Wolf-speaker by Tamora Pierce Page A

again?”
    â€”Coldfang. They track thieves in all realms, divine, mortal, or dead, and will guard a thing until the end of time. Men brought this one to the camp where they cut trees, last night. I followed her to see what is going on. She picked up a trail there and kept to it since dawn.—
    Daine was about to protest the new hint of theft when she remembered the pack’s way to put a stop to lumbering. She took a deep breath and said, “You saved our lives. Thank you.”
    â€”
I did not act for you, but for my young cousin
.—The creature reached down to tickle Kitten’s nose. She rubbed it against his paw.
    â€œYou’re family?” Daine asked, alarmed. The thought of losing Kitten was scarier than the Coldfang.
    This time she felt a patient sigh behind the response.—
Only in a remote sense are basilisks and dragons kindred, yet both acknowledge a bond
.—
    She gulped. While Coldfangs were new, she had heard of basilisks, immortals who turned their enemies to stone.
    A whine made Daine look for her charges. The pups were huddled together nearby, anxiously watching the basilisk. “Are you going to attack us?”
    Kitten shook her head vigorously. A wrinkle inthe basilisk’s face might have been a frown.—
I am a traveler and an observer, not a killer
.—
    Daine looked at the Coldfang statue: it seemed dead enough to her. Still, she knew she could trust Kitten’s judgment. She went to check the pups. Silly was worst hurt, his head cut to the bone and one eye out of focus. Runt limped on a sprained paw, and several back molars were loose. Leaper, Berry, and Chaser had only bruises to show for their tussle with the Coldfang.
    Daine knelt in front of Silly. “No more tail grabbing,” she ordered, calling up her magic. “He almost knocked you sillier, if that’s possible.” The young wolf whined and licked her face. “Enough,” she told him as she cupped his head in her hands. “We’ll have you fixed in no time.”
    This was quicker work than the squirrel had been. Infection barely had touched the open wound. She seared it in an eye-blink, and brushed through his brain to heal the inner bruises that had put his eye out of focus. The knitting of cut muscle and skin took less than a deep breath, and she was done. She touched the new scar. “I’ll let you keep this,” she teased. “The young lady wolves will think you’re dashing. C’mere, Runt.”
    The sprained paw was easy, the loose molars less so. She had never rerooted teeth before, so she worked slowly and carefully to avoid mistakes.
    â€”
Is this a new thing, this relationship of humans and wolves?
—the basilisk inquired when she was done.—
I would not have expected men’s dealings with the People to improve
.—
    Daine smiled. In many ways he sounded like Numair. “No, sir. I’ve just had a fair knack with animals since I was a pup myself, and then it turned to magic. Well, my teacher says it was magic all along, but I only learned to use it just a little while ago.”
    â€”
I have heard of wild magic
.—The basilisk looked down at Leaper, who had crept around until she was a few yards downwind. Her nose was up, nostrils flaring as she breathed in the immortal’s scent. Her tail waved.—
Except for bird-folk, most of the People fear me. Your wolf friends are unusual
.—
    Daine smiled wryly. “You should meet their folks.”
    â€”
I would like to do so, if you will permit it
,—was his reply.—
I would enjoy meeting the parents of such brave offspring, if they will not run away
.—
    â€œThey won’t,” the girl assured him. “They’re fair unusual themselves.”
    â€”Have you a name, woff-girl?—
    â€œDaine. My full one’s Veralidaine Sarrasri, but that’s too much of a mouthful for everyday use.”
    The basilisk looked at her, large