Fintan blinked in surprise, his ears perking at the mention of a quest. A quest? Well, now, that sounded rather interesting! Though, before he could get too excited, he found himself wondering what sort of quest a fellow like Azon might have in mind. Hunting for something? Exploring some ruins? Perhaps searching for some curious bit of local history? His imagination was already running away with him, and he had to remind himself that he hadn't the faintest idea how to be a wolf, let alone how to go gallivanting about on some grand adventure. A quest, sir? Well, I'll be... His tail gave a tentative wag. I'd be mighty pleased t'join ya, if ya think I'd be of any help. Though I oughta warn ya, I ain't exactly what you'd call an experienced adventurer. I'm a railway man, not a woodsman!

He chuckled sheepishly, falling into step beside the larger wolf as they made their way down the corridor. The movement pulled at his sore ribs, and he winced ever so slightly before attempting to disguise it with a cough. He really ought to stop doing that. Miss Boggs would have his hide if she found out he'd been wandering about whilst still hurting.

At Azon's question, however, Fintan's expression grew thoughtful. His ears tipped backward, and he glanced down at his paws as he tried to piece together the morning's events.

Well, that's just it, ain't it? I don't rightly know what I was doin' before all that water business. He paused, brow furrowing. I just... woke up. Right there in the grass, covered head t'tail in soot, coughin' like I'd swallowed half a coal furnace. Didn't know where I was, didn't know how I'd gotten there, an' couldn't make heads nor tails of anythin'.

He shook his head, his goggles shifting atop his crown.

So I crawled over t'the water, figurin' I'd clean myself up a bit. An' then I saw my reflection.

Fintan's ears flattened against his head.

Lord above, sir, I near about had a heart attack! There was a wolf starin' back at me! A wolf! An' I was the wolf! He let out a nervous huff, looking almost apologetic for the sheer absurdity of it all. I got scared half outta my wits an' took off runnin'. Didn't pay no mind to where I was goin', just wanted t'get away from that awful sight. Next thing I knew, my goggles got caught on a branch, an'... well.

He trailed off, offering Azon a rather sheepish glance.

Y'know the rest.

For a moment, he walked in silence, his olive-green eyes wandering over the unfamiliar stonework. There was so much he didn't understand. He'd been a man, hadn't he? A junior engineer with a job to get to and a life he could remember, even if the end of it was a little hazy. Now he was here, in some strange castle, in a body that wasn't his own.

He swallowed, his tail drooping slightly.

Truth be told, I ain't really from around here, sir. These ain't my hollers, an' this sure ain't any place I've ever seen before. Back home, I knew the mountains, the rail lines, the little towns tucked between the ridges. I knew where I was goin'. His voice softened, and he glanced up at Azon with a mixture of uncertainty and earnest curiosity. But here? I don't know a blessed thing. Don't know how I got here, don't know why I'm a wolf, an' I don't even know if there's a railway anywhere in these parts.

He paused, then gave a small, hopeful wag of his tail.

So, if this quest of yours involves learnin' somethin' about these strange lands, I reckon I'd be mighty glad t'come along. Can't promise I'll be much use in a fight, mind ya, but I'm a fair hand at listenin' an' askin' questions.

A faint smile spread across his muzzle.

An' goodness knows, I've got plenty of questions.

Āzon