Wolf RPG

Their silent trudge did not cover an abhorrent amount of mileage, but it did take a good amount of time regardless.  Finally they did manage to reach Pan's homeland, and by that time Roz was seriously regretting a good many life choices.  Food and a swim were the two desires first and foremost on her mind, and she intended to go about finding both of these as soon as she could.

Though she knew this was the place, she did not immediately call out.  Instead she plopped down and looked at Pan.  "Anyone in particular you want me to get?"  He couldn't summon them himself of course, so she would have to do the honors.  She cracked a small smile at the thought of Red catching wind... Doubt she would expect to find Starling so close by her stomping grounds.

Hopefully the surprise would be a pleasant one.

Pantaleimon grew fond of Roz throughout their journey. Not just because he really enjoyed her company, but also because she was so caring, giving up so much just to bring him home. She'd not gain much from it, if anything; not enough, at least, to pay tribute to the sacrifices she'd made and the time she'd spent. Pan didn't really want her to leave anymore (and that other thing was on the back of his mind too, now that the pain had subsided and he was beginning to feel a bit more like himself again), but knew that she probably would. Well, not even probably.

They'd taken a good while to get here; Pantaleimon had not been feeling himself so he did not remember how long, but he was pretty sure it must've been days, probably many. He didn't even remember. His voice had returned gradually and the swelling in his throat had subsided mostly, but it still hurt to talk. However, when Roz asked who to call, Pantaleimon's answer was swift as he said in hoarse voice: "Perry." He probably should've asked for Sebastian or Ashton or anyone else with skills in the healer area, but Pantaleimon didn't care right now. All he wanted was to snuggle up to Perry and fall asleep safely. He could always get checked up later, and if he'd end up dying from this, then at least he would be by Perry's side again.

When he gave his response, she lifted her muzzle and gave summons to @Peregrine, though she did not know who 'Perry' was.  The sound would hopefully carry far, far enough that any within the region of packlands close to them could hear.  She wasn't particularly shy about it and the howl might have been a little more abrupt than was proper, but she was tired and Pan needed his whatever.  Pack, family, what have you.

Pantaleimon was unaware of her thoughts, but he was correct.  Remaining wasn't even in the vicinity of her intentions, for already she was planning where she might roam to stay for the night.  Perhaps back towards the shore, or maybe up to that river they'd passed not too long ago.  It was closer and seemed the safer bet.  The closer kinda sealed the deal in this instance.

All Pan could do was wait after Roz had called for Perry, while thoughts mulled around in his head. Pan continued to lean lightly against Roz, although he could stand on his own; just not very well, and after the long journey home, he felt exhausted and could use the extra support. He wondered how Perry would respond. Would he be happy to see Pan, or did he not even realise that Pan'd been gone for longer than he said? Pan didn't even know how many days had passed since he had gone, since it all sort of blurred into each other after he'd been poisoned.

"You should -" Pan started hoarsely, but broke into a coughing fit before he could finish what he had intended to say. "Stay. At lea--" Again Pantaleimon started to cough, this time deciding it was better to hold his tongue for now. He'd wanted to add that she should stay at least for the night, so that she had somewhere safe to sleep. Of course it wasn't like that; though grateful, Perry wouldn't allow Roz to stay for one night. If he was going to let her stay at all, it was all or nothing, and she'd probably be forced to sleep somewhere entirely unsafe out in the wilds after being probably as exhausted as he from the whole ordeal. It didn't seem fair, but then, he probably couldn't convince her (nor Perry) otherwise.

Not only had Peregrine noticed Pan's absence, he had sent his six-month-old Outrider out into the world to find him. She hadn't been able to locate their pack mate, though she had reported catching Pan's scent northwest of the caldera. He hated to leave his pack and territory vulnerable, so he didn't venture out himself, though he had a feeling that if Pan didn't materialize soon, he wouldn't be able to help himself...

An unfamiliar voice howled for him. Peregrine was dozing perhaps two dozen feet up the slope, not too far from the borders, having taken a break between patrols. He scrunched up his face as he rose, then carefully (and slowly) picked his way downhill, then toward the source of the call. He didn't immediately think to associate it with his absent lover, though once he spotted Pan's familiar white figure in the distance, the Alpha's heart leaped.

He desperately wanted to run, yet he maintained a slow and steady pace. He did bound the last several steps, bumping into Pan rather roughly and nosing him all over. "Where have you been?" he asked in a voice that was slightly stern but mostly just concerned. He barely registered the she-wolf standing nearby, though Peregrine eventually did look at her and demand, "And who are you?" while angling his face to scrutinize her with his good eye.

"I don't think that'd be such a good idea," she said, and was prevented from further needing to justify bolting when presumably "Perry" arrived.  Rosalyn watched his slow approach with a skeptical eye but was mollified when he at least greeted Pan warmly.

She meant to sort of slip off (no matter what she might have thought earlier about getting a meal out of this), but Perry pretty quickly pointed the spotlight her way.  "I'm just the escort.  Your guy here needs some healing.  Sadly, my only talents lie in courier work."  Or so it would seem. She bumped Pan's shoulder lightly.  "I'll see you around, kitten... Maybe."  If no one protested, she'd take her leave now.  She was too tired to try and wheedle anything else out of this.  Maybe after a nap she could snatch a kill from some other unsuspecting predator.  Or find a fat and lazy pheasant.  That thought set her mouth to watering.  If it had occurred to her this man might be the alpha Red mentioned, she might have gotten a kick out of shooting the shit a bit longer, but it didn't even cross her mind that could be the case.

Pantaleimon wanted to object, but when he saw Perry appear he was distracted. His head lifted slightly and ears perked forward in the direction of his lover. When Perry nosed around his throat area, Pan shrunk back slightly; although it was no longer as swollen as it had been, it was still sore and hurt. Breathing and speaking still cost effort, even though Pantaleimon's thoughts he might not survive another day were slowly subsiding with the pangs of pain.

Pan opened his mouth to tell Perry something about what had happened, but before he could Roz decided to make a run for it -- well, in words, anyway. "Roz," Pantaleimon hoarsely said, ears falling back against his head in clear disappointment at her quick departure. "Aren't you hungry?" After that, Pan swallowed dryly a couple of times, his throat hurting from speaking, as he exchanged a quick glance with Perry, imploring him to make her stay at least a bit longer. She had saved his life, and she at least deserved some sort of reward, right?

Neither one of them saw fit to really answer his questions. Peregrine gave his lover the benefit of the doubt but his heavy gaze lingered on the she-wolf. He wanted a name. Pan provided one indirectly, then implied that they would be feeding this Roz. By her own report, she had only escorted his lover home, not provided any particular service beyond that. The Alpha's fur prickled at the thought of stealing food from his pack mates' mouths for this stranger.

"Someone explain what's going on here," Peregrine implored. He wasn't angry, though he was a bit frustrated because he didn't understand. He was still worried about Pan, which was evidenced by the fact that he nudged or nibbled the pale wolf every few seconds.

Rosalyn had been intentional in her avoidance of his question... like with Red, and with Pan earlier, she saw no point in giving her name to a wolf who would likely never see her again.  In her explanation she thought she'd made perfectly clear all the important points; she was simply delivering his packmate and would be going now.  Her judgement of others was something she trusted and he didn't seem the type who could be suckered out of much.

When his confusion on the matter continued, she irritably wondered if maybe she'd thought too soon.  Perhaps he wasn't particularly bright after all.  "I helped him home, and now I'm leaving," she said plainly, her own patience ebbing.  "He got into something bad and seems to be getting better, but should still see a healer."  As I said before.  Clearly.  Yet she bit her tongue on this.  He might be slow, but he was larger than she and this was his turf.

She only repeated because she knew Pan shouldn't speak much.  And this was also the only reason she hesitated before turning to leave.  She appreciated the white wolf's concern, but ignored his request, just as the other guy had.  She was in no mood to beg for handouts - too much effort for today.  And she had some measure of pride, if only small.

"But --" Pantaleimon looked at Roz, but then he realised that there was no fighting this; she was going to leave him, even if he kicked and screamed or passed out right there and then. Pan looked briefly at the ground and then at Roz while, with a painful expression in his eyes, he said, "Bye..." He wanted to plead her to stay again, but then decided against it; it was no use. Maybe their paths would cross again some day, and maybe not.

Pantaleimon smiled softly but wearily at Perry's worried behaviour and just let the nibbles and nips wash over him, returned with a single nuzzle once Roz departed. It was so good to be home. "I ate something," Pan said, taking a pause to avoid another fit of coughs from his sore throat. "-- Bad. Roz found me." And without her, Pan wasn't quite sure where he would be.

It was like pulling teeth. With a few more clipped words, she prepared to leave. Peregrine didn't stop her, nor did he thank her. He ignored her and turned to face Pan as his lover protested her departure. "I'm here now," he soothed, the intensity of his licks and nudges increasing even as Pan explained what had happened to him. Peregrine's lips parted to say something when the white wolf coughed. Instead, he ran his muzzle along the side of Pan's neck, hoping to comfort him.

"How do you feel now? Would you like me to call for someone?" The she-wolf had recommended a Healer but it was up to Pan if he wanted someone to come poking and prodding at him. "How about a drink?" he suggested, noting the dry, hacking quality of his companion's cough. "And something to eat," he added, then fell silent, letting Pan tell him what he needed.

A tired smile broke across Pan's face when Perry said that he was here. This was all Pan had wanted ever since he'd first got sick, and he couldn't be happier than to be by Perry's side again. When Peregrine asked if he should ask for someone, Pantaleimon shook his head. "The only wolf I want here..." Pantaleimon paused to take a weary breath before continuing, "Is already here." Pan nuzzled Perry's face, smiling. Ashton hadn't been able to fix Perry either, and anyway, Pantaleimon was beginning to feel better -- he didn't need a healer right now, he was pretty sure. What would a healer do about this, anyway?

"I would love that," Pan answered hoarsely when Perry suggested drink and water. Luckily he was able to walk by himself now, but didn't feel up to running; all Pan needed was a long rest, really. He wondered who it had been that had done this to him -- he'd been near a pack, so it made most sense that it was a wolf from there, but hadn't he heard something about plains wolves who would put bad things in food? It was stupid he hadn't thought of it before. The Mountain was definitely not plains, though, so it didn't add up much. Well, whatever, Pan would worry about it later, if at all.

All Pantaleimon wanted right now was to eat and drink something, and then lay down in a safe place with Perry by his side.

Pan didn't want a Healer's help, though he definitely seemed interested in food and water. "Think you can make it up the rendezvous site? With my help?" the Alpha asked, pressing close to offer his physical and emotional support. "Then you can rest while I get some food and water." His nose skimmed from the pale wolf's jaw down his neck to his shoulder. "Or we can find someplace closer if you're not up to the climb right now," he added. The rendezvous site was the safest and most convenient location, though he would not push Pan if he wasn't feeling up to it yet.

"Yes," said Pantaleimon after all of the questions had been phrased. The rendezvous site was good (though it was a word Pantaleimon wasn't really ready to squeeze out of his gullet just yet). Words were sparse since they cost so much at the moment. However, there were a few words that needed to be said, accompanied by a lick across the bridge of Perry's muzzle: "I love you."

Pan leaned against Perry, hoping to be guided back to the rendezvous site; and hoping that when they'd get there, at long last Pan would be able to get the rest he so craved, hopefully by Perry's side. The week past would heal him, eventually, Pan was sure; things would be okay again eventually, but he'd gotten quite the scare.

"I love you too," Peregrine replied easily, "and I'm happy you're back safe and sound. I was so worried I sent Wildfire out looking for you, you know," he said with a small smile. "Come on, let's get you home," he then added, hustling to help his lover up the mount.

A while later, they arrived at the rendezvous site. Peregrine ushered Pan to a comfortable spot, then ran to fetch a leg of mountain goat and a soft piece of wood soaked with water. He offered these to the pale wolf, then curled up beside him. After Pan ate and drank, he would most likely sleep and the Alpha male didn't intend to leave his side anytime soon.

Pantaleimon gratefully allowed himself to be guided back to the rendezvous site, a weary smile on his face. It was good to know that they had been looking, and Pan wondered momentarily if Wildfire was still out there; but it sounded as though she had already returned after being unable to find him. Pan nuzzled Perry's fur before he settled in a comfortable spot at the rendezvous site.

It was hard to stay awake until Perry returned with something to eat and drink, but once he did and Pantaleimon was full, Pan leaned back against Perry's side. It wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep after that, and even though there was still some pain in Pan's body he felt comfortable enough to fall right asleep by his lover's side, just glad to be home.