Riddle Heights Towels round our blisters and bones

Can't see... help Hodr?"

That certainly cleared up things a lot more now. If Hodr couldn't see, yet the weather wasn't that bad yet, it must have meant he had a vision problem. Oh no! Piety's heart sunk as she realized that Hodr was blind. A lump was swallowed down her throat. This would make things much much more difficult than she would want this to be. Alas Piety was to kind to turn away Hodr even if he was gonna have difficulties.

Watching his head swing in her direction was one step. Moving forward she went to go stand by his side. "Don't be scared Hodr. Follow next to me." She let herself lean into him slightly as if she was a railing of sorts. Things would be much easier if she could just simply guide him down the safest route on the mountain's side. Taking a few steps forward she would wait for Hodr's weak and frail form to follower against her own. He was so small and weak. When and if they made it down the side of the mountain Piety was going to be sure to help nourish the male back to a healthier state. He needed someone to care for him and the Santoro woman would be the one to do that. Besides, if no one else would do it she would have to. "You'll be just fine, Hodr. I'll make sure of it." It was a small whisper just for his ears to hear. She was gonna be his light, his pillar, his everything. All she wanted to do was help him. Was that too much to ask for?

# C W T

@Piety how 'bouts an avalanche?

---

He was a newborn fawn, toddling in the snow on legs that seemed likely to give at any moment. Piety urged him forward with gentle presence and voice. He could feel the warmth of her body against the side of his downcast muzzle and had to wonder at their differences. Had he ever been that warm? It seemed impossible and amazing and terrifying all at once. How could he be so cold and still be alive?

Hodr took a faltering step forward. He towered over Piety and stumbled after her with all the vulnerability of a fawn after it's mother. They moved into the growing storm together.

Distance wasn't anything Hodr could ever measure and extreme weakness had swept all perception of time away. Their progress was marked by his ragged breaths and the number of instances he faltered. Certainly he would have stopped all those times... let his legs crumble under him without a care. He was so tired and cold beyond knowing. If not for the angel at his side the journey would have been abandoned. He was slipping into delirium. Her simple words were blurring and running together but, try as he might, he couldn't pick the meaning out anymore. But, she cared for him and Hodr followed that little slip of hope down the slope of the mountain.

Over the groan of the storm and gasp of his breath a new sound emerged, the creak and squeal of snow. It may have been the careless placement of his feet, an early thaw in the mountains or simply fate, but as they moved down and farther the mountain came alive. A large sheet of snow, several feet's worth accumulated over a cold winter, began to slide. It rumbled under their feet and around them, loud enough that enough Hodr took notice. His head rose, alert enough to sense impending doom, but too weak to do anything beyond wait for it and be swept along.

(This post was last modified: Mar 15, 2015, 03:03 AM by Hodr.)

They were making progress. Every now and then her voice would ring out with terms of endearment and encouragement. Of course the rumbling beneath their paws caused her to tense. An avalanche! "Hodr, dear. I'm gonna stand behind you." Moving behind him she licked above his tail to let him know where she was standing. They needed to pick up their pace if they wanted to make it alive. The trip was still a far distance to safety but if the Lord would be kind enough to keep off the outrageous disaster from happening.

Nipping softly at the base of his tail she growled softly. "Just keep going," Her voice was a soft tone making sure to keep as calm as possible. The snow coated woman wanted them to both to make it out alive even if Hodr's condition happened to be very very very poor.

Many prayers raced through her mind as they progressed. The rumbling got louder and heavier. There had to be feet upon feet of snow coming down the mountain. Why did this have to happen now? Was this going to be an early spring? Or was there to much movement happening upon the mountain's snowy peaks? Whatever it was had her mostly concerned. Shuffling along behind Hodr she hoped they had enough spare time. Of course they would. The Santoro woman just had to keep her mind positive and everything would be just fine. Positive vibes, positive vibes. It was all she would need. Everything was going to be just fine.

# C W T

@Piety
------
With a final, deafening CRACK everything came loose. The sharp noise echoed over the mountain and high above their heads a billowing of white appeared. The groan of the storm was lost behind the sound of several hundreds pounds of snow and ice hurtling down a mountain, following a thin ravine carved by years of this very event. The soft rumbling was now a violent earthquake under their feet.

Hodr heard all this, could feel it coming for them under his toes, and stumbled in his path. They had been winding down through that narrow ravine and even a blind wolf could sense the danger that raced down the slope. Keep going, Piety urged. I'll be behind you, she reassured. And, so he did. He shifted to take a hesitant step forward. His brown fore-paw lurched forward seek purchase in a landscape that suddenly didn't exist. The avalanche had caught up to them.

It hit his back like a train and he let out a yelp that never made it over the roar. He was lifted, feeling his body contorted and pulled as the snow dragged him along. It was a force of nature, millions of times faster and stronger than any wolf could hope to be. It didn't care about the wolves in it's midst. Snow smashed against his body and ice scraped along his side. It was like being caught in an ocean surge; floundering did nothing but cause more injury.

Finally it settled. Hodr lay quiet, not sure if he was above or below surface (and not caring), dazed and slipping on the narrow edge of consciousness. His limbs were twisted awkwardly, the feeling battered from them. His breath rattled thin in his chest, heart pumping blood that never reached it's destination. The injury was hidden beneath a purpling bruise; a chunk of ice had struck with enough force to damage something inside. He breathed a soft, bloody whine.

I don't expect him to regain consciousness, prolly only one more post from him... now I have to go do something happy *sniffles*

CRACK

That was it. The last thing she would hear before being washed away by the avalanche. While the force was powerful enough to sweep her off her paws and bruise the woman's skinny body it wasn't enough to seriously injure her. Hodr on the other hand...well Piety feared the worst for him. The thought of his cold lifeless body hidden underneath the snow was enough to make her break through the mess of an avalanche. A bit of a yelp came out from her with the uttermost concern when she swore her ears picked up on the softest of whines.

Ears pinned back the Santoro woman found herself digging furiously everywhere. Oh how she hoped Hodr could diddle death like she had. Maybe there was still hope for her new sickly friend. "HODR!! Where are you?!" Her voice came out as a rattled howl. She had to find him. He couldn't end like this. He shouldn't have to come to an end like this.

All of her digging had worn off when she found his body. Hodr's condition gave away more than she wanted to know or see. Whining she licked his crown before nuzzling his cheek with her nose. "Hodr...I'm sorry I couldn't save you..I-I couldn't help you enough." Who knew how long the Santoro would sit here? Mourning over some wolf she just met. It probably made her seem stupid or weak but honestly, Piety didn't care what any wolf thought. For hours she would remain here. Waiting until she felt content, if she ever would.

# C W T

His body laid quiet and still, it's pulse being lost under the storm. There was no question that the boy had tried. He had lived much longer than his criticizing aunts had ever predicted. Strong-willed, he had thrived despite the lack of sight and grown into a son his pack held dear. The disability hadn't mattered; they'd been a family. Drifting thoughts paused over that word, remembering something at the last minute. A paw twitched. 'Searching', his scattered thoughts whispered then screamed at him. There was something left, he could not be finished yet. A breath was drawn slow into his lungs and then idled. Hodr longed to rise and continue the search, but he could feel the deal closing. Something heavy settled into his chest, a cold sinking into veins, and then nothing. He wasn't done yet! Trapped inside the failing body, Hodr's soul flailed hard and broke free.

His spirit rose on sturdy legs and turned robust torso to the mess down below. The broken body was far different than what Hodr peered through. He was whole now; clear-eyed, strong, and fit. It wasn't the body he studied, but Piety. Richly yellow eyes studied her for a long time, revealing in that simple ability and puzzling over something: She was still there. There was no breath to release, but suddenly his body eased. He didn't have to search. Family was a friend in need, someone willing to risk their life, and stay when it doesn't go to plan. And he had that, but he couldn't stay and couldn't make Piety stay. The realization loosened his last tie and his body eased one more time, the tiny pieces pulling apart to whisk harmless into the storm and skitter along the unending land of Relic Lore.

(This post was last modified: Apr 11, 2015, 05:32 AM by Hodr.)