Redsand Canyon When we were kids in the backyard

the running allowed his mind to clear.

it worked freely now. germanicus felt constrained from the webs which had constrained his ability as tactician.

sharp ears darting to the left as he heard skidding and earthrush. the imperator veered at once.

he saw a swathe of recently degraded mountain and approached carefully. the sound he had heard was a freshfall of red earth. germanicus saw at once the marks of wolf-claw in the scored stone face.

and he knew by scent who had taken this fall.

he trekked down carefully, sending a call for @Cad to direct the others where to follow, to assist the imperatrix with anything necessary.

it took him a long while to choose a path safely down where he might be followed. "domina," he said, dropping lightly near the whining woman. his yellow eyes flickered over her body. she was hurt, and horribly so, but even in his wisdom he could not see its true magnitude.

the imperator put out her paw for alstroemeria to grasp, understanding she could not yet be moved. he sat over her, the eddies of stone-dust and dirt caught upon him rather than her downed frame. "exaudi vocem meam."

stay awake.