இ۵Ŗace Ågainst ₦atureஇ۵

[Apocalyptic_Punk]

Curse
{{Fae||Straggler||Running||

Curse had plunged across the log, her feet scrabbling for a purchases as she finally hits the snow on the far side, She moved quickly through the pack, taking a head count. She then moves around behind the panting and staring wolves and with harsh tones starts urging them away from the river. She pauses at Attican's side to check on him. "Are you alright Attican?" She asked gently looking concerned, her eyes moving back to the raging and insane wolves on the far side of the river. She let a shudder go through her body, before turning back to the elder wolf in concern. She heard the screams of the wolf in the River but said nothing, nor looked that way, it did not sound like any of this pack, if it had been she would of bodily thrown herself into the rushing water.


Mirage
{{Brute||Omega||10|| The pups|}}
Mirage stood silently among the pups, he'd let the small female pup down and she was watching the raging wolves on the far side of the river, her small tail moving slowly she suddenly let out a wailing cry and bolted for the edge of the river. "MAMMA! MAMA!" She screamed stumbling as she ran, and that was probably the only thing that saved her from the rushing River. Because as soon as the small Fae broke Mirage had been after her, his legs burning his heart pumping in his chest. The pup slipped sliding down the bank, a howl of terror escaping her as she slid ever closer and closer to the raging water, just as her tiny front feet hit the water, Mirage grabbed her tail and tried to pull himself back up, his muscles straining as she howled in terror trying to get away from the water, cries for her mother coming, from her tiny mouth. hold on, hold on he thought desperately trying to pull himself up again, watching the water, he heard a wolf snarl in rage from the far side, his eyes darted up, and he recognized the female, her face was torn and bloody, she was foaming at the mouth, her rolling eyes were focused on the pup, he was swinging by her tail, from the Omega's mouth. ancestors, help me, He cried desperately in his head, the Fae across the river from them suddenly jumped into the raging river and with a screech of terror vanished down stream. "MAMA!!!" The pup howled sadly, as Mirage felt himself slipping closer to the water, the pups front legs and chest landed into the water, she gurgled as water went up her nose and into her mouth. no no no,

Kuolema
{{Brute||Loner/fighter||14||Has joined the pack

Kuolema stood panting on the edge of the pack, not moving close to them, he spied the Alpha come across, as well as the two fighters, he didn't know any of their names. He watched the elder order another large male to help the three others at pushing the log. He danced on his toes for a minute and then tensing his muscles he charged forward, swiftly silently and threw all of his weight into the log, he felt it lift, but not move away from land. He growled digging his claws into the frozen ground and pushing with all of his might, every muscle in his young lean body straining, his teeth bared as he backed off and lowered his head slamming into it with his shoulders pushing again, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. He could hear cries of terror, and rage all around him. He could hear a pup screaming for its mother, he couldn't stop, he couldn't look, he needed to make the log move. He kept pushing and shoving his paws scrabbling at the ground. "come on," He grunted. "Come on,"

[Resin]

Pipaluk-Female- 97 Summers

The old wolf had been standing back against the treeline on the safe side of the river, prancing nervously from paw to paw. She couldn't help but emit nervous whines as she waited for the pack to show themselves. The moment they broke into view, she skipped forward a few steps, yipping excitedly and motioning to the log. "Come on! Come on! Don't waste time!"

Running in quick circles, she willed them to hurry along. This was the most energy that the old wolf had found in a while. It seemed that adrenaline worked wonders for aches and pains, for she felt nothing but urgency. All around the echoes of the rabid wolves sounded. It was difficult to tell where they were coming from most of the time. Sometimes it seemed as if they were coming from behind her. Only Nanuq giving constant reassurance kept her from rushing off to investigate. She was needed here. She would be the one to show them where to cross.

Again she hopped about from paw to paw. "Come! Come!" She watched as each wolf crossed, never stopping her nervous movement until they were all on the safe side. Resin was the last to cross, as she had expected. The alpha wouldn't allow anyone else to risk themselves while she was safe. Without saying anything, the alpha slammed her body against the log, attempting to push it into the water. Pipaluk smiled and nodded. Hopefully the area that she'd dug out would be sufficient.

The screams of a pup caught her ears and she turned just in time to see Mirage go over the edge of the steep bank, a tail in his maw. Nanuq warned her against trying to help herself, telling her instead to call for a stronger wolf to aid them. There was no time. "Help!" she barked out as she sank her teeth into Mirage's tail. With all of her old might, she pulled, her claws digging into the snow and ice. Gradually, she pulled him back far enough that the pups head broke above the water, but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to pull them up much more. Her adrenaline was subsiding and her old body was beginning to tire.

With one final tug and a twist, she jerked both Mirage and the pup back to safety, but lost her footing in the process and toppled into the icy cold river. The water quickly swept her downstream, her old body crashing into the floating chunks of ice that were much more dense than they appeared. Within moments, she was out of sight.

[-Starchild.Keith-]

(O_O Wow, didn't think she'd just fall in like that...)

Xani
- Female - 21 - Fighter -

Xani turned her head when she saw Ahote approach. At the mention of Junco, she flicked her ears angrily. "I don't know. I've been too busy fighting for my life and to protect the rear. Everyone else in rear was alright, as far as I know." She quickly scanned the pack, but it was hard to tell. They were all milling about near the log, disorienting her a bit.

As she watched, however, her eyes were drawn to a particular fae. Her name was Kera, Kira, or something like that. Xani narrowed her eyes at the other wolf's actions, not sure if she was just stressed or sick. As she opened her mouth to speak, however, Ahote barked a command at her that had her scurrying across the bridge for her life. I'll have to watch that one...

When Ahote spoke again, she turned to him. Her mouth opened to disagree, refusing to leave him here alone, but she paused. The other side of the pack would need guarding, wouldn't it? In case other wolves attacked. She nodded once, though it was short and small. She just didn't like it. As she turned, however, Resin approached. Xani nodded and took off towards the log, sprinting across it easily. Even before Ahote was across, she had braced herself and prepared to push it down. Her eyes and ears followed the sickened wolf that fell into the river, a small part of her mind happy it was dead, but another upset that it had died.

Xani had little time for her musing before she felt Ahote and Resin's weight added to her own. They were 3 of the strongest wolves, but still the log remained. When another, strange male pummelled into them, the log finally began to shift easier. She could hear another commotion, but had to remain focused on the task at hand if they were to survive.

[Resin]

((Hehehe, yep. (: She's really hard to kill though, so she'll be back.))

Resin- Alpha Female- 40 Summers

The log had begun to give way, sliding closer and closer to the water. Pulling back a bit, Resin slammed her chest and shoulder into the fallen tree, jarring it free from the dirt and ice that had solidified beneath it. Now the log slid easier and soon they sent it plummeting into the rushing water below. Other than stand back and catch the breath that she'd been holding, she could do nothing. Her chest ached from it's collision with the rough bark and she was sure she'd have a nasty bruise beneath her fur.

While they had been pushing, she'd just barely noticed a grey and white shape floating downstream and had thought it was one of the rabid wolves. After she composed herself and did a visual once-over, she suspected that it was actually Pipaluk. The old wolf had saved them only to be swept away down the river. It seemed that sorrow was never far behind her lately.

Turning, she addressed the pack. "Most of us have made it through yet another trial. Junco was bitten, and rather than risk infecting us, he stayed on the other side of the river. A few others have perished. Pipaluk has been washed downstream. It's thanks to her that we're safe, so I'm going after her. There's a great possibility that the ice and cold may have killed her, but we owe it to her to save her if we're able."

With a cant of her head, she motioned to Ahote. "Ahote is in charge. Follow him as you would me. Keep your eyes open for trouble." With a flick of her tail, she was off, paws carrying her through the trees. She kept the river to her left, yellow eyes scanning the bank for any sign of the old wolf. Down a ways, she saw the corpse of one of the pack wolves. A female. Her body floated amidst the chunks of ice. If she remembered correctly, this female had a young pup. Shaking her head lightly, she continued. No one should have to die that way.

As she followed the length of the river, it widened and it's power lessened. The bank wasn't as steep this far down. Resin came upon a set of muddy tracks, the brown sludge marring the perfect surface of the white snow. She followed these tracks into the woods, hoping that she wasn't headed towards one of the infected. The tracks staggered a bit, so it was entirely possible, but Pipaluk also staggered a bit.

In time, she found an old den beneath the roots of a large pine. By the smell of it, the den had long been abandoned. "Pipaluk?" She called gently into the darkened den. No response. The den wasn't very wide, but it was deep. Lowering herself to her belly, Resin crept forward, calling out to the old wolf again. Still no response, but she was fairly certain that she could hear breathing. The further she went, the louder the breathing became.

Finally the small tunnel broke into a larger sleeping space and Resin was able to stand erect. Though the smallest sliver of light touched this space, she could make out the sleeping form of Pipaluk shivering in a pile of dead pine needles and dirt. Had Resin not found her, she doubted the old wolf would have lasted long. Padding to the elder's side, she curled her much larger body around the bony old wolf, sharing her warmth. Pipaluk made a small, happy sound in her sleep and nestled closer. Though they needed to move on, Resin had no problem staying to warm the old female. Without her quick thinking, many more, if not all of their lives could have been lost.

[Soriams]

((Poor Pippa!))

Ahote
Male | 36 | Fighter
>>>–––———<•>———–––<<<

Relief washed over Ahote when Resin too arrived, there was no way he would have left her behind. It seemed as though Xani had the same thought, as it is only after the Alpha returns that she moves to cross the log. The fighter's anger still seethed in her eyes when she had last looked at him, and at this point he hoped it served her well. There was a time for all things, and this was definitely one for action, and that was an area in which Xani excelled.

Having overheard their previous conversation, Resin relays Junco's fate, and Ahote feels his own courage wilt a bit. Junco had been so young, and his gentle, lighthearted personality had brought smiles to many faces in dark times. Mani and Romanov, both of whom have already crossed the log, will be devastated at the news of the loss of their son, and already the pain of having to break the omega family's heart settles in on him. And yet, it is not technically his duty any longer to be the bearer of bad news, that responsibility now resides with Resin as the Alpha of ScarPaw. Somehow, that realization only makes him feel worse, and right then Ahote made a resolution to speak to them personally, and save Resin the pain of their loss. He had always needed that kind of support, and he would not let her shoulder so much alone. Perhaps he cared more than he realized, or there is still more alpha left in him than he knew, but either way, all of this streamed through him in an instant and he was able to pull himself up with purpose and follow Xani across the log.

Crossing the log proves to be much less harrowing than the ice bridge, and Ahote ran across it without even really felling the bark beneath his paws. The instant he reached the other side, he spun around, watching as more crazed wolves broke from the tree line and headed for them. He waited only long enough for Resin's feet to clear the log before taking station near the water and throwing his weight into the log. Xani and Resin joined him, and he could feel the waterlogged tree slide against the slick mud. However, the moment any one of them let up, it slid back into the well-worn hole that held it against the shore. Soon, Vali comes to help and Ahote moves aside to give the hunter space, and a moment later the new wolf who had joined them only a few moments ago comes to help as well, and he finds himself sliding even further down. Now chest-deep out into the river, he could feel the pressure of the water pushing him into the log and he had to dig his claws into the soft muck at the bottom to keep from being pulled under it.

All five great wolves now dug into the riverbank and pushed, and Ahote could feel it begin to lift. "It's almost there! One more time, all together!" he yelled through gritted teeth, pulling back and readying himself to push one last time as the others did the same. Somewhere in the distance of his perception, he could hear a pup's wails and someone's desperate cries for help, but he was so focused on the task at hand that they didn't even register. Finally, with one last massive effort, they are able to finally break the mooring of the log and slips out into the river, spinning slowly until it is running lengthwise. It is then taken by the current and quickly disappears out of sight. With it, it took any of the crazed wolves who had dared to venture out over the water, bringing up a haunting discord from their fellows now trapped on the other side of the river. Rage fills them, and quickly they turn on one another once more, scarlet staining the snow beneath them in their frenzy.

The sudden loss of traction sends Ahote spilling face-first into the icy water, it is only his size that saves him, and he manages to get his feet and pop up sputtering and coughing only a meter or so down stream. He quickly pulled himself back onto dry land and shook the water from his coat, chilled to the bone. Shaking, he made is way to to where Resin and Xani stood, staring out over the river. "N-now what? We n-need to keep moving..." he managed to say, before the chattering of his teeth forced him to stop. He had no idea of the loss of Pippa, nor Mirage's close call with the pup and her mother.

Needless to say, Ahote was stunned by Resin's words, and though something inside him screamed not to let heer go, he must abide by her request. Taking a deep breath and gritting his teeth to stop from shivering, he turned and met Xani's eyes for one long moment. "Xani, you'll have to take the rear alone this time. I know you're more than capable, but please, be careful," he said to the fighter, his words heartfelt as was the sentimental wolf's way. His next thought was Attican, and he soon found the Keeper resting not far from the river. The poor elder seemed more than a little worse for wear, and that only added to the anxiety in his heart. Dipping his head down close to the elder's ear, he gave it a lick to get his attention then spoke so that only he could hear. "Keeper, I bid you to rest awhile... When you have recovered enough to move, go after Resin. I don't want her alone in her search for Pipaluk," he said, his voice not commanding, but rather tainted with worry that must remain hidden from the rest of the pack.

With that, Ahote turned and sent up a howl to rally the pack, only to hear it answered by the ferocious voices that they had left stranded on the other side of the river. The sound sends a chill up his spine, and this time he knows it is not only from his damped fur. "Come on! We must put as much distance between us and the river as we can!" he called, then set off at an easy lope, not wanting to tax the already tired pack any more than he had to. Within moments he had passed out of the clearing around the river and into the steeped quiet of the pine forest once more. Though he could still vaguely hear the river and the diseased wolves on the other side, their sounds were muffled by the press of needles and soft earth.

Throughout this whole thing, Kira had simply walked away and now lay on the far side of the pack, once more obsessively licking at her bloodied paw. It seems as though she has simply receded from the rest of the world and pays the wolves around her no more attention than one does the flies in the summer. However, as the others begin to trail past her, she eventually picks up her head and follows after them, he gait uneven as she limps.

[Apocalyptic_Punk]

((Just wanna give a heads up, I'm gonna be pretty vanish worthy over the next couple weeks, what with Christmas, my family does a LOT of Christmas related stuff, so just wanna let everyone know, that and I'm home for the holidays from collage so I'm sharing my Laptop YAY!))

Curse
{{Fae||Straggler||36||hmmmm||

She let out a huff of air watching her hot breath curl up to the sky, her body is over heated from the mad dash to escape the ill animals behind them. She can still hear their cries and rage behind her even as they rip into each other. Memories flash across her tired mind, but even as she is trying to keep the thoughts at bay, she hears someone call for help, but by the time she managed to get her body moving, the old wolf, Pippa was in the river, and already vanishing from site. She cursed, she was tired of death, she was tired of loss, it seemed no matter where she went, it was all she ever saw. She sighed watching as Resin ran off, in search of the elder. She hoped that she could find her. She was tired her limbs shaking, she watched Ahote silently as he urged Attican to stay put then to go after Resin once he was well rested. She watched the pack move away and then making a decision, she padded over to Attican and laying in the snow next to the elder with a long tired sigh, not saying a word, just staying with him.

Mirage
{{Brute||Omega||10||}}

He feels the teeth close around his tail, and prays to the anscestors its not one of the crazy wolves, but then he and the pup are pushing away from the river. Soon both are on Solid ground, he turned to thank the helper only to see the old wolf. "Pippa!" He yells nudging the soaking pup towards the pack he debates on diving into the water after her, but already she is vanishing from sight. "no..." His ears drop, as does his head. Failure weighing him down greatly, he hears Resin say she is going after the older female, but he can't bring himself to hope. He sighed and rounded up the pups again urging them forward as the pack moves to make distance between themselves and the mad wolves, he glances towards Kira, watching her silently, but just turning back to the pups no stories tumble from his mouth to reassure the pups, he feels very empty inside.

Kuolema
{{Brute||Loner/fighter||14||The pack
He feels the log slide into the river and he stumbles falling into the mud and snow, feeling it smash into his fur. He groans softly and raises himself to his feet. He shook his lean frame out, having no clue what he's missed, only to see who he thinks is the Alpha racing off down river, and the pack gathering and hurrying away. He's uncertain now if he should come with the pack or go back to his own wanderings again. He sighed and shook himself again glancing around he spied an older male, laying in the snow and an ashy looking Wolf lay beside him. He took a seat wrapping his tail about his paws, watching the two silently.

[-Starchild.Keith-]

Xani
- Female - 21 - Fighter -

The struggle with the log seemed to take far too long and drained nearly all of the fighter's energy. As it slid down the bank into the freezing water, her paw slipped slightly. She caught herself, but not before her front leg and shoulder were doused with icy water. She huffed angrily as she stood, shaking her leg to rid herself of the water that clung to her fur. As she moved to rejoin the others, she started to feel the chills move through her limb.

As Resin spoke, Xani flicked her ear angrily. It had been her duty to protect the pack, and she had let yet another pack member die, this time a young omega that had little fighting skill. She didn't hear the rest of what Resin said until she mentioned that Ahote was in charge. By the time Xani turned to look at the alpha, she saw her tail disappearing out of sight. She sighed once more before sitting for a moment.

When Ahote started speaking, Xani turned to meet his gaze. She listened, nodding once as she got to her feet. She rested her neck against his to try and give him a bit of heat before turning and leaving. She reached her rear position and turned, glancing across the river. She narrowed her eyes and growled at the diseased on the other side before turning back at Ahote's command. She began scanning around the area, her ears trying to block out the howls from the diseased behind them.

Every now and then, her eyes would travel to the fae she had noticed before. Her behavior was erratic, and it was starting to bother the fighter more and more as time went on. She needed to stay behind and didn't want to start a panic, so she just pushed it away for now.

[BlackJaguar]

Attican

73 - Brute - Keeper

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

With the help of Vali and an out-of-the-blue newcomer, the log was finally making headway to be able to be shoved into the river. Vali was a stockier wolf, perhaps a hand or so shorter than Ahote, with broad foot pads and dense muscle. Perfect for being on a hunt. He had listened to the Keeper's short remark to help, instantly making his bulk useful in their attempts to push the heavy wood downstream. His claws dug deep into the riverbed, shoulder stuffed into a knot on the side of the fallen tree. The commanding calls from Ahote helped a lot, telling the brute when exactly to burst his energy. Slowly but surely the small group made work to the logs' movement.

During that time Attican laid in the snow, his overheated body splayed over the icy ground in attempts to cool himself. It appeared that his body had taken itself into a protective mode, for the brute was hardly aware or conscious of the world and its happenings going on around him. His wind had been touched it appeared, and for a wolf of his age it was not as simple to recuperate.

Over time the Keeper's breathing began to even out again. The drum of his heart slowly returning back into a rhythm instead of the erratic beat it had previously possessed. His eyes blinked wearily, and as he laid there he became lightly aware that someone was attempting to speak with him... It sounded like a female, but the words themselves were jumbled and distant, as if they were whispering from across the way. Not sure of who it was or what they said, the Keeper lifted his neck enough to nod his head once, hoping whatever it was they wanted it would disappear. In his semi-conscious state, he just wanted it all to disappear. His body craved rest and the longer he laid there the heavier he felt.

A few more minutes passed by. The log had now successfully been pushed into the water and Vali had returned himself to the mass of the Pack. He hadn't said a word during the group effort, and didn't say anything as he silently made his way back. The brute never spoke much, but was there when something was asked of him. Simply, he was a good packmember.

...

Attican had pulled slightly out of his bleariness now, recognizing the voice of Resin as she spoke about something. About what yet, he still couldn't fully understand. With great effort, the Elder heaved himself to sit up partially, ears swivelling in attempts to understand what was going on. Now a male's voice was talking, Attican could only assume that it was Ahote. He leaned in better to listen, but despite the efforts nothing came in clear. Only when the former Alpha came up and addressed the Keeper directly did words finally seem to come through to his ears.

"Keeper, I bid you to rest awhile... When you have recovered enough to move, go after Resin. I don't want her alone in her search for Pipaluk."

Questions raised in his newly-clearing head, but the Keeper just grunted in an agreeing reply to the brute. His eyes searched for the other one's gaze, locking on when he found them to make sure to Ahote that he understood.

His maw opened and closed once, stifling his urge to ask what had happened as he had obviously missed it. No one needed to know how he really felt and if he asked such a thing, it would become aware. Perhaps, he hoped, that he looked simply like he had gone for a quick nap. Perhaps not many wolves noticed his coughing fit or complete exhaustion. Perhaps he looked just fine. Attican was a proud wolf, he took pride in his ability to do things. If others began to see his age and associate him with it, he feared that he would no longer be treated as an equal. The Elder feared most to be a hindrance.

He watched almost like deja vu as his pack slowly receded away without him. It had already happened once before in their journey, at the ice bridge when they had crossed at dark and his eyes couldn't allow him to see as well to cross. Another hindrance he had been then. To be honest it left an uneasy feeling as he watched them go, his single figure now the only thing on this side of the bank and the only sane wolf left around. Or at least he thought. In his haze he did not notice Curse as she stayed behind him, somehow evading his line of sight. He laid for a while, not so much letting himself a short time to recoup, but essentially being forced by his body to do so.

The wolves on the other side now growled at him, desperate to find their way across. A few still lunged at each other, ravenous for something to attack, even if it meant their own. It was disconcerting to watch, their rabid ferocity and bloodlust appearing to never cease for even a moment. A few times a couple wolves seemed brave enough to try to go across the river, visibly seeing that one of the "weak" wolves had been left alone. Their bloodied paws would dip into the shallowest part of the bank, as if testing to see if they could somehow swim across. One tried to go a step farther, but the current proved to be too strong, the crazed wolf pulling back just in time before getting swept away with it. Still, the Keeper didn't want to risk too much to chance and stay too much longer.

However his mission of moving forwards proved to be of great challenge as well. He scoffed to himself as he shakily stood up, thinking to himself that he was now like the debilitated prey that the pack would go for if they were going on a hunt. And in a way he was, with the infected itching to get to him if he were not on the on the other side of the water. His paw took a step forwards, trying to bring his mind over matter. You must move. You must move in order to live. You have orders. He had orders. That one stuck in his head. You must find Resin and Pipaluk and bring them back. As he turned though he noticed for the first time the fae that had stayed with him. A look of shock fell across his features.

"Oh.." He croaked, shame nearly painting across his face. He had been caught. He hoped that the female did not now think ill of him. "I.. ah, Thank you Curse, that is very kind of you to stay with me." His voice seemed to fall back to its normal sound, its simple use helping with that. He ambled towards her, pressing his muzzle for a moment to the side of hers. It was just a genuine show of thanks, the crazed wolves and everything around just forgotten in that single moment. "You should catch up now.. I know that Resin values your help with the Pack, it should be important that you stay with them."

Slowly Attican turned around, eyes lightly scanning the area ahead of him. "I'm okay," he reassured, more for himself than for her. He did not want to separate so simply, but in truth both wolves had duties to attend to. Still the Elder was truly thankful for the gesture, not actually having been fully left behind. Honestly, it meant much more to him than she probably would ever know. "Thank you."

He loped forwards, his gait not unlike that of the Eldest that he was searching for. His muscles protested considerably, but he could not spend any more time resting. The wolf dipped his neck downwards, sniffing through the array of scuffed pawprints and displaced snow to search for the Alphas. He walked to the place that the fallen wood had rested, following until it appeared that one set seemed to separate from the rest. He began to follow them, definitely recognizing Resin's scent. The wolves on the other side howled and taunted at him, acting like he was a fresh piece of meat dangling in front of their noses. They paralleled his every step, pacing every way he did. It was rather disconcerting.

What had happened anyways? Ahote had said to go after Resin who had went after Pipaluk... so what had happened to the Eldest? A pang of hurt and worry hit the Keeper's already weary enough heart. Had Pipa been attacked? Or had she gone off to search for another route out before the group had decided to go another way, forcing the Alphess to go after her to tell her? Or something different still? Attican just hoped everything was okay.

A few of the infected began to fall away in their 'chase,' either giving up completely or falling behind because of their own self-induced fighting. One flung its body so violently into the snow that it nearly backflipped, gnawing upon its back leg with savage ferocity. Now only two trailed the slow moving brute.

Eventually the old wolf seemed to come across another set of tracks, literally having come slopped itself out of the river. For a fleeting moment Attican's heart tried racing again in fear with adrenaline he didn't possess, thinking that one of the crazed wolves had somehow managed their way across. Instead it caused him to fall into another coughing fit, only realizing when he was finished that Resin's tracks had followed them and that only a wolf the size of Pipaluk could make such tracks that size. A sigh of relief fell through him, his body literally shuddering. He slowly followed them again, closing the short distance to the small den the two females resided within.

He nosed the entrance, unsure if he could even fit his mass inside. It looked very tight and was unsure on how both wolves were already in there. Thinking for a moment the bedraggled brute went down to his haunches, going and sliding down on his belly altogether. His joints thanked him for the relief. "Resin?" He asked gently, his voice much hoarser than he had hoped. "Are you and Pipa alright?" His head craned as he listened for an answer, hoping for a reply.

[Resin]

((No worries, Punk. Do what you can when you can. (: Enter Hrafn. I'm considering having him and Resin mate up eventually unless anyone else has other ideas. ))

Pipaluk- Female- 97 Summers

Fear coursed through the old wolf. Though she told herself that she was living to die, once faced with death, she balked. She paddled as best as she could, hoping for some way out of this cold mess. Somehow Pipaluk had managed to latch onto a thick ice flow as she was pulled through the frigid water. This alone kept the undertow from grabbing her and sweeping her under. She silently thanked the ancestors, digging her claws into the solidified chunk of water and hanging on for dear life.

After a time the river lost it's power and widened, sending Pipa and her ice flow drifting slowly along. Using her back paws, she paddled, pushing herself towards the nearby bank. Once there, she released her icy lifesaver and climbed up the muddy bank. There wasn't much meat on the old gal's body and she already was having trouble feeling her legs and tail. She would have to find shelter immediately or risk freezing to death.

On shaky legs that were quickly losing their feeling, she staggered along, sniffling and shivering profusely. It seemed the ancestors were looking out for her. As she broke through a batch of pine branches, the dark, welcoming mouth of a den stared straight at her. Not caring what it could possibly be living within, Pipa dropped to her stomach and crawled inside. Once her nose warmed a bit, she could tell that the den had been abandoned long ago.

Making her way from the slim path to a somewhat large sleeping chamber, she pulled as many pine needles as she could to the edge of the space and curled herself into a tight ball. "I was worried too." she said to Nanuq, her voice quavering due to the intense shivering. "I want to join you, but it just doesn't feel like my time. I have things yet to do before I rid myself of this body." Though he was unable to give her warmth, her mate curled himself alongside her in a comforting manner, concern etching his brow.

Soon sleep claimed her. Odd, frightening dreams of drifting lifelessly through the water flitted through her sleeping mind. From beneath the water's surface, she stared up at the floating chunks of ice and the dead bodies of wolves. It somehow seemed beautiful from the bottom of the river, yet it saddened her all the same.

Pipaluk stirred as real warmth soaked into her old body. Her fur had turned to icicles as she lay alone. Now those icicles began to melt. Soon she was able to feel her extremities once more. Though she didn't open her eyes, she could smell the Alpha female. So she had found her, eh? She truly was a good wolf. Enjoying the much needed warmth, Pipa drifted back to sleep, her dreams, when they came, were much less somber.

Resin- Alpha Female- 40 Summers

Tightly, she pressed herself against the elder, willing her body to give her every ounce of warmth. Slowly, she licked at Pipaluks ears and head, melting the chunks of ice and snow that have woven themselves into her white and grey coat. Soon her shivering stopped, much to Resin's relief. Still, until the older wolf was at least mostly dry, neither of them would be able to leave.

Resin lay there, her body still curled around the much smaller wolf. As she lay there, she thought about the great deal of loss that plagued the pack lately. Ash, Junco, Grimshaw, Lily that had left a pup behind... Too many lives lost. Though she knew that she couldn't save everyone, it was still impossible for her not to beat herself up about it. They had been her responsibility. She should have been able to save them. A short time later, she slept, the stresses of the day finally catching up with her.

Her dreams, when they came, were of rabid wolves. Hundreds of them. Thousands. They chased down the pack and, one by one, ripped them all to shreds. She watched each of them die. Mirage and Curse were ripped limb from limb. Xani was practically decapitated. Pipaluk floated frozen and dead down a river of blood. Ahote and Attican stood back to back, but were soon eviscerated. Resin screamed, but no sound was emitted. She was unable to move; unable to make a sound; unable to do anything but watch her friends, family, loved ones die.

Thankfully the dream was ended. Her senses were on high alert. The diseased wolves could have found a way across. The smallest sound woke her. Paws at the mouth of the den. Opening her endless yellow eyes, she noticed the small amount of light at the head of the den flicker. A soft growl poured from her lips; a warning to any enemy that may try to enter.

"Resin?" Both of her ears flicked forward. It was Attican. As a small gust of wind blew into the den, his scent was brought right to her nose. "Attican. I'm ok. Pipaluk is ok." She was happy to hear his comforting voice. When everything seemed dark, he drew her back to the world of caring. "It's quite spacious in here. Pipa could use the extra warmth. She's still cold as ice. The river didn't do her any favors today."

She looked over the sleeping wolf and was afraid for a moment that she had expired while she slept. Resin's heart rose into her throat, but a soft snore escaped Pipaluks maw and she wriggled her nose. The alpha released the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding and couldn't hold back an abrupt, soft laugh.

Hrafn- Lone Male- 46 Summers

Endlessly he walked. His black paws moving quietly over the hard packed snow. The further South he traveled, the more the snow melted each day only to freeze again at night, leaving a thick layer of crusted ice on top and powder beneath. Periodically his paws would break through the layer of ice, but more often than not he simply tread atop it.

Hrafn wasn't sure just how long he'd been walking. He only stopped to eat and sleep. He had come down the ice peninsula and was surprised at just how much it had melted and narrowed. Soon he was in the territory of other wolves. He could smell faint traces of them, but was slightly confused. He knew the land to belong to the Scarpaw pack, he believed they were called. He had gone to a council where the alpha and her keeper were present and he was certain that they ruled this area.

Sniffing about, he found their tracks leading South. Soon he realized why they had gone. As he walked on, he noticed that entire massive chunks of land were missing. Their territory was falling into the ocean. He would have moved his pack as well. Pulling his ears back at the though, he continued on.

Days passed and still he walked. He'd had to go a long ways off course to find a way across an ice gorge. Once across, he was back on track, moving South at a distance eating lope. On and on he went, not stopping often. Rarely did he see anything other than snow, snow and more snow. And then trees started speckling the landscape.

At first Hrafn didn't know what they were. He'd never seen a tree before, but he had heard stories of them. Warily he moved forward and sniffed it's low hanging branches, sneezing when the rich pine scent wafted up his nostrils. Interesting, he thought. Cocking his leg, he marked the tree with his scent. His very first tree deserved to belong to him, right?

The large pines became more prevalent as the black male made his way across the land. At night he would sleep beneath the lowest boughs. When they were covered in snow, they made a makeshift den, the snow providing insulation, thus keeping him warm during the frigid nights.

During the days he usually moved at a lope, sometimes breaking into sprints for a chance of pace. Fresh water met his nose one afternoon. Curious, he followed the scent to a rushing river, caps of white water bursting up here and there when chunks of ice collided. Padding to the edge of the water, the massive black wolf lowered his white tipped muzzle, tentatively tasting the liquid. In the North, the water was undrinkable. One had to eat snow if they were thirsty. He was delighted to taste the purity of the water and filled his belly with the energizing liquid.

Howls to the East caught his attention and he flicked both of his ears forward, trying to catch the message in the howls. The sounds were garbled and didn't make much sense, so he steered clear, heading West until he found a way across the water. Large boulders protruded from the river and were spaced evenly enough that he could leap from one to the other until he reached the far side.

Hrafn resumed his trek and after a time hunger gnawed at him. Ferreting out a hare for dinner, he settled himself beneath the snow covered branches of a pine, tearing into his meal and enjoying the warmth as the chunks of meat slid down his throat. The shelter that the tree offered was sufficient enough for him to feel safe, so the big brute curled himself up into a ball, eyes watching the entrance until he fell into a deep, restful sleep.

[BlackJaguar]

{{Oooh new character! I agree, Resin needs someone.}}

Attican

73 - Brute - Keeper

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A large exhale escaped the brute as he heard the return of Resin's voice telling them that they were alright. Just her voice was enough to restore a small bit of hope and energy into him. Pipaluk had fallen in the river... His face fell grim, knowing how cold that water had to be. Hopefully the Eldest would stay alright.

When the Alpha had spoke of adding his own warmth the Keeper tipped his head a bit, looking at the minuscule entrance. He could see how Pipa could fit, after all her natural size and her age had posed her to be rather small. Resin, well, he was impressed that she could go through the entrance. But him. He wasn't so sure. He wasn't hardly much bigger than the Alphess, but it may be enough to pose a problem. His nose poked through the hole, sniffing in and out quickly, trying to assess how he was going to go about this. With great care he began to crawl along his belly, muscles once again raising their protests. "Oh get over it..." He mumbled to himself, stuffing his head inside.

Attican inched himself along, really having to wriggle himself to squeeze through the small entrance. Resin was right. Once past the first inlet, the inside opened up considerably. With his body plugging the hole, it was virtually pitch black inside, not making it easy for anyone to see. He had gotten about two-thirds in before his hips got him stuck. "Uh.." he grunted, back legs scrabbling at the outside to pull himself in. His tail waved madly, swinging with his attempts. Finally a back foot made purchase, pulling the last of the size of him inside.

He crawled the rest of the way to the back, finally able to see the two females for the first time. Resin laid behind the cold and frail Pipa, pressing her body into her for warmth. He didn't look his best himself, for his pelt looked disheveled and overall he looked rather bedraggled. It didn't matter though and right now actually curling up with the two would probably do him a world of good. After all, he wasn't sure how far he could truly get if he had to travel right now. Without saying anything he came to lay on the other side of the Elder, basically creating a circle of warmth with her in the middle.

His head came to fall on his paws, not able to meet the deep yellow gaze of Resin's eyes. A single sigh shuddered through him.

Pilot

32 - Fae - Straggler

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Pilot had slept soundly next to her kill after she had eaten over her fill of meat. She slept for probably 10 or so hours, no pack or any sort of anything around to wake her up. Her eyes fluttered open, uncurling from her nest. It appeared that not much had changed since before her rest. Nothing dotted the horizon and her kill laid beside her just as it had before. If anything the only thing that had changed at all was that there was a light new blanket of snow over it, covering over the top. She was surprised that the ravens and scavengers had not discovered her meal yet. Daintily the fae stood up, shaking out her blonde pelt. A yawn escaped her as she looked around.

Right now the wolfess had a decision to make. There was still the giant mass portion of of the carcass and to be honest that was hard to leave. Yet at the same time it was difficult to just hang around and stay and eat while the herds could be moving along without her. She sat in the snow, contemplation running through her head. Well. One thing was for sure. She would at least eat what she could right now.

Pilot turned to the carcass, delving her head into the frozen hip. It was harder to chew now, now that everything had frozen. She gnawed at the joints, tearing off chunks and eating them.

Little did she know that a large pack known as ScarPaw was still on a direct course for her. If the mass group continued forwards for too much longer they'd all but run into the fae and her meal. Also, she had no idea of the diseased wolves. She had been coming from the East for a long time and had only turned South about 100 miles or so back, following where her prey appeared to go. She chewed her meal, head all but inside the ribcage.