The next morning Kyu was woken by Sampsons boot on their shin and apple being handed to them. the sun wasn’t even up yet! so Kyu blearily walked to the door surprised to see the cart fully loaded and ready. Kyu ran and grabbed the duffle and by the time they made it out the door Sampson was hefting the cart and starting out. 

It was hard travel and often they had to stop and  move logs so the cart could get though. there was no path to speak of and often rather then use his super human strength Sampson would simply take the extra time to go around large obstacles.  this seemed so different from Lady Yuki who would have a river moved so her slippers didn’t get wet. Sampson didn’t say much no matter what happened but would stop any time Kyu fell over or had to run off and to natures call. Kyu had so many question but the pace was grueling enough with out trying to talk. 

the first night there was only apples for dinner Kyu to worn by the rugged travel to attempt hunting and Sampson pushing the march till after dark, became worried some for Kyu  who as they eat their apple and cured up against their duffle and were asleep almost immediately.

Sampson watch as Kyu slept 

‘Had Kyu never done hard labor? had he just been a pretty lap dog for Lady Yuki and Vie to play dress up with. Sampson had seen it before small batas as candy dolls for the rich. to docile to do anything but comply. such things were considered grotesque among the werewolfs and often the mothers would kill or abandon the runt or any betas before they could be added to the breed stock. If werewolfs were to lose there superior strength they would lose the little power they had. Most packs new quick death to be a better life than a slightly longer life as a red light lolly. 

Vampires rule with their birthright blood command, small numbers and impossibly long lifespans. 

Humans free, weak and short lived.

Werewolfs serve. long lived, incredible strong but unable to ignore the command of their owners. Barley more than guard dogs extremely regulated, with almost no rights, not even aloud to own or handle currency unless on a job. There wasn’t a political leader that didn’t have at least a set of hulking werewolf guards with them everywhere they went. the better the leader the better his Guard was treated many wearing the best suits and fine watches. you worked for everything you owned and owned only things that you could barter with to get what you would need.’

Sampson crouched down to get a closer look.

‘Then there was Kyu small, weak and obedient the cracks in society would devour him, there was no safe place in society for obedient pretty things with no rights. he would have to make it out here or die trying.’

Sampson took a deep breath and caught the slowly fading mark of Vie ‘she really was dead her sent would maybe last a year.’ she was the most alfa woman he had ever known, bread to breed a monolith of a womanhood. ‘that Lady Yuki had in her own power move calmed as her-own having her fixed young to keep her from the breed houses.  breed houses, could Kyu be a omega? no they couldn’t travel in public without eunuch guards of their own… wait how old is Kyu?’

Sampson leaned close and breathed deeply Kyus sent it was ‘almost overpoweringly Vie but somewhere in her intimidating clam was that fresh sweet smell from before… that had to be a bata, omegas were sed to be uncontrollably intoxicating, not vaguely sweet.’ 

Sampson laid down for sleep relaxed from that thought being chased way. ‘good well that at lest makes this simpler, probably a half human bata,  simple enough.’ and he tried to clear the thought from his mind but that clean sweet smell kept coming to mind 'was it cucumber or melon, an apple he didn’t know.’

they traveled at the same pace for a week Kyu not used to the insane pace or the lack of food got slower and slower finally dragging their feet stumbling more them walking. so Sampson left the cart and sad “rest I need to go for a run your slow pace is making me restless.”

Kyu collapsed against a tree, after a time a large black bird landed on the cart and started pecking through it.

“Hay stop that it’s not yours! Kyu crocked out, 

the crow lofted it’s self about five feet but landed back down seeing that Kyu made no move towers it and started pulling at the canvas Kyu crawled over and pulled out one of the branches of mulberries they had gathered earlier that day.

“here If I share this with you will you leave the cart alone” the crow cocked it’s head to the side still trying to make sense of this strange kid that didn’t throw stones. Kyu picked some mulberry’s and eat them then held some out to the large black bird. the bird hopped over to the kid fist lightly pecking its finger. “Ow! what was that for! I was giving you food.”  but the bird was on the ground eating the berries that it had forced Kyu to drop. when finished it came over to were Kyu was eating and resting as if demanding more. “I’ll only share if you promise to be nice to me.” but he was already picking berries for the bird this time holding their hand just over the ground so it wouldn’t spill if pecked. the bird eyed Kyu for a Long moment. Kyu met those eyes and a chill went down their back this was not an ordinary bird this bird knew things and maybe had understood what Kyu had ben saying. If the depth of wisdom Kyu had seen hadn’t been so captivating Kyu would have pulled their had back but the bird hopped forward and stated roughly pecking the berries out of Kyu hand. Kyu fed them some more then dug in the duffle and came out with a book then flipped though. “Are you a crow?”

the bird just looked at Kyu “then are you some type of raven?” a brash almost laugh escaped the large bird. 

“okay Raven :a large bird in the corvus genus including crows raven and rooks. Highly intelligent can remember people faces and words. likes shiny things, eats mostly insects but Omnivorous… do you agree?”

the Bird made a rattling purring noice  

“I’ll take that as a yes well if I see you around and have some bugs to spare, I’ll hand them your way. sorry but i’m going to rest for a bit would you mind leaving the cart be so I can sleep?” 

the bird started hoping around Kyu getting the sizes of them. It even tugged at a pant leg, Kyu too tiered to care let it. putting their glasses in the case and dosed. wail sleeping the bird pulled at every loose piece of the kid that was free but the kid slept on.

when Kyu woke up Sampson was back and cooking some indistinguishable animal over a fire. Kyu always a groggy waker mumbled “I met a friend after you left.”

Sampson tensed starring at Kyu. “It was a Large black bird I think a raven?”

“Oh” Sampson said relieved no humans had come out this way  “friend?”

“I shared some of the berries with it and it left the cart alone, it seemed to understand me, is that normal?”

Sampson chucked at that “there is nothing normal about the birds here and depending on witch one you met is how much they understand we are quit close to their area so they are around." 

The big bird returned as they were finishing eating Kyu asked “Is it okay if I share”

Sampson never knowing any of his kind to share outside of pack grunted “it’s less food in you mouth.”

Kyu “true but I just like this guy. sorry are you a guy?” the bird hopped forward and crocked an affirming tone.  

Sampson looked closer at the bird narrowed his eyes a bit and warned “ be carful with that one, they are literal, if you make promises they will hold you to them till death.”

“I told him that he was welcome to any excess bugs I may have so I think I’m safe there. do you know his name?” 

“no, I think the Mounten was once called Fjell”

Kyu was already feeding the bird little scraps of the meet “that do you think shall I call you Fjell?” 

the bird mad a Loud disgruntled caw

Kyu spat back mocking the indignation of the bird.

“fine would you prefer Rook!”

the bird hoped onto Kyus shoulder and preened their hair and made a deep brass pure again. Kyu was frozen trying to hold the big birds wait “okay so Rook it is”

“hands off old man” Sampson barked at the bird swiping it 

“Old man?” Kyu questioned as the bird flew to a tree.

Sampson “too long of a story”

Kyu wanted to fight for more but was too tired 

so went back sleeping, cleaning to the duffle. 

the crow hopped to a branch close to Sampson glaring at him.

“Don't look at me it’s my sisters kid she’s wiped him from the system and left it to me to watch the runt waist away in the woods.” 

Rook crocked a question 

“You think that can survive out here over winter?” he held up his hand pointing as the thin child.

Rook made a growling chortle

“Suit yourself  I’m turning in.”