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Purple and brown fur shuddered in the fading light of evening, quills drooping limply along the female Kylandrei's slender neck. Her head was bowed, usually vibrant green eyes dull and half-closed, ears flopped down and horn lowered. Aaliyah whimpered, her muzzle wet with shed tears, and shuddered again. Her right hind leg was trapped in the sharp teeth of a metal trap that she hadn't seen while walking towards the river for a drink, and now she was trapped...the young female gave a soft cry as a jolt of pain went through her weary body, then slowly lowered herself to the ground, her head resting on her front paws.

She had been struggling all day, calling for help, but none could hear her...she had just grown enough to leave her parent's territory, and now she wished she hadn't. Her throat was parched and her body tired. Her back leg was caked with dried blood, the trap refusing to budge even a little, and damaging her leg even more when she had had a panic attack earlier. Why couldn't someone come save her? Was she...was she just going to die here, all alone? The usually cheerful Kylan gave a frightened whimpering croon at that thought.

Aaliyah's eyes had just drifted shut and her breathing was shallow. Perhaps she should try to rest? Maybe sunrise would bring someone to her aide. She flicked and ear at the sound of footsteps, but told her weary mind it was just her imagination. She shifted to become more comfortable, but yelped at the movement, head lifting and swinging around to look at her trapped foot, growling at it slightly in frustration. Then her green eyes blinked and slowly turned towards the surprised Kylan that she had glimsed, "Oh..." Her voice was soft and cracked, "Oh thank the stars...please, please help me, I'm...oh it hurts. Help me get free, please." She begged, ears slightly forward in her relief to have someone stumble apon her. Maybe she wouldn't die after all...tears stung her eyes as the hope and relief swelled in her chest.

The young female winced as he shifted the trap, holding in the whimper. "I-I don't know..." Her voice showed the pain she was in as she gave another shudder, "Ahg...oh..it-it's moving..." She cried, holding very still as the teeth began pulling out of her leg, 'K-keep...going." She said, fur on end.

Aaliyah cried out in shock and tumbled forward, breathing hard as she quickly got up and limped away from the evil trap, slumping down a few feet away onto her side. Her form was trembling and she looked down at her torn paw, whimpering and lifting it up to lightly lick it. It was still attached, and wasn't bleeding very badly, and moving it didn't hurt extremely badly so perhaps it wasn't broken?

She lifted her emerald gaze to the dark Kylan, swallowing thickly and giving the softest of smiles of gratitude. "Thank you...I-I was so afraid that I was going to die here." Her head drooped wearily, "My name is Aaliyah, daughter of Adelaide and Saber...and whom, may I ask, is my savior?"

She smiled weakly, "Well you saved me, which makes you my savior." She slowly rose to three paws, the fourth she held up off of the ground. "Oh, I shouldn't have left home..." She muttered. Aaliyah had been searching for somewhere she could make her new home, to claim her own territory, but hadn't gotten very far... "Um...Kiryl, would...would you mind helping me to the river? I desperately need water." She said shyly, glancing at him after limping around to face him. Her quills lifted slightly. She didn't want to be alone...at least, not right now...

Aaliyah felt a bit uncomfortable, perhaps she was asking too much of this stranger? He didn't seem like he wanted the company, however she did. She wasn't used to being alone, and didn't like it much. She smiled gratefully, "That you so much, Kiryl." She sighed in relief, turning around carefully. She began walking slowly, tipping over once against the other Kylan until she got the hang of limping along on three legs, the fourth burning terribly. She didn't say much as she limped along, her ears perking up at the sound of running water. She picked up the pace a bit until she saw the sun glistening off of the creek and her muzzle broke into an elated smile. She hobbled down to the water and dipped her muzzle into it, drinking deeply and gratefully, her tail swaying slightly behind her as the light danced along her fur, illuminating the purple stained with soft browns.

After a long moment, Aaliyah raised her head with a sigh, "Ohh, so wonderful." She stepped into the water and carefully turned, lowering her hurt leg daintily into the cool waters to help with the burn. "I owe you so much for all your help, Kiryl."

Aaliyah sighed, the water felt so nice on her injured leg. "Well...thank you again." She said, pausing for a moment before asking, "Kiryl, I don't want to seem rude, but are you ill?" She tilted her ears back and lowered her head almost bashfully. He didn't seem sick to her, and smelled normal, but now that she could focus more, she realized that he seemed to be almost out of breath when he spoke. Aaliyah hoped he wasn't ill, because she could have endangered his health by asking him to come with her, when she could have come to the stream herself. "I'm sorry I asked you to come, I don't want you getting more sick because of me." She wondered if she could do something to help him, she was always taught that one good deed deserves another.

Aaliyah seemed relieved at hearing this, then smiled shyly when he said he would have helped anyway. "You're a good Kylan, Kiryl." She said, slowly limping her way up onto the bank, water dripping from her legs and underbelly. She sighed and plopped down onto her side, only feet from him, careful not to jar her paw. "I...really wish there was something I could do to return the favor. I'll feel bad if you helped me and I didn't do something to repay you. Even something small." She curled her tail, the tip dripping wet, around her rump and rested a bit, weary from her struggle against the strange metal teeth.