What One Thinks is Only A Monster...

The young wolf took notice of the man's clouded eyes but he didn't really understand the ability.
He hadn't been in contact with humans except for as a food source and none had done what the man was doing now.
So, he decided to brush it off till later.

By the time they got to the river Razgul was panting heavily and, as the hunter noticed once he ran his hands through his hot pelt, overheating.
His tongue lulled to the side of his mouth, dry as the inside.
He'd run out of moisture to lower his temperature was and was desperately needing the water nearby.
Heck, Raz didn't even really hear what the man said but he did feel hands on his wing and automatically ruffled the pinions, then growled as fingers ran through his silky fur.

One would think such a rabid creature would have a tough hide to go along with his attitude but his fur was surprisingly well taken care of.
He would have also responded to the petting with an abrupt attack but the heat had robbed him of the energy and what little he had left wasn't going to be wasted until he felt some type of pain.
 
"It's times like these I wish I had a bucket..." shaking his head as he contemplated on how to move forward with the situation. He then remembered the small pot in his pack for cooking, it was only a little bigger than his drinking vessel, but it was easier to fill. Carefully the hunter directed the horse and cart directly next to the river before letting the horse off the pull to get its own drink.

After filling the small pot, Eska held it closer to the wolf, hoping the creature's first priority was getting re-hydrated and not trying to chomp him. The water was cool and clean, the source somewhere up north from a mountain ice cap melting.
 
The young pup really wanted to attack the pan but not from aggression, just severe thirst.
However, he knew the water was valuable, at least to him due to being tied up and dehydrated, so he made himself slow down and lap it up carefully with his big pink tongue.
It was definitely refreshing and he savored every drop until there was nothing left.
Then he was licking at the dry pan, hoping that it would somehow refill itself.
However, after a few seconds of dryness Raz let his head fall back down and yawned widely, giving off a nice display of well-sharpened teeth.
 
He wasn't surprised at all by the speed at which the water was gone. Without delay, when the pot was dry, he refilled it and held it out again, checking to make sure the wolf didn't need or want more. After a minute, he actually put the pot down in reach and went to the side of the cart, uncorking his bota and letting the contents spill out over the creature's body. Eska was hoping to cool the thing down faster before it got seriously damaged and sick from the heat.

Once satisfied with the temperature of the beast, the hunter removed the old, now soggy bandage carefully from the wing. The wound wasn't festering, in fact it looked right about where he'd want it to be at this stage in the healing process. After cleaning it with some ointment, Eska left it to air out more, figuring it was better for the creature to heal more naturally from then on.

The man wanted to switch to traveling at night, but he just was still worn from the traveling he'd already done. He'd loose a day's progress if he stopped here until tomorrow night, but it would be more comfortable for him, and he'd be able to make some adjustments to the cart he'd been contemplating since stealing it. First order of business now was food though, and he quickly caught a couple fish, attempting to feed one to the wolf while his own was cooking.
 
Raz was rather surprised that he'd gotten more then one panfull of water to drink.
Honestly he was grateful for the fluids along with the amount that had been dumped over his hot chest and body.
The coolness soaked into his fur and along with the light breeze did cool him down rather quickly.
Even the odd medicine massaged into his hurt wing made Razgul feel a bit better.
So, by the time a fish was tossed to him he was definitely interested and capable of eating it...if he weren't so restrictingly tied up.
He didn't even try to grab at the fish, even though he probably could have gotten it.
If the pup at something like that laying down he'd most likely choke himself to death.
So instead he pinned his ears back and licked at his muzzle several times.
He really really wanted it...but just couldn't do it tied up.
 
Curiously, the hunter watched the wolf's reaction to the fish tossed to it. It was clear that the beast was hungry, would eat said food thrown, but it wasn't eating it. And then it dawned on him, Sé hated eating when he had her lead on as he was first training her, so the two had come to an understanding, she would stay put, and he would feed her. It got to the point, he could have the hawk off lead completely knowing she'd always come to the call.

He had no intention of training this wolf, but perhaps he could some how reason with it, after all, the creature seemed half way intelligent earlier today with the calming down. Leaning just out of reach on the edge of the cart, Eska tried making a deal with the beast, "I can't let you go completely, my friend, but I'll remove those binds on the paws," pointing at them, "if you use your new freedom to just stretch and eat what's given to you." Shaking his head, "Attack me and it will get worse." The man looked with his olive eyes into the beast's searching for a sign that the creature understood him.
 
Surprise covered the wolf's features but shown brightest in his dull red eyes.
They flashed a lighter hue before drowning out again but he squirmed a bit, licking his muzzle several times in response.
He wanted the fish really badly, heck, he wanted any kind of food really badly at that point.
His tail thumped in anticipation of finally being able to move and eat as he kept his calm eyes on the hunter.

Raz wasn't done with this human by far but if he would be released and fed, as well as allowed to stretch then he would silently agree to the momentary truce.
 
Nodding, the hunter had enough of a confirmation, after all, if push came to shove, as horrible as it would be to end the life of such a beautiful creature, he would do it. Silently, his right hand slipped to his left knife, unsheathing it as he stepped closer to the wolf. If his heart was pounding wildly in his chest, it would never be evident in the amazingly collected and calm expression he wore. Keeping his eyes locked on the beast's, Eska cut the binds at the front and back paws, never even getting close to knicking or shaving the creature while he did it.

"There, eat, and if you need more it can be done." Just as he said it, Sé swooped down to land on the man's shoulder. She was a beautiful red hawk, a little small for her species, but Eska and her worked just perfectly together. Carefully the hunter grabbed his own food, watching from a distance the wolf, now only tied to the cart by a rope leash. His dagger remained out and close at hand while the hunter fed himself, allowing his his bird small nibbles from time to time.
 
The small wolf was visibly tense when Esca drew his knife and headed towards him.
However, he knew the other wanted him alive and he hadn't done anything to brash to get attacked for.
So, he hesitantly held still as the bindings on his front and back paws were cut.
The second he was free he pounced on the fish, snapping the head off and crunching the bones.
With a quick toss-back of his head that piece went down the hatch.
Then he repeated with several more chunks until there was nothing left of the large fish but a blood stain.
He'd cleaned it all up in about twenty seconds and was still licking his lips hungrily.

Although, when Raz realized the other fish was for the human and his bird he slowly got to his feet and stretched out, all the way down to his belly almost.
The wolf's actions were more like a feline than anything else.
His flexibility was unmatched in canines. In fact, he could pass for a cheetah almost with how easily his legs bent and stretched to full length.
Either way, once he'd finished working out several kinks the young man turned towards the small link holding the leash rope...keeping him from his freedom.
He studied where it met the small cart he was currently on.
It would be so easy to chew up the twine and be free.
Sure he'd might have another arrow from it but this man didn't seem to use poison...
His tail flicked back and forth, seemingly contemplating this for several long moments before he finally plopped back down and yawned loudly.
Guess the wolf intended to take a nap before trying any escape attempts...
That or he was just doing as he agreed and not trying to escape. For now.
 
The hunter quietly watched while he ate his dinner the actions of his captive wolf. Somewhere in the back of his mind the thought that this creature was too good for where he was intending to take him crossed his consciousness, but it was quickly dispelled as the reward for such a beast was beyond measure right now.

As night approached, Eska made himself busy with fixing his cart. After searching for enough thick pieces of sturdy wood, he made three wall in a grid like fashion. Each wall was tall enough it would allow the wolf to stand. The forth wall had a sort of makeshift latching and hinge system when he put it on the back. The hunter made sure to put the wall on the part of the cart that could get his hand bit off was finished while the wolf was still asleep. Each branch the walls were made of were between two and four inches thick, a decision he'd made after watching the power of the beast's jaws on human bones during the capture.

When the wolf woke again, the leash would still be attached, but the cage was built on the cart, attached to the sides with more rope. As the sun came up, Eska finally let himself start to fall asleep propped against a rock, facing his captive.
 
When Razgul awoke much later in the day time, probably sometime around five at night.
His eyes glowed quietly in the encroaching darkness as he yawned widely and pushed himself up.
His paws shook the cart slightly as he stood and walked over to the wooden branch at his height.
The wolf's head tilted and then he bared his teeth.
He seriously caged him in?
That. Wasn't. Okay.

His hackles rose as a loud rumble echoed through his chest and out his mouth.
Then he was snapping his jaws onto the thick branch, snapping off a good piece in mere seconds.
Oh yes, someone was pissed.
It only took sixty seconds for the pup to tear apart the back beam of the cage but he got a few splinters in his mouth at the task.
Then he was turning and kicking back like a horse, snapping another beam, this one on the side of the cart.
It gave way abruptly, several shattered pieces of wood spraying over the grass as one side fell and then snapped off to roll to the ground.
The other half of that branch remained but was barely attached, hanging by whatever was used to fasten it.
 
Eska was awoken to the sounds of the cage being shattered, narrowing his eyes on the wolf immediately. As he stood he took his bow in hand, an arrow from his quiver and set it. Without aiming yet, "I don't want to, but if you don't calm down there my friend, I will force you back down." Carefully coming closer, remaining out of reach, the hunter eyed the destroyed cage. "Tsk, and I worked so hard on that thing just so you could stretch more throughout the journey. Guess you're too wild after all and will have to be tied back down."
 
The wolf blinked over at the human and lifted his top lip to reveal rather sharp canines.
His eyes narrowed at the threat of being tied up again.
That wasn't going to happen without him being anesthetized a second time, and that could be dangerous.
If you used drugs on animals several times in one day, especially if it was that type, there's a chance it might not wake up again.
Would the hunter risk so much money just dying on the back of his cart?
Sure the pelt and wings would be worth something but no where near as much as the live thing.

Razgul snapped his head around in a slow arch, the motion seeing cocky.
And just to add to that...he lifted his leg and peed right on the side of the wooden cage.
Then he lazily walked to where the leash around his neck was hitched and laid down, eying the human and waiting for his reaction.
 
A brow lifted at the blatant show of disrespect that was not commonly seen in unintelligent wild animals. It got the hunter thinking more about his captive and as his eyes focused on the wolf, he moved to the front to make eye contact with the creature. His bow was still out, in case something happened, but it was pointed at the ground, the string barely pulled.

"Alright...let's see if we have an understanding here. You're worth more to me alive than dead, however, you are my captive and any attempt to leave will result in being put down again, or worse." His body language showed dominance, standing straight and tall, his tone carrying the same weight. "If you behave, I'll leave you with just the rope there, feed you well and make sure you have water often enough. All I ask for is a little cooperation in return. Do we have a deal?"

As if it were planned, which knowing Eska, it was, Sé landed on his shoulder, another fish in her beak. Reaching up with his left hand, the bow still in his right, the hunter took the fish from his bird and waved it towards the wolf as a sort of peace offering.
 
Razgul saw the response and seemed to pull back his lips slightly in a humanish grin.
His eyes followed as the man came around and he carefully shifted himself so that he remained facing the hunter the entire time.
With each step the man took his hackles rose slightly.
So, by the time the man stopped and started to try his dominance act Razgul's fur was fully erect and looked like a partial lion mane all the way down his back and partial down his tail.
The small wolf stood slowly, his eyes remaining locked right onto the hunters.
He noticed the bow and arrow and noted it silently but that didn't mean he was just going to be dominated.
Raz was the alpha of his pack.
Well...he had been...

His ears flattened to the side and his hackles dropped then pressed back down against his fur.
When the bird came down Razgul's eyes narrowed onto it...and more important.
What it was carrying.
His tongue came out quickly and licked at his muzzle...and then in a blur the wolf was just, there.
It's fangs snapped around the fishes body, yanked it out of the bird's beak, and then was back and laying down next to the tether within a second.

That was just a hint that he could have easily bitten the hunter or the bird just as easily but he'd taken the fish instead. Hopefully that was a very obvious form of 'cooperation'.
Either way, there were a few crunching sounds before the large fish was gone down the wolf's throat.
 
Oh yes, dominance was going to be an issue here with this one, a dance Eska knew only too well from training various species. Yet still this wolf fascinated him, and already the hunter knew it was going to be difficult to give this creature up. While in the middle of those thoughts, the beast came at him, fangs bared. Instinctively, the bow dropped and within seconds he had his knives in hand. There was a fraction of a second to stop himself from lashing out at the creature's face as it chomped close to his person, and in that short time frame, Eska noticed the beast's mouth grabbing for the fish.

He took a decent step back, assuring his and Sé's safety from the jaws again. The hawk's feathers were ruffled and she let out shrieks of disapproval. Sheathing a single knife, his now free hand came up to quiet the bird, stroking down her back, "Shhh, it's alright my beautiful Sé, the pup was just that hungry it seems." He glanced back at the wolf, now cleaning it's fur from the small meal. "That'll be all until I can hunt later, so I hope you enjoyed that." and so Eska set to packing up the rest of his things, calling his horse back who'd been allowed to wander some, and got back on the road following the river. The hunter settled in for a long night of traveling, trying to make up some distance after loosing a whole day's worth.
 
The response he'd gotten was rather good.
He'd almost expected an injury but thankfully he didn't sustain any.
At the notice of no more fish he whined but eventually rested his head down between his paws for a nap.
The pup slept for the better portion of the nightly travel but right before the sun started to rise the wolf started to get up, seemingly in a trance.
It's head tilted up slowly, a howl starting in it's throat before it grew in sound and then volume.

The sound was clear and crisp as it echoed through the morning dawn.
However, when normal howls just cut off and drown out into nothingness Razgul's echoed louder and got shriller until it clipped off abruptly at a nearly head-pounding chirp.
When the howl ended he tucked his head down and sighed, his shoulders actually rising and falling.
He wanted to go home...
He missed his pack, his land...
The wolf thumped back down into the cart and started to paw nonsensically at it's muzzle.
 
As he neared a village on their journey, Eska kept fully alert. This village wasn't used to seeing anything like his captive wolf, and if they saw him, it could go easily or turn very very bad fast. The hunter would have avoided the place entirely if he didn't need some supplies...just as he was thinking about this, the wolf let out that haunting howl behind him. He turned in his saddle a bit, "We're coming up to a village, and you've just instilled fear of wolves in an area that may otherwise be blissfully unaware of their existence." Slowing his horse, he hopped down again, pulling a folded cloth from his pack.

"I'm going cover the cart, only until we're away from them again because I need to grab some supplies and I don't think either of us want someone taking interest in you there." He started to unfold the giant cloth as he continued with a warning, "Just remember, I have fed you and kept you from getting injured thus far after that initial wound, you cannot guarantee others will do anything less then end your life, my friend." As he spoke, he tried to keep eye contact with his captive to try and read whatever emotion he could find there.
 
The wolf didn't seem to care that he'd just announced his presence to those in the area.
He'd honestly just wanted to know if there were...
That was when he saw it.
An older wolf came out of the dense tree cover about twenty yards away.
The second he saw it Razgul was up on all fours, chirping his high pitched yips in its direction.
He was literally hopping and bounding around in the cart like a pup, pulling on the tether while barking and wagging his bushy tail.
It was another wolf!
He was trying to ask for help but the other wolf wasn't stupid.
It knew a hunter when it saw one and quickly vanished once more.

That left Raz with an upset expression on his face as his excited body language deminished.
His hopping around slowed and he eventually laid down, though his eyes never left the spot where the wolf had vanished.
 
Seeing the captive wolf bounding around inside the cart had the hunter looking around until he finally saw the second one near the treeline. The man's stance changed just slightly, watching the creature carefully, readying himself for an attack. As the second one left, his body language eased up, but he knew now he would have to watch for both humans and a pack of wolves until they got far enough away from both territories.

With a light sigh he looked back upon his captive, frowning at the beast. "I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work." Just then the man unfurled the giant cloth, tossing it over the back of the cart, creating a kind of roof over the wolf's head. Sure villagers would be curious about what was underneath, especially if the creature moved or made noise, but they may be more likely to leave it alone long enough for Eska to get back out of the village without too much trouble.