| Grey Kael |
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| Watch the shadows, dodge the light, Trust your heart and not your sight. Hold your rage down, calm your fears; The end comes soon enough for tears. |
| Wolves plunged like rapids into Alae's pain-numbed mind, snarling and snapping, deafening her to the distant howl of her own wolf. Near-blinded, she barely found her own tattered, worn voice. Her sharp, unintelligible command was an anguish-seared cry. The pack, startled, went deathly silent. But moments that crept by on a panther's corrupted paws found them sweeping back in again, urgent and gray, seeking her thoughts in spite of the pain that threatened to banish them from her mind entirely, radiating like the stigmata from her injured leg as their searching grey thoughts entangled her own. I'm here, she returned sharply. The heat -- I know. The fire -- It's all right, She snarled fitfully. The wolves read the pain that roughened her mental voice with a disavowing ease. Slowly, they slunk back into her scull, weaving the grey webwork over her thoughts, dulling her mind to the pain that seared through her blood from the break in her calf.. Kael.. I need you.. The grey wolf answered like the touch of a moth's wing brushing against soft skin. It eased the pain and filled her head with soothing impressions and images of the forest: cool dirt under silent footpads, soft leaves brushing against fur. Muscles tensing and shifting as trees and downfalls shaded slitted yellow eyes from the evening sun; the tangy scent of an elk herd on shadowed grass... She felt the chill of a damp nose shove beneath her chin, and fingers gripped reflexively at the thick, warm pelt that was suddenly pressed to her. Kael was panting with a faint effort, and the huge wolf was easily as high at the shoulder as his seated bondmate. Wolfwalker.. He sent, shoving his muzzle beneath her seeking hand. Grey One, you honor me. As I should. Alae shook her head mutely, fingers curling that much tighter into the wolf's coat. Nostrils flared as she pulled his scent in, the warmth of the forest and the high fastness of the mountains evinced in the thick wintry pelt. She felt the flick of a warm tongue along the angry red line of her calf, muscles twitching in automatic response. Her teeth embedded themselves in her lower lip as the motion flexed the break, and found her pale gaze meeting gold. You are lamed. I'll be fine. We have to keep moving. You cannot run with the pack. You'll be running like a hare with three broken legs. You need to rest now and lick your wounds. Grey Kael nudged at her other leg, paws carefully raised and deposited so as not to disturb the injury any further. I will heal, She reassured him, gaze focusing upon the young male as he pivoted back toward her, as though held by some unseen leash. But I cannot stay here, Grey One. We must move on. Tomorrow.The lupine sent, and Alae shook her head. But we.. -Tomorrow.- Alae sighed irritably, resigning herself to the wait. Arguing with 140 kilograms of stubborn wolf was rarely productive, and could at times verge upon hazardous to her health.. The pack Hunts. Alae glanced toward the distant mountains, mind reaching out to the packsong, her own voice singing with them in a lyrical song of passionate exultation that rivaled all other thoughts within her head.. Wolfwalker! They howled. Run with us! Go with them, Kael. You are down lame. I will not leave the pack leader when she cannot protect herself. As the woman moved to protest, the wolf gave a lolling grin. You could depend on your own claws, but as weapons, they're weaker then wilted grass. The wolf extended a paw and bared claws thick and long as the woman's fingers. Now these -- He grinned and tilted his head up at the woman. These are weapons. As though to prove his point, ebony lips curled away from the pointed ivory shards, as though to elaborate on the inventory the massive beast had at his disposal. Hah. Alae retorted. This, she said, tapping her forehead, this is a weapon. And I still have my fangs, Grey One. Digits retrieved a pair of blades, twirling them expertly before returning them to their booted sheaths. I am not helpless. This place is as open as a glade. You are in sight of any hunter. Lean on me. We shall den you elsewhere. Damn if I don't feel like an Ancient. She retorted as she fulcrumed to a stand with the use of the tree at her side, taking a tremulous step forward and away from the support, ignoring the wolf's offer and letting her weight settle down on that leg until her face paled and she stifled the curse that leapt to her tongue. Kale nudged her with a broad shoulder so that she was forced to grab fur to keep her balance. Lean on me or I'll carry you like a disobedient pup. You're a strong mutt, Kael, but you're not strong enough for me to ride you like a packbeast. The Grey One snorted, guiding the woman deeper in the shadows of a small hollow, where she collapsed to the ground with a rueful smile as she threaded her fingers through the soft pelt beneath. What would I do without you, Kael? She asked, sighing quietly. The wolf cocked his head and licked his chops. Probably find a baby lizard to carry around with you when I'm gone, he retorted, mocking the Wolfwalker's sudden attack of sentimentality. She snorted lightly, and Kael whined suddenly, paws shifting as he turned copper hues toward the peaks, before resuming the protective regard of his Wolfwalker. Go. Run with them for me. Kael's shoulder shoved at hers, muzzle laying briefly across her neck in companionship. The warmth of his breath fell in a last whuffle of acceptance before he turned, fleet paws carrying the dark wolf into the shadows, toward where the wild pack ran. You will heal, and we will |2un together again. There was a fierceness to the Grey One's words, and she could feel the blood lust growing in the pack's tumultuous consciousness as prey was spotted in one of the valleys. Yes.. She said merely, attentions falling back to her calf with a scowl as she began the task of applying a splint. Wolfwalkers healed more quickly then normal humans due to the close bond ot the Grey Ones. She would be healed within a ninan, and then she would be unable to refuse the wolves' Call any longer... |
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| Youth male of 2 years; |2unning with Alae since puphood |
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