red tears [tagged&open]

[tovaana]

OoC// This technically happens a year ago… -ehem- just fyi. I need someone to help her get healed up. I don’t know if she’s injured enough to need White Magic, but she definitely needs help of some sort. koolpup was thinking to come in with Radley maybe? And/Or Calypso did you like the idea of Nicolas and Edmond coming across her? Or anyone can! There is future plotting with her & Bane, just an FYI if you do decide to get tangled with her story. <3 <3 <3

BiC//

Tovaana;

Pain…

One looking on would never know that she had been a mostly white wolf with golden markings. It had been a day, but she still had wounds that were bleeding slowly – red caking her fur in those areas. Especially where Bane had been on top of her with his claws digging into her. Others parts of her were caked in dried blood and dirt and mud. It had rained, but not hard enough to clean her, but to liquefy the dirt that her fur had collected and painted her white fur more thoroughly. This red, dark crusty red, brown, tan, and white femora limped into the clearing. If she had been in the right state of mind, she would have collapsed next to a stone cliff or large rock – instead of a clearing where she was more vulnerable. However, Tovaana was delirious from pain, loss of blood, and the traumatic experience she had had running into...that wolf - no, monster.

She realized that she didn’t know the name of the monster. The empty land around her was how she felt – empty, but the monster’s face and his smile kept resurfacing, the feeling from her confidence and fight, quickly turning to submission as he beat on her. While there were bruises, there were more scrapes and some deeper than other. She whimpered where she lay, her eyes were empty and she couldn’t muster any more tears. The little wolf had cried for a long time, but it had gotten too exhausting traveling so far. Where had she come? She didn’t care, as long as it was away from him. Him. Despair shivered through her, she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone who he was, only be description… she didn’t even have a name. Neither did he. This was no comfort though, she still felt the urge to run, though he was far behind (as far as she knew), but her body had given up.

So… this was it. If she did die, at least it wasn’t anywhere the monster could see. Her golden-flecked eyes fell closed and did not open, and she made no effort to try to lift them. A soft whimper died in her throat, darkness creeping up on her as her body demanded sleep.

[koolpup]

My apologies for how long this is and for how long I took to reply .-.))

Radley is a wolf who is often annoyed at the simple inconveniences of life. Today his annoyance comes from the fact that it rained earlier. Now he is what he'd call soaked, and any other wolf would call somewhat damp. Whatever wolf ever truthfully says that can shove their tail far up their-

He stops, his rather grumpy thoughts interrupted by a scent. It is rather faint, but it's sharpness allows him to identify it instantly. Blood. Wolf blood. It smells both old and new. That could only mean one thing, a wolf is injured somewhere in the area. He frowns the maroon fur that sweeps across his brow furrowing slightly. Part of him yearns to turn, to pretend he hasn't smelled anything. If there is a fight happening currently, he doesn't want in the mix. He hates fighting, hates it with every fiber of his being. Though, the bigger part of him screams to investigate, to help. He doesn't have to, he isn't a good wolf after all, but he isn't evil either, and he isn't going to leave a poor wolf alone in pain. Goddesses, sometimes he wishes that he could just leave other wolve's problems alone sometimes, then he probably wouldn't get into the middle of things as often. Which is where he doesn't want to be.

The cream and maroon wolf snorts softly, air puffing from his nose in a soft whoosh. He should really get going, whoever is hurt is not going to be helped by him battling himself. He begins to follow the scent, padding around rocks and looking around as it gradually grows stronger. A small roll of worry begins to tighten in his belly as the acrid, metallic smell begins to plug his nose with its intensity, and yet no wolf appears in his sights. He follows it as far as he can until the smell fills his nostrils in such a way that he can't tell in what direction it is strongest. He pauses, growling and clawing at the ground in frustration, whomever this wolf is, they are most definitely badly wounded and he has to help them. He begins to patrol around the area, checking under and around rocks, constantly sniffing as he searches. He passes by a few small rocks that he swears he's already circled and comes across a-

Oh.

Oh no.

Oh no oh no oh no.

A clearing sweeps out before him, but laying in it, is a wolf. At first glance, one would say that their fur is the color of blood, but the true fact is that it's covered in blood. There are small patches of white that stick out across their body, but the rest is matted with deep rouge. The smell of blood is so pungent that he can't tell if this wolf is male, or female.

At first, Radley is completely frozen. The sight of the wolf mixing with that awful smell and the thought of who or what could do this to a wolf makes the male gag. It brings bile sailing up to his tongue, and the acerbic, burning taste of it wakes him. He jumps into action, galloping to the wolf. Now that he is closer, he can identify her as female, and he can see she is breathing, that's good.

"Hello? Are you alright?" Well that was a stupid question. "What did this to you?" That one is more rhetorical as he looks the she-wolf over. She is covered with so much caked blood and dirt that he isn't sure what is wound and what isn't. Some are somewhat easier to identify, seeing as blood is welling up in a few of the deep, cavernous gashes. He shivers, he wishes he could call bear on this, but the claw marks are far too small. This was a wolf's doing, but by the look of it, nothing with enough of a soul to be one. He's known many evil wolves with a lot more decency.

"I'm going to get...." He trails off, about to say 'help', but he has no idea if the thing that did this is still in the area. Trying to get help is perhaps not the best idea currently. "...something to clean your wounds." Radley is no healer, but he has the common sense to know dried blood and dirt are not a good thing to be in wounds, and a good lick is not going to clean this wolf. He looks around, there's got to be moss and a pool of water somewhere, it just rained for Sheba's sake! On the other hand, if this wolf can still walk, perhaps he can help her get to a stream or small pond, so it is easier to wash everything away. He doesn't want to leave her alone in this state. "Uh...." He starts eloquently. "Can you walk?"

[tovaana]

Ooc// don’t be sorry for length <3 length is good!

BiC//

Darkness had fallen on her for a few moments when she heard a voice. It sounded… concerned. But she was dead, wasn’t she? If she was dead, and if the voice was concerned… perhaps this was not heaven. Her eyes flew open and she gasped, but she still could not move, as she was still trapped in her mangled body. It was almost disappointing that she had not died. “What did this to you?” She looked up at the male and bore her teeth, as she remembered in that moment she was not alone, trying to scoot away from him and rather failing. Her defensive snarl faded into defeat, as she thought about who had done this to her. Him.

Her golden gaze looked up at the male who stated that he was going to…going to leave. She realized that there was a kindness, or maybe it was more like panic, in his eyes. Was it that bad? She lazily tried to look down at herself, but then dropped her head with a soft thud on the barrens’ floor. Once more she looked at the male, who asked if she could walk.

“What does it matter?” Tovaana found herself asking, realizing that she probably could move if she wanted to. She had run this far, but she was so tired, both physically and emotionally. The female attempted a half smile, to try and make like her phrase was a crude joke, but her smile failed her, and faded into a blank expression, letting her eyes trail down to his paws.

[koolpup]

The she-wolf's eyes shoot open and she gasps, looking up at him. Radley tries to smile comfortingly, but his lips do not comply and he ends up looking more worried as the female snarls and tries to scoot away from him. Her snarl dies and she continues to lay in the same position. Not good.

"It's okay," 'Oh yes, of course it is, please, define okay Radley.' He thinks and internally claws himself. "I just want to help." He watches the white wolf drop her head then look at him.

"What does it matter?" She asks, her voice sounds thin and tired. She tries to smile, but it disappears into an equally tired line, her eyes shifting down to his paws.

Radley's expression spasms. Moss. He needs to find moss then, and water. He looks around again, ears lowering slightly. He had begun to formulate the plan of taking this wolf to White Magic, but that plan was quickly flung outside the cave mouth. He could maybe help support a wolf's weight, but he is far from strong enough to pick an adult wolf up.

"Okay, I'm not going to go far or be gone for long, but I'm going to find something to help clean the blood and dirt from your fur." He looks at her, trying to give some small reassurance. "And when you can walk again, I'll help you get to a stream or pond, or White Magic." 'If she can walk again.' He nearly grimaces and pushes away that thought, then, he turns and quickly pads away in search of some moss.

It takes him longer than he wants it too, but he manages to find a small patch of very dry, dying moss and a somewhat muddy puddle. He scrapes the moss from the rock it's stuck to with his claws, then gathers it in his mouth, nose wrinkling up at the fowl, dusty taste that settles on his tongue. He then dunks it in the puddle, trying to get it to sop up as much water as possible. When his task is finished, he gallops back to the hurt she-wolf, being careful not to drop the moss or too much water as he runs.

"Thish mayff stingh. Trytoh holh shtill" He says but his words are heavily muffled by the moss. He gently lowers his head and begins to dab at the patches of fur that are the most caked first, which is kind of all of them; Goddesses he's going to have to make multiple trips. He squeezes the moss, trying to hold back a gag at the mixture of blood smell and dirt taste, and lets the water run over the mud and blood mixture, loosening it in some places, and freeing it in others. When he isn't able to squeeze any more water from the moss he sets it down, resisting the urge to cough and hack, perhaps holding the moss in his mouth wasn't the brightest idea. He looks to the female. "I'm going to have to make multiple trips to clean all this.... all the mud and blood from your fur... are you thirsty ma'am? The water moss combination isn't exactly all that tasty, but since you are unable to stand.... and walk.... it's kinda all I can do right now."

[tovaana]

Tovaana;

She didn’t look up at him as he explained his plan to help her. Tovaana didn’t want help, she wanted to die… but did she? She had, after all, escaped. She was alive, the demon had not killed her. Why not? The white wolfess did not feel that clever, not while lying on the ground in shreds on the barrens ground. He had taken something from her, and she felt as if something, a part of her, was missing.

Tov did not respond to the male, hoping he would change his mind. She closed her eyes and she heard his quiet exit. No matter how hard she tried, sleep did not come easily or for very long. As soon as she started to fall into sleep, the demon’s face or shadows would flash and fling her into consciousness. Each time she awoke suddenly, her body would jerk involuntarily, causing a wave of pain in all of the places she hurt. There was one deeper wound on her chest, one she guessed he had left as a reminder of sorts, as she doubted it would heal well. Part of her didn’t want it to heal well; she needed a reminder of the world’s cruelty.

To her surprise, the male returned. She blinked up at him with her head resting on the ground, wondering why on earth he even cared whether or not she died. It did sting and she snarled in her throat, but did not move, because the pain brought back the memories and also her despair. The way the demon had touched her… A sudden shudder went through her body as the male seemed to back away from her, done some of the cleaning – but only removing a fraction of the dirt. When he mentioned doing more cleaning her body reacted defensively. Tovaana’s muscles spasmed as she forced them to move her up, back wheeling a few clumsy steps from the male. She collapsed again (this time into a half crouched position), but baring her teeth.

“No!” The word rasped from her dry throat, torn from her lungs in a panic. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” She said through clenched teeth.

Her golden eyes became watery with emotion, shaking her head just the slightest with wonder. Why did he care? Her body was in enough shock as it was, this male was putting her emotional shock to greater heights….going from complete disrespect (quite the understatement) to…compassion.

She hung her head, keeping an eye in his direction, but again deflating.

“You… You should probably go.” She stuttered through her dry throat, not believing her own words. There was a part of her that didn’t want him to leave, but if the demon had followed her… The thought of him hurting anyone else because of her, her heart wouldn’t be able to handle it. She kept her eye on him, but could not meet his gaze, feeling shame, anger, frustration, defeat…and a seed of hate that had been planted in her golden heart.

[koolpup]

Radley nearly jumps three feet backward when the female throws herself up only to move back a few paces and fall into a half crouch. He feels his stomach drop a bit when she bares her teeth at him.

"No!" The word comes from her, raspy, thin, and panicked. "Don't. Touch. Me."

The cream and maroon wolf flattens his ears slightly. A part of him feels somewhat indignant because he was trying to help her, but that part is small and stupid. He knows she's had severe mental and physical trauma, he probably triggered something. He looks at her with a forced comforting gaze, still being in crisis overdrive mode making it rather hard for him.

"I'm sorry if I hurt or scared you, ma'am." He dips his head down slightly. "I just want to help." She drops her head and he lifts a paw, then decides to not even try to get near her yet.

"You... You should probably go." She rasps again.

Radley blinks. He won't... He won't just leave any wolf in a condition like this. Especially if the thing that attacked them is still prowling. He shivers internally. He definitely doesn't want to, but if it ever came down to it, he'd try his best to fight off the thing. It's better than the guilt he'd feel for not helping and letting a wolf... this wolf die. He looks at the female and shakes his head, determination shining in his maroon eyes.

"Again, sorry, but I can't do that. I promise I won't get close to you, or wash your wounds unless you allow me. Though they do need to be washed or they could get infected." He frowns softly, then continues. "But I am staying. I cannot, in good conscience, leave you alone like this." He sets his jaw stubbornly, then realizes he's not even introduced himself. "I'm Radley, by the way."

[tovaana]

Tovaana;

It should move her, the way he wants to help her. She feels the lack of…what was it? Lack of… feeling. There were tendrils of regret for reacting so harshly, but she was too tired to pretend louder than her fear.

She looked up at him from the ground with one golden-flecked eye. While her pelt was filthy from the events of the day before… or was it the day before? She wasn’t sure how time was working, she felt dizzy and disoriented. Otherwise, it was her gaze that was the only thing left unmarred or not disguised in dirt.

He spoke to her, telling her that he could not leave her. She felt an urge to laugh at him and his stubbornness masked in his gallant attitude, but she only shifted a little, picking her head up and looking down at herself once more. It was while she was examining herself more thoroughly when he introduced himself. Tovaana did not look at him right away, but for some reason, the fact that he had a name gave her comfort. The monster had not had a name. Perhaps if she could give it a name, her bones would not tremble still.

“Tovaana.” She said in response, a little quieter than he had been speaking. She still could not bring herself to look at him. She gulped, feeling the dryness of her throat and she knew from the pain in her chest that there were wounds that would not heal easily…Especially if she did not clean them.

“Why do you care about a stranger’s well being?”

She was constantly prying into the good, neutral, and evil. She did not understand how one could be so evil, and now she wondered how one could be so… nice. Now she looked back at him, a blank expression, but softer and not as frightened.