BEGINNINGS PART 2

Azaire was admittedly slightly surprised but then decided of course his master was just that good to attract royalty from the other races to her with their exotic pets. So nodding justifiably Azaire took the Prince's suddenly outstretched hand and shook it resolutely before replying in a cool and calm tone, "Azaire."

Prince Jared who could somewhat feel the strange pride the boy immediately had for his master, and could only smile at the boy's actions indulgently. "Prince Jared would you like to tell my apprentice about your fortunate encounter that bound you to this mythic level puppy?" Master Talya had regained her composure and took the situation in hand revealing the more professional nature that she had been able to develop with her position and responsibilities.

The young Giant nodded, as he spoke his gentle and deep voice was a stark contrast to his threatening appearance. "I was going on a birthday hunt with a few members of my court by my fathers orders..." Azaire noticed the eye roll the young prince did at the statement that told just what he thought of birthday hunts and his fathers intelligence.

"I don't really enjoy the sport much but it makes my father happy so I go out, but when we go to one of the hunting areas I prefer to wonder off to a quiet area to meditate, and allow my friends to enjoy the actual hunting themselves. They make sure to catch a few extra for me and I enjoy some relaxation away from the castle so both sides win. During my relaxation time this time I found this little guy...."

Prince Jared lifts the big wolf effortlessly into a nuzzling cuddle "....just laying all sad and pitifully on his own with a few half eaten animal corpses around him. He didn't trust me at first so he gave me a few love bites...."

Azaire just noticed occasionally when the giant prince moved around his sleeve would slide just a bit sometimes to show some ugly bite and claw marks on his arms, the Sky Hound whimpered guiltily as if he could understand the conversation. And perhaps he could most Mythical beasts were sentient to some degree.

"....but after feeding him some medicine from my Kingdom and some cooked meat he warmed right up to me and let me help treat him. I was able to get him looking a lot less raggedy but couldn't figure out what's wrong with him. He seemed to take exception to me and decided to bond with me and how could I refuse such a precious cutie!"

Prince Jared ruffled the big puppies head eliciting a happy but weak bark. Too cute! Azaire could hardly resist smiling indulgently at the fluffy ball of staticky cuteness. "After bringing him back none of the specialist in the Kingdom could figure out what was going on with him and I was beginning to worry when I heard of Lady Talya's miracle skills with beasts of all sorts and I rushed over!" Prince Jared took a deep breath after he finished his summarized story as if he wasn't used to talking quite so much.

Azaire took a good long look over the suffering puppy and noticed dark shadows under his, oh the puppy was a boy it seems, drooping eyes and patches of his fur were off color and gave off a particularly bad odor and aura.

"He's dizzy and lethargic and his body and eyes seems to have had better days and he wants another ear scratch." Azaire absentmindedly began a diagnosis speaking his thoughts aloud without realizing. And as if to prove Azaire right the puppy looked up at Prince Jared coquettishly presenting his ear's as if to ask it's Giant partner why he had not complied yet.

Prince Jared looked up at the remarkable young man with shock. How come just this apprentice was able to tell more about what's wrong with Skye at a glance when many "specialists" needed hours of examinations for the same. Master Talya however said nothing about it as she'd long since become immune to the level of affinity her apprentice had with animals. If someone told her he could have a full intelligent conversation with an animal she would only give a look like "isn't this only natural?"

It was fair to say she had become especially biased. Azaire continued his examinations without paying much attention to his surroundings and as such he missed the next look of shock from the poor emotionally worn prince and the look of exasperated acceptance from his almost legal master when he walked right up to the wolf to take him from the prince for a better check up and the wolf complied easily even giving a few happy sloppy tongue kisses on Azaire's cheek as he complied.

It had to be known that whether or not he'd been so intensely focused he could not have possibly have known that before his arrival the same wolf would absolutely let no one but the storm giant prince near him and even Master Talya could not coax him. Before this even Prince Jared had always had to get other specialists to put Skye to sleep first but Azaire simply reaches out his hands and this shameless puppy jumps into them!

"His heart beat is slightly irregular and his muscles are too tense it's a wonder he can move. His eyes have also been dilated this entire time which is probably why he has bags under his eyes they're clearly in overuse with this.....master what is this!?!"

Azaire felt his heart breaking more and more after each observation and he wasn't the only one. Prince Jared was nearly jumping out of his skin with worry. He wanted to cuddle his poor puppy but didn't want to take the puppy who seemed a lot more comfortable in Azaire's arms as if something about Azaire gave him a healing energy. So Prince Jared did the next best thing and swiftly appeared behind Azaire and cuddled both of them, and like an addict grabbing a fix he gave a sigh of release.

Azaire turned his head toward the man in surprise but after seeing the look Jared was focusing on his puppy Azaire understood and relaxed turning back so he wouldn't miss his master's answer. Doing so however he missed Prince Jared turning his head to Azaire giving a look of pleasant surprise. Cuddling this man was better than any cuddling he'd done before even with Skye and here he'd thought Skye hands down provided the best cuddles.

Prince Jared loved cuddles so of course now that he had discovered such an amazing treasure he'd find some way to keep it! Oblivious to the dangerous happy go lucky thoughts beside him Azaire paid attention as his master's face nearly turned black the longer she seemed to ponder. When next she spoke it sounded as like death had stolen her voice and used it as a puppet, "I was truly hoping I was overly worried and it wouldn't come to this!"