Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem. Nintendo does, though. Learned something new, didn't ya?

Note: Anything UNDERLINED is in Ancient Language. Not Italicized, but underlined. Got it?

Chapter I: A Banquet With Beorc

It was tough being a laguz in a pack of beorc. To make matters worse, they spoke a different language that was difficult to respond in. With the exception of Micaiah, the Dawn Brigade spoke complete gibberish to him, much like one of those forest deer. More that once, he had dwelled on the question of what he had done to deserve this. Once, he had thought of his Queen Nailah as benevolent, and understanding. It seemed like her kindness extended as far as letting strangers borrow her only present subordinate. Mentally combing through his memories, he wondered what he had done to his Queen that justified her actions against him.

Finding nothing, he left it at that. As he dared not to ask her, in fear of incurring further more of her wrath upon himself. Not that she was still here anyways. She had already left with the others. Defeated, he rested in the shade in his half-shifted form. He had fair warning that the locals did not take well to Laguz, and so he was stuck as a wolf-trying-to-pass-as-a-dog. Just because his half-shifted form gave him the strength of a dog(While it was not so, he thought of this as he sulked), it definitely wasn't funny that he had to pass off as one. Dogs were bound to humans, never to run free. They followed their masters obediently, giving up their kills to them, to be fed only the trimmings. But, no matter how bad a dog's life was from his perspective, it was more favorable than a Laguz slave's life.

The smells coming from the camp were exquisite, though, and he found it hard to resist. His Lady, and the rest of whom he was able to call 'his people' had left but an hour ago. He had been planning to leave with them, though a suggestive whisper from his esteemed Queen had made him rethink his plans. Plans spent with Beorc. As if fate was trying to tempt him, a man came past him, bearing a platter of assorted fowl.

Forget that it was made by Beorc hands. He was hungry.

The man kept looking over his shoulder, and for good reason too. However, the gray hound stayed out of sight, using his superior stalking skills to follow him unnoticed to the heavily adorned mess hall, or tent, or whatever those Beorc called them. The man was like the prey that he stalked, knowing that he was there, just not knowing exactly where.

"Stop loitering around and bring in the next course!" The Man's cautiousness had cost him dearly in time, and was confronted by none other than the one named Izuka. He smelled unnatural, a smell associated with the dead. A smell associated with those who have died whilst in horrifying pain and crazed fear. It was the smell of the Feral.

"B-but S-sir, I sworn there was something following me!" Stammered the man. From the tables set out, pairs of eyes turned to watch the spectacle.

"There is NOTHING following you, you dolt! That could change very soon though! Hurry up with your duty, nothing is dumb enough to chase you to a gathering of-"

Volug leaped, and secured the center-piece of the platter, a roasted, and heavily honeyed pheasant. The serving man screamed, trying to get away from the beast as quickly as possible. He knocked down the short advisor in the process, and the tray that he had been carrying now decorated both of them with honey, herbs, and pieces of roasted fowl.

"Ah! Izuka!" The first one up was the soon to be crowned king, Pelleas. Next thing he shouted was, "Ow!"

Next to him sat Micaiah, who gave him a not so natural, though natural scary smile. She tugged on his sleeve, as if bidding him to sit, which he did, though warily. "Izuka doesn't need the King to help him stand," Micaiah said, quietly, though since no one dared to speak, quite a number heard.

"I'm not a King yet!" His whisper was lost amidst the snorts, and stifled laughter.

"How dare he! Nothing but a lowly mutt!" Izuka stood, the serving man forgotten. He faced opposite from the people, towards where he had last seen Volug. "Don't you dare some back! Keep yourself content with the table scraps!" Shouting what could only be barely called insult, he looked like the raving madman that he was.

Even if they were sometimes dumb, and spoke in a weird language, Beorc were highly amusing. Beginning to think that his stay was not going to be as tedious as he thought, Volug let out a small laugh. The man was still shouting insults, now saying something along the lines of a pickpocket. Volug could only imagine where the man would come up with such a connection. He shook his furry head, amazed that Izuka hadn't made an insult against Laguz yet. Only a few of them had known that he was a Laguz, the rest just believed him to be a dog that Micaiah had taken a liking to.

But then again, after their discussion about him staying, he sworn he had heard Micaiah issuing a threat to Izuka. It was along the lines of, 'Tell anyone and I'll make sure there won't even be ash left of you.' Or something like that.

His laughter was a cross of quiet yips and amused growls, loud enough that the Mage would hear.

"No more than a beast, and you think-" Izuka had stopped mid sentence, and everyone quieted. The serving man had long since made his escape, leaving the Mage standing covered in even more grease than usual, with random bits of herbs, sauce, fowl, and what could only be a chicken wing hooked to the outside of his hood. He turned, and headed for one of the three long tables the one closest to the wall of the tent. He raised the table cloth, revealing a gray and silver tail for the rest to see.

Volug turned, and yipped playfully, causing more trouble that one day that he had ever caused in the last century of his life. Today, Izuka was not deathly pale, as he usually was. Now, his face shone a lovely shade of red, a drastic change from his normal I-live-in-a-crypt-self.

Someone whistled loudly in admiration. Right there and then, Izuka fumbled for his spell book, a mid leveled, dark magic spell book. As with the pheasant, Volug had the spell book in his teeth before the dirty(in more than one way) Mage could cast a spell. He shook the book violently, separating the pages from it's binding. No matter how strong the binding a book would never match his strength. Books could be bound by steel, and still come apart at his mighty jaws. The once dangerous book was now scrap book materials. As it was in 'scraps'.

He dropped what was left of the book, as someone within the army yelled, "Dog one, Izuka zero!" This led to a chorus of laughter, adding to the Mage's fury.

"Someone! I don't care who! Just... Just... GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!" Izuka shrieked, finally breaking under stress. It was a mage thing, he supposed. "AWAY! Away I said! Take this flea covered mongrel away from me!"

"C'mon Volug, you've cause enough trouble today," Micaiah said amusedly, leaving her seat to lead the wolf Laguz out.

As they left, Izuka angrily kicked at what was left of his spell book. Due to the fact that his shoe was covered in honey as well, it came away with bits of paper clinging to it. He let out a frustrated scream that would have taken down the tent if the poles were not secured in deep pits. Another screamed followed as he slipped on said pieces of paper. This ended with him being decorated with text written in flowing handwriting. It was all ancient language so no one could be sure if whether or not the large piece on his back actually said 'Kick Me'. The only ones who had a firm grasp on the ancient language had already left the tent, unaware of this spectacle.

"I do not think the next few months will be so bad," Volug admitted as they walked. He was glad to be able to speak to someone who actually understood him, and not just nod, or stare at him in a stupid manner.

"Beorc are not bad because of nature," Micaiah replied. "I'm sure it will be fun, if you spend your time constructively as with today."

"I was hungry," Volug shrugged. "Do you suppose that this place will stop reeking if I eat Izuka one day?"

Faking weariness, Micaiah said, "I'm not explaining to Nailah how you died for a good cause."

If you read Volug's supports, he just gives you a total new outlook on him, if you just skimmed over his ancient language speech while playing the game. I don't have much more to say, just that this idea came to me when I was reading Serenesforest's translation of his support conversations. If you haven't read them, it's certainly something that should be on the to do list. Anyways, as always, please gimme some feedback!