Now What?

[thalia]

Thalia shrank away in fear as the dark brute dubbed Koli snapped at her. His snarl ripped from his chest and through the cavern, echoing and fading to a faint rumble. And then, after a an exchange of words she couldn't seem to follow he left, presumably to bring back some water. She sat uselessly in the corner of the cavern, trembling for reasons unknown. Useless, a prop. All she'd ever be in life. Her teeth snapped together with an audible click, realizing though she'd brought death upon this Athabasca wolf and she'd been doing nothing to help, just wallowing in self-pity and guilt.

With a newfound determination she stood, testing her paws warily to make sure the nauseas feeling didn't overwhelm her. She began to walk, picking her way around rocks and bits of termite-infested wood. The dust beneath her feet rose in small clouds, forced upward by her silent paws as she took a spot next to the other male - Taurus, she thought. As she neared Athabasca's body, the smell of blood became overwhelming and she wrinkled her nose and breathed through her mouth, and after a moment of this she regained placidity. Her eye now resembled a frozen gold, mirrored in the frosty composure of the other, and her dainty features formed a serious, emotionless mask. When she spoke her voice was a perfect epitome of her face - sober and deliberate, but not cold.

"I know of a few herbs that can help her...leg splints, blood clotters..." she trailed off, raising her head and glancing at Taurus with steely eyes. She knew that, along the way, she'd find a plant to curb her nausea to better concentrate on helping this wolf. She took mental notes of the wolf's condition, eying the mangled legs and large, open cut in her side. "You don't think she has infection, do you?"she asked suddenly. Without bothering to wait for the wolf to answer her she responded seriously to her own question."No, I'll bring the Dragon Fruit just in case, you're right."

Her eyes found the injured wolf again, searching appraisingly to find the right herbs and the dosage amounts. Broken legs, deep gash in her side, subtle internal damage she noted cautiously, eying the blood leaking from her mouth, and perhaps she'd need a pain killer. After a brief silence, a pause of hurried concentration, she ran through the list once more. "Burdock, Bamboo, Dragon Fruit, Ivy, no, scratch Ivy, we'll go for White Poppy instead - she'll relax, be less of a health hazard to herself." she fired off, now staring with unseeing eyes at the wall. It seemed as if those countless hours spent with her mother learning about various herbs and herb and plant life payed off after all. She smirked slightly, but it vanished when she thought about how, instead of wallowing in guilt like a child she could have been doing this. She shook her head, disgusted at her stupidity. A frown darkened her features for a moment, brooding, before she turned to Taurus.

"I'll go now, and be back, I can't stand just sitting here taking space." she said, flashing a grin. It didn't reach her eyes, but they never did. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been truly happy. But this sense of purpose she had was the closest thing she'd gotten to 'happy' in quite a long time, so she shrugged and decided that if this was what life would give her, she'd relax and take it wordlessly. It was many miles better than having to relive her memories, but then again, whenever she was occupied those seemed to vanish completely. Her heart throbbed painfully at this thought, but she shook it off, determination claiming her once more. She turned on her heel and leaped gracefully to the top of a large boulder before disappearing behind it and through the hole in the face of collapsed rock.

-----

She was there, at the edge of the river. It had taken time for her to remember where the tall, leafy, fern-like Burdock resided, and she'd found them in a spur of the moment decision. Glowing emerald ferns dotted the river bank, and she grinned excitedly at her find. This was the potent Burdock plant, and slowly she leaned in close to the shallow, calmer edges of the rushing river and took three of these fern plants in her maw, tearing them from the ground. She was careful to hold the plant gently in her maw; she didn't know the effects of having its juices ingested. Eying the river mournfully, she ignored her urge to take a bath. The dust coated her fur thickly but she decided that she'd live.

Next up was the Bamboo. She knew she didn't have to go far for this one; bamboo grew in damper places. She made her slow, careful way to Lleingas Woods. Sure enough around the outer edge of the forest was a smaller, denser bamboo embodiment. The stalks were tall and easily very flexible, so it'd taken time for her to tear one down and split it into two pieces she thought were good for splints. She knew her maw was full now, and she couldn't take in more herbs, so she made her slow progress back to the cavern where the others were waiting.

This time, a little less gracefully, she toppled through the entrance and laid the plants gently by Athabasca's side. "I've only gotten Burdock and Bamboo, but I don't have a big enough jaw," she joked whole-heartedly. She'd been planning on asking him to come with her for so that She didn't have to come rushing back every time she found an herb, but she decided that it was best if someone stayed to look after Athabasca while she and Koli where gone."I'll be back. Don't touch anything until I'm back." she warned, ducking under the small doorway carved into the face of rock.

{ooc}
Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 994
Mood: Useful, like she has a purpose. Mad at herself for being stupid

I'll finish writing stuff about her getting the rest on my next post - this one's getting long, xD.
{/ooc}

[athaza]

Brown eyes glared at Koli and threateningly his lip twitched to curl into a snarl. The kid was lucky he had his hands full right now; otherwise he’d knock him in the back of the skull for his behavior. There was no excuse for snapping at the white female like that. Neither of them had heard the full story. It was wrong to quickly judge that she was guilty of hurting Athabasca. In fairy tales there was always one damsel in distress, a hero, and a villain. He highly doubted the female was the villain. This wasn’t a tall tale; this was life and usually in life accidents happened. If Koli didn’t apologize later for making the white female feel worse about herself he’d drag him around Acerbus till he did. He wouldn’t allow anyone to be a scapegoat without any hard evidence that they were guilty of something.

He remained quiet though, not wincing when Koli glared at him. He had to concentrate on helping the ebony dame, not quarrel with a trespasser. It was a slight relief when he padded off saying he’d get water, happy that he wasn’t so stubborn that he wouldn’t take an order. Looking down at his paws he frowned as her blood tainted his white fur that was already quite dirty. The bleeding appeared to be slowing down, but he didn’t dare take his paws off the gash in fear it was start up again. Hearing Athabasca’s request he opened his mouth to answer only to close it when the white female that had been crying on the side had got her self together. He was actually surprised by the vast information she knew about herbs, and wished he had gone with his instincts earlier and asked her about it. As information spilled from her mouth only a few words did he catch and sounded familiar. Other words like ‘dragonfruit’, ‘white poppy’, and ‘burdock’ he seemed completely confused about. To his luck, the questions she asked appeared to be rhetorical because she kept answering them herself. He’d really need to catch up on his herbs later… He never wanted to become a Shaman, but it nice to not be useless when others asked for his opinion on what herbs to get.

Hearing her last words he nodded managing to slip out, “Good luck,” before she dashed off on her own mission. This was nice. Once he took charge in helping Athabasca everyone else went off to find some way to help her. He was deeply grateful that the two intruders had the knowledge they had; otherwise Athabasca probably would have died at his paws. “You’re going to be fine,” he repeated soothingly, “You’re lucky those two have been taught what they know. I hope they want to join. We need wolves like them.” Overall he was talking to himself, but at the same time he wanted to get the black she-wolf’s mind off dying or the cruddy situation she was in. He wasn’t going to let her talk, so he’d have to do all the talking. “What do you think of that Koli, kid? He’s an interesting guy. I wonder what’s his story,” he said with a soft chuckle. “A little short tempered, but when I was talking to him in the Woods he started to grow on me.”

His talking stopped abruptly when Thalia returned with bamboo and other supplies. Hearing her words he smiled wolfishly. Athabasca couldn’t move and he wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway.

[rainstar]

As Taurus pressed at her side, Athabasca looked around in pain. His paws on her gored body hurt more than it had when she had just lie there, and she glanced around nervously for a short branch to keep her from gnawing her own tongue in agony.
Ugh.. Not like last time...
As she hastily glanced around for a branch of some sort, Athabasca recalled her weeks spent in a cold, damp drainage pipe and how she had so bloodied her own tongue out of fear and pain, and growled at herself.

Luckily, a fat splinter from the wrecked support beam lay near her, and she took firm hold of it in her teeth, wincing as Taurus's paws pressed harder.
"Orw! Dat hursh!" the black dame growled, but knowing that it would hurt more later if he wasn't keeping pressure on it. She was grateful that he had come so promptly, and wondered if she would still be alive if he had not come.

With an exhausted sigh, Athabasca lay her head down and dug her teeth more firmly into the wooden splint and closed her eyes.
“You’re going to be fine,” Taurus spoke, and Atha let the words tumble into her mind and calm her. Oddly, his voice seemed to lull her off away from the pain and she let her muscles relax. She suddenly realized how tired she was, and began to doze off.

"Atha..." Athabasca's eyelids flicked open and realized she was no longer in the mines. To her surprise and astonishment, she stood in a place she had longed to be in for so long. It was her old pack's camp- but not as she remembered it. Instead of blood and dead wolves strewn across the bare ground, the clearing was full of live, happy wolves and long grass. A tear rolled down her face as she recognized so many of her old friends.

"Atha..." came the soft whisper again, and Athabasca turned her head to see Tanaga, her father and Bloodspill alpha.
"Father! Is it really you?" she cried, covering his face with loving licks. The alpha nodded and closed his eyes as more of the Bloodspill wolves circled around the two, softly calling out to the black dame.
"Stay with us Atha," Tanaga spoke lovingly. "Stay with us. We can be together forever- as a family again, Atha."
Athabasca thought her heart would burst with happiness as the wolves nuzzled her softly, calling out her name. She had missed them so much, and now they could finally be together again.

Though she longed to let go and join her family again, she knew she could not stay. She choked back a sob and slowly shook her head.
"I'm sorry.. I can't stay with you.." she whimpered and looked down at her paws.
"Please, Atha. Stay with us."
Athabasca sobbed and her body shook, but still she shook her head no. Tears flooded her eys and she desperately wanted to stay, but she knew that she had to live, for she didn't want to inflict upon Taurus and Koli and the other dame the guilt of her death at their paws.

"Please, Atha." Tanaga was whimpering now, but Athabasca didn't look up and continued to cry.
"No.. No.. I can't.. No..." she said sadly between sobs, and looked into her father's eyes. To her horror, he had begun to cry, but his tears were not tears that stained her own face. Crimson streams of blood ran from his eyes and Athabasca stepped back in terror.
"Please." Tanaga whimpered, and a rush of blood poured from his mouth when he spoke, the stench of disease and death filling the air and making Athabasca feel sick and hopeless. She looked around in wide-eyed panic, and screamed when she saw that the other wolves had begun to plead as they stepped toward her, their eyes and faces running with blood.
"No! NO!" cried Athabasca as the wolves closed in on her, their red mouths moving in a silent plea.

Suddenly the black femme awoke, and her eyes were wild with horror as she lay exhausted, panting heavily. Her eyes flew around the room, and her heartbeat began to slow down as she realized she was back in the mines. Tanaga and the others were gone.

[koli]

hKoli continued to pull the branch back towards the mines. He could feel the roughness and sharp egges of the branch cutting his gums, but Koli didn't care, he knew that Athabasca was going through a lot worse. So Koli pushed himself [or rather pulled] onwards. He wasn't prepared to let her die, he could never live with himself if he did... he just hoped the herbs he'd given to Tarus had helped ease Athabasca's pain.

Koli whined slightly as he dragged the branch, he wished there was another way, of course there had been. Koli just hadn't been able to think at the time, and as he'd walked through the woodlands he'd seen the very method he should have used. But it was too late now, he couldn't stop.. he had to carry on.

~*~

Finally the mines came into sight and Koli's heart began to burst with joy, he'd made it. It had taken some time, and it had been painful, but he had made it. Dragging the log next to Tarus he smiled, blood trickling down his muzzle. Koli didn't care though, at least he knew that Athabasca would stand a fighting chance. "Sorry." He said panting, trying to catch his breath "I would have been quicker... but I had trouble working out how to carry water here." Koli said a chuckle in his voice as he thought of how stupid he'd been. "How... how is she?" He asked looking at the femme lying on the ground, she seemed to be in a restless sleep. And Koli began to panic, it was not good to fall asleep when injured.

Just as Koli was about to attempt to wake her, Athabasca woke up, and the young wolf could see horror in her eyes. "Hey shh" Koli said trying to calm Athabasca down. "It's okay, you're gonna be fine.. we've got water, you're going to live." Koli said keeping his voice calm.

Seeing no further use for himself, unless Tarus asked something of him, Koli lowerd himself onto the ground and layed next to Athabasca, trying to keep her warm. He knew from his teachings that the longer someone was injured, the colder they got. So Koli was trying to attempt to keep the wolf warm, he wasn't about to let her get cold, she was in enough pain already. "I'm here... everything is going to be alright" He whispered in her ear as he rested his head on her neck, willing his body heat to warm her body.

[rainstar]

Athabasca's heart pounded in her chest and tears rolled down her face as she sobbed silently to herself, frightened and horrified by her dream. There hadn't been a day gone by where she hadn't thought of her old pack, but such a sudden reoccurance had chilled her to the bone and she wept inwardly with loss.

As a young wolf, Athabasca had been adopted by the Bloodspills and they became her family. She loved them dearly, especially Tanaga. The hardest thing she ever had to do was watch him die, useless and unable to help him. The vision of his bloodied face and body contorted in pain had scarred her mind like nothing else ever could have, and when she was forced to leave him she thought her heart would break in sorrow.

Seeing Tanaga alive and the chance to be with her family again was like a miracle in her mind, but it had been taken from her when she decided that it was not time for her to die. Too much too live for to die now, so young and so much more to accomplish. She knew she had to go on, lonesome or not.

Athabasca was distracted from her thoughts by a sudden shadow that filled the whole den. Opening her sticky, tear-soaked eyes she saw Koli padding toward her, blood dripping from his mouth as he set down a water-filled branch. She was filled with relief somehow, and though she barely knew this wolf she could tell that he was most definitely not who she thought he was.

As he settled down next to her, Athabasca turned her head and tenderly licked the blood from his scraped maw and lay her head at his paws, silently thanking him for his warmth care. She placed herself solely under his protection rather than think, for she knew if she tried to think she would only end up lost and crying in her own mind again, and that was not where she wanted to be. At the moment, all she wanted to do was lay beside Koli and rest in his warmth, assured that she was in good hands.

[thalia]

Deft paws carried a lithe figure farther and farther from the mines, kicking up thick veils of dust that caused the femora's chest to ache and her throat sore. For a long time the only thing she heard was the measured, rhythmic tempo of her breathing and the occasional harsh, violent cough that shook her body. Her search for the selectively elusive Dragon Fruit was getting to be exhausting - not physically, of course, but mentally. She'd checked in God knows how many clearings for the wretched plant and to that moment she hadn't found any evidence that there had ever been one on the continent of Anikira.

Just then a sliver of the path came into view that was stripped off from the rest, curving into the surrounding forest to the right and disappearing. She let out an irritated sigh and headed along the path. The ground became moist and eventually the hard, compact dirt tapered off, overgrown with dwindling vines and discarded leaves. Above her trees loomed, tall and healthy, piercing the lovely azure blue of the sky with their tips and branches, leaves glowing brilliant emerald in the sun's gaze. And then as the forest came to its thickest there was a mist, friendlier than the one in Lleingas, coiling and rippling and curling around her not unlike a large, insubstantial serpent. She must have imagined the slight hiss that came from it as her paws cut through it, splitting it only to be together again.

As the trees thinned and the mist retreated she came upon a small clearing. Here the sun shined brilliantly, catching the light on the tall, foliate grasses and making them gleam a bright jade color. As she scanned the clearing, expecting another dull, fruitless epiphany, something changed. A small smile slowly melted the ice of her face, her eyes melting into deep pools of relief in her features. There, dead center of the clearing and under a tall, willowy birch tree sat a fat bulb - the Dragon Fruit. It was nestled in a dense amount of wildflowers with petals hued lovely blue and striking orange and sweet pink. Fitting, it seemed: the Dragon Fruit fed off of the nutrients of other plants. Had it not been sought after for its medical purposes in humans, the two-legs would have classified it as a weed and eradicated it.

The white femme approached it cautiously, as if afraid that it might disappear in front of her. The long grasses, longer than her belly's proximity to the earth, tickled her underside gently, but she didn't notice or mind. She didn't notice the brilliant azure sky, or the way it glinted off dew strewn over velvety petals, no; her attention was centered on that fat bulge at the base of the willowy white tree. At last she reached it, and it hadn't yet disappeared. It was shaped oddly like a solid tear, with a thick green skin and jagged leaves at its base. It had thin red veins threading the skin, each meeting at the thick red bulb at the tapering point of the plant. Here, she knew, was the 'brain' of the plant, something that created the clear, goopy ooze and distributed it into the larger holding chamber below. She touched her leathery nose to the firm skin, and instantly the metallic scent of the ooze permeated through it and into her nose. It was strong, perhaps too strong for her taste, and she drew back, sneezing softly and shaking the smell from her nostrils

Only then, after she knew the pod was substantial did she take in the rest of the clearing. She didn't realize how bright it was out in the untamed, wild clearing, only paying attention when she was graced by the dappled light of the forest. Flowers were in abundance here; there were short, squat, vividly colorful ones painted like sunsets, and the tall willowy flowers with gentle azure blue petals that faded to green at their emerald bases. She marveled the brilliant orange petals with their red base and tall stems, and even appreciated the thick, stubby stalks and caps of mushrooms painted sweet pink with alternating veins of blue and green. And then, as she sucked in a particularly loud breath of air, she saw the flower. It was tall, its willowy stem a gentle sliver of green. Its petals were white and wispy, and as she leaned in close to breathe in the sweet smell she felt the texture on her sensitive nose, an epitome of their fragrance; soft and almost velvet-like but lighter. She knew it was simply good luck that she came across a clearing that happened to have both White Poppy and Dragon Fruit, the two herbs she'd needed to complete the self-given task of helping the fallen wolf; she didn't have any decent herb-hunting skills for the life of her.

She drew back her head abruptly and decided it was time to leave; Athabasca's condition wasn't going to get better in the space of twenty minutes. She picked her way over to the bulging Dragon Fruit, leaning downward and finding a good grip on its thick stem with her fangs. She tested it, tugging gently, and then pulled. She'd misjudged the amount of force needed and as the pod came loose with an audible snap she staggered backwards, rising to her hind legs, with her forepaws only a few inches above ground. She smirked and laid the bulb gently on the ground, where it made a dent in the feathery grasses. Next she went for the White Poppy. She was careful with the willowy stems in her mouth; she was only able to find four or five in the clearing and she knew she didn't have the time or energy to go looking for more if they happened to be destroyed.

That was when she realized the metallic taste in her mouth didn't come from the satin skin of the flowers. She looked with a sense of dread at the Dragon Fruit, and the dread threatened to overtake her. Near the base, where the skin was thickest, there was a good sized hole created by one of her fangs when she'd bitten down, and from it leaked a bubble of clear slime that had not yet leaked over the dark, leathery surface. The Poppies fell limply from her jaws next to the pod, and she stared in horror.

The Dragon Fruit, possibly the most vital in her list of herbs for the black dame, was destroyed. Gone. A feral tumble of snarls and growls ripped from her chest and she howled in distress, no words forming, no message, just an angry cry. She bit her lip so hard she could taste blood in her mouth, but she ignored it. The rational side of her mind took over. "It's alright." she reasoned, a forced calm injected to her voice. The bulb of the plant was fairly large, and by the time she reached the coven, probably enough would last her to smooth over Athabasca's wound.

Hurry then - salvage what you can. She nodded to her thoughts, silently thanking them, even though that was irrational. Finally the taste of blood resumed presence in her mouth and she pulled her lips over her teeth, revealing glistening fangs, and spat. She glared at the blood, leaking a dark stain into the ground, and she remembered the birch bark. She scrambled back to the tree and took a moment to take it in. And then she was at it again, lifting a paw to crush the flaky, papery bark that had peeled away from the tree. She leaned close to it and inhaled, not bothering to do it and knowing that the nauseas feeling would return upon the scent of blood if she hadn't done this. The dust had no scent but she could feel it take effect instantly - clearer mind, sharper senses. She grinned wolfishly and leaped the six feet back to the Dragon Fruit, taking it into her mouth along with the White Poppies. She tried to condone a false sense of security by curling her lip over the bleeding wound in the bulb's side, knowing that eating the goop would only cause stomach unease later on, but she knew it wouldn't curb the slow leak very much.

Funny, how she could draw many parallels to her and her being in that instant.

-----

She came into the cavern, airless and panting, hardly looking anything like the graceful wolf who had exited perhaps an hour earlier. She saw Koli, and a large branch with a strange shimmering substance coating a hole in its surface - No, not something, she realized, water. Suddenly she noticed Athabasca and Koli's close proximity, and she almost giggled, almost cranked out a wild Huh?. To any other wolf who came lumbering in, it might've looked a tad too intimate for just friends, or friendly strangers, or whatever the relationship was that they shared. Perhaps they were mates, perhaps they went back a long time. Good for them, they found happiness. And she wasn't one to judge, either, so she shrugged and turned her head away.

She dropped the limp Poppies and the Dragon Fruit next to the bamboo and the Burdock as she regained her air, and glanced at Taurus and the others apologetically.

"Sorry." she grinned wolfishly to dilute her mistake, "I kind of bit it and it...broke." She didn't bother to explain what had broken, though, because they probably already saw the thick globs staining the side of the Dragon Fruit. She got herself busy, dipping her paws repeatedly into the water to wash most of the dust and blood from them, and then split the Dragon Fruit further to reveal its gleaming bowels. There was not much, but enough to keep Athabasca's wound well protected. She took a measured amount of the stuff onto her paw and glanced at Taurus, trying to communicate in her gaze that he needed to move for her to work her magic on the femme.

{ooc}
Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 1684; whoo a new record! n_n
Mood: Starts out irritated, then incredulous, then wildly angry, and ends a bit apollogetically, but its outshined by her being a bit too perceptive.
{/ooc}

[athaza]

The warm blood on Taurus’s paws was becoming oddly exciting. He hadn’t seen so much blood in many months and the sensation it was giving him was very unnerving. After the two wolves came back he’d have to leave the cave for a little bit and get some fresh air. Prey blood made him go crazy. What would wolf blood do? The other wolves would probably think he had a light stomach or was terribly cold for not wanting to comfort the poor ebony wolf. He would, he truly would, but he didn’t know how much control he’d have over himself. The last thing he’d want to do is cause more injuries and chaos within these mines. He was even debating about finding a new den until he fully checked out the rest of the mine and any other rotting support beams within it. Anywhere but this place would be safer right now for all these newcomers.

As Koli walked in he gave a nod to the male, a subtle thank-you for getting water so quickly. He’d say it out loud, but he was still holding a grudge for how he treated the other white female. It wouldn’t be a long grudge; he’d probably forgive him in a few short hours, as long as he didn’t do anything stupid or impulsive. A brow rose as he asked him how Athabasca was doing and then suddenly lay next to her. His so-called strong stomach began to sharply twist. Not out of jealousy, but disgust. He disliked love and open affection as much as he disliked ticks and disease. They were both equally irritating and a sickness that couldn’t be controlled. His heart wasn’t completely stone, yet it wasn’t open and warm like Koli’s or most males to females. What made him queasy was when Athabasca licked the male’s maw, causing him to turn away and secretly roll his eyes. He was going to puke. He seriously didn’t think he could hold it in much longer. To his relief the white female returned with other medical supplies he couldn’t give names too.

A crooked smile formed on his face as she silently told him to move out of the way. He had been in this position for so long he had almost forgotten he was on top of the black female. Carefully, he moved his paws off her, only to find his muscles locked from being in that position. Silently, he took a few steps away to give Thalia as much room as she needed to work with. Again, he was no shaman. He was curious of the fruit she was carrying, but shortly excused himself from the cave. “I’m sorry, but I need to get some air. If you need anything, just holler.” he said, turning and walking outside of the mine.

Immediately as he got out he smeared the blood that was on his paws into the grass. His heart by this time was thumping hard and he took the air in greedily. “Relax, Taurus… relax.” he spoke to himself softly, like he had done when Athabasca had eating. Closing his eyes he tried to continue to calm himself until his ears perked up to a familiar sound. It was Exodus. His howl had carried itself all the way to the mines and in away the male was happy to hear it. With all these new intruders he had been quite busy. He heard the urgency in his tone and thought it would be best to reply with his own howl. Koli and Thalia were probably going to stay in the mines till they thought Athabasca was stable. He himself thought it was best to stay, just in case they needed anything. Athabasca, after all, was his responsibility as she was a pack member. Raising his head he answered with his own song, speaking for everyone in the mines.

“Welcome back, Exodus. I, Taurus, am at the moment preoccupied with an accident that has occurred in the mines. One of the pack members, Athabasca, is injured, so I and two other wolves will not be able to meet in the Woods. I apologize for all our absences, but due to her condition it wouldn’t be wise to move her. If you could meet us at the mines after your announcement, it’d be greatly appreciated.”

Lowering his head he turned around and walked back into the mines to see how Thalia was doing. The air was a nice way to cool down, but he knew he could not help sitting outside.

[koli]

As Athabasca licked the blood from his muzzle, Koli whined, partly from the fact that he was finally realising the pain his mouth was in, but also from the pain inside of him. This was the most affection he had ever gotten since his mother's death, and it pained him to realise that. Though he did enjoy it, but he knew it was probably nothing more then her wanting to get rid of the blood. Who would ever care for a monster like him who hid in the shadows?

As her head rested on his paws, Koli's ears went back as he felt himself tearing apart inside. He couldn't bear to loose her, not now... not when he had worked so hard to try and keep her alive. Koli hated to think that such a beautiful wolf like her might be dead soon. Whining quietly, he rested his head on hers and looked at Tarus, pain showing clearly in his eyes. "Don't let her die." He whispered. "Please" Closing his eyes, Koli concentrated on trying to keep Athabasca warm, he knew that he couldn't leave her side untill her body was strong enough to generate its own heat.

"Sorry. I kind of bit it and it...broke." The familiar sound of the other white wolf caused Koli to open his eyes, he was very tempted to growl at the wolf, but decided that there had been enough anger for one day. So he did his best to control the anger that was swerling and boiling within him. "You" He said looking at the white wolf. "What is your name? For i cannot apologise without knowing who you are." Koli said in the softest tone that he could manage. Koli assumed that it would only be wise to apologie for snapping at the wolf, though in his heart he wasn't truely sorry. If the wolf had taken more care... Athabasca wouldn't be in this mess.

As the she wolf started to tend to Athabasca, Koli found himself wanting to snap at the wolf again. Did she know what she was doing? She didn't seem like the Shawman type... and Koli wasn't prepared for someone to make guesswork on how to cure Athabasca's injuries. "How long have you been a Shawman?" Koli asked watching the wolf closely for any signs that might confirm his suspicions.

I’m sorry, but I need to get some air. If you need anything, just holler Koli's ears went back slightly and he nodded. "Everything is fine here. You go" Koli said as he watched Tarus exit the mines, Koli was quite suspicious of Tarus too right now... why wasn't he staying to help? Was he feeling disgusted by Athabasca's state? Koli hoped not, he needed to know that Tarus was strong enough to deal with this, because right now Koli wasn't.

Hearing a howl in the distance, Koli lifted his head up from Athabasca and listened to the wolf. Looking at Tarus, he saw signs of recognistion... was this mysterious caller the pack leader Exodus? Koli joped not, he didn't wish to be thrown out of the pack... at least not untill he could gurantee that Athabasca was going to be okay, and then, if it was wished. He would leave and go back to wondering the Earth alone again.

[/size][/center]

[rainstar]

Athabasca's ears twitched as her body slowly regained heat, and she felt strangely comforted by Koli's presence. It was an odd feeling and she had never felt it before, not like this. She sure if she liked it, but reasoned that if she didn't she would probably be snapping at Koli now. She wasn't. This feeling was a good thing.

"Don't let her die."
A wave of gratitude rushed over Athabasca for the strange wolf, who did not know her yet cared for her like she was his mate. She could tell he was good at heart, and despite their previous encounter, she felt like she owed her life to him for his concern. No one but her own father had ever been concerned for her wellbeing to this extent. She felt lucky, and aside from the excruciating pain from her torn body, she felt fine.

A gasp escaped from Athabasca's lips as Taurus's paws lifted from her body. Her blue eyes darted over to where her life was leaking from her body and glared at the wound. It wasn't bleeding so much anymore, and she didn't feel sick when she looked at it anymore. The black wolf studied it closely, her eyes tracing over it like it was a precious child. Then, swiftly, she reached back and pulled a splinter of wood from the wound, and spat it out a few feet away. The splinter bounced across the ground and stopped, unseen, in the shadows.

Athabasca returned her head to its position on Koli's paws and sighed. She wondered what Exodus was doing, and when she heard Taurus's call, she smiled faintly. He had called her a member of the pack.

[thalia]

Ocher eyes stared observantly at the male as he picked his way through debris and rubble, intent and scrutinizing. There must have been a deeper reason then simply needing to get air, she reasoned with a frown, staring still harder at the wolf. Her gaze remained clear and smoldering, locked on the shaft of dusty light long after the wolf's presence retreated from the cavern.

But suddenly the hushed voices of the tiny of Koli and Athabasca revived her from her trance, and the dot of perceptive speculation simmered and fizzled out, its ashes tucked into a deep canyon in the walls of her mind. She turned her head back to the dark femme in front of her, moving detritus formed by the years of mine-shaft crumbling, and a kind, reassuring smile traced her lips. Her casually formal stance radiated security, and she brought her paw, now glistening with the thick, sticky substance found within the Dragon fruit, out from the plant and in the air, surveying the wound again. It was deep, but a thin, delicate crust was beginning to form around the edges. She moved her paw and just as she brought it gently to the wound a voice cut through her careful concentration, and she whipped her head around to glare.

"You. What is your name? For I cannot apologize without knowing who you are." The black male had spoken, and his words didn't have the nicest connotation to them. Her lips turned downward at the edges in a slight frown as she heard his words.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was not sorry at all, she mused as her kind gaze evaporated. She turned to face him, a polite facade barely masking the cordial harshness in her voice. Her eyes resembled golden flames, dancing, sparking angrily almost in challenge.

"My name?" she let out a sharp laugh. Have we the time for such pleasantries? And as for your apology...please. Spare me the chivlary. Now is not the hour." she shook her head and turned back once more to the bleeding femme. She knew she came off sounding a testy, horrible person, evil even, but the injured wolf didn't have time for fake apologies and masked embitterment.

After a long, brooding look at the wound, she began to work. With her paw left she dabbed swathes of clear, heavy gel to create a thick layer over the cut. Over this she placed the Burdock branches to help with the clotting, eliminate any dust particles from entering, and to seal in the gels so they worked longer. She dipped her paws in the water to wash the gel and bits of fern-like Burdock from her paws, and took one of the splints. It was split open from top to bottom, only on one side, so that it could easily slip on and off of a broken paw or leg. She knew she would have to glue it down somehow, but she also figured the thick sap that leaked from the skin of the now empty Dragon Fruit could do the trick. Her mother had told her the sap was a strong adhesive. Thalia gently nudged Athabasca into a position so that her legs were both facing into the air.

"This might hurt a bit, bear with me..." she said softly. Her mouth loosely encased the green-hued bamboo, and pushed it as gently as she could around the broken leg. It was fairly difficult; the leg had nothing to hold it steady so the bamboo kept simply pushing it away, but finally she got it. She took some slightly-dried sap, which, instead of clear and thick, like the contents of the pod, was white and runnier. She repeated the process with the other leg and stepped back to examine her handiwork.

Halfway into the procedure, Koli's courteously bitter tone interrupted her once more. She sighed and agitation, shaking her head and turning once more, this time with an open glare present in her eyes.

"How long have you been a Shawman?" His words grated on her nerves, bringing a growl to her chest, making her lips twitch and her eyes flare up angrily. She began to speak, every word tearing forcibly from her lips.

"Look. I've never done anything this...drastic before, but I'm obviously a lot more learned than you are. And if you think, or thought, otherwise, than it would be safe to say that you'd be the one in my place at this moment. So why don't you just be quiet and do whatever it is you were told to do - to each their own." she snarled. For a moment after her outbreak, she stalled, blinking in surprise. She hadn't expected herself to just...snap at the wolf. And hell, she knew that her chances of joining this pack, or making any new acquaintances were very slim after all.

With that, she picked up the three White Poppies from the dusty ground and walked over to Athabasca's front end. Gingerly, with each flower, she stepped on the stem and with the other paw she pulled the head off. Motioning to the wolf with a flick of her chin, she said in a professional monotone, "Make sure you eat petals and the flower head. If the pain comes to be too great, just eat one of the stems." she pushed the heads gently toward the other wolf and picked her way through debris to lay herself down in a remote corner.

{ooc}
Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 870
Mood: Nurse-like, exhausted, pissed at Koli sort of, surprised at herself.

Lol Thali's a bitch. :3
{/ooc}

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[athaza]

As Taurus made his way through the debris and where the other wolves were collecting, a frown formed on his face with distaste. Not too much to his surprise, tension was building in the air between Koli and the white female. Koli had also gotten on his bad side earlier, as he couldn’t help but be blunt all the time. As well, he wasn’t that great, to Taurus’s knowledge so far, at masking his emotions. Shaking his head lightly, he looked over the female’s work, not trying to comprehend how she had done it all in such little time. She definitely was a quick worker, which was needed for every great shaman. Now he couldn’t help but hope she would want to join the Salen. If she did, he’d surely recommend her to Exodus for the shaman position. They would need one soon in case Athabasca’s accident was an omen for future disasters… Or maybe it was just very bad luck?

He had heard some of the quarrel between the two wolves; negative energy shooting like bolts of lightning from them both. Right now he decided to not get in the middle of it, but if the situation evolved any further he’d step in. It wouldn’t shock him if Koli turned this verbal battle into a physical one. He appeared to be the type that was short-tempered and wasn’t afraid to smack those who spoke too foully. Actually, it was stunning that he and Koli hadn’t battle it off before. Luckily the black wolf’s stupidity back then had stopped Taurus from launching himself at the arrogant intruder. That, and Athabasca intervention. She had bitten a soft spot on the male, and that had put him in his place for a while. It seemed like that push was beginning to wear off though, unfortunately.

The blood that had been flowing from Athabasca had now ceased and his control was returning. With relief he openly took in the air and couldn’t help but turn that frown in a content smile. Quietly he stepped over towards Atha and Koli, not saying a word as he looked over her injuries. Her condition was not as meek now and he felt a weight gradually being pulled off his shoulders. Now all that she needed was rest. Brown eyes glanced at Koli only for a second, still slightly disgusted by the warmness of the two of them. He wouldn’t rain on their parade, but he didn’t have the will to continue watching them cuddle together.

Turning around he moved to what appeared to be the middle of the pair and the single wolf in the corner and took a sit. Taking in another deep breath he raised his head up with confidence and began to speak. “Just to give you a quick memo, in case you haven’t fitted the pieces together yourselves, Exodus has returned to the pack lands. He is holding a meeting in another part of the land, but I have excused you all from it. Athabasca’s condition seems more stable, thanks the work of both of you, but I’m sure you don’t want to leave her here alone. Hopefully, the Alpha gets my message and will inform us of his announcement when he returns,” he said to all of them, moving his head so it wasn’t on one particular person. Now came the part he was curious about. “I know this isn’t the best time, with everyone’s mind still on the current situation, but I have to ask you to make a choice. When Exodus gets here he’ll want to know if you want to join the Salen pack or pass on through. By telling you this now, I’m trying to give you enough time to make a final decision. For some of you it’ll be easy, but for others it will be hard. If you decide to join you’ll be welcomed into this pack with open arms. If you decide to leave, then by all means continue your journey across Anikira.”

[rainstar]

Athabasca's mind wandered as the white femme worked her medicinal skills upon her wounded body, almost falling into a trance. Koli's breathing beside her had become paced and steady and her own shallow, pained breathes had begun to ease, and for a few moments the pain was gone from her mind. It was hard to imagine that the terror from earlier had faded; Athabasca had never been so frightened in her life. But now, as she opened her crystalline blue eyes, only a faint trace of horror and fear could be found there.

However in the black dame's heart, a different pain had begun to ebb at her strained senses. Her nerves were still on fire and the pain of her wound was unescapeable, but now an eerie ache gripped Athabasca. She missed her friends and father so much that she felt she had somehow betrayed them when she decided to return to the living world.
Is it really worth that much to be here?
Athabasca didn't understand her own decision and her brow furrowed slightly at the thought.

The black femme started slightly as Thalia pushed the flowers toward her, and her thoughts scattered.
"Make sure you eat petals and the flower head. If the pain comes to be too great, just eat one of the stems." Athabasca reached forward and took one of the flowers in her teeth, her nose wrinkling slightly at the displeasing taste. She chewed halfheartedly and swallowed the flower, and her eye twitched.
blegh..
As she bent down to eat the others, her black ears cocked forward and she gazed down briefly at the two flowers lying close together. One was crumpled and wilted, its petals littering the floor around it, while the other was perfectly fine. Athabasca threw her eyes and snapped up the two flowers, chewing vigorously. All the time, she glared at Koli out of the corner of her eye, a mixture of frustration and confusion brewing in her. But there was something else, too.

"You guys don't have to stay here.. If it will make Exodus angry." Athabasca said solemnly and lowered her head. "It wasn't your fualt."

[koli]

My name? Have we the time for such pleasantries? And as for your apology...please. Spare me the chivlary. Now is not the hour." Koli huffed and sighed, maybe she was right...maybe now wasn't the hour. But Koli wanted to apologise, he had a bad feeling in his gut, which unfortunatly wasn't going away. He knew it was either guilt, or that meat he had eaten, and he was pretty sure it wasn't bad in anyway. After all, they wouldn't have given him bad meat. "Wel... I apologise all the same... I have a short temper... which I am afraid to say was only encouraged as I grew up." He said softly, trying to keep his voice calm, he didn't want to speak harshly or raise his voice, not when he was this close to Athabasca. He didn't want to startle or harm her.

As the white wolf answered his question, fear paced through Koli's heart. What if something went wrong? He couldn't loose Athabasca, it would be a cruel turn of events. Surely the spirits and the gods had placed him in this situation to make up for the death of his mother. If Athabasca died...would this have all been for nothing?

Koli wasn't surprised that the white she wolf had snarled at him, he knew fully well that he was a difficult wolf to be around. Koli was short tempered, and in many ways he was a brute. He had tried to change so many times. But his father's influence...his father's hold over him was too strong. Though Koli was far from his birth pack, he still lived in the shadow of his father.

Looking at Tarus as he returned, Koli looked at Athabasca and watched as she ate the flowers given to her, Koli recognised the flower and his spirits lightened slightly. It was a good plant, it seemed the white she wolf had a very good knowledge. It settled Koli's mind to know that she had gotten the correct things. It put his doubt right out of his mind. He felt stupid for doubting her, his fear and anger had clouded his judgement. Far beyond what he felt to be fair.

Listening to what Tarus had to say, Koli found himself in limbo... should he stay? Or should he leave? Surely this 'Exodus' wouldn't want someone like Koli in his pack. After all, Koli had tried to get into many packs before,and had been turned away by everyone...why would Exodus be any different. Sighing, he stood up and looked from Athabasca to Tarus. He would have loved to stay, at least for her sake. But he didn't wish to stay knowing he would have to face what was likely to be rejection. "I-" Koli paused, he didn't want to make the wrong decision, for some time now he had liked the idea of being part of the Salen, but if tarus told Exodus about his character. It would be hard for Koli to join and Koli didn't want the hassle. He would rather go in a pack where he was welcomed and liked by all. Rather then taking a lucky shot and hoping for the best. "I shall stay untill Athabasca is well again." Koli said softly. "Then, I shall continue my path towards acceptance." He said looking at the ground, hoping to regain himself. "I have a feeling my chances here shall be slim. And i'd rather save myself the shame, and leave before the offer is given to me." Koli looked up at Tarus and sighed heavily, he knew turning his back on the Salen would be the hardest thing for him to do. "It is my curse to wander alone...and as Athbasca said, Exodus will be angry... I'd rather not be on the recieving end of his anger...nor would I want to make it worse."

Looking at Athabasca for a moment, Koli's heart dropped, he would hate to have to leave her, she was so beautiful...so powerful...and so, gentle. "I know I am a difficult wolf to be around... I can only guess that my presence would not be welcome." He said pawing at the ground, awaitinf for an answer or comment from Tarus.

[thalia]

Sensitive ears picked the sound of shifting rocks from the sound of Athabasca's labored breathing and Koli's words of comfort. It was the white male, Taurus, looking reserved and strangely thoughtful, pebbles and rocks grating against the hard stone floor as his footsteps pushed them away. He stopped then, abruptly, and lowered himself into a sitting position. Thalia sensed that he had an announcement for them all to hear, and walked silently through the rubble until she was only a little ways behind Koli and Athabasca, still half-concealed in shadow. She listened intently to his message, mulling over it long after Taurus had finished and Koli responded.

She considered the pros of staying, which was namely that she quite enjoyed this shaman business, perhaps more so after the initial shock of seeing a near-death wolf laying before her, and liked the idea that she had a…purpose to help others. But she had made only faulty, temporary connections with these wolves, and would no doubt end up snapping them permanently with her temper. She didn’t think this Exodus fellow would take kindly to her sharp tongue, or her moodiness either. Thalia chewed her lip in indecision, glancing first to Taurus, then Koli, then Athabasca until finally she was ready with an answer broken by a thoughtful pause.

“I think it’d be best if I stayed temporarily until…Athabasca’s condition is stable. After that I’ll…I’ll figure it out.” She murmured, slightly ashamed of her fractured response. She knew it wasn’t much of an answer and a quite obvious one at that, but she was still undecided about what she was to do. She shook her head to clear her thoughts about joining or leaving, and her expression calmed as she took several silent steps to examine Athabasca. She seemed slightly more stable than when Thalia first looked at her, but her breathing was still labored, and it looked as if her body was still recovering from the shock of her injury.

However, just as she finished her examination, Koli began to say something to her. Irritated, she turned to him, sure he was just about to utter another condescending remark.

"Well... I apologize all the same... I have a short temper... which I am afraid to say was only encouraged as I grew up." Koli’s voice burst her thoughts and she turned to him, just about to return to the corner and rest, and produced a fresh, gentle smile after a moment’s hesitation.

“No…” she said quietly, shaking her head. “I haven’t the right to be apologized to…really, it is I who should be the one saying such rites. So, I’m sorry I snapped at you. I had no reason.” The smile faded, but a serene, content air still occupied the air around her as she looked back at the corner, ignored it and took her place in the midst of the other dusty wolves, all caught in the same current as she was.

{ooc}
Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 491
Mood: happy, undecided, blah blah.
{/ooc}

[athaza]

At both their responses the male’s frown deepened with disappointment. He hadn’t expected both of them to dismiss joining so quickly like this. The dame appeared to be still mulling over it, but he knew if he didn’t use more persuasion he’d lose a future shaman. In a way, he was looking out for himself. Bringing three wolves to Exodus, happily wanting to follow his every step, would make the male ecstatic. If all he had was an injured female, it would be unlikely he’d even get a pat on the back. He wanted to show the Alpha that he had potential and that he was needed in his pack. These intentions weren’t noticeable on his face, as all he appeared to be is disappointed that they in general didn’t want to join. Classic behavior any member of a pack (well… future member) would respond to such a rejection to join the Salen.

Who to deal with first? Eyes were soon drawn towards Koli, thinking he’d be a lot easier to sway over than Thalia at this time. How the ebony male phrased his words made it obvious that he thought he’d lose whatever power or respect he had as a loner if he joined. Taurus had dissected a lot from him at their past meeting, and the white male was sure he could make him see the situation his way. “No one’s chances here are slim, Koli. Everyone is judged equally by the Alpha, and given the position they deserve. Like I told you before, this pack is just starting out. Unless you commit a crime before Exodus gets here you won’t be rejected.” he argued, hoping to change his mind. His tactic of persuasion changed gradually as his frown turned into a sincere smile as he added, “I know you and I didn’t get a good start, but remember what else is dear to you or that you liked about this land. Do you want to lose it because you ‘think’ you will be rejected?” Subtlety he nodded his head over to Athabasca, a quick hidden message for only Koli to see. As disgusting as love was, it might win him over. Taurus could see he felt something for the she-wolf. All the male had to do was play on Koli’s heart strings just right. “And don’t worry. I’ll keep my mouth shut if you don’t mention you slipped past my senses and intruded on these lands. I promise.” If his temper was terrible Exodus would find out on his own. He needed the male too desperately - not that this desperateness was seen - to endanger it by making the male think his odds weren’t in his favor because his past behavior.

As he finished his sentiment, his white tail twitch and his claws flexed in and out. How to deal with the white dame? Maybe it would be easier to let her figure it out on her own. He didn’t know enough about her to be able to manipulate her mind or swoon her. To simply put it, he nodded in agreement to her statement and declared, “I know Exodus would be very happy if you joined the pack with the knowledge you have. Whatever suits you though, miss…?” This question in his statement hadn’t been intended and he found himself baffled mid-sentence. To hide his mistake he chuckled lightly and quickly asked, “I never did catch your name, and I don’t think I had ever shared mine. It’s Taurus.” His plot had gone off track with this needed introduction. He decided it would be best to just jab in some mind pleasing sentences later and hope for the best.