Tinker woke slowly to a gentle touch on her fur. She sighed until she realized that the beast she had snuggled with in the night was once more a man with large hands and a kind manner. She yawned, revealing a mouth of white jagged teeth and a curling pink tongue, then she stood, stretching the night’s kinks from her limbs. Back legs, front legs and then she gave her entire body a vigorous shake.<br/><br/>Sniffing the air, she realized that what he had told her was true. A storm was coming and then needed to find some place for a suitable den. Tinker had no idea exactly where she was and didn’t know much about which pack controlled this territory, but with Warren, she felt safe. As he turned to go, she fell in step along side of him.<br/><br/>Tinker was careful to stay on the side of Warren that was closest to the trees. Occasionally she would chase after a rabbit or some other delectable smell but soon came back to trot along beside her friend. Although he didn’t say as much, Tinker felt as if there was a greater and greater sense of urgency in his movements. His long legs were eating up the distance and once she had had to run to catch back up with him. She decided that she would hang close to him.<br/><br/>In pack speak she said,<br/>“Warren, I dreamed about Mother and Father last night. In my dream they were arguing, in human words. I don’t think it really happened, because they never argued about anything. Father loved Mother so much that he gave up everything for her. But anyway, in my dream, Mother accused Father of keeping me from my heritage. She said that once when I was a pup, that I had shifted but Father punished me for it. I don’t remember ever doing that. I have no memory at all of anyone shifting before I met you. All I know was the stories made up to scare us during the full moon.<br/><br/>How do you shift? I thought, from the stories you know, that it had to be a full moon and that there was no control over the matter. But you, well, maybe you are really powerful, but you just healed me and you shifted there and back like it was no big deal. Your human fur even is back on your body. I have never seen anyone shed and put it back on. “<br/><br/>She sat down on the side of the road and scratched her ear with her hind leg. Tinker’s tongue was lolling out of her mouth, even though the day was getting colder, she had been walking or running as long as the sun had been running across the sky.<br/><br/>“Warren, there is a stream that is just beyond the trees, if it comes down this far. I also smelled clay and rot, so there might be some caves up ahead. This wind is getting so strong that it keeps making my eyes water. I’m hungry and we haven’t taken time to hunt. “<br/><br/>Tinker realized she sounded a little whiney so she hung her head and plodded on after Warren. He was the Alpha and she had no business questioning her. It was a wonder he hadn’t disciplined her as she had often seen her father do the insolent adolescent males. She would be a good companion so she wouldn’t have to ever be alone again.<br/><br/>She trotted alongside Warren for a while and when he stopped to survey the land, she gave his hand a shy lick.<br/>"I have not told you how grateful I am for what you did for my leg. I have walked and ran today and it has given me no pain. I don't know how you did that or why you did, but, but, I, I have nothing to give you  in return but my loyalty. I hope that is good enough. Maybe someday, I do something more for you."