Otatso Wetlands mmm, make it right.

a series of soft owl-calls penetrated the rising dusk. qiao listened, placing the boy on the ground and pinning his shoulder. another series tittered over the fluttering leaves; this time followed by unnatural silence. 

the boy was sullen. any time he cried, he was met with the sharp pinch of qiao’s teeth.  he became withdrawn and gaunt in short order, stifling the quiet cries that rose in his chest. 

qiao cut him a look that brooked no quarter, ears stiffening as the crunch of leaves underfoot reached her. her eyes flashed, teeth bared and ready — but it was only @Stormchaser, his captive in tow. 

this one is a mutant. qiao gestured to rowdy, her murkwater eyes alight with dark emotion. what of yours?

Stormchaser had run until his legs quivered from the effort of it. All the while, his mouth held the fragile little body of the pup. At first the child had seemed weightless, as though the yearling could race into oblivion and never feel the difference in his body and the speed he gained. As the miles stretched and he began to seek out Qiao, the child had grown heavy and Stormchaser’s jaw had become cramped with the effort it took not to sink his teeth into the pup.

When he met the crone, his bloody leg had crusted over. The marking of fangs against his shoulder itched and burned. The familiar dropped @Riot on the ground, nudging his small head with a huff through his nose.

He did fine. Squirmed more than I wanted.

Being carried was immeasurably tiring.
He is dropped with a soft thud. Sore, but all in one piece.
All other qualms leave his mind when he sees the form of his brother.
Riot wriggles forth to Rowdy’s side.