Chapter 3: The Wolf Talker
„How long?" Tifa asked after almost one hour of flying. Cid tore his gaze from the steering wheel for a moment and replied:
"Twenty minutes, Tiff." Tifa nodded, satisfied, and looked out of the window at the landscape that fly by underneath the impressive air ship. Then, a pack of wolves caught her eye, all of them running into one direction. Frowning, Tifa let her eyes travel over the green land underneath, until her eye caught a figure running, carrying a long wooden staff in one hand. Or, better said, fleeing from the wolf pack.
"Cid!" Tifa yelled, running over to the pilot. "Cid, land! There's someone who needs help!"
"Huh?" Cid replied, frowning. Tifa pointed to the running person, and Cid's eyes went wide.
"Holy %&$$&!" The pilot cursed before he landed the Highwind as fast as possible, some meters ahead of the running person who now appeared to be a young man with shortcut, brown hair and a fuzzy beard on his cheeks. Tifa and Cid quickly climbed down the rope ladder that hung from the deck of the Highwind and ran over to him, the pack of wolves steadily approaching.
"Hey!" Tifa yelled, catching the guy's attention. "HEY!"
"Huh?" the man replied intelligently while he came to a stop.
"You need help?" Cid asked, clutching his trusty Venus Gospel tightly.
"Help?" the man replied, totally dumbfounded. Tifa pointed at the wolves that soon would reach them and spoke:
"With the wolves. They are about to attack you!" the brunette panted, a little worked up from running so fast. The guy gave her a look of utter confusion.
"Attack me?" he repeated. Tifa was just about to ask him if he always repeated what other people said when the wolves reached them.
***
"Tiff, get down!" Cid shouted when one of the animals jumped towards the brunette, gritting it's teeth. Tifa shrieked when the wolf crashed against her and caused her to fall. She squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the deadly bite of the animal, and let out a shocked yelp when she felt something very rough, very wet on her face. Slowly, Tifa opened one eye – and had to see that the wolf didn't want to bite her, but seemed to enjoy licking her face. Next to her, the odd guy knelt down, ruffling the fur of two of the wolves. Cid just stood there, gaping.
"Hey, get off her." The brown haired guy finally spoke, and the wolf who still licked Tifas face obeyed and sat down next to her, wagging his tail. Tifa sat up, staring at the man in awe.
"How do you do that?" Cid finally managed to ask, causing the guy to look at him.
"I talk to them." He then spoke, in a tone as if Cid was the biggest idiot in the whole wide world.
"We saw that." Tifa replied, getting to her feet. "But why are they listening to you?" The guy gave her a cocky grin and performed a cute little bow.
"Let me introduce myself. The name's Richard Sehan, commonly known as the Wolf Talker."
***
"The Wolf Talker?" Cid repeated, his eyes wide. "But…but that's only a legend!" Richard shot him a glare.
"Well, for a legend I'm pretty much alive, don't you think?" he then asked, frowning at him. Much to Tifas amusement, Cid pouted like a five year old who had been caught stealing cookies.
"True." The pilot finally admitted. Richard just sighed and turned to look at Tifa.
"Care to tell me your names, too?" Tifa gave him a small smile.
"Of course. I'm Tifa Lockheart, and this is Cid Highwind." Richard's eyes went wide.
"Wait a minute. Tifa Lockheart and Cid Highwind? The ones who saved our world?" Cid nodded proudly and replied:
"You're @&%$&% right on that, boy."
"Cid! Language!" Tifa cried out. Cid glared at her, and Richard shook his head.
"Well, peeps", he then said, "it was nice to meet you, but I must run on."
"Where are you going?" Tifa asked.
"Cosmo Canyon." Was the short reply.
"We're heading there too, if you want you can fly with us." Cid suggested, trying to be nice, but Richard shook his head.
"Thanks for offering, but no. My wolves don't like heights. Well, see you at the Canyon then!" And with that, Richard ran off, followed by his wolves, leaving a stunned Tifa and Cid behind.