Helen
"Why should I care if you wish to have your friend appear before me? You claim it's your companion so I have no control if you want them or not. Dont be asking permission from me as we've only just met.. You're already giving me more power over your life than needed." *Waving his hand at her he'd almost dismiss her in a way. In all his days of travel this was the first living soul to talk to him in a rather polite manner so it was quite a new experience but one he was not ready for. Slowly reaching down he'd grab both his blades and would drag them out of their holsters before gently placing them onto the ground next to him, just far enough to where they could be grabbed easily but far enough to show there was no hostile intentions.*

"Now then if you claim your companion is aggressive I will not be afraid to use force, but I will not engage in any sort of manner. Though I would like to make a deal with you, as you've already figured out I am a traveling merchant of the sorts. So, if your friend decides its best to attack me, you owe me your name. If he dose not wish to attack me then I will gladly feed you as well. Do we have a deal?" *Opening his eyes slightly more he'd lock on to her figure as he looked up, only to whisper under his breath 'Hunter of the sorts... Ranged.'*
Sonja
*Juna stared down at him, taking a moment to think of whether or not it would be wise to call Jace over. She was fairly sure he wouldn't do anything and now with the Kitsune's weapons at bay, maybe that was enough proof to her that he wouldn't try anything either.*"Deal."*Juna said as she remained squatted on the branch, seemingly decided that she wasn't come all the way down quite yet and instead began to whistle, followed by the clicking sound of her tongue.*"Here Jace!"*There was some silence that followed, forcing her to call once more before it was eventually responded to by the sound of crunching leaves on the opposite side of the clearing.*

*A flash a brown and black bounded out of the high grass, accompanied by the lean form of the Jackal as he made his way over. His tongue seemed to hanging out playfully though at the sight of the Kitsune, he quickly put it away to be replaced by a bark. It seemed more like a warning than that of aggression, though the Jackal kept where he was as he stared the Kitsune down. As he began to pace, Juna would reach for the trunk of the tree and slowly begin making her way down, occasionally pausing to look back at the two.*"Easy Jace, easy..."
Helen
*At the sight of this creature Athel couldn't help but chuckle at how adorable it's aggressive nature was. In a way it reminded him of himself when we was a bit younger. Always trusting strangers until getting up close, only to discover that anger was welling up inside them. Without hesitation Athel would slowly stand up from his seated position and would pick up a rather small piece of dried meat. Taking 2 very slow steps forward he'd crouch down and would hold it out for the creature. For some odd reason it would seem that the aura of hostility would fade from Athel the closer he got to the animal.*

"Well then.. It seems once again i've predicted wrong on the matter. I was guessing your companion was going to be another.. Humanoid rather than a harmless animal." *Saying the word animal made his ear twitch slightly as he'd never liked that word, as it was always used against him in cities.* "As per our deal.. Do not attempt to calm him in any way as that leads to distrust later on, as being forced to like another is the route to hidden evils. If you allow for a creature to trust on their own, their emotions will be natural." *Athel would then lightly wave the meat, inching closer and closer to the jackal, not paying any mind to how far he was straying away from his own weapons.*
Sonja
*Juna felt the hard surface of the ground meet her feet as she made herself to the bottom of the tree. Her ears swiveled back, listening to the Kitsune's comment on her harmless Jackal. Eventually she turned around watching as he tried to approach him with the slab of meat while she simply decided to remain where she was and watch.*"He's not always harmless..."*She said quietly as she kept her gaze on the two of them, taking pride in to times that Jace had shown himself to be a formidable enough foe.*"He's protected me from an owlbear before..."*Juna decided to not mention how he also nearly got killed by the hybrid animal and was forced to be sent away from the action, thinking maybe it was best to let only the heroic side of the story out.

Jace stood his ground as the Kitsune approached, the hairs along his shoulders bristling until the scent of meat had got his nose. He stared at the food, inadvertently shifting his attention to it rather than its holder as he took a whiff of it before shaking his head to and fro as if cursing at his distraction. He ran towards the Kitsune before hopping up in his hind legs while propping his front legs against the Kitsune for balance, barking up at him. Maybe the Jackal was trying to ward him off or rather get to the food he was holding. It was hard to really tell with the animal.*
Helen
*Seeing how the Jackal had now reacted to his presence and with the offer of food, this was the time to shine. Athel would start to tighten up his muscles and would start to slowly stand up into a more dominating stature, towering over the jackal. He'd then lock eyes with the beast and would slowly lower his head down challenging the creature in attempts to put it into submission. While still keeping eye contact he'd let out a low growl before speaking up.* 

*Once Athel thought enough was enough he'd lower himself once more and would place the meat upon the ground and would sigh.* "You know girl.. If he would have attacked me, I would have simply let him tear into me. As I do not wish the same fate of loneliness to consume another all because you met a random traveler. But it's apparent that you do not know much about creatures as commands will get you nothing but false trust as if you had a greater bond with this creature it would have already understood how to act just by your posture." *Taking a slight risk Athel would slowly put out his hand and would attempt to gently pat the Jackal on his head.*
Sonja
*Jace's ears drew back atop his head as Athel lowered his head down and stared at him, a low growl resonating in his throat in challenge. When Athel had finally dropped the meat on the ground, Jace finally hopped down from him. With his attention now on the food that laid on the ground he quickly stooped his head down to pick it up in his mouth and walk towards his owner. When Athel lowered his hand down to pat him on the head, his fur spiked up along his back. However, with the food in his mouth, he seemed more attentive to wrestling it in his mouth.*

"That's not true-"*Juna said to Athel's words about commands not getting her anywhere, though she quickly had cut herself off as she watched her Jackal slowly walk over, lowering himself down to the ground with his attention on the meat he was eating. She had to admit, there were times when it was hard to get him to listen, but she was sure he meant well enough.*"Commands usually work just fine."*She says, finally turning to look towards the Kitsune and deciding to defend her statement.*"And... We trust each other plenty-"
Helen
"True that you may have trust.. But I see there is no bond if you have the ideals that commanding another living soul is the route to go. That simply sounds like a one sided power and yet by the looks of your gear.. You also use your companion in combat. So should that commanding power be in only ones hand? Or both if you both risk your lives for each other. Having a bond with one another would simply ease the pressure of having to think of commands in combat. And instead just act based upon the others actions." *Nodding his head softly to his own statement he'd look back down to the Jackal and would start to tense up his body in reaction to the Jackal's hostility.*

*Then reaching over Athel would simply yank the meat away from the Jackal and would stand up in the same towering stance before taking a bite out of the meat that was still untouched by the creature.* "Now tell me, where does a no named girl find such a creature? As I would not expect to find a Jackal in the middle of a Forest. Let alone one that obeys the command of one who refuses to connect a true bond with them."
Sonja
*Juna's ears flitted to the side at his statement, saying quietly:*"We do form a bond it's just... Jace would go out of his way to protect me... Even if it's putting himself at risk... Sometimes I do just have to command him..."*She gazed down at her Jackal, casually mentioning his name in the conversation as she watched him. With Athel snatching the meat away from him, the Jackal let out a noise that sounded like a half bark-half growl. He snapped at the meat as if trying to grab it back as it was taken away, coming to find himself staring back up at the Kitsune. A huff came out of him while he circled Athel, sniffing around his legs in such haste before looking back up at him as he started eating the meat. He let out a high-pitched whine of frustration before he had finally came to sit down in disappointment.

Juna sat down to the Jackal's level, giving him a light pat on the head before looking back up at Athel when he had asked her the question.*"My... Parents found him... I'm not quite sure where... But... They gave him to me to take care of and to accompany me when I left..."*She lifted her chin a bit, coming to rest it lightly atop the Jackal's head. Jace's ears went down as she did, his eyes narrowing while he stuck out his tongue in a pant, supposedly growing tired with the warmth of the sun hitting him.*"I know... It doesn't seem like we have much of a bond, but... We do... And I wouldn't want anything to happen to him..."
Helen
*Seeing as the Jackal had finally submitted to Athel slightly, he'd shake his head and a rather childish grin would form upon his face before walking up close to the pair and would set down the last remaining bits in front of the jackal before looking at the girl getting quite close to her face. His crimson eyes would glitter in the sunlight as his gaze locked onto her eyes, and in that moment he'd gently tap her upon the nose.* "Well then it appears I've lost that gamble of seeing if your companion would attack. Which means I owe you a meal.. Though I am sad to say it will not be anything fancy as coin is quite hard to come around in these hard times." *Moving his hand he'd reach inside his pocket and would pull out a rather polished looking bronze coin and would hold it into the sunlight. A small sigh would emit from his lips as if he was upset about something.*

*Snapping out of his small daze upon the looks of the coin he'd look back down upon the pair and would quickly run over to his drying Furs and would pull one from the ground and would dash back over to the pair. Jumping up slightly he'd quickly slam into the ground in a sitting position allowing for the dust around them to rise slightly, before holding out the fur which appeared to be from a rabbit* "So then, No name.. If you're a protector of the forest could you please tell me the value of this? As I would assume you're knowledgeable of creatures from around here."

*Using the distraction of dust and the conversation of fur, would reach out and would gently brush his hand against the Jackals fur.* "As for the companionship, any living animal would gladly protect the ones who feed them, but deep down do you think a carnivore such as him really understand what friendship and companionship are among different sub-types such as humanoids?"
Sonja
*Juna couldn't help but smile slightly at the Kitsune's lost gamble, taking pride in the fact that she would at least know something more about her own Jackal than he would. She rubbed her nose slightly as he tapped on it before taking out the bronze coin and quickly running off to the furs on the ground. She watched him curiously as he rushed to pick them up before quickly running back over to them, causing her to scoot back a bit as he sat back down causing a heap of dust to shoot up. Juna coughed at it, waving the dust away before eventually coming to see the rabbit he held out at her. Rabbit fur it appeared to be, notable of its small size and colored fur. He wanted her to say what value it carried?*

*Juna gazed at him in slight confusion as she looked it over. She was used to trading furs and meat whenever she went off to town, being lucky enough when it came to selling plenty for her to survive alongside Jace. As the dust finally cleared, she spoke:*

"A few silver if you're good at bargaining..."*She said. While most wouldn't likely go above a handful of copper, enough charm and persuasion was all it could take to get a good deal at times. Jace had laid down beside her, unbothered the collecting dust as he found himself distracted by the bits of meat he was given, gnawing on it with little rush with him seeming to be enjoying himself. Juna watched Athel brush his hand against her pet's fur, to her relief didn't cause a reaction out of him after getting what he wanted. When Athel questioned if she believed that Jace would care about her so much as he did food, she stared back at him, a feeling of warmth flaring in her chest from his question of their companionship.*

"I do..."*She said in a slightly raised tone.*"There are many humanoids in the world that can feed him time and time again, but he never leaves my side... Not even when a fight looks dangerous... No promised meal is worth losing your life over... But a companion is..."*She fell silent afterwards, letting out a sigh and pulling her knees close to her.*"He cares about me I... I just know it..."
Helen
*A rather odd frown would appear before his face as he'd mumble a few words about how he thought the furs would go for more and how he's wanting to make more gold. Shaking his head quickly to snap out of this phase he'd get up close to her face to be eye to eye with her agian.* "From the way it seems you have a lot of hope in your furry little friend here which is one of the best traits a leader could have. Though balance is one of the main keys when it comes to leading as those who fail to have a bond with the souls they do command are doomed to fail in the end. Though it seems you rely on your companion to guard you quite a bit as I can only assume by your attire you use more ranged attacks.. While your friend here takes most of the blows and distracts." *Slowly Athel would lean to the right of her and would lock eyes upon his blades and in a moment he'd burst upward and would quickly run over to his swords and would pick them up only to slide them back into their holsters, and would then cover them up with his rather long robes before walking back over to the two of them.*

"Since I have a bit of faith in you I believe an introduction is in order... My name is Athel, Traveling merchant and yeah.. That's about all the 'fancy' titles I have. By chance are you now going to give me your name or am I just going to have to deal with calling you 'No name' over and over again until you finally break?" *Tilting his head sideways he'd give her a puzzled look*
Sonja
*As Athel drew his face close to her, she found herself leaning back slightly, her gaze shifting to the side as she couldn't bring herself to look directly in his eyes for too long. She listened to himself mumble in frustration, assumably over her answer to his question about the furs, though she decided to keep quiet rather than say anything about it. With Jace now calm, it was easier for her to relax as she watched the Kitsune suddenly dash over to grab his blades, the only sign of tension from her being her sudden placement of fingers on the string of her bow. She didn't move from her spot when he returned, though now she seemed to shy away from him, her timidity taking over to replace what was once a fiery passion for the sake of her Jackal.

When he introduced himself to her, she finally managed to bring herself to glance back at him before her gaze lowered once more.*"Athel..."*She repeated quietly as if trying to make sure she remembered.*"That's... A nice name..."*The Canifor lightly ran her fingers through her Jackal's fur when he asked if she would ever speak her name to which she finally replied with:*

"My name... It's Juna... Sorry about before it's just... So many strangers pass through the forests and I never know their intent..."