Collar the Wild

Chapter 21 - Drawing

"So Cal, what's on the agenda for our new wolf?" Alek asks, sawing his way through some of the toasted sourdough while the others fill their plates.

"I'll be taking Ember into town this morning," he says cheerfully, pouring himself some juice, "sometime after 10 so more people will be at work than in the streets. But first, I believe Ember has a task of yours he'll need to complete first."

Alek chuckles and nods "That's right."

"If you're going into town, can you get me some veg if I give you a list?" Hess asks.

"You just had a delivery." Cal tilts his head. "Did they forget stuff again?"

"No, more substitutions from food damage. Simon heard a rumour that they switch their fridges off at night to save electricity."

"That's very concerning news, Hess." Alek interrupts sternly. "Why didn't you come to me with this yesterday?"

"I-I ... forgot ... master. I'm sorry."

"We really must do something about your memory." He tuts sighs, scooping another mouthful and gesturing to Cal to continue.

"Uh, yes ... give me a list of what to get and I'll grab it for you." Hess mumbles a thank you and keeps his eyes down. "Do you need anything Voigt?" The grey wolf holds up a finger while he finishes chewing and puts down his cutlery.

"The pipe?" He answers in a way that suggests Cal should already know.

"Oh yes, yes. I have that written down. Anything else?"

"No just that. Make sure it's correct, I can't have anything different. When I have that I will be able to finish the fountain today." Voigt says sighing in a preemptive relief towards the master.

"Good, I can't have anything going wrong tomorrow. We have a new wolf to show off." He turns to Ember who flicks his ears up and looks at the human.

"Y-yes master."

"I intend to talk with you about what you should expect tomorrow when you come up to present your sketches. But the rules apply for all my wolves. You must be polite and respectful, much more than you are with me. These are some extremely important people and must be treated as such. Do you understand?"

Ember nods, noticing that the master seems to be concerned about the banquet. "Yes master."

"Very good." Alek resumes his meal. "I assume some clothes are on the shopping list also?"

"Yes, that's the primary reason he'll be going. The secondary being that it will allow me to monitor his reactions around humans."

"Yes, please report back to me when you return, I'd like to know how that goes."

"Yes master."

Alek looks over at the chubby wolf playing with his egg yolk. "Hess."

"Yes master?" He responds dejectedly, lowering his ears and keeping his head down.

"Have I upset you?"

"No master, I've upset myself."

"I'm sorry my boy, I know you do try." Alek puts down his cutlery and speaks sincerely.

"I forget a lot of stuff." He whines.

"Not a lot, just some. We all forget some things, even me."

"Yeah ... I guess."

"You never forget a recipe." Alek inflects, trying to improve his mood.

"You never forget to make us a cake on our birthday." Cal adds and Hess jolts his head away to hide a flicker of a curl to his lips.