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 Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:25 am
Quin took a moment to realise what had happened, his eyes registering the other pup's fall and his floundering splashes only when he had finally skidded to a stop a few metres ahead. He quickly turned and instinctively followed the other pup as he was pulled down the river.
Quin had come from near the sea, he had learned to swim at a young age and as much as he wasn't keen on going back into the water due to his recent experiences, he didn't hesitate to splash into the river. His larger frame and strong swimming skills helped him against the tide but he felt himself pulled a way when he grasped at Val's fur. Getting a grip ony on his tail, Quin tried his best to pull the pair towards the shore.
The strong current was pulling them both now and Quin could see sharp, jageed rocks, rough currents and a swirling pool ahead. With all his might he tugged and pulled Val's small brindle form towards the shore. As his feet found the gravel he slumped down, again finding himself wet, on a shore and worn out.
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:14 am
Valerius was caught in a maelstrom of swirling water, unable to think clearly and unable to break free of the current. He was struggling to keep his head above the water and panic was beginning to set in. He flailed wildly, searching for anything that could help him stay afloat. Just as he felt himself go under, he felt something grasp his tail and pull. Hard.
Someone was pulling him towards the shore; back towards the safety of dry land. He caught a glimpse of black and white fur through the spray of the water. Then he felt gravel underneath him. Thank Nemain..
He collapsed to his stomach, coughing. His breath coming in ragged breaths, and he spluttered up a lungful of water. After a short time, his breathing came easier and he began to feel better. He looked up at Quintus, his expression grateful as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Thank you.. You saved my life.." It was a significant debt, and one that Valerius would willingly repay should Quintus ever ask it of him.
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:24 am
Quin watched as the other young wolf finally caught a breath and was relieved. He gave a slight smile as Valerius spoke to him, understanding the intonation of thanks, if not the actual words. It's not as though he could have let the pup go, pulled downstream by icy fingers of water.
Quintus managed to drag himself to his still slightly oversized paws and shook his piebald coat dry. It stuck out in all directions, bright white clumps of fur, rapidly cooling in the chilly air. He stretched his small frame out, working out a knot which had formed hard in his little muscles when pulling the other to the shore.
The pai of them really needed to dry off quickly and keep warm. It wasn't good to be cold at this time of year. Always practical, Quin nudged Val away from the river edge. It might be a little painful for him but the pup'd need to keep warm more than comfortable. Perhaps they could find somewhere nearby which was out of the breeze but still in the sun... He looked at Val, wondering if the other knew such a place. He was still new to thee lands and didn't know them too well. He also didn't know how to communicate what they needed - it was really frustrating!
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:16 pm
As the other pup nudged at him, Valerius turned to look at him, puzzled by Quintus' actions. Right now, all he wanted to do was lie down and rest. It didn't matter that the gravel underneath him was sharp or that he was cold - it was land and it was safe. But the other pup evidently wanted him to move. Reluctantly, Valerius moved forward and away from the river's edge before looking at Quintus questioningly. He didn't understand what the pied wolf was getting at, and since he didn't seem to know any language that he did, he couldn't just ask.
"I don't understand..." he said, shivering a little in the cold air and shaking his head. Now that he was paying attention, he realised that the breeze was cooling his wet fur. He would be chilled to the bone soon, and no doubt Quintus would be too. Maybe there would be somewhere warmer. He'd been travelling, so he didn't know the area, but maybe they could find somewhere.
Shakily at first, Valerius began to put one paw down in front of the other, moving off slowly. After a few steps he paused, turning to see if Quintus was following.
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:47 pm
It was clear Valerius didn't understand but, as he moved off, Quin followed him, hoping the pups instincts were as sound as his own - even if he didn't realise the reasons behind them. A large part of Quin's upbringing had been to do with decoding his instincts, examining them, figuring out which were good and which not so good, which could benefit him more. It had all been at the insistance of his father...
He was glad he' been taught so but it didn't make so much of a difference when you couldn't tell someone why you might be doing something that seemed a little odd! Quin didn't bother speaking truly but gave a slight yip of encouragement as they headed back into a more wooded area than where they had been racing.
Keeping his pale blue eyes open he scanned for an area of open ground, in the sun out of the wind. Spying a large tree which had fallen over, it's roots danging in the air, he trotted forward. In the lee of the tree it was relatively sheltered. It had not been down long enough to lose all of it's leaves although they were dry and brittle - like many of the surrounging autumnal trees. There was shelter here, of a sort, and a little sunlight. Moving back, he nudged his small friend towards this cosy nook, worrying at Val's cold skin...
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:09 am
It seemed that Valerius had hit upon what the pied pup had meant, as Quin moved to follow him quickly. Shivering still in the cold air, the brindled pup headed deeper into the woods, searching for somewhere better to rest.
It was Quintus that spotted the tree first though. As the other pup gave him a nudge, Valerius looked around, wondering what Quintus was getting at. Then he spotted the felled tree and realised what he meant. Nodding his head, the bedraggled pup headed straight for a spot underneath the drooping branches of the dying tree. The sun was shining through the leaves, creating a dappled effect on the forest floor. Valerius settled down in a spot that offered a decent amount of sunlight. As Quintus followed him, he huddled against the black and white pup. Sharing warmth was better than shivering alone, afterall.
As he lay there, his senses beginning to return to him properly, Valerius began to wonder. Who was this strange pup that had come out of nowhere, spoke a strange language of his own and had rescued him from near certain death. There were so many questions he had, and no way of conveying them to his new found friend.
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