Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"He's... afraid of me," says Carver softly. "Because I'm magic now." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Or because you're acting strange and yelling?" Andy suggests, taking a knee and patting his leg. "Hey boy, you alright?"

[Carver Amell]

Hunter whines, remaining on his back. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Try calling for him. Reassure him. If... maybe your scent changed too and it's confusing him?" Andy suggests.

[Carver Amell]

"H-Hunter, c-come here. Good boy."

Hunter whines, rolling back onto his stomach and crawling forward. When he gets within range, he thrusts his head under Carver's hand, and Carver pats his head gently. This gets the dog's tail going happily. 

[Tethras Clan]

"See? You did something new and it spooked him for a bit. Just needed to be reassured you were still his person is all," Andy says with a smile.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he breathes, his voice still a bit shaky. "Yeah. Okay."

[Tethras Clan]

"Once he's camed down a bit, try shifting your hand back so he can see it, get used to it," Andy suggests, recalling how Captain Vallen- ex-Captain Vallen- had trained Beka.

[Carver Amell]

"I-- yeah. Yeah, I can--" He takes a deep breath. "Druid? Me? Really?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Or something like it, I'm not very well versed in primal magic. But... huh. Maybe that explains why Hunter follows you as well as he does. I mean, Beka listened to Cap-" She quit, left us. But... She also gave us a chance, stood up for her people before. And... and she left for Hawke, it seems. For her Lovan. "Captain Vallen, but she never seemed as... it was more training, instead of the mabari just... getting what she wanted."

[Carver Amell]

"I.. this is... Hunter is something Marian can't do?" he asks quietly. "We really have something special?"

[Tethras Clan]

Andy shrugs. "I mean... yes? Probably? I'm just guessing but you certainly have a more... innate bond with Hunter than Captain Vallen had with Beka as far as I can tell. I'd assume the same with your sister and her mabari Quiet."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, stroking Hunter. "Alright. I'm going to-- do you think it looked like dog claws?"

[Tethras Clan]

Andy considers it. "I... maybe? Didn't look like cat claws but cats and dogs are really all I'm familiar with. Well, and equine but those are hooves not... claws."

[Carver Amell]

"D'ya wonder if, d'ya think I can turn into a dog? Properly?" He doesn't notice his accent creeping back in, this time.