The Forge's Mascot [Torin]

[Aurin]

Kilvin's Forge
42 Frost 121

It might have been a mistake, but Aurin had gone ahead and done it. Korvaelis was a bit of a hermit, so Aurin only saw him rarely, but the man had sent him a message and his intuition had proven correct. Aurin wanted the pup as soon as he saw it, orphaned and wild. He felt a kinship with it, and he had been wanting to get Torin a puppy for some time, since he had met Korvaelis, in fact. The blue man had been acting strangely, but then he always sort of was.

The wolf pup was one of a litter, the only one that had survived the death of its mother. The other littermates hadn't proven strong enough to survive without her. One of the dogs had suckled this pup, and it was now safely weaned. Aurin had paid for it and paid ahead for training, as Korvaelis had warned him a wild thing would need it more than most dogs, as its instincts would sometimes war with its training. But it was a project he could share with Torin and with Timon, and it would learn to guard its home and its new, two-legged pack, and it would give them more excuses to go camping, which had proven an entertaining and educational thing for all of them.

The fact that it had seemed wary of him at first was a good thing; that it decided to trust him was another good thing. It was snuggled into him in his coat as he let himself into the shop. Timon was tidying up before the end of the work day, and smiled at Aurin but missed the little bulge in his coat or didn't think it odd that he would be smuggling something in from the cold. Perhaps he would have to have a talk with him about being perceptive.

"Hurry up and come inside once you've locked up," he said. "Otherwise I'm cooking dinner."

Timon wrinkled his nose. "Yethir."

Torin seemed to be wrapping things up in the forge, his golden skin glistening in a way Aurin appreciated, the heat of the forge beating back the cold of the season. He would have slapped the man on the arse in passing, but he was never sure when that sort of startlement might cause injury. Someday, he would understand the forging process, as well as the runeforging process, so he could safely flirt while Torin was working.

"I've got a surprise for you," he called over his shoulder when he was at the door into the house proper, the bulge of the pup hidden behind his back. He winked when he caught Torin's eye, and then went inside. There, he took a seat on a chair, long legs splayed out before him as he leaned back, and pulled back his lapel so the little creatures face peeked out.

Off Topic

-15 gp for a puppy
-25 gp for training (to be played out with Korvaelis if he returns or with Torin if he doesn't)

Funds to go to Mountainside Healings.

[Torin Kilvin]

Timon was wiping down the countertop, which might have seemed redundant to anyone else. No one ever put anything on it that might dirty it, but the boy figured that the more oil he could rub into it, the more it would gleam and reflect the products when people did start coming in. As he smoothed the cloth over the wooden surface that late afternoon his mind wandered, as it often did. In his head he was a tavern keeper in some far-off wilderness town at the edges of civilization; slinging drinks and clever comebacks to the filth that flowed from the mouths of miners and adventurers that made their way through his place.

When Aurin came in he was just about to pull out his trusty blunderbuss from below the counter and blow away the outlaw who had decided to test his luck robbing the best tavern in a hundred miles. It was embarrassment, even though he knew it was stupid and that Aurin couldn't possibly know what he'd been pretending, that kept his eyes mostly averted during their brief conversation. Timon had begun to take over some of the cooking duties, since Torin forgot until he was starving and Aurin's attempts, while brave, didn't have what could be called a mother's touch to them. The younger boy wasn't an expert by any means, but he had helped his aunt some when he'd lived with her, and had started to ask the cooks at the taverns he was often sent to for their meals for tips. They were charmed enough by his smile and polite, enthusiastic curiosity to tell him whatever he wanted to know. Torin never kept track of how much Timon spent on food for them when he was sent shopping, which he thought maybe he should mention to Aurin in case there were ever other, less trustworthy apprentices. But it left him free to experiment a bit with spices and new things. Torin had approved, at least enough to thank him and finish all of whatever he'd tried so far.

When Aurin moved passed the forge, Torin had his back to the house, banking up the forge and preparing it for the night. He wanted it to be alright through the morning since he intended to spend it working on some leather pieces that would go into Kala's order for the season. They could have been made after the metal parts they would attach too but it felt better in his head to have everything ready before beginning to heat metal. He turned with a grin when he heard the redhead's voice, catching only a glimpse of him before he was stepping into the warmth of the house.

The carpenters and other men had finished the last of their work just two days before, so this would be the first time Aurin was seeing the completed form. Torin had plans for the spaces, now that they were mostly new. The wood was glossy and smooth underfoot now, allowing the boys to go barefoot if they wished. The walls were well fitted, preventing drafts and making the whole structure considerably warmer. There would be a large table with chairs for friends soon in the common area, and shelves for books. The extra bedrooms upstairs were empty but the master bedroom, complete with its own fireplace, already boasted a brand new bed, large and lovingly carved, with matching tables to either side. A wardrobe and such other things as Torin might need would follow, but the bed had felt most important. Aside from the couple of times he had stayed with Aurin in his cottage since getting his own house Torin hadn't slept in a bed in months. The frame was steel with wood shaped to go around it so that none showed. The last thing the smith wanted was to buy a beautiful bed and break it by being heavy or careless. He couldn't wait to show it to the one who would most often share it, so when he heard that there was a surprise waiting for him he thought, but did not say, 'And one for you too.'

Giving his hands and face a quick wash he threw his shirt on just as Timon was emerging from the shop to dart from its warmth into the house, Illumite lamp in hand. Torin followed, letting the feeling of contentment, which he was still fighting not to feel guilt over, settle into his chest.

By the time he made it inside he could hear excited exclamations in Timon's still high voice,

"What kind is it? Do we get to keep it? Can I hold it?" Putting the clues together wasn't difficult but it was still a surprise when he rounded through the wide archway into the kitchen and saw a wary little head poking out of Aurin's collar. For a moment an entirely absurd idea flashed through his mind's eye; that of Aurin having, by some strange magic, simply grown a second, tiny, canine head. He managed not to laugh but his grin was still in evidence as he came to stand behind Timon.

The puppy, for puppy it of course was, was sniffing at Timon's outstretched hand as though it wasn't sure yet if it should be growling. Pulling over a chair from the small kitchen table he sat gratefully and met Aurin's eyes.

"Hello, bad man." He said, with all of his affection and even a little flirtation. "Have you brought us another mouth to feed?"

Despite the joking, he sounded pleased, even a little excited.

[Aurin]

Aurin was rather marveling at the work that had been done in the house. He had long since found Yshvold a place of his own, so Aurin's own little castle was his again. Still and all, he spent a fair amount of the cold winter nights keeping Torin warm. But he hadn't paid much attention to the work being done; it wasn't his bailiwick and Torin had gotten recommendations from his noble patron, which seemed good enough to Aurin. They would likely treat Torin well, not wanting to offend the august House. For the last work, he had spent some nights at his own place, so it was a surprise. But all that was eclipsed by Timon's excitement and then Torin's arrival.

"Gentle," he warned. "She's a wolf pup. Lost her mother somehow, and she was the only pup strong enough to survive. So she'll need a name, and we'll be returning to Mountainside Healings regularly to train her as soon as she's old enough. But be gentle... give her a chance to get to know us, to get to know her new home. Soon enough, you will be her favorite because you won't listen when I tell you not to give her all the choicest treats from our table."

He smirked, then caught Torin's eyes and winked.

"Soon enough she'll be big enough we can threaten to feed Timon to her when he misbehaves. He's skinny, but he'll tide her over for a meal, perhaps."

But he wasn't restraining her and now that she had been roused from her long nap in his coat, she was sniffing at Timon's hand. The little noises she made were adorable, and it was equally so when she began to nibble on Timon's finger, setting him to giggle wildly.

[Torin Kilvin]

The smith's brows rose as Aurin explained that he had, in fact, brought the boys a wolf. Squatting down so as not to startle the animal he inspected it, offering his hand to be sniffed and even licked. It was a good sign that the creature was already showing friendly behaviors, that, or she was hungry.

Standing again he got a bowl from one of the shelves and filled it with clean well water from the drinking pitcher. Moving to sit on the floor, cross-legged in the opening the led to the rest of the house he set the bowl down nearby. The pup should learn the environment but giving her too much at once would be overwhelming and the kitchen was the warmest spot for her to begin exploring.

"Don't pick her up," He instructed Timon as the redhead let the tiny canine down, "Let her look around first, just don't let her out of the kitchen." He was fairly sure he could catch the pup if she made a break for it, from his current position, but establishing rules for both animal and human children was important.

In truth, Torin was hardly less excited but one loud, laughing, playful human was enough for a first introduction. He could take her into the yard when she was a bit bigger and play with her. He should build her a little house of her own, though that would have to wait till glade.

The tiny wolf was immediately inquisitive, nose to the ground, absorbing all the new scents. When she found the water she scrambled half into it, lapping and flailing. Torin grinned and reached down, one hand on the dog and one on the bowl so she could get an actual drink. When that was accomplished she spent several minutes sniffing him all over, trying to climb him. When she was satisfied she went over to where Timon was sitting on the floor, practically vibrating waiting his turn.

While child and dog examined each other more thoroughly Torin turned to look up at his mentor.

"Where did you find a wolf pup?"

[Aurin]

The fox-faced man felt a little pang setting the pup down on her paws. He wouldn't say that he had bonded with her on the trip back into the city, but he supposed he was an animal, too. Small ones needed to be looked after. But Torin knew what to do and Timon was well-behaved. He watched from his chair, giving the boys a chance to mingle with her and her a chance to do some exploring. All three of their simple joys in the encounter did things inside him that he would never admit to, even if Torin's simple joy was complicated by his sense of responsibility, which was a good thing. Though they could only raise her as a dog, she was a wolf, and that would require taking her out of the city sometimes. But they had enjoyed their time out of the city, and Torin had spoken of the spirit of the yard or something. Perhaps a little of the wild would sleep outside the house and keep their little foundling from losing her roots.

"Korvaelis Dahshida runs an animal hospital on the mountain, does some breeding as well. Met him a couple of seasons back and considered getting a pup as soon as you had the forge. Just sort of lost track of things in the meantime, but he let me know there was this little beauty and he wasn't sure she could be rehabilitated into the wild and, well, I went up to meet her and she decided she was coming home with me. I guess he or someone who knows him found her litter abandoned—likely cause being death—and brought them to him. She was the only one he could nurse back to health, so she's a bit older than she looks."

[Torin Kilvin]

If Torin noticed Aurin's emotions concerning the newest addition to their home, he did not bring attention to it in any way.

Watching the little girl wander around, snuffling, investigating as her instincts instructed, even though she had no mother to raise her, reminded Torin of the wild wolves he'd observed, high up in the trees around his home village. Every sort of animal would come out to be watched if you learned to be still and quiet long enough. Being still and quiet were things Torin had been learning back when he had his own mother to teach him. It would probably be good to take her to socialize with other canines as often as possible, so she could learn how to be one. He would rather do it with wolves, but dogs would do if none could be found. There were probably some human-raised wolves in the city, but he wouldn't want her anywhere near fighting rings or the like. Torin would ask Kala, her family might have, or at least know of, some near-wolves that were used for transportation in the high mountains.

He raised his head from watching the wolf to watching the fox as Aurin began to speak,

"Dahshida? That sounds Fae'ethalan." The idea of a Fae raising animals made perfect sense in the smith's mind. Destyn did not seem close to animals especially, but different tribes had different expressions. The pup had trundled her back over to Torin on her fat little legs, making his smile reappear. Leaning down a bit so she could lick his nose he said,

"You're the strong one, huh? Good girl. You'll be safe here." A little yip answered his voice, startling a laugh from him. To Aurin again,

"Is she on solids? I could get milk if she needs it. The breeder in our village would milk-feed pups whose mothers rejected them for whatever reason."

Timon perked up immediately with,

"Can I feed her?"

[Aurin]

"Great House Dahshida are Avialae, but Lord Korvaelis is Fae'ethalan. I think. Possibly part-Druskai? Perhaps both. He's blue, though. Dahshida raises the icewing eagles; they're hunters and trackers and players in the great game of politics." He spread his hands; politics was a new game for him and he was observing before he tried to get dealt into it. Observing was safe enough, but playing would put a target on him that he wasn't ready for. From what he understood, Dahshida might also be in charge of assassins and spies, which was another reason for him to keep an eye on Korvaelis.

"He was married to one of their lords, but is now a widower, it seems. Nice fellow. Good with animals."

Aurin was relieved when Torin showed some knowledge of how to care for a young pup. He knew a few things and Korvaelis had lectured him, but it would be nice to spread the responsibility around. He nodded to Timon.

"I think if Torin shows you how to do it properly, there's no reason you can't. She's onto solid foods, but feeding her a bit of milk might help you bond. Otherwise, the tenderest bits of meat we have so we don't upset her belly." He didn't get up to fetch anything though he felt the urge to. This would be something Timon needed to get used to doing, and for now he just wanted to enjoy the softness her unconditional love brought to Torin's face. He didn't know why he had been so melancholic, but it was good to see some respite. Everyone loved a puppy.

"We will have to figure out a name for her," he added. "Nothing stupid."

[Torin Kilvin]

Timon's head came up from where he was trying to entice the puppy back over to him,

"He'th blue?" He made a gesture over his face to show he was asking if the animal trainer was, in fact, physically blue in coloring.

When the exchange over the appearance of Lord Korvaelis was settled Torin turned to observe the animal again, a serious expression on his face.

"You can feed her. We'll have to get types of meat you like." Timon gave him a confused look but Torin went on, "For when you puke it up for her to eat."

Timon's confusion grew up alarm almost immediately, but Torin remained calm as he explained,

"Wolved eat and then bring meat back up for the pups. Their teeth aren't strong enough to chew meat at first when they are weaned, so, if you want to feed her you can, we'll just get extra dinner."

The smith kept his straight face, letting the pup nip at his fingertips for several long moments before he grinned and Timon's look of shock switched to one of frustrated displeasure.

"I am Not throwing up to feed her!"

Torin managed not to laugh but it slipped out a bit and he met Aurin's eyes at last, hoping they were sharing the teasing.

"No," He gave in after letting Timon express his frustration over being teased, "I'll talk to the butcher about grinding some deer and other wild game up for us. She really can't eat solid meat though, so don't feed her scraps just yet, it would hurt her."

Timon nodded, distracted by the wolf bounding back over to him as she grew more confident in the environment.

Naming something living felt oddly disrespectful, so Torin kept his peace as Timon threw out several typical dog names before his eyes lit up. Timon got a determined look on his face and said, carefully,

"We should name her Huntress."

[Aurin]

"He's blue," he confirmed.

Aurin kept a straight face as Torin educated Timon about wolf pups. Korvaelis had told him all this, and he was fairly sure there was still milk in the icebox and a tin of some kind of pâté that would work if all else failed. He could also run to one of the markets that were open later, but they weren't going to force Timon to regurgitate his dinner for the little creature, just as he hadn't forced him to eat the bait worms when they were camping. It was still amusing to tease him, and it toughened him up.

He didn't react to the various names posited, and when they arrived on Huntress, he only smiled mysteriously. He wanted them to decide.

When he said it, though, "Huntress," the pup turned toward the sound of his voice, whined, and bounded back to him, climbing onto his crossed heels and scrambling toward him. He chuckled, leaned down and collected her, murmuring comforting things as she licked at him.

"Don't worry," he said to Timon. "Everything's new to her, but she's known me a little longer so she probably just wants to return to something she knows a bit better. Soon enough, you two will be her favorites." She nuzzled into his more familiar warmth, the buzz of his voice through their flesh, and reoriented herself for a short while. Then she was squirming, and he laughed and set her back down so she could reacquaint herself with Timon.

"Hmm, perhaps you ought to take her out into the yard for a bit. Not certain the last time she relieved herself and it's only going to get colder as the night wears on."

[Torin Kilvin]

Torin was anxious at the idea of sending Timon out with the pup alone but he made himself stop tensing his shoulders and nodded. The yard was well fenced, the boards strong and deep, the worst that would happen is she would hide and they would have to search for her before she got cold enough to be in danger. Aurin's Semblance would make quick work of any search, and Timon needed to feel trusted, needed to build responsibility.

The adolescent picked up the little canine carefully, holding her only a tad awkwardly when she squirmed. Torin didn't mention that if the pup wouldn't relieve herself she could be stimulated to do so. He would rather Timon not get confused about that and if the breeder had been willing to part with her it was likely she had learned how to do it on her own already.

When he heard the front door close behind his apprentice he turned back to look at the man.

"Thank you." He said, low and grateful. At times he felt like he was surely doing an awful job at raising Timon, but at other times he knew he did alright and that trying helped him become a better man himself. The puppy would help them both, and having a guard animal, particularly one who would be both large and capable when it was grown would make Torin feel less anxious when he left Timon alone. Timon was beginning to learn how to defend himself too, but there was only so much a boy his size could do against larger assailants.

Getting to his knees he stood and walked over to offer Aurin a hand up. "There are a few things I'd like to show you."

Leading them upstairs he opened the door to his fully furnished bedroom. The bed was tall and sturdy, with four connected posts and a set of curtains in earthy colors. There was a large steel-bound chest that could serve as seating at the foot, and small tables with drawers to each side. There was a tall wardrobe, that matched it all. There was a washstand with its basin but there was also a huge tub, easily big enough for two adults, in the corner nearest the fireplace.

It was filled already, though the water would be chilly. Once he had let the redhead have a look around he pulled a small device off the mantlepiece. Holding it out he explained that it was a Magmatyte shard with a metal cage twisted around it. The cage had moving parts that could be twisted to activate the power of the shard to different degrees. Twisting the cage he tossed the whole thing into the bathtub.

Within a matter of minutes, the water in the tub was steaming pleasantly. Torin used that time to explain that the frame of the bed was ash steal inside, with the wood cleverly placed.

With a shy smile that grew more confident, he moved over to the older man. They likely had a few more minutes before they had to go back and settle Timon and the pup for bed and the blond man intended to use them.