Ira had heard through Bones of the cougar attack, having managed to be elusive, so consumed he was with honing his skills and his talismans - all in the hopes of pleasing Jinx. In the reality of things, his contact with Jinx had been slim for a while, if only because he would exhaust himself and slumber beneath the stars. Ira was not as clued in on as to what all had transpired in the short span of time, spiraling downwards since the second the cougar was attacked. He was unaware that his guardian had suffered wounds, severe enough that the children growing inside her had been killed. Ira had assumed Jinx’s pregnancy because she smelled different to him and had gained a lot of weight in a short amount of time - though in truth he hadn’t known for sure. He had ran with his assumption though he forcibly did not linger upon it, for the thought of squirming puppies that would claim the majority of Jinx’s attention had fueled a deep seeded jealousy within Ira that did not truly surprise him; not to mention the worst case scenario that she would no longer want him and cast him off in the same way that his blood had. Even the mere consideration of that was like a painful punch to his chest, and quickly Ira shook it off.

Ira had found himself caught in the rain that soaked the silken tendrils of his fur, though he hardly paid it any mind. He had caught Jinx’s scent and without realizing it, until her scent grew stronger, he had began to gravitate in her direction. Ira had spent too many nights without her presence and found that, accordingly, he craved it as he craved his most favorite of his possessions. Ice blue irises expanded as his pupils narrowed in on the ghostly apparition that his sense of smell told him was Jinx. Her gait, however, did not match the regal and stealthy one he was used to associating with her. The shift of her weight appeared uneven and Ira realized with ice pooling in his stomach that she was limping. In that moment, something shifted within Ira, whether it was the wrench in his heart or the suddenly fierce force that made him want to take on the whole world for her - to protect her (though that was sort of amusing seeing as how she was the adult and he was the child) he was not sure. It did not matter.

“My mambo,” Uttered forth from Ira’s spliced lips before he moved to approach her, calling out to her in a soft murmuring rumble “Jinx,”. Concern clouded his irises and darkened his expression when he noticed the injuries she bore and the difference in her that he sensed. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Ira demanded in an inquiring manner, ears perking atop his skull, cupping towards her as he paused, waiting.

Ira watched as she turned to face him, brazenly holding her gaze, though feeling a creeping unease chill his heart as if it had been pierced by a dagger of ice as he saw the hollowness and realized, with his heart skipping a beat, that there was no reorganization in her eyes. Though it was concern that held him still even as she ghosted forward a step, there was also a edge of fear - though it was not a fear of Jinx so much as it was the fear that he had - despite his best efforts - allowed her to get close to him unintentionally and that what he feared most in the world was happening before him. Again. That she - all he had allowed himself in this world, his most coveted and beloved secret - no longer wanted him, or as it currently appeared, knew him. The moment was fleeting (despite that it felt like a lifetime) and she seemed to recognize him and relief flooded in concern and fear’s hollow wake.

Jinx informed it was a cougar - though Ira knew it to be the cougar, likely the one Bones had boasted about during their meeting, and the word was accompanied by an ill fitting giggle, even if it did not hold mirth. Icy eyes narrowed in a sudden burst of rage that no one had thought to find him and inform him that Jinx had been injured. Cowards, his mind hissed maliciously, and a discontented growl rumbled in Ira’s chest. He had even spoken to Bones about it and she had never once mentioned someone being injured as Jinx had. How dare they, his mental voice was accusing and full of scorn, distrust, wrath, and beneath all that pain. It pained him, aching in his hardened heart to see Jinx so…broken. She explained further that they attacked a cougar, but was laughing about it as if she found it humorous.

Ira did not laugh with her - for he did not find it humorous, and deep down he suspected she really didn’t either; and in the next moment Jinx had altered once more and was serious when she spoke again. A small stab of jealousy resounded in his chest when she mentioned that a cougar would take all that he held important if he attacked it, for Ira had taken that to mean that she was referring to herself and the loss of her pups and assuming that he was not important to her (though she had not specifically mentioned herself and he was running off assumptions). He might not have liked the idea of them, but he had not wanted to see them dead; and certainly not this way. “They will pay for what has happened,” Ira vowed darkly, boldly moving towards her. It may not be until years later but vengeance would be taken if it was what Jinx desired. In that moment, Ira recognized and accepted that he would move heaven and hell for her, if she asked. “Tell me what I can do.” The youth pleaded in a murmur, wanting to comfort her, to prove to her that she had not lost him, that he would be with her always, or until she no longer wanted him around.