/ 459 words.While he was distracted by the approaching pack wolf, Fox had slipped up to stand just beside him, eyeing the coming encounter with a keen (yet warm) gaze. She was much better at social interaction than he was, and often sought the company of strangers if only to glean a fresh story to add to her growing collection. Jack was no such man, and would rather sit back and let her do all the talking. He was the lookout, the one who listened for any oddities or threats. But he'd already stuck his neck out by making the first step towards communication, and wasn't about to withdraw now that Fox was here. He gave her a quick glance over his shoulder, to which she lent him a sharp smile, before he returned his attention to the approaching female and her avian companion.
Jack was, once again, thrown by a heady dose of culture shock when the pack wolf didn't take his hand in greeting. He watched as her expression contorted into that of surprise rather than recognition. Feeling altogether foolish, he was about to withdraw his hand only to be distracted by the owl who took wing and crossed the short distance from her shoulder to his outstretched arm. He nearly flinched away when he felt talons enclose the flesh and fur, but instead chose to remain stock still as the raptor gripped him, but not tight enough to injure. Beside him he could nearly hear Fox brimming with amusement, and he was struck with a fleeting urge to shove her into a snow drift.
The wolf seemed amused and embarrassed at her companions behavior, and said as much not long after expressing it with a idle scratch to her nose. Jack shifted his weight to better support the owl, gaze darting between it and the wolf before finally settling on the stranger. The owl, it seemed, was not a threat. In fact, now that the shock had passed, he was almost felt giddy at the fact that he was actually somewhat handling a bird of prey. Not that this broke through his trained expression any. It's— But Fox cut in before he could reply, Oh he's fantastic! I'm Fox, by the way, it's a pleasure to meet both of you. She remarked with a delighted smile. Jack frowned and silenced her with his free hand before she could derail the conversation any further. His tone was direct, but he did offer something of a smile to diffuse any tension his blunt question might cause. We're looking for our father, Vaughan Katruk. He came here looking for our half-sister, Dusk. Are those names familiar to you? He caught the edge of Fox's frown, but thought little more of it.
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