Cern: Oh-err, how am I supposed to sit again? Tall and proud, with a bit of humble? How do you do that??
Aduial: *long-suffering look* No, no...you're twisting yourself up like a pretzel. It's all about -confidence-. *draws self up, looking rather regal, but has this certain softness in her eyes*
Cern: So... like this, then? *back straight, doin' it sorta right, but totally splay-toed, looking more confused than before* You make it look so easy!
Aduial: You're trying too hard. *brow quirks, reaches out a paw to prod him back into position* Here. Maybe walking would be easier. Stand up and try to keep your back straight but your shoulders loose, and walk....like this. *proceeds to walk in a line, tail held partially aloft, paws-steps feather-light*
Cern: *Eyes grow soft as he watches Aduial model a graceful walk* Okay, alright, I can do this. I know I can! *He stands, rolls his shoulders to ease the tension, then carefully begins to walk* Like this, then. *His steps are quiet, but not like feathers; he walks more like a guard than a noble, though he is trying his hardest to mimic Aduial's ways*
Aduial: *watches him appraisingly* I'll accept that. *a soft little smile that is just a little patronizing* You're getting there, I think.
Cern: Getting there? *Best news all day! He grins, wags his tail. Now he's got the feeling of clouds in his belly, and he stands a bit taller, a little more proudly.*
Aduial: *smiles proudly* Ahhh now, see -- that's precisely it. You look perfectly dashing now. *gives him a playful little wink and walks around him like a visiting dignitary*
Cern: *Haw, she called me 'dashing'... Raises his head just a little higher, smiling a little and embracing the role* Why, thank you very much, madam. You are quite lovely yourself today~
Aduial: *gives him a little curtsy and flicks her tail* At least you know how to properly address a lady.
Cern: Why of course I do! Not everyone is quite so lucky to meet a lady of such exceptional standards, and so it is only natural that I would find a way to properly address you. *He bows his head and raises a paw* Though perhaps... just how does a 'gentleman' bow? Anything like this at all?
Aduial; *looks demure* Precisely like that, fine sir. I think there -is- a natural in you, just waiting to get out!
Cern: Why thank you, Miss Aduial, for believing in my potential. *The little nagging feeling to jump about in absolute joy is starting to make his toes quiver a bit* Even if I had no natural talent for polite sorts of things, with you teaching me... I believe it would rub off a little. *suddenly a bit sheepish, though he keeps up the grandois pose*
Aduial: You are a worthy and noble wolf, *she says, quite seriously* But, I've taught you enough for now, and I think it's time you taught me something in return. Last time you tried to tell me about the birds, it didn't end just right. Will you teach me now?
Cern: *drops the noble stance and lets his tail wag furiously* Of course! I wouldn't mind teaching you about birds again. It's really only fair. *Scans the trees above their heads with sharp eyes, then takes a few tentative, silent steps in a left-ish direction* Ah, there, in the pine tree. There's a cardinal, very distinct. See how red it is? *Motions with his nose to a particularly cheerful-looking bird* We must be very quiet and still, so that it isn't frightened away.
Aduial: *can't help but smile at his enthusiasm.* He's really quite bright, *she muses, staring up at the cardinal appreciatively* Do cardinals sing? 
Cern: Oh, yes, cardinals are very pretty singers. They sort of whistle a little, like a cheery chirping - *the cardinal tilts back its head and lets out a warble* Yes, like that. Look, I bet he's singing for you! *A bit dismayed that he hasn't figured out how to whistle* Did you know that only the male cardinals are so red? All the females are brown, so that they can hide better in their nests.
Aduial: Truly? *looks at Cern, then back at the cardinal, intrigued* And why are the males red, then?
Cern: Well, the males are so bright because the females decide who they want to mate with. The flashier and prettier, the better - though it sorta makes them targets for predators. *the cardinal fluffs up its wings* They're a little full of themselves, I think.
Aduial: *really rather likes the idea of a species where the females have that kind of power* Are all birds like that, or just cardinals? With the females choosing their mate, I mean?
Cern: Oh yes, most bird species are like that. The males have to compete with one another for the females' attentions. Some fight, some sing, some dance - I've even heard of some that build little houses with bits of twigs and shiny human things. I'd like to see one of those someday... *Goes all dreamy-eyed*
Aduial: *is thinking birds know a thing or two about how the world should work* How interesting! *looks back up thoughtfully at the bird in the tree, wheels spinning in her little puppy mind* And after the female chooses the best mate, what then?
Cern: After the female chooses her mate, they have a bunch of eggs and together they raise the babies. Sometimes they part ways after the babies are grown, but in some cases, they mate for life. *Looks at the cardinal pondrously* The female will sit on the eggs and the male will bring her food, and then the two will work together to feed the babies. Like a nice little family.
Aduial: *smiles, rolling back to her haunches* How positively charming. Mate for life, you say?
Cern: Yep! They'll stick together forever, sharing meals, raising chicks, and migrating when the weather gets too cold. It is always very sweet to see them dancing and singing during spring, they just have a way of looking positively overjoyed...
Aduial: *smiles; never realized that there was so much to learn from birds* They sound like the very pinnacle of high culture.
Cern: I suppose they would sound very wonderful. *Wonders whether or not to continue, then decides Aduial should know* But... there are also some really rotten birds out there. Cowbirds have a habit of laying its eggs in the nests of other species, and when the chicks hatch they push the competition over the edge - whether they're eggs or other chicks. And then the parents are stuck feeding a baby that isn't theirs.
Aduial: Hmm. *considers this for a moment* Crafty, though. Who would expect them to think of such things?
Cern: *A bit hesitantly* I suppose it's a pretty smart idea... it just always seemes so lazy to me. And a bit cruel, too... *Shrugs* But birds are like that, I suppose. They'll do anything to survive and pass on their genes. D'you think wolves are like that, sometimes?
Aduial: *gravely -- far too wisely for her age* It seems nearly inevitable, I should think.
Cern: *Ears a bit tilted back, not quite as thrilled* Ah. I thought so. I'm not gonna end up that way, anyways, that's a promise. *One final chirp, and the cardinal flutters away* Well! Should we go looking for more birds? Or do you have something else you'd like to do?
Aduial: *smiles encouragingly* Oh, not us. We would never stoop to such things, because we are wolves of culture. *demurely stretches out each paw individually* I would love to continue bird watching, if you are not bored of it.
Cern: Right, culture! I just hope we don't meet up with any of the other sorts... *though he'd willingly chase them off if they dared mess with his friends and family* I'm sure we can find more birds. How about... you try to spot one this time?
Aduial: Oh...oh, alright. *smiles a bit uncertainly and ambles forward, head up looking for birds -- but paying attention where she's stepping this time. she stops, suddenly, and peers up at another patch of red, thinking perhaps it's another cardinal -- but it's only red on the breast. the rest is brown* Oh, oh! *whispers insistently* I think i found one.
Cern: *follows Aduial quietly, looking where she's looking, more than thrilled when she finds a red-breasted bird* Ah, you found a good one! *speaks very softly* I believe that's a robin - whenever anyone talks about 'the early bird getting the worm,' chances are they're talking about him. Or her, it's hard to tell the difference with them.
Aduial: *nose wrinkles at the notion of anybody eating worms, but doesn't comment* So these...robins...are both the same color? *she asked, remembering about cardinals*
Cern: *Nods* Unlike cardinals, male and female robins are very hard to tell apart. Mmm, I suppose the females are a little more brown, but that really doesn't help much.
Aduial: *squints up at the bird trying to decide* Are they good, polite birds? Or are they wicked birds?
Cern: Oh, robins are alright as far as birds go - unless you happen to be a worm. They aren't lifemates, but they are rather nice to one another.
Aduial: Well that's good, then. Suppose that's all you can ask sometimes. *smiles at him* Though you and I, and some of our feathered friends, hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Cern: *If wolves could blush, he's be bright red* Y-yeah, a higher standard~ Because things like respect and cordiality are important for strong, lasting relationships. Right?
Aduial: *brow quirks just slightly, catching his expression* Precisely. *is about to say something, but notices -- suddenly hyper-aware of the birds -- some sparrows hopping about beneath the trees and turns her attentions to the little brown birds*
Cern: *More than grateful for the little birds' sudden appearances* Ah, sparrows! *he speaks quietly, lowers himself to his belly.* They're very cute, aren't they?
Aduial: They are! *lowers down to her belly as well, creeping forward* And there's so many! There seem to be more and more coming out of...everywhere.
Cern: There are a bunch of them, huh? *mentally starts tallying up the little hopping birds* That's a whole flock! Some birds like to stick together with others of their own kind in flocks, like how us wolves live in packs. There are more eyes for spotting danger and finding food, so they're safer.
Aduial: Oh! that's smart. *her brow furrows* But how much danger can they have? Can't they fly away from everything? *
Cern: Well, sure, Sparrows can fly... but sometimes they aren't quick enough to notice danger. Like, say, if a lynx were to sneak up very softly... or if I were to wiggle up close... if they didn't even notice the danger, then they'd be a meal.
Aduial: Oh! *hadn't even thought of that* ....do wolves hunt birds?
Cern: *Thinking a bit on this one* If a wolf was desperate enough, then yeah, they could hunt birds. most of them really aren't worth the effort, though... Oh, but when I was younger I saw a pheasant that was nearly as big as I was! It depends on the bird, I guess.
Aduial: *nods; she can see how the sparrows are probably not very filling, and all those feathers! oh what a mess* ...what's a pheasant? *can't even contemplate the idea of a bird the size of a puppy. she's also clearly never heard the story about how eagles could swoop down and carry one off*
Cern: *Remembering fondly the game he had played with some of the other pups* Pheasants are big, fat, delicious birds with long tail feathers. They're downy all over and have little tufts at the top of their heads, and they waddle a bit when they walk. Their nests are on the ground. And while they are very big, they're also pretty timid - they won't hurt puppies, like some bigger birds will.
Aduial: *literally, audibly gasps* ...There's birds that can hurt wolves?
Cern: *completely serious, darkened tone* Yeah, there are eagles that have sharp claws and beaks, and are incredibly strong - they could fight off a wolf or carry off a pup for its meal, which is a little frightening to think about.
Aduial: *shudders* ....a -whole- pup?
Aduial: *big eyes, whisper* ....have you ever seen one? *leans closer in to him, losing all of that grown-up dignity and grace and looking like a scared little puppy*
Cern: *Docks his ears back, looking very serious indeed* Only once, but that was enough for me. *Noticing Aduial's fear, he puffs up a bit larger* But like I said, they'll never land a single claw on you, so long as I live. They'd have to go through me, first, and I'm too big for them to carry off! *He might not be a particularly big wolf - ever - but he'd still tear those birds to shreds if they tried to mess with Aduial*
Aduial: *looks around uneasily, but believes him* If you promise. I trust you.
Cern: *not looking anywhere at all beyond Aduial* I do promise. Cross my heart.
Aduial: *tail wags. rises back up to her back paws to give him a little kiss on the cheek, the sort that princesses give knights and little girls give little boys and children give their mothers at bedtime* Thank you, brave Cern.
Cern: *Will forever treasure the little gift she gave him, all expressions softened, now completely certain it is his right and duty to protect the fair Aduial*
Aduial: *pulls back and giggles more girlishly than demurely* I should probably be getting back, for now. But perhaps we can search for more birds, later?
Cern: If you would like to birdwatch more, you just have to ask! *Pulls himself back into the 'proper' stance she'd taught him* It would be my pleasure.
Aduial: *gives him a smile and a little curtsy, then makes her way home, feeling altogether quite pleased with her new bodyguard*
[FIN]
