Heartleaf Creek The Unseen Horrors [M]

This is Sonnet's exit from DEB, against her will. I won't be posting in the thread after this.

The child stuck to the heels of an adult as much as possible but was developing more independence. Instead of hiding out in the den when she couldn't shadow someone she was cautiously exploring. Building her confidence with each short trip she took. While she still hadn't spoken words, she could be heard singing now and again. When possible, she particularly enjoyed her time with @Viorel. He was a steady favorite in her list of trusted adults. She'd taken notice that he and Vana were...odd. She couldn't wrap her head around it, and she was jealous of any time he spent with her that she knew of.

The girl was thinking of such, casually walking through the territory on a well-beaten path. Her head was in the clouds as she tried to process all the big emotions. She wasn't paying enough attention, she'd become too comfortable within the territory. She missed her company altogether as the coyotes crept closer and closer. Sonnet was oblivious until a blunt force hit her, knocking her onto her paws with a screech. Teeth nashed into her skin and she kicked her paws wildly.

Searing pain filled the back of her neck, sharp canines biting deeply into her skin. She fought against the grip with all her might while being ruthlessly drug out of the borders. A tail of blood marked the ground in crimson. Her heart pounded in her chest, tears lining her soft green eyes. At last, she spoke, her voice but a broken whisper, "Viorel."

(This post was last modified: Mar 28, 2024, 03:20 AM by Sonnet. Edit Reason: Multiple vs one attacker, editing for realism )

Since Nia's arrival at Dead Empress Backwater, Oleander kept himself busy. He used his time to take naps in hidden places, gather fresh herbs, and keep watch at the borders. Today, he carried a mouthful of fresh grass and hellebore sprigs, eager to bring them to the Infirmary. He returned home along the edges he had exited from but something was different.

The offending smell was out of place. It stabbed and stung at his nostrils. Metallic, tangy, sharp... like blood.

Oleander's heartbeat spiked as he saw the sign of struggle in the dirt. All along his name, heat prickled and tingled. He dropped his cuttings on the ground, nose to the ground as if drawn by a magnet. Intruder, intruder, his mind hissed as he recognized little Snowflake's scent. He could smell her panic and fear in the nail marks that raked along the floor. She was dragged away. Taken.

The Valle's lips lifted over clenched teeth as a growl rose from his chest. No one messed with Snowflake or any member of his pack. Not on his watch.

Long limbs sprinted into action but the Medic-turned-makeshift-Guardian's timing was off. Her petite body had already been dragged across the forest floor, and her innocent blood spilled, drops at a time. She was nowhere to be found. His younger, yearling self would have done nothing but cry. Now, all he saw was red. A wide ear turned the right and the rustling of leaves had him bolting into the brush. It was unfortunate for the one coyote who had been left behind. There was a string of booming barks, a shrill cry, and a murderous snarl... then, it was quiet. The birds had flown away and the world seemed to stand too still.

Oleander pressed his spidery frame over the scrawny canine, daring it to stand again. To fight. He had gone for the neck, just as Eros had done with the cougar they had fought. Now it lay beneath him, motionless with its glossy eyes staring into the distance. The wolf gnashed its teeth in its face, unafraid to do it again should its pack mates come running back for them.

(This post was last modified: Apr 02, 2024, 02:09 AM by Oleander. Edit Reason: grammar + scene edit )

they say pray it away, i swear,
OLEANDER VALLE
that I'll never be a saint, no way

Vi's only post

There was a scene going on at the borders and based on the panicked sounds and snarls that echoed through the territory Viorel knew he should have been there. But, he had been too late by the time that he did arrive. There was blood in the snow and a dead coyote at Oleander’s paws but hardly any of that registered. Little fox. That was her blood that mingled with that of the vermin and she was clearly in distress.

Without a word he ran after her, and would continue running until his lungs gasped for air and his legs were giving out. She was gone. He had to keep going, he had to find her and bring her back home safe so that way they could treat any injuries she might have. They needed her to be home to be with them. He needed her to be home safe with them.