Blacktail Deer Plateau do I cool it or do I blow

he had seen dawn so infrequently in past days that when her cry rang out, he mistook it for longing, rather than the urgent signal that it was. with a smile, and a wag of his tail, he bounded forward, heading toward the sound. he had so missed her. he did not think he would be able to keep from touching her.

that smile, tongue lolling in joy, faded dramatically as he took in the sight that awaited him at the end of the trail.

something wordless and frightful slipped from his mouth, a sudden whisper with what breath he could muster; it had been stolen from him. all he saw for a brief moment was blood, and dawn sprawled out before him. the panic subsided somewhat as he noted she was still breathing, and conscious. he rushed to her side, keeping an ear out for an attacker.

"mera pyaar," he murmured, pressing his muzzle briefly against her cheek before nosing gingerly around her body to find the source of the injury. there. . . it was a stick, of decent width and length, half-embedded in her thigh.

it was far from his expertise to try to give her anything but comfort now; he tipped his muzzle back and called for @Pema -- feeling both heartened and amused that she had called for him first -- and curled up next to her, offering small, soft words in order to relax her heart and slow the bleeding. pema would know the best possible course of action. he feared his actions alone could make the situation worse.