Firestone Hot Springs Battered but not Broken

[size=x-small] @Rain , Lets the journey begin :D[/size]

Never have he had to endure so much before. Crashing into salt water, battered by the waves against the walls to avoid getting detected and then swimming a long distance to the next shore all while he was wounded. Finally reaching the coast he step onto the soft sands. His wounds on the back of his neck can now close correctly. Nishu was exhausted but now he could rest a bit. A chilling winter wind was blowing from the sea and being wet didn't help keep his warmth in.

He took deep breaths and laid down on the sand. Just a small break he told himself. Thinking back on the event that happend, he couldn't believe how crazied those wolves were. There was no need of battle yet they favored it. The stranger that was there had nothing to do with the attack. It was him that was attacked but he couldn't find a real reason for them to do such actions. What was interesting is that the stranger didn't flee and actually assisted him. He could have been killed if she wasn't there.

He looked around, He didn't see her anywhere. He refused the idea that she didn't survive. If he survived then it was possible that she did too. In any case, he owed her his life since she used hers to save his. Out of all this he really hoped that she didn't lose her own life, because of him.

A note to anyone who reads this thread: This is a journey starting at the shores of Sequoia Coast and ending at Firestone Hot Springs :) and wewt! It finally begins! Lol

Several times the river had pounded her under its waters and against the large rocks. Rain had tired to keep her head from being submersed time and time again, but to no avail. It didn't take but minutes for her energy to dwindle. Her limbs became heavy and her consciousness faded, leaving her in darkness.

She ends up waking on a beach, tossing up water from her lungs and gasping for breath. A groan erupts from her throat as the pain settles in and she drops her head back down in the sand. Her chest feels like a deer had kicked it, the back of her neck throbs and stings from the black wolf's bite, and her whole body screams with pain. Rain wonders if she broke anything, but she feels to weak to move.

The grey, she thinks suddenly. His strong form fighting against the wolves flickers across her vision. She wonders if he was able to escape or if the other wolves had killed him. Once the river had its grip on her, she was swept away before she could glance what became of him. Move!, she yells to her uncooperative legs. She feels that she must go back, that it was all her fault for putting him in danger, and she can't lay here hoping he made it. But her body must be deaf to her commands because it doesn't even twitch. Tired and feeling defeated she allows the darkness to pull her under again, knowing that she won't be able to move until her body recovers.

He continued to hold on to hope. All he could think about was her. He rose back up with pure determination. He could not allow himself to rest now, at this very moment she could be nearby needed his help. He never had such a hard time moving but suddenly he cought sight of a wolf along the beach. He pressed onward even with his body trying to refuse. It was definitely the sky blue eyed stranger and she was still alive. He was so relieved to see her which encouraged him to get to her.

She may be alive right now but he had to make sure it would stay that way. There was really no time to rest. He managed to her. "Are you.. alright?" He said as he breathed heavily. Then his legs began to shake again, forcing him to lay down at her side. He had very little strength left but he needed to be able to help her if she needed. If not, what kind of Knight would he be? He had to be able to handle it, that's how strong Knights are suppose to be.

When she woke again, the grey was walking towards her on shaky legs. Relief washes away the worry that had nawed at her and she relaxes, giving him a weak smile. "Are you..alright?" He asks before laying beside her.

Rain sits up saying, "Not at the moment, but better than I was when I first woke up here." She shivers from the cold that has managed its way into her winter coat. "I'm glad to see that you are okay," she says softly, pressing her nose into his neck fur and taking a deep breath. She wants to be sure that he is really here and not some sort of dream. Rain is a bit surprised to see that he made it out alive. "What happened after I went over the cliff?"

Both wolves didn't seem to have any critical injuries. It was clear that she and he have been pushed to the limits. To Nishu it was normal that he was able to endure the damage he sustained but the Stranger also managed to survive as well. He came with conclusion that she was as strong as him. He didn't believe just anyone could survive getting thrown off a cliff. The short term struggle had ended but the large term one had just begun. Winter's chilling wind will not likely stop blowing at them anytime soon at the coast. This was not the place to recover.

Listening to her words he could see that she was concerned and worried about him. It was the exact opposite of what he was used to. Nishu didn't really know how to react to it. If she wasn't concerned she could have avoided getting any injuries, that's how he would have wanted it. But.. If she didn't involved herself he would be most likely dead. In that fight, she was more of a Knight than he was. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, He felt like a failure but at the same time he was thankful. Thanks to her he can continue to improve and then prove the world how powerful Knights are.

She pressed her nose against his neck, He didn't mind but it did hurt and he was sure that there was still a bit of his blood still on him."Well" he said as he slowed his breathing down. He felt a bit ashamed of saying what actually happend. He was the one that jumped off accidently. "I fell shortly after you did, The three of them attacked together and forced me off the cliff." He calmly said. He slowly rolled onto his side. It felt more comfortable laying that way, It should allow him to rest better before having to move again. If they stayed here too long they would surely freeze and he knew that but he needed just a moments rest. "We can't stay here too long." He added, hopeing that she would understand that resting well would have to wait and that they needed to move shortly.

Rain presses her ears back as he speaks of falling from the cliff. "This may sound strange, but I'm glad you fell. The only other outcome may have been death if you hadn't," she states. In some twisted way the pack wolves had saved their lives. Though hopefully they think that the two of them are dead.

"We can't stay here too long," were the next words out of his mouth. Looking at him laying in the sand she can't believe that he has any more energy than herself. But she knows he is right, especially if Ankyra Sound decided to search for their bodies. She hopes the savage pack consists more of brute strength than brains. If they stumbled across the wolves, the two of them would not be able to escape with their lives a second time.

Struggling to her paws, she feels very numb. It must be the cold, she decides. "I agree," she tells the grey and then realizing that she has no clue what his name is she asks, "What do I call you?" And then she adds, "You can call me Rain." She can feel her legs begin to shake as she continues to stand and feels that if they don't get moving soon she will collapse. Though, she would rather stay on the beach so they could rest more. The thought of having to walk out of the area is not something she is looking forward to. They will have to go quite a ways so that the pack does not discover them. Almost all the way to the Sunspire perhaps?.

Rain had given her name. "My apologies, where are my manners?" He said as he quickly rolled back onto his paws but then nearly collapsed back onto the sands. He slowly rose up again to his highly held pride. Although it was painful, nothing will stop him from looking strong. "I'm Nishu Inte, A Royal Knight." It was bit exaggerated for him to called himself a 'Royal' Knight but it was what he trained for, He never officially earned that sub title.

Thinking about her statement. He still believed that there was a chance for him to win against the three of them. If there were more room surely he could have won. "I could have won against them. It's not like they were real warriors. They were lucky I fell." He said proudly, fully believeing he had a chance of victory. Moments later, he took a few steps towards the forest.

"We need to take cover from the wind, It's too cold to rest here. You can still walk right?" Of course he could barely move and surely it's the same for her. "It would be better if there was some place warm nearby.." He said softly. There was one problem he faced, He did not know the area here very well. He stayed patrolling around the Sound but never went far beyond that. The only thing he could think of was to scout ahead first so if he found something he could lead Rain directly to it. With that in mind he took a few more steps forward.

Nishu Inte. He seems kind and proper, it makes her wonder how he ended up in Ankyra Sound. She would think that pack would recruit those like them. On the other hand, with his strong features, any pack would want to have him as a warrior."What is a Royal Knight?" Rain questions. It was not something she has heard before. Could it be the name of his previous pack? She wonders.

Nishu's claim to be able to take all three of the pack wolves in a fight makes her smile. His confidence is something to be admired. She has confidence in being able to win fights when it is one on one, but any more and she would be overpowered. He takes a few steps away and she immediately begins to follow.

At the mention of the cold, a biting wind cuts through her causing her to shiver violently. "I can walk," she confirms while narrowing her eyes at the offense. "I am not as weak as you may think." She stumbles after him as he takes a few more steps forward, eager to find shelter. Rain gazes at Nishu's form with curiosity at what he will do now that he is no longer welcome with Ankyra Sound. A pang touches her heart at the thought of parting with him and she realizes she wants him to stay with her. Even though she had tried to help him escape his tormentors, he was the one who wanted to protect her from them. Her ears and tail droop as she fears he may want to part ways soon.

The thought that he could have been killed still lingered in his mind. His chances of victory may have been low but thanks to Rain the chances had increased. Fate had decided that the two would survive but without a victory. He felt like he owed her a favor at the very least for what she has done for him. He's just going to do what he had always done. Which was staying nearby always ready to help once it's needed.

She asked him what was a Royal Knight. The question kinda disappointed him. It was a bit expected that she didn't know about Knights like most wolves. But maybe she'll believe them much faster than the others he tried to convince. Her next words made him grin. He never thought she was weak after experiencing the harsh events that happend not long ago. He turned his head to where he could see her at the corner of his eye. "You're about as strong as I am, which is no where near weak."

Then it was time to explain to her what Knights were. "A Knight like myself is a wolf trained to be an elite servant to a worthy leader. They pledge themselves to a worthy leader or they can make a contract of service. In my case, I had a temperary contract which was completed a bit before they attacked me without reason." He said calmly as he turn to face the forest they were approaching. Soon they would have a basic cover from the wind but that didn't mean they found a spot to rest.

Nishu strokes her pride by telling Rain she is almost as strong as him. She snorts, "I bet I could take you." Usually she would have leaned forward to nip at his tail, but she hasn't the energy to do so now, instead she grins back at him. If they ever did spar she can't say who would surely win.

His explanation for what a Royal Knight is, confuses her further. Unable to grasp his full meaning she questions, "I can understand pledging yourself to an alpha, that is what all of us pack wolves do, but what do you mean by contract?" They soon pass under the bare branches of a forest, instantly the wind weakens it's bite. Rain slows, her need for cover fulfilled and glances through the trees, trying to remain alert. It won't be long before her legs give in again and they weren't quite out of danger.

Once they had entered the forest he slowed down. Nishu needed a little rest before continuing further. By doing so he walked towards a tree, sat down next to it and leaned on it. He turned his head to watch Rain. So, she believed she could take him on? He'd like to see that but right now sparing just isn't and option. He would have to prove her wrong later once he recovered enough. Atleast right now he could accept that little challenge and allow her to look forward to it.

His grin remained. "As much as I want to take you on this challenge, I'm afraid it will have to wait." It needed to be a fair fight, so both wolves clearly had to rest first. He then looked at the surrounding trees. He didn't have a clue where to go really and didn't bother asking Rain if she knew a place. Instead of asking he answered her question. "It's not exactly the same as following an alpha. It's more complex than that and much deeper. Anyway, what I mean by contract is that Knight may give their service to others who are not Alphas. An exemple of a long term contract would be raising a pup to be great leader. Usually in return Knights only want to be known, admired, and trusted." He said as he thought of how he got involved with Ankyra Sound. All he wanted was to prove to one wolf that Knights are powerful and that he was one of them. But the other members must have not liked it.

Rain sits near Nishu as he leans up against a tree, glad for a rest. Legs shaking, she ends up laying down. The strong grey male grins at her challenge, telling her it will have to wait. Her ear flicks at what she considers a small tease. Rolling her eyes and smiling she responds in turn stating, "You just don't want to get your ass beat." Reaching out with a paw, she swats at his nose.

Nishu explains his Royal Knight further and Rain ends up feeling even more befuddled. She can't understand how him following an alpha could be more than the normal. She lets that part of the topic go though, she can always ask more about it later. The part about being known, admired, and trusted is something that she can understand. "So were you pledged to the alpha of Ankyra or contracted? And if you don't mind me asking, why did you do it?"

If she were one of his knights, she would only give herself to those who she could respect. Even though she does not fully understand all of the Knight buisness, she has a general idea of it and thinks that it is something to be admired. She would never be able to be a knight though, she was brought up to be loyal to a single pack and do everything she can for them, even at the cost of her life. The Sunspire holds her loyalties and will continue to hold them until she dies.

Nishu couldn't help but chuckle after she swated at his nose, even when battered and with little strength remaining she still trys to pick a friendly fight with him. Clearly Rain was up for a spar but with their strength at their limits he knew fully well that it would make the situation they are in worse but that didn't really matter right? Both of them should be able to handle it if things got worse. That's what he thought but still didn't recommend it.

He poked her forehead with his paw. "I'm not afraid to spar right now, it's just that I'd prefer fighting when we are at full strength, wouldn't you prefer that too?." He said as he looked into her light blue eyes. He was starting to notice that he liked her. She was a strong fighter with a strong will, which were must haves for Knights. Not just anybody could have those traits. But what really managed to touch his heart was the fact that she tried to help a total stranger from his packmates. She was definitely a special wolf that isn't found everyday. There was no doubt now, He favored her more than any other he had met. He must repay her fully. Helping her find and get to someplace to rest isn't nearly enough.

He let himself get distracted a little too long and almost forgot to answer her question. He looked away, pretending to be watching the forest before answering. "Um, I offered a temperary service as a Knight to one of the members and then was brought to their pack. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. All I wanted was to prove to her that Knights still exist." He didn't want to say he was desperate to serve someone but what he said was still true. He wanted to avoid sounding weak.

The moments rest was nearly over but Nishu still didn't have an idea of where to go or to where he should take her. He thought about asking her but remained quiet on the subject.

Snapping playfully at his paw, she knows that they can't spar at the moment, but is enjoying picking on Nishu. "Perhaps," Rain answers with an innocent look in his direction. It will be a fun spar once they were fully rested and she is determined to win.

He goes silent for a moment and she catches him gazing at her eyes. Knowing it's not a challenge to her, she gazes back at him with curiosity. The small moment passes as he looks away and picks back up on her previous question. "Once you were in Ankyra Sound," she says, "you couldn't leave until you honored your word?" It is more of a rhetorical question. It is something she would do. His Royal Knights are very much like what she believes in: loyalty, respect, and strength. She hopes that there are more Knights out in the world, or that at least Nishu may try to bring them back. Since this is the first she has heard of them, she doubts there are many left.

Slowly, she stands saying, "I guess we really can't stay here. A few hours up this river," she nods to the left of them where their dangerous foe thunders a couple wolf lengths away, "are the Firestone Hot Springs. We can soak in the spring to ease our aches and warm ouselves up."

Right! If there was a few hours of walking to this warm place then it was time to focus. First he gave her an answer before getting ready to go."My service was over nearly the same day they attacked me, I didn't leave directly because I had no where to go." He said as he stood up. As long as they walked all the way there then they should be able to make it.

He looked that the direction she pointed out. "So, up the river? That shouldn't be too hard. The faster we can get there the sooner we will be able to recover our strength." He instantly started walking. Even if he was sore and his muscles exhausted he was encouraged to push onwards.

He turned to see if Rain was ready to move like he was. Then he thought of something that could be fun. Yes, surely that would help them get there faster. He looked at her and smiled. If she was like what he believed then surely she wouldn't say no. "I bet I'll get there first." He said, then he started to walk at a fast pace. Clearly he wasn't going to go easy on his muscles.

Laughing at his obvious challenge, Rain takes the bait and limps after him. "What exactly did your contract entail?" She questions keeping an eye on their surroundings. They will have to pass Ankyra Sound to get where they're going. With that knowledge she tries to step up her speed, but ends up tripping over herself. Recovering, she settles for a steady pace.

The sun, having cleared the horizon, sheds its light on the world causing the frosty morning to shimmer and sparkle. If they weren't running for their lives she would have liked to stop amd admire the first signs of her beloved winter. Rain catches up to Nishu , flicking her tail at him. "Don't go soft on me, Nishu Inte," she tells him.

Ahead, the tree line comes to an end and beyond that she can spot the fields at the base of Silvertip Mountain. Once past the mountain they will reach Firestone Hot Sping. It is a long way for two wolves on the last of their energy. She belives that if they at least make it past Silvertip, then it will be safe for them to rest. Though being able to soak their wounds is a major encouragement to keep pushing themselves.

"Basically she was allowed to test me so I could simply show what Knights really are. Nothing big for a first contract but it did take a month or two to complete it." He said. Talking did slow him down and he almost triped himself also. Moving all his muscles resulted in feel pain everywhere but it wasn't enough to stop him. He saw Rain catching up, He couldn't allow himself to lose this little race but he wasn't sure if he could go faster.

When she said that he was going soft he suddenly wanted to just run. "Oh I'm sorry m'lady. I thought I could let you catch up first." He said as he leapt forward. Jumping wasn't that bad but landing was far different. He was halted for a moment since his body force him to lay down before he could move again. Rain had the chance to get ahead. He should have kept going steadily.

Ahead he noticed the mountain, was that where they were headed? It would seem like it but he wondered how far it was. He felt like his energy wasn't going to hold all the way. But he couldn't quit moving or he would lose for sure. He had to keep going no matter what.

"You should be happy you didn't have to stay longer than two months, but it must have been terrible." Rain can't imagine having to be with Ankyra Sound for more than a day. At the first sign of mistreatment she would have snapped and tried to tear them apart, no matter the consequences. But that is her, she is easy to snap at any unfair actions, taking her view on respect too seriously.

Worry nips at her as Nishu lays down after she riles him up. Rain stops, asking if he is okay, their race forgotten. "We can stop," she informs him, feeling at fault. She shouldn't have tried to push him, he is as weak as she is at the moment and knows if she tries to push herself anymore then she will collapse. She should have tjought about how her taunts would affect him.

"No, not yet. I'm fine. So who's going soft now?" He said as he looked at her with a smile. Then he got back up and started walking slowly again. He didn't want to stop just yet. If they had to rest every few minutes then it would take forever to get there. The idea he followed was the faster they get there the more they could rest in a warm place.

Surviving in Ankyra Sound wasn't hard, Just following their rules was enough to not get kicked out instantly. "I wouldn't call that crazy place home, I was treated like an unwanted pet or something that was out of place by the other pack members. I wouldn't know for sure." The fields they entered had dry grass still holding up providing a bit of cover from the wind. It was still cold which is a reason why Nishu didn't want to stop.

Suddenly he wondered what he planned to do next. Once he had returned the favor to Rain then what? Would he have to say goodbye and start searching for master to serve? Or perhaps he could find another purpose that will allow him stay with Rain a little longer. He did owe her a spar so he better honor that. But he wasn't sure if there was going to be anything more after that.

Rain bumps him with her nose as he suggest that she is the soft one. "Yes, because I am the one lying down." Nishu stands, continuing onward to the field. She keeps close to him, her side brushing with his. I should ask, she thinks. I want him to continue with me to the Sunspire.

Before she can build up the courage to ask, Nishu talks about how it was easy to stay with the brutal pack, much to her surprise. His explanation as to how he was treated like a pet confused her a bit. "What is a pet?" She doesn't like the thought of Ankyra treating him wrongly, and can only guess what being treated as a pet means. An image of them trying to attack him every day dances across her mind's eye.

The forest suddenly ends as they walk into a great open field, shadowed by the mountain. Squinting, she can spot the steam rising from Firestone. "There!" She exclaims. "That fog is the Hot Spring." With a final burst of energy, Rain lunges forward into a limping lope. Her muscles scream with each jolt of her paws against the ground, but she ignores it and grits her teeth together. She will worry about asking Nishu to come with her to the Sunspire when they are able to soak their wounds. Treating themselves is far more important.

Nishu was happy to have her close, even if it was at the point where she was right against him. He had no reason to push her away, he would rather encourage it. Although they were surrounded by the cold it was nice to feel her warmth. It made him glad he wasn't alone.

"A pet is a creature that should obey it's it master when they give orders and such. Also they have to give all respects while they get none. That's a pet for the Sound" He said as he returned a small push against her. Pretending to be their pet while calling himself a Knight could have created problems but he couldn't accept being seen as something else.

Suddenly Rain started rushing forward stateing that the hot springs was in sight. He managed to see the steam up ahead. This was very encouraging but if Rain was going that fast she will surely beat him there. Steady long steps he took, since running wasn't going to be easy. He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. "You better pace yourself or you might never make it." He said laughing. He was attempting to make her slow down. Soon they'll be able to rest in a warm place which was much better than in a cold area where they might just freeze instead.

With the way her muscles groan against her commands, Rain knows that the dark male is right and forces herself to slow. They are almost there, another couple of lengths and they will be able to rest.

As far as what Nishu said about a pet, Rain is completely against it. The more she hears about Ankyra the worse it seems. For a moment she thinks of trying to convince other packs to drive them out, but fearfully tosses the idea away. War was not something she ever wishes to be involved with again. Not to mention she will never atempt to be the cause of one. She will not be Whisper.

Depression tears away the happiness inside her causing her to instantly go quite. An air of emotional pain surrounds her. Rain keeps a little ahead of Nishu, their race forgotten, so he cannot see her temporary relapse. This seems to happen to her often enough and she loathes it, viewing the episodes as a sign of great weakness.

He thought about the Sound for while. It was true that their ways may not appear great in other beliefs but that didn't really mean that they were enemies. He couldn't really desire to elimate them, except there was one wolf he couldn't forgive. It was the one who had pushed Rain off the cliff. Is an order really enough to kill an innocent? Nishu didn't think so, which meant that Ankyra Sound was dangerous for strangers. Just one event couldn't really prove that they were really dangerous but If they started threatening the lives of other wolves then something will have to be done.

There was still time before a decision was needed. As Rain slowed down he realised that she got quiet all of a sudden. He thought it was his fault that she got silent. He did his best to catch up and walk next to her. He noticed that something wasn't right for sure. He couldn't help but apologize. "Um, I'm sorry." He said softly.

The springs wasn't that far, surely their efforts will pay off soon. "Come on, You'll feel much better soon. There is no reason for a frown." He said hopeing to get her mind on the springs. It made him wonder where the mood change came from. Perhaps if he knew her more he could figure it out.

Self-hatred nags at her as she hears Nishu apologize. Embarrassed that he has seen her in this state of mind, her anger flares and she snaps, "Don't. Don't apologize. It has nothing to do with you." A feeling of regret stings her heart at having snapped at him, but she clamps her mouth shut instead of apologizing for it. She doesn't trust herself to speak with the wide range of emotions coursing through her.

He mentions being close to the hot springs and she flicks an ear in acknowledgment, keeping her head down. Once they are able to rest, she will be herself again. It doesn't take much time for her to bury the onslaught of emotions. And once she has recovered she knows she will be able to apologize for her outburst.

A sudden warmth sinks into Rain's coat as they enter the springs, she hadn't realized how close they were. Lifting her head up she walks up to the nearest one and slides in, a sigh escaping her. She closes her eyes as the hot water soakes away her pains and emotions, relaxing her.

[size=x-small] :3[/size]

His attempt to make things better didn't at all go the way he wanted it. Instead of a smile she snaped at him. It completely cought him off guard, He never imagined that she would get angry. The moment forced him into a halt, letting her walk ahead. He still felt at fault and now there was nothing he could do to make it better. The image he had of her changed, he wasn't sure how to think of her.

The rest of the way to the spring was done in silence. He kept an eye on her as they marched but couldn't find a single thing to say. It bothered and frustrated him so much that he forgot about the hot springs and was no longer interested in it. He didn't need water to recover, he could very much rest anywhere he wanted. He still owed her a favor but then he thought maybe it would be better to leave her alone.

Finally they reached the springs. It was much warmer now, clearly this place is a good area to rest at. He watched as Rain started to soak into the warm waters. They made it but he felt no joy about it. He sat down at the edge and looked at the water. He didn't feel like he deserved it and turned away. He got back up and started walking again. "I'm going take a look around." He said calmly. Even if it hurt to move he kept going without stopping to rest.