worthy of founding a land of your own. To the west of here lies a dragon, one who has long terrorized the wilderness that lies beneath him. He scorns the gods and, in his pride, believes himself immortal. Slay him and you will find what you are looking for.'"

At this point he paused a moment. "Now Caius was obviously concerned. Him, slay a dragon? Impossible! Everyone knew that dragons were creatures of great strength and power. And while not all were evil in nature, those that were weren't something you sought out willingly. Unless, of course, you were the hero." It was a little funny how, in all the epics of his home, the hero was the only one who would dare run straight into trouble. Why wasn't it ever the simple soldier who managed to slay the monster?

"His loneliness was so great, though, that he felt he had nothing to lose. So west Caius went, until he stood at the edge of the forest where the dragon made his home. And, after gathering his courage, with a loud howl he announced his presence."

Here he looked at her. "It wasn't the dragon that answered the challenge, though. Any guesses as to what appeared instead?" This was a tale often told, but that didn't mean she knew it, as it was one he figured unique to his own homeland. Still, he thought he remembered her to be somewhat versed in Roman lore... she might be able to guess. Besides that, he had to keep her engaged if he was going to impress her into letting him go.

Despite all of the stories and vast knowledge in mythology and some religions, Osprey didn't boast of knowing everything. She had realized very early on that the more you learned, the clearer it was to you of how little you actually knew. Therefore, when Dante agreed to tell her four tales (!), she was a little surprised, but very happy nonetheless. She felt like a kid, who had received a chocolate egg with a surprise inside. You were curious, what was inside it, yet you didn't want to unwrap it and eat the chocolate too fast for the sake of prolonging the happiness of not knowing.

So, she lied down and listened very carefully, smiling all the way through the first part of the story and at one point her gaze got this distant expression, as if she was seeing something Dante did not. In fact - she saw the story unfold before her eyes - the Caius roaming through the lands, seeking a home. The Jupiter himself in a form of an eagle. And, when he got to the point, where Caius went to challenge the dragon, and asked her about, what could have happened, she stared at him cluelessly, before snapping out of the dream-like state and shaking her head: "I have no idea."

Her riveted attention was flattering, an immense compliment that made him immensely happy.  He might have forgone the role of chronicler for the more sensible gamekeeper practice, but stories were still a large part of his past and something he enjoyed immensely.  That he could still spin a tale was a wonderful thing indeed, and he enjoyed her obvious rapture.

She didn't appear to try too hard, but he couldn't fault her for wanting to stay in the story.  "Twas the creature that can often be found guarding such places, a majestic sphinx, this one the guardian of the forest and the secrets it held within.  For it was a place of magic, the fact that drew the dragon there to begin with.  Sphinxes are wise, mysterious creatures, and this one was older than many.  She knew why Caius was there, and though she held no love for wolfkind, nor did she appreciate the dragon who terrorized the sacred wood.  Thus she alotted to let him pass, but only if he could answer her riddle.  After all, she was bound to ask at least this, and she could not let just anyone walk the forest."

"When confronted by the monster, Caius halted, fearful that he would need to fight her before the dragon.  He was not a large wolf, by any means, and knew that the likelihood of him winning both was terribly low.  So he prepared to plead.  Before he could speak, however, she presented him the terms.  'Wolf.  If you wish to enter these lands, a riddle first must you answer.  There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first.  Who are they?'".  Here he paused... he had used the original line, though at times different storytellers enjoyed introducing their own riddles to stump the listener.  Always it was custom to allow the audience a chance to answer, and he found himself doing so out of habit.  

Of course a lot of this is borrowed from myth :D Dante is too fun to write for, I am such a classics nut

ooc: well, I am usually too lazy to read all the myths and remember them, therefore just like for Osprey it is also easier for me to come up with stories of my own.

A sphinx? Osprey lifted her eyebrows and her smile grew wider in recognition of the creature. It was an odd animal indeed - having a body of a mountain lion and head of... well, something very weird. Flat face, big eyes, no muzzle just two holes in the face, where a nose should have been. Ears... tiny and so awkwardly shaped. It was not hard to see it as an ultimate magical and mystical being, because it looked so very  different from the rest of the mythical folk.

It was great that Dante had it in the story, making it better with every passing paragraph and the fact that this was not entirely his invention didn't matter. It was something new and fresh for her. When it was her turn to add something to the story - a correct answer to the riddle, perhaps - Osprey's tail swayed in a joyous manner behind her, while she was thinking. It took a little time for her to find the clue in those words, but then the right concept was before her eyes. Yet she was not that sure yet, therefore rather than stating something, she asked: "Day and night?"

He waited as she thought, glad she had picked up on the hint, and his own happiness grew as she came forward with the correct answer.  "Caius thought hard, searching for a response.  He was a clever wolf, though, and after a time he too put forth an answer.  The very same that you gave.  The sphinx flapped her mighty wings, and for a moment he thought she would attack him there, but instead she moved to let him pass.  'That is correct.' she replied, and so he passed the first task thrown before him."  He gave her a congratulatory wave of his tail for her correct answer.


This was normally when a pause would come.  The story was long, and stretched over many nights.  Here he would continue, however, for he had promised at least three tales.  And he was enjoying the telling about as much as she was the listening, from the look of it.

"Thanking the good fortune that had allowed him to pass through unscathed, Caius continued on, delving into the forest's depths.  He knew that the dragon's lair would be near the center, but what he did not know was that these woods were not only full of magical creatures.  They were enchanted themselves.  Any who tried to pass through them would find themselves hopelessly lost, for the trees had a wicked sense of humor and loved changing the paths on unsuspecting travelers."  

This second tale was one of his father's favorites, and Dante wasn't sure how Osprey would take it.  He was quite sure, though, that the woman would get a far different lesson from it than what Atrix had tried to teach his children years ago.  "Trusting the paths, Caius wandered for what felt like days, until he was extremely weary and doubting himself immensely.  None of the paths he took seemed to draw any closer to the center of the forest, and instead he seemed to circle endlessly, always ending up in the same clearing where he started.  It was tempting, at this point, to even begin cursing the gods who had led him here to begin with.  But he was not quite that foolish.  He knew that none of those tales ended well."  Gods were rather prideful creatures and hardly let insults like that pass.

"Finally he gave up, having come upon the clearing for what must have been the fiftieth time, and sat down in the center, gazing at the sky above hopelessly.  I'll never find it, he thought sadly, and he felt as though he were watching his dreams of a home of his own fade away before his eyes.  He was beginning to worry he would perish in those woods, forever wandering, never able to even find a way out.  Then, a voice spoke.  'Are you lost?'"

"Caius was astounded, for he had met no one in all this long while.  Happy to hear even a voice, he called out 'Who wishes to know?'  Suddenly, a small, yellow bird appeared before him, landing on the earth before his paws and looking at him with one beady eye.  'Perhaps I can help you?'  the bird responded, though it gave no name to his question.  It was obvious that the animal was magic, for no normal creature could make it's home here, and therefore Caius was leery.  Still, he needed the help.  This was the question... should he trust the bird to lead him to the dragon?"  He looked at Osprey questioningly.  Though it would not affect the outcome of the tale, he was curious as to what she would choose when facing such a situation.

I too forget, so I twist them <3 haha.  I find it easier to start with a base though rather than completely my own ideas.  it's awesome you can come up with your own like that though!

ooc: you are a really good story-teller! I have been enjoying the Caius's adventures just as much as Osprey has.


It was rare that Osprey was the one, who got to listen to the stories, therefore her joy was immense, when not only had she been right about her guess, but also that Dante went on, telling more about Caius's adventures in the enchanted forest. She was drawn back in the story imediately and followed it with an intensity of a kid that gets to hear the most amazing thing in his life. It was pretty much the same for Osprey - though she wondered, why Dante being such a good story-weaver had never shown this talent to anyone. It was such a wonderful thing to have, why not share...

She felt the hero's frustration for not making any progress acutely, but admired his patience, when it had seemed easier to curse the gods for his bad luck than simply changing the tactics. Just, when it seemed that all of the hope was gone, help arrived from the least likely source. A little bird? She furrowed her brow. How could that help in any way? But then again, if the being could talk and not chirp mindlessly, then maybe it was more than it appeared in the beginning. It could be even a god in disguise... Or a forest spirit.

Another question for her and she didn't have to search for an answer too long: "Does he have any choice? I mean, he could be stuck in that forest forever." And she did want to know, how Caius got out of this trouble. Sometimes, in order to move forward, you had to take measures you usually wouldn't even consider.

aww thank you!  I'm as pleased to hear that from you as Dante is to get it from Osprey!  I stalk all of Osprey's story threads, I love them so!
This is gonna be a slower thread, I have a hard time typing the stories on my phone <3 but yay for fluid timelines! at least this shouldn't break anything

He grinned as she once more came to the exact same conclusion as their hero.  "This was as he thought as well, for the choice seemed obvious.  He could either trust this bird or continue to wander in circles, perhaps for eternity.  'Alright, bird, I seek the dragon who dwells within these woods.  Do you know where I should go to find him?'  The bird cocked it's head, appraising him."  Birdlike, he did the same to Osprey in illustration.

"'If you're sure...'  Caius gave a single, firm nod.  He couldn't waver now, not when he had come so far.  'Follow me.'  The bird took wing, a yellow blur amongst the trees, and Caius was forced to jog to keep up.  The little creature was agile and used to darting amongst the trees, whereas the wolf was constantly tripped up by roots and stones even after his long stay within them.  The woods were only kind to their own, after all, and the bird was indeed an enchanted creature."

Here was the turning point, so Dante paused a beat.  "After a while, though Caius did not realize it, the way became easier.  His path was not impeded by so many obstacles, as though the trees no longer wished him ill. Still he focused on the bird above, it's wings churning, the motion almost hypnotic.  And slowly he became engrossed in the flash of those colorful features, pulled in until they were his only sight."

"What Caius had not stopped to consider was that the dragon was a powerful creature and had dwelt long in that forest.  None had dared oust him from their midst, and in fact, many were keen to stay in his favor.  This bird was one such individual, for he did not see it worth the risk to challenge a creature so much stronger than itself."  Dante's sister had always enjoyed stating reasons for the bird's betrayal.  Perhaps he had a family who he did not want harmed?  Or maybe the dragon had done him a favor, and he was in its debt.

"Through his fog, though, the wolf noticed that something felt off.  Perhaps it was Jupiter, or perhaps it was his own instincts, but he cast the stupor aside just in time to come to a skidding stop at the edge of a massive cliff, water rushing by through the rocks below.  His guide was nowhere to be seen, having fled when the enchantment broke."  His favorite of his sister's theories, for it contained the most intrigue, was that the bird had known all along what would happen.  It seemed the type of tricky, offhand thing that a spirit guide would do.

"At first he cursed the bird, but then he realized that it had done him a favor after all.  Because though the trees would lie, water always ran true.  And by following the river, he would likely reach the heart of the woods.  Gathering his courage once more, he continued on, this time allowing instinct to keep him to the water's edge.  Somehow he knew this would take him to his foe.  His instincts were correct, and before long, he found himself standing at the mouth of a large den, an intense heat radiating from inside.  Our hero's final challenge was before him."  Here Dante paused again, though there was nothing really for Osprey to contribute at this point in the story.  He liked to pace his tales so that they were not too hard to listen to, and the climax had been reached.  Now would come the showdown between dragon and wolf, and he needed to remember how the tale went.  It had been so long, but still he could hear his old storyteller's voice in his ears, a fond recollection from a time long since gone.

ooc: it's alright - my story threads are usually slower, because I have to think a bit more about the story itself and what to tell. Therefore - because this thread does not affect anything in the future - we can have it as long as it is needed to finish it. :)

Osprey beamed at Dante, when he - imitating the yellow bird's actions - looked at her. Either because she was enjoying the story so much or because of the person in front her himself (or maybe both in equal dose) she felt very happy, radiating with joy. Would he ask again later, whether she would turn him back from being a frog to wolf, he would hear a very favorable answer.

Her expression changed a bit, when the story reached the part, where the bird led Caius into a certain death by falling off a cliff. Somehow she had assumed that the bird could have been either a good spirit or one of the god's in disguise themselves. It puzzled her a bit, why would the tiny creature do such a thing, but then it occurred to her that maybe... maybe it for whatever reason it was - it didn't have any other choice.

Since Caius had trusted his instincts and stayed alive, the betrayal didn't matter that much anymore either. Therefore she listened carefully to, where the story would take the wolf next. Indeed - the dragon's lair itself. This was, where her tail began to sway in happy expectation of a grand finale. However, Dante paused, taking his time to think, what to tell next. She waited in silence.