Otatso Wetlands Underdog

On the edge of Otatso Wetlands; @Shardul

Scarlett decided that with flu season around the corner she would look for more of that Devil's ... something. She knew how the plant looked and smelled like. Scarlett wasn't worried about not remembering it. She was pretty keen about getting the right plants from the beginning and memorized the plant she saw with Reek. It was a wild guess for the female to see if they were also in the wetlands. What she did remember from Néa was that some kind on anemone grew in these wetlands that helped stop bleeding. Since Ukko was injured on his toe she might gather some of that too for if a wolf was injured.

Her light frame trotted out of the territory. She was going on a mission to find some herbs before winter would truly set in. Hopefully it wouldn't be too late. Maybe a late bloomer was just what they needed for their cache to get through the winter. Otatso wasn't too far away from the Maple Wood territory, which Scarlett liked, she didn't want to travel for too long or too far. She hadn't seen Sesi around and was getting worried, as for Nanook too. Hopefully her daughters hadn't ran off, that would be embarrassing. With her mind full of other things she walked slightly further into the wetlands. It was only when her paws were wet that she got her mind to finding those plants.

tagging @Regipre if u wanna join, kat!

their nights had been filled with careful planning regarding the pack of the maplewood -- shardul had gathered what information he might, as well as a description of the sickly-sweet and syrupy fragrance worn by the wolves of reek and saena's land. their names he filed away silently, along with the definition of their visages. 

in the daylight he traveled openly, bold in his confidence regarding his massive frame. the girl followed, or perhaps she did not. shardul was upon a scouting mission along the pack's borders, too far to be scented by their sentries, but within range of sighting the various beasts that comprised the pack. the squelch of the wetlands underfoot paused him -- with an annoyed sigh, the argent cat turned away, but not before a flash of traveling white caught his yellow stare.

regipre had described the alpha -- what a laughable title! -- female as a slim white beast, but this wolf was devoid of the markings that set saena aside from her fellows. shardul slunk into the shadows cast by assorted shrubbery and began to follow the searching lupine, careful to keep the wind in his favour as the familiar eroticism of murderous anticipation began to beat in his veins.

Scarlett didn't notice that the cat was following her. Her red eyes scanned for plants. Her nose close to the ground as she was eager to find what she was looking for. The anemone wasn't something that she could smell since it was partly underwater. But she could keep her nose focussed on the other plant. The petite female trotted through the water, clearly not taking notice of the sly cat that was stalking her. Since he took caution with the wind Scarlett was clueless about his position.

She stopped to inspect a plant, but it didn't seem to be the right one. It looked like the plant used for coughing but it didn't smell right. Scarlett then looked over the cold waters maybe there would be anemones in this little pond. Her red eyes tried to glance into he murky water, no idea how Néa found those plants at the time. The female was getting slightly discouraged.

she searched for a plant -- she did not see him, nor did she search for his staring visage in the shadows. and so shardul advanced, scarcely able to wait, and at the crucial moment, he felt as if he might die from the exhaustion wrought by tensed muscles held just so. but it soon swept upon him -- he felt the slow bubble of vexation burst from his throat in  a riotous scream, and strong hindquarters brought the cat into a leap toward the spine and shoulders of the hapless wolf.

Scarlett was startled instantly when she heard the horrible scream. The little female instantly reacted to it by turning towards it. She wanted to run by by that time the cat she met before was on her. She let out a yelp in shock, and horror. Her blood red eyes widened, a loud keen coming from her as the cat grabbed her shoulder. With the weight Scarlett easily tumbled over, her shoulder hurting badly, not sure if it was claw or tooth that opened it. She struggled to her feet trying to run from his monster, though it was clear that the wolfess was in panic.

blood flowed and the silver cat was made heady, drunk, upon the scent of it. he followed at a lope the trajectory of the reeling, wounded creature, striking every so often at a heel, a flank, until he tired of the game and leapt, intending to sink his claws into her haunches and draw her beneath him for the true nature of his dark diversions. "thou shalt come with me!" the puma laughed lowly, for this was truly the action for which he had been made, been created.

shardul was delighted.

@Saena @Reek @Ukko @Tavi Scarlett need help!!

As she struggled she wasn't really getting free, in her panic her vision became blurry, only the jolts of pain told her where the cat was. Her flanks and heels were bitten open and Scarlett had the feeling she wasn't going to survive this. Now on top of it all her eyes started to water. She didn't want to go with the cat. His claws sunk into her haunches and Scarlett jolted up in pain. With er being back on her feet she instantly started to limp away in half a run. She howled for her pack, and emergency call sounding towards the borders. She was close by after all, maybe the howl would scare the cat away with the prospect of more wolves coming. She needed their help. Scarlett struggled on. Her heels hurting as she tried to put as much distance between her and the cat. She was bleeding badly from several parts of her body, her neck, shoulder, flanks, hindquarters and heels. The wounds were made for her to suffer, not to instantly die. The cat was clearly out for torture and maiming the small female.

last post for me! <3

he tore, slashed, blood painting his paws almost unto the ankle and jaws smeared with the desirous life-beat. but still she struggled, and shardul was made joyous anew by the prospect of her strength, that which would keep her sentient until he was ready to strike the final blow. but she cried for her packmates, for the wolfpack that was the backbone of each lupine, and the silver cat hesitated. one, perhaps two of the furred fools would not stand against him, but his hindquarters bore still the scars of his attack upon the mountain, and so he thrust the woman violently away, breaking into a run that carried him toward the nearest body of icy water before he felt it was prudent to slow, to bathe away her scent before continuing.

Scarlett's panicked howl rouses Saena instantly from a daydream. She pricks her ears forward but doesn't have time to feel a surge of anger, for there is a quality to Scarlett's howl that bespeaks pain. Instead, icy cold fear splashes into her stomach. She doesn't remember getting to her feet, but soon enough she's flying through the trees of the maplewood. Twigs reach out to tear at her coat as she clumsily crashes through the wood, but the scrapes she sustains are nothing compared to what she sees when she breaks the treeline.

Scarlett, bleeding heavily. The lunge of a cat's backside as it flees the scene. The cat is smart, at least. A cougar may best a single wolf in combat but, being roughly the same size as wolves, it stands no chance against two or more. Saena throws back her head and adds her voice to the howl, a sharp call for @Reek foremostly, and she reaches Scarlett as her howl ends.

The alpha female is very ill-equipped for this. She knows nothing of healing except that her tongue can soothe the wounds and potentially stop the bleeding. So she falls alongside Scarlett, targeting the wounds on her neck and shoulder that seemed the most serious. Those on her flanks or heels might've been worse, but the alpha didn't know. So she swept her tongue as gently as she could over Scarlett's torn shoulder and neck, whining softly and pressing close in an effort to comfort her.

Her only hope now was that Reek would arrive soon. That he would take over the healing process so Saena could shove her fear and worry into her stomach and seek out the scent of the moronic cat, that they would be prepared next time to take it out for good.

Assuming Saena doesn't need anything from Ukko immediately, feel free to skip him as needed. If she does, then he won't survey the area and I'll keep on top of replying. I left Tavi open ended in case she doesn't follow suit but I have permission for the PP at the beginning. Also, I wrote this from my phone because I am doing nothing at work. 

Tavi has him on the ground in a tussle when the call flies through the air, enough for the both of them to separate immediately and look at each other worriedly. Their game ends abruptly and Ukko stands, shaking out his fur at the same time his paws hit the ground running. He doesn't know whether or not Tavi had met Scarlett but he doesn't even consider the wolf might not follow, so he does offer a nudge for her to come along. He just assumed. Even if he hadn't met the wolf that helped mend his paw, he knew he'd be flying through the trees to help his pack mate. The large wolf doesn't look back to see if she's trailing behind.

He only has one goal in mind: Scarlett.

By the time he arrives, Saena has already started to work on the wounded female who, by now, was more red than white. His heart sinks all the way to his stomach so much that he wants to look away but he grits his teeth and comes around the other side of the wounded woman. The scent of cat fills the area and his lip lifts in a snarl, a growl rumbling in his throat. He doesn't need confirmation from Scarlett or what Saena saw when she'd gotten here but his entire body falls into alert. His thick fur bristles and he takes a few steps where the scent trailed off to, or perhaps where it snuck up on, and listens. Ears stiffly forward and his muscles tense, expecting the creature to return to finish the deed.

He pads back to the fallen woman and his features soften minutely, whimpering as he hunkers down. What little he's learned from his previous home and Scarlett isn't enough to help her and a shiver runs down his spine at what his former leader might do in this case. He puts it away before he glances up to see if @Tavi has followed or if anyone else might be coming to help. He hesitates leaving the pair by themselves but there is little for him to do lest Saena gives him direction.

"I'll sweep the area, make sure it's not lurking," he tells her with the drippings of a snarl like acid lingering. He waits only long enough in case the other objects before he turns and runs a quick patrol.

It seems her howl helped to scare the cat away from maiming her body. Scarlett whimpered in pain. Adrenaline was slowly seeping away from her body as she limped in her run. Her run became a weak trot before she sunk down through her heels. She landed on her tummy and chin falling to the ground. Her teeth scratching her bottom lip open. The cats marks were all over her body. If it wasn't her hindquarters it was her shoulder and neck. The top of her shoulder and neck had a big chunk out of it. The cat gotten her good. It wasn't wrong for Saena to start there.

Scarlett was a crying mess, whimpering and whining in pain. Her eyes were closed though tears were still flowing. Her tail firmly lodged between her legs as she was trembling all over. Her coat matching with her eyes for once. Her breathing was going quicker and quicker not really realizing that her packmates were around her now. Her mind was still racing in panic mode. Her heart was racing so fast that the world was starting to spin, probably what contributed to that was the blood loss. The licking made her realize she wasn't alone anymore. She sagged as her nose registered some familiar scents. She was safe. She could rest now...

Possibly just a cameo while she shadows Ukko! Or if you want, @Saena could grab her attention and order her around. 

They did share a brief look of panic (which Tavi took as a sign she had been too forceful and exuberant in her playing), but it dawned upon the two of them that something was wrong. When Ukko tore off towards the alert, Tavi stumbled after him. It was more of an instinctual urge to chase than anything, which pulled Tavi along. She was still caught up in the game they had been playing - but that petered out when she caught the scent of blood upon the air, and the musk of some foreign animal. The silver fur along her spine began to prickle; she kept pace with Ukko as much as she could, but he was swift to outpace her since he knew the territory and she didn't. Once she caught up to him, she heard the tail end of his comment to Saena - and with a chuff of agreement, a brief look to the leader, Tavi turned on her heels and careened away after Ukko. Who knows, perhaps he'd need some backup.

Begrudgingly, Reek tore himself away from his mate's side in the early hours of the morning to tend to the border, but his monotonous work was short-lived, and he was wracked by the pained howl of a friend.  Panic seized him for a moment, and Reek froze in place— leg still hiked over the side of tree.  His muscles tensed, and single thought repeated in his head.  What now?

They couldn't catch a break.  This sort of thing never happened at Redtail Rise. Perhaps he was looking at the past with rose-tinted glasses, but something about the Maplewood felt much more hostile. It felt as if constant danger was always looming beyond, just out of reach.

Finally, he broke from his panicked trance and sprinted toward the call of distress. He arrived to find a gruesome scene. The thick and metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air around him, but it did little to phase him. It was fight or flight, and Scarlett took the first priority. Saena had begun to tend her wounds in his absence, and Reek moved in beside her and whispered, "I've got her... find the cat," before settling down to tend her wounds.

She was breathing, but he couldn't tell if she was still conscious. She would have lost a lot of blood by now, and if she were to fade, his job would prove to be a lot more difficult. She needed to stay awake. He paused from licking her wounds to speak. "Hey. Hey Scarlett. Talk to me. I don't care what about, but talk to me about something." If he could get her on a tangent, perhaps he wouldn't have to worry.

Densa would recognize her mother's howl everywhere though this one was so different because it seemed her mother was in panic. Something didn't sound normal and it made Desna uneasy. The dark colored girl rushed towards the howl, to her mother. The girl wasn't the fastest, which was a known fact but she didn't stop running till she was getting close and closer. Her heart was beating quickly, worried that something might be wrong. She lost Nanook, she couldn't lose her mommy! Instantly the air filled with the smell of blood, she knew this from hunting, but this one was different. Wrong. The girl blinked as the horrible sight of a wolf all bloodied and wounded. Desna froze on her spot in the distance for a moment. Her face looking in horror.

Then she realized that this was her mother! No! Her mommy! Desna unfroze and rushed towards her mother's side, close to Reek. Now she realized that there were others and looked at them with teary eyes. She nudged her mother again. "Mommy! Mommy! Wake up," she whined. It sounded heart breaking. Desna looked at Reek. "You have to save her!," she urged, like Reek didn't have enough pressure on him already. Desna plopped down defeatedly by her mother's face, licking her muzzle and nudging her as tears fell. Her mother couldn't die... she was.. Mommy! "M-Mommy please," she whispered with a sob.

Wasn't sure whose turn it was. It's fairly safe to say Saena is gone to scout elsewhere, so she can be treated like she isn't present anymore.

Ukko and Tavi brushed past after a brief pause. The alpha female didn't entirely register what the male had said; her head felt filled with cotton as she focused on tending to the most severe-looking of Scarlett's injuries. Her eyes lifted over the white wolf's ruff and scanned the horizon, but the cat had made itself scarce the minute the pack wolves showed up. Cowardly creatures, cats. Wise in terms of self-preservation, but any cougar stupid enough to attack a wolf when a wolf could call upon its pack didn't deserve to get away unscathed.

Reek's arrival coincided with the moment that Saena's head began getting light. This was why she wasn't a healer, she realized—the heavy scent of a fellow wolf's blood, particularly one whom she cared for on some level, made her dizzy and weak. His voice seemed far away but she forced herself to look at his face and nod dumbly. She had to get away from here, away from Scarlett's deep and grievous wounds, away from the guilt of not knowing there was a murderous cougar around, and she had to be useful in another way.

When Desna arrived with cries of, "mommy," the alpha knew it was time to go. She pushed away from Scarlett, feeling almost cold but unable to handle the situation, and stepped gingerly past the felled female to head in a similar direction as Ukko and Tavi. She angled herself to fan out from them, searching in another direction for signs of the cat that had mauled their caretaker, and soon enough she was so far away that she couldn't hear Reek, Desna and Scarlett any longer.

I was told Ukko and Tavi weren't going to post anymore! @Reek wrap this up with bring her to his den? :3

Scarlett wanted to sleep so badly, just close her eyes for a moment. And maybe she did close them. It wasn't long before she returned ti the world of the living. It was Desna's voice and Reek urging her to talk. The mother was a quite out of it with the blood loss. "I.. want to sleep," she croaked. "So tired," he breathed. She did close her eyes again because she just couldn't hold them open. A soft sigh came from her, trying to focus her hearing. It was Desna that was crying now to wake up.

"Des.. Desna.. It's okay. I'm okay," she mumbled to the pup. It wasn't something that sounded very clear but at least she was talking to her daughter. She could still reply and give answers. The heavily beaten female at least tried to sit up too. She wanted to get away from here, clueless how many pack mates had come out to save her.

One more post from you and that should do it! Sorry for the delay on this one!

Panic gripped Reek as he tried rousing the injured mother.  The air felt like static around him, buzzing and popping like a radio that had lost signal. Time slowed down, and Reek felt like he was living in a haze. Despite his hopeful prodding, he was met with silence from his fallen pack mate. The only sound that fell upon Reek were the pleading cries of her child, Desna.  Save her. It echoed in his head over and over again until his brain was practically swimming the tell-tale chemicals of panic. Doubt gripped him... what if he couldn't?  

Something about the child's cries seemed to have an effect. Scarlett, while hazy and barely coherent, was now conscious. Time seemed to slip back into it's normal pace and Reek regained control. "Scarlett, can you get up?" he asked. "I need to get you to my den. You can retht there." He inched close and stood beside her, offering his shoulder to bear the bulk of her weight.

Scarlett turned her head to the sound coming from Reek. It took a moment for her to assemble the words. Slowly she started nodding. She wanted to get up, get away from here. But it was simpler in her mind than what her body needed to do. She tried to get up but soon fell back down. Her paws were rather weak, and the wounds weren't helping. She was clearly in pain. Still Desna crying out was something that motivated her and she pushed.

Luckily she had Reek as help and with his support the injured female made it to the creek by Reek's den. The road to the den felt like hell for the petite female, but she had to go through it if she wanted to get better.

- To be continued. -