Stone Circle Deep Scars

Korei came to the borders, crying and limping. The wolfess had licked her wounds, and kept on going. She bled, her white fur on her shoulder stained red. She stumbled forth, and tried to send a call up but she was feeling weak. What had happened, it kept running through her mind on repeat...

And yet, Korei could not let them know what happened. If they knew what happened...no, she had to get help. And for that, they could not know the truth. The truth of what had happened.

The sound of distant feeble crying and blood filled his senses, and with a swift turn the male made haste towards it's direction. The wind pulling him along, his giant paws working the earth and flinging the dry dirt in his wake as he rushed with a sense of urgency. Greyback always feared the smell of blood, it made his own run cold.

Running through the meadow and nearing the border, the Easthollow male was met with the sight of a familiar white wolf, one who had recently joined their ranks. Her cream colored pelt was slightly ragged and large part of scarlet stained her shoulders. Pinching his brows together, he rushed down to her and immediately stood beside her, ready the catch her stumbling frame if she fell. "Shh, it's okay." He cooed, attempting to calm her nerves. "You're new to Easthollow, correct? What is your name?"

OOph! Shadowposted lmao

The world had gone very still without Illecebra.

Perhaps it was simply his own mind, all thoughts ceasing as he wrapped himself in recounted words and memories of his love - from the moment they had met eyes to the moment their gazes had locked in her passing, falling limp against his side with a last breath. A great hole had opened in his chest, and it was vulnerability that leaked out. He had promised her, he had promised his love that he would continue to live even without her walking the earth, and he could not fail or he would be failing her; a thought that he could not bear. But how did he continue, now? Where did he go? 

Sometimes his fiery eyes blinked open and he smiled warmly, expecting his mate to come running into the den with a rough nudge against his cheek and a twinkle in her gaze - and then a cold wave would wash over him, smile dropping as quick as it had come when he remembered that she would never wake him again. Oh how he missed her.

The cry snapped him back to attention, and the man stood taller with ears pricked; he was quick to follow the sound, for it was one of pain. Mawk was a broken man, but that did not mean he would let another fall, not now. Not ever. He'd fight off the dangers until his own passing came, where he would run across the clouds and embrace his love once more. He'd not met this wolfess (though he did recognise Greyback at her side, who he hadn't really spoken to either), but he rushed toward them with a furrowing of his brows regardless, for he recognised her from the meeting that Valette had summoned them all to, and he knew her as a member of Easthollow. Easthollow wolves were family, so it was his duty to protect and aid where he could - "What happened?" His urgent, gruff voice was laced with concern, and the sight of staining blood caused his stomach to churn. The last time he had seen blood was the crimson spluttering from Illecebra's muzzle as she coughed and retched.

At least she was at peace, now.

He had spotted the gathering and he automatically realized something was off. Korei Julia was hurt and Alarian was nowhere to be seen. His gut twisted and he barreled his way onto the scene, not caring for the other males present. Korei Julia! He called out as he got close enough to be heard, concern was etched upon his face. There was anxiety riddling his frame and his mind seemed to be drawing blanks.

And he hated himself. So very much.

He should have gone with them. He should have never let Alarian leave that morning or even think about a trip, he should have pulled him a bit closer and mumbled for five more minutes together. Now look what had happened. One was missing and another had returned harmed. Please. He looked between the other men with concern plastered on his face. I know her, we came here together. I can care for her. But he couldn't. He was just so desperate to put the pieces together.

I'm gonna join this party lmao if it gets to be too much I'll write Ira out ;0

Things had been quiet all morning for the mountain wolf, but soon that silence would be broken. A weak howl, several paws rushing, and soon the scent of blood. All too much for Ira to ignore, even if others had already reached the wolf in need. It would not take her long to arrive, the white pelt of the young wolf she had met earlier was now stained with red. Her orange eyes scanned the faces that had surrounded her, all males with worry etched into their faces...

The stone colored warrior thought back to the dark night she had her conversation with Korei Julia and one thing that had become apparent was her shyness. She would stay back a few paces knowing being crowded could be overwhelming, but she would not stay silent. You should be worried about stopping that bleeding first. There will be time for questions later. She stood by what she said, but that did not mean that curiosity was getting the best of her. If something or someone dangerous was prowling around the territory it had to be delt with. Like she told the others though, that could wait until Korei Julia was not in danger.

Korei stumbled forth as one wolf came forth, right up beside her. Followed by more. So many others, or maybe her vision was just going double? She could not really tell, even though she heard many voices speaking. Korei tried to focus on one each, as they spoke but her mind was dizzy.

One called to her, called her name. That one she focused on immediately, and managed a whimper seeing it was Outlander. Out of all of them, he knew Alarian best beside herself...but as she began stumbling forward more, it wasn't Outlander she went to but rather somewhat behind Ira, all the questions having been too much. Even leaning a bit on the female. "Help...need help..." She felt more comfortable away from the growing crowd, from the questions and constant noise.

Others soon joined around himself and the small white wolf, their words encouraging and kind. However Greyback knew it was too much at one time and quickly allowed the girl to scoot out from beside him to his daughter, Ira. He was not blind to the scent of Alarian that stuck to the girls pelt, something that made his brow raise. He was more surprised at the level of connection the two had made and firmly nodded his head with a hum. 

Turning to the wolf with a fiery- almost orange gaze, Greyback gave a bow of his head. "Outlander, was it?" He confirmed, remembering him at the meeting for the Stone Circle and Steph's new rank. He had seen the male around and gotten whispers of his name but wasn't able to have a full introduction yet. "You said you could help her? You should go with Ira and get her somewhere safe within the territory." He spoke kindly to him, a little frazzled by the nerves of a pack member being hurt but he pushed that far down.

He finally looked at Mawk, eyeing the man's expression. Another wolf he had been unable to form a connection with, but still valued. He remembered Illecebra and him being close, perhaps mates, but was never sure. "We should give them some space, Korei will be fine." He tried to sooth the nerves of the male, himself as well, and looked to Ira and Outlander one last time. Yes, she would be fine.

The fact that the scent of Alarian on the girl's pelt was so strong and recent was concerning. Did he...do this to her? Confusion settled over him and a rock made it's home in his stomach. He had spoke with the male before but did not want to believe he would hurt a pack mate. The idea made the fur along his spine slightly raise.

Turning, Greyback started to make his leave.

The entire scene was a blur to Mawk, quite honestly - he felt so lost, so out of place. Surely, among Easthollow wolves, he should feel right at home? Perhaps it simply was not the same without Illecebra, who had brightened every step he had taken, illuminated his memories with such beautiful ferocity. He missed that fiery spark in her eyes. He missed her.

He snapped out of it when Greyback peered his way, offering a few words and gently dismissing the failed guardian from the presence of the wounded wolfess - it did appear as though the situation was being handled, and the wolfdog felt his mood dampen again; was he so unhelpful? It was not his packmate's soothing words that conjured such a worry, but his own blurred head, the messy thoughts and anxieties after his family had died out. There was only himself left, himself and... and his sister, if she was still out there, somewhere. He had failed in protecting them all.

Despite his slowly cracking shell of security, the man gave a swift nod and with one last glance to the others, he turned and took his own leave, dissolving into the undergrowth and searching for a place where he could think in his lonesome once more.