Moss

They're really very sorry about all of their kin's... behavior

There's a strange wolf near your pups.

You hum softly in acknowledgement, the information registering in your brain but evoking no response. It's just a fact, nothing more; it doesn't seem to be anything worthy of your attention. You look away and continue heading to your previous destination.

You get several paces before you stop.

Wait...

There's...

An unknown wolf near your pups.

Why are you not doing something?

Your mind feels sluggish and slow to respond. It's as if you're waking up from a deep sleep while someone shouts at you in alarm, trying to process their words all while still fighting off the last vestiges of slumber; it takes far too long for your thoughts and emotions to wake up and answer your calling.

Your heart begins to quicken before seeming to fill your throat with mounting fear. Now that the adrenaline is flowing, whatever strange tranquility had overcome you before vanishes like dewdrops in the summer sun.

You spin in place, eyes locked on the scene you had passed. You stare for just a moment, ensuring that you haven't just mistaken one of your packmates, before breaking into a dead sprint for the stranger.

One of your pups has walked up to them where they lay and sat down between their forelegs. The stranger laughs and licks their head.

A challenging growl builds in your throat as you draw in close. The stranger looks up at you, surprised, as you come to a stop near them, fangs bared and ears flat.

They smile.

"Hello!"

The challenge falls from your face in confusion. They wave a hoof at you in a friendly gesture.

(A hoof?)

"You must be the leader of this pack! This little one here was telling me all about you."

You glance at your pup. They seem unharmed. The stranger misunderstands your look. They laugh and ruffle your pup's fur with their hoof.

"All good things, I promise! Right, little one?"

Your pup grins wide, tongue lolling out in delight.

"Right!"

The stranger chuckles fondly and leans down to nudge your pup with their nose. They push them to their paws and in the direction of their friends.

"Go play with the others, little one, I think your leader wants to speak with me. All boring, adult stuff, I promise, nothing you'll want to sit through."

Your pup's nose wrinkles in distaste before they yip in agreement and bound off to their friends. The stranger watches them go with a gentle look in their eyes.

"You're so lucky, friend, what I wouldn't give for a little one like that..."

Their voice trails off into a wistful murmur. They shake their head after a moment, turning to you with a friendly grin on their face.

"Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself, I haven't even introduced myself yet!"

The stranger rises to their hooves, tail wagging.

"You may call me Moss. It's a pleasure to meet you, friend."

You take the opportunity to fully observe them as they stand there.

The hooves were just the start of it.

Moss's eyes glow in an unearthly way, pale and emitting a light that makes discomfort prickle along your spine. Large fangs sprout from their jaw and remind you of stories of night beasts that suck the blood of young wolves. Fish-like scales are strewn about their back and limbs, with large fins jutting from the lower curves of their spine and elbows.

Whatever they are, you feel rather certain that they are no wolf.

You're uncertain if this makes you feel better or worse about their presence.

Moss seems to take no offense at your silence, continuing on after enough time has elapsed that it is clear you will not speak.

"I am one of the Faelcu, and- please, do not be alarmed!"

Your head had snapped up at the mention of the Faelcu. Moss is leaning back onto their hind limbs, forelegs raised near their shoulders in what seems to be a gesture of harmlessness. How raised limbs is supposed to equate to harmlessness, you're not quite sure, but their expression does well enough to communicate their intent.

Moss returns to all fours, tail and ears drooping as they give a slight, sheepish smile.

"I know what it sounds like, but please, I promise you that I mean no harm."

They paw at the dirt, fidgeting with a loose pebble.

"I have no intent nor even desire to take any of your pack from you, I am only visiting. I just want to spend time in the mortal world, and I swear to you that I have no inclination for trickery or the like."

You feel suspicious, having seen enough of the Faelcu to find their words hard to believe. It must show through to your face, for Moss nervously rubs at their leg with a hoof. They look away towards the ground.

"I apologize for the behavior of my kin; they don't seem to understand how their actions cause harm and take offense when you rightly seek to defend yourselves. It is... difficult for those of us who do not know death to understand the pain it causes, but I..."

They trail off. Their eyes seem to be looking off somewhere else and their voice becomes distant.

"I have... seen enough of your tears to understand that even if I cannot understand why it causes you such pain, I understand that it does, and that... that is enough... to know..."

Their voice trails off. You're not sure what to do when faced with a reminiscing Faelcu and decide that waiting for them to come back to themself is probably the best bet.

You do so.

Moss shakes themself out of it after a few moments, blinking away the mist of memory and pulling themself back to the present. They smile at you, tail wagging again with renewed friendliness.

"So please, do not be alarmed. I have no ill intent, both in my kind's perspective and yours, I only wish to visit and spend time with you all, perhaps trade stories if you would be interested in hearing about my other travels."

They look back over to your pups. You follow their gaze. The little ones are playing as exuberantly as ever, although some of them are beginning to look a bit tired. It's probably time for a nap here soon.

Moss's voice is soft and gentle next to you.

"Especially with your little ones. They... they don't understand, yet, how cruel things can be. They haven't yet learned fear and hatred. They see only a friendly face and don't care for the exact make of it, only that it means them well; they care more for a good story than the shape or kind of the mouth that tells it."

You understand what they mean, the innocence and fearlessness of the youth. You can't entirely blame them for being drawn to it.

"I would never take them away from their homes, never. Not, well, unless..."

A flicker of darkness seems to pass over them as the lines of their face become hard. They let out their breath in a rush and force another smile, if slightly strained, onto their face. You're suddenly aware of how old their eyes are, and can only wonder how much they have seen. You've seen enough of this world to know that many of the stories they have to tell are perhaps not those you would like to hear. One wolf's heart can only hear of so much tragedy and cruelty before it breaks in two.

"Regardless, it's not important; not here, at least. Your pups are well-loved and safe and you've nothing to worry about from me, I swear it. I only wish to spend some time in your pack's company before carrying on my way."

Ignoring the heaviness that they are doing their best to fight off, you can see nothing that would indicate Moss to be lying to or deceiving you. You know better than to fully trust any Faelcu, but Moss has been remarkably forthright and blunt, and their words do not seem purposefully strung as to leave loopholes.

You consider them for a moment before slowly nodding. Moss's face brightens to a degree and honesty that tells you you made the right call.

"Oh, thank you, thank you! I promise, I won't cause any trouble. I'd even love to lend a hoof, or, well, paw for you I suppose, and look after some of your little ones for you so you and your packmates can focus on other things. And-"

Moss excitedly begins chattering away, seemingly ready to talk your ear off now that you've given them leave to do so. Despite yourself, a small smile begins to force its way onto your face. It seems you've set yourself up for quite an interesting time here for the next little while.

Moss's eyes catch the light of the sun in a way that makes them seem so painfully honest and pup-like that it is as clear as the summer sky why they are so drawn to pups, and why pups seem to be so similarly drawn to them, despite seeing only a monstrous stranger at first glance.

What an interesting day indeed.