SO TELL ME WHEN YOU HEAR MY HEART STOP

Strong legs and paws allowed him to scale the mountain with little effort and Indru couldn't help but marvel in the change in his body. He could remember this mountain as a pup, looking up and thinking it was never ending, the sheer size of it causing his fur to bristle and his tail to curl beneath him in terror. Then he could remember being older, but still very much young, and climbing it for the first time, Ruiko at his heels, the two boy's constant competition pushing them on beyond their fears. Everything changed so dramatically,and, like a snapping of a twig, it could be gone.

It was early morning, the sun just peaking above the horizon line, and the cool wind that seemed to surround the mountain for as long as Indru would remember blew refreshingly around him. He paused in his climbing sighing briefly with closed eyes as his heart hammered in his chest with the activity. He felt.. alive, perhaps for the first time since his parents died. Before the boy had been a zombie, operating like a machine and not feeling, but he just had too, and the mountained seemed like the ideal place to escape for a while. Since he was a pup Indru had held a fascination with Mountain of Dire, it allowed you to gaze down at Relic Lore beneath it, the accomplishment he felt when he climbed up to a huge height was a feeling he was not likely to forget.

He climbed until his paws hurt, his chest heaving and he had to fight the air into his lungs, forcing his anger, guilt and sorrow into this physical activity. The boy paused at a ridge, an area of the rock that had flattened out, catching his breath as his blood tingled with adrenaline. Yes, this was just what he needed. He walked confidently to the rock's edge, leaning precariously over it, gazing down the huge distance he had climbed, his legs still wobbling slightly from the effort they had just expelled. He could make out his home, his new home, the place where he had responsibilities, but up here.. well, up here he felt as free a bird.

YOUR THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS

Bright eyes gazed down from the mountain in an almost dreamlike state, Indru could feel his muscles relax and his shoulders feel unburdened for once and as the wind blew around him he just felt he never wanted to move again. It wasn't long until a yelp broke him from his thoughts, flicking his concious into action as he lowered himself down to peer over the plateau's edge, gazing down at the narrow path that lead up to where he was. His nose told him a wolf was there, female, young and presumably hurt as the smell of blood was fresh. For a moment the boy wondered what he should do, help? Leave her to sort herself out, after all she had climbed here himself... But it just wasn't in his character. With a small, resigned sigh at the peace he had lost he turned round and headed back down the plateau.

While before she was obscured by jutting rocks, when Indru navigated his way down the mountain, years of competitive climbing battles with Ruiko now coming in handy, it wasn't long before he could make out a white she wolf. Hey there, he called out so he wouldn't startle her. Indru glanced over her quickly, taking in her injured paw and precarious position. You look like your in a spot of bother. A friendly and reassuring smile was now placed on his muzzle and he approached the short distance between them slowly, keeping his eyes on her to try and calm her and express his desire to help. My name is Indru. Let me help you, he added, waiting a few paces away from her so that he did not crowd or harass her if she did not want it.

Well your braver than me, Indru started, glancing down at her paw and seeing the piece of sharp rock that was lodged in it. It looks very painful. He smiled at her again, trying to ease her embarrassment at his arrival, he had seen her looking around to hide, even if it was subconscious. Confident that she wasn't afraid of him, and wouldn't hurt herself further by trying to escape, he closed the gap between them slowly, his eyes on her paw. He took the opportunity to scent the air lightly now that he was closer, taking her smell in fully and decided it had no traces of a pack he recognised, definitely a loner then. Hmm. Indru tried to think of anything medicinal that Niija had taught him that could help, he knew a few plants to ease the pain, but little good that would do up on a rocky mountain plateau.

Do you mind? He asked, returning his bright eyes onto hers, trying to look friendly and charming so that she would not be afraid of him. I may have to use my teeth. It was a delicate job, and Indru saw no other way to get the sharp rock out up here, he hoped that his advantage of being able to see the paw clearer than this female could would allow him to get it out where she couldn't. If you'll let me I will try to pull the rock out, and then I can help you move up the path a bit, there is a plateau there, it is much safer. This path was exceptionally narrow, and full of small rocks which looked like they would fall at any moment whenever they felt like it, not the best place to rest with an injured paw. I can see what I can do to help up there, then.

At her answer Indru shot her a grin, nodding lightly and quickly examining her paw again. This may hurt just a little, but I'll try to make it as painless as possible. He winked at the white female before leaning down, nudging her paw very gently so that he had access at a better angle. The boy examined it closely, seeing the angle the rock had jolted into her paw and leaning forward, craning his neck around so that he was facing the same angle, so close their fur brushed. Confident that he was prepared as he could be he leant forward, grasping the tip of the rock lightly between his teeth, placing his paw gently on her arm to hold it in place. When he had secured her arm he tugged it abruptly, knowing it would be a sharper pain, but one that ended quickly. He pulled his head up, the rock between his teeth, its tip blood stained and turned away from her, spitting it out off away from the path

There, that wasn't too bad I hope. He smiled again, small concern lighting his eyes, and he leaned towards her again to check the wound, which was now bleeding lightly. It wasn't nothing she could stop with few licks to her paw so Indru pulled away from her, sitting down on his haunches in front and allowing her to do so. When it's stopped throbbing a bit, can I help move you to a safer location, miss? He questioned, realising he didn't know her name yet. She was young, around the same age as his sister, and she already felt a slight stirring of concern for her, appreciating the she wolf's braveness even with the pain the rock must of caused.

It hurt, he knew it would, but she had decided it was worth it so Indru was pleased he had not caused unnecessary pain to the female. She began to lick it and he nodded, pleased, it would clean out any debris left from the rock as well as allow her saliva to help clot the wound and stop the bleeding. It may hurt, but it was needed. You'll have to keep it clean until the wound closes, he added, remembering lessons with Niija as she taught him how to care for various cuts and grazes he had got throughout his life.

No problem at all, miss. He saw her struggle to rise to her feet and walked closer, attempting to put his shoulder against her own one so she could lean on him instead of putting her injured paw on the ground. He saw her startled reaction as some small stones moved and her relief when they were only ones on the path. Don't worry, I won't let you fall. Indru peered up ahead of them, seeing the path raise into a gradually slope, bending slightly to the left before it trailed off onto the level plateau, the place he planned to let her rest for a while and perhaps examine her wound further. Estella, what a lovely name. I am Indru Tainn, Leader of the Swift River pack. He explained, telling her his surname this time as she had done the same, and no problem about the help, my honour. He grinned at her, before peering back down at her paws to check that she was starting to get used to balancing on three legs. When your ready we can start to move forward.