Ankyra Sound Je Veux

backdated to shortly after the Murkwood raid. This is Tousaint's departure and happy ending <3

The journey back to Dragoncrest Cliffs was for some, but not all the wolves of Sapphique. Bent, lame, and mutilated beyond recognition, Tousaint felt little pride for the plot he had helped launch. The rescue mission had been a success- Ankyra Sound was free once again, and the matriarchs of Sapphique were returned to their home, along with their children. Chani had fled- Tousaint did catch wind of her fate. 

Nor did he feel entitled at all to return to the cliffs. Not when Sobeille would inevitably find out that he had lied to her- he had been a coward, he had not taken one of the pirates into the deep with him. He could not face her when she found out, nor could he weather what toll it might take on the women who had been kidnapped. Pepper had given up his life for them- and he'd been Salinero!

He departed, tattered and sulking. A chill set in though the air warmed, and a thunderstorm brewed overhead. Cool rain fell, and hot mist rose from his body as a fever set in. He sought shelter in the Tangle first, before he returned to the Sound, to the cave where he had spent time as a captive. 

He dozed restlessly, waking often to think perhaps the rain might have stopped, and that the night might finally be over- only to hear the slap of rain against stone, and to see nothing beyond the entrance of the cave but the stream of steady rainfall illuminated by flashes of lightning. 

He awoke when water splattered over him, and cracked open his eyes to see a great shadow now blocking the entrance of the den. A flash, and he caught the silhouette of a tall, raven-furred man as he shook the water from his fur. Another flash, and Tousaint was illuminated where he lay; the stranger paused in shock. 

His voice was warm and soft, though he spoke words that Tousaint could not understand. He couldn't muster more than a soft growl. The stranger laughed, but there was something reassuring about the words that came after. He moved forward, dripping water onto Tousaint's outstretched legs. Tousaint felt warm breath stir his fur, heard the clicking of the man's tongue against his teeth. More words- soothing, kind, but foreign- and then the stranger was gone. 

A dream, perhaps. But the dream returned. 

It was light when he awoke again. He licked his dry lips, surprised to find that the taste of herb lingered upon them. A voice- the man- spoke to him. He looked up. He looked lightly ashamed, and motioned toward herbs that Tousaint recognized- no wonder he had slept better. It irked him that the man had taken the liberty of treating him without his consent until he began to remember. 

The man had offered him medicine, water, and warmth. He had insisted. Now, he remained. 

Tousaint, once he began to regain his strength, insisted the stranger should not share his kindness, only to find that the man did not share either of the languages that he knew. He got the impression that the man feigned that their inability to communicate was the reason he would not be turned away. He remained, and Tousaint's strength returned. Step by step, meal by meal, with the fever broken and wounds addressed, Tousaint drew away from death's doorstep. 

Still- he could not return home, even though he was capable to do so. 

The man came down the beach, carrying a fish, and Tousaint trotted toward him- some semblance of his previous grace returned, though he was careful not to push himself too fast. The man beamed, spoke praise, and the musicality of his voice drew from Tousaint a whisper of his previous spirit. 

He would not return to Sapphique. He would leave the Teekon Wilds- but at least he had finally found a new black pearl.

 One that could not be stolen.