Erron was woken from its peaceful sleep and dreams of chasing dear through the woods by a desperate plea so riddled with sorrow that its heart ached in a way it hadn't known was possible. It was about a candlemark or so past midnight when it awoke, biting back a grief-stricken howl as it jumped out of its den and into the frigid, smoky air. Smoky? Why would it be smoky here, there have been no fires in the forest in ages! Perhaps it was wrong, perhaps it had missed something. Humans. The smoke came from the edge of the forest, from the direction of the human village that Erron had often spied through its years.

Erron kept its mind occupied for several minutes as it truly finished waking. It had never been very good at waking instantly. Why would there be smoke coming from the human village? Had a raid occurred? Erron admittedly knew very little of the movements and customs of the humans here, it tried not to involve itself too often with any human, save those of the Vales. After all, most of the other humans would have no trouble firing an arrow or a rock at it, believing it to be no more than a common wolf. A common wolf indeed, it thought, why, if they knew anything they would-

Another cry of mental anguish hit it like a ram in the side, nearly bowling Erron over with its urgency. Immediately and suddenly awake, all of Erron's frivolous thoughts ceased and it was moving toward the mental cry before it had registered moving. As it ran, Erron considered the best course of action. The cry obviously came from an intelligent creature, so it wasn't an injured animal it had to worry about; which was probably good since Erron was not likely to put an animal at ease. Also, the cry had an aspect that made it appear young, despite the strength and coherency of the call. A human, Erron thought suddenly, it is a human child crying for help.

Now exactly why Erron believed so it had no idea but it knew from the moment it identified the source that it was right. Immediately Erron moved toward the smoke, noting that direction of the cry came very near the area where the village and the forest met. :Don't worry little one, I am coming for you.: Erron was not sure if the child could receive mindspeech as clearly as it sent but it saw no reason not to do whatever it could to comfort it before it could find it. Blindly, and with a purpose, Erron ran on, trusting in its nose and ears to guide the way, converging quickly on the source of the mental cries of loss, despair, and sorrow that ripped into its heart and left it bare.

It did not take long for Erron to arrive at the edge of the Forest and look out over the burning village, and burning it was indeed. Tall flames leaped into the sky as if they were trying to escape the blaze that they themselves were a part of, smoke dancing darkly above them, wavering and rippling in the slight breeze. For one very long instant Erron was afraid that the cry came from inside the blaze and his soul mourned in despair for although the radiating sorrow, loss, and despair remained strong, emanating into it, the coherency of speech had ceased.

Faintly, almost too faint to register, Erron noticed the scent of a human, not in the blaze but within the forest itself. Erron had no sooner caught the scent then it was leaping into the dense underbrush, fighting its way through briars and over bushes. It was no silent hunter here, he leaped and bounded over the dense brush, straining its every sense to catch even the slightest glimpse of the child that it heard in its mind so clearly.

Because of the rolling blanket of smoke that was beginning to cover the forest, Erron did not find the girl until it almost tripped over her while blundering through the undergrowth. Her appearance brought Erron up short, whatever it had been expecting to find, this child was not it, although it was unmistakable that she fit the silent cry that it heard in its head. Although Erron was not the best at judging a normal human appearance, the kyree knew that something was wrong here. Well, more wrong than a small child lying alone in the middle of a forest in the middle of the night. She was so thin it would be surprised if she could stand and she was garbed in only a thin, sleeved dress, nearly useless in the chill night that penetrated even the kyree's thick coat. Beyond her physical appearance, the girl-child smelled of death, it coated her entire being.

The smell scared him more than anything, coming off of a child who was little more than skeleton, it was only the sound of her breathing and the steady thrum of her unconscious cry for help in his mind that assured Erron that she lived. These were also what drove it into action.

Erron jumped over the last of the brush between itself and the child and began to nudge her with its paws and nose, trying to rouse her, tugging gently at her dress as it went. Her mind was becoming more active and her cries those of increased despair as she believed she was about to die. Instinctively, Erron sent to her, :No, my cub, death is not here for you today.: It then continued its efforts in rousing her from her shock and cold induced slumber.

After what felt like hours, although it was mere moments after Erron spoke to her, the girl-child began to stir, each breath deepening and her pulse becoming more robust. :Peace, my cub, take it slow, there is no need to rush your awakening.: Erron was quick to assure her, afraid that she might startle and injure herself in her fear of it, most village children would be afraid if they found themselves face to face with a kyree, even if you did mistake it with a wolf.

Immediately upon receiving its message she became very still, freezing in place, her eyes still focused on the ground in front of her. No, that wasn't right. Erron sensed her mind extending out, taking stock of who and what it was. She wasn't looking at the ground because she couldn't see. Erron had been afraid that its form, made into shadows in the dark night, would frighten her. For the moment, this was better; her blindness gave it time to speak to her, keep her from panicking.

:Hush, little cub, I am here to help you. I heard your cries and came to you I felt your need and will protect you,: Erron sent calmly into her mind. :I am Erron of the kyree, little cub. Who are you that I aide?:

Erron did not honestly expect her to be able to respond, it was simply distracting her as it tried to find a way to take her back to its den, which simply made her response all the more surprising, :Alva. My name is Alva.: