Dead Empress Backwater mirages

Set a few weeks ago - Xulia is taking @Vasco to the border.
Tagging @Vayko and @Viorel

This week had been an emotional roller coaster. Xulia's head felt numb and fuzzy - she felt as though she could sleep for a week. But she'd remained awake in the days it had taken to walk Vasco back up to the territory's edge, alert and watchful for any threats or risk of the male getting worse than he already was. The girl was shaking with exhaustion herself, having allowed Vasco to lean on her side the entire time.

Finally, finally, finally they reached the border, and as much as Xules wanted to drag the ill wolf across and bring him straight to one of their healers, she knew she had to call her brother and cousin first.

She shifted her weight and tipped her head upward, howling for their attention.

"Not much longer," she whispered to Vasco, pressing her nose against his temple.

He hadn’t been able to tell the days apart for a long while now, in truth, at this point he couldn’t even completely tell when he was sleeping and when awake. When he tried, he found pain to be the best tell, whenever he was awake and moving, all of his atrophied muscles hurt bitterly, burning and throbbing as if they were tearing. But then, when he was still, they would cramp up, protesting almost as badly from the stillness as they had from movement.   With this haze of pain constantly hanging over him, the pale man had very little presence of mind to notice much else. He would follow the gentle nudges of his caretaker – eat, drink or walk as she guided him, leaning heavily on her strong shoulder all the way – but it had been rare that his eyes had truly seen her, after that first day. Mostly they just gazed ahead, glassily, seeing none of the scenery they passed through. His paws would register the changes in terrain, dryer as they left the swamp, and moved to more wooded land, then softening as they continued onto more open ground.   All of these little shifts registered numbly in his brain, as did the noises of animals all around them while they walked silently. He was too exhausted to think more on any of it though, let alone act, though he’d mumble incoherently whenever Xulia spoke to him, feeling a need to do something, but not knowing what.   And so it was now, his ears flicking back instinctively at her howl, a shiver running through him as he sagged against her flank. He didn’t understand her words, though the cold touch succeeded to awaken him a little from his stupor. “Home…?” He asked weekly, voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t even sure what the word meant, yet something about it felt soothing to his haggard mind. . Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

(This post was last modified: Jul 10, 2021, 11:36 PM by Vasco.)

Tags to @Clover and @Vanadis we need a healer

Xulia’s absence had not gone unnoticed, but Viorel hardly found it something to be alarmed about. She had been less than involved since the pack had formed, and the Valle man was doing his best to ignore the growing resentment he felt every time he noticed her in the distance not interacting with anyone. Besides, while she didn't leave the borders very often, she had not been gone long enough to assume anything other than some scouting was occuring. Perhaps she had gotten sight of a nearby herd, or ran into scouts from the mountain. When her call rang out from beyond he had half of a mind to ignore it and let his sister wait it out. He had other things to do, borders to mark, caches to fill, children, mates and packmates to spend time and bond with. Just because his siblings hadn’t embraced living here didn’t mean he felt the same way, and he wanted to let her marinate in that a little.

Viorel wasn’t stupid though. He let her wait for a few minutes longer than he normally would have, before sighing begrudgingly and heading towards the sound. Whatever it was had sounded urgent and he couldn’t ignore the importance of that, even if he was annoyed.

He regretted making her wait even a second as soon as his eyes were met with the troubling sight of the pale tawny man slumped against his sister. ”Shit.” Was all he could think to say, in fact it was the only thought in his entire head. Rushing forward, he looked the stranger over, and it took him a few moments to realize who he was looking at, and that it wasn’t a stranger at all. The second he recognized Vasco, thin and dull, and in terrible shape, he lifted his muzzle and called for either, or both of the pack healers, this was way beyond his paygrade.

Looking up to his sister he barked out questions quickly, barely waiting for a response in between. ”What happened? Where did you find him? Was he alone?” Had the two-legs done this to him? So many questions, and so few answers.

(This post was last modified: Jul 13, 2021, 02:24 AM by Viorel.)

Cameo for Modesto. Feel free to skip around her.

Modesto moved with a silent prowess, easing over the lands that she now called her own. When the call of one of her nieces sounded, howling to the leading pair, Modesto paid it little mind. Like Viorel, actually. Modesto was not far but she did not often engage herself with outside company so if it was a visitor from another pack, the aunt had no interest.

Now Viorel was calling out over the lands, asking for it's healers assistance. The second howl had Modesto's curiosity perked with her coal ears and she found herself making a steady lope into that direction. Maybe some injured loner on their border and Viorel was playing the bleeding heart. They didn't have enough time nor energy taking care of sick loners with so many of their own to care for. Then, a thought- what if it was the pups that were injured?

Modesto picked up the pace, only to let out a great sigh of relief with no scent or sight of any of the pups. But...who was this? Skinnier, sicker, battered up... but it was the man she remembered, Vasco. Modesto stops and though clearly in view of the rest of them, she does not bother to close the remaining distance. Her nose crinkles at the sight of him. He was here but, little did he know their little 'Slutty Sita' had already moved on to stud #3.

Xulia, while far healthier than Vasco and certainly strong, was having a bit of a tough time continuing to support the man's weight. Her own muscles ached and burned, tired after supporting him for so long. She knew she'd be sore tomorrow, but it was honestly a small price to pay in order to have him home safe.

"Yeah, we're home," she informed Vasco, voice a little bit hoarse.

She looked up at Viorel as he approached, swallowing first to wet her dry throat before she replied, "I found him in a marsh down south. I don't really know what happened - he was like this when I got there, and he was alone. He's not... doing very well, but I've gotten him to eat and drink something." Not enough, but he should have better care now that they were back in Dead Empress territory.

His head nodded, mostly automatically at her confirmation; Home… The word continued to resound in his mind, too loud among the whispering murk that was his thoughts. But it was insistent, clawing at him to come out of his zombie-like state. With Xulia’s help, he had eaten more in the last days than for many weeks before, but it was only a small step in the right direction, and with the added effort of travel, he was still weak all the way through.   Another voice drew him to look up though, eyes swimming as he attempted to focus on the dark silhouette. Familiar, the voice was familiar, and so was the dark pelt, so deceptively unlike either of his parents, but Vasco knew his boy; Vi! He wanted to shout it, but his throat was far too dry, and Xulia’s hurried explanation easily drowned out the feint croak he emitted. Coughing deeply, the pale man leaned heavily on his saviour’s shoulder for a few moments, before taking a deep, rasping breath and mustering enough strength to put most of his weight back on his own paws.   Then he blinked at Viorel again, speaking in a hoarse whisper: “Searching… I have been searching… For you!” He had to pause, taking in several more, grating breaths before he could add: “Your mother… Brother… They’re here? They’re all here?” He could hardly believe it to be true, but Xuli had said home, and to him, that was the only thing that could mean. . Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Despite his call for healers, it was neither Clover or Vanadis who joined them, instead it was Modesto’s dark form that materialized through the trees. She hung back, and wrinkled her nose but it was a motion that Viorel did not even notice. Instead he demanded, ”Aunt Modesto, go find either Clover or Vanadis and tell them to prepare the medical den, and bring a meal from a cache.” He wasn’t asking, he was telling, and he did not even hesitate to wait to see if the woman would follow her orders or not.

Xulia’s words were met with a nod as the dark leader took in all the information that she had provided. His yellow eyes were filled with concern over Vasco’s raspy voice that could barely form a sentence without needing to take a break, and then pity as he registered what had been said. Nodding softly he responded, ”Yes, we’re all here, we’re all safe.” His mother had had another child, and he had two litters of his own, but this hardly seemed relevant now.

Looking back to Xulia and noting her exhaustion, he hated asking, but knew there was no other choice, ”Let’s get him to the infirmary, we’ll get both of you some water and food and have a healer look each of you over.” Stepping forward, he offered his own muscular shoulder to take the brunt of Vasco’s weight, but it would be faster if they sandwiched the man between the two Backwater wolves. Murmuring as comfortingly as he could, ”You’re home now Vasco. We’ve got you.” It would be a long time before he was healthy probably, but he was home.

For a moment she stood there, contemplating, even as he turned away from her after his demand. She had never been the type to bode over well when being commanded and had done so well to hold her tongue for her own mother granted she was the current eldest, the Matriarch, or their ranks and family name. Her nephew? But still a child with much to learn in her sun burning eyes. In these new lands, it was the first time she wasn't taking direction from her mother or father. It was different in which big decisions weren't brought and judged by the council firstly. And the first time she was now being led by someone much younger then she.

She didn't like it.

Her lip twitches as she turns and walks away wordlessly. She would go to the infirmary and look for the two mothers (who may not have come because of the pups they needed to watch over) before retrieving some scraps. She didn't figure having their newly budded alpha being pissed off at her would be a good idea either.

Xulia relaxed a little, relieved that Viorel was willing to take him in. She wasn't surprised, but the hesitance in taking their mother in before had led her to think that perhaps Vasco might be questioned. It made her feel warm to have their family all together again - a lot was different, sure, but that was okay. All she really needed was to have her family together.

The tension from Modesto would also go unnoticed. Xulia was never that good at emotions anyway.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine after some rest," Xulia responded quietly, straightening up to accommodate more of Vasco's weight. It didn't even occur to her to hesitate about helping him the rest of the way to the den - honestly, she'd be more upset if she didn't get to see him all the way to safety. Besides, it was easier to support him with Viorel's help. She wouldn't need to be looked over by the healers; it would be better for them to focus on Vasco. "It's nice to have everyone together."

His head was far to foggy to notice Modesto’s distant judgement, and so, Viorel’s commands to the dark wolfess went entirely over his head. Instead his eyes remained on the boy, drifting in and out of focus as he tried to follow his movement, head turning as the young leader came to support his shoulder. Vasco smiled weakly, nodding his head slowly in answer to his reassurance; Home…!   As Xulia answered, his head swiveled slowly to face her, grey eyes narrowing to accentuate the smile. He’d made it! He was here with his kids, and their mother and cousins and everyone else were here too; I really am home! As he took his first, shaky step into these new pack lands, propped up by his children on either side, he nodded again, humming in agreement to Xulia’s words; “Very nice.” FADE Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

(This post was last modified: Oct 26, 2021, 10:49 PM by Vasco.)