Krush

Waves of white stretched nearly as far as the eye could see, broken here and there by the few solitary trees that managed to take root in the vast prairie system. Winter had set in, and the heaviest snowfall of the season had blanketed the land with nearly a foot of soft, powdery snow. Only the trees and the sturdiest clumps of tall grass managed to withstand the weight of so many ice crystals, breaking the monotony of the freezing landscape.

Krush's pale gray fur almost blended in with it all, if not for the brush of rust-colored guard hairs that lined his ears, cheeks, and tail. His clear blue eyes squinted against the brightness that surrounded him, and he lunged forward with a heave, chest plowing through the deep drift of snow before him. In an instant, the wolfdog disappeared from sight, not realizing the drift had covered a shallow ravine that now sent him toppling forward and down.

"..ack! Oh the joys of winter." Blinking now against the pile of snow that invaded his eyes, Krush shook his head in a futile manner and began to backpedal out of the shallow trap.

Johnnie

To seek hot water beneath cold ice,
Surely it is a great folly-
I have asked grace at a graceless face,
But there is none for my men and me!

Each cold breath burnt Johnnie's heaving chest as he bolted across the plains, nearly losing his balance a few times. Snow was matted into the thick fur that covered his legs. There was a loud clink, clank ringing through the cold air from the chain wrapped around his left horn and attached to a ring pierced through his nose.

As the sound of truck engines faded, the highland bull slowed down to catch his breath. He found himself at the edge of a ravine and came to the realization that he was desperately thirsty. He huffed and puffed, clouds of steam leaving his nose. He made his way down the steep slope and found only ice and slush at the bottom of the ravine. It would have to do. He began lapping it up but soon came down with a brain freeze. He lifted his head and lowed in pain, and in his peripheral vision sighted a wolfdog.

After considering carefully what threat a canine may pose, he made the decision to call out to him. "Hey!" he shouted breathlessly. "Need help?" Being a breed suited to steep, rocky terrain, Johnnie was somewhat of an expert at navigating ravines and ditches. Perhaps, in exchange for aid, this wolfdog could help Johnnie find suitable grazelands...

Selene

Selene was enjoying the snow and low temperatures, with her thick pelt the cold didn't bother her. Her only issue was hunting because of her black coat. Still, she managed just fine and carried a hare in her jaws. It helped that she was long legged and could chase prey down that saw her.

She was making her way back where her family split up to hunt when she scented another canine nearby. The husky-wolf mix paused to let her pale blue eyes look around. Was the newcomer a friend or foe? Definitely make, no doubt about it. Selene was intrigued either way, this could be fun.

Ears pricked, she headed toward where the smell was strongest. Selene didn't have to travel far to find his tracks. She heard his voice before she saw movement, apparently the snow had gave way to lower ground. "Are you okay?" She knew she would possibly startle him, but she saw no harm in that. Her banner wagged a little at the thought of company. Especially someone who wasn't family. Don't get it twisted though, family was everything to her.

Krush

Krush pressed his ears against his head, trying to keep the snow from invading there as they had his eyes, as he continued to scrabble backwards in an awkward angle up the slope he'd so ungracefully tumbled down. With those senses hindered, it was the hybrid's paws that felt the tremble in the earth from the distant vehicle, and then the pounding of hard hooves against the frozen earth. Upon realizing those thumping hooves were headed in his direction, Krush reared up on his hind paws, his head finally popping up out of the snow drift that had engulfed him.

The fleeting thought of filling his belly with bison meat vanished when he realized this was no ill or starving straggler lost from their herd, but a rather vibrant and healthy... bison-looking thing? 'Hey, need help?' To his surprise - and relief - the giant ebony beast seemed more inclined to help rather than hurt him, so Krush replied in like kind, "Heh, yeah, actually. If you could just-"

And then another voice caught his attention, coming from the opposite direction. The wolfdog glanced back, still balancing on his hindpaws to keep his head above the snow. A wagging tail a pretty blue eyes greeted him, and he immediately felt embarrassment creep up in him, for being caught in such a silly predicament. "Oh, me? No harm done, unless you count my pride." Krush offered a sheepish smile. Beneath the snow, his own tail strained to wag against the mountain of powder surrounding it.

Johnnie

Johnnie gave his head a shake so as to get his hair out of his face. It had been cut short by his captors, but it was beginning to reach its natural length again. A blessing and a curse, it was. Now able to see more clearly, he spotted another canine coming towards the ravine. He couldn't say he wasn't a bit uneasy; his experiences with dogs hadn't been all positive. Still, he kept his wits about him even as his heart rate quickened a bit.

Krush's voice drew his attention to the trapped wolfdog again. This wouldn't be an easy task in the slippery snow and frozen earth, but Johnnie wasn't one to deny aid to those in need. "Yeah, hold on, I'll get you out." The bull cautiously made his way through the ravine towards Krush, his horns pushing away stray branches weighed down by the snow and ice. He positioned himself beside the wolfdog and lowered his head and torso down. "Climb on - I'm no mountain goat, but I was bred for this terrain." There was a hint of pride in his voice, breaking through that distant, emotionless, lost-in-thought tone. He kept Selene in sight, and somewhere in the back of his head, he expected history to repeat itself and for these dogs to attack.

Selene

Selene looked to another stranger, who apparently arrived before her. She simply hadn't noticed the large beast right away. His attitude and body language didn't alarm her though. Which is why her own body remained relaxed. "Hello." She greeted Johnnie so as to not be rude.

Her eyes went back to Krush as his attention came to her. She smiled at his response. "No reason for that, but I think your pride is better than your body."

She sat down to wait and see if Johnnie can get Krush out. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She didn't sound threatening, just nice and feminine. It was just her.

Krush

As the bull descended into the ravine with him, shrugging aside the branches and bulldozing through feet of snow with ease, what little inclination Krush had to make a meal out of him was firmly tamped down. It was just as well, for this shaggy black beast was giving him an easy out from the ravine, and the wolfdog was eager to get out of his embarrassing predicament. He leaped up and scrambled onto the cattle's back, crouching low over those broad shoulders and planting one paw directly on Johnnie's head, "Alright, I think I've got it." He said, once his balance was secure.

Now atop Johnnie, Krush flicked his gaze back to the femme, "I guess I have to agree with that." His fangs flashed in a self deprecating grin, and now that his tail was free from the snow, it wagged freely to show not only his gratitude for being lifted out by Johnnie, but his friendliness to this unknown canine. "As long as this fellow can make it up out of this ravine, I think we're good. But thanks, for offering. Oh, my name's Krush by the way."

Johnnie

With Krush safely on his back, Johnnie began the steep ascent. His massive hooves found footing in tree roots and stones embedded in the frozen earth, but not without inherent risk that came with ice. "Hold on. This is slippery." He gritted his teeth as he heaved himself upwards. Each step made his heart race. The terror that he may slip and fall was very real to him, but he didn't let it show.

Stopping to catch his breath - still worn out after his narrow escape - he acknowledged Selene. "Hey. Johnnie. My name is Johnnie." At her offer to help, his ears perked up. "Uh. Yeah, if you could... uhh..." He scanned his immediate vicinity and spotted a tree sturdy enough to support his weight plus the weight of Krush. "...If you could take this chain-" He lowered his head and shook it until enough of the chain fell off of his horn to reach the tree and back again. "-and run it around that tree trunk there. Bring the end back to me. I've got a plan." Who knew that a symbol of captivity and servitude could come in handy?

Selene

Selene watched as the bull came closer to help the other canine out of the ravine. She was careful to be calm, no reason to startle the large animal. It could end up putting them all in danger. Which is also why she backed up a little to give him plenty of space. Her eyes carefully followed the steps Johnnie made. It was dangerous after all, and it was really shocking that he was helping a predator. Maybe the bull would want something in return. Watching Krush balance on top of the grass eater was weird, but it looked to be working. She met the gaze of Krush when he said he agreed to her words. A grin was given in return as her own banner gently swayed. Words caused her ears to prick forward as the canine stranger spoke. "Selene, pleasure to meet you two." She had a name to call the other canine by, Krush. Johnnie, the bull's name, started to address her in how she could help. Now she moved forward, a smile on display, since she was eager to help. Which was a first because they were strangers. Selene grabbed the chain that was attached to the bull. Due to her long legs, she was around the tree and back in no time. Eyes bright and watchful, she approached Johnnie to give him the end. What would he do next?

Krush

His ruddy-tinged ears perked at the clink of a chain unraveling and falling from Johnnie's horn. The thought of humans flashed through his mind, and out of instinct, the wolfdog glanced quickly around him just to assure himself that there were no two-leggers about. Krush was familiar enough with them, spending a good chunk of his time in and around the lower district of Atroe City, but he also had a very healthy respect for the strange, bipedal creatures. "Spent some time with the humans, have ya' Johnnie?" It was a question born out of curiosity rather than ridicule or suspicion. "Heh, I think I see where this is going - good thinking on you, big guy." Krush thumped his tail against the bull as he watched Selene haul the chain around a nearby tree, then double back to Johnnie. He was curious too, and shared this look with the helpful femme.

Johnnie

The hulking beast waited patiently while Selene ran the chain around the tree. It tugged ever so slightly at his horn, which was the only thing keeping it from yanking on his nose. "Sure did." Johnnie nodded in response to Krush's question. "I was bred as a pet but trained as a fighter. Never really liked it so I figured I might as well just... uh... run away. Got tired of hurting others. Making amends where I can. Gonna help everone I can."

"Ah, cheers." Johnnie took the chain in his mouth when Selene offered it to him and put the very end of it under his hoof. Little by little, using the chain as a makeshift winch, he pulled himself up the slippery slope. When he reached to top, he let out a sigh of relief and began to catch his breath. His mouth was a bit roughed up by the chain as evidenced by drops of blood on his lips, but it was nothing time wouldn't heal. He lowered himself to the ground to allow Krush to easily jump off. His stomach growled and he remembered how hungry he was. "Hey... you know where there's some grass? Hay? Grain? Uhhhh... or birds or rodents? I'm famished." He didn't consider that these canines might be unaware that cattle were omnivorous opportunists and would gladly eat a farmer's chicken, leaving the farmer confused as to why his flock kept shrinking.

Selene

Selene watched on with curiosity, wondering if Johnny would give her more instructions. Krush asking about the bull spending time with humans got pricked ears and a low growl. She did not like the two legged creatures. Her and her family were prisoners due to them. A tail wag was given when Johnny finished his story. "It's a good thing too, your help was needed today. You'll also fair well out here." He would be tough to take down due to his history.

She still wasn't sure what the hooved animal was doing. Although Krush seemed to have an idea, she didn't catch on until after he started using his hoof against the chain for balance. It was really smart and would keep them safe on the ice. The tree would be perfect in supporting them. "Easy." She said this more to herself then Johnny as he climbed back up.

She smelled the blood before she saw it on the bull. It wasn't too much, but she knew that it still had to hurt. "Press your mouth to the snow, it will help." At least with the pain for a bit. She said when Johnny laid down to let Krush off. "Umm, we can find you something I'm sure." She was a bit taken back by the mention of him eating meat, but tried not to be obvious. That was a complete fail though. She looked to Krush for his opinion, Selene didn't want to go near humans, but would steal their chickens regardless if need be.

Krush

A low growl from Selene caught Krush's attention. He glanced her way, his gaze questioning, though he didn't outright ask her why the mention of humans triggered such a response. He'd seen what cruelties those creatures could commit, and could only image Selene had good reason not to like them. Heck, even as a pup, before he'd truly encountered the two-leggers, Krush had been told enough stories about them to dampen any desire to get too close to them. Johnnie himself certainly had his fair share of time with the humans, but thankfully had come out of it in good spirits.

It was the bull's good nature and desire to right all the wrongs he'd been forced to commit that now helped Krush out of that awkward predicament. The wolfdog held his balance until Johnnie had himself properly lowered, then sprung off his broad back to land in the soft cushion of snow and matted grass a few feet from Selene. He shook to clear away some of the snow that clung to his winter pelt. "Thank you both, for all your help. I promise, I'm usually not such a klutz." A grin briefly wrinkled his muzzle before he sobered, and twitched his sensitive nose at the tang of blood in the air. It made his stomach growl, and for a fleeting moment, Krush's eyes saw a meal just begging to be felled before him. He blinked and chased that desire away just as quickly as it came up though. The bull was strong, and in otherwise perfect health as far as he could tell. Besides, Johnnie did mention that he was well versed in fighting.

"I don't know so much about hay and grains, unless you want to risk invading the humans' territories. They stock a bunch of dead grasses for their pets over the winter." Krush offered that hesitantly, figuring neither Selene or Johnnie would be excited to get close to the two-leggers. "As far as birds and rodents..." The canine gave pause and tilted his head, "You can sometimes catch the waterbirds off guard at the Marsh. Turkey are pretty common around the lake, too."

Johnnie

Johnnie, taking Selene's suggestion, plunged his nose into the snow. He instantly felt relief, and in no time, the bleeding stopped. "Hey, thanks for that lil' piece of advice." Blissfully unaware of Krush's fleeting vision of him as a steak dinner, Johnnie gave a quick nod to the wolfdog. "Don't mention it." Besides the desire to do good, Johnnie couldn't deny that he saw Krush and Selene as protection against the local wildlife. A bull caught alone among carnivores with less restraint than these two would be a dead bull indeed.

"Waterbirds sound nice..." Johnnie began, but trailed off. "Part of me wants to pay the humans a visit and... 'repay' them for all they've done. But perhaps that's just asking for trouble." Johnnie, being the headstrong beast he was, had no aversion to exacting revenge.

Krush

Krush had to admit, part of him was intrigued by the idea of a bull eating birds and other such meaty little morsels. He knew the local deer did this on occasion, but this was the first time the wolfdog encountered a wild bull wanting to indulge in some extra animal protein, and it had him viewing this ebony behemoth a little differently. His intrigue heightened with Johnnie's cautious desire to revisit the humans, and to that, a slightly devious smile came to the canine's eyes.

"Ahhhh, I gotcha', I gotcha'." His mind began to churn, shifting through all the places he knew that might help the bovine out, but without being too inherently dangerous. After all, he didn't want to discourage Selene from joining them, and certainly didn't want to put her safety in jeopardy by leading them somewhere where the humans were particularly aggressive. "There's a place or two we can visit that should satisfy your taste for bird, and eh, a side of vengeance. It might be safer though-" He looked to Selene now, then switched his eyes back to Johnnie, "-if we waited till dusk. Humans tend to retreat to their dens at night, and they've got pretty horrid vision." That's what his grandfather had explained to him anyway, and so far, Krush found it to be true.