Lost Creek Hollow Don't worry, I'll be alright

They hadn't gotten for when Sven could go no further. Blood pouring from his face his chest. It needed fixed, so  did @Ujurak.

He stopped and stood still taking stock. Despite the two more serious wounds his body ached in places it had never ached. His head hurt amd he was angrier than he had ever been. 

He would not let an arrogant wolf like that in peace on the stone circle. Even if it killed him. Because that wolf did not deserve the legacy his father had left.

Sven looked around for something to stem the bleeding. Knit the flesh of his chest back together. You could not see bone, but you could see the white meat underneath. Even Sven was unsure how deep it was. He knew it wasn't life threatening, unless infection or blood loss got him.

for my own reference, this thread is set after this event

The steady drum of his feet against the ground was all that distracted Ujurak from his injuries. The consistency of each footfall, the feeling of the ground beneath his feet, the need to find safety. They all numbed the pain from his wounds once the adrenaline began to fade.

The shallow wounds on his legs weren't a concern. Where Asvardr wrenched his tail, it ached where it was punctured. The man's teeth took fur with it, but Ujurak was certain all would heal. The wounds to his face were a different story. His left eye had been spared, but the swelling of the punctures and lacerations just beside it threatened to obscure his vision. The stone prince worried for the eye if the adjacent wounds became infected.

Sven's scent weaved through the tall forest surrounding the hollow. As a boy, Ujurak once came to the Riverclan. Funny how it was to seek aid for their father back then. Riverclan had long since left the Rising Sun Valley, but here Ujurak was once more, seeking sanctuary.

This time, he and Sven were on their own.

White paws fell in step of Sven's trail, the air thick with blood. Ujurak was sure it was from them both. His eyes stung when Sven's pelt came into view. A ragged breath was all Ujurak could muster to announce himself. The emotions that poured from his heart were too thick to put into words.

Ujurak brushed his nose over his brother's shoulder. Moving to view Sven's injuries, he winced at the punctures over his brother's muzzle, but the chest wound worried him greatly. A wound so deep could harbor infection. It needed be flushed, and Ujurak had to see the extent of the damage he wore on his own face.

I hear running water. Let's wash you before we cover it. His teeth were dirty. Cleaned, we can press moss and oak leaves to cover it. Their wounds would need continued care, but first they had to be stable. If there are cattails by the water, the stalks hold a useful sap.

Ujurak paused in case Sven needed help to keep moving.

Sven ran hard and fast. Every beat and breath painful,but he pressed. They'd get out of here. And he had reason to return. Sven was not a wrathful wolf. He was mostly humble and kind. But this wolf stirred the darker corners of his father's blood and he wanted the man's heart out of his chest. Which was frightening to the boy, such an anger.

He tried to keep a look on Ujurak's wounds but he was growing lightheaded. And he couldn't focus as closely as he'd like. Ujuraks face looked the worst. It made him Ill 

Sven shifted with a nod. He stumbled in his steps, but made a crooked beeline for the river. Paw to paw he stepped into it. Gritting his teeth as the water hit the wound. A soft gasp and whine leaving him.

Dutifully, Ujurak followed at his brother's side. Supporting him with his side should he begin to stagger. There was look of green to his brother's face, so Ujurak stood on Sven's left. Hiding his injuries. 

A shiver went up his legs as he joined Sven in the cold river water. Exhaling to control the chatter of his teeth, Ujurak dunked his head into the water. Forelimb sweeping up and over his face, Ujurak scrubbed as best he could until he needed to resurface. He repeated this twice.

Water trailing down his face, Ujurak strayed only so far as to pluck moss off a nearby stone. Turning back to Sven, Ujurak soaked the moss in the river water.

I will help with your face. I am sorry if it stings.

Ujurak extended a foreleg in front of Sven, a lifeline to hold should his brother need it. Gently, Ujurak began to sweep the moss across his brother's muzzle, leting the water pour from it before wiping away the blood that stained. Ujurak works slow and methodically, taking frequent pauses to check-in.

It is only them here. The woods of the hollow were not their own, but here they were. Battered, wounded, and cast from their birthplace. The stone prince's jaws tremble with anger.

We must heal before we return. Words for himself just as much as for Sven. When we are healed, we will grow stronger. Ujurak stops his cleaning to draw Sven's gaze. He held it there, a righteous light within.

When we are stronger, we will return. We will kill them. Mercy was not a chance they will get again. Thus, they could not spare such courtesy to the stone thieves. A dark promise spoken in hushed tones for only Sven and the river.

Taking a chance to review his work, Ujurak gently nodded to his brother. I believe you are as clean as I can get you right now. Come, lets bind you wounds.

Sven was not ill at the sight of his brother's wounds. More so he was illl that they occurred at all. He was supposed to take care of them amd he had failed.

Sven wanted to help his brother. But he knew he couldn't. It hurt to lift his right leg so instead he scrubbed at his chest wound. Each touch making a sucking and swooping feeling in his stomach. He shouldn't be able to feel meat.

Sven stood still. Though he wanted to shrink into himself from the pain. A titl of his ear as he listened. He was happy for the check ins. 

A nod. They would heal. Sven particular had too. He didn't even know if he could help his brother hunt like this. 

Scen dipped his head thinking. We can raid caches and the like until then. They should not benefit from our hard work.

Sven shifted so his brother could go for the wound on his chest first.

Sven persisted through his injuries as valiantly any warrior approaching battle. The stone prince may not have known the extent of his brother's thoughts, but he would laugh to find that they both felt at fault. Perhaps it was simply their way of love. Selflessly giving, and believing that they were responsible to care for another. Perhaps that how they boys got on in the absence of their parents.

They both reached for the sky to keep it from falling on those they cared for. But now the sky had falllen, and the ground had been stolen from beneath their feet.

All the same, Ujurak was grateful for his brother. Sven climbed out of the river and Ujurak collected mouthfuls of moss, cattails, and leaves. Whatever he could find on hand to aid them.

To strip enough cattails cover the wounds in their entirety would take more time than Ujurak could afford. With his incisors, he began pulling strips from the stalks and applying the sap inside to the packing material. He hoped at least some of the sap would absorb from the contact. Ujurak hated to not be thorough, but he would have to forage for additional herbs soon anyway.

Find a position you are comfortable in, I will need you to hold still. I am sorry I have nothing for the pain right now.

With firm paws, Ujurak first pressed moss over the wound's opening to absorb any fluids. Then, the flat faces of leaves were placed over the wound, using their broad forms to cover. He packed them together with another layer of moss and leaves. For additional security, Ujurak plastered mud from the river to keep all in place. It would take additional work to remove when changing, but he hoped it would hold should they need to move again.

The thought of having to raid the caches they made themselves caused his stomach to churn. Hunting would be difficult in their condition, but so would running if they needed to escape. It stings but I would like to only raid as a last resort. I do not want them following us to where we rest currently. The tall trees surrounding the hollow were ample shelter, but if a pursuer was persistent, they would scour the forest.

The muscle leapt in Ujurak's jaw. Their isolation wearing upon him.

After we rest tonight, we will begin scouting the forest tomorrow. I will gather herbs as we survey what animals live here. Turquoise eyes lifted to meet steel as he waited for his brother's input.

Sven did not know why he always wanted to take care. Or that he felt responsible for his siblings at all times. It sort of just happened that way.

Sven would gladly shoulder all the burdens of his family. He'd hold it as long as he could. He wouldn't fuss.

Soaking and hurting. He was a sorry sight. The gray of his paws meeting the black of his fur as it hung wet and sopping.

He settled and looked around. A nearby stick. He grasped it in teeth and chomped down. Meeting his brothers gaze with a blazing one of his own. Quietly saying DO IT.

Sven could not speak at first. The pain was unbearable.  A nod on the end of a pant. Okay.

It was all he could muster.

The stone prince can hear the wood splinter between his brother's teeth. His heart willed for Sven to persevere just a little longer. Ujurak's own chest ached with sympathy. He would take the pain himself if he could.

Sven acknowledges his concerns, and Ujurak nods in return. Falling silent to focus on the task at hand. He would not be able to mend his brother with just one treatment, although Ujurak would have gladly accepted such a miracle.

Once satisfied with the dressing, Ujurak pressed his nose to his brother's brow. A comforting gesture. To embrace him properly would to disturb the wound.

Let me know if the wound begins to itch or burn. It is going to take a lot of care to mend. He withdrew slightly to look Sven in the eyes. Do you need a break? I would like to cover the wounds on your face as well.

He was able to drop the pieces as Ujurak finished up dressing his wound. He stared at the splintered pieces. Tears threatening to overtake him. None of this was fair. They were trying so hard. And life kept bearing them down.

He pushed his head into his brothers muzzle. A soft whine in his throat. But laying about feeling sorry for yourself got nothing done.

No break go ahead. Then you can talk me through how to help you. And my muzzle isn't bad. It just smarts.