Post by Pavane on Dec 12, 2011 4:14:27 GMT -5
Ikuna - male adolescent wolf
Hadir - male wolf pup
Tala - female adolescent wolf
---Hilltop Vista---
The adolescents of Ute have returned from their unauthorized trip, no problems at all. It's like they never left. The question now is who noticed, and what they'll think. Just in case what they think is that it was a problem, Ikuna has gone out hunting for real and caught a rabbit as... well, not a peace offering, exactly, but something to put the pack in a better mood and maybe be part of an apology if one is needed. He pads toward the hill with it dangling from his jaws.
Hadir hasn't left of course and has been spending time around the den with his sister. His sister is now asleep, but this pup his still awake. At least for the present moment. He has played it rather low key all day. He feels tired, but isn't yet ready to crash for the night. Though if his mother shows up she will likely force him back to the den. He blinks when he notes the arrival of the other wolf. Just like Asku this wolf is a 'not father.' He was able to get yesterday from Asku that at least the 'not fathers' of the pack didn't really mean any harm. He offers his uncle a small yip. The grownups seem to like that sort of thing. At least he has found it gets a reaction.
Ikuna turns his head to peer at the source of the yip. Huh. It's one of those puppies. He supposes something has changed while he's been gone after all, because now the little things are out of the den. The adolescent glances from side to side to check for anyone else awake... nope, just him and the pup... and then pads over to set down the rabbit, licking his muzzle clean as he carefully approaches Hadir. "Uh. Hey."
Hadir watches Ikuna with interest. This wolf is different from Asku. They all look different. Of course his mother and father look different too, but when your whole world consists of two adults and your two sisters its really strange when it continues to expand. He turns his head to the side and for the time being makes no sounds he just watches him. This one doesn't make as many sounds as the one last night made, or that his mother and father make too him. Maybe they don't all do that? That is odd.
This would be the first time Ikuna has seen a puppy - well, since he was one himself, but back then hardly counts! - and he's not entirely sure what to do about it. He comes closer, and then lowers his forequarters slowly before plopping his butt down, still watching Hadir curiously. After a few moments, he speaks. "So you're Skahla's kid, huh?" The son of his brother... and of the alpha. Now that's a lot to think about.
Hadir doesn't really know anything about pack structure or anything like that. He knows there certainly is a contest for dominance among his siblings. A fight that he mostly stays out of. Since he is the only boy he is sort of in a privleged position. He simply knows Skahla as dad, while he doesn't have a word for it yet he knows who his parents are because they have been there for him. The pup continues to say nothing, but just watch the other wolf, shifting his head to tilt in the other direction. Asku spoke many words, this wolf speaks so few. Perhaps if he made many sounds he would get this wolf to say more words so he does the only sensible thing to do. He offers three or four small barks to his uncle.
Ikuna perks his ears up at Hadir's response, and he grins a bit and thumps the ground with his tail a couple times. Yeah, okay. It's not like this little guy has the answer to any of those questions. Ikuna replies with a wordless wuff, his voice deeper than puppy-barking.
Hadir blinks when he hears the wuff. That was unexpected. Mostly the adults make word sounds, they don't generally do that. His ears perk forward and he turns his head to one side again. This one doens't follow any of the established patterns of behavior. Very odd.
That's Ikuna, breaking the rules. He's such a rebel. For... certain values of rebelliousness. He chuckles softly at the boy's confusion, and then reaches out one paw toward him. "Yeah, you're just a pup. That's okay. You'll figure it all out eventually."
Hadir doesn't really know about how to break the rules or anything like that. No one has really explained anything to him, nor would he understand if they did. He just knows that he loves his mother and his father and thats about it. Life is pretty simple when you are a pup. Though for Hadir some things aren't simple, but he doesn't really know that yet either. He is still blissfully unaware of the incident from the other evening and how much he had scared Asku. After all the seizure didn't really hurt, it was just like falling asleep except different. He assumes things like that happen to everyone. He continues to watch the other wolf seeing what he will do. When he puts his paw out Hadir extends his own paw. It all boils down to simple imitation. That is how the young ones learn.
Ikuna hasn't heard the slightest thing about that, having been away. He didn't even know the pups were out of the den yet! So he grins when Hadir extends a paw, and then... he taps his own paw against the dirt, three - count them, three! - times.
Hadir watches his paw move up and down and tap against the ground...thats like the coolest thing he has ever seen. He lifts his own paw and taps it on the ground. Though he doesn't stop at three he just sort of keeps going. Yeah this game is cool. Dirt is good.
Okay, so apparently that's a hit. Ikuna chuckles, and watches the pup batting the ground for a bit... then demonstrates something different. If you angle your paw when you hit the ground, and sort of tug against it, you can /dig/. See how the dirt moves?
Whoa...Ikuna is like a genius or something. He can move things around. Wow. He might have to stick close to this guy he has all the answers. He stops banging on the dirt for a moment and watches Ikuna carefully. Hmmmm...how to do that. He lifts his paw and moves it against the dirt and pulls his paw toward himself again. He sees that he made a bit of an indentation in the dirt as well. He yips excitedly. This is amazing. Why didn't that other wolf show him that yesterday. Ikuna might not talk much, but he knows things, and he is willing to share this knowledge.
Ikuna was slow to talk when he was a pup. Tala was pretty much speaking full sentences by the time he got to his first couple words. Didn't seem to do him any harm, so he's not too worried about chattering away to the youngster. Hadir will get it, sooner or later. He does a few more lazy pawswipes of digging, watching with a smile as Hadir explores. Yaydirt! Also, a little beetlebug that was hiding underground.
Hadir offers a few more yips as he digs in the dirt excitedly. This is the most fun that he has had all day. Which is very cool. He takes a few more swipes at the dirt and then he notices something. He stops pawing at the dirt for a moment to pay attention to it. It starts as a feeling of tightness in his chest that spreads a bit down his legs. Ouch. This doesn't feel good at all. Its accompanied by a feeling of overwhealming tiredness. But he doesn't want to sleep now. He didn't feel tired a moment ago..what gives. He exhales sharply and breathes back in just as sharply offering a small whine.
While Ikuna doesn't know what's wrong, he can definitely see that something's wrong. He stops his digging, and when the pup whines, he stretches that paw out to touch Hadir's side lightly. "Hey, okay. Digging's done now." His voice is gentle. "Come on..." He rolls over to flop on his side, seeing if the pup will copy him to relax. He's probably just overexcited, right?
Hadir is overexcited yes, and that is just the tip of the iceburg at the moment. Little does Ikuna know just how serious the situation is. No one knows really. What Ikuna is witnessing right now is the event that will in all liklihood take his life some day. He rolls over onto his side. The pain and tightness in his chest continue. His limbs feel all tingly and the tightness in his chest makes it difficult to breathe. His breaths become more shallow, but never actually come to a stop. The whine continues. Where is his mother? He wants his mom. His dad would do too, but he really wants his mom. Mom's can fix anything.
There is no mother to be found. Or father, either! Ikuna knows, because he's looked. This way and that way, and no sign of them. Nor of any other adult who might be able to help. The adol lets out a half-voiced whine himself, and then scoots a little closer, starting to gently lick at the little pup's head and shoulders with little encouraging wurfs. He doesn't know what else to do!
Hadir isn't exactly afraid. After all he has no understanding of death or anything like that. If he had been born as a dog that was being cared for by a human he would have likely been put down. And indeed it might be a bit kinder if he were to pass away right now. Life is going to be hard for this little pup on so many different levels. There are going to be many things that he simply can't do that he will want to do very badly because his sisters will get to do it. If he lives long enough he will see them get to go off on hunts and play games and have to sit out. Not fair! However, for whatever reason, tonight is not his night to go. The tightness in his chest subsides and he feels more able to breathe again. The feeling of being overwhelmingly tired remains though. He is thankful for the presence of the other wolf. At least he wasn't alone. It wasn't his mother, but he knows that this wolf cares. He stops whining but doesn't really move either. His eyes remain open though.
Ikuna keeps up the licks and gentle nuzzles. Something is definitely not right, but he has no idea what else to do. At least the pup seems to have calmed down a little, and those breaths sound like they're easier. Not whimpering is a good sign, right? That and, you know, continuing to breathe. "Okay. You're gonna be okay, right?" he asks softly, nosing the pup. Not that he expects an answer, but hey.
Hadir doesn't really have the energy to offer any sort of meaningful response. That drained him and there is nothing more to be done than to close his eyes and fall quickly to sleep. He doesn't ever want to have that happen again. That was painful and very uncomfortable, and unfortunately for the pup one of the most low level things that given his condition can happen to him. He simply got over excited and his heart couldn't keep up. There are worse things that could happen...far worse. Of course no one knows that yet. And likely won't unless someone with some sort of knowledge can assist them. Right now Asku and Ikuna are the only ones that likely know anything is up, unless of course Asku managed to get the message to his mother.
Well. Hadir doesn't seem to be in pain anymore, at least. Ikuna keeps up the nosings and licks as the pup drifts off to sleep. He can do that, at least... even if he still doesn't understand anything of what's really going on. It's a mess, that's for sure.
*** Next Day ***
Ikuna is in his thinking spot. His thinking spot, as it turns out, is atop a small boulder on a quiet face of the hill. He's there because he's thinking, staring out into the forest as he does and twitching an ear when he hears something from there or around the den.
Tala is making her way along the path, a yawn escaping her in the process. Yes she just woke up, she does tend to sleep alot but then growing wolves will do that! Her ears perk as she glances one way and then another before catching her brothers scent and moves on towards where he happens to be. "Hey Ikuna.. What you doing?"
Sleep a lot, eat a lot. Yep, that's how it goes! Ikuna perks his ears up at Tala's voice, and turns to offer her a smile and a bit of a shrug. "Just thinking. About what that Cerulean beta said, about those pups of Skahla's... that sort of thing." He stands up, and gives himself a little shake, then jumps down off the rock. "What's up?"
Tala tilts her head and peers at Ikuna curiously. "What did the beta say about the pups?" Seems she can't recall the conversation. A shrug is seen and she plunks down to her haunches. "Not a lot.. Just was wandering around looking for you and Ahiga."
Ikuna shakes his head. "Not about the pups." Not exactly, anyway. "About how someone becomes an alpha." Which does link the two back together, since Skahla's the alpha and those there are his pups. The male sighs, and shakes his head. "I'm not sure where Ahiga is. Probably off hunting."
Tala ohs at this, a ear twitching forward a moment. "Well.." She pauses before going on. "Wouldn't one of Skahla's pups be in line for that or something.. I mean his alpha after all." A soft oh escapes her and she nods. "Most likely."
Ikuna nods, but he frowns a bit as he does so. "There's something wrong," he says after another moment with his thoughts. "With one of the pups. The boy. He's... he doesn't smell sick, exactly, but he smells funny. And he was acting all hurt, when I couldn't see nothin' wrong."
Tala blinks at this, a frown seen. "That's not good.." She offers softly at the thought. "Does Skahla know about it?"
"I don't know," says Ikuna. "I haven't seen him to tell him, but... it's his pup." And Skahla did hang around the den a lot, being protective of Shawnee. Surely the two of them would have noticed something wrong... right? Ikuna sighs. "Maybe he'll grow out of it. Or maybe it's normal." What does he know about puppies, anyway?
Tala hums and nods slightly, her maw twitching while she glances back to the den. "Well.. Maybe he will... But I dono. I dono a lot about pups after all." She points out.
Ikuna nods his agreement. "Me either." Whatever is going on, they're certainly not going to solve it now. "Anyway. Other than that, it's been pretty quiet since we got back."
Tala nods at this, her maw twitching. "Ya it has been.." She glances over the area, ears perking before looking back to Ikuna. "Did you want to go for a hunt or something? Been itching to do /something/ all day."
Ikuna hehs, and stretches. "Yeah. Let's do it." His thinking spot can carry on thinking without him. It's not like he's been making any real progress or coming to any conclusions.
Tala grins and nods, her tail swaying about and she bounces on her paws a moment before starting to trot off. "I caught some deer tracks a ways off."
Ikuna trots after Tala, nodding. "Sounds like a good start! Let's see what we can find." It's good to set thoughts and worries aside and stretch his legs for a run. Everything's better with a good chase and something hot and fresh to eat, and it's a nice day for it, spring shading into summer but not yet too hot.
Tala grins and nods while she trots along heading back towards the trail she found not to long ago. "I dono if we're be able to find a sick or injured deer.. But its a thought."
"Yeah," says Ikuna, and then paces along in silence for a few moments. If the sick and injured are meant to be taken by wolves... what does that mean for sick and injured wolves? It's a troubling thought, and one that will have to be dealt with - later. He shakes his head a bit, and lowers his head to sniff at the ground as they approach the trail, then lift it to test the breeze. "Seems pretty recent..."
Tala sniffs over the breeze slightly, ears perking forward as her gaze turns to the south and she tilts her head. "I think it went this way." She offers before starting to trot on that way.
Ikuna nods, but he hesitates for a moment. "Yeah, but..." His nose twitches again, testing for scents. "There's something else." He can smell the deer-trail going away, but there's another deer much closer, it seems. He pads a bit closer, looking about the underbrush as he looks for what it is he smells.
Tala hums and glances over curiously. "What you smell?" She questions while troting on over towards Ikuna and sniffing around curiously in the bushes herself.
Ikuna pads slowly along, sniffing as he does. He seems to be approaching a certain thicket gradually... and there's definitely a deer-like smell there. Not quite the sort of deer they're used to chasing, though. It smells... well, younger. It is to deer what the pups are to wolves, not that Ikuna has quite figured that out yet.
Tala hums softly and her ears flick forward at the scent. "It sort a smells like a deer." She offers while snuffling along and bushing some leaves and branches to the side.
"Yeah," agrees Ikuna softly, and pads quietly closer until he sticks his muzzle in among the branches and sees... a gawky, long-legged little fawn nestled on the soft grass. In looks the wolf, and the young deer looks back at him with wide baby eyes. Neither moves.
Tala looks over to Ikuna and blinks at the form of a little deer? "What.. is that..?" She questions while snuffling out at the little deer. "It looks like a little deer.. Wonder if its a baby.."
Staring contest, go! "Uh," says Ikuna. "I think it is." The fawn lets out a worried bleat, too young to actually talk, and the wolf's ears flick. He breaks off the staring to glance at his sister. "It... those tracks are probably, uh... the mom..." Because surely she wouldn't leave her baby behind, would she?
Tala blinks a faint oh escaping her and she hums while settling down to her haunches. "Well.. maybe its gona come back?" She quesitons with a lick across her maw. "Maybe we should leave it alone?"
The little fawn bleats again, and Ikuna shuffles one paw against the ground. "Yeah." This definitely doesn't sound like the sort of prey they're supposed to be going after... and he thinks he can hear the sound of approaching hooves. Not that they can't take down a deer, but he already feels guilty about disturbing it! He's not gonna go and kill this little fawn /or/ its mama. So he turns around in the other direction from the approaching parents. "Let's go."
Tala blinks and erks at the approaching hooves and is quick to get on her paws and move back the way they came. "Looks like mom and dad are coming back fast.." She offers with a worried tone.
Ikuna doesn't answer, because he doesn't need to - they can smell the scent of the returning deer, the fear and anger on her. The hooves slow as they approach where the fawn, and so the adolescent wolves make the most of their getaway, stretching their legs until the sound and scent fade behind them. Once they're some way off, Ikuna starts to slow down.
Tala errs as she catches sight of the mother and keeps on running until she is sure the rather mad mother isn't still following. "Woah.. that could have been bad.."
Ikuna turns, and looks back behind them. Nobody following, of course - the mother's fawn is safe, she's not about to go running after wolves. "For everyone," he says. Fewer deer in the future for them to eat if they had killed the fawn, injured wolves if the mother had gotten them, a poor starving fawn if they'd gone after the mother in the first place... hunting is complicated sometimes.
Tala nods slightly while she glances back slightly before troting onwards. A half yawn escaping her in the process. "You still want to go track something else?"
Ikuna shakes himself out as he runs, and ponders on the question for a few paces. "Well. We know what that smells like, now..." Surely there's a limit to how much trouble they can encounter on a hunting trip right? ... well, actually, Ikuna is pretty sure the answer to that is 'no, no limit,' because things can always get worse. Still... "One more try."
Tala nods while her tail flicks and she starts to trot along once more. "So.. Lets stay away from that smell if we can. Rather not have to run away from momma deer again. Or.. daddy deer for that matter." She offers with ana mused tone.
Ikuna laughs, and then he hmms. "I think that's most every deer, though. Don't they all try for babies? That... heat stuff. And the rut Asku talked about. If there's one baby deer... there are probably lots of others, just... hiding."
Tala ears perk and she giggles out. "Yes.. I guess so.." She offers while glancing over to Ikuna. "Good point." She offers with a few flicks of her tail as she bounces along.
Deer, deer, everywhere, and none they want to chase... hmm. Ikuna runs along in silence for a few moments. "I suppose there must be some deer we can still hunt." Only Skahla and Shawnee had pups, after all. "We just gotta be careful. Find the right ones, the sick and the injured..."
Tala nods while she runs along a few steps behind or in front of Ikuna every now and then. "Well.. I'm sure there is one or two around that are sick or old.. I mean they can't all be healty can they?" She questions with a glance over to her brother.
"No. They can't be," answers Ikuna, and then his thoughts go to that pup of Skahla's. They can't all be healthy. He frowns as he runs along, and then he catches a scent on the breeze. This is no deer, that's for sure. It's no wolf, either... and yet it seems familiar to him somehow. That frown deepens.
Tala grins after a moment. "Bet I'll find the next deer!" She offers before putting on a burst of speed and races off ahead of her brother, an onwards towards where that new scent is coming from.. Not that she is giving it much attention mind you!
Ikuna's steps slow as he tries to figure out just what this musky scent could be, and Tala shoots past him easily. Not deer. Not wolf. Not hare or fox or skunk... no, it's not any of those. It's... "Tala!" he calls out as the memory strikes him, and lunges back into quick motion after her. "Hold up!"
It's a wolverine, is what it is. A shaggy mess of ill-kempt fur, trundling along at a helter-skelter pace that shouldn't be nearly so fast as it somehow manages to be. The scowl on its face looks like a permanent feature, and it's paying no attention at all to its surroundings. Wolves? Pfeh. Who cares!
Tala glances back towards Ikuna and tibbits at him. "What?.. No way!" She calls out with a laugh as she races onwards heading right towards the wolverine in question.. It takes her a moment to spot the animal and she blinks skidding to a stop and sadly /can't/ stop in time.. Instead she smacks right into the wolverine and goes tail over nose and winds up behind the animal in the process.. Oh.. dear..
Nooooo! Ikuna redoubles his efforts to catch up with Tala, but he's too late. He manages to burst into view just in time for her to go slamming into it and flipping right over the creature. The smell is worse up close, a musk that beats you over the head with itself, and the wolverine itself isn't gonna win any beauty pageants.
Wolverines are amazingly solid creatures, low to the ground and compact. The thing doesn't even wobble when Tala smacks into it. It does, however, notice. It also growls, a low and angry sound as it turns toward the downed wolf. "Ain't got no respect you don't..."
Tala blinks a moment and then again while she peers upside down at the wolverine. A faint ah escaping her and she swallows before scrambling up to her paws. "Oh.. I'm.. I'm sorry.." She offers, ears lowered as she peers at the animal she basically bowled right into. A unsure glance is sent towards her brother before she looks back to the wolverine.
Not good news. Oh, wolverines are not good news. Not that any of those creatures who kept him captive were good news, but at least the bird and cat were sometimes nice. The wolverine was just plain vicious, with no reason or excuse. Ikuna doesn't /know/ that this one is the same, but he's not much inclined toward being trusting right now. He's got a worried look on his face, staring at the creature's shaggy rear and looking anxiously to his sister.
"Sorry, are you?" snarls the wolverine. "I oughta make you sorry. Here's me, minding my own bizness, and you come along like you got a right to the place. Ain't your forest, wolf!" It swaggers closer to Tala, and its breath is nearly as bad as its musk.
Tala swallows at this while eyeing the wolverine. "Well.. Actually.. I live here.. So.. I sorta do have a right to it.." She offers while her ears flick back, her tail lashing a few times. "An I said I was sorry.. It was an accident." This said with a firmer tone. Her whiskers basicly curl at the smell of his breath, and she coughs out at the burning feeling within her nose. Ewwww.
Ikuna can't just let this wolverine threaten his sister! He takes a deep breath - ooh, bad idea. He takes a shallow breath through his mouth instead of his nose, then steps forward. "Then go about your business," he says, trying to sound all authority-like and commanding. Come onnnn...
"Hah!" says the wolverine. "Typical wolf. Thinkin' you're better'n us. Us what are the real doers round here, not you bleedin' wolves with your prissy packs. You know what they call a lone wolf? Huh?" It glares at Tala, then back to Ikuna behind. "Dead, 'at's what!" It laughs, and half-turns to stare at Ikuna, not seeming to care in the slightest about being surrounded. "I will when I'm ready, you mange-ridden son of a dog. You ain't'a bossa me."
Tala glares at the wolverine, a faint growl escaping her. "Hey!.. You gotta lota nerve saying that here on our lands.." She states while taking a half step forward, her hackles raised and tail lashing about madly.
Yeah, clearly Ikuna doesn't have the trick of it. No voice of command for him! Yeah, admittedly, wolverine is like the toughest thing to use it on ever, but it should have at least done something, right? The young wolf would really rather not get into a fight with this thing, but he can't very well leave his sister to deal with it alone, and so he adds his growl to hers, a warning sound. "You're alone. I've fought wolverines before, and seen them dead. Go about your business." All true, only the fighting part was ineffectual, and the dead part was after two wolves fought it and it got smashed under a tree, but... details!
"Yer right I do, girly," snarls the wolverine to Tala. "I ain't scared'a you. Either of you, ya overgrown pups!" It glares back at Ikuna. Claims of bravery aside, at least it isn't attacking either of them... yet. Well, except for the smell.
Tala glowers at the wolverine, her fangs bare for a moment while a faint snarp escapes her. "You ain't scared of us.. I can smell the fear on you.." An other things that make her want to gag that is. "I said I was sorry.. Get over yourself stinky."
Ikuna stares back at the wolverine, body tensed and head carried low. He doesn't want to fight, but he will. Words are one thing, but nobody gets away with threatening his pack. "Go. We won't pursue you," he says to the wolverine, still trying that whole 'amicable solution' thingy.
The wolverine snarls, and then it charges for Tala with teeth bared. For such a bulky thing, it moves with an amazing amount of speed, seeming to practically twist around inside its skin as it lunges for her with snapping jaws!
Tala wasn't fully expecting the wolverine to actually come charging at her, eyes widen at the sight of jaws snapping a her. She yelps out at the snapping jaws snag hold of her, and her own jaws go to try and bite down against the wolverine's face in some type of angle.. Well.. they was suppose to go hunting not get hunted!
The not pursuing was if, well, the wolverine actually left. Attacking his sister? Not cool! Ikuna growls and lunges at the shaggy thing, chomping down at the loose fur of its neck and trying to pull it away from Tala before it can hurt her.
It's actually laughing. The wolverine's teeth prick at Tala's fur as it gives its head a back-and-forth shake, making it hard for her teeth to do more than scrape against the thick and matted fur. What has it even been rolling around in? Ikuna has better luck, catching at its nape, and it growls as it lets go of Tala and twists back toward the male, the fur loose as a fur coat two sizes too big.
Tala yelps out again as the thing shakes her about, its teeth pushing into her fur more and leaving a good amount of nasty gashes in its wake it would seem. Once the wolverine lets go she scrambles backwards a few steps and grunts out while eyeing the animal. With her brother jumping in the fight she lunges back into it and snaps out at the wolverine's side this time..
What is this thing, a rabid weasel inside the skin of a bear? Yeah, pretty much! Ikuna growls, trying to keep a grip on the wolverine and dodge it as it starts going after him instead. It gets a few mouthfuls of his fur, and then manages to snap jaws around one of his legs and leave a few nasty-looking scratches there. Oh, man, with the way his breath smells, what're the odds of that getting infected? Not good. Ikuna tugs at the creature, trying to keep it from getting another chance to go at either of them.
The wolverine snarls, wielding teeth and claws indiscriminately at the two wolves. It's in a frenzy, not seeming to care who it injures or how - so long as there's pain and blood involved. Tala's jaws bite down as it wrenches itself to the side to try and escape Ikuna, and so she gets a big mouthful of matted fur... and blood as she breaks the skin.
Several yelps escapes Tala as the claws rip into her chest, her right shoulder already bleeding from its jaws, another set of claws catch her across her neck before she is able to pull herself back enough to escape. As her jaws find blood she gives it a good hard yank to one side and then another much like a made dog with a bone..
Ikuna feels like his jaws are going to get ripped right off, the way that wolverine keeps jerking itself about, and Tala's yanking as she finds a grip only makes it harder. His teeth start to slide away, and then he chomps down, trying to get a grip once more before it manages to give him a bite to go with all those clawmarks.
The wolverine snarls, trying to twist around and get at Tala as she tears open its side, but Ikuna's grip means it only snaps at the air with those jaws. Clack. It growls, and then as Ikuna's jaws loosen for a moment, it yanks itself to the side, trying to pull away from Tala by throwing its weight around and roll against Ikuna's legs.
Tala grunts and grimaces a few times as the wolverine pulls and slams into her over and over. Talk about being sore in the morning, she'll be lucky that she is even able to walk! As the wolverine yanks forward her jaws are dragged through the animals skin and soon he is free and she does a face plant right into the ground. A half yelp/grunt escaping her in the process.
There's a wolverine, and it's coming right for him! Ikuna does a weird dance called the trying-to-avoid-falling-or-exposing-his-underbelly tango, something like jumping and something like climbing and something like stumbling. It only sort of works, because he gets a swipe of the wolverine's claws across his belly that makes him yelp, but at least the teeth don't get a chance to clamp down.
Enough, the wolverine decides, is enough. It continues the roll right past Ikuna - not that it isn't gleeful about the chance to do some damage along the way - and then gets to its feet as the two wolves are still stumbling about. "Useless! Pansy-footed no-good.... wolves!" it snarls, and snorts a laugh before it starts to lope off at that strange-gaited run - bleeding as it goes, but still as arrogant as ever.
Tala is scrambling back to her paws to try and get back at the wolverine it seems. Her tail lashes a few times in the process and she sputters out. As the wolverine takes off she doesn't chase after him. She growls out after him before looking to Ikuna and moves over to him. "Ikuna.. Ikuna! Are you alright?" Is questioned quickly, blood drips from her jaws that was from the wolverine, but her own wounds are somewhat bloody at the moment.
Ikuna stumbles around to face the wolverine, only to find it retreating. They've won the day, it seems... or at least survived it. The adrenaline of the fight drains out of him, and he finds himself a little wobbly on his paws. Standing. Yes. Standing good. Bleeding... not so good. "Ow," he says, then turns to look at his sister. Oooh, she doesn't look good at all. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Are you...?"
Tala gaze snaps around, checking to make sure the wolverine doesn't come back it would seem. As for her own wounds the sting of them is starting to be noticed and she winces while shifting on her paws. Her shoulder is gashed open from the bite wound, and there'splenty of other claw wounds across her form. She swallows a moment, ears lowering. "Ya.. I'll be alright.." She murmurs out softly while shifting on three paws. She'll worry about herself when they get home. "We should get back to the den though."
Ikuna lets out a sigh of relief, and nods to Tala. "Yeah. We should." To lick their wounds in safety... not to mention be ready if that wolverine tries something else around there! He starts in that direction, along the shortest path toward home - which is not exactly the way they came, since they circled around while hunting. After a few steps, he stops suddenly, staring. A clump of grass has been trampled down, and it's spattered with streaks of drying blood. The source of that blood lies in the center of it - a fawn, no larger than the other they found. This one lies dead, body torn apart and gouged into pieces. Mutilated, half-eaten... and everywhere the foul, musky scent of wolverine.
Tala nods slightly while she slowly moves to follow along after Ikuna, her head lowered and ears back. Her wounds starting to ache with the more moveing she is doing. She continues on quietly, ears twitching forward and back a few times while she snuffles a moment. When Ikuna pauses she does as well and blinks as she catches sight of the dead fawn, her maw opens at the sight and she frowns while her ears slick back against her skull. "Why.. Why would it do that?.. I thought one was suppose to hunt the sick and injured, the old.." The injured sorta like them at the moment..
"I don't know," answers Ikuna slowly. "I don't know why." He stares at it for a long moment, as though if he looks long enough he can understand why some animals do bad things. Eventually, he simply shakes his head. "That's our rule. We're Ute. We have rules to help us be good wolves. Not everyone does. Not everyone cares." He pulls his gaze away from the maimed fawn, and looks at his sister. "But we care."
Tala is quiet as she listens to her brother, still her gaze rests on the dead fawn watching it as if expecting it to jump up and run off, but she knows that won't happen. Her head turns away, eyes closing tight for a few moments and she snuffles a moment before looking back to her brother. "I sometimes wonder if that's enough.." She murmurs out softly as she starts to limp forward once more.
Ikuna looks a final time at the dead fawn, and then he goes after Tala. "Maybe it isn't," he says, his tone quiet and serious. "We might fail, but we have to try. We can't give up. We can't forget. If we don't care, then... we turn into that." He jerks his head back behind them. "Even if I fail, if I'm dead because of it... I'd rather be a dead Ute wolf that tried than that, alive and well."
Tala ears lower as she listens to her brother, a slow nod seen. "I know Ikuna.. An I do agree with you." She offers while looking over to her brother. "I'm proud to be a Ute wolf.. You know that. An I've never given up at anything yet." She offers with a soft grunt escaping her while she limps along.
"I know," says Ikuna with a nod for his sister, and smiles. "I'm glad." That said, he walks along in silence for a while, going back home at the slow pace their wounds demand. Not exactly what they planned when they set out on this hunt. Things don't always go according to plan.
Tala smiles slightly as she hears Ikuna, her tail sways a moment while she takes in a soft breath and nods. Catching sight of the den she is rather happy to say the least. "You know there going to bed mad at us i'm sure.." Seeing how they are coming home all battered after all.
Ikuna chuckles softly. "Maybe. But what are they going to do? Make us stick around the den and heal up?" He offers a grin to her. Besides, it's not like they went looking for trouble, it just found them. While the others may be mad, it'll be more from worry than for anything the adolescents actually did wrong. Ikuna can deal with a few lectures.
Tala ears perk a moment and she smirks, her tail swaying a few times. "Well.. You do have a point there." She offers softly while shifting closer to the den. A glance is offered over the area before she moves over to her spot and slowly settles down with a grimace escaping her in the process.
Hadir pokes his nose out of the den. Yes there is movement out there. Its the 'not father' from the other night. He remembers him. The one who is with him, however, is rather unfamiliar. She's different. She is the first 'not mother' that he has met. The arrival of the pair causes a certain amount of curiosity. He wanders out of the den and offers a squeek.
Ikuna pads along with Tala and settles down nearby, wincing as he does. "Should get these things clean..." he says, and leans his head down to lick at one of the slashes on his foreleg, then lifts it up again at the sound of a squeak. He locates Hadir, and smiles. "Hey, pup," he says, then gives his injuries another lick.
Tala nods slightly and takes in a faint breath. "Ya. I suppose we should get them cleaned up. No telling what that thing as been rolling in." She works on trying to clean a wound but pauses and peers towards the squeak. "Hey there little one.."
Hadir begins to wander over closer to the pair of them so that he can get a good look. He doesn't really realize they are something of a mess right now. For all he knows thats how you are supposed to look sometimes. They do, however, have a different smell about them. It kinda sticks to be honest. And the smell of blood is never really all that pleasent to smell either. He offers them a little "Yip."
Ikuna snorts at Tala's comment, and nods. "Don't know, don't want to." He works his tongue over the injuries, washing them. At least the two have been bleeding the right amount - not so much as to make them feel faint, but enough to clean out the wounds. He tilts his head at the pup's yip, and wurfs back softly.
Tala hums faintly and nods while she works on grooming across her wounds a bit more and soon flops upon her left side. She peers at her nephew and lets out a soft yip back to him.
Hadir seems to have gotten the attention of the pair of them at least. Thats good. What pup doesn't like to be the center of attention. He lifts his paw and bats the ground as he had done with Ikuna the other evening. Not in an over the top way or anything, but just to show him that he knows.
Ikuna nods sagely to Hadir, and replies with a tap of his own leg. Then he winces, because that was the leg with the wolverine scratches. Ow. He lowers his head and licks it again with some determination, then settles back again. He glances over to his sister, then leans over to lick at one of the injuries on her upper shoulder she's going to have a hard time reaching.
Tala peers tiredly over at Ikuna at the tap of his paw and then glances over to Ikuna. "What.. does that suppose to mean?" She winces at her shoulder is licked, she can't reach the bite wound.
Hadir can't really talk to tell Tala what it means, he will leave that to Ikuna. He lays down on his stomach and watches the two wolves closely. In response he begins to lick at his foreleg. Imitating them. He is something of a copy cat at the moment.
"Just a thing I did," answers Ikuna with a chuckle. "Like the silly stuff Chewy used to do for us. I guess he remembered." He works on cleaning out that bite as best he can, despite how it makes Tala wince - better a little pain now than an infection later. Once he's gotten it dealt with, Ikuna looks back to the puppy copying them, and sighs. "He's the one who seems sick. Like I was telling you."
Tala grimaces, her ears lowering slightly. "Oh.." She offers softly with a faint snuffle escaping her and takes in a faint breath. "What does he do that makes you think his sick.. Other then that?"
Hadir doesn't know anything about being sick. He does, however, remember the pain from the other evening. That was most unpleasant. He had awakened outside the den later in the evening and when he did he went back in to be closer to his mother. He didn't like that feeling one bit. He continues to lick his forepaws. It doens't seem to really do much other than to get slobber on your legs. He wonders why they would do it. Still grownups know best.
"Well," says Ikuna, and sighs. "I was playing with him... and he just sort of... started to whine. Like he was hurting bad, and he got all shivery and like he wasn't breathing right. And he sort of stayed like that for a while."
Tala blinks and opens a eye to peer over at Ikuna. "That.. doesn't sound good.." She offers with a soft tone.
It isn't...it really isn't. But there is also nothing that can be done about it. His fate was sort of sealed from the moment he was born, probably before that even. Still at the moment he is a very happy little pup. He lifts his head from the licking, which no longer interests them and gives a little bark at the pair of them. Ikuna didn't say much yesterday, he appears to make sounds at this other wolf. Perhaps you only makes sounds at a few others? Who knows. The world is all brand new and strange.
Ikuna sighs, and shakes his head. At the happy bark from Hadir, he looks over and smiles a little. "Yeah," he says, and considers a moment. Pup seems happy now. Almost... excited. Just like he was... Hurm. "It sorta seemed to happen when he got too excited. Like... you know how you get after you run really hard 'cause you're racing or something? Like you can't breathe and you're gonna explode from it? It looked sorta like that, only way worse... and just from playing around and... and digging a bit."
Tala frowns at this and peers over at the pup a few moments. "That's not good.. I mean.. I don't think there suppose to do that." She knows nothing about puppies and she use to be one not that long ago!
Hadir doesn't know much of anything. He now knows how to dig a bit, and walk, and bark and make a few noises. The sounds the others make are very interesting too him. Doubtless he will work on talking next. That will be most amusing for him and likely for the others. He wags his tail as he watches them. Yep they are very interesting.
Ikuna doesn't need to know about puppies to know they're not supposed to randomly be in pain! He's pretty sure he'd remember /that/ from his own vague memories of puphood. "No, they're not. Something's wrong with him." He sighs, and tilts his head toward the youngster. "But you're Ute, aren't you? So you're still gonna try."
Tala peers over at Hadir, her ears twitching and she nods to Ikuna. "Ya.. His Ute wolf, he'll pull through better then any other I'm sure."
Hadir isn't really 'sick' in the sense of having a virus or a bacteria or anything like that. His difficulties run considerably deeper than that and probably can't be fixed. Perhaps they can be adjusted but thats about it. He definitely is an Ute wolf. He has absolutely no idea what that means yet, but doubtless he will if he continues to survive. He realizes that Ikuna is talking to him and he offers him a smile and a yip. Yep. I have no idea what you said but its cool that you are paying attention to me.
Ikuna smiles, and nods. Yeah, that's right. Hadir may not understand a single word he says... yet. He will when he's older, and Ikuna will tell him the same thing then... if he survives. Being an Ute wolf means trying. It doesn't mean you always succeed. Sometimes, you try as hard as you can, and you still fail, and you still die. But you /try/.
Tala tail sways a few times while she shifts and curls up somewhat, a yawn escaping her for a moment. She leans close to Ikuna and snuffles out softly. "I'm gona get some sleep.." She murmurs out softly, already starting to doze off once the words leave her mouth.
Hadir certainly is going to try. He will do his best. He isn't one to give up easily and some day he will doubtless show that to the others. He watches Tala as she falls asleep. There just seem to be new folks added to his world all the time. Crazy. He wonders how many of them there are.
Ikuna leans back against Tala with a smile as she drifts off to sleep. They've survived another day! Reason enough to be happy. For now, he relaxes, watching Hadir quietly. The pup's problematic reaction to excitement aside, Ikuna is too worn out to be very energetic right now.
Hadir isn't really into being energetic anyway. He lowers his head to his paws and closes his eyes. Quickly he falls asleep.
Ikuna may not be in his thinking spot, but this place here, surrounded by his sleeping packmates, is nearly as good. He lowers his head to his paws, resting and thinking about the day for a while until he, too, drifts off into sleep.
Hadir - male wolf pup
Tala - female adolescent wolf
---Hilltop Vista---
The adolescents of Ute have returned from their unauthorized trip, no problems at all. It's like they never left. The question now is who noticed, and what they'll think. Just in case what they think is that it was a problem, Ikuna has gone out hunting for real and caught a rabbit as... well, not a peace offering, exactly, but something to put the pack in a better mood and maybe be part of an apology if one is needed. He pads toward the hill with it dangling from his jaws.
Hadir hasn't left of course and has been spending time around the den with his sister. His sister is now asleep, but this pup his still awake. At least for the present moment. He has played it rather low key all day. He feels tired, but isn't yet ready to crash for the night. Though if his mother shows up she will likely force him back to the den. He blinks when he notes the arrival of the other wolf. Just like Asku this wolf is a 'not father.' He was able to get yesterday from Asku that at least the 'not fathers' of the pack didn't really mean any harm. He offers his uncle a small yip. The grownups seem to like that sort of thing. At least he has found it gets a reaction.
Ikuna turns his head to peer at the source of the yip. Huh. It's one of those puppies. He supposes something has changed while he's been gone after all, because now the little things are out of the den. The adolescent glances from side to side to check for anyone else awake... nope, just him and the pup... and then pads over to set down the rabbit, licking his muzzle clean as he carefully approaches Hadir. "Uh. Hey."
Hadir watches Ikuna with interest. This wolf is different from Asku. They all look different. Of course his mother and father look different too, but when your whole world consists of two adults and your two sisters its really strange when it continues to expand. He turns his head to the side and for the time being makes no sounds he just watches him. This one doesn't make as many sounds as the one last night made, or that his mother and father make too him. Maybe they don't all do that? That is odd.
This would be the first time Ikuna has seen a puppy - well, since he was one himself, but back then hardly counts! - and he's not entirely sure what to do about it. He comes closer, and then lowers his forequarters slowly before plopping his butt down, still watching Hadir curiously. After a few moments, he speaks. "So you're Skahla's kid, huh?" The son of his brother... and of the alpha. Now that's a lot to think about.
Hadir doesn't really know anything about pack structure or anything like that. He knows there certainly is a contest for dominance among his siblings. A fight that he mostly stays out of. Since he is the only boy he is sort of in a privleged position. He simply knows Skahla as dad, while he doesn't have a word for it yet he knows who his parents are because they have been there for him. The pup continues to say nothing, but just watch the other wolf, shifting his head to tilt in the other direction. Asku spoke many words, this wolf speaks so few. Perhaps if he made many sounds he would get this wolf to say more words so he does the only sensible thing to do. He offers three or four small barks to his uncle.
Ikuna perks his ears up at Hadir's response, and he grins a bit and thumps the ground with his tail a couple times. Yeah, okay. It's not like this little guy has the answer to any of those questions. Ikuna replies with a wordless wuff, his voice deeper than puppy-barking.
Hadir blinks when he hears the wuff. That was unexpected. Mostly the adults make word sounds, they don't generally do that. His ears perk forward and he turns his head to one side again. This one doens't follow any of the established patterns of behavior. Very odd.
That's Ikuna, breaking the rules. He's such a rebel. For... certain values of rebelliousness. He chuckles softly at the boy's confusion, and then reaches out one paw toward him. "Yeah, you're just a pup. That's okay. You'll figure it all out eventually."
Hadir doesn't really know about how to break the rules or anything like that. No one has really explained anything to him, nor would he understand if they did. He just knows that he loves his mother and his father and thats about it. Life is pretty simple when you are a pup. Though for Hadir some things aren't simple, but he doesn't really know that yet either. He is still blissfully unaware of the incident from the other evening and how much he had scared Asku. After all the seizure didn't really hurt, it was just like falling asleep except different. He assumes things like that happen to everyone. He continues to watch the other wolf seeing what he will do. When he puts his paw out Hadir extends his own paw. It all boils down to simple imitation. That is how the young ones learn.
Ikuna hasn't heard the slightest thing about that, having been away. He didn't even know the pups were out of the den yet! So he grins when Hadir extends a paw, and then... he taps his own paw against the dirt, three - count them, three! - times.
Hadir watches his paw move up and down and tap against the ground...thats like the coolest thing he has ever seen. He lifts his own paw and taps it on the ground. Though he doesn't stop at three he just sort of keeps going. Yeah this game is cool. Dirt is good.
Okay, so apparently that's a hit. Ikuna chuckles, and watches the pup batting the ground for a bit... then demonstrates something different. If you angle your paw when you hit the ground, and sort of tug against it, you can /dig/. See how the dirt moves?
Whoa...Ikuna is like a genius or something. He can move things around. Wow. He might have to stick close to this guy he has all the answers. He stops banging on the dirt for a moment and watches Ikuna carefully. Hmmmm...how to do that. He lifts his paw and moves it against the dirt and pulls his paw toward himself again. He sees that he made a bit of an indentation in the dirt as well. He yips excitedly. This is amazing. Why didn't that other wolf show him that yesterday. Ikuna might not talk much, but he knows things, and he is willing to share this knowledge.
Ikuna was slow to talk when he was a pup. Tala was pretty much speaking full sentences by the time he got to his first couple words. Didn't seem to do him any harm, so he's not too worried about chattering away to the youngster. Hadir will get it, sooner or later. He does a few more lazy pawswipes of digging, watching with a smile as Hadir explores. Yaydirt! Also, a little beetlebug that was hiding underground.
Hadir offers a few more yips as he digs in the dirt excitedly. This is the most fun that he has had all day. Which is very cool. He takes a few more swipes at the dirt and then he notices something. He stops pawing at the dirt for a moment to pay attention to it. It starts as a feeling of tightness in his chest that spreads a bit down his legs. Ouch. This doesn't feel good at all. Its accompanied by a feeling of overwhealming tiredness. But he doesn't want to sleep now. He didn't feel tired a moment ago..what gives. He exhales sharply and breathes back in just as sharply offering a small whine.
While Ikuna doesn't know what's wrong, he can definitely see that something's wrong. He stops his digging, and when the pup whines, he stretches that paw out to touch Hadir's side lightly. "Hey, okay. Digging's done now." His voice is gentle. "Come on..." He rolls over to flop on his side, seeing if the pup will copy him to relax. He's probably just overexcited, right?
Hadir is overexcited yes, and that is just the tip of the iceburg at the moment. Little does Ikuna know just how serious the situation is. No one knows really. What Ikuna is witnessing right now is the event that will in all liklihood take his life some day. He rolls over onto his side. The pain and tightness in his chest continue. His limbs feel all tingly and the tightness in his chest makes it difficult to breathe. His breaths become more shallow, but never actually come to a stop. The whine continues. Where is his mother? He wants his mom. His dad would do too, but he really wants his mom. Mom's can fix anything.
There is no mother to be found. Or father, either! Ikuna knows, because he's looked. This way and that way, and no sign of them. Nor of any other adult who might be able to help. The adol lets out a half-voiced whine himself, and then scoots a little closer, starting to gently lick at the little pup's head and shoulders with little encouraging wurfs. He doesn't know what else to do!
Hadir isn't exactly afraid. After all he has no understanding of death or anything like that. If he had been born as a dog that was being cared for by a human he would have likely been put down. And indeed it might be a bit kinder if he were to pass away right now. Life is going to be hard for this little pup on so many different levels. There are going to be many things that he simply can't do that he will want to do very badly because his sisters will get to do it. If he lives long enough he will see them get to go off on hunts and play games and have to sit out. Not fair! However, for whatever reason, tonight is not his night to go. The tightness in his chest subsides and he feels more able to breathe again. The feeling of being overwhelmingly tired remains though. He is thankful for the presence of the other wolf. At least he wasn't alone. It wasn't his mother, but he knows that this wolf cares. He stops whining but doesn't really move either. His eyes remain open though.
Ikuna keeps up the licks and gentle nuzzles. Something is definitely not right, but he has no idea what else to do. At least the pup seems to have calmed down a little, and those breaths sound like they're easier. Not whimpering is a good sign, right? That and, you know, continuing to breathe. "Okay. You're gonna be okay, right?" he asks softly, nosing the pup. Not that he expects an answer, but hey.
Hadir doesn't really have the energy to offer any sort of meaningful response. That drained him and there is nothing more to be done than to close his eyes and fall quickly to sleep. He doesn't ever want to have that happen again. That was painful and very uncomfortable, and unfortunately for the pup one of the most low level things that given his condition can happen to him. He simply got over excited and his heart couldn't keep up. There are worse things that could happen...far worse. Of course no one knows that yet. And likely won't unless someone with some sort of knowledge can assist them. Right now Asku and Ikuna are the only ones that likely know anything is up, unless of course Asku managed to get the message to his mother.
Well. Hadir doesn't seem to be in pain anymore, at least. Ikuna keeps up the nosings and licks as the pup drifts off to sleep. He can do that, at least... even if he still doesn't understand anything of what's really going on. It's a mess, that's for sure.
*** Next Day ***
Ikuna is in his thinking spot. His thinking spot, as it turns out, is atop a small boulder on a quiet face of the hill. He's there because he's thinking, staring out into the forest as he does and twitching an ear when he hears something from there or around the den.
Tala is making her way along the path, a yawn escaping her in the process. Yes she just woke up, she does tend to sleep alot but then growing wolves will do that! Her ears perk as she glances one way and then another before catching her brothers scent and moves on towards where he happens to be. "Hey Ikuna.. What you doing?"
Sleep a lot, eat a lot. Yep, that's how it goes! Ikuna perks his ears up at Tala's voice, and turns to offer her a smile and a bit of a shrug. "Just thinking. About what that Cerulean beta said, about those pups of Skahla's... that sort of thing." He stands up, and gives himself a little shake, then jumps down off the rock. "What's up?"
Tala tilts her head and peers at Ikuna curiously. "What did the beta say about the pups?" Seems she can't recall the conversation. A shrug is seen and she plunks down to her haunches. "Not a lot.. Just was wandering around looking for you and Ahiga."
Ikuna shakes his head. "Not about the pups." Not exactly, anyway. "About how someone becomes an alpha." Which does link the two back together, since Skahla's the alpha and those there are his pups. The male sighs, and shakes his head. "I'm not sure where Ahiga is. Probably off hunting."
Tala ohs at this, a ear twitching forward a moment. "Well.." She pauses before going on. "Wouldn't one of Skahla's pups be in line for that or something.. I mean his alpha after all." A soft oh escapes her and she nods. "Most likely."
Ikuna nods, but he frowns a bit as he does so. "There's something wrong," he says after another moment with his thoughts. "With one of the pups. The boy. He's... he doesn't smell sick, exactly, but he smells funny. And he was acting all hurt, when I couldn't see nothin' wrong."
Tala blinks at this, a frown seen. "That's not good.." She offers softly at the thought. "Does Skahla know about it?"
"I don't know," says Ikuna. "I haven't seen him to tell him, but... it's his pup." And Skahla did hang around the den a lot, being protective of Shawnee. Surely the two of them would have noticed something wrong... right? Ikuna sighs. "Maybe he'll grow out of it. Or maybe it's normal." What does he know about puppies, anyway?
Tala hums and nods slightly, her maw twitching while she glances back to the den. "Well.. Maybe he will... But I dono. I dono a lot about pups after all." She points out.
Ikuna nods his agreement. "Me either." Whatever is going on, they're certainly not going to solve it now. "Anyway. Other than that, it's been pretty quiet since we got back."
Tala nods at this, her maw twitching. "Ya it has been.." She glances over the area, ears perking before looking back to Ikuna. "Did you want to go for a hunt or something? Been itching to do /something/ all day."
Ikuna hehs, and stretches. "Yeah. Let's do it." His thinking spot can carry on thinking without him. It's not like he's been making any real progress or coming to any conclusions.
Tala grins and nods, her tail swaying about and she bounces on her paws a moment before starting to trot off. "I caught some deer tracks a ways off."
Ikuna trots after Tala, nodding. "Sounds like a good start! Let's see what we can find." It's good to set thoughts and worries aside and stretch his legs for a run. Everything's better with a good chase and something hot and fresh to eat, and it's a nice day for it, spring shading into summer but not yet too hot.
Tala grins and nods while she trots along heading back towards the trail she found not to long ago. "I dono if we're be able to find a sick or injured deer.. But its a thought."
"Yeah," says Ikuna, and then paces along in silence for a few moments. If the sick and injured are meant to be taken by wolves... what does that mean for sick and injured wolves? It's a troubling thought, and one that will have to be dealt with - later. He shakes his head a bit, and lowers his head to sniff at the ground as they approach the trail, then lift it to test the breeze. "Seems pretty recent..."
Tala sniffs over the breeze slightly, ears perking forward as her gaze turns to the south and she tilts her head. "I think it went this way." She offers before starting to trot on that way.
Ikuna nods, but he hesitates for a moment. "Yeah, but..." His nose twitches again, testing for scents. "There's something else." He can smell the deer-trail going away, but there's another deer much closer, it seems. He pads a bit closer, looking about the underbrush as he looks for what it is he smells.
Tala hums and glances over curiously. "What you smell?" She questions while troting on over towards Ikuna and sniffing around curiously in the bushes herself.
Ikuna pads slowly along, sniffing as he does. He seems to be approaching a certain thicket gradually... and there's definitely a deer-like smell there. Not quite the sort of deer they're used to chasing, though. It smells... well, younger. It is to deer what the pups are to wolves, not that Ikuna has quite figured that out yet.
Tala hums softly and her ears flick forward at the scent. "It sort a smells like a deer." She offers while snuffling along and bushing some leaves and branches to the side.
"Yeah," agrees Ikuna softly, and pads quietly closer until he sticks his muzzle in among the branches and sees... a gawky, long-legged little fawn nestled on the soft grass. In looks the wolf, and the young deer looks back at him with wide baby eyes. Neither moves.
Tala looks over to Ikuna and blinks at the form of a little deer? "What.. is that..?" She questions while snuffling out at the little deer. "It looks like a little deer.. Wonder if its a baby.."
Staring contest, go! "Uh," says Ikuna. "I think it is." The fawn lets out a worried bleat, too young to actually talk, and the wolf's ears flick. He breaks off the staring to glance at his sister. "It... those tracks are probably, uh... the mom..." Because surely she wouldn't leave her baby behind, would she?
Tala blinks a faint oh escaping her and she hums while settling down to her haunches. "Well.. maybe its gona come back?" She quesitons with a lick across her maw. "Maybe we should leave it alone?"
The little fawn bleats again, and Ikuna shuffles one paw against the ground. "Yeah." This definitely doesn't sound like the sort of prey they're supposed to be going after... and he thinks he can hear the sound of approaching hooves. Not that they can't take down a deer, but he already feels guilty about disturbing it! He's not gonna go and kill this little fawn /or/ its mama. So he turns around in the other direction from the approaching parents. "Let's go."
Tala blinks and erks at the approaching hooves and is quick to get on her paws and move back the way they came. "Looks like mom and dad are coming back fast.." She offers with a worried tone.
Ikuna doesn't answer, because he doesn't need to - they can smell the scent of the returning deer, the fear and anger on her. The hooves slow as they approach where the fawn, and so the adolescent wolves make the most of their getaway, stretching their legs until the sound and scent fade behind them. Once they're some way off, Ikuna starts to slow down.
Tala errs as she catches sight of the mother and keeps on running until she is sure the rather mad mother isn't still following. "Woah.. that could have been bad.."
Ikuna turns, and looks back behind them. Nobody following, of course - the mother's fawn is safe, she's not about to go running after wolves. "For everyone," he says. Fewer deer in the future for them to eat if they had killed the fawn, injured wolves if the mother had gotten them, a poor starving fawn if they'd gone after the mother in the first place... hunting is complicated sometimes.
Tala nods slightly while she glances back slightly before troting onwards. A half yawn escaping her in the process. "You still want to go track something else?"
Ikuna shakes himself out as he runs, and ponders on the question for a few paces. "Well. We know what that smells like, now..." Surely there's a limit to how much trouble they can encounter on a hunting trip right? ... well, actually, Ikuna is pretty sure the answer to that is 'no, no limit,' because things can always get worse. Still... "One more try."
Tala nods while her tail flicks and she starts to trot along once more. "So.. Lets stay away from that smell if we can. Rather not have to run away from momma deer again. Or.. daddy deer for that matter." She offers with ana mused tone.
Ikuna laughs, and then he hmms. "I think that's most every deer, though. Don't they all try for babies? That... heat stuff. And the rut Asku talked about. If there's one baby deer... there are probably lots of others, just... hiding."
Tala ears perk and she giggles out. "Yes.. I guess so.." She offers while glancing over to Ikuna. "Good point." She offers with a few flicks of her tail as she bounces along.
Deer, deer, everywhere, and none they want to chase... hmm. Ikuna runs along in silence for a few moments. "I suppose there must be some deer we can still hunt." Only Skahla and Shawnee had pups, after all. "We just gotta be careful. Find the right ones, the sick and the injured..."
Tala nods while she runs along a few steps behind or in front of Ikuna every now and then. "Well.. I'm sure there is one or two around that are sick or old.. I mean they can't all be healty can they?" She questions with a glance over to her brother.
"No. They can't be," answers Ikuna, and then his thoughts go to that pup of Skahla's. They can't all be healthy. He frowns as he runs along, and then he catches a scent on the breeze. This is no deer, that's for sure. It's no wolf, either... and yet it seems familiar to him somehow. That frown deepens.
Tala grins after a moment. "Bet I'll find the next deer!" She offers before putting on a burst of speed and races off ahead of her brother, an onwards towards where that new scent is coming from.. Not that she is giving it much attention mind you!
Ikuna's steps slow as he tries to figure out just what this musky scent could be, and Tala shoots past him easily. Not deer. Not wolf. Not hare or fox or skunk... no, it's not any of those. It's... "Tala!" he calls out as the memory strikes him, and lunges back into quick motion after her. "Hold up!"
It's a wolverine, is what it is. A shaggy mess of ill-kempt fur, trundling along at a helter-skelter pace that shouldn't be nearly so fast as it somehow manages to be. The scowl on its face looks like a permanent feature, and it's paying no attention at all to its surroundings. Wolves? Pfeh. Who cares!
Tala glances back towards Ikuna and tibbits at him. "What?.. No way!" She calls out with a laugh as she races onwards heading right towards the wolverine in question.. It takes her a moment to spot the animal and she blinks skidding to a stop and sadly /can't/ stop in time.. Instead she smacks right into the wolverine and goes tail over nose and winds up behind the animal in the process.. Oh.. dear..
Nooooo! Ikuna redoubles his efforts to catch up with Tala, but he's too late. He manages to burst into view just in time for her to go slamming into it and flipping right over the creature. The smell is worse up close, a musk that beats you over the head with itself, and the wolverine itself isn't gonna win any beauty pageants.
Wolverines are amazingly solid creatures, low to the ground and compact. The thing doesn't even wobble when Tala smacks into it. It does, however, notice. It also growls, a low and angry sound as it turns toward the downed wolf. "Ain't got no respect you don't..."
Tala blinks a moment and then again while she peers upside down at the wolverine. A faint ah escaping her and she swallows before scrambling up to her paws. "Oh.. I'm.. I'm sorry.." She offers, ears lowered as she peers at the animal she basically bowled right into. A unsure glance is sent towards her brother before she looks back to the wolverine.
Not good news. Oh, wolverines are not good news. Not that any of those creatures who kept him captive were good news, but at least the bird and cat were sometimes nice. The wolverine was just plain vicious, with no reason or excuse. Ikuna doesn't /know/ that this one is the same, but he's not much inclined toward being trusting right now. He's got a worried look on his face, staring at the creature's shaggy rear and looking anxiously to his sister.
"Sorry, are you?" snarls the wolverine. "I oughta make you sorry. Here's me, minding my own bizness, and you come along like you got a right to the place. Ain't your forest, wolf!" It swaggers closer to Tala, and its breath is nearly as bad as its musk.
Tala swallows at this while eyeing the wolverine. "Well.. Actually.. I live here.. So.. I sorta do have a right to it.." She offers while her ears flick back, her tail lashing a few times. "An I said I was sorry.. It was an accident." This said with a firmer tone. Her whiskers basicly curl at the smell of his breath, and she coughs out at the burning feeling within her nose. Ewwww.
Ikuna can't just let this wolverine threaten his sister! He takes a deep breath - ooh, bad idea. He takes a shallow breath through his mouth instead of his nose, then steps forward. "Then go about your business," he says, trying to sound all authority-like and commanding. Come onnnn...
"Hah!" says the wolverine. "Typical wolf. Thinkin' you're better'n us. Us what are the real doers round here, not you bleedin' wolves with your prissy packs. You know what they call a lone wolf? Huh?" It glares at Tala, then back to Ikuna behind. "Dead, 'at's what!" It laughs, and half-turns to stare at Ikuna, not seeming to care in the slightest about being surrounded. "I will when I'm ready, you mange-ridden son of a dog. You ain't'a bossa me."
Tala glares at the wolverine, a faint growl escaping her. "Hey!.. You gotta lota nerve saying that here on our lands.." She states while taking a half step forward, her hackles raised and tail lashing about madly.
Yeah, clearly Ikuna doesn't have the trick of it. No voice of command for him! Yeah, admittedly, wolverine is like the toughest thing to use it on ever, but it should have at least done something, right? The young wolf would really rather not get into a fight with this thing, but he can't very well leave his sister to deal with it alone, and so he adds his growl to hers, a warning sound. "You're alone. I've fought wolverines before, and seen them dead. Go about your business." All true, only the fighting part was ineffectual, and the dead part was after two wolves fought it and it got smashed under a tree, but... details!
"Yer right I do, girly," snarls the wolverine to Tala. "I ain't scared'a you. Either of you, ya overgrown pups!" It glares back at Ikuna. Claims of bravery aside, at least it isn't attacking either of them... yet. Well, except for the smell.
Tala glowers at the wolverine, her fangs bare for a moment while a faint snarp escapes her. "You ain't scared of us.. I can smell the fear on you.." An other things that make her want to gag that is. "I said I was sorry.. Get over yourself stinky."
Ikuna stares back at the wolverine, body tensed and head carried low. He doesn't want to fight, but he will. Words are one thing, but nobody gets away with threatening his pack. "Go. We won't pursue you," he says to the wolverine, still trying that whole 'amicable solution' thingy.
The wolverine snarls, and then it charges for Tala with teeth bared. For such a bulky thing, it moves with an amazing amount of speed, seeming to practically twist around inside its skin as it lunges for her with snapping jaws!
Tala wasn't fully expecting the wolverine to actually come charging at her, eyes widen at the sight of jaws snapping a her. She yelps out at the snapping jaws snag hold of her, and her own jaws go to try and bite down against the wolverine's face in some type of angle.. Well.. they was suppose to go hunting not get hunted!
The not pursuing was if, well, the wolverine actually left. Attacking his sister? Not cool! Ikuna growls and lunges at the shaggy thing, chomping down at the loose fur of its neck and trying to pull it away from Tala before it can hurt her.
It's actually laughing. The wolverine's teeth prick at Tala's fur as it gives its head a back-and-forth shake, making it hard for her teeth to do more than scrape against the thick and matted fur. What has it even been rolling around in? Ikuna has better luck, catching at its nape, and it growls as it lets go of Tala and twists back toward the male, the fur loose as a fur coat two sizes too big.
Tala yelps out again as the thing shakes her about, its teeth pushing into her fur more and leaving a good amount of nasty gashes in its wake it would seem. Once the wolverine lets go she scrambles backwards a few steps and grunts out while eyeing the animal. With her brother jumping in the fight she lunges back into it and snaps out at the wolverine's side this time..
What is this thing, a rabid weasel inside the skin of a bear? Yeah, pretty much! Ikuna growls, trying to keep a grip on the wolverine and dodge it as it starts going after him instead. It gets a few mouthfuls of his fur, and then manages to snap jaws around one of his legs and leave a few nasty-looking scratches there. Oh, man, with the way his breath smells, what're the odds of that getting infected? Not good. Ikuna tugs at the creature, trying to keep it from getting another chance to go at either of them.
The wolverine snarls, wielding teeth and claws indiscriminately at the two wolves. It's in a frenzy, not seeming to care who it injures or how - so long as there's pain and blood involved. Tala's jaws bite down as it wrenches itself to the side to try and escape Ikuna, and so she gets a big mouthful of matted fur... and blood as she breaks the skin.
Several yelps escapes Tala as the claws rip into her chest, her right shoulder already bleeding from its jaws, another set of claws catch her across her neck before she is able to pull herself back enough to escape. As her jaws find blood she gives it a good hard yank to one side and then another much like a made dog with a bone..
Ikuna feels like his jaws are going to get ripped right off, the way that wolverine keeps jerking itself about, and Tala's yanking as she finds a grip only makes it harder. His teeth start to slide away, and then he chomps down, trying to get a grip once more before it manages to give him a bite to go with all those clawmarks.
The wolverine snarls, trying to twist around and get at Tala as she tears open its side, but Ikuna's grip means it only snaps at the air with those jaws. Clack. It growls, and then as Ikuna's jaws loosen for a moment, it yanks itself to the side, trying to pull away from Tala by throwing its weight around and roll against Ikuna's legs.
Tala grunts and grimaces a few times as the wolverine pulls and slams into her over and over. Talk about being sore in the morning, she'll be lucky that she is even able to walk! As the wolverine yanks forward her jaws are dragged through the animals skin and soon he is free and she does a face plant right into the ground. A half yelp/grunt escaping her in the process.
There's a wolverine, and it's coming right for him! Ikuna does a weird dance called the trying-to-avoid-falling-or-exposing-his-underbelly tango, something like jumping and something like climbing and something like stumbling. It only sort of works, because he gets a swipe of the wolverine's claws across his belly that makes him yelp, but at least the teeth don't get a chance to clamp down.
Enough, the wolverine decides, is enough. It continues the roll right past Ikuna - not that it isn't gleeful about the chance to do some damage along the way - and then gets to its feet as the two wolves are still stumbling about. "Useless! Pansy-footed no-good.... wolves!" it snarls, and snorts a laugh before it starts to lope off at that strange-gaited run - bleeding as it goes, but still as arrogant as ever.
Tala is scrambling back to her paws to try and get back at the wolverine it seems. Her tail lashes a few times in the process and she sputters out. As the wolverine takes off she doesn't chase after him. She growls out after him before looking to Ikuna and moves over to him. "Ikuna.. Ikuna! Are you alright?" Is questioned quickly, blood drips from her jaws that was from the wolverine, but her own wounds are somewhat bloody at the moment.
Ikuna stumbles around to face the wolverine, only to find it retreating. They've won the day, it seems... or at least survived it. The adrenaline of the fight drains out of him, and he finds himself a little wobbly on his paws. Standing. Yes. Standing good. Bleeding... not so good. "Ow," he says, then turns to look at his sister. Oooh, she doesn't look good at all. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Are you...?"
Tala gaze snaps around, checking to make sure the wolverine doesn't come back it would seem. As for her own wounds the sting of them is starting to be noticed and she winces while shifting on her paws. Her shoulder is gashed open from the bite wound, and there'splenty of other claw wounds across her form. She swallows a moment, ears lowering. "Ya.. I'll be alright.." She murmurs out softly while shifting on three paws. She'll worry about herself when they get home. "We should get back to the den though."
Ikuna lets out a sigh of relief, and nods to Tala. "Yeah. We should." To lick their wounds in safety... not to mention be ready if that wolverine tries something else around there! He starts in that direction, along the shortest path toward home - which is not exactly the way they came, since they circled around while hunting. After a few steps, he stops suddenly, staring. A clump of grass has been trampled down, and it's spattered with streaks of drying blood. The source of that blood lies in the center of it - a fawn, no larger than the other they found. This one lies dead, body torn apart and gouged into pieces. Mutilated, half-eaten... and everywhere the foul, musky scent of wolverine.
Tala nods slightly while she slowly moves to follow along after Ikuna, her head lowered and ears back. Her wounds starting to ache with the more moveing she is doing. She continues on quietly, ears twitching forward and back a few times while she snuffles a moment. When Ikuna pauses she does as well and blinks as she catches sight of the dead fawn, her maw opens at the sight and she frowns while her ears slick back against her skull. "Why.. Why would it do that?.. I thought one was suppose to hunt the sick and injured, the old.." The injured sorta like them at the moment..
"I don't know," answers Ikuna slowly. "I don't know why." He stares at it for a long moment, as though if he looks long enough he can understand why some animals do bad things. Eventually, he simply shakes his head. "That's our rule. We're Ute. We have rules to help us be good wolves. Not everyone does. Not everyone cares." He pulls his gaze away from the maimed fawn, and looks at his sister. "But we care."
Tala is quiet as she listens to her brother, still her gaze rests on the dead fawn watching it as if expecting it to jump up and run off, but she knows that won't happen. Her head turns away, eyes closing tight for a few moments and she snuffles a moment before looking back to her brother. "I sometimes wonder if that's enough.." She murmurs out softly as she starts to limp forward once more.
Ikuna looks a final time at the dead fawn, and then he goes after Tala. "Maybe it isn't," he says, his tone quiet and serious. "We might fail, but we have to try. We can't give up. We can't forget. If we don't care, then... we turn into that." He jerks his head back behind them. "Even if I fail, if I'm dead because of it... I'd rather be a dead Ute wolf that tried than that, alive and well."
Tala ears lower as she listens to her brother, a slow nod seen. "I know Ikuna.. An I do agree with you." She offers while looking over to her brother. "I'm proud to be a Ute wolf.. You know that. An I've never given up at anything yet." She offers with a soft grunt escaping her while she limps along.
"I know," says Ikuna with a nod for his sister, and smiles. "I'm glad." That said, he walks along in silence for a while, going back home at the slow pace their wounds demand. Not exactly what they planned when they set out on this hunt. Things don't always go according to plan.
Tala smiles slightly as she hears Ikuna, her tail sways a moment while she takes in a soft breath and nods. Catching sight of the den she is rather happy to say the least. "You know there going to bed mad at us i'm sure.." Seeing how they are coming home all battered after all.
Ikuna chuckles softly. "Maybe. But what are they going to do? Make us stick around the den and heal up?" He offers a grin to her. Besides, it's not like they went looking for trouble, it just found them. While the others may be mad, it'll be more from worry than for anything the adolescents actually did wrong. Ikuna can deal with a few lectures.
Tala ears perk a moment and she smirks, her tail swaying a few times. "Well.. You do have a point there." She offers softly while shifting closer to the den. A glance is offered over the area before she moves over to her spot and slowly settles down with a grimace escaping her in the process.
Hadir pokes his nose out of the den. Yes there is movement out there. Its the 'not father' from the other night. He remembers him. The one who is with him, however, is rather unfamiliar. She's different. She is the first 'not mother' that he has met. The arrival of the pair causes a certain amount of curiosity. He wanders out of the den and offers a squeek.
Ikuna pads along with Tala and settles down nearby, wincing as he does. "Should get these things clean..." he says, and leans his head down to lick at one of the slashes on his foreleg, then lifts it up again at the sound of a squeak. He locates Hadir, and smiles. "Hey, pup," he says, then gives his injuries another lick.
Tala nods slightly and takes in a faint breath. "Ya. I suppose we should get them cleaned up. No telling what that thing as been rolling in." She works on trying to clean a wound but pauses and peers towards the squeak. "Hey there little one.."
Hadir begins to wander over closer to the pair of them so that he can get a good look. He doesn't really realize they are something of a mess right now. For all he knows thats how you are supposed to look sometimes. They do, however, have a different smell about them. It kinda sticks to be honest. And the smell of blood is never really all that pleasent to smell either. He offers them a little "Yip."
Ikuna snorts at Tala's comment, and nods. "Don't know, don't want to." He works his tongue over the injuries, washing them. At least the two have been bleeding the right amount - not so much as to make them feel faint, but enough to clean out the wounds. He tilts his head at the pup's yip, and wurfs back softly.
Tala hums faintly and nods while she works on grooming across her wounds a bit more and soon flops upon her left side. She peers at her nephew and lets out a soft yip back to him.
Hadir seems to have gotten the attention of the pair of them at least. Thats good. What pup doesn't like to be the center of attention. He lifts his paw and bats the ground as he had done with Ikuna the other evening. Not in an over the top way or anything, but just to show him that he knows.
Ikuna nods sagely to Hadir, and replies with a tap of his own leg. Then he winces, because that was the leg with the wolverine scratches. Ow. He lowers his head and licks it again with some determination, then settles back again. He glances over to his sister, then leans over to lick at one of the injuries on her upper shoulder she's going to have a hard time reaching.
Tala peers tiredly over at Ikuna at the tap of his paw and then glances over to Ikuna. "What.. does that suppose to mean?" She winces at her shoulder is licked, she can't reach the bite wound.
Hadir can't really talk to tell Tala what it means, he will leave that to Ikuna. He lays down on his stomach and watches the two wolves closely. In response he begins to lick at his foreleg. Imitating them. He is something of a copy cat at the moment.
"Just a thing I did," answers Ikuna with a chuckle. "Like the silly stuff Chewy used to do for us. I guess he remembered." He works on cleaning out that bite as best he can, despite how it makes Tala wince - better a little pain now than an infection later. Once he's gotten it dealt with, Ikuna looks back to the puppy copying them, and sighs. "He's the one who seems sick. Like I was telling you."
Tala grimaces, her ears lowering slightly. "Oh.." She offers softly with a faint snuffle escaping her and takes in a faint breath. "What does he do that makes you think his sick.. Other then that?"
Hadir doesn't know anything about being sick. He does, however, remember the pain from the other evening. That was most unpleasant. He had awakened outside the den later in the evening and when he did he went back in to be closer to his mother. He didn't like that feeling one bit. He continues to lick his forepaws. It doens't seem to really do much other than to get slobber on your legs. He wonders why they would do it. Still grownups know best.
"Well," says Ikuna, and sighs. "I was playing with him... and he just sort of... started to whine. Like he was hurting bad, and he got all shivery and like he wasn't breathing right. And he sort of stayed like that for a while."
Tala blinks and opens a eye to peer over at Ikuna. "That.. doesn't sound good.." She offers with a soft tone.
It isn't...it really isn't. But there is also nothing that can be done about it. His fate was sort of sealed from the moment he was born, probably before that even. Still at the moment he is a very happy little pup. He lifts his head from the licking, which no longer interests them and gives a little bark at the pair of them. Ikuna didn't say much yesterday, he appears to make sounds at this other wolf. Perhaps you only makes sounds at a few others? Who knows. The world is all brand new and strange.
Ikuna sighs, and shakes his head. At the happy bark from Hadir, he looks over and smiles a little. "Yeah," he says, and considers a moment. Pup seems happy now. Almost... excited. Just like he was... Hurm. "It sorta seemed to happen when he got too excited. Like... you know how you get after you run really hard 'cause you're racing or something? Like you can't breathe and you're gonna explode from it? It looked sorta like that, only way worse... and just from playing around and... and digging a bit."
Tala frowns at this and peers over at the pup a few moments. "That's not good.. I mean.. I don't think there suppose to do that." She knows nothing about puppies and she use to be one not that long ago!
Hadir doesn't know much of anything. He now knows how to dig a bit, and walk, and bark and make a few noises. The sounds the others make are very interesting too him. Doubtless he will work on talking next. That will be most amusing for him and likely for the others. He wags his tail as he watches them. Yep they are very interesting.
Ikuna doesn't need to know about puppies to know they're not supposed to randomly be in pain! He's pretty sure he'd remember /that/ from his own vague memories of puphood. "No, they're not. Something's wrong with him." He sighs, and tilts his head toward the youngster. "But you're Ute, aren't you? So you're still gonna try."
Tala peers over at Hadir, her ears twitching and she nods to Ikuna. "Ya.. His Ute wolf, he'll pull through better then any other I'm sure."
Hadir isn't really 'sick' in the sense of having a virus or a bacteria or anything like that. His difficulties run considerably deeper than that and probably can't be fixed. Perhaps they can be adjusted but thats about it. He definitely is an Ute wolf. He has absolutely no idea what that means yet, but doubtless he will if he continues to survive. He realizes that Ikuna is talking to him and he offers him a smile and a yip. Yep. I have no idea what you said but its cool that you are paying attention to me.
Ikuna smiles, and nods. Yeah, that's right. Hadir may not understand a single word he says... yet. He will when he's older, and Ikuna will tell him the same thing then... if he survives. Being an Ute wolf means trying. It doesn't mean you always succeed. Sometimes, you try as hard as you can, and you still fail, and you still die. But you /try/.
Tala tail sways a few times while she shifts and curls up somewhat, a yawn escaping her for a moment. She leans close to Ikuna and snuffles out softly. "I'm gona get some sleep.." She murmurs out softly, already starting to doze off once the words leave her mouth.
Hadir certainly is going to try. He will do his best. He isn't one to give up easily and some day he will doubtless show that to the others. He watches Tala as she falls asleep. There just seem to be new folks added to his world all the time. Crazy. He wonders how many of them there are.
Ikuna leans back against Tala with a smile as she drifts off to sleep. They've survived another day! Reason enough to be happy. For now, he relaxes, watching Hadir quietly. The pup's problematic reaction to excitement aside, Ikuna is too worn out to be very energetic right now.
Hadir isn't really into being energetic anyway. He lowers his head to his paws and closes his eyes. Quickly he falls asleep.
Ikuna may not be in his thinking spot, but this place here, surrounded by his sleeping packmates, is nearly as good. He lowers his head to his paws, resting and thinking about the day for a while until he, too, drifts off into sleep.