Chapter Text
Snobrien was a young man in his early twenties who lived alone in the lush forest of the outlying lands of the Kingdom of Hale. He was tall, lanky yet lean with mussed brunette hair he could never seem to tame. His face had a smattering of freckles and moles; his amber eyes shown golden in the sunlight. For the most part, he enjoyed living a solitary life. He could get his work done without any interruptions, sing as loudly and obnoxiously as he deemed necessary while working in the hut behind his home, and hike through the forest foraging for whatever caught his attention. He survived by selling odds and ends at the marketplace: stonewares, fabrics, jewelry he’s fastened together. He prided himself on being a jack of all trades.
It was early afternoon when he set off on a leisurely stroll through the woods. After making a decent profit at the market that morning, he had a little skip in his step as he hiked along his chosen path. He enjoyed listening to the birds as they happily sang their heart songs in the treetops above, inhaled the dense musty aroma of pine, and grazed on plumply ripened berries as he watched a warren of rabbits scurry across his path.
Feeling a bit adventurous, he veered off his faithful path onto an unknown trail. He had traveled this way a few times before, but he was absorbed in his own thoughts then. A half hour passed when he stumbled upon a pile of fur. It was enchanting; deep honey with bands of cocoa through it.
“I could make a decent profit on that if I construct it into a blanket…” he thought at first. That’s when he noticed it seemed to be moving. “Welp, there goes that plan.”
He tentatively ambled forward when suddenly he felt, more than heard, a rumble emanating from the fur and hastily scrambled backwards. A deeply mottled head emerged from the pile, glaring straight at him. Its eyes were an unnaturally vivid cerulean; Snobrien was rooted in place, mesmerized. His own eyes explored the creature’s beautiful features: the sable marked head and nape to the snow kissed muzzle all the way down to its bushy, tawny tail.
A wolf, he realized. He debated whether to sidle back to his original path or inspect this magnificent animal to see if he’d been injured. After all, the wolf made no threatening attempts towards him despite the growl and glare at being disturbed from its slumber. In fact, the wolf had been equally analyzing the human and seemed to be just as enchanted with him.
Snobrien decided to tempt fate and strode closer to this curiously tame beast. He held out his hand, hoping the he could scent that he wasn’t a threat. The wolf shrunk back on his haunches, emitting a low growl and gave an almost human expression as he tilted his head questioningly. Snobrien huffed out an amused laugh and stepped closer.
With each footfall, the wolf's body seemed to vibrate, the growl turned to a low rumble. When he was within 3 feet, the wolf sniffed the air and huffed while shaking his head. Snobrien chuckled and awed because that was just adorable. The wolf's growl returned, apparently not one to be laughed at. He just grinned at him, “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you there, grumpy.”
Snobrien decided to not push it any further and sat on the leaf-strewn ground to wait for the wolf to advance towards him. He figured he'd just talk to him about everything and nothing in what he hoped was a calming tone
After what felt like a half hour, the wolf tentatively stepped forward before he placed a muddied paw on his lap and then laid down; never taking his eyes off of the human.
Snobrien raised an eyebrow and said "Would you like a belly rub?"
The wolf huffed and batted his leg.
He laughed "Alright alright, how about just behind the ears then?"
The wolf seemed to understand him and laid his head down on his paw. Snobrien was beginning to think that he ate some hallucination-inducing berries because there’s no way this animal could understand him. Then again he was not going to question it. His body was thrumming with energy at this rare opportunity to pet a feral wolf.
The wolf’s posture seemed to relax once Snobrien began lightly scratching behind his ear. The rumble had faded into a deep hum.
"You're not so grumpy after all are ya, sour wolf? Hey, that's what I'll call you...Sourwolf! D'ya like that?" The wolf gave a warning growl before Snobrien brought his other hand around so he could scratch behind both ears. That seemed to appease the creature for the time being.
Snobrien realized the sun was beginning to set as he slowly switched to a kneeling position. He rubbed the wolf down the nape of his neck, "It's getting late, I have to head back home. Maybe I'll see you again sometime when I'm out here."
He gave him one final pat on the head before he stood to make his trek back to the cabin. He’s a half mile away when he hears a whimper behind him. He turned to see that the wolf had been following him.
He snorts, "Boy, you're like a lost puppy. Don't you have a family to get back to? Or, um, a pack?"
The wolf dropped his gaze to the forest floor and kicked at the foliage with his front paw.
"Aww, you don't have anyone, do ya, Sourwolf?! You're a lonewolf. Jeez, that's sad; everyone needs someone to look out for them. Tell you what, you can come back with me and try my cabin on for size. It's not big by any means but it's warm, dry and there's food."
The wolf took a few steps forward before he stopped, seemingly unsure. "C'mon, I'll even make you a comfy bed and if you're good, a chew toy."
The wolf harrumphed, but trotted up next to him as they made their way home.
“Yup, I definitely ate some bad berries. First I think the damned wolf can understand me, now I’ve just inherited a new pet. What has become of my life?!” he mumbled to himself. At that the wolf bumped into his legs, nearly successful in taking him out.
“What was that for?! We’re going to have to work on your communication skills!” The wolf seemed to snort at that as he took up the lead.
“Wait!” He jogged after him. “How do you know where to go? Have you been stalking me?!” Snobrien jokingly panted out. The wolf stopped abruptly, whipped his head back and shot him a menacing glare. He then sniffed the air as an answer.
“Oh right, you can sense by smell. Got it.” He caught up to the wolf and they walked side by side.
“Hold on, did I just understand you?! I’m definitely going to have to pay the doctor a visit after this.”
*~*~*~*~*
It was dusk when they made it to the cabin.
“Home sweet home…or den. Whichever you prefer. I’ll get supper started.”
Snobrien lit a few lanterns and assembled some logs to get the fire going before heading to the nook to prep the meal. The wolf promptly collapsed on the slate floor in front of the fireplace, content.
When it was ready he placed the largest bowl he owned in front of the wolf. “I hope you like it. It’s venison stew.” He smiled down and patted his head. The wolf lapped at the food as Snobrien sat down next to him with his own dish.
“I could get used to this,” he said as he absently stroke through the wolf’s silken fur. “I never realized how lonely it was to be alone until now.”
Once they both polished off their meals, Snobrien gathered a few blankets and placed them on the floor near the fire. Sourwolf tramped over the blankets, circled a few times before he laid down with happy hum.
Snobrien couldn’t help the grin that crept onto his face as he gazed down at the wolf, “Hope you’re happy here. I also hope you aren’t crazed and try to devour me in my sleep.”
The wolf’s body shook in what could only be described as laughter. “Did you just laugh at me?! Oh sure, I can’t laugh at you but eating me is hilarious to you, isn’t it? Did I just uncover your master plan? Subdue the human and then snack time!”
Sourwolf opened one eye, stared up at the human for a moment. He then got up on all fours, reared back on his haunches and placed his front paws on Snobrien’s shoulders, sending him backwards against a wall.
“Whoa there! WHOA! Oh lord, I knew it! This is how I die!” Snobrien squeaked.
The wolf then licked at Snobrien’s face.
He stared at the wolf in disbelief, “You scared me half to death, you overgrown pup!” he choked out, nervous laughter turned to giggles as he wiped the saliva from his face.
“Alright, ok. You’re not going to eat me, just lick me to death.” The wolf sank back down into his makeshift bed and curled up.
“Goodnight, Sourwolf.” He stroked the wolf’s fur a few more times before he made his way to his bed.
*~*~*~*~*
The sun beaming through the window woke up Snobrien. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched as he made his way out of bed.
“Rise and shine, Sourwo-”
He stood paralyzed a few feet from the fireplace; eyes wide with confusion, fear, and disbelief. Where the wolf once slumbered during the night, now laid a man curled up in the fetal position; naked as the day he was born. His body looked to be chiseled from the finest marble, tanned as the richest leather and his hair was a deep cocoa color, not unlike the bands on the wolf.
The man groggily opened his eyes, wrapped the blanket around himself “Good morning” he said with a coy, lopsided smirk.
Snobrien hefted out the breath he had been unknowingly holding in, unable to process what has happened. All he could say in that moment was, “Hi.”