This chapter was done with the help of Krisstilts as Shoshanah, since that's her character in the RPG
Exploration
Continued.....
After the song the males set out. They ran like the wind, Avilik scenting their prey as he and his brother lead the way side by side. Soon they came upon their prey. He told his hunters to spread out and they waited for the right moment to move. There wasn't anything really impressive there so she moved on, following her nose to the kitchen, which wasn't that far from the dining room. She just slipped in pretty much unnoticed sneaking a raspberry tart that she saw as they had skipped dinner. She stayed in a corner for a moment just watching the goings on before slipping back out. So far no one had stopped her or even looked at her twice. They moved now hunters encompassing the area. Working as a team the brought down 6 deer, 2 bucks and 4 doe. Then carried them back to the cave. She kept going until she saw a door up ahead with a guard in front of it, walking as though she had a purpose and nodding to the guard, she walked in. Wondering what it would be that it needed a guard, as she walked in her eyes widened slightly, it was the armory. The guard looked at her but let her pass. Shields, armor, axes, swords, bows, everything was in there. She picked up two Sais she saw, messing around with them slightly she had some skill in that area. She could use a weapon if she needed to, usually opting for the lighter ones, like rapiers, but she really liked Sais. However, she soon grew tired of the shining metal and took her leave nodding to the guard again. She continued her trek going farther into the caves when she saw a somewhat dingy looking door. She figured that must be the dungeon and decided it was probably better if she didn't go in there. So instead she took another turn, by this time she was a little lost. Avilik was now back at the cave. The men worked with his hunters to gut the deer, and get the meat of them, saving the skin for tanning. Just then she was an enormous door, with a large crest of a griffon on it. She remembered seeing that on Avilik's lance, so knocking first she entered slowly peeping inside. "Hello, anyone here?" When no one answered she let herself all the way inside eyes widening again at the sheer size of the room. This somewhat confirmed her suspicions about whose room it was, so stealthily she began to explore. He was covered in blood now, but the job was finished. He picked up his good clothes that someone had wrapped in paper for him and made his way back to his room. First thing she really noticed was the enormous bed; well he was a big fellow so she figured he would need a big bed. She then moved on noting some pictures on a dresser, they seemed to be of Avilik and what she would guess was his wife since there were about four little kids in it as well. He was stopped along the way by s few of the females trying to interest him, in them and by the cooks for a taste test of a new recipe. .Looking to the other picture she recognized the guy from the joust who had been identified as Avilik's brother, they seemed so happy. There was another picture, which she could only guess was his mother and father. Moving on once again she found an incredible bathroom attached to the main room, which held a rather luxurious looking tub. However, being a fire mage she didn't really like to get wet so her baths tended to be short. Looking around the room again she noticed how nicely it was furnished with rather expensive looking things, and the crystals that seemed to be everywhere could be found in masses here. He made his way down the hall way to his room coming up to it he scented her presence. "I see you decided to explore," he whispered to himself. Walking out she tripped on the carpet falling into the wall when all the sudden a door opened. It would seem she found the button to his closet. He had more clothes in there than she had, had in the entirety of her life. He now opened the door slowly acting like he didn't know she was there. He walked in and shut the door. Jumping slightly, she turned as she heard the door shut, seeing it was just Avilik. "Oh, sorry I just started exploring and figured this had to be your room. Didn't mean to intrude, I will go now." She said as she began to make her way towards the door. He turned around to see her. He was still covered in blood holding his clothes from earlier in a paper bundle. "I already knew you were here. You don't have to leave. I have no problem with you being here." He stood in front of the door looking at her. She looked at him for the first time, noticing the blood and also that he was in front of the door and took a step back. "Have a nice hunt? Well we can talk about that tomorrow when you are escorting me out of your territory for now I am tired and think I will go back to my room." She said as she faked a yawn. He shook his head. "You can not fake a yawn and get a wolf to believe it. Our hunt was good yes. 6 deer in one attack it always a good hunt." He threw the dead bolt on the door. His ring being the key to it. He would let her out in a little bit. "Good, glad to hear it... why are you locking the door?" She took a few more steps back. "Because Rawbones is out side. He escaped; I'll let you out in a little bit. After the pack manages to subdue him" he walked over to the bathroom setting his clothes down. He began to wash the blood of him self in the sink. "I think I can handle him on my own, I could always use my fire on him again." "True, but when I saw him his eyes were glowing red. You never want to deal with a wolf when that happens." he walked back out after unwrapping his clothes and went into his already open closet to hang them up. "I see, why is that?" Making her way over to a bench that sat in front of his bed she just kind of plopped down, listening. He came back out with a silver flamed leather vest on and matching pants, "when a wolf's eyes glow red. He is extremely angry; he will continues to fight to the death if he must to reach his goal. And he becomes at least 3 times stronger then normal" "I suppose you are right then, I really don't want to deal with him. I guess it is a good thing I didn't stop by the dungeons as I had planned." "That it is" he walked over and sat next to her. "I don't doubt that your strong, but sometimes lack of knowledge of an enemy can ensure defeat" She scooted away from him a little, still feeling uncomfortable. "Yes, I suppose that is true, you always need to wait for just the right moment to attack." He nodded. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I'm to used to being around wolves I guess." "You sure they haven't caught him by now?" She said as she adjusted her dress slightly finding that it wasn't the most comfortable thing to sit in. He got up and walked over to the door opening a slot in the door he peered out. He saw one of his pack members go flying by hitting the wall, and a few others crying out in pain. Finally catching a glimpse of the still wild Rawbones. Rawbones notice him and slashed at him through the slot. Hitting his right eye, before he could close it. He cried out when he was slashed, slamming the slot closed on Rawbones' paw. He yelped in pain and moved his paw out of the way. Avilik closed the slot and locked it, his other hand covering his right eye. "No they haven't caught him yet" he calmly walked into the bathroom. He moistened a cloth and put it on his eye. She watched the whole scene silently till she saw his eye, gasping slightly she jumped up. "Are you alright, sorry I had you check?" "I'll be fine" his voice was calm he looked in the mirror. Trying to remove the blood so he could see how much damage was done. "You sure, anything I can do for you?" "You might be able to see what to do better then me. Could you please come here and help me?" She got up and went over to him, getting up on a chair so she could look down into his eye. "Well, good news he didn't get your eyeball, just your eyelid above it. That should stop bleeding soon enough, I could close it for you, but it will hurt." "Go ahead and close it then." he blinked getting some of the blood to flow out of his eye that had leaked into it. She started to explain what she was doing as her hand began to glow a sort of light red. "It will kind if like be searing the wound shut." And with that she just stuck one finger where each of the claws had gone. He closed his eyes for her. "That's fine go ahead." He clenched his fists waiting for her to start. The heat rapidly increased until the smell of burnt flesh filled the air and she was done, her hand returning to normal. Looking down she realized that although she had been able to get up without having to worry since he couldn't, the dress was too tight to get back down. He clenched his fists tight and locked his jaw. Easing up when she finished. He reopened his right eye now. "Thank you" "You're welcome, sorry about the pain," She said as she remained on the chair, though she could now look him in the eye. "That's alright. I knew it would be there." "I suppose so, how long do you think it will take them to catch him?" "Hopefully not too much longer" She yawned looking down again, though this time it was a real yawn. "I'll go see what's going on outside" he walked out of the room and slowly reopened the slot. Not wanting to ask him for help down she just kind of jumped, unfortunately, the landing didn't go too well. She remained standing for a minute, then just kind of collapsed to one side, her ankle going in an odd direction as she stopped herself from crying out. He glanced out side seeing his pack dog piling Rawbones'. They would have him back in the dungeon soon. He heard the cry and closed the slot and hurrying back over to her. He knelt beside her, concern in his eyes. "What happened?" She lay there for a moment before she tried to stand biting her lip as she realized she had done something odd to her ankle. "I believe I figured out why I don't wear confining dresses." "Let me take a look at you ankle" he had noticed what caused her pain when she stood. Hobbling over to the bench she waved him off gently. "I will be fine just moved it the wrong way is all." "Moving it the wrong way can cause damage." He knelt down taking her ankle gently in his hand. He applied some pressure to it and awaited her reaction. She just bit her lip, eyes tearing up a little as she resolved not to cry out, looking away from him. He smelt the tears and knew it was probably sprained. "Your ankle is hurt worse then you think. I'll heal it for you. Other wise you'll have to stay here in bed until it heals on its own." He walked over and grabbed his dagger. "In order to heal you I have to use magic. Don't worry I will not hurt you." He knelt back down. She moved her leg to the side away from him. "I am fine I can just float on my cloud." Shaking his head "I will heal you or you will not leave" He cut his left hand with the dagger. Squeezing his hand so blood would come out of it. He chanted something in Wolfen. The pool of blood on the floor disappeared along with his wound. His hands glowed blue. He took her ankle in his glowing hands gently and focused on healing it. Soon the glow faded and her ankle was healed. He let go, breathing rather hard. She sighed looking down, it would seem that he hadn't given her much choice. She looked at him a little worriedly though "Are you alright?" He gasped for breath. Almost about to collapse on the floor. "I will be...just used a lot of energy and strength in healing you" "See, that is why you should have just left it alone." She did however get down as well hoping he was alright as she looked over her ankle. "How did you do that?" "I used Farhullen or falcon magic. It requires the user to sacrifice something to Stantnif in order to heal or defend, normally blood, energy, and strength, but some times more depending on the task at hand." His breathing was still rather hard; he looked up at her and smiled. "I would help you anytime Firekeeper" he smiled weakly. "I really don't understand you." She said as she helped him up onto the bench before making her way slowly over to the door pressing her ear against it. Some scuffling and yelling could be heard from outside. "What don't you understand?" He looked over at her rather confused. "I don't understand why you would help me, I haven't been in any way helpful since the time you met me." He chuckled finally catching his breath "I consider you a friend. Though out the day my pack and I have kept a close watch on you without you knowing it. I have also tested you with several things. I would rather be your friend and ally then to be your enemy. And you have helped you just don't know it." He smiled. She studied him for a moment, she never had been a very trusting person, but she just nodded. "Well, since I will be leaving tomorrow I guess an alliance wouldn't help much." He chuckled. "You never know when you will meet up with someone again. I leave the pack from time to time." He stood now and walked over to her. "Perhaps." She stepped away from the door yawning again, but at least she wasn't hobbling. He tilted his head slightly. Then walked closer to her putting his hands on her shoulders, gripping them gently. "I understand you may not trust me. But have I done anything to merit distrust? I protected you from a neighboring pack by having you come here. They were near by that's what the younger wolf told me and why I insisted on you coming. The Mountain Pack has more members then ours and they kill on sight." She looked at his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe I have been traveling solo for too long, but I don't get close to people and don't often give away my trust." She took a step back his hands falling form her shoulders. He closed his eyes for a moment. "You heard what my brother and I said when we saluted each other at the joust didn't you?" his emerald eyes looked into her eyes now. "Live something, die well?" "Live Free, Die Well. Do you know its meaning?" "I would think exactly what it says, is there something about it I am missing?" "It has a deeper meaning yes. My parents, Stormwind and Snowdrift, started it. They told me it means to live life to the fullest, to the most joy that you can receive. And not to worry so much bout weather something bad will happen. They said it also represents not being alone. A person alone will never become as happy as those who have friends and someone they trust." He looked directly into her fire like eyes. "Intelligent parents, unfortunately, not everyone lives their lives for happiness. Perhaps someday I will though, perhaps...." She looked away from him for a moment, looking back to the door. "Then what do you live your life for?" his eyes still on her. She looked at him a little sadly. "For a while I would say I haven't been living as much as existing, but if I live for anything it is to spite those who wish me dead." "Your life has more meaning then that. You still have a destiny to fulfill." He gently brushed her face with his rather large paw/hand. "You are not meant to be here for spiting alone. Life can be unbearable I know, but spiting people won't help take that pain away. I have been there and done that." His hand dropping to rest on her shoulder now. She took another step back, as he obviously wasn't getting the message, simply looking up at him. "For now, I still want that pain, it is the fuel of my power and what helps me get up in the morning." "Power is not everything. Love and Friendship has more strength then shear power." "Love and friendship aren't what have kept me alive this far..." "My point is power can only go so far. Love and Friendship can go farther." He pressed his ear to the door hearing a few things. "They almost have him under control. But let me ask you this have you ever used the strength of love or friendship?" She shrugged just kind of making her way to the door silently, listening intently. "Then maybe you should try it." He looked out the slot seeing them hog-tying Rawbones now "You could start by being my friend. What harm comes from trusting someone who already trusts you?" She just shrugged again not really having a good answer as she yawned getting tired. He looked out seeing them finally taking him away. He waited for his other beta Nipto to come and give the ok. Then he out his ring in the door and unlocked it. "I'll walk you back to your room" he opened the door and held his arm out for her. "Is there any need for that, I got here fine and they got Rawbones under control." She failed to mention the fact that she was a little lost. "And I'm betting you got lost as well. Many do the first time in here. I would feel better if I did." He looked sternly at her. "You know, you could scare someone with that look." She said laughingly. "And I didn't get that lost, I could find my way back." "Well so it doesn't take you a half hour to do so I will walk you back before you fall asleep, while walking" He smirked laughing a little. She frowned slightly but took his offered arm, as she was pretty tired, it had been an eventful day. He smiled and led her back to her room. It only took a few minutes to get there since he knew a short cut. He opened the door for her. "It didn't kill you to be led back now did it? I hope you sleep well Firekeeper. My guards will be out side you door just in case Rawbones escapes again some how." He bowed deeply to her. She curtsied as well, entering her room and ripping off the confining dress changing quickly and then sinking into the feather bed. It had been forever since she had sleep on one of those, and so she simply passed into the land of dreams. He returned to his room and soon fell asleep himself. To be continued..............