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 Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:27 am
 Galahad paused as he took a momentary break from walking to glance at the pup he had just saved. She still looked quite frightened and she had every right to be, that bear had none been too happy to have her wander into it. In fact she had been quite fortunate that he had been passing through when he heard the bear's angry roar. The last thing Galahad had expected to see when he raced in that direction was a golden pup about to be turned into the bears snack. It was still all a blur, he had had no time to think, only to act.
He had knocked the pup out of the way just as the bears massive claws come down. He however had no time to get out of the way and they had raked across his shoulder. Luckily the cuts weren't deep but they certainly stung. The fight had continued for several minutes after that as Galahad fought desperately to keep the pup safe. Eventually the bear gave up and turned to leave. It was in that moment that Glahad had scooped up the pup in his teeth and got the hell outta there. Of course he didn't carry her all that far, just enough to give them a good head start should the bear decide to return. He had set her down, asking her where she lived. A pack not far from here, and Galahad had no choice but to make sure she got home safely.
"I hope it is not much further." He said to the pup, his breathing a bit ragged. It had been a tough fight and he had been lucky to get away in such good shape. Good shape was a relative term of course, as his normally brown and white hide was slathered in red blood, mostly his own, but some of the bears as well.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:42 am
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She barely spoke a word after the attack, just a stiff, small bundle of yellow and blue and white that mechanically followed Galahad - even though technically it was she who was leading. Poor Arianna, she wasn't sure what to feel: relief she wasn't dead, horror that she almost had been, shame that she had brought someone harm in the process, anxiety over how Mom would react, or . . . or . . . ! Agh! Her little body couldn't house it all, so Arrii instead kept close to her savior and indicated every once in a while with a soft whimper and a bob of her head in the right direction.
Tantalus was right, she was so useless.
She should have figured it was a bear then she had been near, that there was a mother bear there that had sensed her presence and gone wild as all females did with cubs. Arii shuddered recalling what had happened only moments before, but seemed like hours of outright fear. Inches from death! Oh spirits, you're probably tired of me and Mav getting lost or in trouble . . . Sure, this was her first big offense, but it was a heavy weight on her mind. Eventually she murmured, "We're here," to the male as they crossed the border, and in mere seconds - "Arianna!" barked her mother, all but loping to them. She had caught the whiff of bear and blood and wolf all together, one she knew all too well, the other not so much. Understandably, her maternal instincts decided to join forces with the beta training in her, all but disappearing in the wave of adrenaline; it made her look unprofessional, the way she skidded to a halt and practically yanked the pup to her side, nosing her for injuries and switching between crooning and lecturing.
Oh spirits be praised, there was nothign on her. Just the scent of fear and hints of bear blood - nothing compared to the male beside her, but Merrill had trouble tearing her attentio naway from her youngest pup to investiagate this. Only reluctantly, whe nshe was sure Arianna wasn't about to drop dead right then and there, did she raise her head and stare the male down. There was the obvious question in her eyes - What the hell happened? - but now wasn't the time to prod him. "Follow me," she said, and then glanced at the pup. "Get back to our den and don't even think about moving until I return."
Aranna complied and was nothing more than a tail-tucked blur. Muttering darkly to herself, she flagged her tail and put herself on his gimp side, trying to move the weight off his injured limb as they moved.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:50 am
We're here. Those words echoed through his mind and Galahad was quite relieved the here them. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep going without a good long rest. A bark snapped him back to reality as he saw a purple wolf running up to him and promptly snatched the pup up. Her markings were a clear indication that this was the pups mother. Thankfully for his sake the pup was uninjured, and any blood she had on her was from him carrying her a distance.
The look in the mothers eyes burned of an unspoken question, however Galahad did not answer as it seemed she wish to take him further into the packs territory. Galahad was grateful for her assistance in walking, though tried his best to keep her help to a minimum. "Thank you."
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:06 am
 Merrill had made no secret of the fact that Arianna was missing, with all the pups currently running around the pack there seemed to be another pup related emergency nearly everyday. It wasn't until Merrills little one had streaked through the den site smelling of blood however that Chiv had grown seriously worried. Ensuring that Derecho was on hand to check on the pup and ensure no one else wandered off she had picked up the pups trail and gone to investigate what had happened.
Luckily the pups trail was fairly easy to follow covered as she had been in a strangers blood...and bear blood which was the more concerning bit. As she went along it soon became clear that Merrill had come this way as well and Chiv fervently hoped that her good friend had not tangled with a bear. She hated the damnable creatures it was true and Chiv wouldn't put it past her to try and drive one out.
She could soon breath a sigh of relief however as she broke through the woods and came upon Merrill and a stranger. He looked brown fading to white but it was hard to tell really with the blood covering a good portion of his pelt "What on Telk happened?!?" She exclaimed as she drew closer, a bit of concern tinging her voice.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:24 pm
"Good question," Merrill grunted, finding the male heavier than expected but not too cumbersome. A bear. High spirits above, her pup was near a damned bear! She cursed to herself the lack of attention she had been giving her pups lately, feeling so unproductive she barely kept her naps straight. The summer heat was killing her to add to her problems, and now . . . She knew this season was just a curse for her, but by the spirits! Not that bad!
The nearest den loomed, one she remembered had once belonged to the overgrown rat Edgar. Thankfully, the stench wasn't around anymore, and she led the male along. "In here," she said, helping his settle down before stepping back and nodding to Chivosi. "Came along like so with Arianna. I smelled bear blood and investigated, and . . . Well, here we are."
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:32 pm
Galahad politely nodded to the new arrival, whom by the way she carried herself he could only guess was an Alpha in the pack. He kept in silence for the walk, concentrating on getting somewhere to rest before answering them. With a bit of help from the purple female Galahad settled down in the den, sitting on his haunches he refused to lay down just yet. There were those questions that needed answering first, plus laying down would only pull at those cuts more and he was not ready for the pain that would come from that just yet.
"I was passing your border when I heard the bear." He began to recall to them the events that had lead him here in such a shape. "I went to investigate, and saw the pup there. Instinct too over from there. I can't really remember much of the fight, it was a blur." He paused to take a breath, still quite tired from the fight but certainly willing to tell them whatever they needed to know. "My only concern was keeping the pup, Arianna, safe. The bear eventually left and your daughter led me here." He looked over at the purple wolf and then back to the other.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:37 pm
Chiv nodded to Merrill but like her waited until they had heard the males story before coming up with a response. She was grateful to the stranger - more then grateful really and her expression softened as she looked at his wounds and she glanced at Merrill.
"We're grateful" She told him honestly "We have many pups in the pack right now and they can be a handful but all are precious and it would have been heartbreaking had this accident turned out differantly" She eyed him with sympathy but even his wounds could have been much much worse.. "I'm sorry you got hurt in the process...you will stay of course" She told him with a slight nod of her head "until your wound are healed and we've had time to repay you your kindness.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:49 pm
She blamed the injury for the lack of detail in his story, but still it was in Merrill's nature to remain suspicious of the apparent good samaritan. What were the chances that he would be right there to stop the impending danger? Better yet, what on earth would Arianna be doing near a bear, much less out of the pack boundaries? It was unlike her . . . Mavican she could understand. Not Arii. Probably another thing she had overlooked in her lethargy . . .
She frowned a little at these thoughts. "Thank you for saving my daughter," she added to Chivosi's grateful words. "It isn't like her to be out and about, much less by a bear den. Someone must be influencing her . . ." She would look into it later. "Si, should I fetch him something specific for those wounds for you? I'm no expert in plants, but . . ." Well, better to offer than just let him sit there in pain.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:02 pm
Galahad gave his head a bit of a shake, the bear had whacked him good and it hurt to think at the moment. "No thanks are required." He said after a pause, inhaling a deep breath. "I would hope if others were in the situation they would have done the same." But Galahad knew that not every wolf would be willing to risk their lives to save another wolf, let alone a stray pup. "I will stay." He agreed with a nod. "I should be healed in a few days and then I shall be on my way. Thank you."
He would have said more, but really what else could he say. They hadn't asked any other questions directly to him. Slowly he lowered himself into a laying position careful not to pull at the wounds on his shoulder to much. Then because his mind seemed to be clearing slowly he looked up at the two females. "It's seems in all the commotion I have forgotten some of my manners. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Galahad."
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:27 pm
Chiv nodded to Merrill at the suggestion "Perhaps some willow bark for the pain? I had Ki stockpile some the other day it should be easy to find in the storage den" She told Merrill while stepping closer to inspect the woulds closer. She did so in a manner which suggested she was used to taking such liberties with others and really weren't all alphas? "We shall have to clean the cuts of course but he can rest for a while first" She declared - thankfully they didn't look to terrible and would likely heal with little or no scarring as long as infection was kept at bay.
"I am Chivosi, Alpha of the YMCA pack and this is Merrill my beta" She introduced them both "It is good to meet you though I wish perhaps it had been in better circumstances then an injury"
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:29 am
Galahad, hmm? Knightly, she thought, rather appropriate. Nodding to Chivosi, Merrill turned and left the den in search of that willow bark at a brisk pace. Ki-Adi was a rather shy member and not often seen about, but in the least she helped when asked.
Only when her mother was gone did Arianna poke her little head into the den, ears pinned back when she saw the severity of Galahd's wounds. She knew what Mama had said, but she didn't want to just leave him there after saving her. But the pup was squeamish around blood, and she fought the gagging reflex upon smelling it; it had been easier to ignore when in the state of shock she had been in when first returning to YMCA, but now it was overwhelming and sickening. "U-Um . . . M-Miss Chivosi? Can I c-come in?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:37 am
Allowing the Alpha to inspect his wounds, Galahad made no attempt to stop her or insist that he was fine. He knew he was hurt and could use any help they could offer. Willow bark huh? Galahad didn't know much about the healing properties of most plants but something in his gut told him to trust the decisions of Chivosi. "Chivosi, Merrill." He repeated the names to commit them to his memory. "However, the circumstances of our meeting could have been much worse had I not came along when I did." He watched as the Beta left in search of the willow bark and then caught movement near the mouth of the den.
When she saw it was the pup he had saved, Arianna, he smiled a bit. He was glad to see her looking a bit better than right after the attack, at least she didn't look to be in shock anymore or crippled with fear. As much as he would have liked to invite her into the den it was really up to Chivosi as to whether or not to let the pup enter. Instead he just said there, trying to relax. His eyes moved to Chivosi for a moment then back to the pup.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:11 pm
Chiv was pre-planning the trip that would be needed to clean out the wounds - obviously the river would be the best way to do it - but it would be painful, which yet another reason to wait until he'd had some of the willow bark. They had to be cleaned infection was a far more worrisome result then a bit of discomfort.
And she would need to send someone - Derecho and a few others to make sure the bear was well on her way to gone. Chivosi didn't mind sharing her lands with other animals but those who attacked wolves would of course be driven off. "So very true' She told the male with a warm look, now that she was closer she could indeed see he was a brown wolf - many different shades of brown that seemed to filter and fade away to a pale tawny color that wasn't to far off from her own pale lower body. And despite his wounds he seemed good natured and they certainly owed him a great deal for saving Ari.
Speaking of Ari - it seemed the pup had gotten over her initial terror and returned, Chiv glanced to Galahad as though checking to see if he was up to a small visitor but the wolf was smiling so she assumed he wouldn't be put out by the skittish pup. "Yes of Course Ari, you ought to thank Mr. Galahad for coming to your rescue"
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:55 pm
More like sit at his feet like a perfect lapdog and do whatever he said! Still with her ears tilted back, she couldn't help but only inch her way forward, hesitant to have to keep breathing in the scent of blood and guilty that she wouldn't approach her savior because of it. After all, it could have been her blood . . . Aaah, but the pup couldn't even return Galahad's smile, just horrified at how weak he looked. "I'm sorry!" she blurted out, beginning to tear up as her voice hitched up in pitch. "I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry! It was, i-it was Tantalus, he said I was a pans-sy and that he didn't th-think I could be a beta's kid, a-and he thought I couldn't even hunt and-" The rest fell into wails.
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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 7:58 pm
Galahad's smile faded just a bit as Arii began her sobbing story, that honestly wasn't that long. It pulled at his heartstrings that the pup had been placed in such dangers because of what had been said to him. He had to assume that this Tantalus that she spoke of was a fellow pup, for if an adult had said those things he would not be able to hold his tongue should he ever meat him. "Now, now, don't you worry little one. It's not your fault." He shifted to make himself a bit more comfortable. "This is not your fault, I am just glad that you are safe."
Eyes ticked to Chiv for a moment and then back to the pup. "Now, I don't know Tantalus, but I think it wasn't nice of him to tell you those things." He would have moved closer to the pup, to try to soothe her, but he was a bit sore and knew he looked much worse than he actually was.
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