This was a long time coming, wasn't it? You can direct all complaints to Niko - it's his fault! He took so long with this chapter that Square Enix managed to remake an entire Mana game in the meantime! Maybe things will be smoother from this point on?

In more important news, the chapter that immediately preceded this one, "Wherever it Takes Him," which was also from Niko Brandfaust's perspective, has been moved. We had some discussion about pacing and decided that its standalone nature allowed us to be flexible with its placement; it's now chapter 4 (which you may remember was the same position as the Niko chapter in the first version of NT). In contrast, this chapter is closely tied to the next one. Get comfy, it's a long one.


Chapter 7: Between Civilization

By Nikovich

Niko was known to be impulsive, and his newfound freedom allowed him to act on it consistently. However, as the last traces of sunlight fell behind the trees, even he began to admit, there was probably not enough thought put into this plan. Traversing in the dark wasn't much of an issue, but a slight ringing in his ears was steadily intensifying, leaving him light-headed and woozy. It wasn't long before the fox was almost stumbling over his own feet, feeling as if he were more asleep than awake. In an almost complete daze, Niko made his way over to a cozy looking patch of bushes before sprawling out and falling into an instant slumber.

The vulpine blinked sluggishly until his eyes adjusted to the light. It was still dark, but signs of the sunrise could be seen peeking over the treetops. Smacking his lips unpleasantly, he found his head was still fuzzy, his belly was uncomfortably knotted, and his mouth was especially dry, yet filled with a sour taste. Luckily, it was nothing a cup of prickle sage tea wouldn't fix, and his mother packed him a bundle of leaves for the journey.

Resting by the remains of the small fire, Niko sipped the strong-tasting brew, dulling his ailments and opening his sinuses. Now reasonably more refreshed, he took a deep breath of the forest air, still enamored by its new sensations. This time, there was something else there; a scent foreign but at the same time... familiar. Quickly packing up his supplies, the vulpine made off to follow the trail.

The smell grew stronger as Niko ventured further off the beaten path, heading southward into the thick forest. As the scent culminated, he began to hear faint voices and the sounds of light labor. Instinctively, he crouched low and stealthily approached a thick group of shrubbery. Spreading a small hole among the branches and peering through, Niko was met with an unexpected site. A small clearing lie before him, seated in a shallow basin. Figures milled about, and they weren't villagers. One would be forgiven for confusing them with more vulpine, but the difference was plain as day to Niko. From the stories he had heard, it was clear these were not some civilized beast-race; these were werewolves.

Niko's mind went back to tales of the Mana Knight and his comrades battling vicious feral humanoids, more animal than person, that used their own bodies as weapons. Though there was certainly a wild quality to them, these wolves were found breaking down some primitive shelter or gathering belongings, while some seemed to be simply goading others. He was thrilled at the thought of meeting a new race, especially one so elusive, but some innate sensation held him back, and so he continued to observe.


It was another hour or so before the handful of wolves seemed finished with their preparations and were gathering to leave. Niko considered tailing them for the rest of the day and studying their interactions; visions of the castle at Pandora already having left his mind. He could hear they spoke the common tongue and once he got a handle on their social practices, he would consider presenting himself.

"You weren't downwind of all of us."

The hairs on the back of the fox's neck jumped on end as he spun frantically to the voice that came from behind him without warning. A pure white werewolf in a slate blue vest stared the vulpine down with piercing emerald eyes.

Niko's heart raced but he attempted a response in a measured tone. "Oh! Hi! I'm Niko-"

"I didn't ask," the wolf abruptly barked, cutting into the fox's introduction. "What are you doing here?" It stalked forward a step and lowered its stance, prepared to intercept any attempts at escape.

"I just came from Kippo-"

"Did the villagers get you to spy on us?" It took another step forward, putting Niko on edge.

The vulpine began shifting his eyes to his surroundings, expecting more wolves to emerge from the brush. "I just wanted to see the castle... but I smelled something weird along the way."

The beast straightened his posture, appearing to loosen up slightly. "You're one to talk." He angled his head upward, taking two exaggerated sniffs before crinkling his nose. "Are you drunk?"

Niko smiled politely to mask his confusion, responding in a manner he hoped was satisfactory. "I 'drunk' some tea!"

The wolf narrowed his eyes, not amused by the reply, then cast his gaze beyond the vulpine to the clearing behind him. The rest of the pack was beginning to gather and still had not yet noticed the intruder. "I suggest you move on to the castle, and don't look back. You may not have the opportunity to walk away next time."

The creature disappeared back into the foliage, prompting Niko to scan the bushes around him, expecting it to pop up next to him this time. A change in the commotion behind him caused the vulpine to turn, where he saw the white wolf rejoining with rest of its kind, but not before casting a cautionary glance behind him.

Despite the advice, Niko stayed to watch the group depart. He did still want to see the castle... but the promise of new sights was only one part of his reason for leaving; meeting new people was the other major appeal. When the last of the wolves disappeared from sight, Niko's decision was made easier. They just so happened to be heading in roughly the same direction as the castle anyway, so he might as well follow them in the meantime.


The vulpine was not an expert tracker, but the wolf pack left enough evidence of their passing that he was able to follow out of range of sight and sound. Eventually, he would end up running into them or reaching the castle. Maybe they were also traveling to Pandora and he could do both at the same time? He didn't see many in the clearing, but his nose told him more were near. A pack of that size would need a lot of supplies and the castle would be a viable place to get them.

Some hours later, Niko began picking up signs that he was once again approaching the pack while they were stationary. Slowing his pace, he proceeded cautiously and quietly, making sure not to attract any unwanted attention. Once again, he came upon the wolves. There were fewer this time, and he recognized only several from earlier, but this was definitely the same pack. With no shelter or camping equipment visible, it seemed like they were taking a short rest. This time the vulpine was sure to stay undetectable. He didn't like the thought of spying on anyone; he wanted a more formal meeting with these new beings, but not before understanding them a bit more.

It wasn't more than ten minutes of relatively uneventful surveillance when the bushes near Niko began to rustle. Crouching low and remaining motionless, the fox scanned the brush behind him. Niko held his breath in anticipation of another wolf getting the jump on him, but he could see nothing around. He began to relax when a tiny growl rumbled from the ground in front of him.

A furry yellow ball with floppy ears snarled from a defensive posture. Niko had read quite a lot about rabites, but this was his first time actually seeing one. He was aware they were known to be fiercely territorial, but he had a hard time believing this knee-high hareposed any real threat.

The vulpine made a sweeping gesture with his hand and urged it along in a hushed voice, "Shh! Shoo! Go on!"

The creature only reacted by lunging forward and snapping, the resulting commotion seeming to catch the ears of several closer wolves. Taking notice, Niko upped the assertiveness.

"Go away! You're gonna get me in trouble!" he hissed under his breath while prodding at the monster with his foot. The rabite's response was naturally, to clamp down on the intruding appendage.

Niko bit his tongue and flailed his leg about like he was shaking out a feather-duster. The rabite clung to his foot for dear life as long as it could before losing its grip and sailing a good ten yards away. It landed with a thud, stunned for a moment before a brown-furred werewolf dressed in blood red shawls was suddenly upon it, ending it instantly.

He stood holding the rabite's lifeless body by the ears and brushed long, red hair as deep as his clothing away from his face. "Got us a meal for tonight!" the wolf shouted over his shoulder.

A distant voice from the pack called back to him, "A single rabite, huh? Hardly a snack, let alone meal, Kaiser!"

The slightest rustling a short distance away caught the lupine's eye and he flashed a toothy smile. "Where there's one..."

Niko rocked back and forth silently, cradling his foot with one hand while the other covered his mouth. As silent as he kept himself, it was clear something had sensed his presence and was currently barreling through the brush towards him. Abandoning his cover, the vulpine leapt to his feet.

"There's more! Wha?" The werewolf stopped abruptly upon the sight of the vulpine. Looking down, he noticed the vulpine favoring his foot slightly, adorned with familiar teeth-marks.

"Havin' some trouble with the wildlife, shrimp?" The stocky werewolf sniggered at Niko before slowly stalking forward again.

"Hi!" Niko smiled at the encroaching figure, though he began backing up nervously to maintain his distance. "I'm Niko! I met one of you the other day!"

"Lucky for you, you've got less meat on you than this rabite. Not so lucky you got caught snoopin' on us, eh?" It drew closer, smiling back, but not with cordiality.

"I wanted to say 'hi' earlier... but I didn't see the rabite there." Out of his peripheral vision, Niko spotted two more wolves circling him on either side and moving behind him.

"Kaiser!"

A familiar voice from the group stopped the rest of the wolves in their tracks. The white wolf Niko had met earlier emerged, making his way past the others. "That's enough, leave this to me."

"He was watching us." Kaiser replied in a low voice.

The white wolf waved the others off as he walked past. "I know, I said I'll handle it."

The two on Niko's flank broke off, one complaining as he joined the others, "I knew we shouldn't have come this far north, didn't I say it?"

When the rest were out of earshot, the wolf turned back to Niko growling, "I thought I told you to leave."

"I know you told me to see the castle but..." Niko looked down, scratching circles in the dirt with his foot claw, continuing, "...that'll always be there. This is the first time I've ever seen people like me away from home!"

"We're not like you."

"Well we sure don't smell alike!" The look Niko received prompted quick clarification. "I-I didn't mean bad! Just different!"

"I'll tell you one last time-"

"What's this, Giri?!" A towering figure approached, the authority of his call seemed to shock all the other wolves to attention. His coat was a mix of dark & lighter gray, and he stood a good head higher than his surrounding brethren.

"I tried..." the white wolf whispered to Niko before turning to the new imposing presence. "Vulpine. Seems lost, probably just send him on his way."

The dark wolf's nose twitched. "He's been here before. Giri?"

Giri sighed, "Yes, Friki. I saw him earlier today. Didn't think he'd become a problem."

The vulpine in question cocked his head and smiled, waving excitedly as he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Friki and Giri! I'm Niko!"

"Quiet, pup." Friki's stoic gaze never left his pack mate.

"'Kay!" Niko blurted blissfully and waited patiently as the two wolves conferred in hushed voices.

A few moments & whispers later, the two turned to face Niko and the tall, black wolf known as Friki addressed him, "You were watching us. What are you doing around here? Around us? Now you can speak, pup."

"Well... it's true I was spying on you, but I didn't mean nothin' by it." The fox rubbed his neck, but his hands went back to gesticulating eagerly as he continued, "I came all the way from Kakkara to see new things and I've never seen werewolves before. I just didn't wanna mess up first impressions, those are important. I was gonna say 'hi' and then prob'ly visit the castle after... maybe... hanging around for a bit... and learning more about you guys."

Niko unleashed his patented bashful smile he had used countless times on his parents when he sensed reluctance. The wolves narrowed their eyes; a response not vastly different than when said parents were unaffected by such a look. However, the taller wolf's expression began to shift from skepticism to contemplation.

"What've you got on you?" Friki gestured down to the pack that lay by the vulpine's feet.

"Oh, supplies from home my parents gave me as a going-away present. I've got things for cooking, making fires, building tools, a sewing kit- my mom loves to sew but I never learned-"

"Food, do you have any food on you?"

"Oh yeah, I got plenty, my mom made so much, I've got some bread, some homemade pebbler jerky, leftovers from Kippo, mad mallard eggs AND wings-"

"That'll do, pup. Tell you what... you're so interested in our lifestyle that you want to 'hang around' a bit. Help out around the pack, share your food, and we'll keep you safe from all the other monsters for a few days, so that doesn't happen again." The wolf punctuated his message by tapping his boot on the fox's chewed foot.

Giri moved to interject, but Friki silenced him with a simple gesture.

Niko grimaced embarrassingly, "That... was more of... an 'oops.' The other day, I beat up a different monster that attacked me! A lubbalub...? Or a bullabud?"

"Consider the offer carefully, little pup. You never know when the next 'oops' will be your last."

"Oh no no, I wasn't- I mean I didn't mean to- I mean... y- yes!" Niko stammered as his tail came to life, "Yes, yes, I'd love to join you guys and learn all about the adventures you've been on!"

"Friki, I... are you sure about this?" The white wolf complained to his comrade as Niko continued gushing incessantly.

Friki chuffed and responded in a low voice, "You said it yourself; he's harmless, right? We could use a free hand for 'busy work'."

Niko was still absorbed in regaling whoever was listening, "It must be so interesting, being out here in the wild for this long, you musta seen so many things!"

"Pup."

"It was probably dangerous all those years ago. Did you ever run into the empire? Or the Mana Knight?!"

"PUP!"

Niko froze and his eyes widened at the shout of the large werewolf, who barely lowered his voice to continue. "That's you!"

"I'm Niko..." the fox replied meekly, half expecting a scolding.

"If you wanna travel with us, then you answer to 'Pup'! This pack has a pecking order. It's strict, but simple. With one exception, all of these wolves are under me and you are under all these wolves." The dark beast spread his arms, framing the pack behind him. His pack.

"That means you listen to what I tell you, when I tell you, no exceptions! In my absence, you listen to anyone else here. Understand?"

Niko nodded eagerly, his tail whapping audibly against his own legs.

"Say 'yes Alpha, I understand'!" barked the werewolf.

"Yes Alpha, I understand." the vulpine mimicked with obedient enthusiasm before frowning. "Wait, 'alpha'? But I thought you said your name was Friki!"

"And don't question my orders! ... 'Alpha', it's what it means to be in charge of this pack and responsible for its well-being. Any command I give could decide the life or death of its members. Which is precisely why I won't tolerate dissension in the ranks."

The fox furrowed his brows and opened his mouth to reply, but the alpha wolf rolled his eyes and preempted him, "It means what I already said; do what I say or pay the price."

"Oh." Niko looked down and appeared to be in contemplation, but only for a moment. "That sounds easy!"

"Good, now that that's settled, here's your first task. Kaiser!"

The russet wolf in red came forward as commanded, eyeing Niko hungrily as he complied, "What's up?"

"Congratulations, you earned a trade. Grab Pup's bag. He'll carry the supplies from now on."

Kaiser effortlessly snatched the rucksack up onto his shoulder, large for Niko but dwarfed by the wolf's broad frame. A sneer formed on his scarred muzzle as he quipped, "Good luck, shrimp! Yer gonna need it!"

The alpha shook his head, chuckling. He made a final scan as the remainder of the pack gathered with scant possessions in hand, before announcing, "Okay... let's head out!"


As the vulpine trudged on, panting from the heat of the sun and the weight of the bundle on his back, the meaning of Kaiser's comment became clear. The satchel he carried from home was cumbersome enough, and that was meant just for him. Carrying the majority of the supplies for an entire pack of werewolves was proving to be almost unmanageable. The cargo rose high above his back, rattled unevenly, and wobbled him from side to side. Niko kept his spirits high however, viewing it as a chance for growth, just as he approached all the tasks he was given.

This unwavering cheerfulness had already registered with a number of pack mates, but none quite as strongly as one member in particular. She was called Ember by the others, though Niko was fairly sure this was just a nickname. What he wasn't sure of was if the moniker was attributed to her fiery coat of oranges, reds, and yellows that seemed to glow when it caught the sunlight, or her volatile disposition which could ignite with little warning. In either case, she had taken great personal interest in testing his enthusiasm.

The shewolf bounded up besides Niko and it was clear her orange eyes were alight with mischief. She danced around the vulpine, prodding and poking the rucksack with each observation.

"Gee Pup, that looks pretty heavy! I hope you made sure it's tied right, it'd be reaaaal bad if it came loose."

Niko grimaced as the weight shifted uncomfortably, but held his smile as he responded, "Yes Ember, it's really heavy! But I made sure to tie it tight before I started."

"Exactly how heavy would you say it is?"

"Oh, I dunno exact but it's so heavy that it's hard to carry it and talk at the same time!"

Ember's grin grew into a malicious smile so wide, it exposed her chipped fang, causing the opposing snaggletooth to look even larger by comparison. "Oooh nooo, that's too bad, because I'm here to make sure you got everything! Guess you should've done that before you started carrying it, huh? D'ya have the dried meat? How about the water skins? You better not've forgot the medical herbs!"

"Yeah I have all of those Ember, I double-checked everything before we left!" Niko whined through wincing.

"Well you didn't check it in front of me!"

Friki's voice cut through the idle chatter, silencing the pack. "Okay everyone, this is enough for now. We'll stay here tonight, maybe another day or two."

"Lucky Pup, next time there will be no getting out of inspection!" The shewolf growled at Niko before stomping off to find her next target.

"Sorry Ember... I'll remember to check with you next time." Niko apologized to the surly wolf's back as she departed.

The alpha wolf conferred with a few underlings before breaking off to address Niko, "Pup! Bags down, take a breather. Don't unpack yet in case we have to leave in a hurry. I'll let you know when it's time to move again."

The vulpine eased the towering rucksack to the ground with a relieved sigh, remaining on the ground with it. He sat there, huffing as his breath returned to him, but spoke up as the wolf turned to leave, "Fri- er.. Alpha! Can I ask you a question?"

"You already did, didn't you?" Friki sighed at Niko's visual deflation, acquiescing, "Go ahead."

"Where are we going?" Niko asked the werewolf.

"North."

"Oh..." Niko crinkled his nose, "I mean how far."

"As far as we need to."

The fox's puzzled grimace deepened, "Oh... I mean... where are we stopping?"

"We don't stop."

"Oh, I think I get it!" Niko's eyes lit up as his expression suddenly reversed, "We just keep going until we get back home!"

The alpha wolf's eyes narrowed and his tone sharpened severely, "You better rethink your concept of 'home' real fast. We don't live in some fancy house with nice, soft beds. We don't settle down or build bridges or grow gardens. We're always on the move; wherever we are, that's our home, until it's not. That's what it means to be one of us so you better get used to it if you wanna keep up!"

Despite the wolf's reaction, Niko's enthusiasm only intensified. "Oh... that is different for me... but now I really understand! As long as we're all together, we're always home!"

The wolf's face soured instantly; he was hoping for more of a solemn response. "Ugh, yeah but don't say it like that."

"Say it like wh-?"

"Anyway!" Friki blurted explosively, cutting off the vulpine, "If you really need to know, we're traveling further north. We used to have free run of the southern tip of the Lower Land. Monsters were manageable, no humans came down far enough to bother us."

"The humans bother you? They were nice to me." Niko looked down with a concerned frown.

"Well aren't you lucky?" Friki snorted derisively, folding his arms as he continued, "You don't have the same history our people do, especially in this area with some of its more ... notorious residents. Anyway as you might have seen, monsters are growing bolder and more numerous day by day. We are fighters, but I won't force my clan to spend the rest of its days fighting."

Friki's eyes began to wander as he trailed off. Niko followed his gaze to see Giri approaching. The alpha's second-in-command looked like he had something to report.

Friki blinked, seeming to come out of a trance before addressing the vulpine again, "Well, I don't have all day to tell you bedtime stories, Pup... find someone to give you a new job."

Niko stood tall and puffed his chest out.

"Yes, Alpha!" He barked, happy for another opportunity to prove himself. With that, the fox ran off to see where he was needed.


After Niko was given the go-ahead to unpack the supplies, he was tasked with fixing up the campsite. With no clear direction given, he decided to literally start from the ground up. His feet were used to the sands of the desert, so heat was no issue, but his paw pads had been a bit sore from all the uneven and inconsistent soil. Sometimes it was hard and rocky, other times soft and muddy. He had already taken note that while some of the pack members wore forms of footwear, others opted for less cover. The few pairs of boots he did see were in poor condition; most likely found that way and requiring a lot of modification to fit the anatomy of their new owners.

With that in mind, he hurried about clearing the grounds of stray branches, prickly brush, and small rocks. He organized all the loose sticks and leaves into separate piles for use as fire or bedding. Stepping back and taking in the whole campsite, Niko wiped his hands in satisfaction; happy with his work. Even if they were only to stay the night as his pack leader suggested, he would make sure it was a comfortable night.

After some searching, Niko located the pack-mate who had given him the order. He wore the same traditional purple robes and had the same coat of light gray coat of fur that many of the other wolves also seemed to share. Niko never caught his name either, but despite the visual similarities, the vulpine was able to distinguish him by other means. He was currently engaged in idle chatter with another werewolf and didn't notice the foxling approaching from behind.

"I'm done!" Niko chirped happily.

"PUP!" The wolf nearly jumped, but kept his composure, "'Done'? Done with what?"

"With what you told me to do!"

The werewolf scratched his head, "Err, what did you do exactly?"

"I cleaned up the campsite! I got rid of all the rocks and sharp things, so they don't hurt your feet!" Niko stepped aside and proudly presented the clearing with a wave of his hand.

The wolf looked over the vulpine's shoulders at the campgrounds. Sure enough, they had been swept clean and organized.

He shook his head and sighed as he responded, "Fine just... help the others with dinner or something." With that, he turned back to the one he was conversing with.

The fox took off like a lightning bolt towards the group in question.

"Yer gonna have a tough time keepin' up with us if some little rocks bother you!" The second werewolf called out to him, but the vulpine had already directed his full attention elsewhere.


Niko bounded back over to the fire pits where some of the lumber had just been lit. Several small clusters of wolves sat around the fires, and the familiar scent of food emanated from where they gathered. Over the flames was the rabite Kaiser had caught earlier, along with several others he had nabbed before the day's end. Besides the rabite meat, a few other meals were being passed around, and though the vulpine couldn't quite make them out just yet, the smell was reminding him of home.

"Hey guys! What're ya eating?" Niko bounced from one pack member to another, far too quickly to focus on the food in question.

"I don't know Pup, why don't you tell us?" a wolf chortled as he twirled around a kebab of meat. A very familiar looking kebab.

"S'no way a pup like you made this!" another werewolf chimed in, his mouth mostly full. "Where'd ya get it?"

The vulpine slowed to a stop. The dried pebbler meat, mallard breast, even the desserts; it all became clear.

Niko's brow furrowed. "Oh... it's my food..."

Kaiser snorted from behind the fox, barely looking over his own hefty shoulders, "I think you mean our food." He had just finished his rabite cutlet and was now cracking the shell of a mad mallard egg.

"Oh, you like it? My mom makes the best food ever! Or at least the best food I ever tasted! ... Except for that meat at Kippo... Anyways, that's a mad mallard egg! Usually they explode when you cook them but-"

"What..." Kaiser interjected flatly with the egg inches from his mouth. He gave it a cautious glance before tossing it to a nearby wolf.

"Mmhm! Oh, those are pebbler steaks!" Niko began hovering over the shoulders of the other diners. "Those are some of my favorites! And that's pumpkin bomb pie! That's my favorite dessert!"

"Is every food your favorite when it's made by your moooommy?" A series of chuckles followed the comment.

Niko scratched his chin before replying, "I guess so! It makes me happy that someone besides my dad and me know how good it is!"

"Now now, he's right. Pup's mom is a fine cook." A darker gray wolf spoke up. "Hey Pup! Is she cute too?"

Howling laughter erupted but was quickly snuffed out by the bark of an alpha wolf.

"Easy, Rex!" The crimson alpha shewolf, and Friki's mate, spoke with a commanding presence. "You wouldn't know what to do with a lady anyway."

"Sorry Nikki, just wondering!" Rex's laughter had devolved into quiet snickers.

Niko instinctively spun at attention at the shewolf's authoritative tone. She was sitting cross-legged a bit off from the other males in front of her own fire. In her hands was a wrapped package. She tore the paper away revealing the pastry Niko had purchased from Kim's shop in Kippo.

"Oh..." Niko's ears dropped and his shoulders slumped visibly.

"What?" The alpha wolf looked around and realized she was being addressed. "Is this one of your favorite mom-desserts too?"

"No..." Niko sighed wistfully. "I bought that yesterday... I don't know if it's my favorite, I haven't tasted it yet. I was saving it for later."

The shewolf rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated huff before breaking off a piece of the confectionery, handing it to the vulpine.

Niko smiled sheepishly and bit into the pastry. It had a sweet flaky crust and was stuffed with a creamy cheese filling. It was different from the snacks his mother made, but he liked it just as much.

"Happy?"

Niko nodded his head zealously, his mouth full of baked good.

"Good. Go sit over there with the others and get some real food." The shewolf gestured back towards the direction Niko had come from.

"Yes, Alpha!"

Nikki sighed and shook her head as the fox sprang back over to the other fire.


Niko was jolted awake the next morning by a boot prodding his sides. He looked up to see the towering silhouette of Friki standing over him.

"Pup, the food's gone already." He declared, giving the vulpine a few more pokes to ensure he got the message.

Niko sat up and wiped his eyes, confirming the news with a quick scan of the grounds.

"Wow, you guys were really hungry!" He replied through a yawn. "That was enough food to last me weeks!"

The rugged form of Kaiser appeared next to the alpha. "Yeah, we were hungry. Also, we're all bigger than you and there's a lot more of us."

"Oh yeah... I didn't think of that." Niko grimaced and rubbed his chin. "No wonder it went so fast."

"I meant that's why you give it to us." Kaiser chuffed with a slight growl before plodding off.

Friki narrowed his eyes at the departing wolf but brought his attention back to Niko, "We're gonna be moving again today, Pup. We'll need some more food for the journey. The pack's gonna need your help. Ready to answer the call?"

"Hmm... I can fish and pick berries buuuut... I'm afraid I'm not really much of a hunter. I've never really done it before." The vulpine harrumphed in defeat.

"Everyone has to prove their worth to the pack in some way, Pup. If you've got nothing to contribute there... I'll have to come up with another use for you..." Friki's implications were ominous, but seemed to be lost on the fox.

Suddenly, Niko's eyes lit up and he hopped to his feet, exclaiming, "I think I have an idea!"


The vulpine scooped the remainder of the gold his parents had given him out onto the counter. It wasn't much, and it was meant to last a lot longer.

"How much of that good meat can I have with this? The stuff I ate the other day, remember?" Niko's tail began to pick up speed just thinking of the steak dinner he enjoyed some nights before.

The innkeeper of Kippo Tavern & Inn hummed to himself musingly as he scanned the gold pieces. "Well... normally we don't do business that way. We're a tavern, not a grocer, you see... but I suppose we could make an exception. You did draw quite a crowd the other night, and we do pride ourselves on making our customers happy! However..."

Niko's ears sagged, "Oh no! Is something wrong? I really need to get this meat!"

"Oh, it's not that!" The gentleman assured his patron, "It's just... it will be quite a bit. Are you planning on carrying it all? I'm quite sure it would spoil before you got through all of it, even with your appetite!"

"You won't have to worry about that!" the vulpine quipped coyly.

With some help from William, the fox soon had several large racks of beef slung across his shoulders with sheets of butcher roll protecting them from the elements, as well as any loose fur. Niko once again bid his new friends farewell before staggering out the door with his juicy parcel.

William waved as the vulpine exited the inn before turning to its owner. "Fuzzy lad really liked that meat, din'ee?"


"Where in Luna's name did you get all this meat, Pup?" Giri stared in awe, almost willing to admit he was impressed with the vulpine.

"I walked back to Kippo and bought it!" Niko exclaimed as an assembly line of pack-members pulled cuts of meat from his shoulders to carry off.

"It was so good when I had it the night before, I figured since you guys all loved my mom's cooking so much, you'd like this too! Used the last of my gold to get it though..." he ended with a sigh.

"Pff!" a wolf huffed as he hoisted a rack onto his shoulders. "Shoulda just stole it."

The vulpine grimaced in response, "Aw, those are my friends. They're nice there!"

"You think humans are 'nice?' Don't let Friki hear you say that!" a second wolf jeered as he made off with the last flank of beef.

Niko's brow furrowed as he turned to Giri. "Gee Giri, what's he mean by that?"

The white wolf shook his head solemnly. "Don't ask. If Friki wants you to know, he'll tell you."

He gave a cursory glance over his shoulder for the alpha wolf in question, just to ensure he was out of earshot, then turned back to Niko. "Well, I guess you earned a short break. Someone'll fetch you when we start to move again."

Giri waved the vulpine off before tending to other matters.

"Tea time!" Niko screamed to no one in particular while spinning around in an attempt to spot his rucksack.

Though it had essentially become pack property, there were still some foodstuffs and knickknacks the wolves seemed disinterested in. Though he had tried to introduce the concept of tea to some of the more receptive wolves, his prickle sage leaves remained such an example. Finally, he spotted his open bag near a small fire surrounded by several of the beastmen and merrily jogged over.

The scent hit his nose before he saw the mug or boiling water. Someone had already been brewing his prickle sage tea. The fox's ears perked up at the thought of having a round of brew with the wolves; seeing the looks on their faces at the first sip of his favorite drink. When he came to a stop, he saw that Rex was the only one with a cup. A cup stuffed to the brim with leaves.

"Blech! This swill tastes like Talek's armpit!" the lupine groaned after spitting a mouthful onto the ground.

A massive blood-red wolf stirred sleepily on the ground nearby, but remained reclined.

"And why would you know what my armpit tastes like?" He jeered from his back, not even opening his eyes.

"Why do YOU think it's funny to wake up fellow pack mates with a headlock?!" Rex fired back.

"Hah! Stupid question!"

In a disturbing display of speed for such a large creature, the hulking wolf sprang to his feet; his bandana flying off his head and exposing his wild golden hair. One of his trunk-like arms wrapped around his dwarfed opponent's head.

"Because it is!"

"Gaaaah! Talek! Stop!" the smaller wolf whined while kicking his legs in a futile attempt to escape the death grip. "This wash is hard enough to keep down as it is!"

Talek guffawed heartily as he effortlessly manhandled his prey. During the tussle, the cup and its contents were scattered to the earth; the leaves trampled underfoot. There were enough leaves for well over a dozen cups, now ground into the dirt. Niko looked down in bereavement at his perished prickle sage. He was quite sure those were all the leaves he had. His interest was snapped back to the duo when the large wolf had pinned Rex's arm behind his back and began pushing his face into the muddy tea-puddle they had just caused.

"Now say 'I'm a Tomato Man' unless you wanna eat that slop!"

"Yer a Tomato Man! Uwaah!" Rex was defiant until his nose was pressed against the wet ground.

"Oh, smarty-pants eh?" Talek emphasized his words with increased pressure.

"Fine! Fine! Imma Tomato Man, IMATOMATOMAN, OKAY?!" Rex screamed, slumping over in defeat after being released.

"Haw haw haw! Another lovely morning, ain't it?" The burgandy lupine yanked his comrade to his feet and pulled him in for a tight hug, causing the smaller wolf to squeak.

"Yer a bully..." Rex grumbled, handing Talek his bandana.

"Hey, it's not my fault I'm bigger n' stronger than everyone else. Oh wait, it is! Hahaa!" Talek's laughter trailed off as he made his exit.

Rex returned to his place by the fire until his eyes locked onto Niko sifting through the crushed wreckage of his former drink.

"Pup! What are you, a scavenger?" He snapped with disgust.

Niko sighed. "The leaves were still good... not anymore though."

"Those leaves were never good, Pup!"

"You're only supposed to use one leaf, or two if you like it strong. I use two." Niko added, informatively. "I guess they're an acquired taste."

"Any food you have to get used to wasn't meant to be food."

Niko shrugged his shoulders. "Beggars can't be choosers," he mused matter-of-factly.

The vulpine suddenly found himself eye-to-eye with the beast, being pulled by his shirt collar up to its curled muzzle.

"You sayin' I beg, runt?" Rex growled.

A crimson claw appeared on the wolf's shoulder. His eyes grew wide with terror at the thought of Talek wanting a second round, until he saw the considerably more slender paw of Nikki, the alpha female.

"You didn't beg for Pup's food, did you?" She chided sternly.

"... No."

"Then ease up. Don't take it out on Pup cuz Talek roughed you up a little."

"That's not..." Bright red became visible on the wolf's cheeks, even through his thick tufts of gray fur.

"Fine..." he pouted, releasing Niko and stomping off dejectedly, mumbling under his breath, "He's the Tomato Man, I'm not even the red one..."

Niko dusted his shirt collar off before smiling at the shewolf. "Thank you, Alph-"

"Don't."

Niko cocked his head and furrowed his brow. "Don't what?"

"Just..." The alpha sighed and closed her eyes. "It's a mistake. The whole thing's a bad idea," she proclaimed, almost to herself as she shook her head.

Niko moved to question her further, but she walked away, seemingly lost in troubled contemplation, leaving the vulpine there to grasp the shewolf's message by himself.


Over the course of the following week on the winding journey northward, pack life began to take on a routine for Niko. Every now and then, a surprise was thrown his way in the form of an additional job or responsibility, and tonight he was hoping to throw the pack a surprise himself. Other than those, the process was reliably consistent; carry the bags, travel to a different area, settle for a few days, pack up, carry the bags again.

Mercifully, during this particular trek, Ember had opted to direct her focus towards grooming herself rather than pestering the vulpine. The weather was warmer than usual that day and she had shed her billowy top layer in favor of a lighter covering that exposed her arms & shoulders, which Niko had only now noticed were covered in decorative markings.

They certainly weren't natural, and looked to be added with intent rather than scars of past battles like many of the other wolves owned. Niko had no idea if they were some ancient wolfen language and Ember was not the type to be receptive to personal questions. The best way he could describe them was 'aggressive,' and that seemed to suit her personality well enough.

At the moment, she cradled her tail in her arms, making countless passes through it with a wooden brush, stopping occasionally to work it into braided sections. Though her focus was primping up her natural assets, she seemed to be making a conscious effort of flaunting her work in front of the fox. It was then Niko recognized the tool as another appropriated asset from his backpack.

"Whatsamatter? Your mommy make this too?" the shewolf teased as if waiting for the opportunity to do so this whole time.

Niko smiled back, responding, "No, actually my dad! But mom nags me to use it all the time... You can have it, I don't like how it pulls."

"I wasn't asking for your permission, Pup!" she sang back, punctuating her comment with a light whap on the vulpine's nose with the back of the brush.

"Ow!" Niko brought both free hands up to rub his snout. "My nose is sensitive!"

"Then don't stick it where it don't belong!"

The fox reeled back in mild frustration. Unable to articulate the source of it quickly enough, he blurted back, "You're weird!"

The shewolf's eyes lit up with shock and then burned with anger, giving Niko another possible explanation for her moniker. She raised the brush threateningly and stalked slowly toward her prey. The vulpine shrieked and darted past the werewolf, but the weight of the equipment on his back turned his escape into an awkward shuffle.

"Packs down! We'll scout this area out here!" called the gruff voice of the alpha male.

Niko made it two more steps before collapsing flat on his face, where he remained prone, panting loudly. An immense shadow enshrouded his body and he turned his gaze up to see Talek blotting out the sun, along with the rest of the sky.

The colossal wolf bent down, locking his yellow eyes with the vulpine's before taunting, "Havin' a little trouble there, small fry? Why doncha hand that over to someone w'tha pair'a arms?"

He lifted the pack effortlessly, pulling Niko into the air along with it. The vulpine slid limply from the shoulder straps and thudded back to the floor, too breathless to respond. He slowly rolled to his back and laid there until he began to catch his breath as Talek stomped away, chuckling.

"I hope I get stronger soon," Niko huffed, staring up at the tree canopy. "That bag feels just as heavy as when I started!"

After several minutes of light activity around the camp, no one approached Niko with a task, and he soon discovered just how exhausted he was. Without moving from his spot, he drifted off into an early-afternoon nap.


Niko awoke with a start when his breath left him in a hurry. He tried to spring to his feet but found himself pinned to the ground. His eyes adjusted in time to see Ember stepping down off his chest and walking off.

"Watch where you're sleeping!" the shewolf called out over her shoulder.

"Sorry Ember," Niko coughed as his wind returned, "I'll try to be more careful next time."

He sat up amidst a chorus of laughter, unaware of what the focus was until he looked down. A large, dusty paw-print discolored the chest of the vulpine's tan-colored shirt. His cheeks flushed red and he quickly maneuvered to deflect the mockery.

"Now my shirt has a design on it." the vulpine announced cheerfully.

The laughter died down and Niko smiled to himself, content that had done the trick. It was then he noticed Friki towering over him. The charcoal alpha wolf looked down imposingly; his scarred eye seemed to glow. It was a look the vulpine was beginning to grow familiar with. A look not unlike the one his father delivered when he found his son engaged in mischief, but colder; with less humor.

"Ah, so you are in fact, alive. Almost thought you just decided to drop dead on me without your alpha's permission!" There was a tone of playfulness in the wolf's voice, but it seemed to be masking an underlying threat as well.

Niko scrambled to his feet and stood at attention, piping up zealously, "Nope! I'm fine! Ready to help out s'more!"

"Good. We're settling here for now, help the others whip up some grub."

The vulpine gasped excitedly and his tail whipped to life.

"Whoa, easy, easy!" Friki cautioned. "What's wrong with you?"

"It's a surprise!" The fox spun around and ran off towards the pits where fires were beginning to be built, leaving Friki behind in a cloud of dust, shaking his head.

Niko had been anticipating this opportunity ever since the reception the meat from Kippo got. He certainly wasn't the same chef his mother was, but he had helped in the kitchen plenty of times, and she was always passing on her methods, even when he was more interested in the end result than the process. He knew at least how to get more from the meager variety of courses they had on hand, and what innovative accoutrements could be whipped up from the surrounding natural bounties. Tonight, he would show the pack how just a few dried fruits and chopped vegetables could spark new life into ordinary aged meat.

Luckily, the wolves seemed especially patient this evening. Niko didn't think he'd be able to convince them to wait a bit longer, even with the promise of a more satisfying conclusion. It was then he noticed what the majority of the pack had turned their attention to.

The silence was almost unnerving at first; the idle chatter and rowdy socializing was nearly non-existent. They all sat quietly and watched as Giri stood opposite of Talek. Their eyes and posture confirmed what the hush over the camp already implied; there was to be conflict.