A conversation in the shadows

The dog sat staring after Emma long after she had dissapeared from sight. He might have been a statue if not for the occational twitch of an ear or his nose. He didn't even react when a bird of prey screeched loudly as it flew overhead.

Suddenly, a shadow dropped down from the canopy above and landed soundlessly on the soft forest floor. The shadow slowly materialised into the figure of a young man as he stepped from the shadows to stand beside the dog.

Glancing sideways at the figure, the dog let out frustrated sigh.

The youthful looking man was dressed in a simple, dark grey warrior's robe. The only adornment he wore was a white band embroidered with bright blazing colours, which tied up his soft brown hair. He had a lean, powerful build, and exuded a dangerous aura. But the most striking feature of the warrior, was his piecring amber eyes, which were fixed on the large black dog beside him. His gaze seemed to bore through the dog.

"What are you doing here?" he asked flatly.

The big black dog pointedly ignored the man, and scratched the back of his head nonchalantly with one of his large back paws.

The young man didn't seem happy at being given the cold shoulder by the furry canine. His face twisted in an annoyed grimace and he continued in an irritated tone.

"You shouldn't be here. There is no point in you hanging around her."

All the warrior got in reply was an annoyed huff.

"You didn't just observe her. What were you thinking? Wagging your tail at her and getting belly rubs, acting like some mortal mutt. Do you have no dignity whatsoever?" he snapped at the dog, then grumbled in a low tone to himself. "Sometimes I have no idea what my master sees in you."

This last comment seemed to infuriate the dog. He raised his hackles threateningly, and responded with a low, angry growl, displaying a long row of pearly-white, razor sharp teeth.

The warrior crossed his arms, clearly wexed at the dogs response. Then he seemed to make an attempt to calm down by drawing a deep breath.

"Look," he said. "You know you should not be here. It might attract unwanted attention. Go back, right now!"

An series of annoyed barks.

"I don't care who you are. You have no right to order me to do anything, I only obey Master."

The wolf suddenly sprang to it's feet and started pacing back and forth, seemingly restless and frustrated. Then it came to a halt and fixed its eyes on the man.

A low whine.

"That girl is not my master! She is just a shadow, a mortal. You are only endangering yourself by staying close to her. If Master could see you now, she would be very unhappy."

The dog hung its head in defeat and let out a frustrated and heart-wrenching yowl. The young man's expression softend the tiniest bit at the obvious distress of the black creature. With its head and tail hung low, the dog turned on the spot, and with a swish of its long bushy tail, it disappeared in a whisp of black smoke.

The young man was left behind staring for a moment at the spot where the dog had disapeared. He turned and cast a quick glance in the direction of the cottage, and sighed sadly. Then he too disapeared into nothingness.