Edmund was reading for pleasure. In his mangled hands, he held the hobbit. The novel was a dog eared and polish translation that had initially been a gift for his mother from a family friend, however instead it came into his hands as a young boy. He cherished the novel deeply, it was one of the constant and few possessions he kept on his person. A furry head snuck up under his arm and he groaned as he was suddenly compressed to the wooden wall of the cabin.
"You're not a lap dog--" he murmured some as the wolf made herself comfortable against him anyways. There was a glint in her eyes, pure mischief and obviously she was in full knowledge that she had been misbehaving with him. It had started at easter or passover, when he had left her some boiled and colorful quail eggs behind to find and eat. Instead, she had placed them all under his pillow in specific. It was a terrible stink that made him retreat to the porch to sleep for the first few nights. How the human counterpart could stand it, he wasn't sure.
Edmund was starting to understand that these two seemed to be entirely different beings. Their personalities were a little different and a little similiar, but had an over all feel of distinct seperation. Fay was still hesitant to come closer at times while the wolf instead -- well, now he was wheezing a little under her heavy weight and she let up with a prick of her ears. Big yellow eyes bore into him like she was trying to determine if he was hurt already or if she had hurt him.
He had neglected to tell her about a hunter he had encountered shortly before leaving who was about his property. He had killed the other man, however not without suffering a terrible blow to his back that seemed to have effected his breathing. He didn't bother to check. Now he was beginning to regret as he wheezed and coughed some. The wolf now looked very worried as she stared at him. There was some internal debate, no doubt between the wolf and the girl inside and he instead buried his mangled hands in her fluff to bring her back down to lay on his legs instead.
"I'm an old man, remember? You gotta be nice to me." He watched the wolf squint then huff one long and disagreeing huff. He snorted a little. He rubbed her side apologetically. The book laid at his side. It was momentarily forgotten in favor of giving the wolf attention. He huffed back at her and leaned over to put his face in the fur of her neck. "Don't be grumpy," he murmured only half heartedly. The gesture hurt him to do, but she seemed more pleased now. "I'm staying the entire week." The wolf huffed, this time it seemed sarcastic and a smile pulled on his lips.
He ruffled her fur. He stopped after a minute when his stomach seemed to warm. There it was, that same sensation that somehow was weightless and anxious. It had been such a long time that he had felt this particular way that he felt almost confused because he had long ago forgotten it when his wife and Ily died. He stroked her fur. "Do you want me to read to you?" That was when he knew it was the wolf, she huffed at him and shook off. She seemed to get bored when he read and she scampered inside the open door.
His eyes studied the distance of his property. He had started to cement his posts down among other things. He had set up cameras. He didn't like the idea of hunters come around, sniffing around his land and getting close to the wolf or Fay. It was his turn for him to flair his nose in discontent like the wolf had. "You brought me new clothes?" He turned to look at the young redhead. "Some of it's mine, some of it's my neices and my goddaughter's." She was sporting Julien's old leggings, one of his old flannel shirts and one of Eddie's old training shirts. Most of it however probably smelled like him now because she noted the subtle way she brought her shirt covered hand to her face.
He blinked and picked up his novel. "Just some stuff that was laying around. Thought you might like it." He could hear Fallyn audiably swallow. He patted the space next to himself. The girl hesitantly slid into the space next to him. Her eyes were fixated on the old book which he took back to a blue book mark. He didn't mind going back to read to her. He wanted her to hear the whole story even if his translation was a terrible and very abridged version.
She smiled as she pulled her long legs up to herself, listening to him as she settled her chin on her knee. The book itself wasn't terribly interesting for her. Some things were simply lost in translation. It was more about him. It was about watching Edmund or hearing him. He had grown to be a comforting presence. Even if he was just a man, the old solider hadn't lost his edge.
Fallyn was smart, she knew the way he was setting things up. This seemed to be their safe place. He seemed to be determined to keep it that way. For now, reality would not cross the cemented logs that drew the line between his property and the free land.
