[i]There had once been a time... [color=f7941d]"Rikes!"[/color] ...when things were far more innocent. [color=f7941d]"Riiikes! Ellis! Merdo! Harkin Roscoe!"[/color] A time of winter, snow and ice everywhere. And naturally, they all liked to play in the snow. A younger Isaac Black called out to the pack, then howled at them for good measure, before taking a sled and going down a hill. Naturally, because he was going face-first, Isaac soon tumbled out, the sled itself going blades-up when he did. He landed in snow, of course, so there was no difficulty. Plus, he was soon joined by nearly half-a-dozen furry friends! They were all so exciteable! Rikes, the only brown pelt among them was feeling especially energetic, but Isaac already knew why THAT was. He had noses in his face, loud sniffing and snorting, making him laugh as he got up. He did so and two of them went down and showed their bellies before running off and back again. They were all trying to get him to head for the house because it was time to eat soon. Rikes actually took his hat and ran with it. [color=f7941d]"Hey!"[/color] He beat him back to the house, of course, not only for being faster, but because every other wolf BESIDES Ellis was circling him. Ellis followed Rikes, as per usual. It'd been about that time. Emeri Black, a brown-haired farming girl with basically a heart of gold, was now scolding Rikes and getting his hat back. [color=f7941d]"Thanks, Em."[/color] [color=00a651]"No problem. I was just about to call, actually."[/color] [color=f7941d]"Yeah, I know. They know, too. They're really smart, you know."[/color] [color=00a651]"I'll bet. So...which ones do ya think?"[/color] [color=f7941d]"It's Rikes and Ellis, definitely. They've been doing it in the middle of the night, I bet."[/color] [color=00a651]"D'you...think we'll keep 'em long after she has her pups?"[/color] [color=f7941d]"Oh, we've gotta. At least Ellis to raise 'em a while."[/color] [color=00a651]"Isaac...doesn't it bother you that you're gonna lose them, one day?"[/color] He didn't want to think about it, hadn't wanted to think on that, even though it was something he did know had to happen. Isaac knew that some day, he would have to let them go to join their new lives. The thought of losing them...even though they'd be going to good homes... [color=f7941d]"It does, but...I can't do anything about it. We raise livestock, and alot of the little ones are cute, themselves, but...we gotta eat 'em, anyway. I don't know what to think about that, Em. I just don't."[/color][/i] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [b][color=ed1c24]"...and you're absolutely sure it's him? I don't see a collar or anything."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"They never liked collars. You put one on and they'd walk backwards for like twenty feet before pushing them off and running around like kids, going 'Lookit me! I'm naked!'."[/color] He laughed, but Britta was again struck surprised by the things coming out of his mouth. Rikes was busy cleaning the bowl his food had been on, and then Isaac finally got the vest off of him. It was a parcel vest. It was essentially made so a dog - or in this case, a wolf - could deliver messages and other small materials - like, say, a pistol and some ammunition - back and forth. He was just about to inspect the contents of the vest - It had two small satchels...and a front pocket, weirdly. - when Michael came up and asked about the surprise wolf. Isaac looked up at him and nodded. [color=f7941d]"This is Rikes. I put him and his pack through domestic training so they could be owned by people. He's an Apennine Wolf and...hello..."[/color] Rikes was staring between Micheal, Isaac, and Britta now, doing that thing where the wolf stares and just licks its chops once. Isaac was opening that front breast pocket on the vest to pull out something small and official, going [color=f7941d]"Huh..."[/color] as he read it. [color=f7941d]"Looks like he's Messenger, First Class. Guess they wanted to capitalize on his speed and smarts. Uhh, Britta? Would you get something medical, preferably with rubbing alcohol? I don't like the looks of those wounds."[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"Sure, Isaac."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Let's see what else ya got here..."[/color] The satchals didn't contain anything, except for one message on a hastily-folded piece of paper. Isaac opened up the thing and read. His brows furrowed, and then he lowered his hands with an exhale. It had been from whoever was regularly in charge of Rikes, and it was dated the same day as the gas attack. [hider=Message] [i][b]TO:[/b] Atlantic Federation Forward Command (Amone) [b]FROM:[/b] Observation Post 17 Dear Sir, Following the death of Major Willis, the Imps have grown more and more bold in this area. It's the Green Fox effect. They start to think they've got a guardian angel on their side, and so they get more brazen in their maneuvers. Tactically stupid, but it's making our position riskier by the hour. I'm recommending a full bug-out from this post to rendezvous with the main force for debriefing as soon as it's safe enough to move. Even if you don't agree, do not send this messenger back, please. No sense getting him killed out here over nothing. Sincerely, Ryan Aldridge, Corporal, AFA OB-17[/i] [/hider] [color=f7941d]"I'm gonna have to talk to someone in command..."[/color] They could be dead already, either by Imperial attack or...or the gas smog, if it had wafted in that direction enough. Isaac didn't even know where their position [i]was[/i]. It [i]sounded[/i] like it was inside the Imperial front lines, but that could've been prior to the gas coming down, and [i]now[/i] there could be an outpost full of corpses who all looked like they'd been choked to death, coughing up blood. Rikes had survived this, somehow. Isaac began to pet him some, still worried but wanting to reassure the wolf. [color=f7941d]"Don't worry, Rikes. You're with me now..."[/color]