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There was something in the air, this night.


Deep emerald eyes looked out to the darkness, but saw precious little but the gathering of shadows, clustered together like villains in the creeping rays of dieing light. The young woman felt restless, as if each breeze was a passing herald of something she simply couldn't understand, each whisper of the trees a murmured secret that she wasn't allowed to hear. There was something in the air, this night, and she feared it like the sun feared the moon. There was a tedious niggling at the back of her mind, something sinister and potent with it's irritable skritch skritchings, till the silence beyond the old hotel was too loud for her to bear.


With one final glance towards the towing old building, Alaine shifted into her lupus form, and melted away into the darkness.


Her mother's mind knew of her own son's safety, and though the lingering need to be close to him, to keep him safe from whatever lurked in the atmosphere this eve was pressing intently against all her instincts, the young woman knew in her heart that it was not his life tonight, the darkness, craved. Spindly, gnarled fingers grasped at her thick cream pelt, but the lady's paws were steadfast and firm across the ground. She moves with a fleet determination, driven by something that nobody could possibly name. Months of running, of fearing, of fasting that taught her body how to be lithe and agile, how to avoid the hidden traps that lurked beneath a forest's cloak and waited for unwary beasts. The moon, a giant's round and baleful eye, watched her with eery intensity. Alaine could feel it;s gaze prickling along her spine, and the dog hastened to the ground, ran just that little bit faster.


Time was slipping away. From what? The question remained unanswered, though the statement was just as urgent. Time was slipping away; and she knew, she just knew, that whatever she was searching for had to be found before the sun was fully vanquished, before the spears of midnight could descend upon their world like brazen and evil lightning. A root grappled with her paw, and the she-dog yelped softly, but ignored the sting in her limb to continue onwards, always forward.


The smell of salt air stung her nostrils, and the beautiful woman fought through the tangle of bushes until she could hear the lapping of the ocean. Of a sudden, it's might seemed to hold the trees back, and their sticky grasp reluctantly released her onto the sandy beach.


Silence. Lap, lap, lap went the water.


Then a soft cry. Tufted harks perked, and like an avenging angel the young mother burst into action, sprinting across the dunes. Sand flew up at her ivory heels, the last golden rays of sunlight dappling across cream pelt and catching in the wild auburn fire of her curled forelock. The quadruped beauty scanned the never-ending sand and water with her sharp, clear emerald eyes, her soul singing out to hear that sound again.


There it is! Fainter now than before. And ahead, just ahead, was a strange round mound and a sodden pile of fur. her heart leaped into her throat, and just as night finally vanquished the sky, Alaine found the little pup alone on the sand.


" Hush, little one. Oh, no..."


Head raised to look anxiously back the way she'd come, the forest having swallowed whatever path the slender young feo had made almost immediately. Her healing skills warned her of the dangers of helping this young thing - she might have a contagious disease - and her common sense warned against action - she will die here, she is too weak to survive - but her mothering heart swallowed such nonsense as soon as it had come. There was no longer any hesitation in her actions; Alaine had made up her mind.


Tongue swept little face clean of sand and grit, made sure her nose was clear of obstruction. Then maw gingerly grasped a sodden ruff, the little girl's measly weight nothing to her rush of adrenaline. Cautiously, she raised the little thing in her maw; there was not point in shifting to her optime form, she would be able to travel much faster with four legs. And with nothing but a red buoy to suggest that anything had ever scarred this stretch of sand and ocean, the woman and the child disappeared back into the forest. Though her lungs screamed in protest of running, though her still-wounded paw-pads broke open and once more began to bleed, the dejavu of the scene was to much to resist.


Once again Alaine fled the darkness, her heart set on saving an innocent life.

Speak think walk!

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Her fleet paws felt they could not move fast enough. Shadows grappled with ivory heels, the moon having become an avenging evil, it's sinister intent displayed in hot white light for the whole damn world to see. Her heart raced, the pulse a humming-bird in the she-dog's throat, and ribcage shivered with exhaustion; But on and on went the cream-pelted beauty, her jade eyes fixed on a point far in the distance where trees would break away and the hotel would spear into view.


Her mind, in an effort to retain hope, lied profusely. Just around this corner! Almost there. Oh, no... Just around the next corner, then! But the corners kept coming, and the forepaw she'd sprained was beginning to throb. Though adrenaline kept the pain away, it was most uncomfortable, and slowed her nigh reckless pace.


The pup in her maw wiggled, and tried valiantly to curl in on itself. Her intelligence in healing knew that the poor thing must be freezing, but there was precious little she could do about it. The girl's life was in the balance, and only her own strength of character would get her though this alive - A weaker thing would perhaps have already been dead.


Hot breath rushed out through her maw in faltering gasps, flowing around the little fur-bundle's head. And just as she felt despair begin to set in, bones melting with exertion and eyes watering with the sting of wind and bramble and body, the great sentinel pines split apart, and the weathered form of the hotel burst into view. Hope bloomed in her chest, and Alaine picked up her heels, sprinted that last stretch like her own life depended upon it. She reached the door and was already half-shifting, body too tired to be able to accomplish such without pain. Gently placing the pup on the wooden step, the young beauty stifled a sharp yelp as she felt her bones re-align, muscles move like liquid under her skin. Finally, she scooped up the girl in her arms and held her as close as possible, two legs trembling as the cream optime staggered up the stairs to bash futilely upon the wooden door.


" Help! Somebody, we need... help out... here! PLEASE!"


Her voice, usually of musical tone and notable quality, was now strained and broken by heavy gasps. One hand scrabbled at the doorknob till it finally opened and she could stagger into the room, her precious bundle cradled close.

Speak think walk!

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She almost tripped on the way into the hall, large footpaws dragging with exhaustion across the worn planks of wood. Nobody returned her call, and for a moment, Alaine felt the overwhelming crush of despair thicken her throat. The little bundle in her arms began to murmur fitfully, her thrashing weak enough that they did not deter the young woman's determination-driven hold, but her delirious calls seemed to draw some attention.


The footfalls were heavy, but the lady drew herself up anyway, emerald eyes pleading and hollow.


The man that appeared from around the hallway seemed, initially, to be surprised. Not the kind of alarmed shock that would usually permit one to respond to her frantic calls, nor even the irritated demeanor of a fellow whom had just been awoken. Mild surprise, then a sort of resigned amusement, like the whole situation had no bearing on him. Should Alaine have been in her own comfort zones, perhaps she would have been irritated. But as it was, the exotic beauty was too alarmed to be frightened, even. With a soft moan of relief, she staggered forward, the handsome stranger's throaty rumble ignored in her hastiness for help.


" Thank you! Oh, thank the heavens... She needs help! Please, sir, the little one is running a fever..."


Unaware that her melodic voice sung strong in the relative silence, Alaine gestured elegantly and vaguely, her disheveled appearance doing nothing to detract from the young woman's vibrancy. With renewed energy (for nothing is better motivation than hope), the auburn-haired beauty swept past the black-eyed devil, curls bouncing about her flushed and worried features. She'd no worry for his rank - What high-ranking member would choose to stay in a place with herself, a felon, filth? Doubtless, he was one like herself. The beauty smelt alcohol, and the musky scent of masculinity. She would be mortified and afraid later, but for now, there was a young life to save.


" The girl, she has a fever. You have, err... Whiskey? Rum? Antisceptic. She has a few minor cuts. I will need water, and damp cloths- Hurry, sir, if you wouldst! The young miss has not much time!"


One hand lifted briefly, as if to rest on the stranger's single arm, but old habits died hard and she did not, could not, make the contact. Instead the young mother held black gaze for a moment, her own brilliant emerald desperate for some sign of help, of acceptance to her hurried words. Then, as the child began to once more thrash, the lady made a soft crooning sound deep of her throat and turned to hurry into the nearest room.

Speak think walk!