Emberflame Ridge I thought this love would always burn like a wildfire

She ran pretty well throughout the night, following the mountains around the ravine and into the shadows of the cliffs and crags. Her breath was ragged and her heart felt like it was going to burst when she finally slowed and collapsed on a broad ridge, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her rib cage. It had ached with every step before, but now the pain was stabbing and sharp. It rippled from her ribs to her spine and all the way down, dulling the sting of the scrape Sebastian's teeth had left on her backside as she fled. That would heal without incident, but the ribs were another matter altogether.

She lay her head on the cold stone with teeth grit and hissed a long note of pain in the chill mountain air. She snarled at no one in particular, but her rage was directed at her attacker. The next time they met, one of them would die. She would make sure of it.

But now, her thoughts were focused only on the pain in her ribs every time she breathed. The rib cage, broken evenly before, felt somehow tight and hot. It was still only one broken rib, but the injury was aggravated from her running and inflammation was mounting. It would take much, much longer to heal. Had she been a healer, Saena would've known that it never truly would. She dared to be optimistic, though; she wouldn't make much of an alpha if she had a fucked up rib cage for the rest of her life.

She tried to stand, but the pain rippling through her was too great and she dropped back to the ground. She cried out, feeling somehow even more vulnerable than she had when her speed had proven ineffective, and curled in on herself in a wasted effort to quell her trembling from exhaustion and agony.

*rolls in* Hello! :)

Terich-mir had spent the better part of the week scouting out potential resting grounds. He and Capri were thinking of settling here, and although he wasn't exactly leadership quality, he'd follow her wherever she went and help her in any way he could. So they had decided to begin scouting out likely areas, places of seclusion and quiet, places where they could grow old together and no one be the wiser. Taggarik would likely accompany them (or they would him, depending on who was asked), and together they would begin a new legacy among these established families.

That day he was scouting around the mountain area, though he hated them fiercely. It wasn't so much hate, but fear and bad memories combined into deep distaste. If the others decided to settle upon or near a mountain, well, he'd just have to get used to it. Skirting the northern edge of the mountain chain, Terich began scenting out other packs. They wouldn't want to settle too close to another, in case these wolves were violent or extremely hostile. He hadn't met any matching that description yet, but that didn't mean a wolf like that didn't exist.

It was with his head bowed to the earth that he first heard sounds of distress, an angry grunt and snort, a sound of pain. Terich's ears cupped forward as his body began moving toward the sounds. Soon he came upon a peculiarly colored female, though she was beautiful nonetheless. He paused many yards from her, giving the wounded woman space, and announced his presence with a bark. After a moment, he asked, "Are you alright?"

She should've known better. The sounds of a wounded animal were bound to draw trouble, and soon enough it arrived in the form of a trim grey-and-creme wolf. From her prone position, Terich-Mir veritably towered, and with her condition he was certainly much stronger. Unlike her encounter with Sebastian where fear had fuelled a primal response, Saena no longer had the stamina nor the adrenaline rush to get away unscathed. She might make it a few feet before the pain became too much for her and even adrenaline couldn't change that. Her heart hammered as she stared up at him, even though his voice betrayed no hint of aggression, and she made an attempt to make herself smaller by curling up tighter, though she only succeeded in sending another hot flash of pain through her body.

"Fine," she wheezes through her discomfort in an effort to hide her condition from him, but it's a facade she's unable to hold for long. Terich-Mir would not have come with such a question upon his tongue if he hadn't heard her. "No," she admits at last, visibly deflating on the spot. "I think I broke something when I was attacked, or... maybe before... I don't really know." She tried to remember when her rib had broken, but found that the memories of the last few fear-fuelled days were bleeding together in her mind. The fact that she'd fallen off a cliff was forgotten; in its place she remembered Sebastian and made a tentative connection between her injuries, even the broken rib, and his presence.

Soon enough she would solidify the belief that Sebastian had had a hand in breaking her rib and the memory of falling from the cliff would fade away, but for now, they were all a jumbled mess in her head. She pulled back the corner of her lip sheepishly for Terich-Mir, but said nothing more and instead let her heart pound nervously in her chest as she awaited his response, aggressive or not.

Hope it's okay I hop in here? If not we can delete this post! :)

Terich-mir and Capri had more or less decided they would stick close to Tagg – there was something about the swarthy wolf that encouraged the duo to do so, but the silver and ebony girl had yet to forget @Ukko, the rather handsome and welcoming wolf she had met during her first few days within this area. Nothing was finalized yet – and it would be a lie to say that Capri was not tempted to drift back to this Phoenix Maplewood and see if the ebony wolf would come with her and the others to establish this new pack.
 
But she couldn’t bring herself to ask a wolf to leave everything behind for a stranger – especially when so much was unknown. Instead, she resolved with herself that she would visit him later on, and thank him for his kindness.. and perhaps such a visit would bridge in to a friendship.
 
Capri was never far from Terich-mir once they decided they would trail after Tagg to the mountains. Her friend despised mountains given his past, and there was a part of her that felt guilty she had suggested they check them out further. But it would not be like his past – Terich had her, and she him – and the two needed to find a place to settle.. a place they could continue a legacy.
 
Capri came upon him, having been out of his sights for the better part of a few hours. Her jaws were empty – the rabbit she had attempted to take had eluded her. But all of this was forgotten as an injured she-wolf came to view, and her silver friend seemed to maintain his distance. Sidling up beside him, Capri’s frosted eyes regarded the pale woman with mild curiosity and concern – her nose lifting in the air to test the scent. She could have swore it was the same scent as Ukko – but perhaps that had been only because her mind had been upon him.
 
Having missed most of the words spoken, Capri’s muzzle grazed the shoulder of Terich, her own paws taking a tentative step forward. “You should not move so much,” she decided, a frown clouding her slender features.

You're always welcome in my threads! :)

Terich watched the woman shrink in upon herself, as if hiding from him, and witnessed the deep wince that rattled her body afterward. He hadn't sustained such deep injuries before, but he had seen them, and knew how much pain a wolf could endure before dying. This woman wasn't near that quite yet, but her pain was not something to ignore or make light of, and so he kept his tongue still as he listened to her words. At first her lie startled him, but then after a moment she agreed that she was unwell, and that perhaps she had broken something.

He was about to ask if he could inspect her when Capri arrived, brushing her nose along his shoulder, before turning her cunning eyes toward the injured woman and giving her own advice. Terich decided at that point to seat himself, to show that he was no danger to the injured woman, and invited Capri to do the same. The last thing they needed was for the strangely colored woman to become defensive and hostile when they were only trying to help. "My friend is right, you know. You should only move as much as necessary." His lapis colored eyes watched her for a moment longer before he spoke again. "I know a little of the healing arts from my mother and grandmother. May I?" He gestured toward her ribs, but didn't move in case she said no. "I'm Terich-mir, by the way. Most call me Terich. And this is my best friend, Capri." He nodded toward the ebon and silver lady beside him, and waited for the woman's answer.

Sorry for holding this up guys. Feel free to have them leave her there if you'd like to fade, or they can continue trying to help if you'd like!

A tense moment of silence passed between Saena and Terich-mir, and then Capriccio's arrival caused Saena's tension to rise into agitation. She had a chance of getting away from one wolf if the encounter went south, but the arrival of the second made any effort futile. Her gaze darted between Terich-mir and Capriccio, and though both wolves spoke kind words, her panic twisted their intentions in her mind. They were strangers; whether they could help or not, Saena simply could not trust them.

She managed to skitter backwards a little, somehow gathering her feet under herself in spite of the intense pain wracking her, and hunched over herself. "No," she said hoarsely, not even sure what she was protesting against. "I need to get home," and the last came out in a whine. The feverish light of panic had entered her eyes once more—it seemed to be all she felt since leaving the coast behind—and she shrank further away from the pair.

I don't think Capri would just leave her, so.. up for anything! If you want a delirious Saena to be delivered home by these two (maybe?) or even have her skip off.. open for whatever. :)

The injured wolf reacted in a manner that was completely reasonable. The silver-tipped wolf could not imagine approving of having others fluttering about her if she was as injured, nor would she likely trust them. A hesitant glance was given to Terich, who despite her wary apprehension, was keen on helping if he could.
 
“We can help you get home,” she offered then, her own form remaining neutral. Her eyes were soft as she studied the wolf – had she been able to scent the Maplewood pack upon Saena’s fur, she would have almost insisted they help – but as it was, the scent had seemingly begun to fade.

The other skittered away from them, hunching over her injuries as she refused their help. She needed to get home, she whined, and now. Terich understood the pain she felt and the need to get home to safety, understood her fear of two strangers, but neither of them had made any move toward her, and so he didn't understand when she flinched away from them. Brow furrowed, he glanced at Capri before turning his gaze back toward Saena, watching her huddle within herself. The wound must've been infected for her to act so strangely.

Capri offered to help her home and Terich nodded agreement. "Aye, we could help you. I know we're strangers, but we mean you no harm. We'll travel with you, at a distance of course. Just to make sure you're safe." Terich frowned softly, watching the other, wondering what he could say to allay her fears. "Is there someone we could call for you? Someone you trust?"

They can deliver her!

Her eyes darted warily between the two, heart palpitating so badly that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. She was exhausted, she was in pain, and she wanted nothing to do with the possibility of defending herself against not one, but two wolves. If they saw fit to attack her, she would almost certainly die here. For all their good intentions and their assurances that they were not going to harm her, Saena couldn't help but to view them as potential threats due to her vulnerability and recent treatment by Sebastian.

Still, when they offered just to take her home—and didn't insist on touching her or drugging her with any sort of herbs—she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Okay," she acquiesced quietly, in a voice that was much too meek for her usual demeanour. Later, when she wasn't feeling so woozy from the pain of the broken rib as well as the exertion of running so far, she would maybe feel it score her pride just a little bit, but right now the Alpha female was as good as a lone wolf, and these two were willing to help her get home.

"Reek," she answered instantly, then added, "or Arion or Ukko," because she didn't yet know of the former's misbehaviour. The latter would probably poke fun at her, but she hardly cared about his attitude right now. "From the woods that way," and she gestured with her muscle and a wince as her side pulled to the maplewood that, from here, appeared to wreath the distant glacier.

Really brief, but last post from me.

Capri cast Terich a sideways glance, her nerves sent fluttering at the name of Ukko. The two were promised to a rising pack, and she was not one to go back on her word.. but this had been the pack she had also kept tabs on to see if they would fit in well.
 
She was quiet as she helped the woman, only engaging in small talk in an attempt to keep Saena alert. The trek was rather impressive, given their pale companion was injured and a bit ways from home.. and she did not get to see Ukko when they had reached their destination. But they had aided the woman, and on their way back, Capri’s thoughts were surprisingly placed upon the excitement of their new home coming to them, rather than the potential one they had just left behind.

Same! Thanks for the thread! :)

Terich and Capriccio helped the woman to her home, Capri keeping a conversation going while Terich kept his eyes and ears trained upon the land all around them. Eventually they did reach the area she called home, and when Terich called forth the wolves she had requested, he glanced toward Capri with wonder in his eyes. This was a potential ally they could stay with, a pack they could call home if they so wished. But when the wolves collected their injured alpha and he looked toward his companion again, the look in her eyes told him all: they would not call this pack home.

In reality that was alright with him; Terich wasn't a mistrusting wolf and although the woman had been injured, her instant mistrust of them was unnerving. Perhaps she was used to wolves trying to harm her in neutral land, but Terich had been raised to respect others when in uncontested land. There was no reason to be rude to strangers when your life may depend on their kindness one day. So they turned away from that pack and went looking for a new one, wishing the woman and her pack well.