Private Finished Running wth the Werewolves

Cocking his head a little to the side, Malakias turned the name over in his head as he peered at the were weasel thoughtfully. His name, Cikňi, sounded Romanian, or Bulgarian. It was not Russian, or not from where he hailed from.

"Why wouldn't I talk to you?," Malakias asked the young cub, truly surprised by such a question. "You are alone in the forest like this, obviously scared or very wary of something. Anyone with a bit of compassion would want to know if you were alright or needed assistance?" he told Cikňi very calmly.

Malakias sighed as much as a wolf could actually sigh at Cikňi's insistence. "I am not the bad wolf, I promise you," he told the young were-weasel, slightly amused when Cikňi came a bit closer but with his spikes at the ready just in case.

"I have, well, the Volkov's actually, have a rather large wolf pack," he admitted, "and maybe, just maybe, it was one of the members who were expelled a few years ago," he mused thinking back to some stories he had heard about a half-uncle or a distant cousin being banished, but only knowing a few of the broader details... something about unnecessary cruelty and disobedience rung a bell.

"I honestly do not know, Cikňi, but I'd like to get to the bottom of this somehow," he said as Malakias half-stood, bent forward and stretched his front paws in front of him.

"That is if you'd like me to?" Mal asked him, having already decided that he would delve deeper into it no matter what, but he wanted Cikňi to feel he had some say in it.

In his wolf form, Malakias often picked up on a lot more things than in his human form. It was funny how that worked since in both forms his senses were equally as enhanced. However, his animal form was just more attuned to things in general, and therefore he immediately detected the hint of longing in the were-weasel's voice, and in his body language.

"Maybe in time, I can help you go back to your home?" Malakias offered Cikňi. It was not impossible to co-exist with humans, the Volkovs did. However, great impulse control was needed as well as the ability to think on one's feet - all of which he doubted Cikňi had at the moment.

"We can teach you how to live among humans - or at least be able to spent time among them once in a while if that is something you'd like to undertake," Mal explained patiently, wondering if that might be something that might interest him.

Malakias let a little but loud huff, which was probably the equivalent of a human sigh. Beyond the urge to grab the little guy by the scruff, and drag him to the Volkovs so he could see for himself, Mal couldn't really offer or say much more. The were-weasel still seemed mildly agitated and quite scared, Mal could smell his fear, and he just wasn't sure what else to say or offer.

"I can only say to you that if you ever need or want it, the Volkov clan offers you our full protection," Mal said as he stood up, stretched and shook his coat, "I will not force you to come with us, but, if you need my help little one, just ask for Malakias at the House of Volkov," he said as he started changing back into his human form.

Mal raised an eyebrow just a fraction and turned to look at Cikňi when he spoke out. He was quietly but also pleasantly, surprised that the young man had found the courage to do so. He even smelled less fearful, props to him. Mal thought with a small smile.

"We live, in public, mainly like humans here on the island," he replied, "although we do have compounds and forested areas in Russian where some of us live like wolves," he told Cikňi. "And is there a difference? Yes. There is. Being a wolf is an amazing feeling, so much freer, but it's not as comfortable. Humans have warm beds, baths, TVs to entertain them, and they can make food almost instantly." he explained.

"It's basically all about balance, and knowing what you want," Malakias told him with a tiny grin as he cocked his head to the side in a dog-like fashion as he regarded Cikňi.