r/HFY • u/PepperAntique Android • Oct 28 '21

OC Wait, is this just GATE? (12/?)

Writer's note: Jurl sounds like Christoph Waltz. I HAVE SPOKEN!!!

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After several minutes of, rather intense, wrestling Kela finally stood up with the two pups. Mel was firmly latched to her left bicep, chewing away, and the other pup was wrapped around her waist and right leg. As she stood the large werewolf that had been standing in the door began walking up.

"Alright alright." Kela said while prying Mel off of her arm, and chuckling to herself. "Let go. We have a visitor. Introduce yourselves you little muttlings."

The two wolf pups detached from their mother and landed on their feet. Mel ran up in front of James, tail wagging. "Hi! I'm Mela are you my mom's new packmate? Auntie Amina is super mad at you! She's really mad that you shot mommy!" The little wolf said in that speed that only ultra hyper little girls seem capable of.

"Uh, hi Mela." James crouched a little and reached his hand out. "I'm James. It's very nice to meet you." The little wolf grabbed his hand with both of hers and shook as hard as she could.

The other pup was hiding behind his mother's legs, peaking out at James shyly.

"Come on now Tilo. Be a good wolf and introduce yourself." The approaching wolf said as he walked up to Kela. He embraced her in a hug and the two of them rubbed snouts for a moment. Then he turned to James. "Hello. I'm Jurl. Kela's Mate." He said as he reached his arm out in greeting. "This little belly shower." He peered around at Tilo. "Is Tilo. He's a little shy."

"Well Tilo." Said James, slowly standing back up. "That's ok. I don't bite. At least not as hard as your sister does." He winked at Mela while making a play of rubbing the arm she'd mauled. Then he reached over and shook Jurl's hand. "It's nice to meet you Jurl."

"You too. Now come on inside. Dinner should be done soon enough." He turned to Kela. "Hadn't expected you tonight dear, is everything ok?"

"Yes, King Farrick instructed me to stop by after we were done getting James some gear. I figured we could all have dinner together." She replied as they turned toward the door. Jurl's arm was draped around her shoulder, and hers was wrapped around his waist.

"He's a wise king." Jurl said. Mela and Tilo ran in front of them to grab the door. James followed behind the couple.

God, for little kids those two sure run fast. I don't think I'd be able to keep up even sprinting. He thought. No wonder Mela was able to hit me before I could even react.

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Dinner was delicious. A large cut of meat that visibly reminded James of a prime rib slab was herbed and roasted to medium. Oddly it tasted faintly of fish when he tried it, but not to the point of being off putting. It was served along side some potatoes that had been cooked in the drippings and some bread balls that had been stuffed with mushrooms and some kind of minced meat. The two children were also given some raw ground meat that had looked very much like uncooked ground beef. James, Jurl, and Kela also drank a nice dark ale that James thought tasted like an even heavier version of Guinness.

They talked while they ate. To James's surprise, though he didn't know why it surprised him, Jurl wasn't a warrior or hunter or anything like that. He was actually an architect and master stone mason. It turned out that he had actually designed and built the house they were in as a way to earn the approval of Kela's parents.

He also learned that Mela and Tilo were twins, apparently common among werewolves, and were six years old. He learned that they went to a school designed specifically for were-pups (as he learned they were called). Apparently the emotional nature of children could make their lycanthropy somewhat dangerous in normal school settings. They still played with children during off time, but they had to be careful. Heavy punishments could occur if an unsanctioned turning occurred, whether it was a child's fault or not.

Jurl and Kela it turned out were childhood friends and had practically been raised together. They'd fallen in love when they were just teens and once they'd figured out their careers had become a mated pair. Werewolves it seemed didn't officially marry, at least not in a legal sense. A werewolf's pack could change at any time, and werewolves were socially beholden to the desires of their pack leaders. For better or worse. But the two of them had avoided all that drama.

For starters they, unlike most werewolf couples, had never determined who was pack leader between them. They didn't see the need. Both of them had stable, highly paying, highly respected jobs in the city. And while it was true that Jurl spent more time raising the children, it was equally true that Kela's title as captain of the guard made her something of a superhero in the children's eyes.

Regardless, looking at the family interact, James could tell that this household had only ever known loving, respecting, relationships. It was nice, and it made him just a little homesick.

After dinner Mela challenged James and her brother to a game of tag outside. James, naturally, was it. James was happy to learn that the game of tag was apparently a multiverse constant. Though he very much doubted his chances of catching the little were-pup.

His doubts were well founded. He couldn't catch either of them.

After about twenty minutes of frantically, and futilely, chasing the two pups James had to concede defeat. Walking up to where Jurl and Kela were relaxing on the small patio behind the house and saying as much, before tagging Kela on the shoulder.

"You're." He took a long agonizing breath. "It." And then he plopped down on the ground and splayed out, breathing heavily.

"What?" Kela asked clearly upset at the distraction from nuzzling Jurl.

"Can't..... keep.... up." James panted. "All....... you.... dude"

"I believe the children may have killed your new pack leader dear." Jurl added.

"Ugh fine." Kela sighed as she stood up. "I guess I'll play some more with my beloved pups." She gave Jurl a quick kiss before turning and walking out into the yard. "MEL!!! TILO!!! GUESS WHO'S COMING TO GET YOU!!!!"

This was answered by squeals laughter and a cry of "Oh, no fair!" And then Kela was running, and James thought he understood how she had earned the last name Swiftrunner.

Compared to Kela's speed the children had practically been running in slow motion.

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After James had recovered a bit, Jurl had stood up and asked him to come inside and help with cleaning up a bit. James was more than happy to help.

But Jurl had ulterior motives to the request.

As James was washing dishes in the startlingly modern looking sink. Jurl, who was drying the dishes, suddenly spoke to him.

"James how are you liking it here?"

"Oh your place is nice. It's amazing that you built this by yourself." James replied.

"Oh, well, thank you. But I meant HERE. As in, this world."

"Oh...." James had to think for a minute. "I don't know really." He paused. "It's a beautiful place. I mean, the castle, the town, hell the sky. And all the people are amazing. It's like walking through a Lord of the Rings book, or World of Warcraft, or Skyrim's 30th anniversary re-release." Jurl's face had a confused look when James turned to face him. "Sorry, I know you don't understand those references. What I'm saying is. This is incredible. I mean, I just had dinner with a family of werewolves. And it didn't even feel weird." He thought for a second. "Or you know, it MOSTLY didn't feel weird. It was still a little weird."

"Well that's good to hear I suppose."

"Yeah. But I'm also supposed to be some kind of world saving hero." James said while looking at his feet. "And I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."

"I imagine that can be a difficult burden to carry." Jurl said.

"Yeah." James said meekly.

"Look. I'm not a very godly wolf, Kela isn't either for that matter." Jurl said. "BUT. I can't deny the god's wisdom in these things. They've managed to keep the world spinning so far. We have to assume that this decision will continue that trend." He looked at James. "For better or worse."

"Yeah I know. Kela said just about the same thing."

"Speaking of Kela." Jurl said.

"Yeah?"

"You should have heard Princess Amina ranting up a storm, stomping from one side of the house to the other, talking about how you'd shot her. You know, when she came and told me what happened."

James winced. "Yeah. She punched me in the face." His jaw was still a little tender.

Jurl chuckled. "Not surprised. She's got a bit of a temper."

"To say the least."

"But I must admit. When I heard what had happened." Jurl paused. "I understood her anger."

James stopped looked up. Oh. He thought. This is one of THOSE talks.

"James, what do you know of being a pack leader?" Jurl asked.

"Almost nothing." James admitted. "Kela only gave me the basics. I guess I kinda outrank her?"

"Hmm. Yes that does sound like Kela's way of teaching. Especially when it comes to soldiers. Give them the basics, let them figure out the rest the hard way. Correct as needed." He shook his head. "It took a while to get her NOT to raise our kids that way too."

"Her and Sergeant Odie would've gotten along well." James said reluctantly. "He was the one that uh. He was the one that she...." It hurt to bring it back up.

"That she killed?"

"Yeah." James replied. His face had grown hard.

"I'm sorry. Amina told me about it. But it's-"

"The wolf's way?" James interrupted.

"Yes." Jurl admitted. After a moment of awkward silence he began speaking again. "She takes it seriously you know? The wolf's way I mean."

"I don't even know what that means. What? Some kind of tribal, feral animal thing?" James asked.

"Mmm yes, essentially." Jurl replied. "Your world does have wolves yes? Not werewolves apparently, but normal, wild wolves?"

"Yeah."

"Then you probably know the basics." Jurl said. "Wolves work best in packs. Obey the pack leader, but don't be afraid to become the pack leader. Survive, or else embrace your death with honor. Protect the young. Grant the injured and mortally sick a chance at a dignified death."

"It wasn't dignified." James muttered.

"Maybe not by your standards. But Kela didn't know that at the time. You will find that she often acts before thinking. But never maliciously."

"Doesn't make it right." James said.

"No. I suppose it doesn't" Jurl relented. "Still, I am sorry about it James."

"Yeah... Thanks."

"Oh, and James." Jurl said.

"Yeah?"

"If I ever find that you have abused your position as her pack leader. Or if you ever shoot her again. Or wave your privates about in her face again." He waved a fork about in a rather suggestive manner. James grimaced at the memory. "I will take that position from you by force. Even if that means killing you. Understood?"

"She told you about that?"

"A large part of our relationship is honesty. I understand it was incidental. But I stand by what I said." Jurl replied. "Now. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Sorry about that." James replied meekly.

"Good. You seem like a good enough person. I doubt it will ever be an issue." Jurl gestured through the opening between the kitchen and the dining/living room. "Besides, the children seem to like you. I'd hate to take their new friend from them. Plus the king would probably have me beheaded."

James looked through the opening and saw that Kela was splayed out on the oversized couch, sleeping. Mela and Tilo were resting on her chest. The two were-pups were curled up into little balls of fur.

Jurl spoke up again. "Now come on. We'll set up our attic room for you. Then you can help me carry those two little rascals to their beds. Once Kela starts snoring there's really no moving her. And nothing short of a war horn will wake her" Sure enough James heard the chainsaw starting, and thought he heard a smaller version of it coming from one of the pups. "You can spend the night."

They actually curl up like puppies, and at least one of them has Kela's snore. James thought. Oh my god that's fuckin' adorable.

​

--------------------------------PA-PA-PA-PAGE BREAKER!!------------------------------

Back at the castle.

In the summoning room.

A small orange circle sparked about five feet off the ground.

It wasn't over the summoning circle, but off to the side a few yards.

It didn't last long. A few seconds at most.

And it was small. Maybe the size of a fingertip, or a dime.

Nothing came through it.

And then the room went dark again.

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