It rolled off her fur like water and the hood came flying off the figure to reveal a girl’s face, “SO it is a magical beast!”

Joseph grabbed the girl, lifting her by the throat, “are you okay?”

The girl’s legs were kicking Joseph’s armor in vein, “Not… Choking…”

“I wasn’t talking to you, “ Joseph turned to White. She looked at her side where the attack had hit, sniffing it for a second and then looked back at Joseph. He let out a sigh, “I’m glad. Now, you.” Joseph looked back to the girl in his hand, “If you try and attack her again, I’ll take whatever limb you do so with.”

The woman Joseph had been traveling with jumped up and grabbed his arm, now hanging from it. “Stop, you’re killing her!”

Joseph looked at the woman, “No I’m not. I don’t plan to kill her and she hasn’t even passed out yet so what are you worrying about?”

The woman let go of Joseph’s arm, “Oh. Well then.”

Joseph Then let go of the girl. She hit the ground on her back taking in as much air as she could. “That thing is a great wolf isn’t it?”

The people around stepped away from Joseph and White, including the people who had showed him to the gate. “So what if she is?”

The small girl got to her feet, “I knew it. You don’t understand what you have there, not really. Give her to me.”

Joseph looked down to the girl, “I do not own her. She can not be given or received.”

The girl looked in shock, “She is your tamed beast right? I can get someone who can transfer her over to me.”

“Tamed? No, that is not her. There is nothing that can be transferred.” Joseph put a hand on White’s head, “you did a good job not ripping her throat out.” White’s tail wagged.

“So you’re walking around with a wild magical beast is it?” The girl shook her head, “What utter nonsense. That isn’t possible, now hand her over!” Magic sprouted in front of the girl.

Joseph sneered, “What did I tell you.” He brought his weapon to his front.

“Who said I was attacking her?” The magic suddenly turned dark and shot towards Joseph.

Stabbing the ground a wall of terra rose to protect him. The wall soon after became blackened and crumbled. ‘What kind of magic is that?’ Joseph stared at the girl when guards surrounded them. Joseph jumped in front of White, putting himself between her and everyone else.

“What is going on here?” One of the guards looked to the girl, then towards Joseph, having to strain his neck to look at his face. “So, picking on a little girl are we?”

“She attacked my companion, I stopped her. That is all.”

The guard looked around, “Which one is your companion, who did this girl attack? Speak up now!”

Joseph raised his hand slightly, getting the guard's attention and directing it to White, “She is my companion.”

The guard looked at the wolf which seemed a few feet too big to be a normal wolf, “Is this true girl?” He looked towards the small girl with a reddened neck.

“That right there is a great wolf, I am within my rights as an adventurer to attack a magical beast, am I not?” The girl had a satisfied smile on her face.

Suddenly the older man from earlier yelled out, “Guards! Please, this is Sir Joseph the Giant. He is a young man who has ventured out from his home to find people who can teach him. That, whether it be wolf or great wolf, is his animal companion and hasn’t tried to hurt anyone.”

The guard looked Joseph up and down, “I see. His body definitely doesn’t match his face, not if he was a human that is. So you say this is your companion but, can you control such a beast?”

“I can promise she won’t do harm to anyone, unless attacked.” Joseph reached down, scratching her on her lower back. A second later White lay on the ground, her leg kicking the air as Joseph scratched her back.

The girl quickly interjected, “You can’t be serious, that thing is a great wolf. It has to be locked up or killed if it’s not in the right hands.”

“Son, is that really a great wolf?” The guard looked at White staring hard.

“I don’t know for sure but everyone who has met her says she is.”

“I see, I’m sorry but I cannot permit you entry to the kingdom with such a dangerous beast, it will have to be left outside the walls.” The guard nodded to himself to confirm his decision.

Joseph could only smile at the thought, “So you’re asking me, the only one who White listens to and the only one capable of keeping her in check, to leave her here with all these people she doesn’t trust… in a strange place?”

The more Joseph said the more dejected the guard looked. “I suppose that isn’t a good idea either…”

A taller, older-looking guard walked up to the one talking to Joseph before he could come up with another idea. “What seems to be the hold up here?”

“Oh, captain, you see, this here is a great wolf. And the giant boy wants to enter the kingdom.”

“So a great wolf has chosen a giant boy is it. You may enter.”

“But captain, isn’t that dangerous!”

“Soldier do you know nothing of great wolfs? They are a highly intelligent magical beast, so much so they have a sense of pride and honor. For them to choose to be by the side of anyone other than their own kind mean’s that this boy is one to be trusted. Besides, if it is only one great wolf we can take it down without much effort. Do you understand what I’m saying giant?”

“Of course, but that’s not ever going to happen.” Joseph steps to the captain, looking down into his eyes.

“Good, you may pass.”