Private Finished Running wth the Werewolves

Pressed up against a tree, heart pounding, this was probably as calm as Cikňi would be able to get. There was a wolf speaking in his head - not something he was used to, he hadn't been here long. On top of that, the familiar smell was still there.

He was still too afraid to manage much more than a couple of squeaks out loud, but he did attempt more of the mental communication. Even though his poor English and unfamiliarity with this sort of thing didn't help. "No hurt. I am not go back. Police say no."

If he wasn't still on the edge of panic, Cikňi might've had a lot more questions. As it was, when this little bit of talking was a struggle. And he couldn't even shift back at the moment, not that he'd want to be so vulnerable in front of this wolf. He didn't lower his guard, keeping his spikes raised, eyes still darting.

Not moving an inch from where he stood, Cikňi watched the werewolf back away. He considered making another run for it, but he wasn't sure he could make it. He wasn't really built for tree climbing, and he did feel less cornered. Besides, now that he wasn't so panicked he couldn't even think, he was realizing that the wolf smelled slightly different than that man.

The scent was still too close for comfort. His own personal nightmare, a monster come to life. Even ignoring the tortures done after the change, Cikňi had been attacked, bitten, traumatized, alone in a foreign country. And now he was here, supposedly safe, but this wolf sounded like that hell, smelt like it.

Wrapping his tail around himself as a sort of comfort, Cikňi stared back at the wolf for a moment. He didn't think he could say all the things he wanted to say even in his own language, much less in English. The memories were suffocating. He shuffled a bit against the tree, suddenly conscious of how small he was, of the scars marring his body. A slight whimper escaped, though he barely noticed.

"You smell. Smell like..." Just thinking of it made his terror start rising again. "... other wolf. Biting wolf!" He shook his head. "Trouble not here." But there'd definitely be a sense of doubt to those words. As far as he was concerned, the trouble had followed him into the woods.

At the growl, Cikňi made a little weasellike hiss in return, mostly out of habit. He managed to stay still though, having almost calmed down to his base of hyperalert anxiety. He wasn't expecting the wolf's question at all. Did they really not have anything to do with what had happened?

Cikňi nodded quickly in response, not wanting to take his eyes off the wolf in front of him. He was pretty sure he was, had been human, and if he'd been a strange child, he wouldn't mention that here, even if he'd thought it made a difference. "Bad wolf bit and ... had the chains with silver. Scouts did bring us here... To be safe."

He was still not talking out loud, but if his tone could be felt, the was some accusation over his fear. He left out the worst of it, couldn't talk about that, could barely think of it, even the edges of it. "Scouts did say we are in different country here. Say police did help. You have same smell. Why?"

Cikňi wasn't normally a suspicious person, in spite of his anxiety. But he was already afraid of this wolf, felt so vulnerable out here, and they were asking a lot of questions. Trusting a stranger had gotten him kidnapped. Then again, if the wolf wanted to attack him, he he was alone and pretty much defenseless. There was no need to stalk him later.

"Your name is being?" He wasn't trying to be rude, just cautious. Not that being given a name would change anything, Cikňi doubted he'd been given the correct name of the man. He'd just feel more comfortable knowing it before he said his own. He paused then, trying to catch his breath to calm himself, hopefully without breathing in too much of that frightening smell.

"Am living in the... the school, the rooms of school." That much info should be safe. "Why? Is safe. Here is... is safe. You is not being allowed to hurt!" Cikňi hissed a little, wanting to say more, but stumbling with the English. Then he pressed back against the tree again.

As he'd suspected, Cikňi didn't recognize the name at all. He didn't know the sister's name either. He wasn't sure how he felt about this wolf, Malakias, being head of a family. Assuming he was telling the truth about that, about having a sister. Cikňi was so tired of being suspicious, and why would Malakias lie about that? If the wolf wanted to hurt him, to do... things... it wasn't like the little weasel could really fight him off.

"Cikňi, my name is being Cikňi." He was still anxious, that never fully went away, but giving his name helped. The bad man had never cared about his name.

He just examined Malakias for a moment. Giving himself time to catch his breath. He'd learned enough English to get by in school, but this was probably the longest conversation he'd had in it. The last hiss more frustration than fear. The wolf's abruptness startled him though, so he pressed back again. It was reflex. "I am trying. Is hard to control being fear."

When Malakias kept looking around the woods, Cikňi realized the wolf probably thought he meant this spot was safe. That hasn't been what he was talking about, though he did feel better here. Animals did not hurt like people. "To be dying is more good than chains... but island here. They say man is not here to hurt. Police stop him and rescue we. They say he is not being living here... Why do you talk to me?"