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Here he was again, once more lost, having strayed from the path he'd been following toward the lady, Zigana. That gypsy girl had changed his life, taking him in when he'd found no others willing to give him a chance. They were no more than friend, no more than subordinate and superior though both still capable of getting along. Yet even so, he always seemed to get lost, perhaps dwelling too much on past events that no longer should have mattered, yet he could not forget them.

Expelling a soft sigh he continued on his way, it was the beginning of evening and the sun had not yet set, but was preparing to. Large white clouds drifted in the sky above as the colors of the horizon mixed in shades of orange and pink. It was, as always, a beautiful thing to witness be it the dawning of a new day or the ending of one. The brilliant splash of color in the heavens above, in the distance was just awe-inspiring, even for one with troubles even worse than his.

He knew where he was going, or rather whom he was looking for if not really where, but he wished he didn't constantly get lost. Zigana though always waited for him and sometimes would even turn back to find him when the time between the last they'd seen one another had grown too long.

Now, if he could speak properly, he might have been able to ask someone for direction, or rather if they'd come into contact with the tambourine toting ebony female with the stars and crescent moons gracing her pelt. Though, it would have been nice to have other friends too.

In the pale light of the setting sun, Qaletaqa's light pink eyes sought a sign, but sometimes sight alone was not enough. He could not see Zigana before or around him, but her scent was feint on the air as he stopped to tilt his head back and breath in the air. He could smell the blades of grass and the few flowers that were still in bloom, but there was a closer sent than that of the one he knew so well. Not the lady whom he followed, but some other wolf he did not recognize the scent of, a stranger.

He hoped, if he were to brave the question he wished to ask of direction that they would not scorn nor try and smite him for his horrid tongue twisted words that rarely, if ever, sounded right. No, he'd have to chance it, because he did not wish to go in continuous circles in search of his friend and leader. She had never led him astray, the first to befriend him when all else seemed bleak. He turned around, did the stranger approach his direction, if so, how far away were they he wondered silently to himself.

Qaletaqa determined that whichever direction the stranger came from, they were not coming toward him, for he heard nothing, just the scent carried on the breeze. He was unable to determine from that alone how close they might have been and so turned back in the direction he'd been traveling in, but his limbs ached from his foray, running and josteling about far too much and so moved at less than even a snails pace.

Perhaps, he should rest and wait for the one he had been traveling with to turn back and find him, or wait till he had the energy to move forward to catch up with her, for she would always wait for him. She would wait for anyone who decided to follow her, but she was not nearby, was not there so she could not keep him company. He'd be glad to see another.

“Wearv'mah nrt arne.” (Leave me not alone.)

Qaletaqa was startled by the sound of someone speaking from behind him, not having noticed any sounds of the other wolfs approach. Turning his head around he peered at the lady sporting a green pelt. There were two different shades, the stripes along her lower legs were eye-catching. Although his light pink eyes glanced up from her paws to her expression, he could not decipher yet the color of her eyes for she hid them beneath her eyelashes.

She however did not seem hostile, not yet at least, but he soon would see. “Hrrow.” (Hello). He hated to ask of someone who had approached him, he hoped she need not need his help as far as directions were concerned. However, anything else, other than that and proper speech he could handle. “Rrr, rrkerrkss mehfrrahkkrn, brrdehyrr knrrwrrIrm, prrzzeeerdy?” (Err, excuse me for asking, but do you know where I am, pretty lady?).

He really didn't think it wise to flirt, but she was pretty and what was the harm in complimenting her anyway, even if she probably couldn't understand. Really though, he had to figure out exactly where he was and from there determine which way Zigana was sure to have gone in. He wondered if perhaps she was still searching for the land where the caravans had been, before they had left Telk to travel outside for a time, till now during their return.

As perusal, there was a pause before the other whom he had spoken to. It was a constant problem that he had still not yet been able to rid himself of, yet he could not pretend to be mute, for he was not, though he might as well have been. He wondered for a moment, if perhaps this meeting of another, a wolf whom was a stranger to him, might end in yet another catastrophe.

He was relieved however, that the lady was polite as far as he could tell. Though he doubted he'd be understood a second time and proceeded to repeat, though speaking slower, yet the pronunciation as before remained the same. “Rrr, rrkerrkss mehfrrahkkrn, brrdehyrr knrrwrrIrm, prrzzeeerdy?” Once spoken a regretful sigh fell from his mouth, for there was no way she could understand him, not even Zigana could understand him most of the time.

If only he could speak better, if not completely well, at least enough to be understood.

It was not Qaletaqa's intention to cause another to feel guilt, though he did not know that even for a moment that the green female had felt such after his weary sigh. Though it was true, it was a common problem, for he always had to repeat himself and even then, most did not understand even a little bit of what he said.

He blinked as she questioned him. It seemed she had understood something of what he had said. Carefully he nodded his head, “Yrz.”

The omega had no inkling of what this other wolf was thinking, but he did not expect to run into any help offered to him. Rather he was certainly more used to attack either verbal or physical. Yet here was the green one before him, speaking of his jaw as though trying to help him out with his speech impediment.

He wasn't sure how effective it would be, as he gazed at her uncertainly. Yet none had ever suggested it, but that did not mean he would not try it, because what if it really could help him, even if only minimally. Though whether he could move his jaw over just a bit, remained to be seen.

The black male with the bit of red, felt a bit uncertain, especially with that intent gave upon him. His pale eyes of pink gazed down at the ground, staring at the end of his nose slightly moving his jaw, “Haus dis?” He still hadn't pronounced the words perfectly, but they were certainly closer than they had ever been before. Though it was only two words, who knew if it would work for an entire sentence. He himself however, gave no thought to that, as his eyes turned upward from their lowly position to await some affirmation from the female whose name had not yet been given, though neither had his been.

“I's Qaletaqa anz'oo?” Even if he couldn't pronounce it all correctly, if he could speak the words closely enough, it might only seem as though he had a strange accent or spoke in slang.

Qaletaqa's ears perked as the female told him that his words to her at least sounded much better. He didn't know that he could speak perfectly, though she seemed willing to help him more than anyone had, though it made his jaw just a little tense. Nor was he sure how adjusting his tongue would help, or how it might feel. Yet he was not the type to turn away help, its not as though help came along every day. No, most would either have ignored him or driven him away, perhaps worse.

With a blink of his eyes upon her getting closer, which not many did, other than the lady whom he followed all around. She was one who didn't care whether or not he could speak well, had accepted him as and for what he was.

As he moved his tongue just a bit inside his mouth, he spoke, perhaps with a bit of an accent. He was not originally from Telk, so it may have just been a regional accent rather than one of a varying language altogether. “Its o-key,” he nodded slightly, “It es nnnice to meet you Y-oh-ko. Qaletaqa, yes,” far better than normal, though it took him awhile to speak and to pronounce her name. He wasn't sure he'd always be able to hold his jaw and tongue like that, especially not in an emergency, were he to panic. It was however, much better than he'd ever before spoken.

It was bittersweet though, for had he learned to speak long ago, he might still be with that pack in which he and his siblings had been born. Furthermore, he could still recall, his fathers parting words.

His attention though, remained upon the green lady, “I thank thee fo' your 'elp,” still not perfect, but he could speak even if it wasn't like the locals, the natives. But anyone would be able to understand him as long as he remembered what directions this female had given to him so that he could speak.

“Is there e-knee-thing you'd like 'elp weeth?”

The dark tail, belonging to the male, wagged for a moment as the green female told him that the adjustment of his tongue had also helped to improve his pronunciation. Being able to speak understandably, would enable him to ask questions of others if need be and hopefully no longer would he be shunned by those who had banished him from their sights.

He gave a small dip of his head, for it was true, he had asked if she knew where he, or they, were. If he had not lost track of Zigana, he'd not now be lost, but neither perhaps, would he have met Youko, whom had been of great help to him.

Once she told him that they were not on or even near some territory, his nose twitched slightly. He wasn't particularly looking for either, but rather an individual. “I sssee. I vas lo-looking fo' Zigana. Sh-she 's ma-ii only frrr-end. No... not only... y-you air frrr-end tah-oo?”

He smiled, though tried to speak a bit more, “I fallow 'er, she 's ma-ii leh-ee-dar.” It was just a bit difficult to work around his tongue, but still he was grateful to be able to speak as clearly as he did, even if it was not, nor might never be perfect.

Qaletaqa quietly awaited her answer, a light breeze beginning to pick up. He was unaware of her background, or that she had had an uncle whom had taught her to be weary of making friends. He himself, had always longed for friends, but they had been difficult to make, and sometimes some of them just up and disappeared. Although it had been himself and Zigana who had disappeared in order to seek out those in need of help when Zigana had been summoned. He had just followed, for she was to him, his leader.

As time elapsed, he began to feel dejected, thinking that perhaps Youko, despite her will to help him with his speech, might not wish to be a friend. However when she confirmed that she would be his ears perked and behind him his tail began to wag.

“I am honeyurd to call y-you my frr-end.”

At her question he nodded, “I am,” he wanted his leader to be found. He disliked being lost and unable to be with her, as even she at times needed protection. Besides, without her, he'd be lonely. Although having a friend now, he wouldn't mind spending more time with her if he could. Still, Zigana was his leader and he felt that, as her follower, he should be by her side. Not always lost and incapable.

He blinked. “I wood like you-rrrah heelp, thhank you.” He smiled, dipping his head politely.