--Companion--

[threebetrayals]

[The young god-puppet stumbles out of the temple, blinking against the sunlight. He doesn't know what woke him up, but he's up and moving around now.

For a certain definition of it, anyway. He keeps stumbling like a newborn calf, falling and struggling to get back up.]

Comments

[reignitions]

[For a certain definition of it...

Shio can't ignore the way the young man is stumbling around. The wolf spirit takes on his humanoid form, making his way over and catching the other the next time he stumbles.]

Here.

[threebetrayals]

Wha--

[He's caught, but he nearly falls over again in surprise.]

Who--where?

[reignitions]

[Shio shifts to make sure the other doesn't fall.]

Careful now. Are you alright?

[threebetrayals]

I-I'm fine. Where did you come from? Who are you?

[reignitions]

My name's Shio. I live around here.

[Once he's sure the other is steady, he steps back so the young man can see him, tail swishing lazily behind him.]

[threebetrayals]

--oh! A, um, a wolf...god? Or spirit?

[He wants to pet the tail...]

[reignitions]

A wolf spirit.

[He smiles a little... And after a moment, offers his tail for the other to pet.]

[threebetrayals]

[!!! He will happily pet, because the tail is soft and he likes soft.]

Wolf spirit. I don't know what I am, except my creator was Raiden Ei.

[reignitions]

[A creation of Raiden Ei...]

Well, whatever you are, would you like some company?

[The petting feels nice...]

[threebetrayals]

[He nods.]

Please? I don't know where I am or where to go or what to do, really. ...and walking is hard.

[reignitions]

You'll get the hang of walking eventually, don't worry.

[But until then, Shio will support him.]

Let's take a look around, let you get a sense for your surroundings. I'll help you move around, and I'll protect you if anything happens.

[threebetrayals]

Thank you, Shio.

[He smiles.]

You're very nice. And your tail is soft.

[reignitions]

[He chuckles.]

I do try to take good care of my fur.

[He'll lean down so that the other can pet his ears, if he wants.]

[threebetrayals]

[YEP PETTING THE EARS]

You do really well! I could pet you all day.

[reignitions]

[He laughs quietly as he leans into the petting.]

Perhaps sometime I'll let you do just that.

[threebetrayals]

I'd like that!

[Another smile.

Shio and the young god-creation wander around most of the time, the boy getting used to his legs and leaning against Shio. Eventually, the sun starts to set.]

Oh. It's night?

[reignitions]

It is. We should find somewhere to rest for the night.

[By now, even if the boy's gotten used to his legs, Shio's arm is still around him.]

[threebetrayals]

I guess. Oh! Don't you need to eat?

[reignitions]

I do, yeah. ... What about you, do you?

[Can he?]

[threebetrayals]

I don't know. I'm pretty sure I can, though.

[reignitions]

Shelter, and then food for both of us, then.

[And that food had better be cooked, just in case.]

Let's go. There should be someplace around here that will work.

[threebetrayals]

Alright. Do you not have a den?

[reignitions]

Not anymore, no. [Not since... well, never mind.] And I haven't established a new one yet.

[threebetrayals]

Mmm, then let's find a place. I don't know the area very well...other than the ocean is that way and the temple is that way.

[He gestures at everything.]

[reignitions]

[Heading toward the ocean probably isn't the worst idea, Shio figures, so that's a good enough starting point.

Soon enough, they've found shelter and Shio's managed to bring back food for the both of them.

He's also currently in wolf form, lying down next to the boy.]

[threebetrayals]

[The boy is trying to figure out how to roast fish. He's managing.]

Smells good, doesn't it?

[reignitions]

[He's managing!]

It really does.

[His tail is swishing lazily behind him as he watches. The fish smells really good, honestly...]

[threebetrayals]

I'm sorry it's going to be kind of plain, but I don't have anything else to season it. At least it's fresh!

[He hands one fish over to Shio to try.]

[reignitions]

I'm hardly going to complain about a lack of seasoning.

[Even just cooking is more than he's accustomed to, after all. He does shift back to his more humanoid form to accept and start eating the fish, though.]

Mm, it tastes as good as it smells. Thank you.

[threebetrayals]

How many are you going to want? You caught a lot, after all...

[reignitions]

I'll probably have a few more, but how many are you going to want?

[threebetrayals]

Probably just one or two. I want to eat them because they smell good and they're new, but I don't think I need to eat.

[reignitions]

Alright, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't taking away from anything you might need.

[threebetrayals]

No, you're not!

[He smiles.]

So eat as much as you want!

[reignitions]

Alright, thanks.

[And so Shio will eat his fill of the fish! Once he has, he shifts back to his wolf form, curling around the boy and letting his tail rest in his lap.]

[threebetrayals]

[They travel together for a few weeks before stumbling across a village. The villagers, once they calm down from seeing a gorgeous princely young boy riding a giant wolf that turned into a handsome young man, are happy to let them stay in the village. They take to calling the boy "kabukimono" or just "Kabu", since he still doesn't have a name, and the boy doesn't really seem to mind.

One day, Kabu is sitting in one of the granny's kitchen, trying to learn how to make a decent riceball. He's covered in rice, and his hair is messily braided with ribbons from every little girl in the village.]

[reignitions]

[Shio is sitting with him, watching as the other works.

(He's been learning to cook as well, but he's taken the day off from it to watch Kabu learn.)

He reaches over to brush away some of the rice that's gotten on Kabu with a quiet chuckle.]