|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:28 pm
 Sometimes Silhouette wondered just what possessed her to get into these messes..of course such thoughts always came afterwards, when they were relatively useless in the grand scheme of things as he'd already gotten into the trouble. Once just once she'd like to have these thoughts beforehand. Then again she'd likely not have nearly as much fun as she typically did should that happen.
But it might save her from situations like this one, the log had seemed perfectly stable when she'd started to crawl over it..but halfway through it had crumbled under her weight and sent her plunging downwards into the canyon like ravine below. Luckily it wasn't far enough that she had been wounded by the fall..but unluckily it was deep enough that jumping out was problematic as well.
She'd spent the first hour trying to jump out anyways, scrabbling at the dirt sides until they bore her clawmarks like a bears scratching post, when she'd grown tired of that she'd howled for help but of course she had wandered much to far from home for anyone to hear.
And that had been a couple of days ago, now she was hungry...and weak and the thirst. the thirst was driving her mad, the most she'd drank was some muddy water tha had collected after a short shower and her only meal had been a field mouse. Sil was miserable and she'd nearly given up on finding a way out, curling up into a ball on the muddy floor and whining a bit in misery.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:55 pm
Another regret, another piece of guilt which fluttered around in his mind, always ready to bite at his ego and draw him further towards the dark depression that hovered nearby.
In such a distracted mood, and with it nearing dark, it was no surprise that he nearly missed the grey and pink wolf as he tried to find a way to skirt the ravine. It was only that flash of colour which drew his eye and only a moment longer, once he noticed the prone form, for adrenaline and worry to start coursing through. "H..HEY" his voice was almost tremulous, it'd been so long since he used it "ARE YOU OK?! HEY".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:05 pm
Sil sighed..she could almost hear the approach of paws, something that had become somewhat of her favorite dream over the last couple of days. But it was a bittersweet dream inevitably she's learn that it was just that..a dream..no one was coming to help her. What would her mother think?
But then just as she was about to heave another deep sigh a voice shattered the dusky silence, an unknown voice...but Sil wasn't going to be picky at a time like this and still somewhat in shock she raised her head and peered into the descending twilight..just to make sure that there was indeed someone there.
And...there was.
A white wolf, Sil had never seen a more welcome sight in all her life and scrambling to her feet she turned to stare at him for a few more moments. "I ..I ah...can't get out" She finally explained a bit pathetically as it was probably rather obvious.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:27 pm
To say that Neptune had always wanted to be a hero was probably understating the fact. He had yearned, as a pup, to earn 'redemption', to earn acceptance, love, even worship. He'd always been the poor kid with a deadbeat, bastardish father, always tarred by the same brush - 'apple doesn't fall far from the tree' etc.
Here, an opportunity had almost fallen into his lap. Determination gripped him, and the soul of a wolf who'd always wanted to be needed cried out to be let loose. First, though, the basics.
"How'd you get down there?" he asked as his pale eyes scanned the nearby brush, the sides of the ravine, for any object he might use to help the stricken damsel and thereby win himself the honour of being a saviour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 5:48 am
How'd she get down here? Well that was going to be a bit of an embarrassing story - I mean who decides to go crawling across ravines on a fallen log? Apparently she did - and she'd be lying if she said it was the first time she'd done something similar. Heaving a sigh and ducking her head slightly in embarrassment she explained in a small voice "I was using an old log as a bridge, halfway across it broke and sent me falling"
It had been quite foolish really, now that she thought back on it, but there wasn't much she could do about it and she wasn't a dishonest wolf - so while coming up with a charming or impressive reason to explain being trapped in a ravine was an alluring thought, Sil had, as always, told the embarrassing truth. "I've been down here for days..and I'm terribly hungry and thirsty.." She plead with the white wolf as though attempting to convince him to help her - though the fact that he hadn't laughed at her and left already was a pretty good sign right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:32 pm
How horrible, he thought, to be stuck in such a place for so long. It almost seemed fate, then, that he'd come along right at this moment... His first thought, when she'd mentioned the log, was to see if he could find another and perhaps push it down to make a ladder of it. He couldn't see ay that tall, though, close to hand.
His face wrinkled up in consternation as he wondered how to get her out of her unhappy situation with so few resources. Should he perhaps go and get others? No, he could do this. He could. He just needed to think for a moment. He'd never been accused of being stupid, merely brash, and so he set his mind to thinking on the issue.
After a few moment he called down to her "I need to fetch something to help you out of there - I won't go for long. Will you be ok?" he attempted strong and compassionate, but his voice had a slight warbling note of worry which he couldn't entirely rid it of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:04 pm
Sil waited for the wolf to laugh at her - she'd deserve it if he did she told herself firmly, and she wouldn't hold it against him...though a small part of her mind told her that was a lie. She most certainly would hold it against hi to some degree. But that thought seemed moot because the wolf didn't so much as chuckle or attempt to hide a grin at her unfortunate accident and while she knew nothing else about him...that was enough for her to decide that he was indeed a good wolf.
Of course that didn't make her feel any better when he said he had to leave - even if it was only for a short time, she didn't know him! What if he left her here to die? But she didn't have much of a choice now did she and while her paws shifted anxiously she reminded herself of his earlier good manners...and that small note of worry, the one she could oh so faintly detect did a bit to lessen her own. He wouldn't be worried if he never planned to return...and so she gave a slight nod and tried to look confident - as confident as her roughened state would allow. "I'll be okay a while longer" he assured him and then to further convince tried to add a joke on the end "I've survived this long right?" Okay so it was a lame joke but she'd made the effort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:17 pm
It was a little while before Neptune came back - maybe half an hour - and it was starting to get rather cool. The white wolf was trying to wrestle with two things in his jaws, sometimes dropping one or other and having to pick it up, delaying and frustrating him. He was having trouble holding onto the jubilant mood he'd experienced with the thought of rescuing someone. Noone had told him it wasn't all dashing around being flawlessly competent and he'd always somehow imagined that he'd have others to help him collect necessities.
Screw it, he was nearly there now. With a loud huff, he dropped the thing at his feet, and slid the other down the side of the ravine. It was a young pig - pink and pudgy and obviously non-native but rather tasty to Neptune's mind. One good thing the new two-leggers had brought. His head once again poked over the ridge after the piglet.
"Eat up, you're going to need your strength in a little bit". He tried for a winning smile, hoping to comfort her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:35 pm
Even though it hadn't really been all that long in reality - to Sil's mind the time dragged by and she was beginning to rethink her earlier impression of the white wolf. Perhaps he had left..perhaps he'd gone off with good intentions but then realized the impossibility of rescuing her and continued on his way. They didn't really know each other - he didn't have any reason to bother himself with saving her. She had begun to sink into a bit of a depression - having convinced herself the white wolf had abandoned her when the sudden noise from above startled her.
Peering upwards she yipped in relief when she caught a flash of white..and then nearly drooled all over herself when the pig came sliding down. She'd been taught to be a lady of course..but all that seemed to evaporate when she caught the piglets scent which she fell upon like a half starved beast - which of course she was. "Oh moons! Thank you so much" She whimpered as she tore into the meat, she might have sent him a grateful look but she was too busy tearing into the meal. Hopefully her voice conveyed it well enough - she'd be sure to tell him later just in case it hadn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:47 pm
His throat clenched just a little bit as he watched her tear into the meat he'd sent down - happy at the big effect the little piece of good had done. Whilst he waited on her finishing, he began to untangle his other prize - the thing which had tangled him up and tripped him half the way home.
It was a vine - or a root - he wasn't sure which, knowing only that it was the type of plant which wrapped itself around others until the original plant was no more... Either way, it was a long flexible rope and he began to lower it down as he unravelled it. checking the length.
There hadn't been any trees or saplings nearby to make a bridge up the steep sides or at least make it easier for her to jump up but once he'd spotted this he'd gotten an inkling that he might be able to use his sheer size to his advantage.
Neptune, like his father, was a big wolf - above the average and, despite or because of his weaknesses as a pup and youth, he had pushed himself hard. His strength may not have been entirely in line with his size, but he was not one to shirk hard work and it showed.
"If you can maybe get it around you... under your front legs then hold tight with your mouth I think I can pull you out"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:05 pm
Sil finished off the piglet in half time such a meal would normally take her - and afterwards licked her lips and looked up hopefully for more before catching herself - that was hardly a way to be grateful, and she was suddenly aware that her feeding frenzy had been just a little bit uncouth.
But it seemed the white wolf had been busy doing something else and she rather hoped he hadn't noticed her unladylike meal, she didn't want him to think he was out here saving some heathen. The thick barky plant he lowered down however was a a bit confusing, she wasn't sure what exactly he wanted her to do with it, maybe she could use it to climb up? She was about to ask him when he took that need away and explained it for her.
Wrinkling her brow she considered his plan for the moment - he looked to be a big strong wolf and she had always been a touch on the smaller side when compared to her siblings - perhaps he could pull her out. It wasn't like she had anything to loose right/ what was the worst that could happen..she'd fall again? "Alright" She told him with a slight nod before studying the makeshift rope.
If she flung it over her shoulder's like so and then..stepped over this bit and pulled the end up under her other leg..and then clenched her jaws about the end and the rest of the vine..well it was probably the best she could do. Clamping the vines she looked up at him "Okay..I think I'm ready" She told him, though her words came out a muffled mess due to the vines she was holding onto. ah well he'd get what she meant..hopefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:34 am
Neptune regarded the wolf at the foot of the ravine critically, wondering if the arrangement would work as he envisioned in his mind. Being a hero, heretofore, had not been something he imagined as being quite so... silly. Ah well, hopefully she'd forgive the indignity of the whole situation when he gallantly dragged her from her predicament.
Dragging himself from his momentary introspection he copied her motions and wrapped the top end around himself, figuring it'd give him more leverage. "You might need to dig your claws into the side a bit on the way up" he called down before moving back from the edge. Slowly, he began to tug, felt her weight catch the rope and gritted his teeth as he used brute force to begin the hoist. He had to dig his own feet into ground which now felt inordinately slippery...
Two steps back, three, slip. Three steps, four, slip. Ugh. He wanted to call out and apologise for the bumpy ride but his teeth were gripped tightly on the rope and his whole being was putting itself into pulling the female up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:09 am
Well to say it was a comfortable situation would be a complete and utter lie, there was absolutely nothing comfortable about having a vine digging into your shoulders and under legs as you were dragged up the side of a ravine. Sil was pretty sure that any birds or other forest creatures watching were getting a good laugh out of it too.
Still..she was willing to put up with almost anything if it meant getting out of this awful hole in the ground, and she promised herself she wouldn't go walking across any log bridges again anytime soon either. All these were secondary on her mind right now however, Sil was focusing much too strongly on the situation at hand to give the future much thought. She tried her best to help the white wolf, scrabbling with her claws at the side of the ravine, trying to gain purchase and half climb out. It was easier with the rope pulling as well but the jolts from his slips and her flailing legs when the dirt crumbled beneath her paws sometimes made it seem like they weren't making any progress at all.
But they were, slow as it might be and after an exhausting battle Sil suddenly found her paws scraping across the edge of the ravine. She kicked wildly with her hindlegs and tried to shimmy the rest of her body up - only a another pull or so now and she'd be free!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:34 am
Neptune could feel his strength ebbing, his scrabbling paws starting to give way tothe soft ground and the bite of the rope scratching and twisting patches of his pure white fur off. The touch of her paws on the rim, though, gave him the last bit of strength he needed and he hoisted with all his might.
Added to her pushing, it seemed to be enough to get her over the edge but, as she did, the big male tumbled back, suddenly relieved of the weight on the end of the rope. He ended up in an ungainly pile, limbs sticking out every-which-way. In exhaustion, he lay in this odd position until he could summon enough strength to roll over into a more comfortable one and see the wolf he'd brought up from the ravine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:11 am
Like her rescuer Sil was exhausted by the time she finally flopped into safety, and while she might have giggled somewhat at the white wolfs predicament - she was hardly in any condition to do so, I mean she'd just spent the last few days stuck in a hole, she was hardly in a position to throw rocks here. Besides...even in such an inelegant pose the mysterious white wolf was her Saviour and right now - just freed from her prison- there wasn't much he could do wrong.
She was content to lay where she'd flopped and regain her breath, though she assumed it would take several days and some good meals to get her back to full form. When the white wolf finally moved again Sil raised her head to look at him, breaking the silence was a warm declaration "My Hero..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
