Akka of the East Clan









"Wolf!" Teng cried out, her voice came from high above the snow-laden pines. "Almost on you!"

Sir Andrew flung back his cloak and drew his sword, his heart pounding. He was too old for this.

"Turn left!" Teng's owl-speech was a frantic "skwee."

He turned in time to see a blue-eyed canine bounding through the snow, dodging trees like a wraith, a foot of pink tongue flapping like a pennant. It was chasing a white rabbit, almost invisible against the winter background.

Andrew positioned his feet, ready to strike.

"Hallo," the creature said cordially as it leaned right and flashed behind Andrew, close enough to ruffle his cloak. "Beg pardon."

"What the..." Andrew turned to watch the canine vanish in a spray of scattered snow. By the Fates, that was one wickedly fast animal!

Tengweerfanda dropped silently into view and perched on a troll-high branch. Her head pivoted left and right facing the diminishing rustle of the creature's swift departure.

"What was that?" Teng asked, turning her head entirely backwards to look at Andrew. "Too small for a wolf."

"Farmers around here call them huskies. Part dog, part wolf. They'll run with either kind."

"He was quite well spoken," Teng said. Then, "He's coming back." Her head turned frontwards and began bobbing to lock in on the sound.

Andrew kept his sword out, but it was pointed down. He flipped his cloak closed. He was starting to get cold anyway.

"Sorry about that," the husky said as he emerged from the snowy shrubs. "Fella has to eat, ya know."

Andrew was amazed. The husky's accent was barely of the Wolfkind. It was remarkably... manlike.

"I'm called Akka. I run with the East Clan. Well, I used to. Bit of trouble with the boss's gal."

Andrew said, "I am Sir Andrew of Salvania." He waved toward Teng's branch. "This is Tengweerfanda."

Akka looked around and spotted Teng immediately. "Thank you, my friend. Your shadow spooked that rabbit just as I was getting hungry."

Teng bobbed her head and blinked.

"So now, I guess you're stuck with me. I need a pack anyway. And I have to repay Teng-weer-whatever-sorry for his boon."

"I am not a 'he'," Teng said.

"Even better, my dear," Akka said. He sat and licked his balls, heedless of his new friends.

Teng turned her head backwards to Andrew and skweed sarcastically in Owltongue, "Oh, can we keep him? Can we, can we?"


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