3/5/2026, 1:38 AM
A second passed. Then the stranger crouched in place, in a way that was a little familiar and still real strange, applied to them. Human memory and wolf instinct read submissive and Cecil settled back a little themself, tail low and ears level. That little prickle of instinct weren't too keen on looking too weak.
But they were keen to offer a wag of their own tail in reply. Least, until they figured what it was this stranger was saying.
Looking back, they'd been real lucky to fall down on Nate's head as they had. Hadn't needed to wander through the woods for days and run afoul of someone with a bone to pick or maybe just some sort of hungry bear. Turned the curiosity tickling at the back of their skull to sympathy, but Cecil'd been raised by the sort that made it clear you weren't to interrupt another's tale unless invited.
"Won't hold it against you. A little confusion's understandable." A short laugh. "I'm Cecil. And I can't say for sure where we are. Don't know if it's got a name, or who might've given it." Could think of a phrase or two, but it weren't their home to give name to.
And thinking on that was just delaying breaking the news.
The words came careful. "Null Ridge don't ring a bell...but I should, uh, get this out of the way now. Wherever you remember bein'- that ain't where you're at now. Probably ain't even the same world- locals call it Mythris, I think. If there's a way back, not somethin' I've figured out yet."
Cecil watched. They'd all lost something in the change. Family or home or self or sense of purpose. Supposed wolves weren't the sort to stick around where they'd been born, but it seemed like a full half of the newcomers to this places weren't real wolves at all, and even the ones that were weren't wolves in the way Cecil'd imagined they'd be. Supposed it came with talking like a man.
Well, they remembered desert. Warm rain and sun on their back and the way the flowers bloomed for those short couple of weeks in all the colors of the West. Weren't keen to let it fade so easily.
"I'm sorry."
But they were keen to offer a wag of their own tail in reply. Least, until they figured what it was this stranger was saying.
Looking back, they'd been real lucky to fall down on Nate's head as they had. Hadn't needed to wander through the woods for days and run afoul of someone with a bone to pick or maybe just some sort of hungry bear. Turned the curiosity tickling at the back of their skull to sympathy, but Cecil'd been raised by the sort that made it clear you weren't to interrupt another's tale unless invited.
"Won't hold it against you. A little confusion's understandable." A short laugh. "I'm Cecil. And I can't say for sure where we are. Don't know if it's got a name, or who might've given it." Could think of a phrase or two, but it weren't their home to give name to.
And thinking on that was just delaying breaking the news.
The words came careful. "Null Ridge don't ring a bell...but I should, uh, get this out of the way now. Wherever you remember bein'- that ain't where you're at now. Probably ain't even the same world- locals call it Mythris, I think. If there's a way back, not somethin' I've figured out yet."
Cecil watched. They'd all lost something in the change. Family or home or self or sense of purpose. Supposed wolves weren't the sort to stick around where they'd been born, but it seemed like a full half of the newcomers to this places weren't real wolves at all, and even the ones that were weren't wolves in the way Cecil'd imagined they'd be. Supposed it came with talking like a man.
Well, they remembered desert. Warm rain and sun on their back and the way the flowers bloomed for those short couple of weeks in all the colors of the West. Weren't keen to let it fade so easily.
"I'm sorry."
english | navajo
