She'd been a member of Swiftcurrent Creek for less than a week, and already she was playing doctor to two of its other members. Their wounds were very obviously inflicted not by accident, but she had not asked either of her patients. The injuries were maybe a couple of days old when first she saw them, and the rapid onset of infection must have meant that they'd been bitten by something... or someone.

Paarthurnax tried hard not to let this dampen her spirits, for although there was tension and uncertainty among her comrades, she had found a place where surely she could belong. It was supposed to be a happy time, not one tainted by worry and fear of attack. She looked to reach out to the others, show them that things would get better, but she did not know how.

Her heart sank when she paused in her tracks to observe the pacing of an ashen male, who was clearly anxious about something. A part of Paar wished to turn her tail and not get involved, but her natural instinct was to close the distance between them. She moved slowly in the other wolf's direction until she was a few yards from him, and the crimson beauty breathed a soft whine to express her concern. "Are you alright? "

Paarthurnax yipped, surprised, and back-pedalled speedily out of reach as her sterling pack-mate swung around the snap at her with a raised voice. She fixed her coppery doe eyes to his face, determined to see every move her made, and was even more confused by the newest response. He relaxed almost instantly, her features softening to form a warm smile that reached his platinum eyes. The red beauty blinked at him, uncertain of how quickly he might turn aggressive again, as her heart thrummed rapidly within her breast.

Who the hell pissed in this maniac's cereal? It was then that she considered the fact that he might be suffering from some sort of mental disorder, but surely Bazi would have earned her against a wolf in their ranks who has the potential to freak out over nothing? The silver stranger continued with an apology and an excuse for his behaviour as though it was the most normal thing in the world. Paarthurnax gave little response of her own, especially as the strange male asked for her name and kicked off into conversation, but she struggled to form words for fear of unleashing his bad temper once more. Not wanting to be rude, however, she piped up with "I'm Paarthurnax," and fell silent once more.

The strange silver make want very good at making her fell comfortable. Uncertain, the red wolfess fidgeted in place as she eyed her pack-mate suspiciously. He piped up with yet another apology and stated that he was stressed, while the corners of Paarthurnax' lovely eyes twitched as she fight to keep herself from narrowing them; I'm not your punch bag, was what she wished she had the courage to say out loud.

She exhaled softly, defeated, unable to maintain her unnaturally stoic appearance when Shadow offered his name and shot her yet another winning smile. Paar accepted his apology with a dip of her elegant crown, and managed a shy smile of her own. His question regarding her status in the pack made her stall yet again, however, and for the first time she consisted the reason behind her acceptance.

We could use a female medic, was what Bazi had told Scimitar, and Paar felt a pang of hurt for the first time since joining the pack. She was not valued for her companionship nor her growing love for the land and the wolves who were to be her family. Paarthurnax was here purely because she possessed skills that no other member of the pack could demonstrate. When the crimson beauty realised she been holding her breath as these thoughts raced through her mind, she exhaled softly.

It would take time to earn her place, she knew. But she could not bear the thought of being cast aside in favour of a replacement, or to be booted out when whatever reason behind the mysterious bite marks was eradicated.

"I'm a medic," the she-wolf said rather meekly, rolling a slender shoulder in a pitiful shrug. "I guess that's about it."

Paarthurnax lowered her gaze and looked at nothing, an empty space between herself and Shadow, and tried to keep herself from sinking into paranoia. More than anything, she just wanted to fit in, and trying to convince herself that it was too soon to be appreciated was proving difficult. She felt uncomfortably out of the picture, an afterthought, a creature destined to forever remain in the background. Paar was a wolf who'd been second-best her entire life; her parents had loved her dearly, but never like they loved their proud, strong, dutiful sons.

Silence hung between the two Creek wolves, but Paar card little. She appeared lost among her thoughts, wondering if she'd chosen correctly, or if she might have to uproot herself again. Her previous pack had been nothing but welcoming, where this one seemed scattered. It's future concerned her with every passing day.

Suddenly, in an unexpected gesture, there was a cool nose against her feathery cheek. She slackened noticeably, her muscles releasing their tension, as she succumbed to a warmth she thought her pack-mates incapable of. Paar closed her vibrant eyes and leaned into the touch as though it might be gone too soon, and purled her gratitude. When she opened her copper eyes again, Paarthurnax boldly sought the cool platinum of Shadow's, and she let her tail wag between her hocks.

"Thank you," was all she murmured, shifting so she could bump her snout to the underside of her companion's muzzle, and pulled away to reveal to him her most lovely smile.

Shadow returned her smile, one that reached the sterling of his eyes, and offered her a few words of encouragement. She had no need to thank him for being someone she could keen on, for they were pack-mates. It was their duty as a group to be there for one another. His thoughts were so like hers that the realisation set her heart aflutter, and she cast aside the memories of Danica's wariness, Scimitar's coolness, the way Bazi looked at her as though she might rob her off something. Because when Shadow looked at her, she found in him the warmth and acceptance she'd been craving for months.

"Well," she flicked her tongue over her upper lip, as she eyes the silver male curiously. "Tell me about yourself. Have you lived here long?" Paarthurnax blinked up at her taller companion, eager to develop conversation with him and shoo her heartache away.

When she'd asked about him, Paar hadn't expected a life story. Shadow took a seat and motioned for her to do likewise, and she lowered her haunches to perk her tall ears and listen. Truthfully, she found it rather awkward that her pack-mate begun his take right from the start when they'd only just met, but she did not wish to be rude. And so she settled herself her gaze fixed to the story-teller's features.

It was surprising that he'd come from a family who had not appreciated our loved him, when he seemed so naturally sweet. But then she recalled his first reaction to her approach, the way he turned on her so quickly, and figured perhaps that may have linked to his youth somehow.

Paarthurnax was not sorry for his poor upbringing. He'd been shaped and moulded into the creature he had become, and he was not a bad wolf for it. So when Shadow finished his tale, Paar smiled on gratitude.

"Seems you've got worked up quite a story to tell over the years," the crimson wolfess said softly, thumping her tail against the ground. She was not quite prepared to share her own, even though her childhood and early adulthood in Samarkand had been comfortable. "Mine is not nearly as extensive. My mother and father founded a pack that was around for maybe a year or so, but returned to my grandfather's land to claim it when he retired. My siblings - and there are many of them - and I were born there, and the pack had been established for generations. My parents have since moved on, and my brother leads it now. One day, his firstborn will lead in his place."

She did not speak of her elder brother, Alduin, who should rightfully have replaced her father on his retirement. Paarthurnax had not known the firstborn of the Frostfurs, but she couldn't help but wonder if he'd have treated her with greater respect than Sahloknir had. Nita had not kept secrets of her first boy, though she'd always spoken solemnly of him.

"I left to find my own way when I was two years old, and have been studying between packs since. I think I'm here to stay, though, for as long as I can."

Paarthurnax eyed her sterling companion curiously, wondering with mild fear if he might further question her background. How could she explain to him that her parents had not been formally mated? That even though Nita had been Xerxes' primary partner and only fellow leader, her sire had many other lovers. Truthfully, Paar had not even considered the possibility of her heritage catching up with her now that she was so far from her birthplace, but it found itself wedged uncomfortably in her new-found paranoia.

Trying to push aside the storm that raged silently among her thoughts, the bi-coloured wolfess quirked a brow at Shadow. "So," she started, gathering herself to her paws and loping elegantly across the pebbles until her nimble paws found the stream's edge. "You live beside a creek - I hope you've learned to swim during your time here! Fancy a dip?"

Shadow commented that he'd been swimming since he was tiny, and she laughed with him. She'd come from the desert, where water had been scarce, so swimming was not a luxury Paar knew as a child. But it had come naturally to her when she ventured North, and she enjoyed having the opportunity to bathe on those hot Summer days.

The ashen male moved into the shallows alongside her, then pressed on further into deeper water. Paarthurnax followed him closely, only pausing when her companion did, and she blinked up at him as he piped up with a question for her. "You can call me Paar if you'd like," she suggested gently, smiling warmly as her tail swept across the creek's surface.

Despite her initial confusion and frustration at having been greeted so rudely, Paar was finding that she rather enjoyed Shadow's company. He was easy to spend time with. He was sweet and gentle and seemingly enjoying her company, too. Her previous concerns at feeling unwanted among the pack were gradually slipping away, and she pushed what was left aside in favour of letting troubled thoughts of the future go and holding onto the present.

The ashen male inched closer to her until his flank brushed hers, and she briefly leaned against him for support before venturing into deeper water. Soon her shoulders were submerged and, kicking against the river's bed, Paarthurnax sucked in a breath and found herself afloat. A low woof invited Shadow to join her - "race you to the other side!" -and gave herself a head-start.