The wind had picked up again, and it sent up a curtain of snow, blocking Enzan's eyesight. He'd be lost in no time, and who knew how he would find Netto now.
((Leave that to us!)) said one of the wolves. ((Our senses will work better than yours, so we shall guide you.))
(Thanks. Have you come up with anything yet?)
For a moment there was silence. Then, ((I've picked up his scent! And there are tracks as well! I shall wait for you all to join me before going any further!))
Enzan felt both relief and fear when he heard that news. With luck, Netto wouldnt have gotten far, but there was also a chance that he could be hurt. Enzan wasn't sure if he would be able to help Netto if he was hurt...
((Cota didn't say she smelled blood, so I don't think he is hurt, or hurt badly, anyway,)) Anuzu said, appearing next to Enzan. ((Hold onto my collar, so that you don't loose me.))
The half-wolf rubbed up against Enzan's side, careful not to bump his injured arm, and waited for him to take ahold of her collar. He did so, and she pulled him through the trees and snow drifts, meeting up with more and more wolves as they walked. Most of the wolves kept to the shdows, blending in with the snow and ice, but every few minutes one or two would appear to rub up against Enzan reassuringly before disappearing back into the trees.
It took some time to reach Cota, who was standing in a small clearing. Here the trees blocked most of the snow, so it wasn't as deep as everywhere else. Enzan could see the tracks leading deeper into the forest, but they were much to large to have been made by Netto. He wasn't the only one who voiced that observation, either.
(Is there any other scent besides Netto's?) Enzan asked.
((No, and that is very odd. I do not like this, Enzan,)) Cota said.
((We should follow the tracks and see where they lead,)) a wolf called Keahi said. ((Maybe someone else found him and took him to their campsite? A hunter, maybe? They know how to hide their scents.))
((That is up to our leader,)) Anuzu replied, looking at Enzan.
"We'll follow the tracks," Enzan said out loud. "Chances are they'll lead us to Netto."
What he didn't say, even silently, was that he was afraid that they would lead to something else as well, and that they might already be to late to save his beloved Netto.
******
Kichi hummed softly as she carried the large wolve to an outcropping of rock that was sheltered from the wind. Tainn barely protested at her carrying her, he barely protested to anything at the moment. Both his body and his pride had been injured in the fight, and it would be some time before either healed. No one had ever beaten him before in a fight, and no one had expected Enzan, who was a human, do beat him. Enzan had been hurt too, his arm had been broken. Kichi had seen to it the best she could before he had instisted on leaving to find Netto, and the rest of the Pack had gone with him. Only she had stayed behind with Tainn.
((Why?)) Tainn asked suddenly.
"Why what?" Kichi replied.
((Why do you stay? I am no longer leader.))
"So what. You're hurt, I can't just leave you. The others will be fine, its you I worry about right now."
Tainn was silent. He didn't look at Kichi as she checked over his wounds, adjusting the bandages in certain places. When she was satisfied with them she built a small fire to keep herself warm. Even though she was worried about her cousin, she couldn't leave Tainn alone when he was injured and defenseless.
Enzan had done quite a bit of damage to Tainn while defending himself against the huge wolf. Kichi had forgotten about the knife she'd given to Enzan, and so had Tainn. He hadn't used it until the very end of the fight, and even then he'd tried to not use the blade. He'd used the handle to strike Tainn on the head to knock him out. It hadn't quite knocked him out, but it had left him dazed enough for Enzan to pin him to the ground, and for the rest of the pack to declare Enzan the winner. They had taken off soon afterwards. Now all that she and Tainn could do was wait, and waiting was not something Kichi liked to do.
((Leave that to us!)) said one of the wolves. ((Our senses will work better than yours, so we shall guide you.))
(Thanks. Have you come up with anything yet?)
For a moment there was silence. Then, ((I've picked up his scent! And there are tracks as well! I shall wait for you all to join me before going any further!))
Enzan felt both relief and fear when he heard that news. With luck, Netto wouldnt have gotten far, but there was also a chance that he could be hurt. Enzan wasn't sure if he would be able to help Netto if he was hurt...
((Cota didn't say she smelled blood, so I don't think he is hurt, or hurt badly, anyway,)) Anuzu said, appearing next to Enzan. ((Hold onto my collar, so that you don't loose me.))
The half-wolf rubbed up against Enzan's side, careful not to bump his injured arm, and waited for him to take ahold of her collar. He did so, and she pulled him through the trees and snow drifts, meeting up with more and more wolves as they walked. Most of the wolves kept to the shdows, blending in with the snow and ice, but every few minutes one or two would appear to rub up against Enzan reassuringly before disappearing back into the trees.
It took some time to reach Cota, who was standing in a small clearing. Here the trees blocked most of the snow, so it wasn't as deep as everywhere else. Enzan could see the tracks leading deeper into the forest, but they were much to large to have been made by Netto. He wasn't the only one who voiced that observation, either.
(Is there any other scent besides Netto's?) Enzan asked.
((No, and that is very odd. I do not like this, Enzan,)) Cota said.
((We should follow the tracks and see where they lead,)) a wolf called Keahi said. ((Maybe someone else found him and took him to their campsite? A hunter, maybe? They know how to hide their scents.))
((That is up to our leader,)) Anuzu replied, looking at Enzan.
"We'll follow the tracks," Enzan said out loud. "Chances are they'll lead us to Netto."
What he didn't say, even silently, was that he was afraid that they would lead to something else as well, and that they might already be to late to save his beloved Netto.
******
Kichi hummed softly as she carried the large wolve to an outcropping of rock that was sheltered from the wind. Tainn barely protested at her carrying her, he barely protested to anything at the moment. Both his body and his pride had been injured in the fight, and it would be some time before either healed. No one had ever beaten him before in a fight, and no one had expected Enzan, who was a human, do beat him. Enzan had been hurt too, his arm had been broken. Kichi had seen to it the best she could before he had instisted on leaving to find Netto, and the rest of the Pack had gone with him. Only she had stayed behind with Tainn.
((Why?)) Tainn asked suddenly.
"Why what?" Kichi replied.
((Why do you stay? I am no longer leader.))
"So what. You're hurt, I can't just leave you. The others will be fine, its you I worry about right now."
Tainn was silent. He didn't look at Kichi as she checked over his wounds, adjusting the bandages in certain places. When she was satisfied with them she built a small fire to keep herself warm. Even though she was worried about her cousin, she couldn't leave Tainn alone when he was injured and defenseless.
Enzan had done quite a bit of damage to Tainn while defending himself against the huge wolf. Kichi had forgotten about the knife she'd given to Enzan, and so had Tainn. He hadn't used it until the very end of the fight, and even then he'd tried to not use the blade. He'd used the handle to strike Tainn on the head to knock him out. It hadn't quite knocked him out, but it had left him dazed enough for Enzan to pin him to the ground, and for the rest of the pack to declare Enzan the winner. They had taken off soon afterwards. Now all that she and Tainn could do was wait, and waiting was not something Kichi liked to do.
