Northstar Vale a little slow, a little late

His throat still burned every time he moved his head around, and Saleem knew that he would one day find the creature who had done this and make it pay. It had failed to kill him, but Saleem vowed not to make that mistake when he tracked it down. For now, though, he rested and recuperated. The scab that had formed across his throat was dry and cracking, unpleasant in every way he could imagine. He groaned, turning over and trying to get more sleep, but it was no use. Everything was too uncomfortable.

Giving up on sleep, despite the sun's continued recess from the sky, Saleem skulked down to the nearest source of water and slid in, the cool liquid soothing his itchy, sore wound for the time being. He was still rattled, and every little noise had him on edge. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, and Saleem's hackles raised in alarm.

Reyson was new father. And it was all so new as his littles grew a bit each day. Today found him out and about to stretch his tired legs. And to keep an eye on the borders. It had been with a bit of irritation and angst he had found out of an attack in the borders. Of one of their own.

It had hit too close to home and he found himself doggedly tracing the borders.

He heard footsteps, and for a split second, Saleem worried that she might have bested him again. However, the pattern was familiar, and it was followed by a breeze carrying the scent of Reyson, a well-known member of Epoch. Maybe not well-known by Saleem, but he certainly knew of the scarred man. The boy lifted himself from the stream, his own path merging with that of the large reddish wolf. Perhaps to others he seemed daunting, but since Saleem had been around him his whole life, it didn't feel that way to him.

You think I'll get a scar? he asked, stretching his chin up so Reyson could see the gnarly wound beneath. It wouldn't be so bad if he grew up to look like that.

Reyson had worried that the babies of Epoch would hate him or fear him like their eldest brother, but he was pleased to know this wasn't the case.

An amused curl of lips, but Reyson bent his head with a furrowed brow. Intent to check out the wound.

Probably. You can now say you fought won.

Reyson lifted scarred head back up. You know Aloe will help the itch and tightness. Meadow or your mama might have some.

Reyson said that he fought and won, but Saleem frowned. Didn't win. It got away! In truth, Saleem had run, but he wasn't willing to admit he was that much of a failure. Just the fact that his prey had survived was humiliating enough. He felt he had barely scratched it, and he had come out with this rather painful and uncomfortable wound. When Reyson suggested something called "allow," Saleem curled his lip. He didn't want medicine to make him feel better. He wanted the prey to die.

Reyson settled to his haunces and nodded. Sometimes that's what happens. Gives you time to heal if they come back. Train a little more.

Reyson furrowed his brow. Well you don't havecto use the aloe, but it would heal faster if you did. And then you'd be back in shape for another go around if it came to that.

Reyson didn't know what happened. Far as he was concerned a stranger had been in the borders hurt one of their own. So he didn't much have sympathy for the offender.

Saleem huffed at Reyson's insistence on using the allow. The boy would have none of it. He would wear his badge of shame for as long as it took to heal, and he didn't care if it took the rest of his life to do so. (Oh, childhood dramatics!)

Did you ever lose a fight? Saleem asked. He had a feeling the answer was no, based on how rough and tumble Reyson looked, but he couldn't stop himself from asking. And did a prey every fight back? he asked. The latter was what had confused him the most, caught him off guard. If he had known it was going to fight back; he would have been more prepared. I wanna get better at killing the prey, he said, a certain sense of finality in his voice.

If he could do that, he could show everybody that he wasn't a loser.

Reyson shook hia head. So saleem was determined to learn the hard way. Very well. He'd drop it for now. But when it cracked and grew itchy and scarred horrifically. He'd probably regret it. But maybe not.

Reyson blinked. Of course I did. Everyone does. You can't win them all.

Prey. Of course they do goats and deer with hooves and horns. Rabbits with teeth and paws. Birds with beaks and claws. Everything fights to live.

I'll take you with me next time i go hunting.

Reyson was a little confused, it had been another wolf to attack him wasn't it. Maybe it was prey animal, they could be vicious especially if fighting to live.

Saleem liked to think that he could win them all if he was a better fighter. One day he'd be the best fighter, and he'd never lose a fight ever again. All he had to do was practice, right? Reyson explained that everything fought to live, but Saleem felt like the prey who had attacked him was different. All the prey he had gone after before had run at the first sign of teeth, but this one had gone after him again and again. If only it hadn't gotten his throat, he was sure he could have killed and eaten it.

Reyson offered to take him hunting in the future, and Saleem's face lit up. He'd been hunting with others, sure, but it would be even more productive to learn new tricks from a new teacher. Can we hunt something that fights back? he asked, now latching onto that idea. If he could practice with somebody backing him up, maybe he could improve his techniques. Maybe we can find whatever did this to my neck and kill it! Saleem's eyes widened with excitement and anticipation. He wanted so badly to enact his revenge on the thing that had done this to him.

Reyson was well aware what hard work, training and practice could do. Hadn't he lived it. He was a great fighter, one of the best. But yet he also knew the toll it took and he wouldn't have this for the children of the vale if he could help it.

Reyson frowned in thought. We will ask your father that question, but as long as he gives his leave yea.

Reyaon shook hia head. Unfortunately any trail of it would be long gone. We wouldn't be able to track it.

tag for behind the scenes reference!

Saleem huffed, wishing he didn't have to ask Father's permission for hunting. Still, he wouldn't argue against it. He had a pretty good feeling his father wouldn't mind him doing something like that. He was practically all grown up now!

Reyson said they wouldn't be able to find the thing that had hurt his neck, but Saleem was unconvinced. Surely it would cross paths with him again someday. He wanted to be ready for whenever that happened, and he wanted to get his revenge one way or another.

I'll come find you when I'm ready, Saleem promised. He wanted to be in better health before he got himself into that. Now with a plan (and more solid goal) in mind, he slunk off to find @Sylianos and update him on his impending lessons from Reyson.