Porcupine Ridge i've given up

@Amekaze :D

Teeth snapped in a blaze of instinct as dark blue eyes snapped wide open. When Charon came to, he was not sure how long he had slept this time. He remembered it had been dark the last couple of times when he had awakened by the beautiful spring, then light again, and now it was dark. For the first time, the young Beta of Stavanger Bay tried to rise again after his fight with Dante.

Eyebrows scrunched together in pain as Charon struggled to his feet, which felt like goo. He wobbled back and forth a couple of times and nearly fell over again, but managed to secure his footing by crashing his side into a rock. This elicited a yelp of pain and Charon flattened his ears briefly before he managed to regain his balance.

Eventually Charon managed to get into motion, although he had a distinct limp because of the deep wounds in his right shoulder. The pain in his back was much worse though, as it pulsed through his entire body with every step he took. He barely noticed which way he was going as he walked on, not even sure if he was headed home at all, but he wanted to keep moving, as staying on the floor would only lessen his chances at survival.

Charon was surrounded by the mountains and decided to stay in the fields between them, for he did not feel up to going over the mountain range right now. He trudged on along the ridge, not sure where he was even going while the sun was beginning to rise, painting his speckled fur and the fresh wounds upon them in pink and orange.

Dawn broke slowly, with pastel colors creeping into the cloud-sprinkled skies. She had traveled through the night, as she preferred to do when she was able, heading back down from the northern flatlands edging the mountain. She'd just been scouting around -- nothing serious, or with exact purpose. Checking on prey, plants, the landscapes itself, so on. Roaming because she felt like she needed to, and because she could.

By now, she'd steadily worked back into the range and was nearing her home with every stride. But, progress wasn't hastily made; she'd get back whenever it suited her. Trekking the ridges paired with little rest had worn her down, so she was moving more slowly now to let herself regroup. She decided to take the easiest path back with this in mind.

It had been a lonely trek so far, so she had not been anticipating the scent of another. At first the smell on the breeze had her wrinkling her nose. But there was a subtle underline of familiarity that sparked her curiosity. She strode onward a little faster then, bringing herself into sight of Charon. Closer and closer still, eventually she could make out his details -- and they were not for the better.

"A long way from the coast to be looking so poorly," she said, lifting her voice only as much as necessary, since she did not instantly move straight into his immediate vicinity. A wounded wolf could be an unpredictable one if they still had the strength.

Charon wearily lifted his head when he heard a familiar voice. He could not make out why it was familiar, exactly. He did not know if it was Thistle Cloud that would fawn over him and make him feel better, or if it was someone else he knew... Or maybe it was no one in this mortal life, but a valkyrie who had come to take him away. He lifted his head slightly to look upon her while he tried to hold his balance, his legs quavering as they nearly refused to hold his battered body up any longer.

When he looked at the black wolf, he knew for certain that she was a Valkyrie, here to take him away, to the halls of Valhalla. Charon had never been very religious despite being brought up by Ragnar and Thistle (who had never imposed their religion upon him either) but he knew of Valhalla and the valkyries. Perhaps he was not the best of vikings, but Ragnar could have sent a Valkyrie down to collect him nevertheless. Or perhaps she was a star, here to collect him towards the night sky, where he would shine forever. Perhaps stars and valkyries were the same thing. He believed she had to be either, or both, because he remembered meeting her vaguely, and because she looked beautiful yet fierce, like he imagined the valkyries to. His thoughts were a blur and he was barely holding on to consciousness, but he felt firm in his belief of her identity.

His bottom lip quavered a little as he looked at her, drool and blood dripping from his lips. He licked his lips, blinked his eyes a few times as though he was trying to stay awake, and asked her: "Are you a Valkyrie, here to take me?" The deep wounds in shoulder and back hurt, especially the pulsating pain that shot from his back through his entire body; the same one that made it so hard to stand on his own legs.

She watched carefully, studying him for all of his worth. He struggled. She could see it in the balance he held onto so delicately, and she used her proximity to glance over his wounds -- ugly, fresh, and probably bound to fester if he kept at it. She remained straight-faced, almost expressionless entirely if it weren't for the touch of curiosity when faced with something such as this. He hardly looked like the youthful wolf from the coast she had met moons ago, so marred with misery and injury as he were. He'd seen something foul, and whether or not it was of his own doing was unknown. But, he was probably in little shape for explanations.

She said nothing for a beat, and watching him slather then speak in what seemed liked fevered words. Ame arched a skeptical brow. Valkyrie. A strong word with deep connotations. She was not well-versed in the myth and did not immediately know of a counterpart from her own pantheon. All she knew was that they pertained to battle in some way and that generally speaking, she was not one. Although, it may not be a stretch for her to bring their representation to flesh. "You think you have someplace to go?" she quipped, then moved closer to him with scrutinizing eyes. All torn up like that, he needed a lot of things. He needed to go home, for one, but that was far.. and she hardly knew its exact location. Would he even make it back? She couldn't help but wonder as she watched blood drip from his lips -- internal injury? Something equally as devious? Hard telling, honestly.

Charon did not even know if the blood he tasted was Dante's -- but it'd been days, had it not? -- or his own that he had managed to clean off somehow. Or worse. Maybe that is why the Valkyrie had come to take her. She asked if he thought he had someplace to go, and he chortled, which resulted in a couple of painful coughs. Charon's upper body moved from left to right, wobbling on unsteady legs, as he tried to keep his balance.

"Valhalla, is it not, that dead warriors go to? Did Ragnar send you?" He knew her from somewhere. He knew he had to know her. But where from? He had not been to Valhalla before.

Charon turned his head to try and clean his shoulder and back again, something he'd reflexively and instintively done much the past few days, but he could not reach and to make matters worse, toppled over onto the ground again because it made him lose his balance.

Her ears fanned back and her expression grew pensive when he coughed. It sounded bad, and was almost enough to inspire a grimace from her but he stopped and spoke soon enough. Valhalla, dead warriors, and Ragnar. She suspected this played into the valkyrie theme. Also, Ragnar was a name that struck as vaguely familiar to her somehow, but she didn't know exactly from where -- she never knew a creature by that name, not first hand. It had been a long time since it had ever come up though, and it definitely had nothing to do with why she was here. "Ragnar..? No," she questioned and answered together all while shaking her head side to side gently.

"You do not look dead just yet.." she quipped. It wouldn't be a stretch to say he was close, but if he had lost his will to go on, was there any point to letting him wait for the end to come? She licked her lips thoughtfully, and tilted her head subtly at him as he tumbled over himself. She crept a little closer still, almost going so far as to stand over him. There were only very few feet between them now. "Was your battle so satisfying you would have it be your last?" Maybe it had been for him. Maybe it was worth being the pinnacle of all things, and that he was done now. Perhaps a major accomplishment had been at stake. Of course, she had never felt this satisfaction before. Maybe he had. Maybe he was done here, ready to check out, and maybe she could help him along with it, if that was absolutely what he wanted to see to here. But, was he that hopeless yet? Was this not the kind of injuries that rest and some tending would mend? She stared down at him, questioning.

She seemed to recognise the name Ragnar, but had not come here sent by him. There was something wrong and fishy about this, and something fishy about his own pattern of thought, he knew, but the pain made it hard to think clearly. Charon blinked his eyes, looking away for a moment before looking back at her. He had seen her before. He knew her from somewhere. But he had never been dead, or almost dead, so how could he know a valkyrie here to bring him to the halls? Unless...

"I'm not dead." It was not a question, nor directed at her; it was a realisation, a revelation. He had yet time on this earth.

"I need to get home," Charon said as he looked at her, and he suddenly remembered where he had met her; she was a wolf from another pack -- perhaps a nearby pack? or was she exploring once again -- and he had met her near the coastal area, when she was exploring. Her name, he did not remember, but it would get to him, he was sure.

He looked at her imploringly, not because he thought she would stop him, but because he knew that he would not be able to reach home without her. He needed her help, and he wanted to ask her for it. But 'I need your help' or 'will you help me' were, even as battered as Charon was, words he found hard to pull out of his sleeve.

Evidently, matters began to make more sense because it translated into his words. She hadn't thought he'd hit his head in his fall just seconds ago, but maybe it had been enough of a jostle to knock an ounce of sense into him. He spoke, and this time she nodded slowly at him. He wasn't dead. Not yet. So, there was life left him in, or at the least, the chance of it. As of now, his biggest risk was probably himself and whether or not his body could mend from its injuries.

"Your home is rather far from here," she reminded him, watching to see if this information registered correctly in his head and to know if he was willing to risk it unwisely. "Traveling that distance would be difficult... as you are right now, especially with your balance so compromised," she mentioned, although it did feel like pointing out the obvious to the wolf crumpled up here and that was only the very beginning of his struggles. There were flatlands, forests, and a sizable river separating him from there at the very least -- and that was only considering the scenery itself, not its inhabitants that could pick off a weakened wolf readily. She didn't even know exactly where on the coast he came from, whether or not it was north or south in relation to here, but just that it was a long walk for someone who could barely stand up.

Charon wished that she was a bit more helpful. He didn't really want to ask her for help, but it looked like she would drive him to the point that he would have to. He remembered her name now. It was Ame. The young Beta's ears folded back momentarily while he heaved himself to his feet again, though it was with great effort and pain that he managed.

"Ame," he said. "Ame of the Spire. Is your home nearby?" He didn't want to invite himself, but he would need her help to get home in one piece; or at least have a much bigger chance at getting there. Charon looked at her imploringly, brows knitted into an unhappy and pained frown.

More realizations seemed to dawn on him and they continued to sound sane. She nodded slowly for indeed, it was her. "It is," she replied regarding her home. "Right there." She gestured accordingly to the tallest peak. Much closer than his home somewhere along the seaside. "I was on my way back, actually." Until a wolf teetering on the edge of something ugly had distracted her.

"You could rest there a bit.. get your bearings, if you need." She wasn't one to be overly hospitably, nor was she in a rush to roll out the red carpet treatment. She had only met with him once before after all. But, she'd respect a wolf who had survived their fight and still lived to kick another day. So long as he did not become hopeless in disposition, she'd manage something.

The mountain had plenty of resources, especially with the pack so small meaning fewer mouths to feed, they just did not offer a medic to see to him -- just her stocks, limited knowledge, and perhaps a little extra from her brother who claimed to know his way around the plantlife. Charon could certainly rest quietly there and in the meantime, she'd decide how exactly she may benefit in the long run. But, he'd have to take up her offer first; she wouldn't ask twice.

Charon was a proud wolf, but he wasn't stupid. He knew he needed help, and he wasn't going to turn it down when he walked into it. Perhaps it was fate. His pride was already bruised anyway, so when the offer was extended to him, he nodded quickly. "Thank you," Charon said. "I will not forget your kindness." He wondered if he would do the same to a wolf upon his borders. Perhaps not. Perhaps he would make them into slaves, like he did Saskia. He didn't even know why his mind flitted to her.

Now on his feet again, Charon looked at the Spire that Ame had pointed out. He waited until Ame would lead the way and then he would follow; none too fast on his feet, but he'd got this far, and he wasn't about to give up now that rest was getting closer and closer.

She was quietly studying him. His thanks earned a small nod, but she didn't really noticeably soften in light of it. She was hesitant to share much, feeling inwardly conflicted suddenly. Calling it a kindness seemed almost like too much. "How well can you travel? It is close, but still a bit of a walk," she asked before striding into motion towards the mountain. He may not be well-versed in the path here, or even the style of travel, and considering his condition, she doubted it would exactly be easy for him.

Amekaze peered at him over her shoulder, only halfway pausing before seriously getting to the business of covering ground. The mountain wasn't getting any closer, so she aimed her nose for home. If he could make it, she already had a stream in mind to guide him to.. one that trickled to the mountain's foot with decent strength so that he could cleanse. She'd start with that, then go from there..

She asked how well he could travel, and Charon just nodded. He had no choice but to travel, and so even if he would wish that he could take it easy, lay down right here while she groomed his wounds, he knew it was no options. If he wished to live, he needed to chew through the pain and get a move on, because she was a wolf, like he, and kindness only stretched so far. It wasn't like they were best friends, after all; they had only met once before on rather neutral terms.

While Ame was a rather neutral wolf to Charon, perhaps that was what attracted him in the moment, which made him feel pleased to stay with her. A friend in another pack -- he had little of those -- might not do him as much good as an Alpha with neutral disposition towards him. She had the power to make him stay here. The only thing that he wondered about was what it was going to cost him... But he would find out in due time.

With the nod he had given her, Charon started to move forward. His movements were stiff and he limped as he hobbled along, but he would get there, eventually, and followed her until wherever she would lead; were it death or salvation.

He nodded, and she turned her sights forward just afterward, then towards the mountainside. She had no further questions, or anything to say really. She'd only aim to make good time.. and while the trek may strain him, it'd pay off in the end. He could rest and regroup some then. Until they got back, he'd just have to stick with it. His determination was a quiet one, but she saw its brightness all the same from the corner of her eye while she led the way to the mountain's base and the thicket with a stream she had in mind for him.

In silence they moved on, and Charon could do nothing but put his life in Ame's paws for now. Recovery would take a bit, and he hoped that the Sunspire could spare messengers to visit Stavanger Bay (he would soon find out that they did not, as they were as small as the Bay). The young Beta had no choice but to accept fate and recover for now, and hope it would be okay with the care of cleaning the wounds and taking his rest while he was provided water and food.

They moved slow but eventually reached the place where his wounds could be washed. After the cleaning of his wounds and drinking Charon, though hungry as well, collapsed once somewhere safe and drifted off to a fitful and uncomfortable sleep, exhausted from all that had transpired the past days.