A Healer's Downfall (Open)

[Wolfie]

Autumn was truly here. The once bright green trees that encase the meadow now painted the landscape with an array of golden hues. Leaves littered the floor, leaving the branches bare and exposed. A brisk wind had picked up, pulling the leaves from the forest and bringing them onto the meadow, painting the cool ground in the colors of fall.


The crisp autumn breeze felt pleasant on the she-wolf's fur. Her nose pointed toward the starry sky, she drank in the moonlight that shimmered on her fur. Shura loved the open clearing of the meadow, as she had full view of the brilliant moon. As she gazed up at it, her eyes reflect it's faint glow, enhancing the bright blue of her left, and transforming her pale, blind left eye to a glowing dazzle.


She lowers her head with a soft sigh and turns her gaze to the golden scenery around her. The usually cheerful she-wolf was worn down from a days work of healing. Fresh wounds scar her pale fur, aching as she bathes them in the pale moon's glow. As much as she loves what she does, healing her fellow wolves takes it's toll on her, both emotionally and physically. Most of the wounds she healed were beyond Moon's Kiss's powers and she needed to perform Lunar Sacrifice, thus inflicting the wounds upon herself. Laying her head on her front paws, she closes her eyes, letting the radiance of the moon lull her to a light slumber.


((OoC: Apologies for it being somewhat short, I need to get myself back into RP mode x3))

[Mokobo]

Where he was or how long he had been travelling were question that Æze could not even hope to answer. After the tragic events which had forced him to leave the Southern Jungles the young, fox-like creatures had aimlessly followed the shoreline. Those first few days had been the worse. Consumed by grief and clueless as to what to do Æze had simply walked, barely stopping for food or rest. Even things that used to scare the daylights out of him had seemed insignificant after losing his friend and guardian. Eventually, however, Æze had come upon a large cliff which jutted out into the deep waters of the ocean, a barrier which he could not hope, or care, to try and climb. That was when he began to trek away from the sea and into the expansive lands of which he knew little of.
I wish Vita was here. He would know what to do.
Vita, Æze's former caretaker, had taught the former many things about the world. Unfortunately most of their lessons had rather general unless they were about their home. The youth did remember asking if there were other wolves like Vita, but the answer he received then did not help him much now. 'There are many other creatures to the North, but they walk a different path," had been the words Vita had offered before moving the discussion to topics that were more comfortable. At the time Æze had thought Vita was speaking literally and the other beasts of this world simply went different places than them. Now, however, he was not entirely sure.
In a land of barren, rolling hills he had seen a large, lizard-like creature fly by overhead. Luckily the gargantuan beast had not paid him any mind, or more likely it had failed to notice him entirely. Æze knew that when he felt scared he became rather difficult to see, but he had no idea why. After that experience he did his best to avoid open places and stay hidden, deciding to turn toward the setting the sun and a line of trees in the distance. Surely there he could find safety and maybe even a friend. Yet his first night under the eves of those trees only made his caution grow. Æze had come upon an old white wolf with many scars and a weird yellow mark.
In his excitement at seeing a creature so reminiscent of his friend, the kit had begun to dash forward to reveal himself. However, as his paw broke a twig hidden beneath the leaves blanketing the forest floor, the elder canine had risen into a frightening pose quick enough to stop Æze dead in his tracks. The wolf called out in a cold, commanding voice, 'Who's there?!' Just the way those were spoken was enough to cause the poor youth to disappear from sight in a flash. Yet what happened next had sent him tearing off into the woods as though he was being chased by a demon again. Somehow the old wolf made snow, which came falling from the skies in an unexpected flurry. The kit had seen Vita use magic before, but the former had always called it 'talking to the plants'.
This other magic had been entirely different and terrifying, enough so that after that night not a moment passed that Æze didn't tremble with anxiety. He missed Vita, he missed their home, but mostly he missed not being scared. He began to travel only at night, and covered far less distance as he often found himself scrambling for some place to hide as a variety of creatures passed him by. A few times he saw wolves who seemed friendly enough, and he felt sorely tempted to try and reveal himself to them. Yet each time he hesitated before retreating to a safer distance, but on this night that was to change.
Shortly after bemoaning the loss of his tutor to himself, Æze came upon the meadow in which Shura was resting. Upon spotting the wolf's bluish pelt shimmering in the soft moon light the youth had come to an immediate halt, his body quivering as the urge to flee tugged at ever muscle. Something was different about this wolf though, something that brought a small frown to Æze's invisible lips. She seemed to have several hurts, and the way in which she reclined upon the grasses brought the horrific image of Vita's lifeless body to the forefront of his mind. In that moment Æze's timid nature was overwhelmed with concern, and an observer would see the seita seemingly blink into existence.
Being still rather young, the kit was practically miniscule compared to a fully grown wolf, standing at roughly a third of that height. His pelt of grays and white seemed to swirl in the moonlight as an errant breeze played across the clearing, the gust of which caused the youth to lower his large, black-rimmed ears against the back of his head. Small wisps of cloud-like vapors escaped from beneath his ears to be whisked away on the passing breeze. Similar mists issued from his left fore-leg as he took a cautious step forward, but their volume paled in comparison to the nimbus which was his tail. It was his eyes which were truly fascinating though. Each was an orb of swirling grays, blues and white which resemble various skies depending on his mood.
Currently Æze's eyes were similar to the thunderheads of an ocean storm as his mind buzzed with dark thoughts and concern. The wolf before him had her own eyes closed, assuring the kit that he might be able to approach unseen and avoid any sort of conflict. Not that he thought this canine was likely to attack him or use some new, frightening magic. That became even more apparent as he cautiously drew nearer. The frown on his lips only deepened as he saw blood marring the beauty of the wolf's pelt. Æze would pause once more only a few strides away from Shura, looking over his shoulder as he debated retreating to safety before any creature came looking for the one before him.

OoC - I hope this isn't too much ^_^ I really enjoy writing Æze >.> maybe too much sometimes

[Wolfie]

Ooc: Many, many apologizes for such a late response 

IC:

Shura was not quite certain what startled her awake. There had been no alarming noises or even scents. Yet nonetheless her eyes sprung open and her head lifted from its comfortable position on her paws. Carefully she surveyed the area around her. To her right she could not see anything out of the ordinary, just the moon’s bright glow pouring onto wide meadow, casting shadows within the surrounding forests. Her eyes narrow, searching for what could be the cause of her wake.

Slowly she rises to her paws, mindful of the still sore wounds that stand out like sore thumb on her pale fur. Instinctively she turns to her left, trying to view what her blind eye cannot. Her right eye catches a glimpse of white and grays swaying in the now chilling breeze. At first she almost mistakes the shimmering array of whites and greys as the moon’s light reflecting on a patch of grass, yet the breeze warns her otherwise. It carries a strange, unfamiliar scent towards her. Shura’s ears perk towards the small creature, her wings shifting nervously at her flank

Cautious, yet curious, Shura slowly turns towards the newcomer, tilting her head to one side. Never had she seen such a wolf, if she could even call him that. She tentatively places one paw forward, curious as to what the small wolf-like creature would do.

[Mokobo]

Oblivious to Shura's awakening, the kit continued his nervous survey of the dark forest surrounding them. Æze's wide eyes swirled with grays and dark blues as he tried to assure himself that someone would surely come to this injured creature's aid. Other than the frightening experience with the deer, Vita had always helped creatures in need. Æze knew his friend, if he were still alive, would want him to help, but the youth had no idea how he could. As he struggled with this moral dilemma, Æze heard a soft rustling nearby. His large, black-rimmed ears perked upright, allowing the nimbus' beneath to billow forth as he turned his body to face the forest behind him. Straining to hear the noise repeat in order to try and determine where the source was, Æze once more told himself that this creature would be fine without his aid.
A different, soft sound soon reached the fox-like creature's quivering ears, causing his entire body to instant freeze in dread. Æze had heard the distinct, and now familiar, sound of a paw step, and worse it had been right behind him. Slowly his large ears lowered to press against the shifting white pelt atop his head. With an audible gulp, the youth cautiously cast his gaze across his shoulder once more to view the spot where the injured wolf had lain. What Æze saw was the wolf, apparently still very capable and very close. His now dark gray eyes first fell upon Shura's outstretched paw, which had brought his attention to the precarious situation. Not wanting to, but unable to resist, Æze slowly trained his gaze upwards until he was looking directly into the she-wolf's large eyes. 
For a few heartbeats Æze's gaze remained locked with Shura's before the terror took hold of the poor youth's heart, causing him to disappear from sight in an instant. An observant eye might notice a set of paw prints rapidly cut a path through the grass. A bush at the edge of the clearing rustled violently as Æze darted past it's thorny boughs, drawing a sharp hiss from the kit as he felt a sharp pain shoot up his right leg. Immediately the youth ceased his escape, biting his lip to suppress a cry of pain. Quickly Æze sat upon his rump before lifting his only appendage devoid of the cloud-like vapors to observe its paw. There a large, black thorn jutted forth from between his invisible, travel-worn pads, the sight of which brought forth a pitiful whimper from the kit. Once before he had received a similar wound in the same spot, and this reiteration of that pain brought forth all the terrible memories of that experience. Æze barely managed to suppress a desperate sob of frustration before beginning to frantically gnaw at the offending thorn.

OoC - No need to apologize ^_^ I've been pretty busy as well X.x