Emberwood fiberglass

For any UG wolves! Happy to have him take any sort of damage (short of y'know, straight up death lmao)

The longer this famine drew on, the less hope Redshank had in finding a proper meal that wasn't already claimed by either a pack or some other scavenger. He had had some luck with the lakes, but they were slowly freezing over as winter drew closer and what little prey that remained there would soon take flight for somewhere warmer. So he was forced into the forests, where wolf scent drew clear boundaries of where their territory borders began.

But Redshank had survived on scraps and partially rotted bones for long enough - he needed something fresh. He needed meat.

Packs meant hunters, and hunters meant caches. And he was desperate. With long, loping strides, the loner strode into the flame-touched forest with a confidence that didn't match his scraggly, starved appearance, following a faint blood trail that led into the heart of the woodland.

Wandering the woods quietly, Rei still had an unease when it came to conversing with her new packmates. She felt out of place, too shy and distant to approach anyone as of yet. But the sight of packmates flourishing was enough. She was glad to see that the pack had so many members already, doing their parts - which pushed her to do her own as well. Perhaps to go and pick herbs and flowers before they rotted away with the frost - to dry them as herbs to use for winter. 

It was something at least. 

More than just to skulk around quietly. She should check up on Sativa soon too to make sure she was doing well with the others, acclimating better than the exiled princess. But a scent stopped her in her tracks. One that did not smell of Ibis and the others. No, this one was not even of the faintest smell of Uaine - this was a loner who had crossed the borders for whatever reason.

Nervously she padded forward, following the strange scent until she found the one who entered. Clearing her throat, she spoke up as sternly as she could. Hiding her fears. These lands are now claimed, you are trespassing Uaine Gorsedd territory. Are you seeking lady Ibis?

I'm not alone... aid is but a howl away. Aid is but a howl away! She kept telling herself.

The tension was tangible. The strangers stood opposite of one another, not far from where Bhediya was sat. She'd noticed the stranger's scent but thought nothing of it; Ibis was always bringing in strays. It was when she heard the alabaster woman speak that she began to pay attention.

Bhediya lounged behind the barren branches of a berry bush. These lands are now claimed. She made a note to properly meet the sylph once this was over. Hello, Bhe chirped as she wandered into the man's sight, Who are you?

Trespassing. Had that word not been in the equation, he might have passed on by, tuning out the conversation. As it was, Pygmalion altered course and moved up to stand alongside the two women already there—Bhediya, and a pale fae he didn't really know.

They, in turn, were facing a man that might have been born from the marsh himself. Ragged, ribby and brown. He had a look about him that sent alarm bells ringing through Pyg's brain immediately.

Words had already been given, warnings clear. For his part, he managed to shut up (for once), squared his shoulders and fixed his dark stare on the intruder, ready to leap into the fray at a moment's notice.

As was expected, he was intercepted almost immediately. First came a lithe female with a plush white coat, greeting him with hesitant formality. Then there was a second woman, her strange curled fur a pitch black in stark contrast to her pack mate. Their words were polite but cautious, and Redshank stared back blankly while he weighed up his options. They were small, the both of them; he could go for one and draw blood, enough to force the other to attend to them and he could take off before the rest arrived. Head straight for the caches. Grab whatever he could.

His tongue flicked over his lips hungrily as he mulled over this decision, his muscles tensing as he almost made to go through with it before a third arrival halted his plans. Fuck. This newcomer had the form of a warrior and was much larger than the other two, fixing Redshank in a deep brown stare that he refused to meet as his confidence faltered.

"Hungry," he replied lowly, gaze trained on the woods behind the pack wolves, trying to figure out where the blood trail led.

Frightened and uncertain of her position here, Reiko stood firm despite every fiber of her being demanding her to go find someone else. Should she do that, this male would be left to do whatever until found by someone else... something she would not allow. Thankfully two others had joined - they must have been close, and the young damsel was thankful for their presence. Her tense figure quickly relaxing at the familiar scent of pledged wolves under Ibis' care, even if she didn't know them personally, their scent alone was good enough for now when faced with the stranger. 

First was a beautiful black woman, her hair so dark and curly if they were in any other situation Reiko wouldn't have been able to tear her eyes away from their beautiful locks. Then was a young man, tall and burly with fur as white as her own. They both brimmed of confidence. Something she seemed to have lost along the way here. 

The stranger spoke and Reiko simply shook her head in response. She didn't know how the other two would respond, or how Ibis would to a hungry stranger - but there was one thing Reiko was certain of for now. We all are, this is a famine... we simply cannot give you what little food we have. Of course should this individual decide to join them, she would gladly find Ibis and bring her to the stranger... but for now, she would defend their reserves alongside these nameless packmates.

It was difficult to maintain the shroud of silence. Pygmalion's approach was expected and went ignored while their packmate spoke. The famine had reached every corner of the Wilds; their claim had not been spared. They couldn't give any of what they had, especially not with so few hunters in their ranks. Still, Bhe's heart wrenched at the thought of leaving him to starve. 

There are packs everywhere, she said, Have you tried to join one? Maybe he needed help and that was why he'd trespassed. Bhediya wouldn't have been surprised based on the way that he spoke.

Aye, he understood hunger well. He also knew that you couldn't just take something that wasn't yours, by rights. Gatsby and Gulliver would've had his head had Pygmalion tried to even nick a bone-toy from them; prey was off-limits entirely, save to the pack in whose caches it resided. 

Had this feral man not learned that in seasons gone by?

Reiko and Bhediya continued to say the right words. Pyg remained silent, puffing himself up further and following the stranger's desperate gaze past them. Should the brown wretch try to bolt that way, he was prepared to cut him off before trouble could really begin.

The pallid female spoke, unsurprisingly denying his unspoken request for food. So the famine was as widespread as he had suspected, and packs had the monopoly on what little prey remained in their area. Of course, this was naturally the way the world worked, but it didn't mean Redshank had to like it. His tail flicked in irritation as the woman's darker counterpart posed a question. For a moment, he was almost tempted to play the part of innocent stranger and beg for acceptance into their pack, pretending to be grateful for access to their caches before stealing away into the night. His acting skills, however, did leave something to be desired.

Instead, the Cairn avoided her gaze while giving no indication he had heard her. Tried. Failed.

He then stole a glance to the beast who continued to stand by silently. It was clear there would be no getting what he wanted here without a fight. Maybe he could simply tear off a chunk from one of these three; at least it would be something to fill his belly. With a feigned huff of defeat, shoulders slumped as if he had simply given up, Redshank turned and began to idly lope away a few paces...

...before he just as quickly spun on his heel and broke into a dogged sprint, charging right at the curly-haired one with hungry jaws aiming to rip and tear.

Even with two packmates at her side, the princess was still nervous. The way this man looked, he was desperate, they all were for food. But he didn't seem willing to join a pack as Bhediya had offered, he seemed more akin to want to steal to get a quick meal than to work as a team with others. He didn't speak much other than a word. There was certainly something unsettling about this man and Reiko watched him carefully. He didn't change after the black female had asked about the packs and silence remained... 

She didn't even notice that she had stopped breathing. Allowing the air to hang lifelessly in her lungs - only to sigh a breath of relief as the stranger seemed to begin to walk away. Her eyes darted to the packmates with a grateful smile only for it to be interrupted by her peripherals catching sight of the man returning, sprinting toward them, toward the black female!

Without a thought Reiko moved, instinctively, pushing Bhediya out of the way and placing herself between the strange man and the black woman. bracing herself for the impact of the male to rip through her. Why was she doing this? She was no warrior, small and weak - she had some training from Ira, but that was clearly not enough to save her from the stranger in the field of flowers... perhaps she was simply tired of being the target, and maybe, just maybe, she felt compelled to try and be the hero.

it was all so quick. bhediya wasn't even given enough time to notice the attack before being shoved out the way by reiko. after finding her composure, she took a quick glance at the seen and realized what was happening. there was a moment of breathlessness, suffered through without a voice.

pyg! she managed to blurt. by then, bhe was once again standing upright. there was no place for her in this fight, not with a body as small as hers. it would only complicate things should she re-enter. instead, bhe looked frantically for someone else to intervene.

His heart stopped as the wretch lunged suddenly for Bhediya, and it was then as if time stood still, too. The other woman shoved his beloved out of the way and went for the rogue, but she was vulnerable now, and Pygmalion heard Bhediya's cry ring in his ears as he flew at their assailant. 

His jaws were open, fangs gleaming, heedless of the damage he could do. The bastard could bleed out and die for all he cared; he never wanted to hear Bhediya sound like that again. It was a failure on his part that she even stood in harm's way, and now he meant to rectify it.

I'll gie ye this chance tae leave, Pyg spat, muzzle (hopefully) bloodied. He ceased his attack for a few heartbeats, glaring at the rogue. Three seconds and ye best be off or I'll fuckin' kill ye, I swear. I'll even count, so ye can get it through yer wee brain. Three. . .two. . .

He'd better be running well before one.

No sooner had he reached the smallest of the three before suddenly she was pushed aside and stark white fur replaced black before Redshank's eyes. He crashed into the woman who had denied him a meal, his snapping maw being forced closed as his chin hit her shoulder unexpectedly. She had taken the hit for her pack mate, but the loner wasn't picky about who he would take a chunk out of.

Stumbling back, Redshank was dazed for a brief second, before he then made to dart forward once more with renewed fervour. However, by then the third pack wolf had leapt into action. He once more collided with a wall of pale fur, teeth grazing against it as he was forced to the wayside. Everything was a blur as he lost his footing, until pain began to sear its way down his spine as the larger man began his assault. Flashing teeth filled his vision, snapping and grabbing and biting down hard. He felt hot blood fall from fresh wounds, exhausted limbs burning from exertion as fear suddenly gripped him.

Yet, he was granted a final chance as the man relented for a moment. Chest heaving, Redshank stared up at the beast in silence, his wide-eyed look of terror quickly replaced with a sneer as he scrambled to his feet. Three...two...

He never heard the final number. Redshank quickly fled the scene with a snarl, leaving a bloodied trail behind him. And this time he would keep running.

I think she was left unscathed?? If im wrong please let me know!!

Stiff. She was scared stiff. The pale woman could feel every muscle in her petite frame growing painful with how rigid she stood. Tucking her head down, ears flattened, her heart lept into her throat as the feeling of his chin hit her shoulder and the snap of his jaws flooded her senses. There was no pain, did he miss? 

Bhediya screamed, in response, Reiko peeked up from her defensive stance to watch as the opponent stumbled back - only for the other white figure to come to the rescue and stand between them all. Relief inundated her thoughts, a sickening feeling growing in her belly as the fight or flight response grew. Run. Run is what her body was telling her to do!

But she stood still. Frozen on the spot. Like a deer in headlights.

Darting from the white figure onto the loner, wide-eyed while her heart thumped wildly in her chest, she could barely tell that the stranger had left - even when he did, she stood still. Paralyzed from what had happened.

Permission to skip Bhediya!

He stood, panting, as the wretch made the wise choice to flee—though not without shooting a snarl in his direction. Pygmalion chased him for a few steps, snarling, but eventually ceased once the man was over the hills and far away. He then wheeled around and returned to the scene of chaos.

Are ye a'right, love? he asked breathlessly, dropping low to meet his mate's gaze. He tasted blood not his own, felt the dull, achy beginnings of contusions from the fight. Did he hurt ye at all? Belatedly remembering the other woman, he glanced toward her, adding, You? Are ye hurt?

There was a small, glowing coal in his stomach, one of pride. It would grow larger as the day went on, but for now, he was plagued with worry—for the safety of his pack, his comrades, and especially his mate.

An afterthought. That's what she was. The white male went for the black woman first, understandably so - but it didn't alleviate how empty his concern for Reiko was in return. Offering a quick glance to him, then to the curly-coated female, naturally checking for any wounds on either of them before backing away, offering a weak smile in return. No, I'm okay thank you. Please excuse me. With a nod, she was on her way to think about what had just transpired, to try and ease her own fears and thudding her in chest. She wouldn't break down here and now, no, she would express herself once certain she found safety solitude.

She gone!