Elderwild
She might not care just a whole lot for Tahmores personally, but Ravenwing did, and that was plenty enough for Elderwild; she pushed her wings and muscles to carry her top speed toward the ranch. And when finally she crested the last edge of trees, she was putting her lungs to use, letting out cry after loud cry of her high-pitched, ear splitting shrieks. "Rouse the house! Rouse the house! Everyone out and up! Everybody!" She made a couple of circuits over the house and the lands before she took up her usual place on the roof with a flutter of wings... and it took only a moment before a snarl and a quiet voice answered her. "What's amiss?" With a heavy step on her bad leg, Rihanne clambered less-than-gracefully down off the porch in order to be able to look at the bird squarely. "There's been an attack - two-legs... demon ones... they attacked Tahmores. They're on their way in, and the devils that did it may be just behind. Rouse the others!" It didn't take much other than that for Rihanne to let out a chorus of harsh barking and howls, which should catch every canine ear that hadn't heard the bird's entry.
Timber & Others
Martha raised a hand to her eyes to shield out the sun when she looked up at the goshawk. Just as Tahmores had told her, Raven and the others couldn't be far behind. In her other hand was the riffle he'd suggested she have ready, and out in the yard were the canines that were already uneasy over their master's unsettled behavior. Elderwild soon gave them a more definite reason for the tension, and once they knew what was up, Timber bristled and stalked away from the porch, moving in the direction of the driveway, "Humans attacked him?" The collie turned his ears forward, trying to pick up the sound of an engine or the distinct thump of human feet on the ground. "That makes them... attackable, doesn't it?" Sage rumbled with an edge to her voice. She'd never laid a tooth against any two-legger, and had learned that they were not to be attacked... unless it was in defense of their family. "Yeah, it does." Aidan assured her in a somber reply. The majority of his offspring were either nearby, or soon on their way after hearing the rallying cry of Elderwild and their mother. Tah was a part of their pack, and once someone hurt him, they were fair game to be assaulted.
Elderwild
Reiki had been spending the day lazing about on the porch, prompting play out of Nak and Sage when the mood struck him or stretched out beside Rihanne when he was sleepy - now that the pups were getting older, Karai felt mostly comfortable in letting them cross the distance between the den and the house alone, particularly as she was well within barking distance if aught were to happen to them. But he wasn't alone for long - the calls of the various guardians brought a responding howl from just inside the treeline, and the others would hear a great crashing; Brother wasn't worried about being quiet as he roared into view and skidded to a halt, sending dirt flying. He hadn't heard the news yet, but the tone of the various cries had let him know something very bad had happened, particularly when he saw the hackles up on every canid back in the area. He was just in time to hear Rihanne question the bird again. "Is he alright? How bad did he look?" The bird eyed up the cocker-mix in the somewhat-irritable way that could sometimes take her, but finally she began, "His one leg was bleeding for sure, and the rest of him looked like he'd-" "What?!" She didn't get to finish, because Brother interrupted her, automatically connecting the 'he' back to Tahmores, even though it could have just as easily meant John. His lips drew back into a vicious snarl, and it was such a change from his usual temperament that Elderwild flinched on the rooftop, and Reiki rolled to show his belly to his sire, even though the wolf would never lay a fang on him. His voice came out a little guttural after that. "Who touched him? The one that harmed a hair on his head dies before nightfall. Who, Bird?" By the time he'd finished speaking, Karai had finally caught up with him, doing her best to lead Tunga and Akembi with her as she tried to keep up with his frantic pace, and she didn't like what she saw. She gave Timber a desperate look, knowing his longtime friend would see the problem too - if Elderwild answered that question before they had the time to get between Brother and an exit, the wolf would take off in search of his boy.
Timber & Others
Sage was recovered enough both mentally and physically to give into Reiki's invites to play, and even the still-traumatized Nak would join in for a bit of romping with the younger wolf when he wasn't otherwise napping on the porch with the others. None of them were in the mood for playtime now however, not when one of their own was injured. All ears and eyes turned towards the timberline where Brother was bursting out of, with such ferocity and savagery that even the unshakable Aidan was taking a few steps aside to give the father some space. The smallest canine in the bunch was ironically the one to approach Brother without any hesitancy or any show of submission like the wolf's offspring were currently doing in the face of such fury from their father. "She's said they're on their way here. Tah, and possibly his attackers. Easy Brother, this is human matter... we have to treat it with caution." Wild animals were one thing, but humans... humans were a whole different ballgame, and even Timber wasn't sure how to deal with the threat. But if one thing was sure, the way his own slender face was set into a snarl and cold determination, there was no question that he'd be right at Brother's side in tearing apart those that had harmed Tah.
Elder Brother*Others
Karai might have been one to also draw close to Brother, knowing he would not harm her despite the near-crazed expression on his face, but she was first and foremost a mother, and Reiki was trembling in the face of this new and unseen side to his father. So she slunk over and nuzzled the young male quietly, drawing him close against her and allowing Timber to speak instead. And though Brother calmed no mite when the collie drew near to him, at least he did not turn fangs against him, which apparently some of the others feared he might - certainly, Rihanne had backed off as well, standing warily close to the collie's children and not about to draw forward until Timber had gotten Brother a little more calm. But the wolf's eyes darted quickly to his friend, and his lowered his voice into a hiss that only Timber should be able to hear. "And were it Sage or Nak... would you not do the same? Two-legs or no, he is my brother, and they that harm my brother will die before they touch him again. The devil-humans have started this fight, but I will finish it, as I did with the boy's father, if necessary."
Timber & Others
Tunga and Akembi stuck with their mother after following her from the den, arriving in time to hear enough of what had caused their father's intense behavior. Squeezing in next to Reiki, Akembi whimpered to his mother, "Is Ayxi okay?" Over by the furious Elder Brother, Timber was showing a levelheadedness that was more usual for him, "They will be dealt with, and I will personally see to it if I must. But you must be careful. The humans are complex and peculiar, and that's nothing compared to what unnatural weapons they have. They can kill you before you ever get close to them." A distant rumble was the approach of Nadeem's truck in the distance, where a cloud of white could be seen billowing up along the gravel road in the distance. "Tahmores is alive, see to him before anything else."
Elder Brother*Others
"I'm sure she's fine, dear," Karai told her son quietly, even though that worry was working through her as well. She was definitely concerned about the pup that had gone with Tahmores, but she didn't want to frighten the others any more than their father's behavior already had, so she made her voice calm and clear. And a moment later, Elderwild's keen hearing proved true, and she confirmed that statement, to everyone's relief. "She's the reason Raven knew to come for him - I was hunting and heard her yowling like a banshee, and I got hold of Raven. When I saw her, she looked fine to me." Of course, the bird didn't devote much detailed attention to anyone who wasn't her master, but the young wolf hadn't been limping or anything, so Elderwild was assuming that she was okay. And as Karai was letting out a deep breath she'd been holding, Timber chose a very powerful combination of words to reach Brother - in his need to make sure the people who'd hurt Tah paid for their crime, he'd nearly forgotten that the wolfboy was now heading here - and when Timber spoke it, some sanity drifted back into the wolf's gaze, drawing away the over-expressive aggression and fury, and dropping it down a little into the deep concern and fear that was the source of those more violent emotions. It was at this point that his mate drew forward and brushed her head along his side in a comforting touch, prompting him to abruptly turn his face in against her pelt as the anger left him to be replaced with uncertainty. He didn't even look up as Ravenwing's steps echoed through the trees, prompting Elderwild to soar down to meet him and settle on his shoulder. "Martha! They come. Tahmores. Others. Not follow." That was cryptic to say the least, but were he looked a little winded but otherwise calm, Brother was just beginning to work into a more sane state of mind. "Your advice is wise, Timber... as always. Thank you, my friend. I will-" He interrupted himself again, because he heard the rumble of the car, and that perked his ears up, making him abruptly take leave of Karai to dart up the driveway. He was never one to chase the cars, as Nak and some of the other young ones were, but he followed the truck closely as the same frightening closeness that the younger canines did, whining the whole way. The moment the door was open, he'd be assessing the health of both Tahmores, and his biological daughter.
Timber & Others
Neither of the brothers looked completely convinced by their mother's words, not until Elderwild filled them in on what she'd seen. "But why would anyone try to hurt Tah?" Tunga questioned, while Akembi whimpered again, ",b>Why would they scare Ayxi like that?" Those were questions that the youngsters wouldn't be getting an answer to just yet, not until the two-leggers themselves had things figured out. Staying on the porch as she had been, and watching as the canines were roused into varying degrees of alertness and anger, Martha was undoubtedly relieved to see Ravenwing appear. "The others? You mean the ones who attacked Tah?" That's what she understood of his short, simple phrases, and regardless of that, she kept the riffle in hand, just in case. Pretty soon, the rumble of the truck was loud enough for even Martha to hear, and not long after that, she recognized the blue vehicle as Nadeem's.
The young man driving the truck hit his brakes when he saw Brother rush towards him, then proceeded on at a snail's pace as he feared running over the wolf. Pippy and Sundile were jogging along at the other side, with Pip occassionally darting out in front of the truck as he barked and carried on, forcing Nadeem to go even slower until he eventually reached the house and turned the engine off. He was almost hesitant to get out amid the swarm of canines, but he braved the horde anyway as he flipped the driver's seat forward to let Conan out, then walked around to get the door for Tah and help him out.
Tahmores*Others
"No. I not see prey. Only Tahmores friends." His words were awkward at best, but at least he finally got the point across - he hadn't been followed by the enemies. "Fire hair, and dark animal man. Ayxiel." He described each of the vehicles occupants quietly, with the few words he knew to use, and then turned his gaze away as finally the truck drew close enough for human ears to hear it. Without saying anything else to her, he moved toward the truck as it came to a stop, though he was wise enough not to draw too close yet - Ayxi had hopped down out of the cab, and was greeted and assessed briefly by her father, but it was Tahmores who had the wolf's concern, and despite how careful and obedient he usually was, Nadeem would find Brother underfoot, where he hadn't dared leap up to greet Tah in fear of hurting him, but was steadily whining and doing his best to find out how badly the young man was wounded. It kept Raven back for a moment before finally Tahmores gave a whine to Brother to move him aside, and reach his hands to the two men who were going to help him. Conan, for his part, stood awkwardly off to the side, having exited the vehicle with his weapon in hand, but not moving to join the others.
"Ama!" After seeing Tahmores home to Brother, Ayxi's next immediate goal was to get to her mother, which she did with a quick dart that brought her quickly into her mother's quiet embrace, to the tune of whines from both Karai and Reiki. A soft nose to her side alerted her of her brother, who whispered, "Ayxi... you okay? The devil-ones didn't get you, did they? The ones that hurt Tah?" Reiki's voice was a little shaky, but the little female shook her head, and turned to nuzzle her head against Tunga. "I'm alright... it was Tah they were after. They said many things to him, and I got the feeling they wanted something from him. But he would not give it to them, so they hurt him."
Timber & Others
That pretty well summed what he meant. She could easily fit 'prey' to the men that had attacked Tahmores, since they may as well be that in her eyes too. She wasn't going to go vigilante on them and try to take revenge for the beating her 'son' took, but she wasn't about to let them anywhere near her property, and if they tried setting foot here and were in any way violent to any one of her family members, she would not hesitate to use the firearm. "Thank you for bringing him back to me." She kept her words of gratitude short for Ravenwing for the simple reason that she knew he wasn't fluent in English. Besides, Nadeem was now pulling into the lane and she was stepping briskly down from the porch to meet up with Tah, quickly coming to his side as Nadeem and Brother both did as well. "Heavens, what did they do to you...?" It was a rhetorical question rather than a question she sought an answer to, since it was clear that he'd been beaten... and shot. "You've got to get off that leg. Nadeem, take his other side." Martha didn't wait around or fuss over him much before she maneuvered herself at Tah's side, so that he could put one arm around her shoulders, while Nadeem was taking up a similar position on his opposite side.
Tunga and Akembi were giving whines in a mix of anxious greeting to their sister, and the linger fear about what had happened and what it all meant. "Those bullies!" Tunga rumbled, infuriated to hear that his sister was frightened by the humans, and that Tahmores had been viciously attacked. Thus far in his life, humans had always been positive things in his eyes. He knew enough that they could be mean, but this was the first time he'd ever dealt with it.
Tahmores*Others
Ravenwing didn't answer the woman, unless his nod could be construed as such - he was swinging his crossbow back into his hands and stalking into the trees, issuing a call that brought the goshawk to him; apparently, with Conan and Martha both armed, he was of a mind to ensure that their territory was safe. "I would like to try to get a hold of John," the injured young man was murmuring, even as he took the support of Nadeem and his adoptive mother so that he could begin to hobble toward the house with their help. "I would feel far safer about him if he were at home with us, tonight." And at his feet, Brother was somehow managing to stick very close to Tahmores without hampering him or making him trip, whining constantly and showing an obsessive concern that could have been no more powerful if it had been one of his pups that had been hurt - after all, Brother had spent most of his life raising Tahmores, so in effect, the man was his pup, even if the human was by far the older of the two.
"Hush now, my loves... do not speak so just now. I do not wish to upset your father any more than he is." Those were Karai's gentle, soft words as she watched her mate trail beside his boy all the way to the house, but Rihanne's tones were a growl more complimentary to Tunga's words. "If it's not canine enemies, it's human ones! What would they hurt the boy for? He's done nothing?" Shifting around awkwardly on her legs, with a hefty limp through the bad one that spoke of rain to come in the evening, she too was watching the group head inside. She might be more directly Martha's companion and guardian, but like the rest of the canines here, she respected and cared for Tahmores as well - he was Pack, and thus to be fiercely protected.
Timber & Others
For a single mother and one who spent many hours a day working on the farm, Martha easily matched Nadeem's strength and had no trouble shouldering Tahmores' weight while they guided him from the truck towards the stairs. "Do you think they'd go after him? What is all of this about?" She already worried about her son and the way that he'd become since Mark's death; fearing that he cold be targeted by the CrypticSilvers was another weight added to her abundant concerns over him. "I'll give him a call when we get inside. He doesn't answer his phone half the time." Padding behind the group, Timber followed them up the steps of the porch, and right on inside the house, where he rarely ever ventured. Nak and Sundile were in directly after him, and each hovered near Tah and the other two humans, trying in their own way to figure out what was going on and what they could do to help.
When their mother asked something of them, the brothers tended to listen. At least in these sort of situations, where there was a definite sense of danger and alarm in the air, and one of their own had gotten injured. Unwilling to speak up about it further for the sake of not upsetting Brother or Karai, it was not the pups that responded to Rih, but Aidan. "There are some human packs out there that are as vicious as Taijya's band. I've never met them personally, but I've heard enough from my brother's mate."
Tahmores*Others
"I consider it a distinct possibility," he answered, remembering clearly the threats Lanny had put against them, even though he hadn't reacted to it at the time. He had to pause in his speech for a moment after that, because climbing the steps to the porch was quite a trial for him, considering that the one knee was out of joint and didn't want to bend. "It is my hope that he will answer..." He finally went on, once he'd managed to get his legs to obey him and they'd gotten into the house. "For at least tonight, I believe it would be better for us all to stay together. If necessary, I can send Karai to find him."
Where Timber and Brother, and some of their younger members, went into the house with the humans, Rihanne resisted the urge, and remained outside. This had become an increasing tendency in her, in the days since the last brutal attack that had taken so many - she was still just as affectionate and kind to Martha, and during the day, she would follow her about as normal... but when evening came, she'd become remarkably good at escaping out of the house, so that she could be outdoors at night. She wasn't going to again be trapped in the house and helpless. So though she moved slowly to the door and peered in, she kept all four paws on the porch. "Really though... Tahmores? What has he ever done to anyone? He's the most tolerant, canine-wise human I've ever met, and I've never seen him lay a paw upon any of his own kind."
Timber & Others
Tah's two supporters tried to take most of the young man's weight and force him to use his legs as little as possible. Martha could already see the swelling around his knee and the obvious restriction in movement, and then there was the blood on his lower leg where he'd gotten shot. "Ease him down right here, on the couch." In the house now, Martha instructed Nadeem towards the couch in their living room, preferring that over the bench or table where she usual treated the canines. With a bit of careful handling, they were able to ease him back as gently as possible onto the couch, where he could finally keep the weight off of his injured legs. "Nadeem, my supplies are in the kitchen, can you get them for me?" She asked this of the arab man as she was taking out her phone again and scrolling through the numbers to find John's to give him a call. "If he doesn't answer, I'll try his friends'. If that doesn't work, Karai can help." The phone began to ring on the other end, and while it did, Martha used her spare hand to gingerly feel over his knee to figure out if it felt broken or not. "Can you move it at all?"
Aidan shook his head and spoke somberly, "There are some humans who'll attack others if it benefits them in someway, no matter how 'nice' their victims are." Aidan himself was the victim of this, albeit from his brother, not a human. "Trying to find logic in it is like trying to find logic in Taijya's attacks. Sometimes there's no answer for it, other than pure evilness in others."
Tahmores*Others
As much as the both of them were trying to support Tahmores as best they could and keep him from having to use his own strength, he felt kind of guilty for making them carry him - he hadn't bulked up as much as Conan, who stood several inches taller and was much broader of shoulder than he was, taking after his barrel-chested father, but Tah had gained a lot of lean muscle doing the work of the farm, as Martha had; he was no lightweight. But when finally they'd eased him down onto the soft surface of the couch, he felt a little better, and sat still as Martha began to look him over. Well - sort of. Her touch upon his knee made him flinch sharply, and release a controlled grunt that might otherwise have been a yelp of pain, if he hadn't been careful to keep it at bay. But he still made the effort to keep his voice level as he told her, "It is difficult, but I can move it some. Of course, it is not precisely comfortable to do so." The knee wasn't broken at all, but the bad bruising around the joint made it very tender, and the slight dislodging of the tendons made it difficult to force it to move his lower leg as it was meant to. Brother, in the meantime, had done something that was unusual for him - he'd come into the house and hopped right up onto the couch beside his boy. Ordinarily, he was too well-behaved to jump on the furniture, but that was trumped in this situation, obviously - he was cuddling up next to the boy and expressing his concern with nuzzles and whines.
Watching all of this from the door, and occasionally turning her glance to the red head, who'd come up onto the porch and was standing facing the treeline with his gun at the ready, Rihanne sighed. "You'd think my time in the fighting rings would prepare me for something like this," she murmured, her voice heavy. "But the humans there were cruel to us, not to each other. I have never seen a human do this to another human, even in that horrible place."
Timber & Others
Martha immediately lifted her fingers when she realized she was causing him too much discomfort. "We'll keep an eye on it, and if the swelling doesn't go down, or if it becomes too painful-" The woman raised her dark eyes to Tahmores, somehow able to impart a look of strictness in them amongst the great concern that was otherwise residing in them. "-and I want you to tell me - we'll go to the hospital." Truth be told, she would have felt much better taking him there considering how badly roughed up he was, but it was something they couldn't risk right now so long as his injuries weren't life threatening. At about this time, Nadeem was returning to them with a large, almost antique-looking sewing box. Rather than sewing supplies, it was filled with an assortment of first-aide equipment, and the first thing she dug out was a bottle of general painkillers - nothing that would immediately block all the discomfort, but a general, over-the-counter type that would slowly start to buffer the aches and bring down the swelling, "You can take two of these; oh Nadeem, will you get a glass of water for him?" She said nothing about the wolf that had jumped on the couch, which wold have been different in any other circumstance. She wasn't going to deny Brother of his need to look over Tahmores, since she knew it was every bit as urgent as her's.
"I've never seen them do it.. it's a shock to me, to be honest." The big hybrid admitted with a low huff, as if trying to dispell some of the heavy feelings that had built up in him. "Owl has told me accounts of humans in their old territory that would kill other humans, for reasons she couldn't comprehend."
Tahmores*Others
"I've broken that one before," the young man answered dismissively, shrugging his shoulder as if to write off the flinch he'd given in response to the pain. "Fell out of a tree in my eighth summer, where I'd gone to avoid a moose I'd managed to anger. The pack protected me until it healed. There will be no need for a hospital for this. Besides... it is not safe there. They know they have injured me, and there is only one hospital in town. They would know where to find us." In between speaking to Martha, he was giving intermittent whines and petting to Brother to reassure him, and since the woman hadn't said anything, he didn't speak to banish the wolf from the ordinarily-forbidden furniture. Instead, he reached his free hand to take the pills from Martha and the water from Nadeem, swallowing the medicine down with a gulp and then settling back into his concentration upon keeping still, so that the woman could do her work.
"If Taijya and her posse would kill other wolves, and they are as like her as you say, it is not as surprising." That was Ri's soft comment, as she watched the goings-on in the house. "I have always wondered of the complexities of the human language and behaviors... I find it an unhappy thing that they can be as devious and vicious as our kind can. It- hey... what's he doing?" A quiet snarl entered Rihanne's vocals, but she was too uncertain to do more - Conan had put his gun away, and drew into the building, beginning to slowly sign, despite that no one here would understand, with Ravenwing gone to secure the perimeter of the ranch. The knee is out of joint - it will swell dramatically over the next hour. Tylenol and Ibuprofen in alternating doses every two hours will help keep it under control, as well as ice packs. But it will still need to be put back in place.
Timber & Others
What he spoke, she already knew was true. She couldn't risk taking him to the hospital and bring him to the one place that the gang would be likely waiting for him. "We'll see how it does overnight. I could call Chanceton if need be." He may be a vet rather than a human doctor, but he was a good friend of hers and often stopped out to treat any number of the livestock on the farm; if worse came to worse, she could ask for his help in treating Tahmores' knee if it proved to be past her abilities. "I should have guessed..." Martha pulled the phone away from her ear when John failed to pick up, and flipped through the numbers to try one of his friends. With the new number ringing, she focused on the gunshot wound on Tah's leg, "I'll need a basin of water and a cloth, please." Nadeem was sent off yet again to fetch the items as she deftly looked over the wound and tried to determine whether the bullet was still in the leg, or whether it had passed through the other side. Just as Nadeem was passing into the kitchen, Conan was walking in and beginning to sign - and immediately, the other man was looking around for a spare piece of paper and pen; which he found clinging to the fridge via a stack of sticky-notes and a mini pen. "Here Conan - is something wrong?"
Tahmores*Others
'I can treat it,' Conan was signing, a little frustrated in his need to speak even as Martha and Tah were discussing treatment options. Thankfully enough, Nadeem knew what to do, and the teen was relieved when presented with the paper, beginning to print out in his neat, careful block letters, and daring to draw close enough to Martha and the older man long enough to give the woman the finished product, despite Rih's warning snarl.
THE JOINT HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF PLACE, AND THE TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS AROUND IT DISTURBED. IT NEEDS TO BE POPPED BACK INTO JOINT, OR THE SWELLING WILL CONTINUE AND WORSEN, AND THE LONG TERM EFFECTS CAN INCLUDE LOSS OF SENSATION AND USE IN THE LOWER LEG. IT IS A TASK I CAN PERFORM, IF YOU WILL ALLOW IT. IT WOULD MAKE A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL UNNECESSARY.
As Conan handed the little pad of sticky-notes to Martha, Tahmores was bending down to examine the lower part of his injured leg, and suppressing a grunt when he bent at the waist to do so and stretched the bruised muscles in his abdomen. But he continued to gaze at his leg, and finally came to the conclusion that the bullet had passed through - there was an entry point and an exit point, proving that it had passed completely through the large muscles in the calf, which probably didn't help him much to support the injured knee. It was just now beginning to hurt - he'd been too filled with adrenaline during the confrontation with the CS to feel the pain. But it was certainly making itself known with a vengeance now; every time his heart beat and pulsed down to his leg, he had to exercise a large amount of control to avoid making a pained noise.
Timber & Others
She took the bowl of water and accompanying cloth from Nadeem, followed by the sticky notes once Conan had finished writing them. "Enough Rhi, he's alright." To keep her loyal companion assured and hopefully at bay, Martha murmured to her as her eyes flashed over the block letters. "You can do that?" If it would stop them from needing to go to the hospital, she was all for it, especially as it sounded like he knew what he was talking about. The only thing was to seek Tahmores' permission first, "If it's fine by you, we can do it. I can always have Chanceton look at it, too." It wasn't that she didn't trust Conan's abilities, but she wanted to avoid any undue pain on the young man, since she could tell that he was already toiling with the wealth of discomfort from the attack. Meanwhile, she'd taken up a cloth and was running it carefully near the sight of the gunshot, using as little pressure as possible as she cleared blood away from the wound and prepared to apply antiseptics.
Tahmores*Others
Martha's words helped to silence Rihanne's snarling, only because she was strictly obedient to her mistress - she still didn't take her eyes off of the red head as he waited for the woman's answer. And where Conan couldn't speak up for himself, Tahmores gladly took up the slack. "Conan has spent several years under the tutelage of both the Lady Charlene and Aralyn Sanchez. Nadeem, I'm sure, can tell you of his qualifications." And of the many injuries Conan's had himself that he's mostly treated on his own... save for that bullet Nadeem took out of him. Tahmores didn't say that, but his gaze as it turned to Nadeem held more significance than simply asking him to speak for Conan's abilities. The teen himself, on the other hand, looked away when Aralyn was mentioned - her wanderings had increased as much as John's had recently, and at current, the boy had no idea where she was, which was always a cause for deep concern in him. Still, he kept quiet as the others discussed him, and waited for Nadeem to speak his peace before he'd draw forward to look at Tah's knee. In the meantime, the wolfboy was holding very still as Martha swabbed down the gunshot wound, being less sensitive and flinchy about that than he had the injured knee - obviously, it didn't hurt nearly as much.
Timber & Others
Hearing those names was not particularly happy for Nadeem either, who know just as little about Aralyn's whereabouts as Conan did, and felt infinitely guilty about that since it was essentially his home where she was suppose to be living. It let it pass without showing any more than a single glance down however, and just as soon was responding to hearing his own name brought up. "Conan knows what he's talking about, and he has my full trust." Their first meeting may not have been the best, but the red-head had quickly shown his more redeemable traits. If Aralyn trusted him like a brother, that alone was good enough for the arab. As for Martha, the vote of confidence for Conan made her feel a little better about it, "All of my supplies are in that case there. There's ice in the freezer." Her work went on diligently while she gave him permission to adjust Tah's knee. Once the entry wound was treated, she grabbed for a stack of pillows to prop his foot on, then began to work on the exit wound on the back of his leg.
Tahmores*Others
Anyone else might have shared an unhappy glance with Nadeem, since the two of them shared a pain in having no knowledge of where the young woman was, but Conan had spent too long dealing with the likes of the Cryptic Silvers and Benjamin Linus - he didn't even look up to see the arab's reaction, much less express in his glance that he understood all too well the older man's pain. Instead, he waited for Nadeem to speak in support of his medical skills, and for Martha and Tahmores to agree, before he drew forward and took a careful seat beside the indian on the couch. He looked up to account for Rihanne's whereabouts when she dared slink in the door to keep a better eye on him, her desire to remain outside to protect the ranch trumped by the need to ensure that Tah was okay, even though Brother was right there and obviously not about to let anyone harm his boy. The wolf, however, seemed a little more at ease with Conan's presence - he didn't draw forward or behave in a friendly way to the teen, but neither did he react negatively; he responded to Tahmores' gentle touches by shifting his weight until he was cuddled up higher on the couch beside the young man's hip, now that he'd been helped by Martha to recline, and stayed put there, watching all that was going on, but not interfering. From there, Conan put his gun down on the coffee table, where his hands were free but the weapon would be in easy reach, and swung his backpack gently off of his back, sitting it on the floor beside the couch. It took him only a moment to shuffle through Martha's things and come up with bandages and a good length of splinting material, though he rummaged through his own bag to come up with an appropriate painkiller to numb the knee so that it wouldn't pain Tah too much when it was pushed back into place. With his hands busy, he couldn't very well speak to Tahmores even if he could have understood it, but by resting his hands briefly on either side of the knee and giving a significant look, he got his message across anyway - he wanted Tah to remain still. And with that understood, he reached to gently take hold of Martha's busy hands and guide them to a place just below the impacted knee, his fear of touch trumped right now as he held her hands in place for a moment or two to send the message that he wanted her to help hold the young man steady. With that help, he managed to inject the painkiller, and then gave both Martha and Tah a firm look. "No-oooot mo-v-ve." He strained, waiting for both to understand before he'd make the motion to restore the knee to its proper place.
Timber & Others
Martha had gotten the first side of the injury cleaned when Conan took her hands and guided them to her adoptive son's knee. The cloth was set down, and she needed no words from him to understand what he wanted her to do, so hold Tah's leg she did - at least, as tightly as she dared without causing him too much discomfort, with a subtle shuffle of her thumb meant as a comforting touch. Watching on and unable to help, Pippy was one of the few wolfdogs in the house at the moment, and inched forward towards the couch to be at the opposite side of Tahmores than brother was. He didn't dare jump up on the couch as the wolf had, but he rested his furry, tan muzzle on Tah's good knee in his own shared expression of concern. Without anything to do at the moment, Nadeem took a step back to give the group some space, and remained ready should anything else be requested of him. Having helped a number of animals, the sight of blood didn't bother him, but seeing the young man so badly roughed up was as uncomfortable for him as it was for Martha.
Tahmores*Others
As though he weren't the least bit nervous about any of this treatment going on centered around his knee, Tahmores reached his free hand to Pippy and tousled the male's ears affectionately, offering him a friendly and unworried whine meant as both a thanks for the comfort, and a bit of reassurance. With his two hands occupied, it was a good thing that Martha knew to do what Conan had wordlessly asked of her, because restoring the knee to its proper position was not going to be a comfortable thing for the young man, even with the painkillers he'd been given. After giving the woman a moment or two to be ready - and pretending not to notice how she was moving her thumb over Tah's knee just as Summer might do to his own shoulder on occasion - Conan took a deep breath and, with a giant heave and an expertly-applied pressure, jolted the knee back into place with a pronounced and sickening 'pop'. Tahmores closed his eyes abruptly, and let out the briefest and quietest of whimpers, which prompted Brother to step carefully forward and tuck his head up under his boy's chin. It hadn't hurt exactly, thanks to the thoughtful application of analgesics... but it had been distinctly uncomfortable, nonetheless.
"'deem." Once he was sure that the joint was restored to its proper position, Conan put his destroyed voice to work to call the arab over, making motions to indicate that he needed for the older man to put his hands were Conan's had just been, in order to hold it in place on both sides while he wrapped the knee to brace it. At this point, Tahmores opened his eyes again, and seemed recovered somewhat - he was again petting both Pippy and Brother softly and smoothly, and giving off little noises to assure the wolf that he was alright. And Conan was using laser-precision skills as he lined two long splints up on either side of the injured knee and began binding them down to lock the joint in place until it could heal properly, which prompted Tahmores to speak to try to lighten the mood. "Someday when I have a great deal of spare time, Conan, you must teach me how to do that."
Timber & Others
A short, unbroken whine was made by Pippy to voice his anxiety once more before he fell silent under the petting he was getting. The 'pop' of Tah's knee going back into place brought his ears up, and would have drawn a grimace from Martha if the woman hadn't otherwise been prepared for the unpleasant sound, and since she was holding his leg, the feeling of it as well. Not long after that was done, Nadeem was bustling forward and crouching down to take over for Martha, freeing up her hands to finish cleaning the other side of the gunshot wound before she would start in on bandaging it. "I wonder what happened.." The young hybrid murmured in the midst of giving Tah's hand a lick. "I didn't know humans would shot each other with their guns." While Pippy was murmuring this, Martha was bringing up another issue, "I'll have to search the garage, I know there should be a pair of crutches up in the loft. Not for today though.. you need to rest." Like the worried mother she was, the woman was planning around Tah and how best to take care of him, including a good deal of simple rest to recover from the trauma.
Tahmores*Others
"I wouldn't have believed it either, Pip," the cocker mix returned, from where she was standing and still intently watching the procedure. But another voice sounded straight after that, and it was old and wise. "Some humans will do to their own kind just as much as wolves will do to our own. There is some kind of miswiring in their minds that makes every one in a few thousand enjoy watching others suffer. The boy's father was like that... did worse to his own son than this person has done to him." He hadn't spoken all this time, but on the strangenesses of the many varieties of human kind, Brother could speak with a deal more experience than anyone here, having lived in their society with the boy in his teens when Tah's father had determined to raise him in a 'civilized' manner and fetched him from the woodlands that had always been his home. The others knew plenty of humans, sure - but mostly they were exposed to the masters, and they were all kindly toward one another; particularly the pups had very little exposure to unkind humans. Tahmores, on the other hand, was avoiding the negative discussion that he could have taken up altogether right now, in favor of acknowledging what Martha was saying as Conan finished up binding his leg into place with the splints and moved for the kitchen to fetch a bag of ice. "I don't think I'll be getting about much today; even if I had it in mind, Brother would be quick to stop me, I can assure you." Strangely, he seemed emotionally unimpacted, even though he'd just been threatened within an inch of his life and viciously beaten and shot - he was a sturdy sort of young man, and though he was slightly rattled by the experience, he wasn't displaying it; he was composed and calm.
Timber & Others
Nak turned his ears over to listen in on this, both he and Pippy showing blatant surprise to hear that Tahmores' own father had hurt him worse than the other humans did today. "Why would a father do that? They're suppose to protect their kids." Only a yearling, Pippy indeed had little experience in the world when compared to Brother, and since he'd spent his entire life at the farm, he only knew kindness, devotion, and protection from his own father, Aidan. He'd been born long after Mark's death, but he still couldn't imagine any human father being anything different from how his own dad was. "He must have been like Taijya. One of the mean ones, like the ones that hurt Tah today." Nak was still mentally scarred by the attack, even if he was one of the few who hadn't gotten so much as a scratch on him during the assault, so his voice remained a low and whisper one when speaking of the slain she-devil. Unaware of the conversation going on around her, Martha was stretching a length of bandage around Tah's leg, neatly covering the grisly wounds to help them heal. "That makes two of us." The woman finally returned a grim smile at the young man and put the last end of the bandage in place. "And I suppose I can let Brother slide tonight." Even with a pointed look and a mildly raised brow at the wolf and his place on the couch, she wasn't going to boot him off. Honestly, she wasn't sure if she could convince him to stay down or not if she tried.
Tahmores*Others
"If I could answer that question, Pippy, I would have a great deal more wisdom than I have ever credited myself with." The wolf's tones were soft but grim, truly unable to understand just why Tahmores' father had been so cruel to him, even though he'd known the man and stayed in his house for nearly two years. Of course, that was perhaps why Tahmores was able to relate to Conan's touchiness and issues - he could likely understand where the teen was coming from. He didn't go any further on the topic though, mostly because he was noting the way Martha turned her eyes to him in silent disapproval. He planed his ears out to the side in submission and offered a quiet whine to indicate that he understood, but still didn't move - nothing was going to keep him away from Tahmores until he was well and walking again. The young man himself, knowing too well that Martha did not appreciate animals on the furniture, offered her a smile and a quiet thanks, and about that time, Raven peered in the door. He didn't step into the house - he never had, in all his time here - but he spoke from the door, and Tahmores answered him with an easy, calm tenor. "He's scouted the perimeter of our lands," the younger man reported, when finally the discussion came to an end. "He's seen no sign of the Cryptic Silvers, or of any canines that do not belong to us. All is well enough, for now."
Timber & Others
Nak finally came forward where the group was talking, and curled up in front of the couch, putting himself as near as Tah and Brother as he could without breaking Martha's rule and jumping up on the furniture. Pippy didn't puzzle his mind too much over the humans, and let the idea that they weren't all good sink into his head. "Dad says we're not suppose to bite humans... but can we if we're defending our family? Timber says he's bitten people before." Focusing on the other conversation Martha shook her head to dismiss any worry about Brother being on the couch, since it really wasn't hurting anything this one time; nothing more than a bit of vacuuming to remove any shedded fur wouldn't handle. "That's good. Does he plan on staying out there tonight? I know our dogs will be alert to any strangers." Although she didn't want to ask Raven to stand guard, the mother was looking for any additional help that she could get, even if it would be near impossible for anyone that wasn't family to get past the number of canines without any one of the barking.
Tahmores*Others
"There's always been a standard rule around here about humans, one that the masters have given to us," Brother answered, his voice firm. "We're not supposed to bite humans... unless they hurt one of the masters or one of us first. And even then it's only to get them to stop and frighten them away; they never say so, but it's understood that they would be very unhappy if we killed a human for anything less than self-defense. That is the only reason that Timber - or I, or anyone here - has ever laid fang to a human." Understanding more of what was being discussed around him than anyone else, even if large parts of it were still not within comprehension, Tahmores nevertheless pretended as though he wasn't aware of the discussion, and answered Martha instead. "It's my understanding that he does," the young man confirmed, as Conan came back with the bag of ice and settled it on his knee, and Brother shifted until he could lay beside his boy on the couch without jostling any of his harms about. "You know how he feels about the indoors." He offered a small grin to accompany that - after all, when Tahmores himself had first come here, he'd suffered from a severe kind of claustrophobia, and had trouble being indoors as well. He'd since mostly gotten over it though, and could laugh a little at the fear now.
Timber & Others
"I guess that makes sense." Pippy still had his head rested on Tah's good knee, which saw the young man almost surrounded by canines - Brother on one side, Pippy on the other, and Nak resting near his feet; not to mention all those outside as the first line of defense, and Timber standing tensely at the door. "Mom had said a similar thing once... she said her own mother attacked humans to rescue her when she was a puppy. Not her real mom, bt the one who adopted her." Martha didn't need to hear the conversation going on to know that their four-legged companions would protect Tahmores in a heartbeat if anyone tried to attack him like they had earlier today. She'd personally never seen any of them attack a person, but it was clear that most of the canines were very protective, and it didn't matter if the enemy was human or wolf. Lawsuit wise, she could only hope that the gang wasn't foolish enough to try and attack them on their own turf here. "A bit of a treat might make it better for him. And speaking of, it's getting around time for dinner. You're all invited to stay for it." She hadn't gotten up yet, even after she'd gotten Tah's leg wrapped - she was looking over his various bruises now and trying to determine if there were any other injuries that she would need to treat first.
Tahmores*Others
Surrounded by the canines of his pack - albeit the ranch canines rather than wild wolves - Tahmores couldn't feel safer or more content; he'd laid back against the arm of the couch and reached one hand to Brother as the wolf stretched out and lay his head across the young man's chest. Petting the velvety ears in a slow, steady motion, and reaching his other hand down to run briefly over Nak, he listened to the murmur of the dogs around him as they talked. "That doesn't surprise me," Rihanne commented, inserting her voice into the conversation again when it turned to Tahirah, whom she understood a little better than anyone else here, save perhaps for her mate. And Brother went on, "It's a wild law that even humans can understand - all the other laws are null and void when someone attacks your family." But even as Martha was speaking to invite them all to stay for dinner, Conan was politely shaking his head, and signing. It was, of course, Ravenwing who spoke up in quiet translation. "He thank you, say no - must see little brother, make safe." And with all of Tah's wounds treated, aside from the liberal bruising over the greater part of his body that would require time to heal up on their own, Conan took this opportunity to begin packing up his back again in preparation for leaving. Of course, he was definitely wanting to get back to Raimi and the Wallocks, but Nadeem would know the other half of his urgency; he simply did not trust most of the people here, and had never been very comfortable around dogs... he was wanting to escape.
Timber & Others
Pippy and the others were completely unaware of the life their mother had led before finding Aidan, or how lucky she'd been to be rescued from the deplorable world of fighting before it had mentally scarred her as badly as it had Rihanne. Blissfully unaware of the sort of cruelties that certain humans could inflict on others, Pippy was turning his ears from Rih's statement to Brother's, "If it's okay for us to do, then I'm going to help. I only wish humans weren't so confusing." Speaking on confusion, Martha was watching Conan's moving hands with little result, but was able to understand Raven's attempt at translating the silent language. "If you must go, I won't keep you here. Thank you for all your help today, and for helping bring Tahmores back to us." She couldn't very well let Conan go without expression her gratitude, now that she was a little calmer of mind and not worrying so much over Tah's injuries. Standing aside, Nadeem spoke after Martha had finished, "I should be going as well, but feel free to call me if you need anything. Conan, would you like a ride?"
Tahmores*Others
Brother gave a deep sigh, and wriggled a little more, though carefully in order to avoid brushing the bandaged knee with his paws. "Humans aren't any more confusing than we are, sometimes... the only thing that is puzzling is that they do not speak in the way we do. Their emotions, their motives... are just as complicated as any of our own. They are a complex creature, but no moreso than we are. It is like trying to understand the cats, only they at least can speak." Meanwhile, Conan was nodding to indicate he'd heard Martha, and making a brief motion with his hand to indicate that her thanks was unnecessary. He'd appeared out of nowhere when he'd noted Ayxi's presence at Nadeem's door, and run top-speed with her back to the areas of the ranch that he'd fetched Ravenwing from... he'd wanted to help Tahmores, or he would have never been seen. He'd done it because he felt he owed the young man one, not because he wanted Martha's gratitude. In any case, he swung his backpack up onto his shoulders again, and nodded to Nadeem, to indicated he'd appreciate the ride; he'd learned to trust the arab's innocent intentions, because even if he viewed him as absurdly naive and a little dense, Aralyn loved him, and that was enough for the teen to trust him. He tensed for a brief moment as Ayxi moved in and scrubbed her head up against his lower leg, and then forced himself to relax, and then bent down to scribble a few instructions on the sticky note pad, in order to dictate what needed to happen in the next several days to ensure that Tahmores' leg healed well. And then, he gave Nadeem an expectant look, not needing his hands to ask, Are we going?
Timber & Others
"I wish they could speak like us." Pippy moved his head from Tah's leg and placed it on the couch. But as he edged himself forward in a sly attempt to climb up, a sharp click of Martha's tongue was enough to make him huff a sigh and put his paw back down. While he was getting reprimanded, Nak was looking intently up at the young man, "Tah knows how to speak a little. Too bad he can't teach Martha and John." While that was being discussed, Martha had reinstated her gratitude to Conan when he tried to dismiss it, then took the note from him that detailed the care that Tahmores would need in the coming days. "You're more than welcome here if you need anything. Both of you." Nadeem briefly nodded his head to her words, "You have my number." It was his way of saying that she could all him should she need any help, especially since Tah was down, John was scarcely around, and she was the only other one in his house. Although somehow, he felt she was far safer than the Wallocks where - Martha at least would use a gun. With all that taken care of, Nadeem caught Conan's look, and stepped passed him and on out the door as an answer, heading back to his truck to offer the red-head a ride back to see his little brother again.
Tahmores*Others
"Yes... and he has spent the greater part of his life with only the wolves of my original pack for company - he has spent years hearing only canine voices, and you see how very little he has learned to say. He understands more, of course... but humans just aren't meant to talk like us. Their mouths don't make the sounds very well." Of course, Brother didn't know that the throat and vocal chords had more to do with the ability to make certain sounds than the mouth, but all of the young hybrids here knew the odd accent with which Tahmores spoke, which sometimes made him a little difficult to understand. Still, Nak had a point - the young man was the only one of the masters who'd ever been able to communicate with them in their own tongue, even on such a rudimentary level as he did. "You know where to find me if you need something, Conan," Tahmores was saying, even as he was aware that the guardians were discussing him, though he couldn't detect much beyond his name and the general idea that they were comparing him to other humans. The red-head nodded to show that he'd heard, and then out the door he went with Nadeem, glad to be heading away from the ranch, even though everyone here had been kind to him - it was his general uneasiness with most people that made him happy to put the place to his rear rudder, as well as the idea that he'd only bring more danger to the family here by remaining any longer than he had to. As they left, Tahmores murmured, "It's a shame that they never could see the value in him... he's a very loyal person, once you get to know him." He'd never told Martha about the teen's little issues, though Conan's odd behavior spoke loudly enough that he'd seen unkind hands in the past - in fact, this was the first time he'd even vaguely referenced that something might have been amiss with him.
Timber & Others
"And their ears don't move." That was one thing that Nak had always wondered about, as he couldn't imagine what it would be like with ears that didn't move to catch sound like his and many other animals did. "I don't think they can even hear all the words we say." So saying, a low rumbled from his father had not only Nak looking back, but Pippy and Martha as well. Nadeem had offered a friendly pat for Timber's head, only to have the dog tense and draw his head back with a warning growl - he was definitely a one-family dog, and didn't appreciate the touch of anyone who wasn't included in his family pack. After Martha gave an apology for the collie's behavior and saw the two outside, she quieted her voice and responded to Tahmores, "He's got a different way about him, but he seems like a very responsible, honest young man." She didn't say it, but his mannerisms strongly spoke of one that had been abused, too.
Tahmores*Others
"He means no harm, Timber," the young man explained, though in English rather than the canid tongue and without really expecting any reaction out of the collie. Really, his comment was more for the arab's feeling of security than anything, for he didn't expect Timber to accept any sort of affection from Nadeem; after all, the oldest of the ranch guardians had taken his time about warming up to Tahmores himself, and even now chose his moments when he wanted affection. It was something he respected in the collie, and never pushed him for any sort of change. And when their guests had left, Brother relaxed against Tah, laying out against his muscled chest and abdomen just as though he were lounging on the grass outdoors, though he was very careful, even in this lazy-looking pose, of how much of his weight was laying on Tah. Rih, for her part, skittered out of the door just as soon as it seemed like Tahmores was taken care of and Martha was calming down; she longed for the easier days when she'd focused solely on being the woman's companion, but the deaths of so many of them was still pertinent in her mind - she wasn't going to let Martha use this opportunity to close her in the house again. "That's just his way - he has a purpose for all that he does. He's one of a very few people who can claim more scars than I can." He shrugged a little at that, though he wasn't referring to the inevitable scarring that would take over the gunshot wound - he was more thinking of his arms and legs, which bore the marks of wolven teeth, where he'd gotten into mock-scuffles with pups and young wolves throughout his life, who hadn't really meant to hurt him, but had gotten over-exuberant in their playing, as young creatures will, and forgotten how delicate humans could be.
Timber & Others
Tahmores*Others
"Chances are that they were worse than you think, even then," Tahmores answered, watching through the window as Nadeem and Conan drove away, while the watchful ranch guardians saw them off. "It is only that, when you were young, you were more or less protected from those kinds of cruelties... I learned that sharply and suddenly, when I first came to live among human kind. I knew that wolves distrusted people, but I never knew why." He shook his head, not realizing how negative that might sound, and then went on, "Throughout my studies of the interspecies relations, I have found only one steady explanation for the unhappy interactions... fear, on both sides. And it's just as bad between two people - that is why Conan is so wary."
Martha & Others
"Maybe." The woman murmured, "And maybe this new generation is getting bolder than the one before it." No matter which was the truth, things had become very personal the second they targeted Tahmores, and for reasons she didn't yet know. "If this city's government weren't so corrupt, that gang would have something to fear, and then we might see a bit more peace around here." She was a tad too caught up in this emotionally to do little but verbally attack the gang, and those responsible for seeing Tah in the condition he was in now. "Do you even know why they attacked you?" And finally, she was asking the question that the canines had been pondering about all along.
Tahmores*Others
"That is also very likely a true statement," he answered, not about to deny it when certainly the gangs had to be more prevalent and bold in this day and age than they had been when Martha was a child. "I say it only to point out that there are multiple sources to the problem. The government certainly being one of them, and perhaps the most influential." He sighed and shook his head, and then closed his eyes for a moment, resting them briefly even if he wasn't hurting any, thanks to the medication - he was only a little tired, and exasperated with this whole business. To her latter question though, he at least had a definite answer. "They found out that we kept Raimi that one time for him, and they thought that I knew where they'd been hiding - you know they haven't been in town very much, since they got Raimi back from the CS."
Martha & Others
Talk of the gangs and their near stranglehold of the city was not a pleasant topic, and not one that she really ever had much to speak about. For her style of life, working mostly on the farm, she got little interest from the CS and never had much reason to worry over them... until now. Her dark eyes lit up, then narrowed just as dramatically, "They're after that little boy again? That's why they attacked you?" Martha picked herself up and dragged a wicker chair over to sit in next to the couch, "If they're still harassing that family, then something's got to be done about it. That's not right for them to go around attacking people like that, with no consequence."
Tahmores*Others
"It's become a personal battle, as I understand it," Tahmores confirmed with a nod, thinking back over the few things that Conan had told him about his life and the threat the CS had always posed. "You may remember the gang that used to have rule over this city before the Cryptic Silvers came... one called Brushfire. Conan's two older brothers headed it - and they were both killed when the CS decided they wanted the power here. Every one of them was wiped out; years later, the Zelkoviis became aware that there were two more Carlyle brothers... Conan and Raimi. At first, they took Raimi as a symbol of power - after conquering Brushfire, they held one of the last living members under their sway, free to educate him as they wanted to... and to use him as a tool to draw Conan out where they could put an end to him. It was all gang-related, at first... but it got personal when Laurence got attached to Raimi. Or so I understand."
Martha & Others
Some of this was new information for Martha, and some of it was old. The Brushfire gang she did know of, but like the CrypticSilvers, their affairs never impacted her or her family until now, and it was only the threat of violence at the schools and with the friends that John might hang out with that she ever worried about. Until Mark's death, she had never had any trouble with her son with any shady activities, but now all of that was changed. "Laurence, was he one of the kids who attacked you today?" She could put a face to that name, if only because the young man was as bold as James about letting people know very clearly who he was and what he represented. Whether it was wise or not, Martha was trying to compile a list of names and people, for whatever good that would do her.
Tahmores*Others
Tahmores was nodding again, and the way his ears perked now and then indicated that Brother was listening intently to the conversation, even though he couldn't understand the words. "He was - and there were two others with him. A young fellow I recognized, but whose name I don't know... and this older man who looked completely out of place with them in a gang setting. He was probably a few years older than you." Without names to give her, that was all he could tell her that would help, though at least Martha, like the whole rest of the town, knew Lanny well enough by face and reputation to be able to identify him, if worse came to worse. "That was all there were, though - they probably figured three against one was pretty good odds. They didn't account for Ayxi being able to fetch Raven and Conan so fast, or the fact that Conan's a deadshot with those guns of his."
Martha & Others
Martha put her mind to work over the descriptions she was given, but there were so many people in the town, and her knowledge of who was in the gang and who wasn't simply wasn't good enough for her to pick out the individuals Tahmores spoke of. "That kid is always in trouble for something." Since it was Lanny that she at least knew, it was him that she focused on. His name was in the paper every now and then, either for some scuffle or another, or something related to drinking - although she had noticed that the past few months he'd been surprisingly vacant from the arrests and citations list. "I'd like to invite Conan and that family of his over here for a while, if they are still hiding out. I just don't think that family is capable enough to protect themselves, and I'd hate to think of what would happen to either of those brothers if they were caught by the gang again."
Tahmores*Others
"He is driven more by emotion than by order," the young man answered, still scrubbing Brother's ears in comfort even though the wolf had long since stopped whining. "That much, at least, I learned in the short time that I was forced to become acquainted with him. He has the capacity for order and command, but allows his personal feelings to override it, from time to time. And that is when he gets into trouble." Of course Conan was a different, but equally complicated matter, and Tahmores shifted his weight - though very carefully - in accordance to how the topic was shifting. "I do not know whether they still are hiding or not; I do not know where they are, or where they went when they vacated the trailer so abruptly. I know where I would go, in his place, but I have dared not go there, for fear of giving them away if they are there. One thing I do know, however, is that Summer and Collin will listen to Conan; they do not believe in weapons, but they are not fools - they know that he has more knowledge of the CS than they do, and more experience at surviving. If they have returned home, it is only because he has deemed it safe."
Martha & Others
"You really think he's attached to Conan's brother? I thought he has a daughter of his own now." Rumors had spread pretty well throughout the town now, with almost all believing that Raine was indeed the daughter of Lanny and Cassidy; thank goodness that mother had the same color of hair as the baby's true father, or people might suspect the truth of the matter. "If he really is after that boy, it would explain why he went so far as to attack you. Unless it's more about pride and domination, which I wouldn't put past him." That made sense to her anyway; she doubted the Zelkovii's would tolerate anything 'stolen' from them without sufficient retaliation. "Conan does seem like a resourceful kid at least, which is almost a shame that he's had to be that way. I've got half a mind to take a stand against these local gangs; what they do behind the scenes is bad enough, but it's really crossing the line once they start going after children like that."
Tahmores*Others
"And Raimi to him, I suspect," Tahmores confirmed with a nod, even as he lowered his voice in a curious way, almost as though he didn't want to be overheard even though it was only the dogs who were listening. Of course, that little judgment was based entirely on what Conan's manner had conferred, when they'd 'discussed' the Lanny/Raimi issue via pen and paper - the teen hadn't really deigned to comment about whether Lanny's feelings for the toddler were shared. "He does have a daughter now... I'm not very sure of the circumstances. Nor do I understand why he would continue to go after Conan's little brother, with a young one of his own to take care of. The only conclusion I can come up with is that he is very attached to Raimi, indeed. Which I believe explains very much why he attacked me - because we have taken care of Raimi, he sees us not only as a way to locate Conan in order to draw him out, but a way to get Raimi back for himself."
Martha & Others
The woman didn't know enough about the young co-lead to understand that he really did care for Raimi, and that the child wasn't just a simple possession or sign of status and domination over their defeated rivals, but she did trust in Tahmores' judgment. "If he is that motivated to get him back, then we've got to be proactive about defending ourselves. For starters, I think it would help if you carried a cellphone with you. A handgun wouldn't hurt either." Martha definitely was a great contrast to Summer, though it was almost to be expected after watching her husband die, and having herself and her son savaged by wolves, along with countless pets and livestock.
Tahmores*Others
The cellphone, Tahmores didn't have a problem with - after all, it could be a handy tool, as long as he wasn't staying with wild wolves that might be alarmed by the noise. But a gun... well. "I have never learned to use a firearm. Wolves fear them invariably... they most often call them the 'devil's firesticks'. It's kind of a belief that it's some kind of evil human magic." It wasn't exactly a refusal to carry the weapon - certainly, he would do so if it would make Martha feel better about his safety - but it was definitely a statement that said he wasn't really comfortable with the idea. "I have my bow... I have not practiced in some time, but it could not take long to regain my old skill with it. Besides... I think that Laurence is not altogether comfortable with arrows; he cursed most vibrantly when Ravenwing began to shoot."
Martha & Others
Martha hadn't thought about what carrying a gun would mean for the wolves that Tahmores socialized with. Now that it was brought up, she could understand how toting around a firearm could cause some anxiety in the animals, and she didn't want to compromise his relationship with any of them. "You should hone your skills with the bow then. I'll guarantee most of them aren't familiar with that weapon, and if Laurence is made uncomfortable by it, maybe it'll make him think twice about going after you again. There's still a few bales of hay out in the east field you can practice on."
Tahmores*Others
"Once you again deem it acceptable for me to stand, I will see about taking it up more thoroughly," Tahmores answered, subtly indicating with his words that he wasn't going to fight with her about the rest she said he'd need. Whether or not he agreed with her assessment, the point was moot - he wasn't going to upset her by getting about on his feet until she was assured enough of his health that she was no longer afraid of it. "I'm sure that Raven would be all too glad to teach me more... Isn't that so, then?" Peering inside as he heard the wolf boy's voice, the older man gave Tah a quizzical look, and he responded by translating the query into Blackfeather so that Raven would understand it. When he was done, Raven nodded, pretty well indicating his full agreement, and said a few brief words that caused Tahmores to laugh out loud, and Karai nearby to jump a little from the noise. "Raven says that he will teach me to hit a pin-sized mark on the side of a tree... instead of missing the tree altogether. I don't think that he thinks much of my skills." That was a comment made all in good nature though - of all his rather unusual skills, shooting just hadn't been one he'd had the opportunity to cultivate much; it would take time, but he was an astute student, and would learn quickly and well. And hopefully, that would prevent any further shenanigans involving the CS.