Name: Kancane // Slow
Personality: Slow to anger, even slower to judge, Kancane has always just been 'slow' in general. Contemplative, and cautious, he thinks thoroughly before he acts; there is only one situation in which he acts quickly - when people are injured. He grew up experimenting with herbs, learning on himself which herbs were safe to eat, and definitely not safe to eat (there was a few psychotropic trips in the early days).
Answer to prompt:
The tiny flowered plant was hanging precariously above his face, just out of reach even when he stood on his back paws. Frustrating, but not worth getting upset about. He sunk back down into a sit, staring in idle contemplation, tail flicking gently behind him. He sat in complete silence for a few minutes, trying to decipher a way to grab the flower hanging so temptingly before him, but so far out of his reach.
The silence was broken with the sound of a distress trumpeting. Ears flicking in curiosity, Kane tilted his head towards the noise. Ah! He recognised that call, it was universal to all species. That was the 'Help!' noise. He glanced towards the flower, making a note to return to it, before padding in the direction of the sound.
It wasn't hard to find the injured bundle of grey skin. Curled up in the mud, the baby elephant was obviously distraught - the 'help' call, was definitely a 'help, mommy!' call, but it seemed the mother was no where to be seen. How sad.
Spotting him, the trumpeting became more frantic, and the baby tried to shuffle away from him, which only resulted in yet another injured call as it agitated the bite wound on it's hind quarters. Looked like perhaps a hyena? But hyenas didn't attack live prey like elephants - how strange!
Kane laid on his belly, emitting a low whine of comfort. The elephant stilled, eyeing his submissive position suspiciously. They stayed like that for hour, the elephant crying out occassionally, and keeping a fixed gaze on him. He was happy to wait though, watching closely for any signs of infection in the bite.
As night fell, the elephants eyes grew heavy, and soon closed before him, slumping in the mud around him in sleep. This left the baby even more vulnerable, so Kane knew he had to act quickly. Rising to his paws, he padded over gently, reaching his nose into the bag by his side, grabbing the particularly pungent herb that he wanted. He chewed it in his mouth, making a quick salve before nosing it onto the wound. It tasted horrible, and he knew it would sting the elephant baby, so he had waited until sleep had taken her before doing it. The salve went on quickly, and would clear out any infection.
Again, he reached into the pouch, pulling out the rolled up hare-hide that he kept in stock. He placed it over the salve, making a bandage as best he could. The elephant shifted in her sleep, a sad noise coming from her once again.
Kane felt sorry for her, alone in the darkness, but that wouldn't last long.
Once the bandage was attached, he laid near her side, watching the darkness for any signs of movement. As the dawn broke around them, he scuttered out with a scent stuck in his nose.
Thankfully, elephant herds were not hard to find. The matriach was looking particularly distressed, and stomped in anger at the sight of Kane, but his barking and attempts to get their attention soon made her suspicious. She directed one of her females to follow her, and Kane took off at a high speed, leading the almost stampeding elephants to where the baby laid still sleeping.
The mother screamed in joy, the loud noise starting the baby elephant awake ; she soon joined in the exclamations of joy.
Kane barked happily off to the side, pleased at his efforts. It took him a second too long to realise that the mother had noticed the bite; a bite, and a wild dog lurking nearby? Doesn't take a genius to get angry!
The mother charged at him. He blinked in shock, but turned tail quick enough. He'd come back to the flower he wanted!
