The Weary, The Injured, The Trouble
When morning came Sho found a fuzz ball next to her, his head resting on her hip. Looking at the sleeping wolf she wanted to flame him. The morning was unusually cool for the jungle, which put her in a bad mood. Next thing you know he'll be cuddling me or something! Disgusted with him she sat up and went to push him off stopping after she had touched him she realized he felt cool. Did he curl up with me because he got cold? Seeing as how he hasn't had a belly full in over a month its possible. After transferring some heat to him she shook him awake. "Come on furball up so we can go hunting." He sluggishly rose still half asleep. It was obvious he didn't feel like moving at all. She rose and grabbed her cross bow. Loading a bolt she cocked it so it'd be ready to go then stretched herself out. Avilik stretched then jogged off at a slow lope still half asleep. "Watch wear you step…" "I will don't worry."
Avilik halted 15 minutes into the hunt. His tail straight as a board unmoving, his ears intently listening, his muscular body tense, mouth open though not a sound could be heard from him. His gaze fell upon Sho as he motioned her direction with his tail. Having no clue what he was doing she followed him carefully so as to not make a sound. A lard deer herd came into view in front of her making her smirk he is very handy at times she aimed ready to shoot until Avilik nipped her leg mouthing 'wait' to her then scampering off. Confused as to what he wanted she waited a moment seeing him reappear in the brush near the herd. He's scanning the herd? He looked to her again with a nod. He lunged, the herd buckled and broke. Sho loosed hitting her mark the doe fell instant bolt imbedded in her neck. Avilik meanwhile chases a young buck who seemed to be having trouble. With one mightily leap Avilik was on him, teeth sinking into the back of the buck's neck, as his prey desperately tried to shake him loose. His jaws clamped down hard and the buck fell instantly dead. Avilik let go panting heavily. Sho had free he bolt form the doe and came over to him "you alright?" "Yes jus tired." "What where you doing back there?" "I'll tell you when we get beck to camp and I catch my breath" he huffed out then grabbed the buck and tossed it up onto his back. "Can you carry the doe?" "Sure but not that way." A steam cloud lifted the doe's body as followed Sho as she walked behind Avilik.
Once back her steam cloud dispersed and Avilik tossed his burden to the ground before lying down himself. "Avilik are you sure you're alright?" he didn't answer just panted. Shaking her head she drew the heat away from him, enjoying the extra for herself. His gaze met hers now "my fur is a problem." "I could shave you." "You wouldn't want to." "No then what were you doing." He sighed "since you had no clue that I was trying to position you in a different area I had you stop so we could attack form separate directions, a tactic that works very well with herds. We will have to work on making sign language between us. Could be an asset in a fight." "So that's what the tail flip thing was?" "Yes that's what it was." She took her knife that was hidden in her skirt and began to cut the doe apart. She ran into trouble with the leg, as she hoped to separate it and cook it over the open fire whole. Avilik came over and grabbed it from her. With a snap the leg was free and out of its socket. "Now you should be able to cut it loose. You know you are not designed for snapping bones or for strength just le me do that part. You shouldn't over stress your body trying to do such things it wasn't created for." "I'm not a weakling Avilik." Her voice almost a growl, it caught him off guard slightly. "I didn't say you were. I was only stating a fact. Your body is not built for snapping bones or lifting great weights. It takes much force to snap a leg loose. That is all I said, though you could try an change that if you wanted." "Sounds like you are saying I can't do it because I'm a women to me Avilik. Are you sexist?" "Hardly, I will have you know I love strong females, race aside. Humans adapt their bodies to move such weight and do such strenuous work as they do. They are not born or made with it though. Your body is built like a female of the human races despite your being genasi. Since you rely on your magic you didn't build up to using strength over speed now did you?" snapping a second leg out of place he shook his head and went over to his buck. After she sheered the meat off the does midsection and into her pot she put the skinned and cleaned legs up to roast. Beginning work on her stew as she glanced over at Avilik. His muzzle covered in blood he gorged himself on the bucks tough meat. "My doe not good enough for you?" he looked up and tilted his head. "She was your kill I do not eat of another kill unless I am invited. Besides I doubt you'd want my kill." He pointed to bucks back leg, it was crippled by a nasty infection. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. I know why he scanned the herd now. Looking for and easy target for his weak condition "You're going to get sick." He gulped down a piece of meat not bothering to chew it. "No I won't I can eat many nasty things with out illness. My stomach was designed for it." "What do you mean you don't eat of other people's kills?" he gulped down a few more pieces before answering. "In Wolfen society if you make a kill you own it. If someone does not have permission to eat of it then they don't eat. We ask before assuming." He went back to eating a she left it at that for now. Once the stew was done Sho looked over at her bloody companion. Silently imagining him eating a person. Shaking her head she discarded the thought. Why did I think that? Maybe cause of the stories of his kind but he's not like that is he? "If you eat some of this soup you better have better manners Avilik and clean up." he's so ravenous…. Oh this is going to be a long partnership she rubbed her temples. Why me? "I am what I am Sho, I cannot help that." He grinned at her before washing up to join her.
Three hours after dawn they got underway. Sho noted as they continued that Avilik looked much healthier now then before. He should he hate a whole deer, half the other one, and two bowls of soup. Wolves sure eat a lot. "Avilik will we have to hunt every morning?" "No, every three to four days or so will be fine." She nodded and sat back thinking on their strategy, they were very close to their destination now. It was only a matter of days before they reached Manarkas, the capital of Raeland. That is where their target ruled. Maybe we can pick up a few souvenirs if we pull this off right. He is a bandit after all. I'm sure Bruiser would be happy for some extra gold or something in exchange for saying nothing about it. Refolding it she watched Avilik a moment. Then relaxed in her saddle hoping they could speed up soon.
Hours passed and Avilik's fur became increasingly drenched with sweat. He often stopped to have a drink but always returned to cutting their path. Watching him closely she could tell he was tired. His breath came short and rough as he panted from the heat, though she had taken it away periodically there was too much for her to absorb now. This is not fair to him, not with all that fur. Heat affects him more then I thought it would. Slipping off desert rose she pulled the second machete from its resting-place in his saddle and joined him. What is she doing? He looked as her a moment, she merely smirked to him. "You don't get all the fun fuzz ball." "I wouldn't call this fun."
Working as a team the hours slowly drifted by, after six hours He saw Sho was struggling to slice though anything. "Sho rest your…" "No way Avilik." does she thing she has to prove she's strong now? "Sho this is nonsense…" "Avilik Don't!" her voice so low now that it sent a shiver though him. He was silent until day turned to night and they finally stopped. After taking care of the horses he walked over to get a good long drink form the small creak that ran through this section of the jungle. Walking back to camp Avilik noted with no surprise that Sho no longer used her right arm if she could help it. Shaking his head he came to her side kneeling down "here let me see your arm" "Avilik I'm fine." "And I'm queen of Rivera." He took hold of her arm anyway only to have it jerked away form him "I said I'm fine." "You strained yourself and you know it. I told you to rest, you aren't as muscular as I am nor do you have the endurance I do. You nearly passed out." "I did not. My arm is fine." She started to pull the large pot out of the fire when a spike like pain shot through her right arm. The pot started to fall but with swift paws Avilik caught it and helped her to gently set it on the ground. Holding her arm with her hand she stared at him a moment. Carefully taking his wrists she looked over his paw pads finding second degree burns on them. "That was foolish Avilik why?…" "I didn't want you to lose what you worked so hard on." Her fiery eyes held the confusions that plagued her mind only making him smile. "You'll understand later." Her fingers touched each burn pulling the heat from it. He smiled and walked to his pack as she ladled the soup into bowls for each of them. Looking up she saw him put the contents of a small vile onto a cotton ball and dab it on his burns. He came back over soon after he finished and took up his spoon to eat, to her surprise. A strange and foreign aroma found its way to her nose, it was disgusting yet beautiful. "What was that?" having better manners then that of the morning he swallowed his food before answering. "Meleuca oil, it can heal minor burns and take the pain out of larger and more extensive burns." "Interesting" still even knowing what he could do that oil why did he grab the pot? He said he was afraid of fire because he was burned alive. It doesn't make any sense that he'd grab something he knew would burn him. What is he up to? He finished soon enough, after a second serving, and then went and fished out a book to read under a tree he'd picked. Sho placed a metal top over the pot to leave it till morning when they would need it again. Rubbing her very sore arm she looked over at her furry companion. Taking note of the book he had she fished out her translator form her skirts and looked up the encoded title. Raising a brow at him she decided to try having some fun with him. Nonchalantly walking over to him she sat down pretending to be gazing at the stars for a moment then glancing over at him. "is there a reason your reading a book entitled 'lovers of the night' Avilik? Trying to get a clue about females perhaps?" her words soft yet potently antagonizing. Glancing over at her he was greeted by the smirked on her lips. "Do you even know what this book is about?" his voice was soft yet neutral giving nothing away. "I would presume form its entitlement two people who are in love." "Close but not exactly." "Hmm?" "Why do you assume I am reading about a couples intimate affairs Sho? The title is symbolic not literal. Yes two people are in love in this book they are the ones telling the story but it speaks very little of them at all." "Oh? Then what is it about?" "The Wolven and Vampiric wars." "Wars between werewolves and vampires?" "Yes, our races were in a blood feud for centuries, the vampires according to this book go the idea they were superior and deserved to rule the world. The wolves had a different idea. The title is symbolic of two things firstly of the two races love for the night. I my self have enjoyed many nights of running in the moon light." "And secondly?" "The couple who are in love, a vampire and a werewolf. Though they both ended up revolting to do such, law decreed they could not marry." "And do you hate vampires Avilik?" "Me, no I have never hated vampires. I revoked that stupid creed in my pack law. I have run into a few vampires in my life, one that hated me but a couple who were just fine around me. Don't really act any different them most other people." He fun spoiled she returned to gazing at the stars. "As to my needing a clue about females Sho..." She inwardly cringed she'd hoped he forgot that remark. "…I already have a clue. I was very popular with the females in my pack as you recall. If I wanted another female I would takes steps toward it." "We should be to the capital in a couple of days or so." Trying to change the subject now. "I am aware of it. Are we to do this the hard way or the easy way?" "Hard, easy is no fun" she smirked "yes but it saves energy." He sat his book down and shifted so he could look at her. "Stiff arm?" he had noted she didn't use it now. She sighed Can't he leave it be? Seeing her expression he smiled "I warned you about over doing it. His paws softly took her arms this time when she pulled back he stopped her. "Just let me help Sho." "I don't need..." "Shoshanah it is wise to listen to others occasionally." His paws repositioned and applied some pressure; she flinched pain striking through her arm. "Did you want to create signals between us?" Her angry eyes looked into his calm ones a moment. "it may be a good idea so I at least know what you are up to." "Alright we'll do that then." His voice and demeanor remained calm despite the heat he felt from her. His hands working gently with her arm, massaging the muscles into relaxation. "I'll use my tail for direction. Is I'm talking about my self I will point to myself first. If I swing my tail in a circle then I'm circling around." "Sounds good but are you expecting me to take orders from you fuzz ball?" her voice very sarcastic in nature. "It wouldn't hurt you. I have been hunting since I was six months old I know how to track and pursue prey well." "Six months!" "Yes, wolves grow much faster. We are able to reproduce by then as well though we do not. Mentally we are like teenagers and we traditionally wait till sixteen or seventeen years of age to choose a mate. Just as humans are able before they are ready to have mate. Though its slightly different." Her gaze fell on his massaging paws with the realization that her arm was relaxed and no longer hurt. "Don't move it yet, not quite done. I promise it'll be as good as new soon enough." Pulling out a small bottle he poured some of its goopy contents into his paws ten began working it into her skin. "What is that?" "It's a special mixture of herbs turned into a poultice. The shamans call it pain-a-trait since it relieves pain and keeps muscles relaxed. A stinging and warming sensation swept through her arm making her wince. " Is it supposed to sting?" "For a short time. It won't last long." Being patient with him she realized he was right within a few minutes the stinging stopped and her arm felt much better. "There" he put the bottle away as she flexed her arm inspecting his work. "Thank you," her voice very soft. "Your welcome M'lady" a smile appeared on his lips. "Avilik how many females have you been with?" "Hmm? I have had two wives both deceased now. Why do you ask?" "I just noticed the rings on your left hand is all." "Oh those have nothing to do with marriage. Wolves had a different manner of doing such things." "Really now?" "Yes, bracelets are the traditional method. Sometimes collars." "I see." She leaned back against the tree rather bored. "I'm not the type to randomly take a female to bed if that's what you were asking." The statement very blunt. "I really wouldn't care if you did." Her voice unreadable "I'm sure you wouldn't. Let me say this though wolves see that sort of thing as something special it is not given away. It has deep meaning to us. Though we will share a bed for companionship along but that has nothing to do with a relationship specifically. "I'm sure, I would think you honorable in some sense" her voice came sarcastically from her lips. "Sho if that was implying more then company then I would have committed incest. My sister and brother often slept with me as did my half sister. Contact is vital for wolves. Wolves left alone to long go insane form the lack of contact. I should know." Nothing was said but her eyes met his, her attempted to pick on him had backfired on her once again. "I am aware of your mistrust of my intentions Sho but there are something's you should hold back on. I assure you my intentions are not bad ones." "I would like to know what they are Avilik" her voice intently harsh. "I know you would. But some are not easy to place into words clearly." She rose; summoning her cloud she floated to a branch in a tree only nine feet away. Sitting on the branch she would watch the sunset, as she liked to do.
He watched her a few moments thinking If I phrase this wrong I may only scare her… nimbly climbing up the tree he sat with her on the branch she had picked. Staying silent until she glanced at him with a raise brow. "Some are still hard to explain but I will try explaining them to you." "Good" "since I lost my pack I don't feel I can lead again, you were the only person I know to turn to. I called you my sister because I consider you family." A quizzical look passed over her features "why? You don't even know me well." "That's true but I know your heart. My gift allows me to see whether a person's heart is good or evil. It serves for many things actually." "And you gift says mine is good?" she eyed him form her perch unsure of what he had said. I don't think I like some of his abilities…if his gift allows him to read my heart can he read my mind as well? "Yours is rather hard to read actually. I am getting the sign of a true friend form you though." "Hard to read?" she smirked slightly liking that. "Yes either you are inadvertently blocking me or you could have or had evil within you. Either one would stop my gift." His voice came calm and confident; "a wolf adopting a non-wolf into their family is rare and reserved only for those who earn it. You have earned it." "How?" her arms crossed over her chest as her gaze returned to the beautiful dusk. "Well your helping me for one." His hand clapped her shoulder in a friendly manner. "Or your letting me stay with you. Not many would have." She pushed his hand away, glanced to him again. "Anything else?" "Will you allow me to have you as my family?" she stared at him a moment, caught off guard. "Avilik…I'm not sure that would be a good idea. I have many enemies and we aren't related by blood. I'll be your friend but not your family. I would really prefer you not stay with me too long." His face remained blank of any emotion, but she could see hurt in his eyes. "I'm not concerned about your enemies…." His gaze met hers a moment. "Your afraid to get close to someone…" the statement came softly from his muzzle but it was a bold statement. With that he stood stepping off the branch and landing on the ground silently. She was still in shock form his statement, and not sure what to say in response. Avilik why do you want to be so close to me? That can't be your only reasons. She watched his now still form as he rested. He's either a great guessed or he knows my past. It's amazing that he can be so quiet when he wishes as heavy and bulky as he is. "I'm not afraid Avilik…I don't want to be close to anyone." Her voice whispered, she knew he heard when she saw his ears move back slightly. Something else is going on…why did he feel he had to defend himself when I came to relationships? I'll have to keep a close eye on him. Glancing to her arm she flexed it. He is a great masseuse though floating down on her cloud she went to a soft moss bed and lay down to sleep.
She heard Avilik move but though nothing of it till she felt his heat near her back. Sitting up she bopped him on the nose her eye angry with him. "Go over there Avilik." He sneezed form what she did and shook his head. "There is something in the woods." His voice came as a husky whisper. She stared at him as he lay next to her "lay down and act like you're asleep. If you wish to fool them into coming out." Understanding she laid back down feeling her side against her back. If he is lying he'll be a crispy wolf a sound broke her thoughts as she heard someone approaching them. She felt her furry companions muscles tense. Within and instant a scream rang out but was savagely cut short. Jumping to her feet she called a ball of light into existence. The sight that greeted her was Avilik's jaws around the intruders neck. The man had stabbed the wolf in the side but the elder wolf seemed unaffected by this. Quickly disarming the man she pulled the weapon from his side. "Avilik let go." He released backing away but staying on all fours. She noted that blood leaked form the man's neck and the claw wounds on his shoulders. Checking him over she found other hidden weapons, but after touching his neck she looked over at her companion. "He's and assassin, marked as one. You broke his neck." "I am aware of his condition." "Now we can't..." "He is still alive Sorkeeper. I did not kill him. Merely paralyzed him." "Stop calling me that." She checked for a pulse, finding the wolf was right he was still alive though his breathing was shallow. Kneeling next to him she soft powerfully "who sent you and why?" the man's eyes fell on her looking her over before he answered. "Well you wouldn't know my master but you're a threat to him now. This is a warning do not take a job that will require recovering a jewel." "His name. What is it?" her voice low and her eyes threatening. "Linavide Avalik Nuka" Sho glanced to Avilik immediately "he has your last name, Avilik are you setting me up?" anger flashing through her eyes. "Calm your self. The Nuka pack spilt over a century ago into three separate packs. Same name but it means nothing. From the middle name I would think he was part of the older group. He is not related directly to me." Looking back at the man who she knew was suffering she lightly touched him, incinerating his body in an instant. Avilik backed up away from her not liking the heat. "Linavide…a unique name I would think." "I means moon driver not many would have such a name." "What do the other two names mean?" "Avalik means public, Nuka means raging river." "Interesting we're going to fight a wolf." "Of a form anyway. He could be a hybrid, Lycan, or a Kareen. There are three species of wolf." "Hybrids a bad thing?" "Can be depending on there nature." She shook her head and lay beck down with a sigh. Feeling him lay down next to her she turned up the heat on him. "Yow…what was that for?" "Go sleep somewhere else." "I was thinking in terms of there may be more assassins near by Sho." "I seriously doubt that." "Sho I'm not a pervert" "could have fooled me." She turned her head to glare at him. "Will it kill you? Its not like I am trying to get intimate with you. Chill out." She stayed where he was Turing so his back touched her hot back. "Avilik…" she growled angrily. His eyes met hers steadily; something in them caught her attention. Gritting her teeth she uttered, "touch me and you'll be breakfast" he was about to retort that but lay his head down instead, sighing. She kept her back to him thinking. Why is he doing this? Does he want to be intimate with me? And why couldn't I tell him to leave? That look in his eyes…. he looked like eh was in so much pain…maybe that's the reason but…why do I care what he is feeling? It's not of my business is it? Her mind worked at this till darkness over came her and she slept soundly.