Blackfoot Forest The Modification of a Wolf

Well, hey, there's no such thing as too long of a post. :)

Although Pied requested a positive story, she received instead an opening line that made her frown lightly. She regarded Hawkeye's troubled expression and pressed her lips together, her grayed ears tilting forward to show the other wolf that she was listening. Pied thought herself a decent listener and she paid attention to the other Sigma's every word.

Her heart sank at the initial physical description of Dexter, for it indeed matched the ghost's, and sank further and further as Hawkeye spun her tragic tale. When she mentioned the disappearance of a young pup, Pied sucked in a breath and willed away a sudden but powerful wave of nausea. Despite her intention to listen to everything Hawkeye said, she barely registered the mention of the disturbing dreams which had ceased suddenly.

"Do you believe in spirts—angels and demons?" Pied questioned once she found her voice again. "It sounds almost as if Dexter was possessed. There are also diseases that could explain his symptoms, like rabies," she added rationally. "I'm really sorry about everything that happened to and because of your brother..." Of course, it was very unfortunate that Hawkeye—only a pup at the time—had been robbed of her hearing. The worst part was the missing pup, probably dead at his hands.

Although she offered these possible explanations for Hawkeye's benefit, Pie hoped that the ghost—Dexter, almost surely—would reappear and speak to her again, confirming what had happened to him. He did not, however. The only ghost Pied detected was Mag, who still circled above. Her pacing no longer annoyed Pied but made her feel vaguely uneasy.