Fool's Gold Chasm I'll try and be a better friend, brother

For @Luca and @Leo backdated to 12/25

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

It took them longer to get back than she'd meant and she really hoped Leo was still there, or they could at least find a sign of someone from the Cove having come to retrieve him. He'd been in bad shape before and the guilt for having left him behind at all was eating at her. She should have waited here while Armand went for help, or made Armand stay and gone herself. She was older, she could have navigated the mountain easier...

But 'should haves' were not going to help now, and at least she had Luca to help with anything they needed right now. They could stay with Leo until help came, or he recovered enough to start back home by himself.

They finally passed into the familiar territory of her childhood home and Enera headed straight for the pack den, hoping to find her friend safe inside. "Leo?" she called as she approached.

The man hadn't known what to expect, but he was more than happy to accompany Snowdrop anywhere her heart so wished. He was somewhat excited to see the place she'd grown up at. The feelings were a bit reserved though, knowing her mother was buried here. His excitement would be muffled by his concern towards her own emotions about the place. He would play his reactions according to her own, not wanting to upset her by being overly interested in the Chasm.

Still he found himself eyeing the tall trees with wonder as they made their way in. He didn't hesitate to follow her, picking up his pace as she hurried towards the territory's heart. While Enera called out her friend's name, the man looked for track marks and signs of wolves. His black nose twitched as he scented the air. Brown eyes sweeping the snow, trees, and everything in between for clues. For the sake of the woman he hoped they would find her friend safe and sound.

"HE SPEAKS"

He slept, he drank, he nibbled on what bones was left from the kills the chasm wolves had left for him and he went back to sleep. It was agony – not just the physical pain, severely restricting his movements – but the mental toll, knowing how he had let everyone down. Alone and infirm as he was, he was left with entirely too much time to think about what might have happened to @Magg, if she was as badly hurt as him; Maybe even worse… And just how disappointed Nash would be in him. Days somehow passed, though it was all a haze. At first, his injury marked the passage of time, as his shoulder swelled, then dropped, searing pain lessening to a dull ache, stiffness around the joint and numbness in the rest of the leg. If he’d ever bothered to learn anything about healing, he might have been able to diagnose himself, or at least treat the pain. But instead, he was left to suffer; As I deserve! He was dozing when Enera’s soft voice reached him in the depths of the den, making his head jolt up, sending a stab of pain down through his shoulder and leg. The proud wolf did his best to strangle his yelp of pain, taking a quick, steadying breath before calling out hoarsely: “Yes, I’m here! …Hold on.” Though he trusted the girl, who was basically his cousin, there was a limit to just how weak he was willing to appear in front of her; There’s that pride again… Struggling to his feet, still unable to put any weight on his right front leg, Leo jostled awkwardly to the mouth of the den, blinking his eyes at the light. As the pale girl started to appear between the sunspots, he managed to strike up a pale, but honest, smile, gingerly sitting himself down before greeting: “It’s good to see you. Thanks… For coming back.” Then movement behind her drew his mismatched gaze, body tensing a little at the sight of the stranger; “You brought a… Friend?” Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

Luca was quiet beside her as they walked, though he appeared to be taking in their surroundings. This place still felt like a home to her, even though she had been the one to abandon it - and drag the rest of Fool's Gold Chasm with her. She'd never meant for the pack to dissolve because of a decision she'd made, but... here they were. She almost felt like it had been inevitable the moment her mama had died anyway, and their fate was sealed when Marrah ran away.

Leo soon responded and limped into view, sitting down as he called out to her. She picked up her pace a little, face drawn in concern as she approached. He was clearly not doing well. "I'm sorry I didn't stay in the first place," she said, not including that Rhaegara would have been disappointed in her for her decisions. She let Armand go up the mountain alone, she'd left Leo here to fend for himself... but she was back now, and that's what mattered, right?

Her almost-cousin tensed and Enera glanced at her companion. "This is Luca," she said. "We... met last spring, and I ran into him just a bit north of here. He's come with me to help, until someone from the Cove comes for you." She would have offered to escort him back up the mountain herself now, but since her brother had already gone for help she didn't want to risk missing whoever his pack sent for him. Best to wait for rescue now.

A voice called out from the den, his head sweeping towards the entrance. He moved closer to Enera, wagging his tail and quietly waiting. The male watched the other appear. At first, he looked friendly, but his demeanor shifted upon seeing the grey beast. Luca's ears pulled back and he lowered his head to show he meant no harm. He was not interested in fighting anyone, especially someone that needed help.

Luca smiled softly as Enera introduced him to the fellow. He tried to look as least intimidating as possible, which height-wise wasn't hard. He was a small man, just rather burly. Given his short stature, he didn't think his muscular form would be threatening, but this wolf was injured. The best he could do was try to look friendly.

"HE SPEAKS"