He was enraged. The fury that swept through him now was akin to that of a dragon – never before had he been so ignited, not even his days dealing with Blackfeather Woods or Shadow and his own foolish excuse of an army. His son had been swept to the alleged safety of a pack by the coast – such news should have been victorious, and yet the pale girl’s words rang in his mind, stirring his tongue to flick out over his fangs as he considered his options.
They would not let his son come home to where he belonged?
It was no more than a situation of maintaining a captive, and the dark agouti wolf was already calculating his plans. Scimitar Frostfur was a seasoned warrior – his sister, also remained to be a seasoned warrior. Their training in Dal Riata had been explicit in this, and their time in the Teekon Wilds had only further fueled their battle techniques. The coastal pack had chosen the wrong pup to keep against will – and Scimitar was ready to bring the iron clad force of not just Neverwinter Forest to them – but also of the ties he had gained during his time here. Jorunn would surely agree to aide him – Charon, despite their differences, could perhaps be coaxed to do so in his relation to Eshe. He debated even then to seek out Phoenix Maplewood and Saena’s assistance – the force of four packs upon one would demolish them, and Scimitar was certain no other victory would be sweeter.
He did not yet realize the disbandment of Saltwinter, or that Phoenix Maplewood had relocated to Silver Creek and remained under new leadership – nor would he manage to storm in to his own forest and gather his own forces, for one fateful mistake in his anger would be the end of it all.
Only during his quick lope did his gaze drift to the corner, noting two larger bear cubs – both playful and then suddenly halting by his presence. They were not newborns – it was likely their mother had birthed them earlier in the new year, but that did not mean she was not nearby. His pace quickened, his ears flattening as he made to steer clear from them, but no sooner did he jerk his muzzle back to the path before him, did a thunderous paw clap him to the side.
Scimitar had taken on bears before – but they were not creatures to be messed with alone. He had done so only with careful calculation, and with pack numbers at his side. The savagery of which she propelled in to him knocked the very breathe from him, and flung the rather large wolf like he was no more than a Raggedy Ann doll.
His form crumpled to the ground, rolling to a tree. He felt something snap in his side, and the white hot pain seared through him. He began to retch in that moment, though logic and instinct urged him forward, and the Frostfur scrambled to find purchase with his paws to the ground. He held no more time to even swing his muzzle in her direction to bare his teeth before she began to maim him – large jaws enclosed over his spine, and the King of the Forest was lifted from the air, feeling the pressure build before another sickening snap – he no longer felt anything as the shock worked its way through him. She dropped him with a heavy thud, nosing at him, her hot breath pungent to his nose before he received another swat – like a bad child being spanked for having his hand in the cookie jar.
He stilled then, his eyes sliding shut and he forced his breath to slow. She would nose him for what felt like an eternity – but in reality, only seconds had passed.
It was then the mother bear grunted, turning from him and satisfied that the threat to her cubs was diminished. Ambling away, he could hear their thunderous steps as they left him.. and then the world became silent, and he blacked out fully, though his thoughts lingered desperately on his captive son,
@Rannoch and
@Cypress who eagerly awaited him at home. His blood now pooling to the grass field, and the sun would only then began to descend along the horizon, as if indicative of the era end.
Eshe was unsure as to what provoked her from the safety of the woods she had kept to since her mates absence. She wondered about Scimitar and his success, and though she hated to idle she knew that her remaining with Neverwinter was not that at all. She cared for her son, Cypress, though truly that was the extent of the things that she did. The southern mother was worried sick for her missing Rannoch, but did what she could to not display her misery to her remaining son. Admittedly, she was obsessed with her inky boys safety; when he was away for too long, she would find him and make sure all was well. Eshe expressed frequently her love for Cypress, but it was evident there was a piece of her missing in the Wilds. A piece of her that was as lost as Rannoch was.
The mother of two woke with Cypress beside her, and she crooned to him a loving good morning. With him half-awake, Eshe informed him she would be taking a jaunt a bit outside Neverwinter today to scout and see if Scimitar was near. He had been gone a while, and Eshe missed him everyday. She dreamt of his return, and with him would be their handsome baby boy who likely did not look to be a baby any longer. Her heart ached for the months that she missed in his life...
So she left for a time, and her legs took her to Fields not too distant from the Forest. Or, was it? Time had become an abstract concept to her she no longer was certain of. Lost, she felt. But she knew the way back home!
Loud noises distracted Eshe from her self-pity, and despite every instinct in her dictating she keep away, there was something greater telling her she had better take a look for herself. What she came upon was devastating, and Eshe could not help the loud yell that came from her as she saw him, her One True Love, upon the earth and bleeding so. She rushed to his side and did not know what to do. Eshe was no healer. She thought of the pale witch and prayed she might arrive, but knew it was not to be today. He was alone, without Rannoch, and she only could smell blood upon him, and... bears. Her ears pricked atop her head as she peered over her shoulder, but her observation skills were truly nonexistent with the one thing she loved the most bleeding before her.
She looked to him, and her voice was desperate. Scimitar,
she breathed urgently, moving to lay beside him. Scimitar, baby, can you get up...?
Gone were even the thoughts of Rannoch as she watched the blood pooling spread further out, and she sobbed a bit, Baby, you gotta get up,
Gods, she couldn't tell if he was even alive! She moved to touch his chin lightly, eyes wet and breathing difficult, and she choked on another sob. Honey,
she urged, prayed, begged.
He did not know how much time had passed – he heard her voice – a net of safety and felt lulled by it. But there was a panic in his sweet mate’s voice, and his eyes fluttered open instantly. She was over him – angelic in every manner, and the upset in her eyes gave insight once more to what had just happened.
Was he dying?
His sweet Eshe, her crooning voice. He wanted to lift his head, to pull her in to his embrace and tuck her in to him. She was so youthful – surely she deserved better than an old bastard like him? He couldn’t even bring their son home. He had found Rannoch, and he couldn’t even bring him home! “Rann..” he began, and then coughed as pain filled his very being. Blood spittled out from his mouth, and he shuddered, his eyes wide as he remained so desperate to tell her: I know where our son is! I found our boy!
But devastation loomed over him once more, as he saw the cubs in the background now.. playing. Apparently, with the wolf previously killed, they had no reason to leave, and his eyes began to widen, his throat constricting as panic enclosed over him. They were the meaning of the grim reaper now, surely. “Eshhh.. go!” His words were a terrible murmur – gone was the gentle rumble of his deep tones.
I love you, Scimitar--
Alive! His voice and his eyes! Eshe was not sure if he was dying, but knew there was no way in hell she would leave him to that fate. He spoke of Rannoch, and Eshe was rapt--but then, then he asked her to leave! What??? No! No,
Her own voice began harshly enough, but was gentle, I can't leave you here, like this, to --
Ah, in the backdrop came the horrible shadow, and its work was not done. Eshe saw the shape it took over her mate, over her, and was able to evade its first blow swiftly enough. It did not heed her mate, who thought the thing dead and was too bleary-eyed to see otherwise. Eshe knew she was swift enough to escape the bear, but her eyes drifted toward Scimitar. Surely he would die if she left him, surely...
She was able to howl an urgent note, but it was cut short by the heavy cuff of the mother bear. She saw nothing but stars, but Eshe was not yet still. It had not killed her, yet! But she was dazed and dizzied. Her perception of all things was off-kilter. Eshe thought of Cypress--thought that she and Scimitar both needed to stay alive to see him grow up, and Rannoch, too, Scimitar had said his name...!
Eshe snapped at the bear, lips peeled backward and a snarl full of loathing emitted from her chest, the chord one that had set into her heart. You hurt my family, and Eshe herself was a mother bear, as fearsome as that beastly thing, was she not?
She lunged for it, and lunged away. But their game was cut quite short as the full capacity of its strength found her spine. In death, Eshe knew no pain.
The scene played before him like a horror movie – the beast loomed over his beloved, who was too distraught to pay the danger any heed until it was too late. His throat gurgled with blood – his words trying to form, but nothing came out, and then her instincts kicked in.
Eshe was swift – she was beautiful, she was everything. ‘Go,’ he wanted to say again, but his voice did not work now. He envisioned pulling himself up – going to save her. Was that not what he was supposed to do, was to save her?
It was a sense of dread and panic that filled him as she stayed – her jaws snapping, and he heard her strangled cry – heard the wind knock itself from her with the ferocity of the bear’s paw. Perhaps she would escape – she had to for their boys! But she lunged – and the bear’s attack was direct when it grabbed her. He could not comprehend the way s he was lifted – any onlooker without attachment would see exactly what had happened, but it was as if Scimitar’s mind blocked the true vision as the bear crushed the life from the woman he loved.
The bear released her -- the threat truly gone now from the mother and her cubs, and moments seemed to creep past as Scimitar watched his beloved, but her chest did not rise and fall -- his own breath was waning.
He struggled to move forward as the bear finally disappeared -- he wanted to hold her one last time. His body refused to cooperate, and in the passing moments, the world would begin to fade as darkness overtook him. Scimitar would move no more.