A graceful, and even, dusk is falling upon Vapeland. The light is waning and it is the time of day when the dark is gaining hold over the light but it is still bright.
Skulking, stalking, and creeping forward a greyish-black, dog-like figure is skulking near the High Rise/Penthouse area of Vapeland. James, dressed in his working overalls, but still with long sleeved flannel shirt, complete with ruby cufflinks, is drawing near the entrance to the high rise when the close to the ground, hunting, creeping figure approaches; he freezes in place seeing the ferocity of the feral Vapelandian wolf!
The wolf stops and sits on its haunches. It's horrible mouth opens, and a lone blo-fly flies out from between his teeth, as his lips draw back into an easily recognizable threat. He hunkers down, even lower to the ground, and a blue aura surrounds him and he speaks to James!
"Recognition to you old, weak, and slow human! Viva Vapeland!"
The wolf's sneering, confident, mouth, begins to work, like he was chewing a bone, and his pearly white, deadly sharp teeth glisten in the failing light of day.
"I owe a debt of gratitude to your master," the wolf intones, his voice deep and feral, rough and threatening, as if it is all he can do to contain his violence and speak. He continues.
"I and my brethern were backed up into a box canyon, in the desert, near the palace of your powerful Overlords! We fought bravely but suffered heavy losses, four of our seven, met their death bravely fighting against wicked men!"
The wolf pauses here and his ears lie back...but not in a threatening manner...more as if in respect. His eyes look upward and he closes black lips to conceal his awful tooth fillled mouth, and he continues.
"Then...somehow...some way...as if blessed water fell upon us, a ridiculous, weak looking, and colorful bird descended from the sky! Me, and my brethren know not what he told our opressors but he disappeared for an instant and suddenly a tremendous gryphon appeared and flapping its wings, with great strength, drove off our enemies! Suddenly the Gryphon was gone and there was only this ludicrous avian sitting on an elevated stick!"
The wolf's contempt suddenly evaporates, his yellow eyes widen, and his words grow soft.
"My brethren and I owe this buffoon of an imitation of an animal, and thus you, and all Vapelandians a debt of gratitude! Woe unto those who would threaten our realm!"
The snarling sneer is back, and the wolf's ears are laid back, this time in threat, and he snarls, pawing the air with his front right foot, and his eyes grow slitted and red.
"We will fight to the death, along with any other animals, even badgers, to defend this sacred lair, this stronghold of might, this odd and spell bound land, you, your brethren, and others who hold her high in sanctity!"
The wolf begins to back away, his ears back, his viscious mouth, it's yellow teeth glinting in the twilight, and slowly begins to withdraw, turning around, tail down, and skulking away. He pauses, turns around, and opening his lips he speaks one last time, before he slinks away, one more grey shadow, lost in the waning light of day.
"Viva Vapeland! Viva La Vapeland! Viva La Vita Vapeland!"
His final words are almost spit out as if even repaying a debt of life saving gratitude to humans repulses him...and then he blends into the shadows, his distant form absorbing into the oncoming light,...and he is gone.
James quickly gains entrance to the high rise.