[Ned Flanders]

The wolf had undergone enough of a transformation where Tashara identified the figure as ‘humanoid’. The feeling of threat ebbed, replaced by confusion, as all eyes continued to focus on the shapeshifter. The hidden forms began to whimper and whine, seemingly sharing the pain of the contorted figure on the ground, or undergoing transformations of their own. Tashara continued to maintain her guarded stance, glancing at the second wolf in the clearing who continued to remain on all fours, though whining along with the others…

All traces of the first wolf were now gone replaced by a naked human male who had rolled onto his back and continued to breath heavily, the rest of the clearing shrouded in silence. Minutes passed, Tashara shifting uncomfortably, eager to discover where the encounter was headed. Eventually, the human rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself to a kneeling position. From there, he made an attempt to stand, legs giving way sending him tumbling to the ground and letting out a pained, exhausted grunt. He tried again, receiving the same result and was remiss to sitting on the ground, legs crossed. The second wolf in the clearing got up and took two steps towards the human. Tashara turned on him quickly, growling and bearing fangs, with as much intimidation as the situation would allow.

“Kael!” was the only word coming from the human accompanied by a gesture of his hand moving towards the ground. The word caught the wolf’s attention and he resumed his prone stance on the ground.

“Now.”, the human continued all the while trying to stretch various parts of body, “What are we to do with you?” The comment caught Tashara’s attention and she locked a gaze with the sitting man, eliciting a mild grin out of him.

“Were it not for the orcs on your trail (Tashara’s head c0cked to the side in confused comprehension), I would’ve guessed a rogue wandered deep into the woods. But we unified the packs years ago and haven’t seen a rogue wolf in a long time. My guess is, there aren’t any anymore making your presence quite peculiar. On the other hand, you could be one of Calimport’s best , come to claim a bounty long overdue. However, I find it unlikely a bounty hunter or assassin from the south would be so haplessly trailed by orcs, not to mention traveling solo unless the prowess of my deeds has shrunk so in recent years.”

The human had now taken to vigorously stretching his legs, viewing them with something resembling a facial expression of entertainment. Tashara still held her gaze on the man. He looked her back and went on, “Are you still with me? Good. Oh yes, the orcs. Matter of fact, they’re right terrified of the wolves in Tethyr, so it doesn’t really make any sense they’d be tracking you. Quite the contrary, I’d well expect them to turn tail and run. We’ve actually bought you some time here and there on your trek through Tethyr by diverting them away from you, however, they continue to be quite persistent picking up your trail time after time.”

“That said, I am a man who doesn’t take kindly to strangers and while I have many a question in needin’ of answerin’, the matter of the orcs is more pressing. We have naught but an hour before they stand in this very spot, so I’m going to have ask you to show me who you really are.”