Humming softly to himself as he scavenged for mushrooms by the base of large sturdy tree, a certain young man was completely oblivious to the presence of new arrivals in the lushy green forest today. Not too long ago the twin pair of canine-like ears perched above his head had flickered in confusion, puzzled by the sound of what sounded awfully like his own voice off in the distance. The notion was of course ridiculous as he’d never come across anyone in his entire life-time who’d been able to speak the same language as him. A long time ago he’d tried to decipher the language of the birds and wildlife, but the complexity… or was it the simplicity of their dialogue had made it impossible for him to decipher anything meaningful, perhaps more importantly Zeke had never been the type to sit still for too long, and within a few days he’d completely given up on his endeavour. 

Finding a familiar looking mushroom a little to his left, he cautiously place the tip of one of his finger against the head, drawing a simple little circle over the top as he wracked his memory for how his stomach had reacted the last time he’d consumed the innocently purple colored mushroom with deep red spots. Though only a few moments later he shrugged it off, figuring that the contrasting colors were pretty enough for him to at least give it a shot, if he’d eaten it before it hadn’t killed him, and that was good enough for him.

Picking off three stalks and cradling them against his chest, it was his ears which first sensed something unfamiliar. The sound of someone breathing and shuffling above in the branches above him. At first he dismissed it as a large bird, but after giving the air a quick sniff and glancing up, his bright blue eyes widened. Something, or someone was high up in the tree’s above him, and the only thing that came to Zeke’s mind was the terrible screeching sounds made by those bird-like creatures that sporadically showed themselves in the forest. In fact one of those pesky Garuda birds had flown down and tried abducting him into the sky once. Zeke wasn’t afraid of heights, but there was a distinct difference between leaning over the rails from the third floor of the concrete building he lived in, and being launched up into the air with the possibility of falling to his death being a very imminent possibility.

Backing away slowly from the tree and quickly casting his eyes around for somewhere to shelter himself, the silver haired man was perhaps a bit too late as a split second later the ‘creature’ came diving towards him, startling him so much that he immediately scampered off behind the nearest tree. “Barbecue chicken, roasted turkey, peking duck” he murmured under his breath hoping the assurance would make the predator seem less intimidating. Unfortunately his mind trying to imagine a freshly cooked meal on a silver saucer chasing him through the winding tree’s wasn’t the least bit assuring. 

What was assuring was the smacking thud of someone colliding into the sea of mushrooms and weedy grass, followed by an agonized groan of pain. If Zeke was a good Samaritan he’d have rushed over to check if the creature was okay. But Zeke wasn’t a good… whatever you call it, and instead of feeling concerned a small wry grin crossed his lips. Finding great humour in the image of a bird toppling off their branch and landing and face planting themselves onto the ground. 

Creeping out from behind the knightly tree which had so willing protected him from danger in his time of need, the wolf man cautiously made his way back towards the scene. His curiosity being piqued when he noticed a blonde hair creatures sprawled ungracefully on the ground. It wasn’t a Garuda, nothing like the one Zeke had once encountered… but if it came from the sky it had to be some sort of bird right?

Licking his lips hungrily as he gradually gained confidence in the other’s lack of motion. He picked up a foot long branch that had fallen with the man, giving the man’s cheek an aggressive poke with the snapped and prickly side. His eyes glinting with a predatory hunger as the silver plated dish he’d imagined earlier now looked as if it’d settled on presenting itself on picnic mat, garnished generously with an assortment of colourful mushrooms. “Do you taste better boiled or roasted?”