Hearthwood River Whispers in the bone

quick last post before absence. feel free to PP Lachie after this <3

As more river wolves around the noise level rose around them and the distractions increased—but Lachesis remained focused. He had to, for both Maksim and the pack. As the pack’s healer, the river wolves depended on him to do his job right; as Maksim’s right-hand, he was also supposed do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of both the pack and Mak. A frown creased his dark lips as he listened to the wolves murmur around him. Kjors had listened, along with another wolf by the name of Davin who the healer had not yet formally introduced himself to. Karina, although she meant well and wanted to use her abilities as a healer to help her father, was not thinking straight. Unfortunately, until she calmed down, she was more of a distraction than actual help.

His paw did not move from the leaf that pressed down on the green-eyed leader’s wound. He turned his head back to the wolves as Karpos arrived, his eyes wide as he remained silent. “Someone—check to see that the bobcat is no longer lurking around; take another if needed,” he barked calmly at no one in particular. With the pup’s still back at the dens, Lachesis worried that the bobcat might go looking for an easy snack. “We need to get Maksim back to my den; it will be easier to treat him there. If anyone sees cobwebs, grab them. It will help stop the bleeding.” He did not like Maksim being out in the open—he wanted him at his den now, but he did not want to force the leader to move if he was not able. There was enough brawn present, someone would be able to lean against Mak’s other side and help him. They just needed to move quickly.

stick with those who stick with you

A piercing yowl startled the scout from her patrol, and the petite Timber braced herself as she heard the enraged beast crashing through the forest underbrush, charging in a beeline for her border. Clearly it had met with something or someone—likely a packmate-- that had already given it a good scare, so Naia stood her ground not to intercept the feline but rather to give it one last reason to never come prowling near Hearthwood River ever again. The cat appeared from the shadows of the redwoods in a furious blur of fur and blood, hissing and spitting madly as it spotted Naia blocking its escape. Naia stepped to the side to allow it’s retreat, lowering herself into defensive stance just in case. The cat picked the more intelligent option, choosing to dash past Naia rather than attack her, and the Timber took off at its heels. It was not an attempt to catch the bobcat so much as to give it a good chase see the intruder off their territory. 

The bobcat increased its pace as the wolf tailed it away from the Redwoods, and then it did something very unexpected.. it tripped. Perhaps it was fatigued from the fight, or the flight, or the bloodloss, because cats were certainly known for their ability to stay on their feet-- but the next thing Naia knew she was tumbling end over end in a whirl of claws, teeth, and blood. When they rolled to a halt Naia felt dazed, and she stumbled to shakily to her feet to orient herself. The bobcat was quicker, slashing Naia across the muzzle with a final screech before dashing away. The scout growled as the sharp pain refocused her. She thought about continuing the chase, but chose instead to trot back toward home to check on her family. The bobcat had been injured when she found it, which meant it had likely been in a fight with a packmate. 

The scout moved gingerly through her homeland, her shallow wounds smarting a little bit and she trotted. A small trickle of blood had begun dripping down the side of her muzzle, leaving a coppery taste in her mouth. She navigated herself toward her packmates’ voices and scents, finding no small amount of chaos when she arrived on the scene. “The bobcat is gone,” she said as she approached her family, in answer to Lachesis’s command. The shallow slash across her muzzle was evidence to her authority on the matter. Her eyes swept over Lachesis at work over her injured King, glancing across and concerned Queen and Karpos, and then over to the group gathered around Karina, tending to her as much as the others were attending her father despite her apparent lack of injury. There were already too many here, too much chaos.. she knew  it would be best if she helped Lachesis clear the scene. “I’ll go to the pups, but some others should go to the border,” she said, with a pointed look at @Karpos. "We’ll need to stand guard through the night.” And then, to lead by example she disappeared back into the trees, making hasty progress toward the whelping den to check up on Inna and Lekalta. 

(This post was last modified: Oct 26, 2015, 05:58 PM by Naia.)

Karina didn’t realize quite how dysregulated she was until Lachesis arrived and ordered her away. “But..!” she began to protest, but Lachesis gave her no mind, diving right into treating the king. The princess had no choice but to back away in utter abashment. Kjors received her with a steady, calming voice, and Karina buried her face into his pelt to inhale his familiar scent. He coached her to breathe, and Karina felt she could do little else apart from breath and cling to Kjors, paralyzed by panic and shame. Kjors suggested that she find her calm place, and though the girl now spent most of her time in this state she found it completely unreachable now.   She couldn’t even remember what calm felt like, in this moment where her throat was raw from emotion and her skin was on fire with embarrassment and waves of icy dread kept rolling through her trembling body.  

@Kjors spoke of the Mother, but She was as unreachable as the calm place—She could be screaming right now and Karina wouldn’t hear over her own mental chaos. “Ah..” Karina’s head rose from Kjors’s inky pelt when he mentioned @Davin, who she hadn’t even realized was present. Her teary crystalline eyes met the boy’s silver gaze, and Karina’s shame increased twofold. What must he think of his Priestess now? She glanced reluctantly over at her father and Lachesis, who had already whipped up a poultice for the wound. Would she ever be that efficient? “I, um.. no. Lach has one already.” she mumbled, declining Kjors’s offer to fetch a leaf for her.  She took a steadying breath. Now that some of the bleeding was under control, Karina could see that her father’s wound was far from mortal—there was certainly no need for her intense reaction. Though she had calmed somewhat, she was still frozen in place, too embarrassed to move back to the medic’s side.  

“I know where some are,” Karina piped up when Lachesis called for cobwebs. “They’re close by the medicine den,” she added with a glance to Kjors and Davin. Perhaps they could go gather the webs and meet Lachesis and her father back at the healer’s den.  Getting some air from the situation would do her well, and perhaps she could redeem herself for her humiliating initial attempt at helping her father. As soon as she offered, the girl felt it impossible to remain here a moment longer. There were others here—her mother for one—who could help her father to the medicine den. Without looking to see who followed, she turned and fled; perhaps if she was fast enough she could outrun her utter disgrace.

   

    
 

@Kjors - Perhaps we could do a thread of them checking or just say it happened?

The person that you’d take a bullet for is behind the trigger

He watched the chaos, almost buried in his own thoughts though not enough to the point where he was not acutely aware of each word being said and by whom it was spoken. His uncle suggested that someone go ensure that the bobcat was gone, and that was something that Karpos was more than willing to do, being a guardian to the pack and a concerned packmate who wanted to ensure that this nuisance would be gone for good. He looked about the group for good measure. “I’ll make sure it’s gone, Uncle.” He promised before another voice caught his ears.

It was Naia who caught his attention the most, the pointed gaze and the suggestion that someone guard the borders for the night. Karpos nodded, speaking aloud for confirmation. “I will watch them when I return, Aunt Naia.” He said, knowing that sleep had been hard for him to come by as of late any who, and that it would be better to put himself to use rather than trying to find sleep that would never come to him. He gave a final sweep of the group and made a call despite his predisposition towards the man. “Kjors, would you like to come check it out with me? To ensure the beast gone?” He asked with a neutral look. Worth a shot, right? To put a dragon to a test perhaps?

Family was indeed all that mattered, and Kisla’s heart clenched at the sight of her mate. Karina was wracked with grief, and how the she-wolf longed to embrace her daughter – to be the one to cradle her, and soothe her. Somehow, deep within, she knew it would be to console herself just as much as the young Baranski girl.

A predator had done this to her mate, and the honeyed Baranski gave a sharp nod of agreement to Lachesis’ instructions, grateful that the Second was here to take control of the situation. Her muzzle would smooth along the cheek of her rambling mate, as if she could calm him.. as if anything she said or did mattered in this very situation as the scent of blood left a sour taste in her mouth.

Naia had come upon the scene – informative, as always. Yet this time, there was something distant about the scout as she practically ignored Kisla, offering no more than a glance. Issuing another order, the she-wolf she had considered her best friend set off to see to the pups, leaving Kisla without word.. and the woman felt it as a slap to the face.

Karpos and Kjors settled on tracking the bobcat, and Kisla gave a nod to them, her eyes wide as she could barely take her eyes away from her mate. But what was she to do? Karina was off to gather herbs – Naia was to seek out her puppies – Karpos and Kjors to seek out the beast and ensure it would not be a bother.

And Kisla stood, somewhere in the middle, trying not to sink down in to an oblivion that was attempting to swallow her whole at the thought of losing the love of her life.

sparking up my heart

Everyone was rushing forward, seeking to comfort the king that Davin had never before met, while he and the dragon alone sought to comfort @Karina. The boy found that he had not the heart to extend to the injured monarch, that his wanting for him to be healed was solely to benefit the girl who @Kjors now cradled against his shoulder. It was her pain that pierced his hide and entered his heart, infecting it and drawing out the darkness of his own wretched memories. Oh how he wanted it all to go away, and his ears begged for a command that would help him to make it so.

Kjors did not fail to be the solid foundation upon which the boy found himself relying, his sootheful suggestion that the subordinate might fetch a leaf for the princess giving the yearling something productive on which to focus. So eager was he that Davin half turned from them, a step taken in the direction of the pack's medical stores while his pale eyes searched Karina's face, waiting for an utterance of approval. Instead, however, she decline, and he felt his shoulders drop subtly with disappointment. Yet just as quickly as the task had been thrown aside was a new quest offered to them, one that the priestess seemed quite willing to take up.

He raced just as swiftly behind her, willing to follow and help in any capacity possible.

Tagging on a better fading post for this thread.

The others ushered away -- Lachesis, with Maksim, Karina and Davin, Karpos and Kjors -- and Naia swept off to her children. She inhaled sharply, watching the retreating figures, her mind whirling as she attempted to discern where she was most required. Her mind yearned to aide Karpos and Kjors with the bobcat -- to taste the revenge she felt the River wolves deserved. Another part of her ached to be with her children -- but Naia had gone to them, and too many adults would only further scare them.

For a very real moment of weakness, the River Queen longed to stroll past the pack borders and away from it all -- to steal those few moments she required for herself so she could maintain any semblance of sanity as her world continued to further crash around her. But indulging in this fantasy was almost as selfish as acting upon it, and pulling herself upright, Kisla Baranski quickened her pace as she loped after Lachesis and Maksim.  She waited outside of the den area after catching up to them and ushering her mate within. She would aid the medic in any way she could -- seeking out cobwebs and then, further, a rabbit for both males.

Only when it quieted and Maksim was more stable did she slink off to relieve Naia of her duty to the pups, her form curling about the tiny girls as she longed for the presence of her mate. Even then, sleep would not come.

sparking up my heart