The few steps from the mouth of the pack den to the back of it were excruciating. Every jostle of her body caused her cracked and splintered ribs to rub against each other and tear into the flesh surrounding them. An audible crunch could be heard each time Ciara tried to breathe too deeply, making an answering whimper leave her throat. Her side was torn, the flesh a visible hole surrounding the claw marks, and as she walked her blood was littering the floor of the den.
The newly appointed Epsilon tried her best to keep her whimpers at bay, and to keep her head held high. They had killed the cougar – she and Augustus – and had ensured their pack’s safety. The beast would never be able to harm another, not even that stupid coyote which Deuce was healing presently. She snarled a little, wincing afterwards, as she thought of Deuce’s healing powers being wasted on the ruddy looking coyote. The anger flaring inside her was not necessarily Terra’s fault, but for now Ciara blamed her injuries on the other, feeling that it was Terra who brought the cougar to the den and into their lives.
It hadn’t been all bad, obviously. Zalen had seen fit to promote Ciara, and now she was on par with Augustus. That knowledge alone made her feel better. While some secret, innate part of her liked when she had to submit to him, she felt that being able to look into his eyes was a much better prospect. She could speak more freely to him now, and perhaps someday tell him of her feelings for him. She didn’t know if he’d accept them, or her. What if Deuce couldn’t heal her and Ciara was crippled forever? Surely Augustus would want a strong, undamaged mate.
With a growl she pushed those thoughts out of her mind and moved to what she could tell was Deuce’s spot in the den. The smell of the healer was everywhere, and as Ciara dropped down carefully, she anticipated meeting the pale woman. She’d only seen her the one time, in the clearing when the Delta was charged with taking care of Terra, and it would be interesting to meet her alone. It’s a shame that they couldn’t be meeting under happier circumstances.
Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this! Thought Ciara would need some mothering. I hope what I have put is OK, it might be a little PP-ish, if so let me know and I'm happy to change it
The sable female had been wandering the lands as she often did, long sable legs taking her around the borders swiftly, her long curled mane blowing in the cool breeze; it had been a peaceful day for the Beta wolf, the only real thing of note had been shooing a young wolf from the borders, it had turned out they had been lost so the ebony pelted wolf had given them directions and they had gone on their way without incident. Little did the green eyed lady know that the day had been a lot more traumatic for some of the other members of the pack. She smiled as she walked back towards the communal den that the pack shared, she was hoping that her mate, Deuce would be around so that she could tell her all that had happened during the day; perhaps she could go and hunt them some rabbits and they could share a meal and perhaps a little quality time together, cuddling close and perhaps watching the sun set. The pair had not spent all that much time together in the recent weeks and the ebony female missed her lover dearly, she wanted to cling to her, to snuggle against that alabaster fur and breathe her scent in. Just for the pair of them to be alone for a little while would be lovely, with their respective duties they had been exceptionally busy, not that either of them minded that; Soran especially loved being a member of the pack, loved feeling useful and needed, she loved being the Beta wolf, feeling that she was needed, being respected. The dark female was happy to perform duties that needed doing, she enjoyed looking after the pack and mothering them, she was the eternal mother and grandmother and for some reason she could not help but see most of the pack as young wolves that needed motherly care; her motherly care to be specific. The sable female brushed a hand through her long mane, catching the peacock feathers that adorned it, making them ruffle.
Unfortunately the sable female's good mood was about to be ruined, as she approached the mouth of the den she caught the scent of blood. The dark female's nostrils flared and her ears flattened against her skull with worry, what had happened? Who was injured? Panic rose in the ebony female's chest, her eyes scanned the ground, a small trail of blood meandered into the den. The dark female's heart began to pound with worry, she licked her lips nervously and entered the den. Her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light very quickly and she began to follow the trail of blood, it just so happened to go towards her sleeping place. Luckily for the sable female the blood was not Deuce's, she could tell by the scent, but still she was worried. She began to pad more quickly and soon enough she caught the familiar shape of Ciara, she was injured; the panic increased in Soran and she rushed to the younger girl's side. Ciara, oh no what happened? Soran asked as she fell to her knees beside the girl, placing a gentle hand on the Epsilon's cheek as she did so, stroking it gently, her eyes filled with concern. I'll get Deuce, she'll know what to do, she's a much better healer than I am. Deuce! Deuce! The female spoke gently, rubbing the girl's cheek once again, the name she shouted, calling it around the den, hoping that the pale female would realise the urgency of the situation. She moved quickly and pulled a rabbit fur from one of the stone almost-shelves that lined her and Deuce's sleeping space, pulling a piece of rabbit fur from it and beginning to dab at one of the girl's cuts, hoping to slow the bleeding.
She had finished checking on the coyote when she heard her mate's voice. She lifted herself to her feet, a hand on her aching back. Her back was often sore lately, from the standing and kneeling she did to tend the minor wounds of others, and the larger more complicated wounds of Terra. She yawned lightly, then hurried over to where her mate was pressing a rabbit skin to Ciara's fresh wounds. Concern clouded the face of the matriarch, and she knelt, her mismatched eyes taking in the state of the female. Ciara and Augustus had gone after the feline who had injured Terra. One look at the jagged gashed, and it was confirmed for the elder woman that this was the source of the female's wounds.
Her voice was steady and soft as she spoke. "Can ye tell me the extent of your wounds, Ciara, or do I need to examine you quickly?" Deft fingers were already pulling a bitter smelling salve out of a niche in the rock and pressing it to wounds. Astringent herbs would cease the bleeding and prevent an infection, which had the possibility of being fatal unless carefully treated. She glanced quickly at her mate, offering her a quick but tense smile, then returned her attention to Ciara's wounds. She grabbed some clean linen and handed it to Soran, guiding her hand to the deeper bloody wound she needed to press it against.
"I'm not sure yet, but I may need to do some stitches on the claw marks. It will hurt, though I will do my best to prevent too much pain."
Augustus’s brows were furrowed with concern as he helped Ciara into the den. His eyes darted about, searching for the alabaster from of the Delta. He was in a near panic, his worry poisoning his every movement. Terra’s stench filled the cavern, and his heart began to leap in his chest. His muzzle wrinkled with the smell. Surely Deuce would come for Ciara? Instead it was the sable beta, Soran who did so. His eyes, though they could not meet the woman’s, searched her face in a near fit of angered panic. “Where is Deuce!?” He half-roared, before his yellow, green-flecked pools darted about the den’s expanse again. His attention was torn back as he watched Soran comfort and ease Ciara. He did not think Soran would cause her harm, but he was wary, watching her every move. Could they not see that Ciara was in agony? “The cougar.” He growled in explanation, cutting in, for fear of Ciara’s injuries. Now was not the time for conversation. “It slammed her into a rock…I think I heard bones breaking.” He said in a rush, remembering that moment, seeing her tossed into the air like a rag doll. He had only been able to look out of the corner of his eyes, but it was enough. The sound itself had filled in the rest. It was treacherous country living so close to the mountains, and the landscape was often littered with boulders. One such one had caused the more grievous of wounds.
He was relieved when Soran finally called for Deuce herself. Surely the call of her mate would be more effective than one of his own, especially when his would be colored by manic anger and panic. His heart skipped a beat when finally the elder white female emerged. “Help her!” He pleaded, his voice husky with urgency and misuse. His snout wrinkled at the salve, and her bi-pedal form. It made him uneasy, but he did not question the woman. He watched her every move intently, however, his pelt bristled and body tense. His eyes darted from Ciara’s face to Deuce, eager to step in wherever he might be needed, a strong shoulder perhaps, a paw to bite down on? He would offer up anything to see her healed, beginning to feel guilty for her injuries. He should have tried harder to get the cat’s attention. Why did it go only for Ciara and leave him? He should have ripped the beast apart, and though it lay dead now he wanted to punish it more for what it had done, wanted to render it unrecognizable, but it would not help. The feeling would remain to plague him until Ciara was well again.
She’d been doing her best to remain strong, but now that they were home and safe, she felt emotionally comfortable enough to show her agony. A stream of whimpers left her throat as she leaned heavily on the male, before finally dropping onto the ground. Within moments, Soran had found her, and she looked on her budding mother-figure with pained eyes. When the sable Beta asked what had happened, Ciara could not find the strength to speak and was grateful when Augustus explained. She heard the anxiety in the tones of his voice and whimpered, not liking to see him so upset.
Pain coursed through her when Soran pressed the hide to her wound and she snapped her jaws, growling. It was not an aggressive sound towards Soran, but an instinctual one. Injured wolves hated to be touched, much less surrounded, and Ciara was more in touch with her wild ancestors than some of the other Luperci in the pack. As Soran’s paw stroked over her cheek, Ciara felt a shiver run through her body. It was the last of her strength leaving her. From this point on, she would lay pliant as her superiors and elders tried to help her. Soon Soran was calling for Deuce, and the new Epsilon could barely distinguish the pale Delta’s form through the haze in her mind.
Deuce’s words were almost lost on her, though she did manage to detect the tone of question in the healer’s voice. “Ribs…”she managed breathlessly, hoping that the healer would take care of the injuries she could see herself. “Broken.” With that pained explanation, Ciara dropped her head to the earth of the den again. All she could concentrate on now was the panicked sound of Augustus’ voice, and the guilt that even she was able to detect there. With a whimper, she took her paw and tried to lift it toward him, wanting to give him comfort even when she was barely conscious from the pain.
Soran is sad because Ciara is hurt... and Maddi is also sad because Ciara is hurt...
The sable female could not help her panic, the mottled girl that rested beneath her hands was like a daughter to her, it was not very long ago that the sable Beta had offered her a family in the form of the pack and herself, already she could feel her own need to mother others coming over her, especially for Ciara. Augustus snapped at her, had it been a different situation the ebony female would have responded to this with a fierce clout around the ears, such insubordination needed to be met with such force, but now was not the time; the sable female could see that he was worried for his fellow Epsilon and so was she, the Beta would allow it for now, she could understand the irrational behaviour that panic caused. And a loved one, a member of the pack that was deeply cared for, family even being injured, that was enough to make anyone panic and worry. Instead of chastising him she simply gave him a fierce stare, indicating that she would tolerate his rudeness for now as it was easily explainable, but any further rudeness, in another time of course, would be met by punishment. But at this moment in time the dark female was just as concerned as Augustus was, this girl was family to her and she could not see her suffer in this way. The male explained what had happened in Ciara's place, Soran was glad of this in a way, the young girl needed to conserve her strength, no doubt her treatment would be a painful one, especially from looking at the deep gashes in her side. But the male's words panicked her even further, she had been thrown against a rock? That was just how Soran's father had died, he had broken ribs that had punctured his lungs, it had taken only moments for him to die, the sable female began to dab at the wounds with a renewed vigour. "Don't worry Ciara, Deuce will know just what to do, you as well Augustus, my mate has an exceptional talent for healing," Soran spoke as the young girl snapped at her, she knew that it was merely a reaction to the pain and not to herself and so she made soothing noises as she dabbed at the young girl's wounds.
The immediate panic was relieved by the sight and scent of her mate, Deuce was nearby and she would surely know how to fix Ciara. Soon enough the pale beauty was next to them, she gave Soran a weak smile, which the Beta returned with a weak smile of her own and a gentle lick to the alabaster female's maw, a show of love and affection and also gratitude for her lover, the healer, for arriving so quickly. The pale female began to speak and the sable female listened to every word, noting the pained tones of Augustus as he pleaded with Deuce to help the mottled girl. "Don't worry Augustus, Deuce is the best healer I have ever known." The Beta replied, smiling at her mate slightly as she listened to the diagnosis. The dark female allowed her hands to be guided by her pale counterpart to the correct place, holding the strip of cloth in place to stem the bleeding from the wound. As Deuce mentioned stitching wounds though the sable female rose slightly into a crouch, tugging her canvas satchel (a very seldom used item for her now) down from one of the stone shelves. The bag opened as it fell, spilling sewing cotton and needles into their bed. "I can stitch a wound Deuce, just tell me where to start." Soran offered, reaching for the cotton and needles with one hand, the other still pressed to Ciara's wounds. It was true that the sable female could stitch a wound, she had had to with her own ear once, when it had been hanging by a thread, she could help Ciara here, she was sure. She looked at her pale mate for guidance, just waiting for an instruction.
She was relieved as her mate pulled down her satchel, revealing proper needles and thread. She let out a soft breath as she returned her focus to Ciara. Deuce glanced at Augustus, wanting to bristle anxiously at his urgent tone, but knowing there wasn't quite time for that. Instead she opened her own satchel, removing a small vial of poppy seeds. She studied it for a moment, feeling a touch of anxiety. She would need to go trade for more sooner or later. She separated out a small amount after wiping her fingers on her leg fur. She lowered her hand to Ciara's maw. "Eat these, Ciara... they will ease the pain for what we need to do."
She returned her gaze to Soran, then gestured. "Start there, with the deepest wound. Better yet, love, I'll stitch it if you can keep the blood from pooling." She pressed more clean linen to another wound, murmuring softly to herself. If anyone was listening, it was a litany of herbs and their uses. She wondered for a moment if Tal might have some poppy seeds she could trade him for. She could use them, her supply was getting low.
The large male was temporarily cowed as his sharp words were met by the Beta’s unyielding stare and he looked downwards, ashamed to have shown such a weakness, and in front of the Beta herself. He growled at himself to be so out of control. It was not like him, not now, not here. His joining New Dawn had seemed a fresh start for him, the chance to be a better wolf, but recent events began to wear on his usual stoic demeanor, revealing the flaws beneath, the cracks in his façade. If he was not careful he was like to undo all that he had accomplished. He forced himself to forget Terra in order to regain his composure, and when Soran offered up her consoling words he nodded silently. Strange objects came spilling from a satchel that Soran tugged from a crude shelf and Augustus showed teeth momentarily to see the sharp tip of a needle. His anxiety was relieved to an extent when he saw Deuce approach. The pale Delta set to work almost immediately, and he was relieved to see it. Soran’s hand reached for the needles from before and Augustus whined. He did not know what use they were going to be, and he did not like seeing such objects drawn towards Ciara. He was about to object when a feeble movement caught his eye. It was Ciara’s paw reaching out to him.
His brows knitted in deep concern and he whined, offering it a lick before it dropped to the den floor. His ears twitched to Soran’s soothing words, but he was not quite so certain. His eyes flitted over Ciara’s form, so feeble. The fact that she had held the pain back the entire journey made his heart sink. She did not want him to see her this way, so she’d used up all her strength to maintain the façade. It was heart-breaking, and the usually unaffected male was touched by her bravery. She had a fire inside her, and he revered her now with the utmost respect. She had earned her title today.
The blood-stained male began to withdraw as the women worked their strange craft. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” He offered. His voice had grown very quiet, and he slunk into the shadows, though his yellow eyes were ever watchful.
OOC: Sorry for the wait! Been on a hiatus because of my thesis, but it's all over! WC: +3
The pain was excruciating as Soran and Deuce worked on her wounds. Every fibre of her being was alive with the pain until her vision was even more foggy. Even still, she tried to keep her whimpers at bay for the sake of Augustus. If it had just been the females with her she might have been more likely to show the pain, but in front of the man she longed for as a mate, she just couldn’t. If he saw her as weak, then he’d never accept the affection she was planning to tell him about. The close brush with death had quickly made her mind up about telling him. How could she possibly allow the silence to continue between them, knowing now for certain how she felt? He had fought valiantly with her, for her and for the pack. He would be strong for her, would protect and provide for her…but she couldn’t tell if he loved her.
Thinking of Augustus served to take her mind off the pain as Deuce worked to heal and sew the wounds. Eventually, bit by bit, the herbs that the healer used began to work their magic. Slowly the pain started to drift away until Ciara’s earthen eyes regained some of their previous shine. She was able to clearly hear Augustus’ whimper, and it both thrilled her and made her heart ache at the same time. He cared for her, but at the same time he was hurting because she was. It was both sweet, and heart-breaking, and it made her whimper in return. Slowly she lifted her head, waiting for an onslaught of worried voices to tell her to rest. She just wanted to get a look at him. She also wanted to thank the Beta and her mate, but she doubted her voice would work.
she's quiet when she's down strangers from other towns
nowhere to be found on this side of the scene
Sorry for the wait on this guys!
The green eyed female could not help but let out a small whine as she looked at the mottled form beneath her hands, the poor girl seemed so small and fragile in this moment, she had been injured quite badly indeed. The dark Beta wolf could not help but worry for her, they had only spoken a handful of times but she saw the young female as a daughter; seeing her in pain was intensely upsetting to Soran herself. The green eyed female watched as her beloved mate pulled the vial of poppy seeds from their hiding place and gave some to Ciara. Soran knew more than well what effect the poppy seeds would have, the humans had changed them into morphine when they had been alive, she had read about it in several medical books, it was something that relieved pain; she was sure that the young mottled female would need that with what was to come. She also knew that it could be made into heroin, something that she had used in the past in her darkest hours, again she knew that also numbed the pain, but it came at a terrible price. The dark female watched as the young female reached out for the male that was sat near to them, a weak smile crossed her sable lips as she watched this small moment, it seemed that the young girl had found herself someone to care for, someone that cared for her as well. A velvety ear swiveled to catch her mate's words, saying that she would sew if Soran herself could aid her by stemming the bleeding. The dark female reached for another piece of clean linen, tearing it in half neatly with her sharp claws as she did so. She took a piece in each hand and pressed them against the wounds that were bleeding the most prolifically, applying a firm pressure to encourage the blood flow to slow and the platelets to clot. As she did so she made gentle soothing noises, trying to calm the young girl that was so clearly in pain.
The lady could not help but feel helpless, concerned by Ciara's injuries, she knew that she would not die, she had every faith in her pale mate, Deuce would heal her; but still seeing her in pain was enough to make the sable female whine in sympathy for the girl. The tall female pressed a little harder against the wounds, watching the white cloth turn a vivid red as the blood slowly seeped into the weave of the linen, the dark female looked at her pale mate, pleading with her with large green eyes. Another weak smile crossed her lips as she watched her mate work quickly, helping the girl that was so very close to Soran herself.
