Horizon Ridge Blackfish

She was not surprised at the questions that burst forth from the piebald yearling, those that had little to do with anything she had spoken of. The panic was natural for one in shock, and especially for one so wounded—but that Pied felt such pain was a good thing, for it meant that she was still very strongly in the mortal world. Dublin murmured patiently, soft whines meant only to soothe. If she were honest, Dublin was worried about the vertebrae of her patient—they could be easily damaged with such a blow, but if they had been, there was little even the most skilled of healers would be able to do to save her. A wolf without full use of its legs would surely perish, unable to hunt or provide for the pack... but Dublin shook such thoughts from her head.

It was likely that the dislocated shoulder was merely pinching a nerve in such a way that made Pied think she could not move her spine. But the yearling had asked for the worst to be done first, and so Dublin returned to her position at the hindpaw. One of her cream forelegs braced the damaged leg, and she bent her head down to tenderly position the paw with her jaws; this would hurt, but not nearly so much as the next task. "Tell me of that which you love, Pied," Dublin cooed softly, silver-blue eyes intent upon the yearling's face. She listened to the first few words spoken, genuinely interested, but then—

Snap!

The sound was still awful to Dublin's ears, though she had set many bones in her time. It was the grinding, the eerie sound of bone-against-bone as it was abruptly forced back in place. Her ears flattened, then, in a futile attempt to guard against Pied's likely scream. But Dublin was already moving, scanning the shore for seaweed and driftwood—such things were never far. Before they could do any good, however, Dublin would need to move Pied from the tide. Without the dexterity to tie the driftwood to Pied's paw, Dublin must wrap it and wait for the seaweed to either dry or freeze in place. Knowing the screams that escaped her charge would draw attention, the cream female lifted her head towards the sky and called—I am with her, and I tend her; but I will need assistance and soon.

When her call died down, Dublin moved towards Pied's head and nosed against her cheek, exhaling warm breaths and soothing sounds. "Pied, Pied," she murmured, "I must reposition your shoulder. Are you ready?"