Blackout

Blackout would get his position back one way or another. Being segregated from the pack was not what he wanted but he had no choice if him and megs were to not fight constantly. Megs should just went and started his own pack or storm should of just let Megs have a year or two at the mantle but noo. Now he had to be the one to suffer. It made him a bit mad at Storm. How could he do this to him? He snorted at the thoughts his tail in beta position as he led Hawk to this strange place.

Hawk

Hawk said not a word about the raised tail as he followed his cousin down through the heart of the Valley, moving out of their home and into territories uncharted by the young wolf. At this time of deep winter, the stark contrast between the living forests and the bare, lifeless trees of the Scar weren't as blatantly obvious, but there were signs. Most of the trees here had since shed their smaller branches, leaving behind broken husks of trunks, some with bark clinging on in sloughing chunks from their barren frames. Here and there, small vapors of steam rose in the chilly afternoon air, where underground thermal rifts kept patches of soil warm enough to melt the snow laying on top. And here the scent of decay and fungal growth was pungent and unmistakable.

The silver-gray wolf slowed his steps as the duo found themselves moving deeper into the strange land that had once been a safe haven for moose and other cervid. "Dude.. this place gives me the chills." Hawk murmured as he picked his way carefully along the ground that shifted between frozen and mushy. "Where are we?"

Blackout

He lead the way** I heard others call it the scar** he said

Hawk & *Other*

His gaze roved from the dead and dying trees to the mounds of scraggly currant bushes choked with remnants of cleavers and other creeping plants from the summer. Here and there, defiant locust trees and tenacious mulberry saplings were managing to rise from the decay, but even these hardy specimens looked far from healthy.

"The Scar? Sounds a bit ominous." Hawk commented, while stepping hastily around a thorny branch in his path. He shivered at the thought of getting one of those inches-long spines stuck in his paw! "I wonder why it's like this? It smells... kinda musty. Like not really bad but not pleasant either, you know. Hey wait..." He slowed, tilted his nose into the faint breeze, catching the odor of another wolf. "Do you smell that?"

Indeed, if Blackout strained his keen senses, he would pick up on the aroma of another foreign canine.

Blackout

He stopped as he sniffed ** I do smell it**

Hawk & *Others*

For a moment, Hawk's auds tilted back, not sure if it was wise to follow the trail of an unknown wolf or not. Then again, if he'd avoided all foreign scents, he never would have run into Nyx. Uncertain of what to do, Hawk turned to his superior, "Wha'cha think? Should we follow it, or turn a different way? I don't think we're in anyone's territory, but I've heard there's some aggressive loners out in the Valley."

Blackout

Blackout sniffed again** it's female I think. ** He said if he was right well they needed members and we'll his mind was on finding a mate

Hawk & *Others*

Hawk nodded slowly, "I think you're right." He took a step forward, then stopped and looked to Blackout, waiting to see if Black wanted to pursue the scent or turn back. "I don't think I smell any others on the breeze. But I wonder what they're doing here?" The wolf's auds had perked back up and his mind began to shift away from the unease he felt about the Scar, to curiosity over this unknown wolf.

Blackout

He began to follow the scent. Could be like us exploring or could of been chased from their birth packHE said calmly.

Hawk & *Others*

Hawk fell in line after Blackout, but now his tail was carried a little more uncertainly and his easy-going nature had been replaced by one of heightened caution. He wasn't sure what had him so on edge; was it the thought of running into an aggressive wolf, or was it just this place that made him so uneasy?

Roughly a mile into their trek, the scent that Blackout was following would lead the pair to a muddy patch of ground, where the forlorn frame of a she-wolf was curled against the upturned roots of a fallen tree. The scent of infection hung in the air, and her thin coat was so bedraggled and coated in mud that it was impossible to tell its true color. In fact, the wolfess was curled into such a tight ball, her face buried into her tail, that it was difficult to tell what kind of condition she may be in.

Blackout

Blackout came to a hault as he saw the canine. His tail up and Ridgid. He moved slowly toward her and sniffed at her. **Hello?**

Hawk & *Other*

Hawk crept to a stop beside his cousin and peered across at the curled up ball of mud nestled against the upturned roots of the old tree. He'd almost not even seen her for how well she blended in with the drab surroundings.

The ball of mud shifted, and a long snout suddenly emerged, equally as muddy as the rest of her body. A soft growl ran through her throat, but she didn't make the effort to even stand up yet to face these two strangers, "Leave me be." Her growling words warned, driven more by fear of being attacked than any true aggression on her part.

Blackout

He actually lowered his tail to try to show they were no threat** easy there we aren't going to hurt you** he said

Hawk & *Others*

Hawk continued to follow Black's cue, and lowered his own rigid tail.

The she-wolf's growls slowly died within her chest. Wide, uncertain eyes darted between the two, sizing the pair up as if trying to find truth behind Blackout's statement. Finally, deciding that they weren't here to hurt her, the wolfess spoke, "Sorry It's... been a long few days." She admitted at length, moving slowly to stand up. One front leg was badly swollen, and the scent of infection that came from it was strong.

Blackout

He smelt the infection . I can see that, I am Blackout and this is HawkHe said calmly

Hawk & Waterlily

The wolfess shifted her weight uneasily, trying and failing to find a comfortable position on her three good limbs. "Waterlily." The voice that answered them back sounded tired now that the defensive growls had died away from them, "You must be from around here?"

Hawk could see that the wolfess was still very nervous, so he let his tail sashay from side to side, "We are," His tones carried lightly and with a friendly overture, "From the Aspen Grove pack, to the northwest."

Blackout

Blackout watched her interested in helping her. have you eatten?He asked calmly. Hawk and I can go find a rabbit or something for youHe said.

Hawk & Waterlily

"It's been a few days since I last ate something." Waterlily admitted, shedding more of her reservation around these two. "I would greatly appreciate any help." Her haunches wavered and sank down, too tired to stay standing. A badly swollen foreleg was held slightly off the ground, but she said nothing of it yet.

Hawk looked back to his cousin, dropping his voice to a whisper, "Should we invite her to the pack? She seems to be all alone out here."

Blackout

He watched her and listen to hawk. ** I'll have hawk go see if he can find something after, would you like to come and join our pack? We can help you get healthy**

Hawk & Waterlily

Hawk took his cue and dashed off, trying to scrounge up a meal in this strange, forlorn woodland.

That left Waterlily sitting at the base of the upturned roots, cautious eyes locked on Blackout after they watched the other depart. "You'd accept me into your pack, like this?" There was a note of hope in her voice, buried among the hesitancy. "I'll take you up on your offer, though I'm not sure how much use I'll be in.. this condition."

Blackout

He is alert ** you just need to eat and get some grooming you can heal better in a pack** he said calmly.

Hawk & Waterlily

Some of the tension now began to ride out of her shoulders and tensely held expression. She almost wanted to wag her tail, and might have if she'd felt any better than she did. "Thank you, Blackout." Waterlily forced herself up, taking a hobbling step closer to the male in a show of trust, even if she still felt a little nervous and uncertain about it all. This was her chance to survive, and she had to take it. "I was bitten by some... monster here in the bog, a few days ago. I got away, but I think my leg is getting worse."

Blackout

Blackout watched her. **Well hopefully with a pack to help you it will get better**

Hawk & Waterlily

"I hope so." Waterlily murmured under her breath, holding her foreleg off the ground. Her dry, cracked nose quivered while she took in Blackout's scent, trying to learn what she could of his pack and his general status. He definitely looked bruised up, but otherwise young and healthy, and she wondered what kind of status he held.

It wasn't long before Hawk returned to the group, a limp hare clutched in his jaws. He set this down before Lily and stepped back, tail swishing peacefully behind him. "It's not much, but it should at least fill your belly for now. " And as he watched the wolfess tear into the small meal, he couldn't help but think back to Nyx and feel a mix of conflicting emotions. He adored the curiously colored she-wolf he'd met last summer, but now with Waterlily before him, he couldn't help but foster that renewed desire to have a mate.

Blackout

He watched her. He himself wanted a mate and well he very much was planning on tending to her to win her over. But he also needed to get better so he could put Megatron in his place. Once you finish that and digest a bit we can head to our homeHe said.

Hawk & Waterlily

It didn't take long for Waterlily to finish her meal, crunching through bone, fur, and flesh to consume all but a few scraps of brown and cream hair. She gave the ground a quick sniff over to make sure there were no missed morsels before looking back up at her rescuers with a new light of trust in her once wary eyes. "I'm in your debt, friends." Her tail finally gave a meek wave, its movements sluggish more for her weakened state than anything else. "I'm ready to go."

Hawk beamed, "You'll feel better once your out of this place and back in our lands." He wanted to move closer and give her an assuring nuzzle, or maybe look over that festering leg, but he held back with thoughts of Nyx running through his mind. That, and he could see the way Blackout was eying the female. Was he having similar thoughts? Hawk turned to his cousin, "I'll travel behind us, and make sure nothing follows us out of the bog."

Blackout

He moved to stand beside her.You can lean on me for supportHe said and he looked to Hawk. Okay but don't fall too far behindHe said calmly.

Hawk & Waterlily

"Thank you." She said as she offered a smile at her savior. Waterlily gently leaned her weight against his side, using it to help brace herself as they began to move.

Hawk fell in line behind the pair, his mind a little sullen with the thoughts of not having a mate, but he wouldn't try to swoon this female if Blackout had his eyes on her. Instead, he let his thoughts wonder to what sort of creature had hurt her leg so badly. And once that entertaining his imagination, Hawk kept a closer eye on their surroundings and made sure he didn't fall too far behind the group as they made their way home.