@Xynos
Immediately after Ursus and War are ditched in the mountains,
Place: somewhere just outside the Sunspire Mountains, northern-ish parts of the Flatlands.
They had ran for their lives.
Barely escaped, but ran nonetheless.
Nyra, especially.
Once the bearwolves were left behind, Nyra felt herself starting to slow down.
Not by choice, either.
She was hurting, hurting, aching, in agony.
"Xynos...slow...please..." She gasped, attempting to stumble to a stop and instead tumbling roughly, messily, into the drying grasses.
Shaking from adrenaline and pain, Nyra's sides heaved. She had little strength, especially after such vicious fighting.
She deserved it, she had it coming.
And she knew this, but that didn't stop her from running away.
During the time of their escape, Xynos knew only to run and nothing else.
Occasionally he would spare a glance back towards Nyra, checking more to see if she was keeping up.
By now he had forgotten the battle that had just taken place and the wounds she had endured. He had a few marks on him, but it was nothing in comparison.
At the sound of her voice, he slowed to a trot, panting hard. She pleaded for him to slow down and now the memories came flooding back... as did guilt.
We can't be slow for too much longer...
As true as it was, he knew the odds were bad either way. The harsher they traveled, the worse her health would become. But, if they came to a complete stop, the chances of being found again were greater.
Lumbering to her shoulder, the man pressed his heavy body against her flank to offer some form of support.
Just a bit further. Once we're sure they're gone, we can find a place for you to rest.
It felt odd, him being the one urging her on. Many mixed feelings surrounded him. He had many questions for Nyra but now didn't seem the best time to flood her with them.
Nyra heard his words, and whines softly in acknowledgment of the facts of the matter.
When he came to her side, Nyra accepted the help and slowly staggered to her paws again.
"Both of us will need to find another pack soon. I....I'm sorry, that I failed you as a leader." Nyra hung her head as she spoke, mostly from exhaustion, but also with shame.
She could've done better...
Should have done better.
The Fallen Queen sighed and began to move again to the best of her ability.
The assistance was accepted, which then granted the dismissal of some guilt. However, it did not yet bestow pity.
As it by now had been agreed, what wounds the white woman was given, were earned.
By choice, Xynos bluntly ignored her apology. Even he was not sure whether or not he was ready to accept it.
Now he would only speak of the matter at hand.
Which are near? Would any offer us acceptance... or even shelter, at the least?
Nyra grit her teeth against the pain she was in.
Looking around, she studied the trees and mountains far into the distance.
"There is Moonglow in those far mountains, Redhawk Caldera further southwest. I'm unsure about either, but I think we should...try." She painted softly, hesitantly veering their path toward the Caldera.
Unbeknownst to her, messages anti-Saint had been sent out in the recent past.
Would they be given a chance, at all, there?
Xynos nodded slowly, taking her response into account.
He then let his gaze wander afar, searching in the same directions she had.
Casting a small glance to Nyra, he then chuffed. She was far to exhausted to be making decisions at the moment, nor did he really trust her to do so anyhow.
Moonglow it is. Seems a bit closer. You won't get far with wounds like these... If they do accept us, I'll see to it their healer tends to you as soon as they are able.
The words nearly choked him. Why did he feel so obligated to take charge? To take care of her in this way? She had been his former leader... was that the extent of his reasoning, or was there more to it?
The chuff made her prick her ears.
She cast her gaze his way, and to Xynos' words, she gave a small nod of cooperation before limping to join him on-course for Moonglow.
To the last of the Ostregas, they would go.
This will be my final post here.
Taking the nod as some form of approval, the shadowed man was quick to turn at his heel and tread onward.
The sooner they arrived, the better. He would waste no time; this was not just for the sake of Nyra, but driven by his fear of the likely outcome if Ursus and War were to catch up with the stragglers.