A Stranger Among Deers

Theodoric Martin · 11-01-2010, 11:23 PM

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Despite his six years, Theodoric still couldn’t decide if he liked children or not. Because he had been raised in a large, sprawling familial community, his experience with kids was generally limited to ones directly related to him in one way or another. He was used to having youngsters underfoot, but generally interacted with them sparingly. Theo did have young nieces and nephews that he doted on, and knew he liked his siblings’ offspring. Without the uncle’s title, however, he felt as if he were venturing into uncharted waters. Theodoric had an adventurer’s spirit, but he sometimes had a hard time shaking off the rule-based legacy of his structured upbringing.

The new AniWayan was uncertain what he’d got himself into, agreeing to help the younger male and his albino companion. Theo was confident in his ability to look, but not so much in his ability to find. Even if he had more knowledge of the pack’s territories, he lacked experience with American flora and fauna. Additionally, he knew the date was edging toward the end of the harvesting season, but was unsure if the shorter days affected the density and frequency of berries or not.

Whatever misgivings Theodoric might have had dampened in the presence of the young coyote’s enthusiasm. Spirits high, he smiled and said, “Okay, let’s go then.” The Gatlvska set a steady but meandering pace toward the Mersey Lagoon, hoping to stumble across the sought-after berries somewhere along the way. When he could spare his senses from searching, he tried to keep up a conversation with the other male. “The deer is Blitzen, yes? What’s your name?” Wrinkling his nose in an involuntary gesture of concentration, he tried the German: “Ich heiße Theodoric. Wie heißen Sie?” Even though his companion was younger, Theo kept to the formal form of the language. In his personal philosophy, a little extra politeness never hurt.

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