Post by Sofia on Jun 14, 2020 20:49:09 GMT 1
Bloodmane leaned on her spear. They'd need to stop. The cubs couldn't take the forced march on almost empty bellies - and she had to admit that her back felt like it was on fire again - and the first light of the dawn was showing among the trees. Although she didn't particularly like the daylight, right now it felt wonderful. The trolls wouldn't show their ugly faces above ground while the sun was up, and if they left before the night, they would soon be out of their reach. Right now only ensuring that the cubs survived mattered. **Let's stop for now. Take what rest you can. We'll move out again before the moons rise.** She didn't say that they had to, but it was probably obvious to everyone after their desperate flight. "Cub...I mean, Riv, could you share with us some more woundroot if you have it?" She tried to keep her voice calm and friendly. This was still just a cub and he did have supplied they needed - but no obligation to share. They weren't his tribe.
Riv snorted and dropped his backpack to the ground. He dug out a smaller pouch and opened it for the elder to see. "Yeah, I have one left. And that's for wound infections. That too. And that stops the bleeding."
A reckless fighter for a cub, Bloodmane thought. The medical supplies Riv carried told her a lot about him. Not a single herb for illness. This was a boy who got into fights often and didn't come out unscathed.
"Take what you wish. I can gather more," Riv said nonchalantly and started chewing on a piece of dried meat - not a very nice thing to do with hungry elves and wolves around him. He wasn't even particularly tired. Druk it, he had been on the move all his life. Griel's group hadn't been the most likely bunch to stay in one place for long, following that hare-brained call of theirs. But sometimes...he still missed it.
Eclipse's 'enthusiasm' of walking as fast as he could had gone long ago. He just kept dragging himself after the others his eyes half-closed and his mind blank of all thoughts. He praised the High Ones when they called it for a break. With a sigh he sat down trying to get himself comfortable and wiped his forehead with his wrist breathing short quick breaths and noticed that his cheeks felt warm. He leaned his back against the trunk of a tree and closed his eyes for a while. He still had the leather around him, but it wasn't necessary to wrap it around anymore. He moved his other leg more near himself as he leaned his side against the trunk and moved one leg on top of the other. Oh, his body hurt, his head too! He didn't like to drink dreamberry wine or even eat the berries, but right now, a couple of sips and berries would have been welcome.
"Hey. You alive?" Riv inquired, half-kneeling next to Eclipse. "If you are, you should probably get over to the redhead and get your wound cleaned. So that it doesn't get infected or...anything." He combed some of his silver-white hair falling on his face back, feeling utterly stupid. It wasn't any of his business what happened to these elves, really. But for some reason he didn't move while waiting for Eclipse's reply.
LizardStalker was looking around and kept close to his brother. ChildWolf looked from side to side, keeping watch over everything. They went over to QuickSand and RedStreak. He knew that his younger brother felt safe with them.
Bloodmane scowled at all her tribe mates just lying about. They must have been tired - she was, too - but there was no time for rest yet. **Those who are wounded, get your tails here,** she sent firmly, mashing the rest of the dried leaves in the bowl and adding water. Riv had had just one bowl, so the woundroot paste had to settle for a flat stone – now she had both the woundroot and a water to fight infection ready. **The rest of you, try to find something to eat.** It wasn't a good season for foraging, but with luck there would still be some mushrooms to be found from the season of falling leaves. **Plants, fish, small animals, whatever you can catch. Don't go for bigger prey alone, we can't afford anyone else to get hurt.** Her voice softened a bit, **Cubs, take one of those furs Dawngazer has and come here.** Almost none of them was dressed warmly enough and she was a bit worried about the cubs' health. The adults should manage as long as they kept moving. The four furs that would be left would have to be enough for them to sleep in. She took the head-count. Eight and six elves. And Riv had a cloak. That would be three furs one for 3 elves, and one for 4 elves. Too few, but there was nothing to do about it.
**I’ll go look for some food,** Dawngazer open-sent and started to walk away from the group, followed by Stronglegs.
**I’m coming with you,** Branchwalker stated and began to stand, winching as the pain of various bruises and scratches finally caught up with him.
**No you’re not,** Dawngazer replied, putting her hands on his shoulders. **You’re going to Bloodmane to have your wounds looked at.** Bloodmane, it still felt odd to call Sunset that, but if the elfess took a new name Dawngazer had no right to argue.
Branchwalker sighed as his soul sister turned him around and pushed towards Bloodmane. His injuries weren’t serious, but he understood that having them get infected would be foolish. And he was no help in the hunting staggering around because of cuts.
Rubbing his eyes with his hands he tried to make the weariness and fear that had settled over him go away. Then he walked over to Bloodmane and gave her a weak smile.
Bloodmane steadily and methodically cleaned each cut with the herb-water and applied some woundroot paste on the deeper wound, after which she put the bandage back. She just wished they had clean bandages, but even most of what they had now had been ripped from clothes. They just didn't have any supplies. Branchwalker had gotten away with few injuries, though, and should be fine.
Then she handed her spear to him. "See if you can catch some fish but be careful not to freeze anything off."
Brighteyes had done as he was told, picking up a fir and carrying it over to Bloodmane. He was looking better, recovering somewhat, and starting to think clearly. He felt so foolish now, having acted like such a baby when his tribe around him was struggling to survive and drag themselves and him to safety. He would have to find a way to make up for all that now. He cringed a little bit at a scent and sniffing his arm discovered it was him. He was dirty and grimy, and for once in his life he wanted to bathe and get it cleaned off, even if it meant the icy rivers. Unfortunately with nothing clean or dry to change into he would surely get sick. He sat the fur down next to Bloodmane and sat next to it. "Bloodmane, do you think we'll find a hot spring or anything soon?" he asked curiously. "I’m getting too dirty." his eyes glanced over the pasts and such she was making.
"Anything I can do to help?"
"I don't think we will," Bloodmane's voice was a bit softer as she turned her attention to the cub after tending Branchwalker. "We're leaving the mountains, after all."
Four cubs...She quickly cut the fur in four equal squares, cutting a thin strip off each, and cut a hole into middle of each. Then she threw one over BrightEyes and tied it on his waist. "There. That will keep you warm." She considered the cub's question - no, he wasn't really that small anyway and they needed every pair of able hands. "Do you still have your sling? We need meat. Anything at all will do. A treewee, a squirrel, a grounddigger, anything that will go down."
Brighteyes smiled and nodded as he looked over his new outfit. "I still have it, I’m not great at it still but I’ll try to get something," he promised. "Thank you, I feel warmer already," he said before letting out a clumsy whistle. It was enough however to get the old wolf that had been at his side to come out of her hiding place and towards him. "Come on we’re gonna go hunting. Maybe you’ll sniff something up before I can." He almost climbed up on the wolf but paused and looked back at Bloodmane. "Where are the other cubs? Maybe they can help hunt too."
ChildWolf went over to Bloodmane with his brother at his side.
LizardStalker went up to Bloodmane slowly. He didn’t' have any cuts or anything, but was a bit cold. He turned to his brother when he heard the word hunt. "Can I?" he asked him.
"Stay with me and I'll help you." ChildWolf said softly. He pulled out his throwing darts. He could always make more. "You can use these." he said.
LizardStalker grinned. He had been taught how to use them, but was never allowed to touch them unless ChildWolf was with him. Now he was offering them to him to use.
Quickly and efficiently Bloodmane put another quarter of fur on LizardStalker. "Be careful," she said, hiding that she actually worried about the cubs, "We don't need anybody else to be hurt."
LizardStalker thanked Bloodmane and went running into the forest as quietly as he could and started looking around for something to eat.
ChildWolf chased after him before he could do anything. **(Be quiet. Look all around you before you start. Track your prey.)** he started to teach him.
LizardStalker did what he said.
OneEdge sat numb on SoftPaws back. She didn't seem to notice that they had stopped and the others were moving about. The scene of the fight in the den replaying in her mind over and over slowing down to an agonising crawl as she watched the broken body of her cub fall to the floor.
LongSong looked back at her and shied his mind away quickly from what he knew she was thinking. He had no intention of reliving the attack through her eyes. His own memories of it were far too vivid. Moving closer to her he took her arm and eased her off the wolf's back to the ground and led her in Bloodmane's direction.
"Lets get you to Bloodmane."
His mate gasped under her breath as her weight reopened a deep slash over her thigh, the sound bringing relief to LongSong. She wasn’t so far gone that she didn't feel her physical pain, it was a good sign. LongSong pushed away tears as they got closer to the others. "Bloodmane? She's pretty bad." He hesitated, tears making his voice tight. "I... I can't heal...this."
Words failed him and he stood supporting his beloved, looking to Bloodmane and waiting to be told how to make this night all a bad dream and knowing that it would be a long time before any of them fully woke-up.
'What do you think I can do?' Bloodmane wanted to snap at him, but swallowed her bitterness. She wasn't a healer of any kind - she just knew some herbs and had lived long enough to know how to treat wounds. Never any this bad, though. And she didn't even have any bandages available, just the few herbs she had gotten from Riv. She sighed. She was feeling _so_ tired...
"Sit down," she snapped at OneEdge, "Hold that wound closed." Noticing that the aforementioned cub was busy pestering Eclipse, she took the freedom to search through Riv's backpack and actually found some bandages. Well, he'd just have to let them borrow those for now.
LongSong flinched at Bloodmane's tone and did as she said, helping OneEdge to the ground and holding her leg when his mate made no move to do so. He felt her body shudder in pain or cold, maybe both. Leaning her close to him he looked at her face and then back to the wound, concentrating on keeping the edges together and the blood flow less free flowing. If he could do nothing else right now he would do what he told.
OneEdge's pain brought her out of her horrible thoughts. Pained and lost faces of the holt were all her but not nearly enough of them. So many lost... The image of the trolls and the blood and...she shook her head sharply, stopping the images before they ran their course back to her cubs lifeless eyes.
She looked up at her mates face and was shocked to see the grim lines it was drawn into. Her eyes followed his and she looked away again, she didn't remember taking a hit there much less one like that. Swallowing hard before speaking in a harsh whisper, "Who's left?" Locking her gaze on Bloodmane’s face as the she-elf turned back from the pack she was rifleing through.
"Look around you," Bloodmane said too quietly, avoiding the other's gaze, while she applied some woundroot paste on OneEdge's wound and then bandaged it. "All we could find are here." No, she couldn't dwell on that now. Not the sorrow, not the lust for revenge. She _had to_ concentrate on survival for now.
**Dawngazer's still here too, she's out looking for food. The others you can see here around us. T-there's not many left of us...** came Branchwalker's tentative sending, filled with still fresh fear. He couldn't make himself speak, not yet. The trolls could be searching for them...High Ones let Dawngazer be well! Yet no matter how worried he was he wouldn't sent to her. He might startle her when hiding and if so she could by mistake reveal her hiding place.
Branchwalker had been keeping in the background for quite some time now, trying to help while not being in the way. Out of nervous habit he'd begun braiding his hair and had now gone through half of it, which made him look rather odd and not all too calm and in control.
~**It's good that you're alive!**~ he suddenly found himself lock-sending to his tribe members, feeling terribly foolish afterwards. Then he noticed it was just the two of them there and came to a horrible conclusion. Their cub, their poor cub! Surely the trolls couldn't have...? Not even they could be so cruel as to kill a _cub_! Or?
Trying to distract himself he glanced over at Suns-Bloodmane and to his horror saw that her back was bleeding pretty badly. **B-bloodmane? Can I take a look at that?** he questioned the red-haired elfess, sending a images of her back with the words.
OneEdge's brow furrowed at as she looked around again. So many faces were missing that it was hard to understand it. She took a long look at Branchwalker and nodded to him slowly her face passive as she tried not to react to the bandaging of her leg or the jerk in her guts at his affirmation that she was in fact still alive.
LongSong's hands had fallen away as Bloodmane took over his mate's treatment and he'd tried to read both the females faces. **I'm happy to see your face as well my friend,** he returned Branchwalker's sending.
Helping OneEdge to stand he moved them back and away as Branchwalker moved forward. She didn't fight him. Neither he nor OneEdge had seen that their caregiver needed care herself. SoftPaws had settled just a few steps away and it was against her side that they came to rest. Pulling the heavy bedfur off the wolf he tucked it around his mate.
Her eyes had closed but he knew she was very awake, it wasn’t long before he was holding her close as silent shuddering sobs shook her. It was odd to hold her, hear his own voice muttering senseless soothing noises but not feel the same racking grief.
He sat and watched Bloodmane and Branchwalker now. They needed food and furs. They needed a place to hide and regain strength. They needed weapons... maybe in the morning those that were able could go back... find what was left if the trolls had left anything to be found. There was a chance that others were still alive but were scattered.
"Go ahead," Bloodmane told Branchwalker once she finished bandaging OneEdge's leg. She couldn't send, not now. Seeing the lifemates alone reminded her once again of her own lost family. She couldn't - wouldn't - break. Not now.
Dawngazer and her bond Stronglegs walked back into the area of the forest were the remains of the tribe had gathered, carrying a few rabbits. Nothing much, but she didn't want to keep away from the others for too long. What if the trolls attacked and she was away _again_? She wasn't sure she'd be able to bear that, especially if Branchwalker got more hurt or even killed.
**I have meat, is there anyone who can help me with skinning and cleaning out these ravvits?** she open-sent.
Riv snorted and dropped his backpack to the ground. He dug out a smaller pouch and opened it for the elder to see. "Yeah, I have one left. And that's for wound infections. That too. And that stops the bleeding."
A reckless fighter for a cub, Bloodmane thought. The medical supplies Riv carried told her a lot about him. Not a single herb for illness. This was a boy who got into fights often and didn't come out unscathed.
"Take what you wish. I can gather more," Riv said nonchalantly and started chewing on a piece of dried meat - not a very nice thing to do with hungry elves and wolves around him. He wasn't even particularly tired. Druk it, he had been on the move all his life. Griel's group hadn't been the most likely bunch to stay in one place for long, following that hare-brained call of theirs. But sometimes...he still missed it.
Eclipse's 'enthusiasm' of walking as fast as he could had gone long ago. He just kept dragging himself after the others his eyes half-closed and his mind blank of all thoughts. He praised the High Ones when they called it for a break. With a sigh he sat down trying to get himself comfortable and wiped his forehead with his wrist breathing short quick breaths and noticed that his cheeks felt warm. He leaned his back against the trunk of a tree and closed his eyes for a while. He still had the leather around him, but it wasn't necessary to wrap it around anymore. He moved his other leg more near himself as he leaned his side against the trunk and moved one leg on top of the other. Oh, his body hurt, his head too! He didn't like to drink dreamberry wine or even eat the berries, but right now, a couple of sips and berries would have been welcome.
"Hey. You alive?" Riv inquired, half-kneeling next to Eclipse. "If you are, you should probably get over to the redhead and get your wound cleaned. So that it doesn't get infected or...anything." He combed some of his silver-white hair falling on his face back, feeling utterly stupid. It wasn't any of his business what happened to these elves, really. But for some reason he didn't move while waiting for Eclipse's reply.
LizardStalker was looking around and kept close to his brother. ChildWolf looked from side to side, keeping watch over everything. They went over to QuickSand and RedStreak. He knew that his younger brother felt safe with them.
Bloodmane scowled at all her tribe mates just lying about. They must have been tired - she was, too - but there was no time for rest yet. **Those who are wounded, get your tails here,** she sent firmly, mashing the rest of the dried leaves in the bowl and adding water. Riv had had just one bowl, so the woundroot paste had to settle for a flat stone – now she had both the woundroot and a water to fight infection ready. **The rest of you, try to find something to eat.** It wasn't a good season for foraging, but with luck there would still be some mushrooms to be found from the season of falling leaves. **Plants, fish, small animals, whatever you can catch. Don't go for bigger prey alone, we can't afford anyone else to get hurt.** Her voice softened a bit, **Cubs, take one of those furs Dawngazer has and come here.** Almost none of them was dressed warmly enough and she was a bit worried about the cubs' health. The adults should manage as long as they kept moving. The four furs that would be left would have to be enough for them to sleep in. She took the head-count. Eight and six elves. And Riv had a cloak. That would be three furs one for 3 elves, and one for 4 elves. Too few, but there was nothing to do about it.
**I’ll go look for some food,** Dawngazer open-sent and started to walk away from the group, followed by Stronglegs.
**I’m coming with you,** Branchwalker stated and began to stand, winching as the pain of various bruises and scratches finally caught up with him.
**No you’re not,** Dawngazer replied, putting her hands on his shoulders. **You’re going to Bloodmane to have your wounds looked at.** Bloodmane, it still felt odd to call Sunset that, but if the elfess took a new name Dawngazer had no right to argue.
Branchwalker sighed as his soul sister turned him around and pushed towards Bloodmane. His injuries weren’t serious, but he understood that having them get infected would be foolish. And he was no help in the hunting staggering around because of cuts.
Rubbing his eyes with his hands he tried to make the weariness and fear that had settled over him go away. Then he walked over to Bloodmane and gave her a weak smile.
Bloodmane steadily and methodically cleaned each cut with the herb-water and applied some woundroot paste on the deeper wound, after which she put the bandage back. She just wished they had clean bandages, but even most of what they had now had been ripped from clothes. They just didn't have any supplies. Branchwalker had gotten away with few injuries, though, and should be fine.
Then she handed her spear to him. "See if you can catch some fish but be careful not to freeze anything off."
Brighteyes had done as he was told, picking up a fir and carrying it over to Bloodmane. He was looking better, recovering somewhat, and starting to think clearly. He felt so foolish now, having acted like such a baby when his tribe around him was struggling to survive and drag themselves and him to safety. He would have to find a way to make up for all that now. He cringed a little bit at a scent and sniffing his arm discovered it was him. He was dirty and grimy, and for once in his life he wanted to bathe and get it cleaned off, even if it meant the icy rivers. Unfortunately with nothing clean or dry to change into he would surely get sick. He sat the fur down next to Bloodmane and sat next to it. "Bloodmane, do you think we'll find a hot spring or anything soon?" he asked curiously. "I’m getting too dirty." his eyes glanced over the pasts and such she was making.
"Anything I can do to help?"
"I don't think we will," Bloodmane's voice was a bit softer as she turned her attention to the cub after tending Branchwalker. "We're leaving the mountains, after all."
Four cubs...She quickly cut the fur in four equal squares, cutting a thin strip off each, and cut a hole into middle of each. Then she threw one over BrightEyes and tied it on his waist. "There. That will keep you warm." She considered the cub's question - no, he wasn't really that small anyway and they needed every pair of able hands. "Do you still have your sling? We need meat. Anything at all will do. A treewee, a squirrel, a grounddigger, anything that will go down."
Brighteyes smiled and nodded as he looked over his new outfit. "I still have it, I’m not great at it still but I’ll try to get something," he promised. "Thank you, I feel warmer already," he said before letting out a clumsy whistle. It was enough however to get the old wolf that had been at his side to come out of her hiding place and towards him. "Come on we’re gonna go hunting. Maybe you’ll sniff something up before I can." He almost climbed up on the wolf but paused and looked back at Bloodmane. "Where are the other cubs? Maybe they can help hunt too."
ChildWolf went over to Bloodmane with his brother at his side.
LizardStalker went up to Bloodmane slowly. He didn’t' have any cuts or anything, but was a bit cold. He turned to his brother when he heard the word hunt. "Can I?" he asked him.
"Stay with me and I'll help you." ChildWolf said softly. He pulled out his throwing darts. He could always make more. "You can use these." he said.
LizardStalker grinned. He had been taught how to use them, but was never allowed to touch them unless ChildWolf was with him. Now he was offering them to him to use.
Quickly and efficiently Bloodmane put another quarter of fur on LizardStalker. "Be careful," she said, hiding that she actually worried about the cubs, "We don't need anybody else to be hurt."
LizardStalker thanked Bloodmane and went running into the forest as quietly as he could and started looking around for something to eat.
ChildWolf chased after him before he could do anything. **(Be quiet. Look all around you before you start. Track your prey.)** he started to teach him.
LizardStalker did what he said.
OneEdge sat numb on SoftPaws back. She didn't seem to notice that they had stopped and the others were moving about. The scene of the fight in the den replaying in her mind over and over slowing down to an agonising crawl as she watched the broken body of her cub fall to the floor.
LongSong looked back at her and shied his mind away quickly from what he knew she was thinking. He had no intention of reliving the attack through her eyes. His own memories of it were far too vivid. Moving closer to her he took her arm and eased her off the wolf's back to the ground and led her in Bloodmane's direction.
"Lets get you to Bloodmane."
His mate gasped under her breath as her weight reopened a deep slash over her thigh, the sound bringing relief to LongSong. She wasn’t so far gone that she didn't feel her physical pain, it was a good sign. LongSong pushed away tears as they got closer to the others. "Bloodmane? She's pretty bad." He hesitated, tears making his voice tight. "I... I can't heal...this."
Words failed him and he stood supporting his beloved, looking to Bloodmane and waiting to be told how to make this night all a bad dream and knowing that it would be a long time before any of them fully woke-up.
'What do you think I can do?' Bloodmane wanted to snap at him, but swallowed her bitterness. She wasn't a healer of any kind - she just knew some herbs and had lived long enough to know how to treat wounds. Never any this bad, though. And she didn't even have any bandages available, just the few herbs she had gotten from Riv. She sighed. She was feeling _so_ tired...
"Sit down," she snapped at OneEdge, "Hold that wound closed." Noticing that the aforementioned cub was busy pestering Eclipse, she took the freedom to search through Riv's backpack and actually found some bandages. Well, he'd just have to let them borrow those for now.
LongSong flinched at Bloodmane's tone and did as she said, helping OneEdge to the ground and holding her leg when his mate made no move to do so. He felt her body shudder in pain or cold, maybe both. Leaning her close to him he looked at her face and then back to the wound, concentrating on keeping the edges together and the blood flow less free flowing. If he could do nothing else right now he would do what he told.
OneEdge's pain brought her out of her horrible thoughts. Pained and lost faces of the holt were all her but not nearly enough of them. So many lost... The image of the trolls and the blood and...she shook her head sharply, stopping the images before they ran their course back to her cubs lifeless eyes.
She looked up at her mates face and was shocked to see the grim lines it was drawn into. Her eyes followed his and she looked away again, she didn't remember taking a hit there much less one like that. Swallowing hard before speaking in a harsh whisper, "Who's left?" Locking her gaze on Bloodmane’s face as the she-elf turned back from the pack she was rifleing through.
"Look around you," Bloodmane said too quietly, avoiding the other's gaze, while she applied some woundroot paste on OneEdge's wound and then bandaged it. "All we could find are here." No, she couldn't dwell on that now. Not the sorrow, not the lust for revenge. She _had to_ concentrate on survival for now.
**Dawngazer's still here too, she's out looking for food. The others you can see here around us. T-there's not many left of us...** came Branchwalker's tentative sending, filled with still fresh fear. He couldn't make himself speak, not yet. The trolls could be searching for them...High Ones let Dawngazer be well! Yet no matter how worried he was he wouldn't sent to her. He might startle her when hiding and if so she could by mistake reveal her hiding place.
Branchwalker had been keeping in the background for quite some time now, trying to help while not being in the way. Out of nervous habit he'd begun braiding his hair and had now gone through half of it, which made him look rather odd and not all too calm and in control.
~**It's good that you're alive!**~ he suddenly found himself lock-sending to his tribe members, feeling terribly foolish afterwards. Then he noticed it was just the two of them there and came to a horrible conclusion. Their cub, their poor cub! Surely the trolls couldn't have...? Not even they could be so cruel as to kill a _cub_! Or?
Trying to distract himself he glanced over at Suns-Bloodmane and to his horror saw that her back was bleeding pretty badly. **B-bloodmane? Can I take a look at that?** he questioned the red-haired elfess, sending a images of her back with the words.
OneEdge's brow furrowed at as she looked around again. So many faces were missing that it was hard to understand it. She took a long look at Branchwalker and nodded to him slowly her face passive as she tried not to react to the bandaging of her leg or the jerk in her guts at his affirmation that she was in fact still alive.
LongSong's hands had fallen away as Bloodmane took over his mate's treatment and he'd tried to read both the females faces. **I'm happy to see your face as well my friend,** he returned Branchwalker's sending.
Helping OneEdge to stand he moved them back and away as Branchwalker moved forward. She didn't fight him. Neither he nor OneEdge had seen that their caregiver needed care herself. SoftPaws had settled just a few steps away and it was against her side that they came to rest. Pulling the heavy bedfur off the wolf he tucked it around his mate.
Her eyes had closed but he knew she was very awake, it wasn’t long before he was holding her close as silent shuddering sobs shook her. It was odd to hold her, hear his own voice muttering senseless soothing noises but not feel the same racking grief.
He sat and watched Bloodmane and Branchwalker now. They needed food and furs. They needed a place to hide and regain strength. They needed weapons... maybe in the morning those that were able could go back... find what was left if the trolls had left anything to be found. There was a chance that others were still alive but were scattered.
"Go ahead," Bloodmane told Branchwalker once she finished bandaging OneEdge's leg. She couldn't send, not now. Seeing the lifemates alone reminded her once again of her own lost family. She couldn't - wouldn't - break. Not now.
Dawngazer and her bond Stronglegs walked back into the area of the forest were the remains of the tribe had gathered, carrying a few rabbits. Nothing much, but she didn't want to keep away from the others for too long. What if the trolls attacked and she was away _again_? She wasn't sure she'd be able to bear that, especially if Branchwalker got more hurt or even killed.
**I have meat, is there anyone who can help me with skinning and cleaning out these ravvits?** she open-sent.
