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[ K balks at the suggestion to undress, giving Phil an incredulous look — until the baker starts taking off his own clothes, anyway, which prompts the android to look away to provide him with some privacy.

A year ago he didn't have these kinds of reservations about his own nudity, but being in a romantic relationship with Connor has given it a different context in his mind. Why can't Phil's magic make it so clothes transform, too? Eventually, reluctantly, K begins to undress as well, neatly folding everything as he does. Then it's all set safely out of sight before he eats the cupcake.

Here goes nothing...

Before he even has much of a chance to feel the cold and shiver, the change takes effect and painlessly transforms him. Where K was standing, there's now a two-hundred pound wolf. He carefully gets to his feet and shakes out his thick fur, then tries to get a look at himself, curiously lifting each paw, and craning his head back to watch his tail wag, raised high. A naturally dominant posture. All the while he's silent; just as he is as an android, it seems he'll be more of a quiet, stoic wolf. ]

[Phil only disappeared from K's view to get down on his knees and completely transform in silent pain. From the bushes emerged a wolf that was a head taller than K, mirroring his friend by shaking his rearranged back to limber up. He might look intimidating but it's clear that it's the baker in his other skin with a gentle boop of his nose to K's forehead. It was a gesture to assure his android friend that he was all right. His winter coat was starting to come in, a trait that would become noticeable in his human form when his hair became longer and speckled with grey.

Finny barked happily at his foster father and rolled around his front paws whining with joy while his tail wagged in hyperspeed. It was obvious what form the puppy liked better, and Phone Wolf obliged with a few nuzzles of his own while also inviting K to come and give the pup some positive reinforcement.]

[ Two characteristics may make K's identity a little more obvious: blue eyes instead of the usual lupine gold, and one of his forelegs is grotesquely scarred, something he's been concealing in his regular form by always wearing long sleeves.

The sudden forehead boop has K's eyes widening as he takes an uncertain step back. Becoming a wolf hasn't changed his wariness about physical contact and the expectation of pain to accompany it, but he recovers after a moment, following Phil to where the younger wolf is waiting. K's tail wags tentatively as he watches the pair but makes no move to join in, feeling more cautious now in his new form and unsure of what he's allowed to do. And he's certainly no dog — his affection is reserved for those who've earned it. But he won't turn Finn away if he approaches on his own. ]

[Phil notes both the hesitation and the scarred foreleg with much concern, as denoted with a soft whine. Wolves were expressive, transparent creatures, hence why the baker was very sure K wouldn’t have issues understanding and being understood. Sometimes words were unnecessary when everyone’s on the same page.

Finnegan, having no human baggage to speak of, spotted the old wound and did what came natural to a pup: he tried to clean it before taking on a more playful pose. He recognized the mark, this was his not-dad’s friend! He’s ready for the hunt too! Maybe he could teach this new wolf how to hunt too!

Phil’s lupine expression turned to the closest it could to a smirk: seems like Finny has taken a liking to K.]

[ The wolf pup trying to clean the old injury makes K tilt his head with an expression between confusion and concern, but he doesn't pull away. It's just unusual to him, being shown any sort of kindness by strangers, even the four-legged variety. But he understands the playful posture, at least — and obliges Finn by pushing at him with his snout, then his shoulder, sort of lightly roughhousing. It's likely he's retained his enhanced strength in this form, as he always has previously when shapeshifted, so he's trying to be mindful of that.

When Finn gets more into the roughhousing, K rather deftly dodges his counter "attacks" and stays just out of reach; it has the added benefit of helping him become more coordinated in his new form. Phil's smirk gets him lightly and playfully shoulder-checked, too, before K dances right back out of reach. He's warming up to wolf-play little by little. ]

[Phil stumbles a little but he knows K's getting his bearings and returns the tackle with a bark that was the lupine equivalent of a hearty laugh. Finny was happy to have not one, but TWO wolf guardians playing with him before the hunt.

The three play around for a while before a short howl was heard from deep in the forest. It was time for the hunt and the target? A moose, all hands, or paws on deck for this one. Phone Wolf replied the howl with his own sounds, and looks to K to join in. Say hi!]

[ The howl from much deeper in the woods brings K to full attention, ears pricked up and swiveling in the direction of the sound as he listens intently. It must be Finn's family, he's guessing, when Phil replies to it. And it seems he's being invited to join in. Will the pack really welcome a stranger? Only one way to find out, he supposes, and adds his voice in a low howl. He's growing more excited about the prospect of not just observing the pack hunt, but maybe joining in himself. ]

[There's a pause in the howling chorus before they resume for a little bit. By what it seems, Phil had let the mothers know he'd have company along with Finnegan, so there aren't any threatening growls to be added.

From the forest, three female wolves come along, all pastel colored along with their pups. These are the same quartet Connor had met as babies, now much bigger (and in Rocky's case, not as portly). K has the honor of joining them all and they all swarm the new wolf with playful bites, barks and kisses.

Phone Wolf gently guides Bailey, the shyest puppy towards their guest while the others began to lead the expedition. The moose in question was old, and probably the pups' best bet to learn how to hunt as a pack.

Pack was everything for these creatures, and in a sense, it slipped into Phil's demeanor: he'd do anything to keep his friends and family safe]

[ K's body language shifts back into uncertainty as the rest of the pack approaches and swarms him, but he's careful not to appear hostile or threatening. Soon enough his tentative tail wagging gives way to the more playful behaviour again, mirroring the other wolves; he just needs a while to warm up to them.

He's noticed that one of the younger wolves has been mostly hanging back, so when Phil guides the shy puppy in question toward him, he takes care to be extra gentle with Bailey. It seems Phil was right — communication comes surprisingly easy in this form.

Giving Bailey an encouraging nudge forward, K falls into step with the pack, still mainly looking to Phil for guidance in what he should be doing here. He doesn't want to inadvertently overstep any boundaries that might exist for a guest of the pack. ]

[The pups themselves are eager to get to the hunt, playing with K and Phil but as soon as Bailey catches up, they're off! The elders stay behind for a little bit, tracking their next generation with zeal and caution.

K will discover that this pack's territory is relatively small when compared to the forest biome, as they have to compete with apex predators, like mountain lions and the occasional healthy and aggressive moose. Phil's wolfish expression has him directing K to follow him apart from the others.

They were stronger than the other wolves, Phil by virtue of his lycanthropy while he suspected K's android strength might've bled through. They were there to deliver the killing blow as well as supervise the hunt.

Speaking of which, the quintet let out a collective sound as they spot their first target: a moose that has been injured. This was Phil's chance to gauge K's ability to understand something as complex as watching young wolves act their instincts and hunt.]

[ Easily picking up on Phil's cues, K does indeed follow him rather than the other wolves, though he's intently watching everything that happens. How the pack fluidly operates together, how even the youngest members seem to know their place within it. Very much like a family — a thought that causes him a pang of sadness. Something he'd thought he could possibly have with Connor, and now... he probably never will. Androids can't have families. And yet it's a dream that's hard to let go of.

He doesn't allow himself to become too distracted by his morose thoughts. When the younger wolves spot their target, he looks to Phil first to see whether they should hang back or accompany the quartet. ]

[As fleeting as K’s sadness was, Phil caught it in time to shake his head and allow the pups to make their own plans. They were here as the last resort, or else they’d never get their chance to learn. They decided on a very risky but clever maneuver: two of the pups were to disable the old bull’s hind legs by biting while the rest intimidated and distracted.

As the quintet worked as a team, Phone Wolf tilted his head and let out a questioning whine to his guest, was K all right?]

[ When the younger wolves enact their strategy, they have K's full attention and he watches anxiously as the pair go for the hind legs. The moose is massive, and even as old and infirm as it may seem, he can imagine all it would take is one solid kick connecting...

He's distracted by Phil's whine, glancing back at him curiously. This is one of the downsides to being unable to speak; his emotions are a bit too complicated to express otherwise right now. He's happy being included in such a significant moment, the pups' first real hunt together, but in a strange way it also makes him feel even more lonely. They're not his pack, not his family, he doesn't belong. But he isn't sure he really belongs anywhere, regardless of his form.

He huffs out a wolfish sigh and tilts his head uncertainly at Phil. ]

[Phil would've offered a pat on the back as a human but as a wolf, it looks like he's pawing the air for a bit. He's snapped back to the action when he hears Finnegan whine, raising his heckles and snarling at the target. Old bull wasn't going down without trying to take one of these hunters down.

The pups narrowly miss a kick and their plan is starting to fall apart, trying to keep themselves away from the bucking hind legs. The mothers start surrounding the ailing moose, in anticipation for what comes next. It was now that the largest wolf would've taken over but this time, Phone Wolf allows someone else to take the kill.

Phil looks to K, then to the moose and nods, telling him to go forth and be properly welcomed into the pack.]

[ The pups' hunting strategy beginning to rapidly fall apart is worrying; K isn't sure whether the wild animals of the Meadous can actually die outside of being hunted for food by residents or other animals, and he doesn't particularly want to find out right now. Even if that's just the cruel reality of life... he thinks these pups deserve the chance to live full, successful wolfy lives.

Even in lupine form, K's "who, me?" expression is unmistakable when Phil gives him the go-ahead to get involved, and he gives an uncertain wag of his tail. But he doesn't need convincing, already wanting to help out the pups before anything worse can happen.

And so he finally darts into the fray, shoulder to shoulder with the mother wolves, and simply lets his instincts guide him. Ducking low, deftly avoiding the flailing hooves, he weaves in close enough to lunge for the old bull's throat, latching on with unnatural strength. It isn't a tearing bite, but a suffocating one — and he attempts to use all his considerable weight to stay on his feet and keep the moose contained. ]

[Phil's impressed with the way K adapted to the instincts and smiled a wolfy grin. He only intervened to coordinating the pups to help K finish off the bull moose. They might have some bruises and maybe sprained a few muscles but they could survive.

As the pups start to take well-deserved bites from the dead animal, Phil takes on a more humanoid form to tend to the hurt animals. This is what he usually does in these hunts: watch for the animals who didn't have the best time.]

Make sure you take your part of the hunt! They'll feel insulted if you don't. Trust me on that one.

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