Private Who just lets a Puppy Wander by Themselves?

Pallas

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Here she was in the community center talking about children when this little wolf pup Maple wanders in as though the universe had a sense of irony. Now here she is escorting said wolf child back to the school so that she can scold the people whom just allowed someone like Maple just wander off campus and into the city by themselves. By the way the kid spoke, he didn't seem all that familiar with even the basics of concepts of this world and is a miracle of the goods he didn't encounter any apparent dangers. It must have been her material instincts kicking in but she just had to make sure that the child was first safe... and the caretakers getting a stern warning second.

"Ah so this the Starlight Academy I hear so much about..." remarked the great sphinx as they follow the Maple. When Daenmor and herself finally have kids, they will surely be enrolled to this very academy. But for now, she is here helping out someone elses kid "... can take me to your caretakers? I want to make sure that they know that you are alright."

@EmiRose
 

EmiRose

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Maple had stayed in his wolf form around half of the journey back to the school. He didn't need to be in his wolf form to follow the trail, but Maple just felt comfortable in that form. He'd spent more time as a wolf than human back home, just like Root. But then he'd shifted back, because he had wanted to chat with the lady who was following her to talk to the nice people that took care of Maple. Maple had noticed that the lady had heavy footsteps, and it sounded like she had four legs, and she smelled kinda weird. Maple really wanted to ask about all those things, but he also had so much more to talk about! Everything on the island was new and exciting! So, Maple kept chattering about this and that and everything that passed his mind. Like how the sea's smell seemed to really stick to everything, or how the trees smelled really different from back home, or how it was weird that he didn't need to hunt anymore, or how he hadn't met almost any other wolves. Maple could hear Root's warning in his head to be careful and stay alert, but everything was so...distracting! Besides Root...wasn't here anymore. Maple had felt the mark he had given Root disappear and that meant that Root had been taken by the soil. It made Maple very sad, but he didn't want to be sad in front of everyone all the time. First impressions were important and Maple needed to do good. So, he was sad in his room under the soft blanket when no one heard.

Ankh would see Maple almost bump into things and other people, but the young pup seemed to have very good spacial awareness. He still needed to get used to so many sounds and smells at once, but Maple was less affected by his blindness than one would expect. Maple could sense when a human was close through hearing and smell, and when an object was close to him Maple could feel a shift in the air currents and could sense something in his personal space and could dodge accordingly.
Though occasionally he bumped into corners and people when he wasn't paying attention. What could you do, he was just a pup, after all.
Maple's pace was brisk and soon they were at the academy. There were less people here and Maple started jogging and then running towards the place where he was sleeping, they'd called it his "dorm room". Maple still wasn't sure what a dorm was, but there were many people around and Maple liked that. Maple felt safe and warm when many people were around.

"This is my dorm! I can smell the nice person, my caretaker, his scent is strong in that direction!"
Maple declared to Ankh, and pointed more or less towards the door of the dorm building. And what do you know, a young man could be seen near the door, looking around with a concerned expression and looking down at his phone every couple of minutes. Though Maple couldn't see that.
"What are you going to talk to him about?"
Maple asked curiously and looked towards where he thought Ankh was. Maple sometimes felt silly bothering to turn his head when he knew and others knew he couldn't see anything, but it was also rude to look somewhere else entirely when you talked to someone. At least Root had said that.
 

Pallas

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As much as she detested taking a smaller form, there was no way that she could squeeze herself though the doors to the dorms. So she put on her human size charm to shrink down to height that was more practical. Even if she was barely a their of her original size, she still commands a prideful arrogance about herself. Once they made it to Maple's dorm, Ankh peered inside to see someone worryingly checking their phone.

"Ah... just wanted to have quick word with them and reassure them that you are alright." answered Ankh as they then knock on the door frame to get the person's attention. Already Ankh was planning how the whole conversation was going to go down in her head and was going to give the poor bugger the most scathing criticisms over negligence. She believed Maple that this person was a nice one but it does't excuse being so incompetent.
 

EmiRose

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"Oh, okay! That's really nice of you!"
Maple answered with a happy smile. He noted that Ankh's footsteps suddenly sounded lighter, but he couldn't ask her about it because they walked over to the dorm door. Maple stumbled a bit on the stairs, he'd forgotten they were there and he hadn't been around any stairs before coming here.
"Stairs are weird and annoying."
Maple said with a laugh, and that caught the young man's attention. His eyes widened when he saw Maple and he rushed over to the young boy.
"Maple! You had us so worried, why did you wander off like that?"
Maple blinked in surprise when the man suddenly was in front of him and he looked down in shame.
"Wandering off is bad? I didn't know, I wanted to explore. I left a trail properly so I wouldn't get lost, I'm sorry..."
 

Pallas

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The man's reaction was all that she needed to see to understand the situation. It appeared as though Maple wandered off on their own accord and without the knowledge of their caretakers. While could see that they were obviously concerned for Maple's well-being... it was still negligence on their part to have allowed Maple to be by themselves all that time. Things had to be said.

"We are glad that you are okay. Next time you want to go somewhere please let us know first..." sighed the man whom turns their attention to the sphinx "... oh sorry ma'am. I didn't see you there. Did you-"

"I am Anhk, Maple here came all the way to the community center in Oceania Park and I thought it was best to bring them back here as I was concerned with their lack of supervision." interjected Ankh in a stern tone.

"The community center!?" said the man, expressing shock as they look back to Maple "Maple you were... ah I thank you bringing them back here but... Maple you remember what we told you about following-"

"They were not following me, I followed them to make sure they got back here safely." cut in Ankh once again

"O-oh... I see. Well thank you very much for all of your help. I was waiting here in case Maple returned while my colleague was out looking for them. We thought they would still be at the school so we are thankful that someone like you found them." explained the nice man whom then extends a hand out to Ankh.

"I was happy to lend assistance... but it really falls on you and your companion to take better care of your charge." stated Ankh in pleasant tone. As she takes the hand, she grasps onto with painful firmness. The poor man winces but makes no comment on the sphinx's grip. "Next time Maple decides to on a walk... make sure that you or someone else is close by so that nothing bad happens to them. We wouldn't want people getting hurt now right?"

"A-ah... yes of course! I'll make sure to speak to Maple about the importance of not wandering off after I let my collegue know that they safe." whimpered the man, trying to put on his smile even as hand was being crushed.

"Good... that is what I want to hear. Let us take this incident as a valuable learning opportunity. I understand you care much for Maple's well-being so let's see about not repeating this mistake." Ankh then lets go of the man's hand. The poor guy is rubbing his hand but smiles with gratitude to the sphinx.

"You have my word... it good that Maple ran into someone just as worried for him as we are... now I should go give my colleague a call to them know that Maple is safe. So... if you have anything more to say to Maple now is good time."

As the man takes few steps back and makes his phone call, Ankh gives him a nod and directs their attention to Maple. Now that they were finished being... well an adult they walked over to Maple to check in on his status. The last thing she wanted him to think this was all his fault and feel guilty for his actions.

"Alright, I had a good talk with your caretaker. You are right, they are very nice person... if a bit careless. Are you alright Maple?"
 

EmiRose

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"Okay, I will..."
Maple answered, and had he been in wolf form his ears and tail would've slumped down. He could tell he had done something wrong from the way his caretaker sighed and the way his voice sounded, Root had sounded similar when Maple had done something wrong. Maple didn't like getting scolded, but he'd gotten scolded a lot here already. Back home he'd been good at things and he'd known how to do things right, but here nothing he did was right. Maple sniffed quietly, he'd have to be sad when he got to his room...

Before Maple could fall too deep into his self-pity and regret Ankh and Maple's caretaker started to talk. Maple's head perked up as he listened in. Every time Ankh's words sounded harsh or like she was blaming the caretaker Maple flinched a bit. Even when her voice didn't sound mean her words were harsh and kind of threatening and Maple took a step back from the interaction instinctively. He was a strong wolf, Root had said so, but Maple had a feeling that Ankh was stronger.

Ankh and the caretaker finished talking and Maple heard her approach him. Part of Maple wanted to shift but he didn't want to show Ankh that he felt timid. Partly because he shouldn't show weakness and partly because even though Ankh was a bit scary she was also nice. So, Maple stood straight and smiled happily towards where he thought Ankh was.
"I'm fine! I'm a strong wolf and I'm very good at finding my way, Root let me go a loooong way from the house on my own in the forest!"
Maple bragged and grinned, his slightly sharp canines showing.
"I don't know lots of stuff about this place, but I will try very hard to learn. If I ever see you again then you don't need to help me because I will be a lot better at things, I promise."
 

Pallas

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Ah, what a confident child thought Anhk. It was almost endearing in way of how such small pup thinks themselves so large. They also seemed aware of the situation and promised to do better which in the end is something always to strive for.

"I do not doubt your strength nor ability to find your way home. I only ask stay safe. There are however things you still need to learn but I am glad to hear that will try really hard. In the meantime you must rely on the wisdom of your characters and of this Root person that you speak of so often. Make sure not to wander off without letting someone know where you are going. I will hold you to your promise and trust that you will only become not only stronger and wiser than ever." said Anhk, speaking to Maple as though they were their own child. After saying her peace, she stands back up and smiles to Maple.

"You however promise that that you be good now and not cause any more trouble now alright?"
 

EmiRose

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When Ankh spoke to Maple and gave him advice it kinda felt like Root was talking to Maple again. The words made him feel wiser and determined just like Root's words always did. That made Maple want to be sad right then and there, because Root would never again tell Maple what to do and what not to do. He'd never give Maple scratches and he'd never bap him on the nose ever again. Maple bit his lower lip, he needed to stay brave for just a bit longer, until he could be alone. Then he could be sad. For now he just needed to keep smiling.

"I promise on my wolf's honour!"
Maple declared proudly, and even pressed a hand against where he knew his heart was.
"Thanks for letting me learn and not just being mean to me."
Maple said, then bowed and waved.
"Goodbye, Ankh!"
 
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