The moment she left the small den, her feet literally flew over the snow, carrying the white wolf as fast and far as she could go. She knew that if she pushed herself to the limits of what she could do - she could reach Bramble falls by dawn... She didn't want to leave Raigo alone all night- but it was the fastest she could travel. If she were healthier and in top form, perhaps she'd be able to go faster, but for now, she moved as quickly as she dared push her already worn body. She knew of the herb, that there was one, but hadn't the faintest clue what it looked like, or even if it grew in the deep winter months. Her worry for the pup and her fears that he might not make it spurred her faster and faster still.



The fallen log in her way wasn't even an obstacle as she soared over it without thinking, the wolf's concentration and hearing centering on her own body. The deep, even sounds of her breathing as she ran, her eyes flicking back and forth not for other wolves as the danger, but the trees in her path. They picked out a raceway even before she realized that she'd processed a safe course through the strange trees around her. Her tail flew like a banner behind her as she splashed through a small stream that shot off of the larger river to her northwest, and the cold showering her pelt didn't even phase her as she traveled onwards. Vlarindara could feel her wide paws packing down snow as she pounded her way across the landscape, not even bothering to worry about what creatures she might be disturbing.



Her mind was wholly centered on her target, and the path ahead. It wouldn't do to fall into a hole and break a leg, so she had devoted part of her thoughts to inspecting the landscape around her even as she picked the straightest course, the quickest path. Around trees at a speed that might have terrified her if she'd thought about it, but she didn't, her attention was strained for the sound of rushing water that she knew was Bramble Falls. More water ahead, but not the water she was looking for and instead of splashing into it, she took the time to race along the bank, sending snow, dirt and the occasional splash of water every which way. A few rabbits, even a deer or two darted out of her path - but she had no mind for them, the sound of the waterfall was closer now, close enough to hear it.



The eastern sky was brightening as she finally made it to the falls, her eyes looking up the expanse of them. She'd heard of these falls, but had never yet seen them herself, but she didn't have time to sightsee. Now that she had stopped, she realized how hard she was breathing, how unsteady she was on her feet. The white wolf closed her eyes and lowered her head, forcing herself to breathe slower, to calm her racing body down. She would have to make the trip all over again - but she couldn't push without a small break, even a few minutes would do. After her breath wasn't burning in her lungs, she began to look for a way up the mountain, but after a few minutes of wandering had found nothing.



A single, long noted howl of frustration lifted from her throat - her voice sweet and mellow even in the song that all wolves were able to sing. There wasn't a message in the song, persay.. but simply a wolf voicing the frustrations and fear of the last few days - a sound she hoped might reach the ears she was aiming for. Vlarindara stopped, listening even as she waded into the calmer end of the falls to sate her burning throat. She'd listen for an answering call, and if there was none, would call a second time. This time, a message encoded in the melodic notes. Simple, but urgent nonethe less. This time.. if she didn't get an answer, she would have to turn back - pray that she could do something for the pup.



"Raigo is sick, I need help!"

At first, she hadn't heard anything and was starting to turn back when she heard the answering cry pierce the air. Instead of leaving, she turned, looking in the direction of the mountains, the cry to see if she could spot him coming down the pathway. Unfortunately, she hadn't seen him, but when she heard his call, the female turned and bounded through the water towards him. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, while nothing like the pure trust Raigo had in her, it was nearly the same. She didn't bother stopping short of the larger male, but instead came to a halt next to him as she rubbed her side against his. The relief was evident in the female as she swung her tail back and forth a few times before his question was asked.



"He slipped into the river north of the den. When I heard his call and came from hunting, he was stranded on a rock in the middle of it. She spoke quickly, a slight shake beginning to form in her muscles - but not from the cold, or even the fact that she was wet - from fear. What would have happened if she hadn't made it? What could have happened if she'd been faster to his aide? What if she couldn't help him now? "I got him out.. but he couldn't get back home. We stayed overnight in a burrow I'd managed to make bigger, but he's sick. He can't manage to drink water without it coming back up. He's not had anything to eat in over two days, and I don't know what to do.."



The she-wolf ducked her head, whining slightly before she could stop it. "I'm scared for him, Borden.. I don't know what else I can do." There, she'd said it. She would *NEVER* mention it to the pup.. she couldn't afford to shake his faith in her. The female closed her eyes and tried to block *OUT* the images that threatened her - the thoughts of what would happen if she failed. "I promised him he'd be alright, but I... can't help him. My mother once told me of a plant of some sort.. I don't remember anything about it other than it was green.. That's not going to help us much." She had begun pacing, her legs splashing in the water - and it felt good - helped to clear her head.. Slightly. Vlarindara was still shaking, still afraid and doing her best to NOT panic and become *COMPLETELY* useless to the pup.

She came to a halt when he stood in front of her, her ears falling back to her neck before they lifted again and listened to his terms. She hadn't moved in anger- but in fear.. as worried as she was for Raigo and that she might not be able to help him. When Borden told her to stop panicking, she closed her eyes and lowered her head, taking a few moments to breathe, to listen to the water and the sounds of the forest around them before opening her eyes and lifting her head. This time, they were brighter, more resolved. The female followed him from the water and stood far enough away form him at first so that when she shook, the water didn't just soak his pelt again.



"My apologies.." Her tone was much more under control, her expression thoughtful rather than scared or worried. Oh, the worry and fear was still there, but she refused to let it control her. Not right now. "It...she said that it was more like a root..the part we want is the root.. rather than the leaves.. but you had to find it by its leaves.. unless you know what to look for - and I certainly don't..." She sighed, but came to sit right next to him, her eyes closing as she attempted to think - to understand what it was her mother had told her all those years ago. "It did all kinds of things. I remember having to eat it once myself.. when I had gotten sick at first.. before they moved on. It was..when my mother brought it to me.. it was yellow.. the flowers, I mean. The root itself looked like a normal root.. but of a bush, or a small tree rather than a plant. It was larger, kind of fat."



She sighed, watching Borden and finding some solace in the fact that he was as worried as she was - though he held it better. "I wouldn't.. know where to find something like that..So I came to you...to see if you knew of a place where flowers like that grew...maybe I could chance digging up some of their roots.. to see if they're like what I remember." Vlarindara looked at him again, meeting his eyes before they slid away, her attention focusing on his feet. She really didn't need to go pissing off the only friend she had right now with social faux pas and eye contact. Not right now when she didn't know where the hell she stood. "They grew in a bush..kind of like roses, but not. I remember mother bringing the entire bush to me, and having me eat what I could of the root - but she planted the rest. I'm..sorry if that's not much help..."

She listened to his comments before leaning towards the other wolf before she buried her nose in the thick fur around his neck. Her ears were laid back against her neck as she nuzzled him, knowing he was as worried for her charge as she was. "It's alright.. I know he'll make it through.. we all will." If wolves could cry, she might very well have, but instead, she sighed, enjoying the scent that was Borden - the mixtures of his pack and lands.



"Might the other member of your pack know where flowers like that might have grown once? If I could get a general idea.. I could dig around to see if I couldn't find a root for him." She knew her time was short, but she didn't want to simply discount the help that he could offer - even if it wasn't his own. She still had no pack, so asking the member of another to do something wasn't going to work - unless it was a pack member asking.



She hadn't moved from where she had settled her face, cheek and neck into his own neck fur - she was comfortable there.. it was warm.. besides, she could convince herself that even as she sat here talking things over with him, she knew that any ounce of help he or his alpha could offer would be a blessing. Raigo was warm, he had food and water nearby- but she couldn't return without anything - she refused.. but if it took too long, she would have to go back to check on him.. to hunt for him again if he'd managed to eaten. Her worry for the pup escaped in the form of a soft whine, one she clamped down on. No, she would not falter. She refused!

The first call had reached Atiris like a voice whispering to her in a dream. She looked up from the rabbit's trail she had been following just as the call ended, ears flicking forward and back. Had she heard it? Or had she imagined it? She'd heard calls much like that before, and the memory made her shudder...She did not like to hear that type of call, one filled with dread, anxiety, frustration. It was a call to arms and Atiris had been through similar horrors before. She frowned, and decided that she hadn't heard the first call at all. It had been the wind through the trees or maybe just some figment of her imagination.

She continued with every intention of catching the rabbit and eating a bit of it while stashing the rest. In the winter she could not expect to find a rabbit every day and even if she did, there was no guarantee that she would catch it every time. In the winter hunting became harder than ever especially for petite Atiris who had small feet which did not help her to stay above the snow at all. The only hope she had of catching a meal would be on days when there was a crust thick enough to bear her weight even while running.

The scent became fresher and stronger still but the terribly loud call of her beta male ripped through the air, snapping her to attention. Borden was calling for help quite urgently, and Atiris pranced on the spot for a second in hesitation. She wanted that rabbit...But it could wait. With a worried and frustrated yelp she left the rabbit's trail, her stomach gurgling and her mind racing. Had it been Borden's call she'd heard first? What yearling was it he was referring to?

She was a swift wolf and arrived punctually in response to Borden's call. There was another female present and Atiris could not smell blood, though she could sense panic and frustration, the air was thick with it. Her ears flicked back as she skidded to a halt near Borden, out of breath. The female certainly wasn't the yearling, and confusion showed plainly on Atiris' face as she puffed out two words: "What," and "Help?"

At first, she frowned at his question, looking confused before shaking her head, looking rather confused. She honestly had no idea *WHERE* the other pack lived... She'd been told along the river, but in general, she'd stayed as far from other wolves as she could. "I-...No I don't even know where they are located.. I knew you'd mentioned the mountains..I came here first." She frowned, not even sure where to start looking - she supposed she could follow the river - but there wasn't *TIME* to go hunting them down.



When Borden shifted his stance and howled, she wondered if he was calling to that other pack - if there was a medic among them. The white wolf had been ready to add her own voice to the sky when she saw movement on the mountain. The first reaction of the female was to take a step back from the other wolf - the one charging at them with such speed. However, when she stopped next to Borden, Vlarindara blinked, wondering if she was part of his pack, but laid her ears back against her neck.



"It's...The yearling is mine." She had spoken quietly, not wanting to step out of bounds from the older male with this wolf who seemed to be his subordinate. Vlarindara was relieved that he'd called for help - maybe the female knew the herb they required. She settled down into the snow, laying in a sphinx like position and trying to control her fear and the nearly uncontrollable urge to go racing back to the den. She could see the sun higher in the sky than when she'd arrived - but not noon.. Not yet. Amber eyes returned their attentions to the female wolf who had answered Borden's call. She seemed full grown, yet was quite small, causing a smile to touch the face of the worried wolf. She would be quite fast..