“Can you like, bark once if you understand me.” Oz asked. Dion growled in response. “Good enough I guess.”

The dirus’ agitation was raised through his hackles as his hair stood up. Not only was he separated from his best friend and master, but his magic was restricted. It felt like a restless extra limb not in use, or the involuntary usage of a phantom arm. He pushed back the growing vibration in his throat and fought the urge to bear his teeth.

The previous night, especially to his wolfish senses, was great. The huge two-legged moving stone brought back four huge animals. Two elkes, a boar, and something he didn’t know. Despite the ignorance, Dion would burn the image of the creature into his mind because the glorious taste of it would forever be ingrained in his tongue. After the feast, he fell into a deep sleep. Like any respectable four-legged would do.

When he woke up, he was deeper in the woods. The bestial senses in his employ told him he was less than 6 hours trek from his master, Quicker if he sprinted. No sooner than a few moments when he regained conscience did he try to reunite with Kenan. Yet, he was met with the bounds of a command. One such he wasn’t awake to hear, or to understand.

“Listen, this is gonna go by so much easier if you just hear me out.” The dirus didn’t bother speaking, but did shift his head to face the half-giant. “Thank you. Now, ultimately, I'm helping you get stronger, so Kenan can get stronger. You want that too, right?” A mild woof was thrown into the air. The gray two-legged was right, but that didn’t mean Dion had to like even the little capitulation in the agreement.

“Okay. Alright. Now that you understand.” Oz stopped. “I’m talking to a fucking wolf.” He shook his head. “Right. Well. You and Ken have been feeding and sharing on your bond, making both of you strong. That’s fine. Yet, you both need to make sure not to make an overture. Shit, I don’t know if you can understand me. You are being too human, and him wolf. Not a bad thing, necessarily.”

There was another pause, Oz opened and closed his mouth multiple times. Trying to find the correct angle to broach the next subject. “I know… I… by the gods. I know what you are.” Dion's head raised as his ears did the same. “I believe you know too. Right? Well, it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t change the situation, the circumstances, or anything else. If you have a chance to die instead of Kenan, you will take it, right?” The dirus barked. Not even a question.

“If neither of you take deliberate steps to make a separation, then it can have certain effects. Like…” Dion barked. Growled. He knew, stupid two-legged. “What?”

The dirus looked around. He turned towards the direction of Kenan, and bowed his head, nose touching the ground. Then he showed his belly. Oz stood. Looked at Dion and towards the direction. “That's where… wait… you two have a master and servant bond!?” Dion righted himself and barked. “That changes things. Going out on a limb here, you wanted that type of bond and Kenan didn’t?” Dion barked. “Let me ask a few clarifying questions. Are you of Amarok?” Dion barked twice. “What?! Okay. Chateau?” Another pair of barks. “The old father?” Same response. A few moments passed. “It can’t be. Malar?” This time, it was one bark in affirmation.

“No. What. That's…” Oz shook his head as if trying to throw away his confusion. “Isn’t he, like, not cool?” Dion twisted his head, not in confusion, but in the way of conveying uncertainty. “You know what, I don’t know. Just, Don’t let the kid know, I won’t tell him either. That complicates things. Gods, does that mean… No. Can’t think of that right now. Gods, I wish Ozzy was here right now.” The goliath directed his attention to the sky, and then switched towards a direction. “We walk and talk.”

The Goliath immediately set off on a track. Dion veered to his left and stayed on an equal, if not a greater, pace of the gray man. Oz was an ally, not his master. Dion would rather bite his leg off than heel to such a man. Not that there was anything inherently wrong with the black laced stone creation. Something that went beyond wolfish instincts in Dion's mind vehemently disagreed with the motion. No one but Kenan could make him follow.

“Okay, look. You're a beast, right?” Oz asked. Dion didn’t respond. “Yeah, whatever, bad question. Magical animals can slowly progress and become more powerful. Same as everything else. Like plants, you guys instinctively and automatically pull in mana from the day you are born. First you pull the power to strengthen the body. You do that whether you have realized it or not. In fact, that's why you have grown so fast. This, by the way, is completely unfair.” Dins stride changed, prideful. “Anyway. There comes a point of time where you have to fight for strength. This is the point in where things are complicated, mainly for you. I have a few theories, all of them I wouldn’t possibly explain properly. I believe there is a chance for you to get new magic.

“Now, while you have been growing stronger naturally. Soon you will act like an actual beast. Instead of a four legged human. You will have to hunt other magical animals, eat and absorb their power. Much like your mortem ways. I’ll be honest, I’m not actually explaining this well because I don’t really know what I’m talking about, not fully. The communication boundaries between us and you guys, kind of make it hard to understand each other”

Dion didn’t bother listening anymore. He understood. Or at least, his instincts given to him by generations of dire wolves gave him the directions. Suddenly he put more power into his legs and took the lead. “Hey what are you doing?” The dirus was too focused to hear properly, or care. He sniffed the ground and the air. A scent. He switched directions, his head ducked low and ears back. The hunt was on.