Change Comes Around [Babadook]

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The rain was pouring more heavily than it had for weeks, making the visibility almost non-existent in the cool air alongside the riverbank. One young wolf sat perilously close to the rushing water, which was thick and dark from churned dirt, mint green eyes staring absently into the nothingness. He didn't even seem to notice that his thick fur was drenched and limp, or that his body was trembling lightly from the chill. He didn't notice anything at all, really, so lost he was in his own mind. He'd been sitting that way for well over an hour, not realizing the water was creeping slowly up the banks toward him. Not even the tell-tale rumble across the ground could pull him from his inner thoughts, though it should have been a major red flag of the danger to come. No, it wasn't until the wave of the flash flood was nearly upon him that Fial'hin knew he was in danger, and by then it was too late to avoid it. He yelped as the the dirty water swept his feet from under him and he went tumbling into the quick rush of the river. He coughed, gagged, sputtered as he was thrown between the surface of the river and being dragged under. He couldn't tell up from down, and he was half-drowned by the time he slammed into a fallen tree that was submerged along the bank. He scrabbled along it, trying to get to shore, but he could do nothing but hold on with trembling paws beside the bank to keep from being swept away again. He was too weak to pull himself up and out.

And all he could think was how the day had started off so promising.

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It had been raining heavily for days, but today was the most severe he'd seen it getting, red eyes seemed to glow as they peered from the darkness of his cave, the rather large black wolf watched it coming down in sheets as he pondered whether he should go out. He chuffed to himself before shaking his fur off, trotting out into the downpour, he was somewhat thankful for his unkempt and somewhat oily fur, it at least kept some of the rain from penetrating too deeply, and kept the cold from biting into his bones. He growled deeply as he made his way to the riverbank, hoping to do a little rain fishing, they always became more active when it was rainy, and he was becoming very hungry.

He let out a frustrated hiss when he arrived to find the river nearly swallowing the bank, of course, with the way it had been raining all day it was no surprise that the river had flooded. His eyes widened when he saw a form sitting near the edge of the river, what was that young wolf thinking?! He got a slightly sick smile as he giggled, "Maybe I'll get a meal after all." There was no way that wolf would last long sitting there. But he found himself flinching when the river swallowed the pup, sighing, "Oh well...Not my problem." He watched with an anxious itch in his paws as the wolf struggled to keep afloat, finally finding footing on a tree-limb, he let out a growl of self loathing as he began racing towards the river, he couldn't believe he was doing this.

When he reached the riverside he saw the pup clinging desperately to the branch, looking half drowned already, he knew he probably looked like some angel of death looming from the dark and the flashes of lightning didn't help, but as he approached closer he growled and reached to grab for the pup, intending to bring him to safety away from the water's edge.

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Fial was just contemplating how painful drowning was likely to be when a dark figure appeared over the lip of the bank. He looked up at the wolf, a little obscured in the downpour, and after a moment he spoke in a weak and thready voice. "You shouldn't stand so close to the bank," he said with a guileless look on his face despite the circumstances. A moment later, the dark shadow of the larger wolf descended on him, teeth closing on his nape and dragging him onto the bank. Fial weakly scrabbled with his paws, and collapsed in an unceremonious heap at the wolf's feet when released. He groaned for a moment, then relaxed with a sigh on the solid ground, muscles watery and deadened. After a moment he opened a green eye, looking up at the wolf twice his size. "Thanks for that," he said roughly, a tired smile pulling on his lips.

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The Monster turned wolf stared down at the heap of utterly waterlogged fur as he brought him to rest on the bank, he still didn't know why he was doing this, guessing that it was that tiny sliver of conscience left invading his thoughts, he'd have to have a chat with that troublesome part of himself later. But for now, he stooped his head down close and glanced from the young wolf to the back, which was creeping closer the longer they stood, "Can you walk?" He inclined with his head in the direction of his cave, "I have a cave." He glanced back at the bank again, "It wont be safe to stay here much longer..." He let out a frustrated growl and then lowered himself to the ground, motioning that he should climb on if he wanted to, He had a mind to just leave, but that meddlesome voice wouldn't stop prickling in his ears, "I'll carry you." At least this way if he got too hungry he's have a snack, a little soggy, but still edible. He snorted inwardly at his dark joke.

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"Can I...? Um, yeah." Despite his words though, he was wobbly and rubber-legged as he tried to push himself to his feet, and he only made it two steps before flopping down in a huff again. He didn't even notice the bank behind him or the fact that he was still very possibly in danger. When the big black male made his offer and crouched down, Fial looked at him as if this was some sort of new puzzle to try and solve. He seemed to come to a conclusion, because suddenly his face split in a smile. "Well, alright then." He crawled forward, feeling like this was some sort of dream or game or something, and pushed himself up over the shoulders of the older wolf. Fial wiggled around until his front legs were on either side of the wolf's shoulders and his chin was resting on the back of his neck. It didn't even occur to him to be afraid. Or to even ask for a name.

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The bank was growing closer as it was ravenously devoured by the rising waters, and the rain didn't show any sign of letting up. He was fortunate that his cave was on higher ground, away from any danger of flooding, so once they arrived there they would be safe and dry. When the younger wolf was safely situated on his back he stood again and began making his way to his cave, keeping his pace steady so he didn't jostle his passenger. He didn't know why he was bothering with this, but he figured this could end up fortuitous for him in the future, at the very least it was good karma, and that might get him out of a pinch the next time he was in trouble.

He looked relieved when he saw the cave coming into view, picking up his pace a little until they eventually came upon it, "Here we are." He lowered himself to the ground after slipping into the cave, allowing him to slide off, "What were you doing by the riverbank in THIS weather?" He looked over him, he looked a bit like a drowned cat but no worse for wear.