ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ: ʜᴜɴᴛsᴍᴀɴ (VIDEO)

[dishearten]

( graham doesn't like using the video feature much, so mostly he avoids it. people might recognize his username, though, he hasn't been silent on the network that connects members of ALISTAIR. in fact now that he's a fugitive he has a bit too much time to flip through messages, though that's neither here nor there.

still, the fact he's using it means he does so with a purpose. after Sakura encountered him in the woods, he doesn't see a better way to get his message to everyone that needs to hear it. hopefully the townsfolk themselves will just stay away, and his brother is clever enough to stay clear of people that might hurt him. he's smart and wary of humans, it doesn't seem impossible he'll manage on it's own. it just feels dangerous to leave him out on his own without trying to assure people the wolf is not a threat. )

A friend of mine came from home. I hear that happens on occasion.

( Graham tilts his pendant enough to capture the wolf in the feed, just long enough for the details to be picked up. a vibrant red eye, white and gray fur. a little too friendly with a human, one could argue, as the wolf is looking up at him with an open-mouth grin, much like a dog. )

He's not a threat to humans. He'll more than likely run if you get too close to him, but all the same. If you see him, don't hurt him. He won't hurt you unless you threaten him.

( the wolf still has instincts enough that he will fight if he feels he has to for survival. being so close to a human has tempered many of his wilder instincts, yet the wolf is still and will always be a wolf. )

If you hurt him despite this message I promise you'll regret it.

( there's a steel edge to that threat that is very sincere. Graham was a better man than the Hunstman ever claimed to boast, and the wolf is about all the family he's ever had. if someone is bold enough to try and harm him (or worse), they'll have a dedicated hunter after them, and a ruthless one at that.

with that the video feed closes. if there are questions, they'll likely be answered via text. )

Comments

[officer]

[ Cullen needs precisely zero prompting to talk about his mabari. When he sees the image of the man take the place of text, erroneously assuming that this now means that he can see him, he smiles and beckons his mabari to his side. ]

This is my mabari. [ It's a large dog, its back almost parallel to Cullen's hip, and mostly black with a smattering of white spots. The dog's ears prick forward and he opens his mouth, letting his tongue loll out. ] They're native to my homeland of Ferelden. I found this one in a neighboring country, being kept as a pet to amuse the nobility. [ There's a heavy note of distaste in his voice, and in the obvious way he frowns, at that. ] They're quite smart, though this is the first time I've ever partnered with one.

[ Cullen's attention focuses on the wolf, which has the side-effect of prompting another tiny smile. ]

How did you and the wolf meet?

[dishearten]

( Cullen's not so wrong that Graham can see him now, it's just that he always could. still, he's glad for it when he sees the dog, a stocky and muscular creature yet certainly a charming one. Graham smiles at the sight, even though it's only passing. )

He looks quite smart. ( how he knows that from a silly puppy grin, the world will never know. ) I'm glad he's found someone that understands him. He doesn't seem like he'd enjoy being trapped inside. ( that would be a dull life for an intelligent creature.

Graham generally doesn't talk much about his past, so he hesitates. it's not an overly demanding question, though. ) I met him when he was born. That's a part of why we are so close. We both grew together.

[officer]

He didn't. [ He smirks for a moment. ] He was terrorizing those kept him confined.

[ Cullen has never had an animal like this before. Farm animals, yes: chickens and horses and the like. But never a companion. It's been a learning curve, but he's been alone for so long that it's been a joy instead of a source of frustration. ]

That must have been nice, having someone with you for so much of your life.

[ Maybe a bit of wistfulness seeps into his voice and his expression, but Cullen isn't very adept at concealing the way he feels. He sees no reason to try. ]

Does he enjoy the company of others or does he prefer just yours?

[dishearten]

( an amusing thought, though perhaps it wouldn't be. Graham knows plenty well how an animal can make their opinions known, and it does seem to him it was deserved. ) I can imagine. ( at least the mabari is free now. free, and by the looks of it, happy.

it was nice, he can't deny that. the wolves were all he had for such a long time, it's hard to imagine his life without them. his brother is the only remnant of that life that remained, which only made Graham more protective. )

He trusts who I trust, mostly. ( he's not afraid of the wolf being around other humans, more of humans taking advantage of his nature. in the end the huntsman trusts animals more than he does humans. )

[officer]

[ Cullen nods, considering that answer. It sounds a great deal like what he knows of mabari. Not everything, admittedly, since he's never had one before or even been around them prior to finding this one, but he knows enough. ]

It sounds as though he shares similar traits with mabari. They too take their cues from us, though occasionally they read those around us better than we can. In those situations, we must heed their advice.

[ If such a thing happens with Cullen, he hopes he'll be able to listen to what the pup's telling him. He can be... stubborn. ]

Should the situation warrant it, will he fight at your side?

[dishearten]

Their senses are stronger than ours. I'd have a hard time trusting someone my wolf doesn't.

( be it smell or something Graham can't quite detect with his human senses, his brother does tend to have a good read on situations. if only his brother had been there when he'd met with the queen, but did he really need the wolf to tell him that woman couldn't be trusted? no, and yet he'd made a deal with her anyway. )

Yes, he has and would again, if I needed it.

( he hopes he doesn't. he doesn't savor the idea of the wolf fighting any more than fighting himself. )

[officer]

[ Cullen wonders if it will be the same with his mabari, once they've been together long enough. If the dog will be able to tell those who are trustworthy from those who are not.

If so, it will be a useful means of detection. One he wishes he would have had years ago. ]

Mabari were originally trained to fight beside us. Many of my countrymen today go to war with mabari at their side. [ He glances toward his own dog. ] Though truthfully, I think I would prefer that mine never see battle.

[dishearten]

For what it's worth, I understand the sentiment.

( there's a certain amount of brutality expected out of a wild wolf. his brother has little of it because of how he was raised, and to see it out of him requires a great deal of threat. he'd rather the wolf not fight on his behalf, even though he knows he would. )

I'm sure they'd say the same of us, if they could.

[officer]

[ He has to chuckle at that. ]

Yes, I'm sure they would. [ He glances sideways toward the mabari. ] No doubt they'd have quite a bit to say about the human lifestyle. Little would probably be complimentary.

[dishearten]

No, likely not. You should see some of the looks he gives me.

( look, humans have different needs than wolves, and only becomes more and more evident after thirty years cursed... the wolf is still very judgmental about his fondness for brushing his teeth and leather jackets. )