[The wolf barks in agreement with Kagome's assessment. Yes, he is a very good boy.]

It's not en encouragement, it's an observation.

[Trassel had sunk his teeth right into him the first time they met, and he has the scars to prove it: a half-moon of a bite on his right forearm, just below the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt.]

He behaves now because I busted my chops training him.

[And perhaps the years have smoothed away some of the rougher edges, although Matthias does not like to think of his wolf getting old. He has plenty of years left still. Providing Trassel the opportunity to prove that he can behave, Matthias then tells him to stay here at the edge of the treeline; he would be back shortly. He tells him this in his native tongue, which will sound unfamiliar to the girl, each syllable swooping up and down.

With a scratch behind the wolf's ears, he returns his attention to Kagome.]

All right, let's go.

[He begins walking toward the tree the crowd has gathered around. Trassel paces as he watches his brother go.]