Belonging
The second piece I did for Rovest over on FA, and a sequel to the previous one, which you can read here. The continued tale of the growing romance between the wolf Chieftain and a nervous harehound from the Outside who struggles with acceptance from his new "tribe," this was another emotional piece that I enjoyed thoroughly, and hope you do too.
Belonging
_ By: Zeich Wolf _
Has it really been a week since I arrived...?
Rovan lay awake in bed despite it being late at night, staring up at the ceiling in the darkness. The curtain on the lone window in the bedroom was drawn shut, blocking out the torchlight from outside and leaving the room shrouded in shadows. The chubby harehound shifted beneath the grass-mesh blanket that lay atop him, uncomfortable in the humid heat of the Ankar climate, but he moved carefully, trying not to wake the wolf that slept next to him. Roka'rr had been busy all day, still settling into his duties as Chieftain, and had gone to bed after only a whispered "I love you," exhausted from his work. At first the work hadn't seemed so arduous, with only a handful of decisions here and there, but as the first week passed, more and more people came to Roka'rr to ask for permissions, for resolutions to disputes, and other tasks. Though it was mostly decision-making, the wolf was constantly busy running the tribe, and it had become wearing as he tried to adapt to this new style of life.
Rovan looked over at his lover, sleeping comfortably on his back, the blanket over him slid down to his stomach and revealing his muscled chest. The harehound gave a soft smile, thinking back to only a week before; at that time, he would have blushed until the entire room heated up at the thought of sleeping next to such a handsome, strong wolf. Now, it had become routine, comfortable; it helped that Roka'rr was his mate, his lover, his partner. The two of them snatched what time they could, whether it was just before sleep or as they woke early in the morning, but even those few minutes here and there, or at meals, was enough for them; a clasp of paws, a kiss shared, a warm embrace were all that were required of them while they were in this rough transition period of a new village Chieftain.
It had been a busy week for Rovan too; he had been attempting to find his way in the village, find his own niche in which he could work and earn his meals, his home. It was the tribe's custom to work for one's bread, so to speak, and that applied even to the Chieftain's mate, so the harehound had spent the last few days working at several professions, trying to find one he was good at so he could do his part to help the village thrive. Unfortunately, it had only been a string of failures, so far; everything Rovan attempted to do, either he was unskilled at, or his body wasn't suited to the work that was assigned to him. It had been a very disheartening week for the Outsider.
The first attempt was at gathering, where Rovan had been asked to help harvest fruits and vegetables that grew wild in the jungle nearby. Unfortunately, there had been several difficulties in this task; the first was that Rovan hadn't become familiar with the wildlife of the area, and had a hard time recognizing what foods were good to take. Atop that, his lack of directional sense within the Ankar jungle made it so that he often got lost, returning far past the requested time with what meager food he had managed to retrieve, and as a result it was too late to be prepared for the night's meal. The other gatherers had simply referred to him as "a day late," according to Roka'rr, and though it was meant playfully and endearingly, it also meant he wasn't keeping up with the duties that had been asked of him.
Disheartened, Rovan had instead tried to get into the kitchen, as he at least had some experience at cooking. The cooks, mostly female with a smattering of smaller males, all looked at his weight questioningly, wondering if he was going to cook, or had just come to eat. The harehound had tried his hardest to keep up with the others as they prepared several of the day's meals, watching carefully and attempting to mimic their preparations, but he had a hard time making the stews and breads that the others were so skilled with. It didn't help that he was an Outsider; unable to speak the language, he couldn't ask for help, and since their spices and herbs weren't labeled and he didn't know them by sight, the harehound just ended up overdoing his seasonings on several dishes. Finally, he was directed to cut fruits and vegetables by a frustrated cook, who seemed upset with his failure to understand.
His latest attempt had been with the craftsmen, who were split into two groups: the weavers and the builders. The weavers were those who took the grass and vine fibers and wove them to make blankets, bed-mats, curtains, and doors, not to mention clothing. The builders, on the other hand, were in charge of working with wood, crafting tables, benches, chairs, and houses in general. A glance at Rovan's soft frame had gotten the harehound immediately directed to the weavers, who attempted to show him the patterns for what was considered a "simple loincloth" to them. Unfortunately, his attempt ended up looking like a bunched-up belt; Rovan's thick fingers were not suited to delicate work, and he was left embarrassed at the result as the other weavers held up his failure and joked about it in words that the harehound did not understand.
That last attempt had been his failure for the day, and Rovan had retired, disappointed with yet another mess-up. Roka'rr had come in to see him sulking, and had taken his lover in his strong arms, the wolf whispering words of encouragement in the harehound's ears. They felt hollow, but optimistic; the Chieftain believed in his mate, and even though Rovan felt down about it, he could feel the hope in Roka'rr's words. They had exchanged a brief kiss before retiring to bed, the wolf complaining about how tired he was after a long day of dealing with village matters, and joking that he had liked it better when he was just a hunter under his father's time as a Chieftain, that it was less tiring.
Rovan let out another sigh as he shifted under the blanket again, turning on his side and staring at the wall. He hoped things got better, he truly did; the other wolves seemed unhappy with his presence at times, and while they weren't hostile, it was obvious that he was becoming less and less welcome despite being the Chieftain's mate. Even the pups, who often helped with gathering or weaving, were doing far better than he was, which only served to humiliate him further. How was he supposed to prove he was good enough to be their leader's lover if he couldn't even match the youngest of the wolves in the village? At this rate, was he even fit to stay in Ankar? It didn't seem so.
The harehound rolled over again and closed his eyes, trying to get some rest. He'd have another attempt tomorrow, and maybe he'd have some decent success this time. Sighing, he let his breathing slow as he drifted off into sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the window as the curtain was pushed aside, shining across Rovan's face. The harehound let out a groan and tried to roll over to go back to sleep, but an insistent growl from Roka'rr, playful and authoritative, suggested that it would be best if he woke up now. The harehound yawned loudly, and swore to himself that he'd never get used to the early mornings. Life in the Ankar village started a little after sunrise, and every day was filled with a number of tasks to be done. Rovan was used to waking up around three hours later, sleepily preparing for another day at the store, and then half-dozing between customers. Here, he couldn't be nearly as lazy.
"C'mon, sleepyhead." Roka'rr's English had still managed to improve even after returning to the village, and he had picked up a few idioms from their conversations. "Today's a new day, and it'll be an interesting one; Father wants to speak with you. It seems he has another idea for how you can contribute, so you'll be spending the day with him while I'm busy running the village."
Rovan grumbled sleepily, but sat up as he rubbed at his eyes. Roka'rr's father wanted to speak with him? A mental image of the big wolf came to mind, his lightening fur framing a body that only served to worsen the harehound's morning issues. Blushing softly at the thought of one-on-one time with Krag'rr--he didn't know what it was, but something about the older male was just... attractive--Rovan pushed himself out from under the covers, fumbling around for the loincloth he wore now, as per the village customs. The hybrid had attempted to stay with his normal clothes, but the heat of the jungle made that implausible, and in time he had been swayed by his lover to dress like the rest of the tribe. He still felt embarrassed going shirtless everywhere, and the loincloth ended up being a tad too small for him; it squeezed around his middle, causing his belly and sides to bulge over it, and it always felt too short, as if one wrong move would leave him exposed, despite Roka'rr's insistence that he looked fine.
Once he was dressed, the harehound followed his lover out into the living room of the hut, where he saw Krag'rr was already waiting. The older wolf was sitting in his custom-sized chair that had been made specifically to house his bulk; at over four hundred pounds of bulk, he wasn't going to fit in a standard seat. The wolf was reclining slightly, his enormous round belly sagging and squishing over his lap, hiding most of his loincloth from view thanks to the rolls of blubber sagging over the top of it. The Elder's chin was resting on the roll of fat that was his neck, his thick cheeks squishing around his muzzle as he waited patiently for Rovan to come into the room. The harehound tried his hardest not to stare, greeting Krag'rr with the usual formalities, using his title instead of his name.
The older wolf waved a dismissing paw. "Don't worry about formality today, Rovan. My son was expressing concern with your troubles fitting in here, and thought maybe I'd have an idea of how to help you fit in here." Embarrassed, Rovan started to object, to protest that he could earn his own place in the village, but a deep cough from Krag'rr, a hint of a dominant growl that suggested it was best not to interrupt, stopped him in his tracks. "Anyway, you'll be spending the day with me; I might have an idea as to your place in the village. With luck, you'll be a fellow native in no time. But you have to trust me to guide you, and listen to my advice. Okay?"
Nodding, Rovan took a seat as indicated, while Krag'rr smiled at his son, suggesting that he head off to his duties while the two of them talked. The younger wolf seemed confused, but leaned down to give his lover a quick kiss before leaving as he was asked. Once his son was gone, Krag'rr chuckled and looked over at Rovan. "You know, he's changed since he went Outside. He seems a lot more content, happy with his life. He wasn't unhappy before, but he was always so serious, thinking about his duty and his role as Chieftain. You've really helped him to lighten up a lot, you know that?" Rovan smiled and nodded; he had noticed the obvious decrease in Roka'rr's tension from the time they had met until the present day.
"So, what did you want to talk about, Eld-" Another growl, and a slight raised eyebrow, reminded Rovan that this was meant to be a personal one-on-one talk, rather than a formal one. "Ah... what did you want to talk about, Krag'rr? You said you had an idea about my role in the village. I'm trying hard, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere, and I'm starting to worry that the rest of the tribe doesn't see me as fitting..."
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about." Krag'rr said, leaning back comfortably in his chair and folding his paws atop his body, almost as if it were an eye-level table. "You see, I've been observing the general reactions towards you, and have talked with several of the other tribesmen about their thoughts. The general consensus is simple; you don't fit in. It's not because you're unwilling to try; it's just that you cannot perform the tasks given to you. Part of it is the language barrier, which makes it harder to communicate instructions to help you improve, but there's more to it than that. Quite simply, you're not fit. You're, for lack of better words, fat." The harehound blushed in embarrassment, but he knew Krag'rr didn't mean that as an insult, considering the wolf was far larger than him in belly. "Those with excess weight around here are one of two things, Rovan; they are either Elders, who exchange physical labor for wisdom and guidance, and there are those who are too lazy to do their work. You have not shown yourself to be the latter, thankfully."
"I have been thinking about your situation carefully," he continued, rubbing at the soft tufts of fur around his chin that almost made up a lighter beard of speckled gray and white, "and I've come up with an idea that I think you would do well in. I've spoken with the other Elders, and we've agreed to give you a chance at a very unusual position. We have decided that our lack of contact with the Outside is troublesome, as it leaves those of us within ignorant of changes and afraid of the people who are different from us. My son was telling us of his fear and concerns that he had while he was Outside, and how easily you alleviated them. We were considering making you an Elder, one who is knowledgeable about the Outside, who can help keep the tribe up-to-date with the changes that occur."
Rovan's jaw fell; him, an Elder? "You're kidding, right? I can't do anything right around the village, yet you want me to be an Elder?" Krag'rr laughed, causing the harehound to blush again; though he was used to the older wolf finding amusement in anything, it was still unsettling to be laughed at personally.
"Rovan. Rovan! You don't understand at all; you're the best for this job because you don't know much about the village. You have knowledge of the Outside, skills and experience that make you invaluable because you see through different eyes than ours. In time, yes, you will adapt to our lifestyle, but what matters is that you lived a different life than us, and thus have different perspectives, making you ideal for the position as an Elder." Krag'rr smiled, encouraging Rovan further. "Don't worry, you won't be thrust into the position right away. We Elders train each other for a month before we take the position; what did you think I did all that time while Roka'rr was away? And since it's the duty of the Elder before to train the new ones, that means it's my job to train you, if you want to accept the mantle of responsibility."
Rovan's mind spun; he was going to undergo a whole month's training under one of the two hottest wolves in the village, while being the mate of the other? It seemed like a dream come true, even if his daydreams of the former would probably be unrequited. But was he even good enough to become a major advisor and informant within the tribe, just because he was from the Outside? Would he be able to adapt and provide sound advice, or would he fail as badly as he had done so far? The harehound took a few minutes to consider, standing and pacing back and forth, trying to decide how best to answer. Half of him wanted to scream "Hell yes!" at the offer, as it would give him some personal time with Krag'rr, while the other half doubted and questioned such a quick decision.
Finally, the harehound made his choice; taking a deep breath, he replied. "...Alright, if you think I can do it... I'd like to try." His features were resolute, his expression set. "I really want to earn my place in the village, become a real member of the tribe. I feel like a burden, like I don't have any respect here... if I can change that, then I'll try anything."
Krag'rr's grin showed that he had expected such an answer, and he nodded at Rovan. "Good, good! We'll leave this evening. I've already packed your bags, but I'm sure you want to say goodbye to Roka'rr for a while." Rovan's eyebrows raised in surprise; he had to say goodbye? Krag'rr noticed the harehound's expression, and his own look became serious. "Ah yes, I forgot to mention. The training is held away from the village, at a special location that is known only to us Elders, and it takes a month to complete. You will be away from the village, with no contact in the meantime. But it will be worth it, wouldn't you say?"
"But..."
"Rovan, give it a shot. Roka'rr will understand." Krag'rr's smile was back, though it was soft and warm instead of his usual laughter. "And I think he'd be proud of you; an Outsider who not only impressed him enough to be his mate, but also an Elder as well." Rovan still felt doubtful; he wasn't worried that Roka'rr would be upset, though he knew the wolf would miss him. Instead, the harehound was worried that he'd grow homesick for his lover before too much time passed. "Why don't you spend the day with him today? He'll be a bit busy with some work, but I'm sure he can make some time for you. Maybe you two can talk it over."
Rovan nodded, and stood, ready to go out and find Roka'rr, when Krag'rr interrupted him once more. "One more thing before you go... can you help me up?" The heavyset wolf looked a bit sheepish as he rested his paws atop his prodigious gut. "It's a bit difficult once you're an Elder... I'm not as light and strong as I used to be." Rovan finally laughed at the situation, grabbing the big wolf's paw and giving a tug. Krag'rr pulled as well while using his free arm to push himself up, but his pull was stronger than Rovan had braced himself for, and the harehound suddenly found himself face-first against his father-in-law's chest, muzzle pressing up against the soft mounds and his cheeks going bright red.
Stammering, Rovan pushed himself off of the wolf's chest, blushing and doing his best to apologize before simply gripping Krag'rr's paw again. Another tug with better bracing had the wolf lumbering to his feet again, his large gut bouncing and shaking as it sagged over the belt of his loincloth, hanging heavily over his front. "Ah, thank ya, pup." Now that they were no longer talking of serious matters, the older wolf fell back into the habit of referring to Rovan as a son, which he technically was now. He often referred to Roka'rr the same way, calling him "pup," so long as it wasn't in public; the younger wolf often objected, but would smile anyway at the endearing nickname. "Now, you go find Roka'rr and spend the day with him. Let me know your decision tonight."
Nodding, Rovan headed out the door and headed for the central platform that was normally used for communal meals, which was also where Roka'rr held his audiences. The wolf didn't seem too busy today thankfully, with only a few others gathered around to get their Chieftain's wisdom. Two of them were females, likely with a dispute between them, while the remainder were pups that were always present, clamoring for the Chieftain's attention. Roka'rr was patiently talking with the other adults despite the pups making mischief at his feet, wrestling or arguing over who the Chieftain liked best, and as Rovan stood to the side, watching his lover work, the wolf certainly looked like a patient and wise leader.
Finally, as the two females ushered their pups away, much to Roka'rr's apparent relief, Rovan slipped in behind him and wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck in a warm embrace. "Boo." The harehound smiled as he squeezed Roka'rr close. The Chieftain looked up and smiled at his lover, nosing at one of the harehound's floppy ears, before turning sideways to wrap an arm around Rovan's ample waist. "Well hello there, love. Come to make it your goal to distract me from my work today? If so, you're succeeding." Rovan laughed and just squeezed himself close, sitting on the bench next to his wolf and just nuzzled into his neck. The two sat there for a moment, enjoying the lull in Roka'rr's work, holding each other close in a loving embrace.
"So, what really brings you here today, love?" Roka'rr's eyes were warm as always despite that same feral dominance that always seemed to be present. "Surely you're not here to really distract me, mm? Because you do that enough just being my mate; I think about you all day." Rovan blushed at that, happy to hear that he was such a distraction. As a reply, he just snuggled into the wolf's neck a bit more, gently nipping at the skin there, and got a dominant growl back. The harehound knew just how to tease his lover, especially since teeth at the throat was supposed to be a sign of dominance and authority; Roka'rr found it amusing to have his authority challenged by his lover, and tended to turn things around to show that he was and always would be the alpha. Rovan certainly didn't mind those nights!
Finally, after a few minutes of the two teasing each other with playful nips and gentle kisses, they settled down to talk. Rovan explained to his lover about Krag'rr's offer towards becoming a Chieftain, and the month-long separation it would cause. Roka'rr listened attentively, his arm still around the harehound's shoulder as he considered. Finally, when Rovan was finished and asked what his lover thought of it, Roka'rr gave him a warm smile and a nip at one of his floppy ears. "Do you need to ask, love? I think you should go." Rovan blinked in surprise at the ready answer. "Don't you see? The best way to fit in with a pack of wolves is to be an authority figure, a dominant personality. Plus, it'll help if they see my mate as someone powerful. If you become an Elder, then you'll be a big name here, and you'll earn some respect." The wolf then growled and gave another playful nip at Rovan, who blushed at the teasing. "Not to mention you'll become big in more than just name."
At that, the wolf grinned and leaned in close, playfully wrapping his arm lower around Rovan's waist. Roka'rr's paw playfully gripped at the rolls of the harehound's large belly, his fingers sinking slightly into the deep folds. The hybrid blushed, but he sat expectantly, closing his eyes; he knew that Roka'rr had a thing for his weight, and loved to feel his lover's paws roam over his body. The wolf had no shame, either, happily toying with his mate in public, and there was no stopping him once he began. The Chieftain's paws sank deep into that warm belly, hefting and kneading the rolls softly even as his teeth gripped the fat of Rovan's neck, tugging lightly at it in a display of dominance even as he continued to play with the harehound's gut. One paw slowly slid down the hybrid's waist, sliding along those wide hips, before sliding underneath the loincloth and settling atop the curved mound of one of Rovan's large cheeks and giving a firm squeeze that was anything but gentle.
Rovan let out a soft gasp of pleasure at the squeeze, panting softly as he felt a playful tug at his long, bushy tail. Roka'rr grinned, knowing how to tease his lover, and his paw tugged once more at the harehound's tail, lifting it slightly as a suggestive motion before just returning to the hybrid's excessive backside, squeezing one of the round, thick cheeks in his fingers. Rovan bit his lip to hide a moan, but he couldn't deny that he was enjoying every moment of his lover's fingers on his body. Roka'rr had playfully "confessed" during one of their nighttime cuddles that he loved the harehound's weight, saying that it made him soft, warm, and cute. He had also mentioned in passing that he had been eying one of the Elders for a while because of it, which made Rovan blush to think of, especially with the only Elder that came to mind regarding it. But no, that could never happen!
Finally, Roka'rr removed his paws and just held Rovan tight, squeezing him warmly. "I want you to go train to be an Elder, m'kay?" That last word he had picked up Outside, and it was amusing when he used it, as the wolf often stumbled over the contraction. "Sure, you'll be gone for a month, but look at the bright side; maybe Elder training has some good eating to it, hmm?" Rovan couldn't help but laugh, as he had actually imagined something similar himself. "And aside from that, just think about how eager your wolf will be to have our first night of intimacy after a whole month apart... I hope you'll like it a bit rough." That last bit made Rovan's blush return full force, and Roka'rr laughed before giving the harehound a pat on the shoulder. "I'll have Father prepare your bags while we spend the day together, and tonight you'll be on your way."
Once a messenger had been sent to Krag'rr, since Roka'rr was too busy to run back and forth across the village, the two of them settled down to spend the day together. More petitioners came up, and while Roka'rr was busy dealing with them, Rovan distracted the pups. Though he didn't speak their language, words weren't needed to simply play and wrestle with them. Often the harehound let them win, playfully growling as they climbed atop his belly and tried to growl back in playful dominance. Roka'rr smiled thankfully at his mate, keeping the pups busy so that he could do his work properly, and Rovan just smiled back, flipping one of the pups over onto his back and looming over him. The child just laughed and growled back, nipping at fingers that came to rub at his belly and tickle him, and Rovan let out a mock snarl of his own.
The day passed the same way, with the two cuddling in the moments of reprieve that they got, and otherwise just working to solve the usual problems. By the time the sun started to go down and the evening meal was served, Rovan was feeling tuckered out; he could certainly see why Roka'rr was always so worn out, if he had to deal with the same mischievous pups every day. Thankfully, working so hard and burning as much energy as he had was great for the harehound's appetite, and he was grabbing food as soon as it was placed down, much to the amusement of Roka'rr and his father, who wouldn't miss a meal to save his life. The wolves had to actually fight to get to their meal, as was natural among the tribe, and they were impressed at how quickly he had adapted to that particular ritual.
Once dinner was over, however, it was time to go. Krag'rr placed a paw on Rovan's shoulder and pointed to the two large packs he had left by the table. Roka'rr followed that gaze, and saw the packs, understanding quickly. The younger wolf grabbed both of the bags and headed away from the table, with Rovan and Krag'rr following him, the three of them leaving the table behind as they headed towards the village's entrance. Both the Elder and the Elder-to-be exchanged a glance, not sure what Roka'rr was doing, but they continued to follow him as they made their way towards the edge of the huts, no one speaking the entire way.
When they arrived there, Roka'rr put down the packs and turned to Rovan, who was surprised to see tears soaking the normally cheerful wolf's cheeks. Immediately worried, the harehound went to embrace his lover, who returned it tightly, squeezing Rovan close. The hybrid could feel sobs that were held back, even as the tears continued to flow and drip into his fur. He wasn't sure where this sudden burst of sadness had come from, but Rovan suspected it was because he was leaving; he, too, wanted to cry, but he knew he'd be back, and be able to hold his head up high in the tribe, which would make it worth it. They had a lifetime to be together, what was a month? The revelation did little to stem the hurt of departure, though.
After a moment, Roka'rr broke the embrace, reaching up to wipe away the tears with one arm as he regained his composure. "Sorry about that," he gave a weak smile, still upset but a little more calm now. "Father gave me some advice back when I was first training to take his place as Chieftain. He said: 'A Chieftain cannot cry in front of his people, or show any other form of weakness. The Chieftain must always be strong, be proud, be brave in light of all that faces him. The tribe draws strength from their Chieftain, and if he is weak, so are they.'" With that, he gave Rovan another powerful hug, releasing him quickly. "I'm going to miss you, you know that?"
"I'll miss you too." Rovan gave a sad smile back, shaking his head. "But it'll be worth it. In a month I'll be an Elder, and you won't have to worry about people looking down on you or me just because you took an Outsider as your mate; we'll survive for a month, and then we've got forever together, okay?"
Roka'rr laughed softly, not his usual infectious humor, but there was cheer to it anyway. "Look at me, a big alpha, having to be comforted like a newborn pup in the darkness. I'll be okay, Rovan, and I'll count down the days until you return. You better be home one moon from now, though, or I might have to be angry with you when you do eventually get back." The wolf turned towards his father, who had stood back, allowing the lovers to speak and say their goodbyes. "And you, Father, take care of him, okay? Rovan's not one in a million to me; he's irreplaceable. So you bring him back safely in a month, and make sure he'll do me proud." Krag'rr simply nodded and chuckled, folding his paws over his belly.
Turning back to Rovan, Roka'rr bent down to press his muzzle firmly against the harehound's, their lips locking briefly as he gave his lover an intense, passionate kiss. The two of them stood there, enjoying and savoring the moment as they connected on an intimate level, before finally it was broken. Tears were starting to leak from the wolf's eyes again, but he smiled anyway, trying to mask them. "I guess this is farewell, Rovan. I'll see you in a month, hon." Wiping the tears away again, the wolf gave an even wider smile. "I love you, you silly harehound. You be back soon, and make me proud, okay?"
Rovan gave a nod of understanding and turned even as Krag'rr put a paw on his shoulder, indicating that it was time to leave. With a wave to his lover, the harehound started off behind the larger wolf, trying his hardest not to cry as they walked away. A glance back showed the wolf standing at the edge of the village, his silhouette framed by the flickering torches around him. Even as Rovan and Krag'rr moved into the forest, on their way to the secret retreat in which the harehound would be trained as an Elder, Roka'rr would still be standing there at the village's entrance, watching them go. He remained there until they were out of sight, and even then he stood for a few minutes, before he finally went back to return to the festivities with a heavy heart.
The trip took two days, traveling through the thick jungles. Rovan, with his sense of direction completely thrown off in the mass of vegetation and the lack of visible sky, found himself lost within the first hour, but even so, Krag'rr continued unerringly, without pause except for rests or for sleeping in the early evenings. The two of them made good progress on a daily basis, however, and a week in the village had done wonders for Rovan's stamina; though he still couldn't keep up with the other wolves at a full run, he could at least walk a fair distance further than he used to, and his feet were starting to develop calluses to counter the blisters and sore footpads. Krag'rr still managed to keep going far further than Rovan could despite his bulk, however; it was amazing just how much strength the large wolf had beneath the layers of fat that shrouded his body.
The worst part of the travel was, surprisingly enough, that Rovan was always behind Krag'rr, following the wolf closely. The tribal loincloth, while functional in keeping one's privates concealed, did little for a back view, and as a result the harehound found himself staring at a particularly fine rump that bounced and swayed with each of Krag'rr's wide-gaited steps. The thick mounds were like small pillows that squished around a tail that seemed slightly stubby by comparison, but if so, they were pillows filled with Jell-o by the way they shook and wobbled. Rovan was forced to see this rear-view the entire trip, and couldn't fight back the naughty thoughts that rose to the surface as he watched the older wolf's wide backside.
After two days of such torment, however, they broke into a clearing that revealed their destination. On the horizon, maybe a mile or two away, a large mountain rose from the earth. The mountain itself was missing its top, almost like a volcano, though it was dormant even if it had been one at some point. One side of the mountain had a long crack down it, and at a closer look, it seemed to be a lone trail that went up the side and into the valley formed between the peaks. The entire area felt strangely out of place in the jungle, with a clear area around the mountain that made the mound stand out, jutting into the sky. It didn't feel ominous though; rather, it was more like it was made to draw the eye, to be important.
"Here we are, pup." Krag'rr sat down on a large rock with a sigh of relief at getting the weight off of his paws for a few minutes. "That mountain there is Sher'ak; in our language, that means 'star mountain.' The Elders are the only ones that know of this place, and we have many legends regarding its existence. It is said that it was just another mountain at the time, but then a star fell from the heavens, and struck the mountain top. It caused it to erupt, a volcano that covered the area around it in ash and fire. For three days the eruption continued, and it seemed like it would never end, but eventually the mountain quieted and cooled. Afterwards, a Chieftain from our tribe explored the region and found the place where the star had landed, deep within the crater of the mountain. He declared it a holy place, and since then, we have seen it as a place for our Elders to gain celestial wisdom and train in both mind and body for their duty."
"A star, huh..." Rovan's floppy ears perked as his curiosity took hold; back in the Outside, the harehound had been quite the stargazer, taking a tent and a sleeping bag out for a camping trip into the hills so that he could sit beneath the stars without the lights of the city dimming their brilliance. The book he had brought from home, "A Map of Stars," actually had been a reference for him for years until he had learned the individual constellations and the stars that made them up. Rovan had always been fascinated with the night sky, the brilliant stars that dotted it and created a curtain of beautiful lights, glowing across the heavens. To think that one of those had crashed down here... he certainly wanted to see it.
Once their break was done, Krag'rr continued to lead the way. It took about twenty minutes to cover the last mile, but before long they were at the base of the mountain, staring up into the trail that led to the peak. The older wolf held out a long, carved stick that he had made one night while they had been resting, and Rovan took it thankfully; the walking stick would take some weight off of his legs, and help with his footing as they went up the steep trail. There was also a good chance of hidden holes where one could twist an ankle; the walking stick would help ferret those out as well. Once they were set, and rested for a few minutes more, the two of them started up the trail, heading for the peak.
It was rough going for a while, as the start of the pass was pretty steep. Rovan had to watch his footing carefully, as there was plenty of loose dirt in which he could slip and lose his balance. Krag'rr made the climb easily, seemingly unhampered by his weight, agile as any of the younger wolves despite his age and size. Rovan, on the other hand, had to carefully find sections that were less sloped, enabling him to save some energy as he took a slower route towards the top of the mountain. His large feet helped with balance, thankfully, as he could put his weight over a larger surface, but it also made it easier to stub a toe or bump into a sharp rock, and by the time they were halfway up the trail, the harehound's feet were plenty sore.
Thankfully, the trail only got easier as it rose up higher; the slope became more horizontally slanted, making the going less difficult. Rovan found himself able to keep up more easily with Krag'rr, and soon the two were cresting the peak. The two of them had been traveling up the side of the mountain for over an hour, and though it wasn't particularly large, both were at least somewhat winded, and they decided to take a deep breath before descending into the crater. The harehound was out of breath, and paused before he reached the cliff's edge, but even as he rested at the top of the mountain, he was awed by the scene that spread out beneath him.
Below, rather than just an open area of stone and ash, Rovan was surprised to find a large, lush-looking valley that spread evenly throughout the crater. Thick grass spread like a carpet beneath them, painting the floors in a shade of dark green, while areas that look cultivated grew trees and vegetables that looked to all bear edible results; clearly, this valley had been made for occupation. A large lake, likely bubbling up from an underground spring, stood directly in the middle of the valley, and a river stretched out from its far edge to pour down the cliff on the other side of the mountain, cascading down as a roaring waterfall.
"Welcome to Sher'ak, Rovan." Krag'rr grinned at the harehound's surprise at seeing such a beautiful area inside what had once been an active volcano. "We Elders make a retreat here twice a year when we aren't training a new Elder, so we've kept in the habit of keeping this place nice and habitable, and we use it both for meditative as well as relaxing purposes, giving us an opportunity to step away from the village and simply breathe. One of the advantages to no longer being Chieftain is being able to simply rest once in a while; while the Chieftain's duties are without end some days, the Elders are only requested when the Chieftain lacks the proper wisdom to solve a dispute."
"Now, shall we go settle in? I'd like to show you around before it gets dark, because I have something else I think you'd like to see when it does." Rovan tilted his head in confusion at that, but he followed Krag'rr as they continued into the valley, following a line of steps that had been painstakingly cut into the mountain's side on the interior. The two descended quickly, and soon Rovan let out a sigh of relief as his feet tread on thick grass rather than uneven, pointed rocks. It was soothing, and he found himself rolling his toes through the tall green blades before continuing to follow Krag'rr through the valley. The two of them were headed towards a small number of huts that were built in the same style as the others in the village, standing near the lake's edge for easy access to water.
Rovan noticed something immediately. "There's five Elders right now, six if you include me when I'm finished, right?" Krag'rr nodded, wondering where the harehound was going. "Well... those look like one-room huts. What do you do when you all go on retreats? It doesn't seem like there would be a lot of room for five or six..." He paused when Krag'rr let out a loud, booming laugh, but he didn't get the joke, what was so funny about his question?
"Oh, you're so innocent sometimes, Rovan!" Krag'rr flashed a grin to the harehound, and then indicated that they keep walking as he talked. "Let me put it simply. Many of us Elders, since we are older, are often without mates; my own passed three years ago. However, that does not mean that we do not long for interaction, or company; as a result, we widowers tend to come close over time, and all of us Elders are comfortable with one another on an intimate level. It is not considered unusual or wrong in our society for a lone wolf to pair up with another, or even multiple others; in the case of we Elders, we all tend to get together to occasionally relieve some tension with one another." Rovan blushed brighter red at that remark, wondering if Krag'rr had noticed all the looks and stares he had been receiving from the harehound, and was commenting as an encouragement. Was he expecting that they would share a hut?
"Anyway, don't worry about it, pup; let's focus on getting to your training, and we'll see what happens then. If you feel uncomfortable, then by all means, take a hut of your own." Krag'rr's grin grew, and he reminded Rovan painfully of Roka'rr for the moment. "Though I'm sure Roka'rr wouldn't object. I'm sure he's been with an Elder himself in the past, and wouldn't complain about you getting a similar experience." Rovan's jaw nearly dropped at the blunt invitation, and his blush grew worse and worse by the moment. Even more, his ears shot up as he realized the implications of Krag'rr's words. "W-wait, he's..." The harehound blushed, his ears drooping slightly, as he realized he probably wouldn't be Roka'rr's first time.
"You thought he was still pure, Rovan?" Krag'rr's look shifted to sincere concern for the harehound's expression. "I guess he didn't explain to you, then; in our tribe, once we reach sexual maturity, such relations are encouraged to deepen the bonds between our tribe members. If a female bears pups for a male, they remain together as mates. Otherwise, such acts are considered almost casual recreation, and it is not common for a male in our tribe to have lain with at least a dozen others in the course of his late adolescence. We treat physical relations as a form of intimacy that isn't quite personal or private; it is love, and being mates, that marks a sacred relationship between our tribe's members. The connection you and Roka'rr share is what we consider to be special, not whether or not you have lain together."
"I see..." Rovan's ears fell, but he understood; cultures were different from back at home. In the Outside, it was considered lecherous and dirty to sleep with as many people as one desired, and any thoughts of physical relationships while committed to someone was considered taboo. Here in Ankar, however, the tribes were much freer, relaxed about their views on sex within their people, treating only the love and compassion that existed between mates as special and important. Though, that thought did bring to mind one more question. "Then... while we're gone, do you think Roka'rr...?"
"Honestly? No." Rovan blinked at Krag'rr's certain dismissal of the question. "He's been waiting to have his time with you before he worries about attending the needs of anyone else; that boy of mine has been fending off requests to bear the Chieftain's pups for the last week. Honestly, he may not even choose to sire any pups, as he's never had much of an inclination towards females. But I know he'll probably wait until you get back, until you two have had your first time together, before it becomes an issue. He'll be fit to explode by the time you get back--the males in my family tend to be rather fertile, and it becomes visible after enough time with no release--" Krag'rr winked playfully at Rovan, whose blush came back full-force, "...but I don't think you'll have to worry about not getting first dibs on him. After that, you two will have to talk about how you feel on the issue."
"Anyway, enough about that! There's too much to do for you to worry about such things." Krag'rr grabbed Rovan's wrist and led the startled harehound towards the huts, dropping off his bag within one of them and letting the hybrid decide where he wanted to sleep. For the time being, as there was plenty of room, Rovan dropped his own bag off in a separate hut, and then the two of them headed towards the grove of trees that was growing off in the distance as the older wolf continued his tour of the area, explaining about the means by which they cultivated specific plants with nutrient-rich volcanic ash in order to provide food supplies for themselves, even in the mountains. Rovan only half-listened as he looked around, taking in the sights more than the words that went with them.
After they were done visiting the grove, Krag'rr next led Rovan to the lake itself, pointing at an island that stood in the middle of it. "Now if you look there, that island isn't just where the star fell; it's the star itself. The island has a lot of strange metals and rocks in it, ones that we've never seen, so we leave it alone and treat the island as a sacred ground. Each new Elder spends a full day meditating there near the end of his training, in order to add the wisdom of the heavens to one's own wisdom, so that the Elder knows the answers to all that his people may ask of him. This enlightenment comes in many forms, different for every Elder who goes through their training." Rovan nodded, and the two headed next to follow the river.
At the edge of the cliff where the river became a waterfall to pour down the mountain's side, Rovan was directed to a large ledge that stood beneath the waterfall, and the cave that lay behind it. The cave seemed smooth, naturally formed, yet there appeared to be no water within it to make it so; how it formed was a mystery. It was also chilly, though not frigid; Krag'rr explained that this cave was another site for meditation and self-discipline, patience and calm. He also joked that this cave was the reason many of the Elders were so large-bodied; any normal-sized wolf would freeze without the warm padding they had! That was waved off as humor, though; a more sedentary life tended to be the cause behind the general size of the Elders.
At that point, Rovan's belly gave a rather loud grumble, and the harehound blushed in embarrassment at the sound. Krag'rr's ears, no less sharp for his age, perked up even as a wide grin began to cross his muzzle, the machinations obvious in his eyes. An arm was wrapped around Rovan's shoulders as the bigger wolf grinned and grabbed his new protégé, dragging him out of the cave and towards the living area where they would be spending most of their time. "Well now, I do believe that it's time we retired for a bit of dinner, wouldn't you think?" Rovan blushed at the invitation, but he couldn't deny that he was starving; they had been exploring the area since lunchtime without many breaks, and he had built up quite an appetite.
When they got there, Krag'rr indicated that Rovan was to sit and relax at the table. The harehound sat down thankfully, rubbing at his sore feet; he was starting to build the proper calluses for long walks, but the harehound was still getting the occasional blister as they went. Krag'rr went to a nearby hut, which seemed to be in the same style as the cooking houses back at the villages rather than living quarters. Since the two of them were there by themselves, Rovan imagined that the two of them would be cooking and preparing their own meals there. It would be a good chance for him to practice, he supposed, and it would let him develop a few skills even if he wasn't suited for becoming an Elder in the end.
After a few minutes, Krag'rr returned from the hut, bearing a small platter with a disorganized pyramid of miscellaneous fruits atop it. "Normally you'd have to forage and prepare food as part of your training, but seeing as we've still got to teach you how to cook without burning half of the food, I thought I'd at least treat you on your first day. From here on out, though, you'll be eating your own creations, so I suggest you learn fast." Smiling, he placed the platter down before the harehound and headed back to the cooking hut to prepare their dinner for the night. Rovan's ears drooped slightly as he grabbed a few, remembering his first few attempts, but he figured it was something he would get better at over time.
Grabbing the first fruit, Rovan took a large bite out of it, feeling the soft rind tear easily beneath his teeth before he found the fleshy pulp beneath. The fruit's inside was sweet, as were many of the foods around the Ankar region, and the flesh of the fruit was soft, chewy without being like mush, almost like biting into a loaf of bread doused in the sweet juice. The fruits were surprisingly filling, but that was because despite the juice filling them to bursting, they were quite thick and full of their inner pulp, unlike a lot of fruits from the Outside that had a lot of liquid-filled areas or lighter-than-air insides. Rovan finished one, nearly the size of a baseball, and he could feel it settling heavily in his stomach, giving him a nice filling sensation from just that one fruit. It was far from being enough to satisfy either his hunger or his appetite, of course, but it was a start that would only whet his appetite for the rest of the meal.
By the time Krag'rr emerged from the cooking hut, Rovan had made his way through half of the fruit pile, a good six or seven of the belly-filling treats settling within his stomach. The harehound was reaching for another, but he happened to catch sight of the larger wolf emerging from the hut even as he did so, and his floppy ears perked up even as his nose caught wind of the delicious smells coming from the two large platters in Krag'rr's paws. Licking his lips, Rovan awaited his mentor eagerly, recognizing some of the smells; freshly made sweetbread had that honey-sweet aroma around the wheat-and-herb scent in a mixture that could make any mouth water. The other was some sort of meat from a crablike animal that Rovan had only seen a few times, but could be found in many of the streams in the area, along with an abundance of various fish that were treated with salts and spices to preserve them.
"Alright, Rovan, eat up. There's plenty of food, and I've got more cooking, so dig in." Krag'rr's invitation was hardly needed, as the harehound had gotten used to the way things were at the communal dining table; during meals, everyone grabbed what they wanted, and if you wanted something, you had to be fast and grab it before anyone else. It was another application of "survival of the fittest," though there was always easily enough food for all, even considering the large appetites of the heavy-bodied Elders. It was just a race to get to the best and tastiest morsels, and Rovan had learned quickly that if he wanted something, he had to take it for himself. As a result, it was only seconds after Krag'rr put down the platters that the harehound had already snatched up a few pieces of the sweet bread as well as some of the meat and fruit slices, forming them together into a sandwich. The bread was in a less-common flattened version almost like a sweetened tortilla, allowing one roll up meats and small pieces of fruit into a sandwich.
The first bite was already wonderful, a mix of honeyed wheat and slightly salted meat that gave a nice contrast to balance one another out, creating a blend of tastes with a slightly earthy undertone from the bread. The first bite came with the pleasant crunch of the sliced-up fruit and the soft crab meat keeping both the tongue and mouth busy as they worked over the food. The whole sandwich was easy to bite into thanks to the fruit's juicy insides, allowing the harehound's sharp teeth to tear through the slightly firm bread and the mixture of fruit and meat beneath. The entire sandwich just worked together in a surprising blend that would had made Rovan's toes curl the first time he had tried it. Even though it had become more routine since then, it was still quite a treat.
The first sandwich was gone in only a few bites, and so Rovan made the second and third ones together, loading them both heavily enough that he found it hard to roll them up properly and had to reduce the loads slightly. Thankfully the thick, stringy crab meat went really well between the slightly more solid chunks of fruit, allowing him to still layer in plenty of food before rolling up both pieces of the bread into irregularly-shaped wraps. Taking one in each paw, he started to devour them in large bites, alternating between wraps and stuffing his muzzle with the mixture of fruit, bread, and meat every bite. He only stopped to take the occasional breath and to swallow, enjoying the mix of flavors that assaulted his tongue.
Rovan continued to tear apart a fourth wrap before he noticed Krag'rr returning from the cooking hut again. The harehound sniffed at the air slightly, as he realized the wolf had something else in his paws despite a full meal being laid atop the table already. As the Elder drew close, Rovan noticed a large spongy cake resting atop a wooden platter, glistening with some sort of glaze or icing. When the Elder-in-training looked up at his mentor, Krag'rr smiled and placed the cake before the harehound, giving him a friendly pat on the back. "It's all for you, Rovan. Call it your official welcome into truly becoming a member of the tribe. It's a special recipe that I came up with some time ago, and I haven't made it since the day Roka'rr came of age to become Chieftain. It's a treat I reserve for only the most special occasions."
Rovan blushed; he knew becoming an Elder was a big deal, and he knew just how special it was to others, but there was more to it. He was becoming a bastion of knowledge and wisdom for the entire tribe, but more importantly, he was being welcomed by his mate's father not just formally, but personally, and being shown just how welcome he was by the significance of even something as small as a special recipe. The harehound felt tears come to his eyes, and he threw his arms around the bigger wolf's neck in a tight hug, an embrace echoed by the larger wolf for a moment before he encouraged Rovan to enjoy the dish, which the hybrid did with gusto, tearing off a large piece to sample it.
The cake was spongy and moist, soft enough that it could easily be torn off without melting into goo in his paws. It was nice and cool despite being recently cooked, almost like shortcake in its consistency. The flavors were amazing, with the soft, buttery cake covered in a layer of sweet honey and glazed nuts that were crumbled atop it, giving it a slightly crunchy texture along with the softness in his muzzle. Rovan found himself chowing down eagerly, tearing larger pieces out of the cake and stuffing them into his muzzle to enjoy the rich mixture of flavors and textures that threatened to overwhelm his taste buds. He could see why this was such a treat! It wasn't long before the entire cake was done, and Rovan sat back in his seat, his appetite satisfied and his belly full.
As their feast finally began to die down, Rovan saw it was starting to get dark. Krag'rr noticed it too, and quickly pulled the harehound from his feast to show him one last place, making sure that Rovan was keeping pace; he claimed that they had to get to their last destination before darkness. The two of them went up a gently sloping hill in the valley, which eventually rose into a grass-covered plateau that rose just out of the valley's lip, letting them settle above the mountain's walls, with nothing around them but the open air. As they arrived, Krag'rr sat down heavily, and then lay down on his back, pulling Rovan down too. Once they were lying side-by-side atop the plateau, their large frames nearly pressed against one another, the wolf pointed to the sky. Rovan looked up, and his eyes widened.
As the sun fell, and the last of its orange-red rays left the sky, a blanket of black seemed to fill the air. But that darkness was punctuated by hundreds, no, thousands of little lights that seemed to appear out of nowhere, the stars coming out as the sun's last rays vanished. The stars were amazingly clear and bright as they shone all around, and in every direction; since the plateau was raised, Rovan could look any way he wanted to, and still be greeted by more stars than he could count. It was a vision of absolute beauty as the heavens sparkled like brilliant arrangement of glistening diamonds filling the sky, with nothing even daring to dim their magnificence. Rovan was awestruck as he stared into the wonders lighting the sky above him.
"I knew you'd like this view, pup." Krag'rr's voice was soft, almost reverent as he, too, stared up at the stars with undisguised awe. Rovan glanced over to see the wolf's muzzle curled into a gentle smile as he stared up into the heavens as well, enjoying his stargazing almost as much as the harehound was. "I saw that star you have on your stomach, Rovan; it's a special marking, and it's a blessing that shows that the stars will always watch over you, and that you will always be a part of them. Our tribe believes very strongly in the blessings of the stars, and such marks are so incredibly rare that to see them, even on an Outsider, is enough to make our people feel like a god chosen by the stars walks among us. Despite their discomfort with you, Rovan, as that stems from your origin as an Outsider, the people see that mark and realize that you are someone special, someone important to the stars, and they respect that, even if it doesn't show."
"Really...?" Rovan looked back at the sky, his expression thoughtful. "I never thought of it that way, but... I guess I've always been lucky since I've had this star. Maybe there is some blessing in it, some sign that I've been chosen for prosperity or happiness in my life; I never used to think so, but being here, with Roka'rr, or being able to see the stars like this, I feel like my eyes are really opened up." The harehound put a paw on the mark atop his stomach, feeling the soft fur beneath his fingers as he continued to stare up at the heavens. "It's strange, though; I've loved and looked at the stars my whole life, but as I look into them now, it feels like I'm meeting them for the first time. I don't even see the constellations I used to know."
"Really?" Krag'rr looked over at his companion thoughtfully. "Maybe we have different stars from the Outside, too; I don't remember any from when I was out there for my month, because there were so many lights. But it would be fascinating to hear more about the Outside's stars too." With that, the wolf pointed up towards the stars, indicating a particularly bright one. "You see that one there? Trace a line with your finger down towards that one, and then around that..." The Elder pointed out several more in succession, creating a vague shape with his finger. "That constellation is Sera'hi, the Watchful Wolf." Rovan looked carefully and tilted his head as he looked at the constellation, slowly managing to see the shape for himself. "And that one there is Sext'et, the Trickster. And then that one... you might like that one." Krag'rr traced a broad circle with his finger, grinning at Rovan. "I call that one the Harehound's Belly, because it's so round."
Rovan blushed and swatted at the older wolf. "Hey! Now I know you're teasing me." Krag'rr let out another booming laugh, his own middle bouncing and shaking from his mirth, and his infection laughter had Rovan laughing after a moment two. The two stayed up for a few more hours as Krag'rr continued to show his pupil the stars, giving names to certain ones and indicating how to find them in the night sky, while also showing the harehound various constellations and telling stories about them. Rovan was fascinated, taking in every word, learning about the stars that were alien to him and the many tales that involved them.
Once the moon was at its pinnacle in the sky, Krag'rr declared that it was time for the two of them to sleep. Rovan let out a sleepy protest, as his eyes were starting to droop already, but the wolf insisted and helped his companion to his feet after rolling over and pushing himself up as well. The two of them headed back down the hill and headed towards the huts, talking about the stars as they went. When the two of them reached their sleeping quarters, Krag'rr once more offered to share his bed with Rovan so he wouldn't be lonely on their first night of training, but the harehound declined with a bright blush, shaking his head energetically. The Elder wolf just shook his head with a chuckle and headed into his hut, leaving Rovan to do the same as the two of them retired for the evening.
Rovan didn't go to bed immediately, though, and found himself lying in bed, thinking of Roka'rr. What was the wolf doing right now? Did he miss Rovan? Was Roka'rr doing alright without his lover? Worries and homesickness filled the harehounds mind as he rolled over, saying a silent prayer of his own to the stars for Roka'rr's sake, hoping that the wolf would be well while Rovan was gone. After that, thoughts turned to training, and the long month he had ahead of him; alone with a particularly attractive older wolf, who was to say what thoughts would be going through the harehound's mind? What would he do should Krag'rr keep extending invitations?
Slowly Rovan drifted off to sleep, images of both wolves on his mind as he closed his eyes.
"Now, let's review the lesson again." A week had passed, and now Rovan and Krag'rr were sitting at the communal dining table, with the older wolf teaching during their meal. Traditions within the tribe were often passed down orally, through stories and tales, and Rovan had taken to that style of learning quite well. As a storyteller himself, the harehound knew what to listen for, what information to pick up, and where to give his own input as an audience of one. Krag'rr was motioning with a loaf of honeybread that he had baked, speaking between bites as he explained how the Elders and Chieftain interacted in tribal business. "When do the Elders become involved within a dispute?"
"Uh, let's see..." Rovan closed his eyes to try and remember. "Elders become involved when the Chieftain is unable to settle an agreement or lacks wisdom on an issue, at which point, advisement, not commands, comes from the Elder who possesses knowledge of that area, such as war or crafting, and uh... hey!" Krag'rr had scooped up one of the loaves that had been sitting before Rovan, and the harehound let out an annoyed growl at the older wolf, though it was mostly friendly; with how much food was available at every meal, one loaf was hardly enough to ruin one's appetite. Indeed, for the last week, both of them had been eating very well, and had not managed to get away from a single meal without feeling full to bursting.
"Next time remember to speak in the Ankar language." Krag'rr waved the loaf admonishingly at Rovan, then took a large bite out of it, his grin as infectious as ever. "We're trying to teach you to speak like us, and if you keep slipping back into English, then I'm going to have to keep stealing your food." Swallowing, the wolf stuck his tongue out at the harehound. "Thankfully this one is one of mine; stealing the loaves you made isn't much of a punishment yet, is it?" Rovan blushed at the playful jibe, as he had been trying for the last week to master the recipe, and while he was far better than he had been originally--being forced to eat one's own failures at meals tended to be plenty of incentive to learn--it was nowhere near the quality of Krag'rr's own baking, and the difference was obvious in the taste. Rovan's were often a little oversweet, making the bread sticky and a bit soggy, though at least they weren't masses of paste like they had originally started out.
"Right, right, sorry." Rovan switched over to the Ankar language that Krag'rr had been teaching him with some difficulty, his words still halting and slow as he tried to remember the proper translations. The wolf had explained that normally Elder training was supposed to simply be a vacation of sorts to let the mind and body relax to take in the required wisdom, with lessons on the Elder's duties taught orally over meals or during breaks, but because Rovan was an Outsider and had no knowledge of the Ankar traditions, he had to be taught about the culture as well, which included lessons on crafting and cooking, as well as tracking and fighting. The first two were actually taught so that Rovan could perform in such fields should he choose to, while the other two were just spoken lessons for the sake of information rather than performance. Language had also come into the lessons, as Krag'rr wanted his pupil to be able to communicate with the rest of their people.
"Good. Now, let's go back to your review. You know when an Elder is supposed to become involved in a dispute, but now I want you to tell me how an Elder is involved; what is the procedure for settling such issues?"
Another few days passed, and Rovan found himself fumbling with the vine-weave that Krag'rr was trying to teach him, though he was failing abysmally; his fingers were just too thick and clumsy. The harehound tried to explain to him about the issue, but the wolf said that Rovan was only making excuses, and proceeded to sew one of the window coverings with amazing dexterity despite his obvious size. Grinning, Krag'rr had made a lesson out of it; he was going to take down the window covering on Rovan's hut, and if the harehound wanted it back, he would have to make one for himself. Rovan had tried to point out that it would give him a better view of the stars while he slept, but then Krag'rr suggested that his pupil might have a nighttime visitor peeking in on him without that covering. Rovan had blushed and gotten back to work without any more complaints, determined to get it right.
The last week and a half of easy work and heavy eating was beginning to show on Rovan's frame at this point, and Krag'rr had noted it as well, stating vocally that the harehound was really starting to "get into shape." The wolf explained that the Elders were expected to be large of body, as that suggested they were something bigger than a regular wolf, something more noticeable, more awe-inspiring, and thus eating frequently was a ritual for them. That was another goal accomplished by the month of training; considering that most of it consisted of lazing and eating while they shared lessons, it was no wonder that many of the Elders put on weight rather readily. Rovan had just done exceptionally well, as his body didn't have to adapt its metabolism to a new style of eating, and thus he had shown much more progress than expected.
Where he had started out a bit over three hundred pounds, Rovan had certainly put on far more. The Ankar had no scales or way of measuring weight, so instead for determining growth, they used a vine-length system with knots tied so many inches apart, and Krag'rr insisted on checking the harehound's waist size every few days to check progress, much to Rovan's embarrassment. Originally, Rovan had been roughly forty-five knots around, but after a week and a half, he was pushing forty-nine, which indicated significant progress! At an estimate, the harehound had to say he was probably weighed about three hundred and sixty pounds now, which meant he was growing far faster than he had ever thought possible. The heavy and sweet foods were probably the cause of such rapid growth, as they were more dense and calorie-packed than foods back in the Outside.
The weight certainly carried well on Rovan's frame, however, and he had seen himself in the lake, surprised at how much he had grown. Still wearing nothing more than the loincloth he had become accustomed to as part of the tribal wear, the harehound's body was fairly exposed; his chest had been fairly flabby and soft before, squishy to the touch, but now the two mounds could legitimately be called male breasts as they sagged downwards heavily, resting atop the hill of his gut. His belly easily filled his lap now, covering most of his thighs as it sat before him, a thick ball of soft-furred blubber that gave easily under the slightest pressure, and it sagged halfway down his thighs when he was standing.
The extra weight had added plentiful padding to the rest of him, as well; the harehound had always had a waddling gait of sorts to prevent his legs from rubbing together too much when he walked, but since he had started putting on weight, Rovan had found that short of a completely bowlegged stance, it was impossible to stop his wide legs from bouncing against one another. His hips and backside had widened significantly too, giving him a much wider pear shape as he had grown larger. Chairs certainly felt much smaller as his large rear started to flow over sides, and Krag'rr had suggested it might be better to start using two soon, lest he find several broken seats beneath him. Thoughts that the Elder was looking at his wide rear had Rovan's face red even as his mind moved to dirty thoughts as a result.
On that same note, the wolf had been more and more insistent that the two of them share a hut. Rovan couldn't tell if it was because Krag'rr had an interesting in the swelling harehound, or if it was simply to get him comfortable with the idea of sharing a room with someone else for the outings that the Elders took twice a year. Either way, Rovan kept declining, though his protests were getting weaker with each invitation. The two continued to sleep in separate huts after two weeks had passed since the beginning of training, but it didn't mean that the harehound wasn't dreaming of sharing the big wolf's bed, father-in-law or not! Many a night passed where Rovan imagined the Elder in all his glory, imagined that large body pressed up against him...
"Calm your breathing, and focus on your thoughts. Ignore the discomfort of your body, and focus on the clarity of your mind." It had been another few days, roughly two and a half weeks into the training, and the two had finally descended into the waterfall grotto at the edge of the cliff. Rovan still noticed the chill despite the extra weight that he had accumulated during his training, his body reaching a little under three hundred and eighty pounds at this point, and he shivered as he and Krag'rr sat on the cool stone, trying to meditate. The big wolf seemed to have no problem with the chill, his body unmoving, while Rovan's quivered like Jell-o as he shivered in the chilly air.
"How do you ignore it so well? I'm freezing here..." Rovan's Ankar had improved quite a bit, and though he was still learning the ins and outs of it, he could speak fairly fluently, with only a few stumbles or mistranslations, making communication easier. Krag'rr had compared his language skills to that of a young adult, one who was not quite old enough to be of age, but he meant it as a complement; what a pup would learn over a dozen or so years had been picked up in about two and a half weeks. Rovan still continued to take lessons on the language, though they had now been directed more towards things that he would be using as an Elder, such as formalities.
"It is a little nippy, isn't it?" Rovan gave Krag'rr a flat look at his normal humor, and the wolf just chuckled, resting his paws atop his broad belly. The time had been good for the Elder's body as well, and where he had probably been about four hundred pounds when the two of them had arrived, Krag'rr was probably pushing four hundred and thirty at least, if not more. The big alpha's already broad belly was that much bigger and rounder, a big sphere of soft-furred blubber that kept a fairly round shape to it, with less sag than Rovan's seemed to have to it. The muscles of his chest and arms were far less pronounced now, giving him a far more off-season look with the extra weight, and even his muzzle seemed softer, rolls of fat bunching around his chins and neck as he spoke. "But that's because you're focused on your body, thinking about its discomforts instead of thinking about opening your mind, your thoughts to inward matters. Just close your eyes, and concentrate."
Rovan sighed and did so, wrapping his arms about him to try and stave off the cold as he focused on his thoughts. What was he supposed to think about, though? Krag'rr had said to focus on internal issues, important matters within the mind and soul that drew attention away from the body. The harehound tried hard not to think about not being cold, but focusing on avoiding such thoughts only made the chill come up faster, and so instead he turned his mind to thoughts of Roka'rr. It had been two and a half weeks since he had seen his mate, and Rovan was starting to miss him even worse than before; thoughts turned to memories of being held, having those strong arms around his body, that firm stomach pressed against his back, that warm breath in his ear...
"Those weren't quite the thoughts I meant, Rovan, but if they keep you warm..." Rovan opened his eyes in surprise at Krag'rr's sudden comment, and noticed that his body was starting to react to memories of his time with Roka'rr. The obvious tenting of his loincloth was easy to spot, and the harehound let out a gasp of embarrassment even as he crossed his legs, letting his gut settle atop his lap to hide the noticeable bulge. Krag'rr gave a playful grin and a nudge to his pupil, who just sat in silence, trying for the rest of the meditation session not to think of either the cold or Roka'rr, no matter what it took.
That night, Rovan found himself lying restlessly in bed again. It had been the same for the last two and a half weeks; he had become so accustomed to having someone next to him, holding him close in sleep, keeping him warm and secure, that sleeping alone just felt so unusual, making it difficult to sleep. The harehound missed Roka'rr fiercely at nights, wishing that the wolf were there just to hold him tight during the night, and his absence felt more and more noticeable by the night, to the point Rovan was having difficulties sleeping more than a couple of hours. He tried to hide it from Krag'rr, but the harehound was becoming more and more worn from insufficient rest, and it was starting to catch up to him in his training. At this point, he even considered accepting the wolf's invitation.
It wouldn't be anything but sharing a bed together, right? We don't have to do anything, no matter what Krag'rr claims happens between Elders. Part of Rovan's mind was sure that it was just a friendly closeness, a sense of close community that the Ankar tribe had, but the other half wasn't so sure. It's not like I'd do anything anyway, right? I mean, it's my mate's father... no matter how handsome he is, it wouldn't be right, would it? And what would people think of me if I slept with both father and son? Certainly that's incentive enough to keep my thoughts and my paws to myself.
Still uncomfortable, but firm in his decision, Rovan sighed and rolled over in bed, grabbing his loincloth and tying it onto his frame. The vine length was becoming harder and harder to secure of late with his increased weight, and the harehound was worried that he'd outgrow his before long. He could ask Krag'rr if he could borrow one of the wolf's own, though the thought brought an even worse blush to his face as dirty thoughts crossed his mind. No, it would be far better to weave his own in time! Thankfully Rovan managed to secure his around his wide waist with careful adjustments, and soon he headed out into the night, crossing the dirt pathway towards Krag'rr's hut.
The night was silent as always, without a single sound aside from the wind blowing through the small openings in the valley wall. Rovan shivered as he walked through the darkness, chilled slightly by the evening temperatures. He had to be careful as he walked, as the ground was uneven, and it was easy to trip in the darkness. Now that he had resolved to share the hut with Krag'rr, the harehound wished he hadn't picked a hut so far away from the older wolf. Stumbling about, with nothing to light his way but the mostly-full moon shining overhead, the apprentice Elder slowly made his way towards the furthest hut, the one that Krag'rr had chosen for his sleeping quarters.
When he arrived, Rovan peeked inside carefully, pushing aside the leaf-woven curtain that functioned as the building's door. Even in the darkness, he could make out the silhouette of Krag'rr's large form settled on the woven reed mattress, sleeping heavily. The harehound hesitated for a moment, not wanting to wake the older wolf, but he knew that if he went back to his hut now he'd be unable to sleep for the rest of the night. Slowly Rovan made his way forward, tiptoeing carefully so as not to wake Krag'rr from his sleep. It probably wasn't necessary, as the wolf appeared to be prone to snoring, and his loud snorts and grunts certainly made enough racket on their own.
Finally, Rovan slid himself down beside Krag'rr, feeling the warmth of the wolf's large body as he drew close, trying not to wake him through contact. It was difficult, as the Elder took up most of the bed while lying in the center, and he didn't seem inclined to roll over. Rovan found himself on the edge of the mattress, wrapped in the blanket he had brought with him from his own hut. He was just sharing a hut for the sake of proximity to another person, right? Rovan justified it in his mind that he just had grown too used to sleeping with someone else rather than sleeping alone. There were no ulterior motives, and certainly no inappropriate thoughts running through his mind... at least, he pretended that much was true.
Being close to Krag'rr did indeed help, however; Rovan found himself relaxing more easily with another's presence near him. Rolling onto his side and facing away from the older wolf, the harehound could just imagine it was his lover, could imagine Roka'rr's strong arms wrapping around him. The harehound closed his eyes, settling into sleep, feeling those warm limbs squeezing him tight, pulling him back, and he settled against the soft fur of the wolf's chest, feeling his body shift beneath the thick pelt that covered it. It was so warm, so soft, so gentle; in Rovan's fantasy, he felt so small, being held so easily by his lover. The harehound let a content sigh as he settled into that embrace, slowly falling asleep.
"I knew you'd come eventually, pup." Rovan jolted upright to find that there were indeed arms around him, but they weren't Roka'rr's; Krag'rr had pulled the harehound into a close embrace, his heavy frame soft and buoyant as the smaller hybrid rested against it. It was like a soft, cushiony pillow, and while Rovan found himself immensely comfortable, he still jumped up in surprise to find himself being cuddled by his mate's father. "Don't worry, Rovan. I wasn't doing anything; you seemed to desire being held, so I couldn't do any less but comply." Rovan blushed; he had been so lost in his half-dream that he had imagined himself in Roka'rr's arms, and it had indeed been relaxing, enough to have the harehound falling asleep immediately.
"C'mon now, Rovan. I won't bite, and you seem to rest a lot easier with someone holding you." Krag'rr smiled warmly at the harehound, playfully ruffling his headfur. "Don't worry, I won't do anything you don't want. We'll just simply sleep, and that's all there is to it." Rovan blushed again; it was exactly what he wanted that he was afraid of! Quietly, though, he settled back down as Krag'rr moved over slightly, making room for the harehound to lie atop the mattress more comfortably. Once Rovan was settled into a better position, the larger wolf wrapped his arms around his protégé once more, thick limbs resting around the harehound's waist and shoulders as Rovan was tugged back into a more comfortable position. The hybrid felt his head rest softly in the groove of Krag'rr's large, soft chest, the padding and fur together making it a cushionier pillow than any he had laid on before.
The two settled to sleep in that position, with Krag'rr nuzzling his chin in between Rovan's ears. The harehound found himself settling in closer, feeling that warm body pressed against his, the security of those arms around his chest. Letting out a content sigh, he let himself forget that it wasn't Roka'rr, promising himself it was just for this one night. His mate wouldn't mind being dreamed of during their separation, and having a physical body to project that image of his loving wolf on helped. Sure, it was a much larger, softer body that belonged to Roka'rr's father, but the two of them were so alike in their mannerisms that it may as well have been the same person in the end. For now, it provided Rovan the sensation of security and closeness for the night, enough to get him to sleep, and soon he dozed off, comfortable in that embrace.
It would only be one night, after all...
Rovan woke the next morning to find himself alone in bed, though he was unsurprised; surely what had happened was only in his dreams, a fantasy that he had thought up as he subconsciously missed Roka'rr. Sleeping with his mate's father? Sure, there were plenty of idle thoughts that probably should be pushed away, but there was no more to it than that. Yawning softly, the harehound pushed himself up, stretching his arms above his head to work out some of the stiffness in them. Standing, he pushed aside his covers without thinking, and went to retrieve his loincloth from where he normally left it folded in one corner of his hut, so that it wouldn't get wrinkled or torn while he slept.
As he stood, however, the harehound was surprised to find that he had apparently slept in his loincloth, as the familiar brush of the leaf cloth against his thighs informed him. Shrugging, as he must have been pretty tired to fall asleep in his clothes, Rovan pushed aside the leaves covering the door of the hut and headed out into the sunshine, blinking in the bright light momentarily. As he did so, however, he realized something else was odd; everything seemed to have moved from its usual spot, even the dining area. It took a moment for his sleep-fogged mind to catch up, but after a moment Rovan put two and two together and froze, his ears drooping slightly as he recalled the events of his "dream" the night before, and realized that it was no dream.
"Mornin', sleepyhead." Rovan jumped reflexively as he was addressed, but a moment later he noticed Krag'rr at the dining table, already fully dressed, with breakfast ready. A variant on the honeybread that normally was present at any meal, breakfast was a thinner version of the bread that somewhat resembled pancakes topped with mixed berries and a gentle glaze that gave it an almost buttery sheen. Rovan sat himself down at the table even as Krag'rr indicated a spot for him, partially relieved; if the wolf was offering him food, then it meant that he didn't have to cook this morning. His culinary skills were improving, but he certainly didn't like to risk the off-chance his creation of the day turned into a horror!
"Sit down, let's have a talk over breakfast, shall we?" Rovan's ears perked up again before lowering slightly; he had a feeling he knew where this conversation was going. Krag'rr didn't seem upset in the least as he served out a generous portion of the pancakes--they weren't really, but Rovan had come to call them that anyway--out onto a platter before his apprentice. The large wolf sat opposite him as he always did, as he had always believed teaching was best done face-to-face and eye-to-eye. With his own stack of food in front of him, the wolf began tearing in with his paws, as the Ankar tribe didn't use silverware, and started speaking between bites with the same practiced ease he always had.
"I know you're probably uncomfortable about last night," he started after a mouthful of pancakes, "but I wanted to assure you that it's perfectly fine. I know you Outsiders have some pretty quaint customs about sleeping in the same room as someone or relationships between numerous people, but we of the Ankar are a little more... what's the word you'd use... liberal?" Rovan nodded, but he already knew where this was going; Krag'rr had given him a similar talk when they had first arrived, and it seemed he had every intention of giving it again. "But I hope you understand that I do respect that, which is why I wanted you to know that last night meant nothing between us, or anything in general. We shared a bed together, and you were comfortable because you were being held. There was nothing between us in it, so there's nothing for you to feel ashamed of."
Rovan's ears perked up; this wasn't the talk he had expected at all! "Well I mean... we didn't do... I mean it's not like I thought we'd..." He found himself stumbling over his words, trying to get his thoughts together, but Krag'rr interrupted him with a chuckle and a wave of his paw. "No, no, don't worry about it, Rovan. As I said, there was nothing implied in our contact, and there was nothing done but sleeping. You can rest easy knowing that there's nothing that's against your Outsider morals." Rovan nodded, maybe a bit too eagerly, but he was relieved; he would have felt terribly guilty about sleeping with his mate's father had there been anything more implied to it than simply sleeping. Thankfully, Krag'rr didn't see it that way either; perhaps he really hadn't noticed the looks that the harehound had been giving him all this time.
"Now, onto today's lesson." Krag'rr grinned, giving his pupil a pat on the back. Rovan tried to get his mind back on his training again, but he still felt his heart beating fast after what could have been a very awkward conversation. Thankfully the wolf started talking even as he resumed the rest of his meal, forcing Rovan to listen if he wanted to keep up. Still, the harehound's mind would not leave the former topic, even as he stumbled to keep up with Krag'rr's words. Both Roka'rr and his father would be fine with any sort of... interaction, judging by their culture, and quite frankly, it seemed to be casual, rather than meant to be anything private or intimate. Krag'rr himself seemed to be pushing the fact that he was interested, or at very least was trying to open up Rovan's mind to the idea. Was that another lesson, a look at the tribe's cultural beliefs?
But regardless of their beliefs, Rovan's own still held firm, and that made him uncomfortable. He had been raised his whole life telling him that sleeping with multiple people was a bad thing, especially when you were committed to one of them. Atop that, a relationship with the father of his mate, of all things, was certainly questionable! Rovan found himself ashamed of his interests, the looks he had given to Krag'rr, yet he could not deny how he felt either. That just added to his guilt, making him wish that he could control his longings for the handsome wolf. The harehound kept telling himself that Roka'rr wouldn't mind, that he would even encourage it, but not even his self-made praise from his lover would change Rovan's mind so easily. It wasn't the same as hearing it from Roka'rr himself, though. Feeling guilty as ever, the harehound resolved to talk to his lover after his training; he thought that he might be able to resolve some of these feelings.
"You there, pup?" Rovan's head snapped up as he noticed Krag'rr looking at him with a concerned expression. The harehound quickly shook his head, assuring the wolf that he was perfectly fine, and sat back to listen as Krag'rr continued to speak. The Elder was talking about the culture of the tribe, something that they had gone over a few times in the past, though only in passing; it was a general subject that touched on many of the other lessons Krag'rr had taught, whether it came in the form of teaching about cooking, meditation, relations with the Chieftain and the rest of the tribe... lessons on culture came up quite often, in fragments. However, today's lesson seemed different from the rest, a cohesive whole rather than smaller individual teachings.
"As I was saying, pup, though I've taught you about our culture in the last few weeks, I've taught you specific instances of it." Krag'rr spoke in fluent Ankar now, rather than using English, as a means of ensuring Rovan had picked up the language sufficiently. Thankfully, the harehound only stumbled over a few words, and understood the rest fairly well. "But today I want to teach you of the overall, a summation of the lessons I've taught you so far. I want to teach you about the main ideal that makes up our tribe's culture and beliefs, to show you what it is to truly be Ankar. It is a lesson that I've been considering the entire time we've been here; after all, how do you teach someone a lifetime's worth of ideals in a few short weeks? But I think I've finally come up with a way."
Rovan nodded as he sat back, rolling up another of his pancakes after dropping a few pieces of fruit into it that had been prepared as a side dish. As the two of them continued eating, Krag'rr continued to explain. "The best way to put it is that the entire tribe functions not as individuals, but as a whole. Everything is about the tribe, not each of us. An Elder is no more important than a newborn pup; though we have our ranks and our social standings, which gives us greater authority, in terms of the whole we are no better than anyone else. That is the biggest thing to always know about the tribe: while it is okay to help one's self, to compete and grow, it is more important to consider the tribe as a whole and what benefits it or harms it. That is our biggest role as an Elder, to understand the impact of our decisions and make those that are most beneficial to the entire tribe. Understand?"
Rovan shrugged noncommittally as he took another pair of pancakes, slathering them with a bit of honey and fruit, letting the sticky mess fill his muzzle as he took a few bites before replying. "So what you're saying is that you're a family of sorts; everyone looks after everyone, right?" Krag'rr gave a hesitant nod, causing Rovan to tilt his head in confusion. The Elder quickly explained. "It's sort of like that, but expand the metaphor a bit. We Elders are like the parents, while the Chieftain is the oldest child; everyone looks out for one another but we have the greatest responsibility. The Chieftain helps and makes many decisions, making it easier for us, but we still have a larger role to play in the responsibility of caring for the tribe."
Rovan nodded as he finished the last of the pancakes, grabbing his platter as well as Krag'rr's, which had been cleaned off even faster than his. For all of his size, the wolf certainly was fast! As one of his many chores, the harehound was in charge of doing dishes, a task that Krag'rr said built discipline. That was always said with a half-veiled smile, however, and Rovan just suspected that the fat lupine was just lazy, though he never said so. After all, who was he to question an Elder? Besides, after all they had done to take him in, it was the least he could do; what were a few dishes in comparison to being accepted into a tribe that did not know him in the least?
As he started cleaning off their dishes in the stream that ran conveniently through the cooking hut, Rovan went over what Krag'rr had told him about his upcoming role as an Elder. He was going to be in charge of the final say in any decision, and he had to do it with the tribe in mind. That was going to be difficult to adapt to; whereas the other Elders had been raised with a lifetime of that lesson, Rovan himself had lived in the Outside, where it was every man for himself. You cared about your own income, your own job, your own health, and that of the few friends or family you had. Here in the Ankar, however, it was a full-tribe effort to live among the wilderness, to work together for protection, for sustenance. There were a lot of differences between the two worlds, Rovan realized; would he be able to so easily adapt to such a role?
After finishing the dishes, Rovan headed back outside to find Krag'rr waiting for him. The wolf's eyes were closed, and his chins were tucked into his thick chest as he settled into a half-doze, his usual resting position. The harehound had to smile at his mentor's laidback attitude; with how much he slept and ate, was it any wonder that he was as large as he was? Of course, his laziness was not to be mistaken for a lack of alertness, as Krag'rr's eye popped open casually upon Rovan's arrival. The big wolf smiled and stretched as he woke out of his "nap," scratching at his large belly idly and causing it to shake slightly as he did so. Rovan did his best not to blush; he had learned to control the frequency of his embarrassment over the last month, as Krag'rr seemed to almost intentionally tease him at times.
"Something on your mind, pup? You look thoughtful." Rovan nodded and sat down opposite the wolf, settling himself into place for a moment. After the weight he'd put on during his training, the harehound had found that the way his body settled was far different. He had to lift his belly up somewhat to get his legs beneath the table, and then had to move slightly unless he wanted his broad middle to constantly press up against the table, which usually became uncomfortable and chafing after a few minutes. It had been hard to adjust to at first; though he had been a bit chubby in the Outside, Rovan's weight had positively soared since he had come to the Ankar, and it had made for some changes.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about something. At what point do we draw the line between the good of the tribe and our own good? Do we see ourselves as part of that tribe whose welfare is important, or are we separate, giving up our own good for the sake of the tribe?" Krag'rr seemed impressed by the question; his eyebrows raised slightly and he sat up completely, both eyes open now as he came fully alert.
"That's a good question, Rovan, a very wise one." Krag'rr folded his paws over his large belly, getting himself comfortable; while Rovan had an easier time at the table thanks to his soft, slightly sagging belly, the older wolf had quite a round and protruding gut, meaning that he had to find a balance between resting his middle on the table or just against its side, lest he be uncomfortably jabbed. "And it's one that many of us Elders have thought about throughout our training and growth too. You see, when I say we focus on the 'good of the tribe,' it's as you said: we're part of that same tribe. Naturally, we don't choose selfish actions that hurt those around us, but at the same time we're not sacrificing ourselves to better another person either. It's a balance you will learn as you actually experience life as an Elder, though I'd say the question alone suggests you're off to a good start."
Rovan blushed at the compliment, but he didn't even try to suppress that one; he was genuinely pleased by Krag'rr's statement. However, before he could thank his mentor for the praise, the wolf pushed himself away from the table with a grunt and stood, stretching once more. "Alright, enough talk for right now. Today's lesson is another cooking one; I promised Roka'rr I'd make you a passable cook by the time we were done here, and I'm falling behind on that. We need to teach you to prepare the crab meat properly, instead of clumped and mushy..."
Finally, it was the last three days of the training. Rovan looked back at the time he had spent training under Krag'rr with wonder; he had really changed in the last month of hard work. While he was still the same shy, somewhat clumsy harehound, he had learned many things, from cooking to mediating. No longer was he struggling to understand a few choice words of the Ankar language, now speaking it fairly fluently if somewhat haltingly at times. It was amazing just how much could be learned in a month, especially with a teacher as patient and accommodating as Krag'rr had been. The wolf claimed, however, that it was as much the student as it was the teacher, and that bit of praise had been just another trigger for poor Rovan's embarrassment.
Now, however, was the biggest and most important part of his training. Krag'rr had told him the night before, as they were settling into bed, that he would be heading out to the island on the lake where the star had fallen and spending an entire day meditating there. He would be provided food and drink, but besides that he would be left alone on the island to think and ponder his role as an Elder. Krag'rr had said that Rovan would be seeking wisdom, though he had been purposely vague in doing so, refusing to clarify just what sort of wisdom was supposed to be received. The harehound, confused but understanding that it was some sort of personal achievement, had just nodded and accepted it with minimal explanation.
That morning, Rovan found himself in a large boat, some odd cross between a canoe and a raft, heading across the lake. The craft was long and thin, with raised sides, but seemed almost like slightly-carved wooden branches lashed together with vines and sealed with some kind of resin to make it waterproof. It was a strange craft, yet the boat worked marvelously well, though it sunk a foot or two when Rovan stepped into it ahead of Krag'rr. He looked at the wolf nervously, wondering if such a vehicle would hold them both without sinking, but the large-bodied Elder climbed in without hesitation, not even pausing as it sank even further for a few moments before bobbing back up to the surface.
"Heh, they don't make boats for fellows of our size, it seems." Rovan gave his mentor a wry look at the comment, but either Krag'rr didn't notice it, or he simply ignored it. The wolf simply grabbed a pair of paddles and tossed one to Rovan before dipping his into the water and starting them towards the island in the center of the lake. They rode in silence, as the harehound had plenty on his mind to think about: what sort of wisdom was he going there to receive? What sort of revelation was he expected to find? There were a lot of questions on his mind, but Rovan had the feeling none of them were going to be answered; this was his personal experience, one that he would take something from that no one else did before him.
The sounds of softly splashing water were oddly hypnotic, so much so that Rovan didn't even notice as the boat bumped against the island's shore, only coming too when Krag'rr shook his arm. "Hey, we're here." Looking up, the harehound nodded and quickly shifted, standing up to make his way over to the island. The boat rocked a few times, and Rovan climbed off of the side onto solid land quickly lest he roll the craft over. The island's shores were more like cliffs, really; when standing in the boat, they were about shin-high, but they dropped off into the deep portions of the lake immediately after. There were no gradual slopes, only complete drops that could soak anyone unwary enough not to step from the boat onto the island, but Rovan had been forewarned and had not fallen for the deceptive drop himself.
The island itself was not large; though it was in the distance, Rovan could see the far shore, and to either side the waterline was visible as well. There was plenty of space for walking around without feeling trapped or crowded, which was good; Krag'rr had said that meditation was not limited to just sitting and thinking, but a more personal look inwards, to find the knowledge that he was seeking. Ankar lore said that the star itself was the key to unlocking that revelation, a sense of knowledge granted from the heavens above, and that staying on it for an extended period opened up one's mind to inner knowledge. That was why Rovan would be staying for a period of at least twenty-four hours, though the stay could go on longer if he didn't find his answers within that first day.
"Well... here we are." Rovan turned in time to have a small pack tossed at him, which he caught quickly. Pulling open the flap, he saw several wrapped packages of sweetbread as well as a single cake placed on top; these were his rations for the day, it seemed. There were also three flasks of water tucked into the sides, and a thick blanket for if it got too cold. Of course, the weather had been mild for the last month, but Rovan appreciated the forethought. Krag'rr gave him a polite nod and a smile. "I've also included some firewood and a flint at the bottom, but there's not much; after meditating in the cave as much as you have, you shouldn't need it. If you've found your revelation or you want to end it early, just light a fire on this side of the island, and I'll come get you."
Rovan blinked, but he realized that made sense; Krag'rr wouldn't be staying on the island with him, and would be taking the boat back, leaving the harehound completely stranded. That was probably an isolation technique, one that would leave an Elder-in-training with no distractions. Still, it was a sudden transition, and Rovan felt his throat tighten in anxiety; he was going to be all alone on the island, by himself without anyone around for the first time in almost two months since he had come to Ankar. It was a strange feeling, as the harehound had gotten used to having someone around at almost all times; this wasn't like back in the Outside, where he had maintained a lonely apartment by himself at all times. No, Rovan had become accustomed to the presence of others, and suddenly being alone again was almost frightening. He almost wanted to quit, to tell Krag'rr to forget the training.
But the harehound kept his mouth shut; he didn't want to come back a failure, a disappointment to Roka'rr. He could almost see the look on his lover's face, one that almost broke his heart, and because of that he said nothing. Instead, Rovan gave his mentor a strong smile and just walked away without saying anything, heading towards the center of the island. The sooner Krag'rr left, the sooner Rovan could begin his meditation in earnest. The harehound didn't know how he was going to begin, or what to expect from this session of solitary meditation; how was he going to know when he was done?
Hearing the sound of water splashing, Rovan looked over his shoulder to see Krag'rr climbing into the boat again, his back to the harehound. Rovan watched as the wolf dipped his paddle into the lake and immediately began rowing away, not even looking back as he went. Krag'rr really had a lot of faith in him, Rovan realized, as he hadn't bothered with comforting words or advice. The Elder really expected his pupil to pull through on his own, to find that inner revelation and take his place among the other Elders in Ankar. Rovan just hoped he wouldn't disappoint, but his heart was still a little heavy as he realized he still had no idea how he was going to start, let alone succeed. Still, there was nothing to do but begin. With a sigh, Rovan headed towards the middle of the island, wondering just how a star was supposed to teach him anything.
The walk was a short one, and soon Rovan found himself standing at what he guessed was the center of the island. There was a large stone there, a slab nearly a dozen feet across, that was still a part of the island, and it was covered with small marks that almost made it looked as though it had been chiseled out of the ground. It was just a small waist-high platform, almost like a seat without arms or backing. The sides were smoothed out for the most part despite the markings across them, making it appear to be a very comfortable resting place. Likely, many Elders who had done similar training had used this stone for a place to meditate and think about what it was that made them Elders, or whatever their "special revelation" was about.
Seeing as it was as good a place to start as any, Rovan took his pack and set it down next to the stone before pulling himself atop it himself, sitting on its edge. He didn't feel any different and didn't have any strange or mystical thoughts running through his head, as one would think a star-inspired wisdom would cause, so clearly there was nothing special about the stone. Instead, it was a place of rest, a common area in which all of the Elders-to-be would sit and gather their wits. Shrugging, the harehound looked up at the clear sky above him, as if it would inspire the wisdom that he was looking for. Still nothing came to him, no wisdom or knowledge or answers to the questions of the universe.
With a sigh, Rovan flopped onto his back in frustration, wondering what to do. As he did so, however, he felt a roughness, and quickly sat up again before looking over behind him. On the surface of the stone, there were scrape marks that looked either like claws or a sharp stone had been dragged lightly against the center of the stone, and on a closer look, the markings formed into letters and words in the Ankar language. "In the moon's glow, look to the gaze of the Watchful Wolf, and let the stars guide you to your wisdom. Trace from eyes to heart, from heart to hand, and from hand to eyes once more to discover your wisdom." Rovan's ears perked up slightly as he read the inscription on the slab, running his fingers over it as he pondered the words. What did it mean?
Frowning, the harehound continued to run his fingers over the words, pondering quietly. It was obvious that this was a riddle of sorts, some way to answer his search for wisdom, yet it was cryptic in its meaning. The first part mentioned the moon, perhaps requiring it to be nighttime? If so, he would have to be waiting for a while, as it was at least another hour or two until noon, and then quite some time after that until nighttime fell. That would give plenty of time for self-reflection, he supposed, a chance to re-evaluate himself after all of his training. Rovan had done little bits of it here and there, wondering how he was doing, concentrating on his day's lessons and his own interpretation of his progress in them. He hadn't really thought of it overall, however, and viewed his progress as he continued his training.
"Well, I suppose I have all the time in the world right now, huh?" Rovan asked himself as he laid back down on the slab, shifting so that his back was to the smoother section of stone rather than across the writing. He thought of himself before the training, before he had even come to Ankar: he had been shy, antisocial, and bored of his daily routine, as he had just been getting by rather than accomplishing anything or trying to move forward. His life had been stagnant and without progress for at least the last three years, and it didn't look like it would be changing anytime soon with his single status and his lack of inclination towards finding a real job.
But that had changed when Roka'rr had come into his town on his month-long journey into the Outside as part of his rite to become Chieftain. The wolf had stumbled into the store, tired and running low on supplies, and with only limited use of the English language. Rovan had immediately taken him in, both smitten by his appearance as well as his foreign, exotic charm. The two of them had shared the harehound's apartment, and in that time they had become close as friends and then something more as they shared their cultures with one another. By the end of Roka'rr's one-month stay, the two had developed strong feelings for one another, and eventually the harehound had been invited to join the wolf in Ankar as his mate. Since then, things had been changing so fast, developing quickly; it was far different from the stagnant life he had been living up until this point!
And in the last month, Rovan knew he had changed in a number of ways. Though it wasn't immediately obvious, he had become more confident as he had slowly learned the ways of the Ankar culture. His skills were still a bit lacking, but he was making large steps towards learning the lifestyle, something he would not have been able to do just living in the village as he had. This month away with its one-on-one training had done wonders, and Rovan was starting to understand what it meant to be part of the tribe; everything he did was beneficial either to himself or another tribesman, from weaving clothing, preparing food, or gathering ingredients. Even his ability to make decisions as an Elder were beneficial, even as it pertained to knowledge of the Outside; everything he did was for the tribe, instead of for him. It was amazing, the changes he had gone through.
Rovan spent the rest of the day reflecting on a number of things, as he had several hours until he could decipher the riddle on the stone. He thought about his future mostly, what he would be doing as an Elder. He imagined himself doing his job, making others happy, but he also imagined it being a difficult task too. He was the first Elder to represent the Outside, and as a result, he would be a source of knowledge that was almost completely foreign to the Ankar tribe. Rovan expected he'd be fielding questions for a while to come, meaning his job would not be boring; he would be describing all of the "oddities" of the Outside like its technology and its cultures. Certainly his role would be a busy one, and would be setting the groundwork for any similar Elders in the future.
He also thought about his future with Roka'rr. Rovan imagined that the wolf would be pleased if his mate came back as a successful and well-educated Elder, one who could commit to and provide for the tribe while still being the lover to a certain lucky Chieftain. He imagined many things about the two of them, their relationship and their bond as it would grow over the years, not to mention their physical intimacy. The last had the harehound's face red for a good twenty minutes, but as he was alone on the island he did take at least a few minutes to imagine that. But most of all, Rovan just thought about how blessed he was to have such a loving and understanding mate, one who took him in and gave him a new life away from the dull and mundane existence he was used to.
The day passed quickly as Rovan walked the island, occasionally resting and occasionally making a small meal from the rations Krag'rr had left him. Lost in his thoughts, in his reminiscing, the harehound hardly noticed the time, and soon the sun was beginning to set on the western edge of the lake. After a few minutes, Rovan realized that it was starting to get dark; the day had certainly gone by fast while he was lost in thought! Quickly he hurried back to the center of the island, leaving his pack behind so as not to miss any part of what would happen when the moon rose. It wasn't a long run, thankfully, and it wasn't much of an actual run either; it was more of a hurried sway, as running was difficult with Rovan's weight.
He arrived at the stone just as the sun dipped below the horizon, causing the area to grow dark. Rovan didn't have any torches or candles with him, and had left the flint with his pack, so he just sat next to the stone, keeping one paw on it to make sure he didn't stumble around in the dark. Once the moon came out, he'd be able to see far better; tonight was a full moon, and it would light up the entire valley very clearly once it rose in the sky.
Finally the glowing orb hung overhead, casting its light on the area. Rovan climbed to his feet and stood over the stone slab, looking over it quickly. He was disappointed, however; instead of revealing anything, all the moonlight did was cause it to glimmer at certain points, small little clear stones that would not have been obvious in the sun. They were the same color as the rock when looked at in the daylight, but at night, the gentler glow allowed them to show up. They were scattered in no apparent pattern across the stone, but besides that there was nothing special about the rock. What was supposed to happen to help him "discover his wisdom?" Waiting for moonlight didn't seem to be doing anything.
With a sigh, the harehound flopped onto his back on the stone, ignoring the small stones and writing beneath him. He stared up at the sky, frustrated; what had he wasted his entire day for? This stone was supposed to be the answer to his search for "wisdom," but all that the moon had revealed were these glowing little stones. There was no rhyme or reason to them either, as far as he could tell; they were scattered about seemingly at random. With a huff he continued to look upwards as the stars started to come out, slowly twinkling into existence like a thousand little candle lights as the night continued to fall. They weren't being any sort of help; what sort of wisdom were they supposed to inspire, anyway?
Idly, Rovan remembered the second part of the riddle, and looked through the sky for the stars that made up the Sera'hi, the Watchful Wolf. After a few moments he found them, though it wasn't easy; they were an oddly-scattered group of stars, hidden among a lot of other constellations, and unless you were looking for it was hard to find that specific shaping of them. He did eventually locate the group, however, and started to trace his fingers along the shape. It started at the head, which was two stars from muzzle to neck, and then the next one went down to the shoulders. From there, there were two legs, and then following along the body there were two more and the tail as well. It formed a distinct stick-figure animal when the stars were traced, one that was looking downwards, allowing Sera'hi to watch down upon the world.
From there he started to trace the shapes as the riddle suggested. He started by raising a paw and pointing towards the eyes, which was the second star for the "head," and then traced it down to the first chest point, the "heart," and then down to the front paws. Going back up, it formed a distinct triangular shape. As he stared at the stars, Rovan found himself thinking idly once more, letting his mind wander. It was odd, though; as he traced the triangle once more, Rovan thought something felt familiar about the stones beneath his back. He didn't know why he suddenly thought that as he stared at the sky, but the thought would not leave him, and he tried to remember why they suddenly seemed familiar.
And then it hit him; they were scattered about just like the stars in the constellation he was staring at! In surprise, Rovan rolled off of the stone again and quickly got to his feet, looking over the stone. They were all there, every star that made up Sera'hi's constellation! And if that was the case... suddenly the harehound looked around quickly until he located the "eyes" of the constellation, and began tracing it in the manner that had been indicated in the riddle. As he pressed his finger to it, his claw tip found the slightest of grooves in the stone. It was so well-hidden that only a careful touch would have found it, and only if one knew where to look. Excited, Rovan continued to follow the riddle; his claw followed the groove towards the chest of the constellation, down to the foot, and then back up to the "eyes" again, until he had outlined a triangular fragment. In doing so, the fragment popped up slightly, a slab on the stone that had been carefully placed so as to be nearly undetectable.
Removing the slab, Rovan found that it created an entrance that led, surprisingly, into the rock, one that he would be able to fit in, albeit with a slightly tight fit. Figuring that he had come this far, Rovan quickly squeezed himself into the opening, sliding down as best as he could. There was a woven ladder of vines there, one that seemed in fairly decent condition; it couldn't have been there more than a couple of years, if that, and was very stable and well-kept. The harehound lowered himself carefully down the ladder, making his way to the ground about ten feet down, surprised that such a tunnel existed on the star island. Was this some test for the Elders in training, to find this place?
At the bottom of the small descent was a cavernous chamber, roughly twice the dimensions of a normal hut, and the walls were covered in carvings like the stone above. They were all writings in different handwritings, and Rovan ran his paw across them as he walked across the room. He read them as he went along, wondering what they meant. "To be strong and lead my tribe." "To bring honor to my caste." "To protect and watch over the Ankar." "To prove myself strong." They all sounded like resolutions of some sort or another, though why they were carved on this wall, Rovan didn't understand. He continued walking clockwise around the room, reading more of them as he went, surprised at just how many different answers there were to the unknown question.
And then Rovan's paw found a smooth slab, similar in feel to the one above. A small section of stone, almost like a plaque, protruded from the wall, carved as naturally as the stone aboveground had been. On it, too, were carved words in a gentle, careful script: "Here is the knowledge and wisdom of all Elders: the wisdom that comes with the understanding of self and the motivation by which you do your duty. In here, all Elders must record their motivation, the reason for which they want to become an Elder and what it means to be one. Here we work together to discover what it means to be one of the Ankar. Find your wisdom here, and leave it for future Elders to learn as well."
Rovan read the plaque once more, setting the words in his mind, and suddenly he understood what all of the writings on the walls were. Every Elder was driven by a different motivation to do well in their position; some wanted honor and dignity, while others did so because of their dedication to the tribe. Every one of them had a drive, a reason to be an Elder that went simply beyond the lessons taught and the culture they grew up in. That was the wisdom that they were to receive: They were to find their own knowledge and strength to become an Elder. It was a state of mind, one in which the pupils learned what they really wanted out of their position, and learned the confidence to go with it.
With that in mind, Rovan grabbed a pointed stone that was lying on the ground, one of many that had probably been prepared for Elders-in-training to use. He had no hesitation as he brought the stone up to the wall, pressing it to an open spot and slowly carving words into it. He almost started to use his normal English letters, but he paused after a moment, realizing that this was something special, something he should do as a part of the tribe he was now a member of. Slowly he curved his words into the Ankar script, writing out his own personal reasons for being an Elder, and after a minute or two of writing, he was satisfied. The words stood out clearly to him, etched in his heart as much as they were onto the stone.
"To be worthy of my mate's love."
The fire was lit that night, set up on the edge of the island closest to the living huts. Rovan sat in front of it, fanning it carefully so that it would burn brightly, able to be seen across the lake. He had no doubt that Krag'rr would see it and probably head over as soon as he thought it was safe, though it would probably not be until the next morning. Rovan intended to stay up the whole night if he had to, waiting for the wolf to arrive. He wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, not with the realization that he had passed the final test to become an Elder. It was a test of understanding and a test of self-knowledge, but one that Rovan had realized would be vital to his role as an Elder, as it would give him the motivation and the drive to do his best. As he suspected, the night passed with the moon falling while he stood by the fire, keeping it lit. Rovan didn't sleep at all, thinking about his future and what it held.
The next morning had Krag'rr rowing up to the island in the boat, waving to Rovan to catch his attention. The harehound waved back with a wide smile as the wolf pulled up, heading across the shore with his pack in hand and almost jumping in the boat as he came close. Krag'rr raised an eyebrow at his pupil's attitude, noticing a lot more confidence and contentment that had not been there before, but he wasn't disappointed. A smile crossed his lips after a moment as he realized that Rovan had indeed found the wisdom that was set aside to remind the Elders just what they did their role for. Everyone had their own reasons for it, but the point was that being an Elder wasn't just a role; it was a commitment, and one had to be willing to make that commitment and have a reason behind it to keep that drive going.
The two rowed back to the island in silence, but both of them were pleased for their own reasons. A smile was imprinted on Rovan's face, and Krag'rr couldn't help but reflect that same pleasure at seeing his pupil--no, the newest Elder--so proud of himself. The trip went by quickly, but neither of them seemed to notice the time; now, their thoughts were turned forwards, towards the future that they would be seeing with Ankar's newest Elder, Rovan. It would mark a big day when they returned, after all; the harehound would be the first to represent the Outside as an Elder, and hopefully bring a new enlightenment to the Ankar tribe.
"So, are we heading back today?" Rovan asked as they arrived back at the far shore, climbing out of the boat and securing it to the dock. "I've practically been resting the whole day and night, and since my training's pretty much done we might as well head back."
"Tomorrow." Rovan tilted his head at Krag'rr's words, confused. "We'll go back tomorrow, because we always celebrate the day that a new Elder rises to his post. It takes all day to properly celebrate, especially with only two of us here and one of us cooking. You get to rest today while I prepare a nice feast for us to enjoy, alright?"
The suggestion of food was enough for Rovan to assent for now, and he nodded quickly as he licked his lips. Maybe one more day before heading back wouldn't be so bad...
Roka'rr sighed as he drummed his fingers on the communal table, staring off into the distance. He was half-listening to the latest petition that came from a pair of brothers who were arguing over the right to claim a single female as their mate. The wolf had realized quickly that his position was almost like babysitting, with few major incidents ever occurring. In the month and a half since he had assumed the position of Chieftain, Roka'rr had yet to deal with an argument that wasn't either petty or minor. These things could be handled between individuals, yet everyone felt it was the Chieftain's position to deal with such squabbles, and as a result Roka'rr had to hear at least one or two little arguments on a daily basis.
Worst of all, Roka'rr found himself constantly distracted for the last week, thinking about his lover. Rovan had been gone for a full month now, off training to be an Elder, and it would probably be a few more days until he returned. The Chieftain missed his mate, however, and every day seemed to pass so slowly when combined with the boring monotony of his daily decision-making. At nights, Roka'rr found himself having difficulty sleeping, unused to the empty space on his bed. He had spent a whole month with Rovan in the Outside, and though they hadn't shared a bed until they had moved back to the Ankar jungle, he had still gotten used to the harehound's constant and loving presence.
How is he doing now? Roka'rr found himself wondering. Is he doing well in his training? Is Father taking good care of him? How much will he have changed in the last month? The questions flitted about his mind, a constant distraction that often had him staring off in the distance even while he half-listened to petitions brought to him. Rovan was often on his lover's mind, and the Chieftain found himself thinking about the harehound in every spare moment. Thankfully it was easy to make decisions based on even the little bit of information he picked up when listening to the complaints, so even with his absentmindedness Roka'rr had no trouble settling things quickly and simply.
Of course, that was how he had learned about the other part of his job: being Chieftain meant that someone was usually unhappy at the decisions made, because it didn't work out in their favor. Many were good sports about it, often just accepting the decision and moving on, but often enough there were people who just became sullen about not having things their way, and it left Roka'rr vexed when he found people shooting him looks of displeasure at his decisions. The wolf wasn't lacking confidence in his choices, as he felt he was making the best of each situation given to him, but it did upset him that people took things so personally when they were the ones that brought the matter to him rather than settling it among themselves. Unfortunately, this led to him growing irritable in the evenings, and increasingly moody, until he finally had enough and stopped taking audiences for the day. Normally it took no more than three or four to reach that point, and he was nearly to that limit now.
As Roka'rr began to address the two brothers with his decision, beginning to feel a bit exasperated by their complaints, a head poked in the door and interrupted them. Normally such audiences weren't to be disturbed to maintain the personal conversation between supplicants and the Chieftain, but the Elders were an exception to the rule, and the rounded face that peeked through the doorway was definitely that of an Elder. Roka'rr held a paw up to silence the brothers and motioned for the Elder to come in. It was Rela'tr, the Elder for the scouting caste, and a good friend of Krag'rr's. The two Elders had gotten along well in the past, and as a result Roka'rr and Rela'tr tended to be on good terms as well.
After being pulled aside, Roka'rr gave a curious tilt of his head to the Elder. "Is something wrong, Elder?" Rela'tr just gave a knowing smile and shook his head, speaking softly so as not to disturb the two brothers who were waiting in the first room. "No, no, Roka'rr, nothing is wrong. I just thought you'd need a break from your supplicants, as you were starting to get impatient. Besides, we have some important guests arriving at the village that you will want to greet personally. It's the Chieftain's duty to see to such guests, after all; we want to make a good impression. And don't worry about those two; I can deal with it in your place for now. Go greet our guests."
Roka'rr was a bit surprised; he hadn't been alerted of any guests that would be visiting the Ankar tribe, and couldn't think of anyone from outside of it that would visit. It was possible there were other tribes within the jungle regions of Ankar, but he hadn't been told about any such groups. His curiosity was piqued, and he gave a nod to Rela'tr before heading out the door, leaving the Elder to talk to the two brothers and solve their problem. Questions continued to fill his mind, however, as he wondered just who these guests were that the Chieftain would be greeting them while an Elder, who was considered far more important, was dealing with supplicants. Was it just a matter of face?
Rounding the corner, Roka'rr suddenly paused. He spotted two figures standing at the gates of the village, waiting patiently, and immediately he recognized both of them, while at the same time scarcely recognizing either. Ignoring protocol, the wolf dashed across the remaining space and practically threw himself at the nearest of the two, finding himself caught in two large arms. It was a strange reversal of things as Roka'rr found himself wrapped in Rovan's arms instead of the other way around, squeezing his arms around the harehound's wide waist as he welcomed his mate back home after their long separation.
And how he had changed in his absence! Stepping back, Roka'rr was surprised to see just how different his mate was. The first impression was obviously physical; though the harehound had been on the heavy side before leaving, but his time away had certainly helped sculpt his body to be more like that of an Elder's. Where he had been about three hundred pounds before, with a sort of pear shape to him, Rovan's weight had blown outwards to close to four hundred in the last month, maybe a little shy. Certainly that first hug had kept Roka'rr's arms even further from one another than they had ever been before, and where there may have been hopes of his hands clasping before, now that hope was long-gone.
In the past month, how he had grown! In that time, Rovan had widened considerably, broader not only in the middle but even across the shoulders and hips. His whole body was softer, yet it was befitting; his fur was soft and smooth, his pelt left without stretching by the extra weight. His belly hung heavier, rounder, yet it didn't feel like goo; it had a slight firmness to it that gave it a soft curve while maintaining that plush feeling. The harehound seemed even rounder than before, since his height hadn't changed while his weight had, so he was still a few inches below Roka'rr's eartips while being more than a few inches wider at the waist. Still, it was impressive how much his love had changed in only a month.
And it wasn't just his appearance too; even his attitude had changed. Before, Rovan had always had a sort of downcast, uncomfortable tone to his body language. That was attributed to his feelings of being unwanted or unwelcome in the tribe, and he had always been sort of withdrawn because of it. Now, the harehound had his head held high, a smile on his lips as he strode into the village with confidence under his belt. Everything about him suggested ease, suggested spirit, suggested pride. Krag'rr knew that his mate had left home as a scared and timid student, but he had returned to the village capable of calling himself one of their Elders.
The two of them met eyes, their smiles matching, and Roka'rr spoke softly to the harehound. "Welcome home, love."
The welcoming celebration lasted long into the night, with the whole village turning out for the event. Food and festivities were both present in large quantities, with dishes by the dozens, dancing, and fun to be had by all. Rovan had not been to such a party in his entire lifetime, and was thrilled at the electric-seeming attitude of positivity in the air. He had two left feet and thus passed on the dancing, but he enjoyed the food and conversation as he met with the other tribesmen and women who welcomed him warmly now that he was truly one of their tribe. Aside from the congratulations, the harehound had already been surprised by the number of younger wolves who were interested in the Outside and the mysteries that lay beyond it. Many of the younger adolescents constantly pestered him with questions about the strange things that Chieftains had talked about in the Outside, and some asked him about the language and what certain words meant. Rovan found himself thrilled to be the center of such attention, and he happily answered all of the questions thrown his way.
Off to the side, Krag'rr and Roka'rr sat and watched with identical smiles at the harehound's comfort, enjoying his new confidence and his sudden cheer at being so readily accepted. The older wolf reached down to squeeze his son's shoulder, nodding at him briefly before tilting his head to indicate that the Chieftain was welcome to "rescue" his mate from the crowd swarming him at any time in order for them to have some time to themselves. Roka'rr shook his head with a soft smile; he wanted to watch Rovan a little longer, to see the joy in his eyes at being part of the tribe at last. It gave him time to think as well, but they were happy thoughts of the future and the roles the two of them would play as they went through their lives as leaders in the village.
"You did good, Father." He spoke at last, quietly. "It's amazing how much he's changed in the time he's been gone. He's so happy now, so confident and proud of himself. He's not only a part of the tribe in name, but in spirit too; he's accepted himself as much as the others have." Krag'rr chuckled, causing his son to look up with a confused tilt of the head, but the older wolf just smiled; he knew Rovan had it within himself the entire time, and just had to be encouraged to let it show. All of the time spent over the last month was just to allow Rovan to adapt to the Ankar culture. Only the last day had been for his development, a simple test of intelligence that led to the only lesson Rovan had really needed to learn the entire time. All the harehound needed was to know what would drive him to do his best, to realize what it was that drove him, and he would do fine as an Elder. It was a lesson of self-realization and self-acceptance, on the harehound had passed with flying colors.
Finally, Krag'rr spoke. "No, Roka'rr. I did not do anything but allow him to adapt to the culture. Even the wisdom of the stars and the wisdom of all of the Elders that came before him did very little to influence who he is. Rovan himself just had to realize that it wasn't the tribe that wasn't accepting him, but he who wasn't accepting himself in the tribe, and that made him uncomfortable and edgy. He figured it all out himself, as I thought he would." Roka'rr beamed at the compliment to his mate, and the two just continued to watch him as Rovan continued to impress and awe the young wolves that surrounded him, answering questions and speaking comfortably with them. Both Elder and Chieftain knew that Rovan had finally found his place in their world.
Three Years Later...
"Elder, Elder! C'mon, tell us more about this... elek... elc... that energy thing you were telling us about!"
Rovan smiled at the pair of young wolves that were practically bouncing on his knees, were they able to get to it around his large belly. In the three years that had passed since he had become an Elder, the harehound had put on quite a bit of weight, and was among one of the larger Elders present within the village. In that time he had nearly doubled his weight again, growing in stature as much as he grew in popularity over time. The harehound was much heavier than he had been, pushing the upper limits of nearly seven hundred pounds, and it was certainly showing in every slow, rippling motion he made.
Often enough, Rovan ended up sitting on the large, custom-made stone chair outside the hut that he shared with Roka'rr. Krag'rr had moved into a vacant house of his own to allow the lovers their own space, despite their protests, and so they had the building to themselves. The harehound was usually found in that same spot, even when it came to mealtimes, as he had difficulty getting up and making his way over to the table. That was to be expected with how easily he had put on weight, which the Elder in charge of medicine within the village suggested was probably due to his life out in the Outside. Those within the Ankar were used to the high-calorie diet of sweet foods and such, and their metabolisms adjusted to it. Rovan, on the other hand, had not adjusted to it and taken to putting on weight quite easily. It was no wonder he was the largest of all the Elders.
And certainly he was much larger in every way. The chair that was custom-made for him had been made out of stone because wood tended to bend and creak no matter how thick of a layer it was. It was certainly required with the Elder's weight! There were no arms on the chair as the original intention had been for him about a hundred pounds lighter, but as he had kept growing, they had been removed. Rovan's wide waist and hips had continued to swell outwards thickly, rolls of soft belly fat and thick love handles making it so that his thick arms could just rest on his sides or atop his belly, if he could bend them that far inwards. And that large middle of his was just a soft mound of lightly-furred fat, a big padded mass that was large enough for a cub to sleep on it. It was not uncommon for one of his younger listeners to do just that as he spoke, comfortable in their seated position atop him.
Smiling as he leaned back in his chair, Rovan started to explain to the excited young pups that the term was "electricity," which was a big word in English for someone of their age, and as there was no Ankar word for it, they simply adapted it in. However, as he began to speak, the door near him opened with a swish and Roka'rr came out, ducking slightly beneath the frame and making his way over. The pups immediately hushed as the Chieftain came near, rather than pestering Rovan to continue, but to make up for it they quickly rushed over to the other wolf and practically tackled him with the irreverence all children have for their Elders. Roka'rr caught them both, one in each arm, swinging them around a moment before letting them back down and shooing them off to go back to their mothers for now.
Roka'rr had filled out a bit in the last few years as well, though it was mostly muscle. A bit thicker in the chest and shoulders than he had been, the wolf had even grown an inch or two in height in a late growth spurt that had surprised even him. He was a little broader in the waistline too, though he still had a firmly-defined stomach despite that, and his loincloth was a bit snugger on his hips. Still the wolf looked amazing as ever, and Rovan showed his appreciation as he pulled his mate into a hug when the Chieftain came close. Roka'rr returned the embrace happily, his nose dipping down to press into the harehound's soft chest for a brief nuzzle before their lips met in a short, soft kiss. Rovan squirmed at the attention, but smiled back and finally let the wolf slip out of his grasp after a moment.
"It's weird, isn't it, Rok'arr?" The wolf looked up with a slightly puzzled expression, but Rovan just smiled as he continued. "I've been here a little over three years now, but it feels like I've been here forever. It feels like home here, rather than just some place I moved to in order to follow my infatuation with you."
"Oh? I was just an infatuation?" Roka'rr teased, leaning down to nip at the harehound's ear briefly while his paw lowered itself to the harehound's large belly, giving it a soft squeeze. Rovan let out a huff of embarrassment at the attention once more before replying. "Okay, maybe it was more than that, but I have to say, you looked as fine then as you do now! But it's just strange how a place can become more than just a place you live in, more than even just a simple home. I feel like I belong here, you know?"
"You don't belong here, Rovan," Roka'rr stopped his lover's confusion with a kiss. "Nor do you belong anywhere else. Where you belong is wherever I am, and I with you; that'll never change, ever."
Rovan smiled again before returning the kiss, this one deeper and more passionate, before he pulled back. "I'll never forget the day we came here, and the words you said to me that night when we settled in to sleep for the first time."
"You told me three simple words: 'Welcome home, Rovan.'"