Ankyra Sound Won't you look at your wings

set immediately following/partially during this thread. All welcome! 

Suzu's thoughts raced as fast as she did, but continued to lope even after she was forced to stop and catch her breath. Still she shuffled forward with tiny steps while she wheezed, staggering lightly from the shortness of breath. She sucked in air as she stopped to look over her shoulder- as if expecting death to come springing toward her from beyond the shoreline- before she hurried on again. 

She hadn't gone to look for the others, or listened to the calls. She'd simply flattened her ears to all but the wind singing to her as she'd run from the borders, past where the cliffs faded and the sand evened out. She'd panicked again when she saw a patch of sand darkened to brown, and a smear of blood that led all the way back to Dragoncrest Cliffs. 

Bits of Sobo's skull, a tooth, and tatters of his fur were all that had been left. 

She'd pushed on past that point, and had managed to get all the way to where there was a crook in the bay before she stopped, and vomited into the sand. Repulsed by what she'd seen on the beach, and the fear that ate at her, she heaved and heaved until her stomach was empty, and then still again and again until she felt herself begin choking and sobbing for air, crying out with harsh, anguished moans until her voice went hoarse.

Her injuries kept her from the quicker pace of the others—not to mention her lack of vision on one side—and she was fast falling behind. Panting, she stared, despondent, at the bodies ahead, and was about to desperately try to catch them up when a brown shape entered her periphery. 

Not the bear, no. One of the children, away from the others and presumably very much in danger. 

Lilitu hustled after her, breath hitching hard and painful in her chest. She traversed the horrors of the beach and heard retching ahead; she very much wanted to do that herself. 

But she carried on, and chuffed softly as she approached Suzu, putting herself between the girl and whatever could come to harm her.

Hey, she whispered, pushing back the panic that threatened to strangle even that single word. Her paw pads were sticky with blood. You shouldn't be here; Mireille is leading everyone away to safety.

so theres no way Eti would go anywhere without Suzu.

He had run as fast as his body would allow back to the cliffs. To be met by his aunt who hustled him away, but as they moved he didn't see Theo or Suzu and he couldn't ever leave either one and so with one track mind, he twisted and skirted around his extended family and ran back for Suzu and Theo

He saw his mother fighting and his granmes fighting, but no Suzu and with heavy heart he searched out their scent. Suzus first. She was running fast. He got sick as he moved past where his uncle had lain. But one track mind. He found his sister vomiting in the sand and hia heart racing he rushed towards her. Forgetting about the blood on his paws from trying to piece his uncle back together.

Suzu was his cry.

The first one to find her would not find her in good shape. She continued to bawl, but she looked up, barely recognizing the disfigured woman who came toward her, benevolently. She was the woman who had been found on the borders, the one who had escaped from the bear, and no longer its latest victim. She reached for the woman, and continued to sob against her shoulder if she would allow, hiccoughing lightly as she took in Mireille's name. She pulled back. 

"Are de ot'ers-" 

She heard her name shouted, and looked up to see Etienne. She felt a flood of relief to see him, and scampered toward him. "Eti!" She cried, and for a long time, she clung to him, senselessly howling into the fur of his shoulder. When she was finally able to compose herself enough, she pulled back a bit and looked over his shoulder. "Where is Theo? An' Maman? An' Swordfish, an-?" She asked. She looked to Lilitu, tearfully. "Dey all gone wid Mireille? Dey all be safe?" She pleaded.

She was a little surprised that the girl would come into her embrace so easily, given that she hadn't been with Sapphique for very long (not to mention the circumstances that had brought her there). But circumstances were extraordinary, and she was grateful, holding the young woman tight—

Until her name came upon the wind, cried out by her brother, headed toward them at a breakneck pace.

Shh, Lilitu cautioned as he approached. We don't want the bear to know we're here—

She turned to Suzu and her barrage of questions, unsure of how to respond to each individual query. Mireille gathered all the young and sick, she said, for she knew that for sure. She wasn't familiar with everyone quite yet, though, and if one had slipped away—like Suzu and now—

Etienne, right? she asked the boy. Upon his confirmation, she continued, Etienne, I need to get you both to Mireille where you'll be safe. Please come with me; we need to go. Her voice was soft but insistent.

Etienne stared at her and nodded. Though in his mind he was thinking of all his family that were currently hunting the bear, fighting with everything.

He held tight to his sister while she sobbed. Stroking his paw down her fur. Leaving gritty stand and god only knew what else in her fur, but she was here. She was safe. Though the next words and a strange resolve took him over. He shook his head.

Gently he pressed Suzu towards the woman Lilitu. take Suzu. I gotta get T'eo. I can't leave me brother. Suzu go. I'll bring T'eo to you.

He swallowed with big tears in his eyes. He couldn't promise her he would bring manman, and the granme's but he'd damn sure, bring T'eo somehow.::

She shuddered and whale-eyed, she looked around to see if there was any sign the bear might have heard them. She'd been wailing for what had seemed like ages now, and Lilitu was right- if the bear had been chased off by her family, it might come following the sound of her cries. She almost hoped it might- if that meant that her family had been successful in chasing it off. 

She was reassured, and hopeful, to hear that all the injured and sick had been shepherded by Mireille somewhere safe. She nodded, but she stopped when she felt her brother start pushing her gently back toward the silver woman. She was puzzled, and looked at him incredulously. Horror narrowed her pupils to pinpricks. 

"No!! Eti, NO!" She said, leaping at him. She grab him, push him to the ground, flatten him if she had to- anything to keep him from leaving. She grappled for a hold on him, wrapping her thick limbs around him, wishing that her legs were longer so she could hold him in such a way he would never get away from her. "No, nonononono!" She caterwauled. "Don't go back, Eti, please!" She begged. Her mother, grandmothers, uncles and brother were already there- she did not want to pick one brother over the other, but she could not bear the thought of losing both of them. The only way she could know that at least one of them would be safe was if she kept them with her.

Eti settled well enough, but as soon as he announced his intentions, Suzu went ballistic again. Shushing to no avail, Lilitu could only watch, hapless, for a paralyzed moment—

And then she remembered she was the adult in the proverbial room.

Neither of you are going back, she said firmly, giving them a kind but firm stare. Mireille wanted the young ones away from the bear and I'm going to make sure that happens.

She nodded toward the most accessible path up the rocky, sandy slopes. C'mon. We have to go.

Whatever bravery had failed her with the howl of danger was coming back again. If she couldn't face a bear, she could at least help in some other regard.

This was, however, proving difficult.

Suzu turned into an octopus of a wolf. All he limps, her thick set girth (hehe) all of it she pressed against him and pushed him down, down. He couldn't move. She was smaller than him, but she could really hold tight if she wanted too. He tried to hold her, grapple for a hold.

Finally, he let her drag him down and he lay there for a minute, amused and sad. And he nodded. Heaven help him he hoped Theo would forgive him.

ALright. Suzu. Alright I won't go. Come on. Let's. Let's go.

He swallowed hard. He was leaving his other sibling, his mother, his granme's to their fate, because his sister begged him to stay with her. And gods help him, he didn't know how to say no to her.

The only relief she could have came to her when Lilitu spoke, and Étienne listened, although she feared he was obeying reluctantly. She finally released her hold on him, but kept him close- as if ready to grab him again if he bolted. 

All of the others…There was nothing they could do for them. Mama wanted them safe. Suzu thanked Lilitu with a nod, stood, and would allow herself to be led to the island, sniffling and fighting back tears the whole way.

Thank God, Suzu's pleas proved effective. Lilitu gave a great sigh of relief and began to shepherd them away from the beach, up the slopes and onto the trail that led to the island.

It'll be okay, she told them, glancing over her shoulder. She wasn't able to go very fast, only a limping amble up the ascent. We'll find Theo, I promise.

When they found Mireille's scent, she'd beckon them ahead to follow it, taking up the rear. Not just because of her injuries, but—

If the bear was going to follow them, it would have to go through her first to get to the younger wolves. 

Which was a thought that terrified her greatly. . .but she owed this pack that, at least.

Etienne followed behind Suzu, keeping her beside and in front of him. Golden eyes floating from one area to the next. Ears to his skull as he could hear the fighting, and the noises as they got further and further away. He was leaving behind his family and every single atom of his body fought against it, but someone had to protect Suzu. She needed someone to stay.