ooc:

It was nearly the afternoon when an aerial commotion made a distraction for the she-wolf in repose beneath the shadow of the mountain. The call of her vulture companion was only deafened by the dual screeches of the owls, trying to win their fair handler’s attention to deliver news of a wanderer.

It was not uncommon that they did this, reflecting her desire to keeping the pack safe by annoying when any form came to close save for prey. A fox here, a scavenging wolf there, all were greeted by the sound beacons of the aerial force before then went to receive the ground force. It was a monotonous routine that with time X’yrin had come to ignore, choose instead to acknowledge a ‘threat’ only when the birds’ advances were unyielding. And in time they did learn to settle their alarms and took to ringing them instead when spying bodies of interest. One such interest was found in a scurrying wolf that stood still just a ways from the vast fields.

It was the larger of the predator birds, the vulture that settled upon the she-wolf’s back professing in broken patterns of a creature near death, all the while with hunger in his glassy eyes. Surely this was not the case and the bird was simply hoping there was something to feast on. But the notion was disturbing enough to get the large female moving by his direction, crossing the expanse into wild territory again. Without knowing truly where to look, she sent out a call to any listening ear in an effort to bring this would-be ‘dying’ wolf out of seclusion into the light.

ooc:

A sound announcement, if ever there was one. Rather than a reciprocating call, she heard instead the frustrated grumbles and obscenities of what she assumed to be the wolf coming toward her direction. With a quick span of his wings, her companion took flight from her back ascending to a comfortable surveying height to watch what transpired below. Obviously what he hoped to make a meal of was anything but dead. If anything he was more alive as one could tell by the sounds he made, louder than a rampaging elk bull.

The Issor did not know what to make of him at first. At first glance she assumed he was like her charge, blind and in search of something. But she found it odd that an elder male would only just now be adapting to his situation…unless it was an unfortunate recent affliction. An injury.

“You can stay where you,” she called out to him. “I will come to you.” At the very least she could keep him from injuring himself further and stop the smog of profane, verbal pollution. She quickened her steady pace to a trot to close the distance between them with just a little less than a wolf’s length birth maintained out of caution. “My friend,” she spoke quietly. “Shall I help you? You…do not look well at all.”

ooc:

Caution had kept the she-wolf at the ready, hackles raised and muscled tensed should she need to spring out of the way from deception masked beneath weakness. But without just cause it felt unnecessary to maintain. While training dictated never to look only at the surface but beyond, it was nigh impossible for her to see anything other than a pained wolf. His posture alone was enough to convince her. The male was wounded, hardly able to see. And from him emanated an atrocious odor that stung her nostrils by proximity alone. To keep herself wound tense like a spring would only have caused more harm than good if she truly sought to aid him, and to her word she had every intention and doing what she could.

When he was nearer, she reared up by her hind legs, keeping herself balanced to better have a look at his predicament. Moisture clung to his eyes, tears that failed in cleaning the ailment away. When asked for water, she shook her head out of reflex forgetting for a moment that this unfortunate soul was not able to see the action. “I am afraid I don’t…at least not with me,” she sighed softly then dropped down with a sound thud to all fours.

“Though,” a subtle inflexion of her voice conveyed there was hope, “There is a lake near here that I can guide you to. If you do not mind being led.” Bravely she stepped closer with her nose still quivering inquisitively. He had said what ailed him as chili powder… and yet she had never heard of everything of the like causing someone pain. “If the stinging is severe, perhaps I could lessen it before I take you there?” It was not as abundant as water to cleanse with, but perhaps a quick wash over his eyes would be enough to help him better see.

ooc: Slight PP. Let me know if I need to change anything.

As far as she was concerned, the dilemma with the chili powder was hardly different than any other external ailment that caused pain. And thus it could be lessened by a good, thorough lick. With that in mind, she altered her form, replacing four limbs for two arms and two legs for both height and the dexterity provided by her opposable digits. She hummed thoughtfully a she rose from the ground then took the faces muzzle in a delicate grip and brought him closer.

In almost a test she swiped her tongue just above his brow to judge the intensity of the powder on her tongue. Her ears fell back and lips wrinkled with disgust. Swallowing her throat burned as their power slid down and settled uncomfortably there. Bitter tasting, but bearable for what she sought out to do. With a more determined lap this time, she proceeded to maneuver around his brow and eyes, snaking her tongue along the bridge of his muzzle and within the corners of his eyes to remove what powder had collected there. Her own tongue had gone nub from the continuous stinging, but that too was bearable until he was perhaps able to open his eyes, if only a little.

"There..." With another lick for good measure she pulled away and released his face. "Hopefully you can see a little better until we get there." She raised her hand to eye level then, testing his visual clarity while at the same time offering a tether for him to take whilst she lead him to the lake. "When you are ready..."

ooc:

Taking the lead, she made haste as best as she was able, trusting her little remedy would only work for a short while before the persistent sting came back. It had a reoccurring effect on her tongue and she could only imagine what it was doing to his eyes the longer it took them to each the lake. Taking long strides, she hurried the walk to the outer rim of the lake, making sure to guide him carefully over the shore stones as they walked across them.

Though his eyes would have trouble seeing, she imagined the smell of water would have been enough to let him know they had reached their destination. The golden fields but a figment behind them against the grand splendor of the expansive lake. Smiling, she announced, "And here we are. Our Family calls this the Adalrto'K. Truly an impressive creation of Nature."

Turning to the male, she gently placed her hand on his forearm making to guide him if necessary. "Would you like further help? Or will you be alright?" Her tone conveyed she was fine with either option, but personal understanding of males reminded her that some were keen on keeping to their pride on matters of vulnerability.

ooc: >.< so sorry about the shortness... But you could begin the quizzing if you'd like.

While formality would dictate come kind of a debt was meant for help to another, it was not something the female was keen on practicing even if for the sake of saving face. It was a genuine pleasure to help when able, and though the offer was given, she politely declined with a slow shake of her head.

"It's alright," she smiled. "Simply knowing you are no longer in pain is enough. However," though with kindness there was a catch, albeit a small one. "If you are to come near the territory again to use the lake, I would ask that you announce yourself." Turning toward the towering peak of Oromocto she extended a claw to bring emphasis to it. "There are those that live in the mountain and as this lake is our water source, some would become unnerved to find your scent so often. It is just a precaution for yourself as well as us."