A loving guard (open)

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu wandered through the trees, her gem stone eyes for once downcast and mirthless. She was alone. But shouldn't I be used to that by now..? She asked herself silently, looking up as a pair of robins fluttered briefly overhead, touching their beaks together before flitting off into the large branches overhead. The adolescent female smiled slightly before the heartache struck again. Alone... Alone... Alone... The word echoed in her mind endlessly, with each step another repetition. She walked along absentmindedly, her paws dragging on the ground, until she heard a faint splash. Blinking in surprise, Aiu looked down. "A puddle..." She murmured, lifting one of her forepaws and studying the muddy water that now covered. Then her eyes turned to the rippling water itself. Her own reflection starred back, and that was all. Just her, no one else. Like always. For a second, her mind flashed back to the robins and anguish stabbed through her heart. Before she could stop herself, Aiu gave a surprisingly savage snarl for such a slender female, and slashed a paw across the water. However, instead of spraying everywhere as water should, it froze instantly in the form of a small wave.

Silence... No sounds came, there was still no one around. The only thing that had changed after her flash of anger was her energy. Aiu panted slightly as she stared with what could have been pain at the frozen puddle. Now there was no reflection. There was no reminder that she was completely alone in the world. Nothing to prove that she had never had a family, never had a mate, never even really had a friend. Suddenly, there was a large crack from somewhere in the forest. Curiosity piqued for the moment, the snowy wolfess rushed to see what was going on. It wasn't long before she found her answer. Two bucks were fighting with everything they had in a vicious battle of strengths, their antlers locked together so completely, Aiu had trouble seeing where one set began and the other set ended. A rustling to the left caught the she-wolf's attention and when she looked to see what had made the noise, she saw a wide eyed doe watching the fight. Turning her head just in time, the adolescent female looked just in time to see one of the bucks stumble and fall, a bleat of pain escaping his muzzle as a point of the victor's antlers scraped against the loser's flesh. But the victor backed away and allowed the loser to get up and run for his life, the sound of his hooves heard for a long while after he had disappeared. But Aiu wasn't paying attention to that. No, her eyes were turned to the reunion that was going on right before her eyes.

With watery eyes wide and slender legs stepping daintily across the distance between them, the doe tip-toed to her mate. The large buck turned and nuzzled the female gently, a picture of love and the only thing Aiu wanted to do was run away. So, she did. The winged she-wolf spun on her back paw and took off through the forest, urging her paws to carry her faster and faster across the leafy ground. If she had been capable of it, she probably would have cried. Even so, when she finally came to a small pond surrounded by the giant trees of the woods, her eyes were almost as watery as the doe's had been.

The snowy wolfess collapsed to her haunches by the pond, her wings drooping down by her sides. She panted as she looked down into the water, allowing herself to slide down into a laying position. Alone... Once again, all alone. Her thoughts flashed back to the buck and the doe. So where's my knight in shining armor...? Aiu wondered saddly, turning her jade eyes up to the sky. The moon shone down on her, illuminating her white fur to make it shine and lighting up the midnight blue on her tail and wings to make her coat shimmer. Please, whatever gods are out there... Can I have a knight to fight for me now....? The brokenhearted she-wolf begged softly before letting loose the most mournful, heart wrenching howl. The howl of one in anguish. The howl of one who was entirely, and completely, alone...</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan had been enjoying himself rolling around on the leafy ground in the splotches where the sun shone through the thick tree canopy of the forest that seemed to never end. A joyful day to him as he has just eaten a very satisfying meal and was in a carefree mood of relaxation and stress release. This is a wonderful day. A slight breeze is rolling through the cool forest air from the rain of the previous night.... the sun is shining brightly above the trees... I don't think this day could possibly go wrong! But much as the universe loved to prove Alastolan wrong, it did. A howl rung through the air and his keenly attuned ears picked it up with ease. He sat up and almost immediately he physically felt the pain that was clearly distinct and saturated the howl as if it was he himself that let it out. Anguish... torment... loneliness... such horrible emotions compose that sound. Wait a second... that's a wolf's howl!!

Alastolan's kind nature would not allow him to sit idly by as he heard such a desperate cry ring across the forest. Within moments he bolted as fast as he could in the direction of the source. Flaring his wings out he took off as he could fly faster than he could run. He began to maneuver through the trees expertly as he raced to find the wolf that let out such a sad cry. Trees blurred past him as he sniffed the air flying upwind. Not too much further now... Soon enough a pure white wolfess came in to view laying down with wings drooping. Alastolan landed barely a few feet from the wolf and stopped himself from moving. He walked around to the front of the wolfess to look at her face and with an expression of sincerity, kindness and genuine care he asked her gently, "Are you okay?" Alastolan looked directly in to the femme's eyes with concern in his own and continued. "I heard a crying howl of loneliness and came as fast as I could in the direction I heard it.... was that you?" Laying down beside the wolfess his toned figure became hidden under his wings now folded by his sides. "I'm Alastolan by the way."

[ulrica]

<sup>The male's sudden appearance had terrified the slender Aiu, wings had flared upward on instinct and a snarl had grown in her throat only to remain there unvoiced. Wings?! A voice in the female's head sang gleefully only to be quelled by another which was more rational with its words. Knock it off. He could just as easily kill me as he can fly. Watch him...carefully. And she surely did watch him, her emerald eyes were glued to him in fact. There wasn't an inch of his magnificent frame left without due examination, and it was magnificent. He was muscled to perfection and covered almost completely with completely black fur...almost, save for the blue and red markings on his chest, neck, and forehead. Although his figure was amazing, it was his wings that truly captivated the awe struck Aiu. They weren't multicolored as hers were, yet the simple fact that they were wings and they were on this wolf was enough to thoroughly catch her attention.

The male was speaking, saying something in words the young female didn't care about. He has wings... The sentence kept repeating over and over in her head, keeping rhythm with the pounding beat of her heart. The large male laid down beside her, a look of concern playing on his face as he spoke again and again the words went in one ear and out the other. Finally, Aiu forced herself to tear her gaze away from his wings and meet his eyes, and such beautiful eyes they had. They were a crystalline blue, like the color of some tropical ocean, and the snowy wolfess found herself drowning in them. Words again. Gods he's beautiful... Was her only thought as the male spoke his name, any conversation was lost on her at the moment as she was completely overcome with her feelings. Each one of them played on her face having broken down the wall she usually maintained so completely, hiding any all feeling she might have had in order to appear less weak.

Seconds passed that felt like years to Aiu and still the male watched her waiting for a reply to his questions, unfortunately the only thing the young female could think of to say was the one thing she had been thinking about since her first glimpse of this winged wolf. "You have wings..?" She stated, the tone ending her final word turning up a bit as it finished to make it sound more like a question. Bewilderment and awe filled her voice as she still hadn't gotten her emotions in check, everything the male saw at this point was completely real. And if there was awe at this brute's magnificent physique, there was also fear at what he must be capable of doing with the power he possessed. Fear at what he could do to her while they were alone in that wooden glade. Fear at how he could hurt her and there would be no saving grace to spare her life. He could snap her back with a tap of his wing, to him she was nothing more than a toy.

This suddenly sunk in with Aiu as the large male settled in by her side, their wings almost brushing together. With a startled yelp, and leaped away, her tail swishing with apprehension across her hind legs. The awe in his wings had vanished leaving only fear and anxiety in its wake. "What do you want?" The female snarled, the kindness and worry the male had exhibited on her behalf completely forgotten at this point. She simply waited for him to spring at her with his sharpened fangs bared and ready to tear at her throat.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan kept turning his head this way and that way in slight confusion at the femme's actions. I just can't figure this one out.... is she hostile? Friendly? Scared? Was she even the one who let out such a horrible howl? Then she spoke finally. "You have wings..?" What the.....? Not exactly an answer to my question I asked... but might as well respond.... I guess. Alastolan let out a small sigh and began to answer. "Well.... yes.... I do ha--" Being cut off half way by the wolfess' sudden change in demeanor by jumping away a bit and snarling "What do you want?" Once again he had a very confused look on his face. What in the world is wrong with this wolf? First she seems depressed.... now she looks like she's scared for dear life and trying to defend herself. Alastolan's thoughts paused for a moment. Oh.... I think I understand. I'm almost certain she's the one now. Alastolan's calm and patient nature allowed him to remain lying down perfectly calm even though the wolfess was on edge.

Alastolan looked down, closed his eyes and shook his head. Now once again with an expression of care and concern he spoke again. "You really WERE the one who let out that howl a few moments ago weren't you? The one filled with such desperation and sorrow from loneliness." He looked away for a moment before continuing. "I can't even imagine what you've been through recently or in the past to put you in the state I see you in now." He looked back at the femme directly in her eyes with his own. His left eye the glowing sea blue and his right, the sparkling emerald green. But both filled with the utmost kindness any creature could possibly have and most could sense just looking into them. He hoped dearly that she too would see what his heart held by looking in his eyes. "To answer your question I don't want anything. I just live my life to the fullest each day and love it all the while searching for a mate. But when I hear such things that you cried out I can't and won't let it go unnoticed. Nobody deserves to be alone to the point that they call out in such a way for all to hear. That's why I came. To find who felt so lonely so I could be there for them and never allow them to feel that way again."

[ulrica]

<sup>The male's words were kind and spoken from his heart. Aiu froze, mind and body. What was she supposed to do? The adolescent female had never been spoken to in such a kind manner before. A slight whimper escaped her snowy maw and she backed away. Nothing had happened.. Because no one was ever there to make things happen. Always alone... Always alone... A voice cooed in her head almost soothingly. Every bone in her body was screaming at her to run, but for some reason she couldn't move away from the kind male. He simply lied there watching her with those bi-colored eyes, the look of worry and concern plain in those endless pools. "Yes... Yes I howled, and it was nothing." The winged she-wolf was finally able to reply, a iciness coming into her gaze. If the male had been paying attention to the water, then he would have noticed the surface beginning to form a thin layer of ice nearest to where she was standing. "It was nothing and you don't have to worry. I don't need you here, and I don't need your help."

Aiu glarred coldly at the male, unwilling to admit the terror, loneliness, and pain she truly felt. "I don't need you." She repeated, more for her own benefit than to actually make him leave. Truthfully, she longed for his companionship and the protection his brawn could offer. Along with the friendship that could come. The ice on the pond thickened and spread as Aiu's unease grew, however, the ice served as the only proof to the turmoil she felt inside.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan still lay there. Just looking in to the femme's eyes. For a moment he squinted a bit as she was replying. "It was nothing and you don't have to worry. I don't need you here, and I don't need your help." Alastolan tilted his head to the side a bit in response to what she had said. Never taking his gaze off her eyes. "I don't need you." Laying quietly for a few moments he finally began to speak again. "You know there's an old saying. It states that a person's eyes are a gateway to their soul which is why a person's eyes cannot lie. I indeed listened to your words that you spoke.... but your eyes tell an entirely different story. You aren't being truthful to me. I can see the loneliness in your heart. You can't call a howl like the one you let out 'nothing'. Your emotions were so strong that they actually poured themselves in to it."

Alastolan stood up and slowly began to walk towards the wolfess. When he was barely a foot away from her he sat down. "You said you don't need me. But I can feel in my own heart that you do." He paused and a gentle smile came over his face. "Whether you like it or not from this point forward I'm vowing not only to myself but to you that I will not leave your side no matter what. You can try to get rid of me as much as you'd like if you feel like doing so but I won't leave. You can try to run as far and as fast as you want to escape but I have to warn you I have very high endurance and agility and I WILL catch up to you even if you get ahead of me." He let out a friendly laugh and continued. "Besides, I haven't seen a wolfess as pretty as yourself before so I can't just let you pass by without even TRYING to get to know you better. I don't really have any friends either so I figure why not start now? Do you think you could tell me your name at least to start?" His smile remained on his face as he was patiently sitting on his haunches.

[ulrica]

<sup>At first the words were meaningless to the flighty Aiu, she had no care for the past as the past only held pain for her. She knew her future was much the same, but that was something the young wolfess usually tried not to think about. What someone said a long time ago was worthless to her just like the irritating visions she got so often. But when the male tried to tell her she couldn't do something, stubbornness kept the adolescent she-wolf from hearing exactly what she couldn't do. The femme simply knew it was her job to stick up for herself and to inform the male she could do whatever she pleased. So when he finished speaking, gave a huff and fell back onto her rump. "I can do whatever I want to do." Aiu replied stubbornly, her glacier-like glare still on her face.

The male seem unperturbed by her retort though and he simply stood and moved closer to her. Very close. Aiu had been thinking of stepping back when finally he stopped, not even a foot away, and sat down as she had. He spoke and as he did a smooth smile spread across his maw, seeming almost to be gloating: "From this point forward... I will not leave your side..." WHAT?! She shrieked internally, her eyes widening with surprise. Bite him. Part of her was advising. Rip his throat out. No, she wouldn't harm him. The wolfess was at least smart enough to mess with someone twice her size or more. But she would not allow him to follow her. Then, as if that wasn't enough, he asked for her name! Wait... I could have fun with this..

Aiu's fangs came together, with an echoing 'click' that could have made one's ears ring, hardly an inch away from the male's nose. "Fine." She replied, a wicked grin coming to her maw and giving her an almost impish appearance. "You may follow me and I will tell you my name, but only if you can catch me." With that, the sprightly young female spun about and sprinted away. As Aiu wove through the trees with the ease one would have if they were walking, her tail waved behind her as a flag to keep her balance and when that wasn't enough she would simply extend a wing or drag it even if she needed more finesse to her maneuvers. She was sure the male wouldn't catch her, sure she would escape and leave him dumbfounded. When it came to hiding, there was no one who could best the agile and slender Aiu. Until of course she found herself wounded.

The snake had come out of no where, giving the winged wolf virtually no time to react to his strike. His fangs piercing through the sinew of her shoulder and then again the skin and meat beneath the feathers in her left wing felt like flaming knives being stabbed into her and then twisted. The young femme gave an angry snarl that turned into a yelp as she hit the ground and slid painfully to a stop. The snake appeared to have vanished and Aiu wished him good riddance as she struggled to stand. Her vision danced, making her head spin and the world to tilt on its side. The adolescent wolfess was vaguely aware of the flames in her shoulder and wing, and of the quiet yelps that came from her muzzle as she tried to stand. A single thought consumed her mind: the thought to escape, and the need to get away.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

"I can do whatever I want to do." Alastolan began to think to himself as he watched the femme fall to her hump. Ohhoho... So she's a stubborn one. This could get interesting. The female's fangs coming together so close to his face, he just sat there unmoving and unblinking with a smile on his face "Fine." Well now. Looks like she'll at least tell m-- His thought interrupted by her next reply. "You may follow me and I will tell you my name, but only if you can catch me." Alastolan's smile widened a great deal as she made this notion. This day is turning out to be great. I ALWAYS love a little game of chase. As the femme turned around and dashed away, Even from his sitting position Alastolan dug his claws deep in to the dirt for better traction and in the blink of an eye was on his feet and gaining speed rapidly to catch up to the wolfess.

Maybe I'll have a little fun with her. Let's see.... she's running upwind... sticking to the ground.... As long as she doesn't look in the sky I should be able to keep out of her sight. And as long as I don't pass in front of her my scent will be carried downwind so she won't be able to catch my scent. This should be good! As soon as the wolfess came in to view Alastolan looked at the ground as he was running. Deciding to add another fun factor to his amusement, he snatched up a stick in his mouth as he ran by it then took to the high ground above the tree branches. Most of which he maneuvered through with ease not hitting a single one. The few he almost hit dead on he flew above and used them as springboards with his legs to increase his speed further to catch up. Then he watched from almost directly above the femme, as she slid across the ground after falling. He quietly landed on a thick branch high above the wolfess and slightly behind her. He caught a good look of a snake that started to weave its way under the leaves on the ground and made note of it. Black and white.... yellow diamond on the forehead... not a deadly snake. She'll probably feel extremely dizzy for an hour or two... nauseated after that and maybe a slight fever but nothing too serious. His eyes twitched a moment as he looked at the female beneath him. That ones bite can be pretty painful though.... and that fall didn't look very comfortable either. But if she's as stubborn and obstinate as I think... she'll be just fine.

Alastolan began smiling a bit still with the stick he had picked up earlier in his mouth but it quickly faded. Even if it's not a deadly poison she needs to take it easy or she'll end up hurting herself while she's weakened for the next couple of hours. In any case let's see if she gets startled a bit. I should probably throw this to her left somewhere a decent ways. Let's find out if she thinks I'm keeping up with her on the ground. Alastolan flung his head to launch the stick through the air hoping it wouldn't hit any twigs or branches on the way down to give away his position from above. And luckily it didn't but landed with a semi loud thump about 30 feet to the left of the wolfess on the forest floor. He now sat patiently on the branch high above her waiting to see what she would do. If she pushes herself too hard.... I guess I'll intervene and try my best to make her take it easy.

[ulrica]

<sup>Slender legs trembled and fluffy tail waved around as Aiu fought the urge to simply fall over and give up. She shook her head, hoping that would keep the black dots from dancing across her vision, but no it only made her head ache worse and the world tilt even more. Pain bloomed where the snake had struck, spreading throughout her entire body until everything felt like it was being stabbed with a thousand flaming needles. A tiny whimper escaped her throat as she vaguely realized the ground was coming up to meet her. Or was she falling? The world was too unfocused for her to tell at this point. Stupid snake! Come back here and I'll take you on! She snarled with anger... Or did she? Did the thought ever leave her mouth? Aiu groaned and tried again to stand, flapping her right wing hard to try to push her up. Unfortunately, all that managed to do was create a large cloud of dust and dead leaves.

The white femme was still fighting with her own dizziness when a loud thud came from somewhere on her left. Instantly, she jerked her head. Instantly, she wished she hadn't. The aching in her skull increased ten-fold for a moment until finally receding back into the painful throb it was before. Fear spread through Aiu's blood as thickly as the poison, and with the fear came anger. How dare someone try and sneak up on her in this state? How dare someone try and scare her in this state? Let them come, you'll destroy them. A voice in her mind was saying while another, more rational voice cooed it was nothing and not to worry about it. Aiu listened to the first voice. Snarling with a savagery disproportionate to such a slender female, she flared her good wing and struggled to stay standing while making herself look bigger to defend herself from whatever was in the bushes. Maybe if she had been in a right state of mind, Aiu would have taken not of the soft scratch that came from above her. Almost like the sound of claws scraping across wood. However, her attention was otherwise taken and those small noises went unnoticed.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan began to laugh silently to himself as he watched the femme move in to a defensive position looking in the direction he threw the stick. Looks like she did fall for it after all.... though I shouldn't have tried to play such a trick on her in the state she's in... I guess I'll go ahead and end this little game of tag. Alastolan leaped from the branch he was on and flapped his wings once just before hitting the ground to slow his fall and landed directly beside the white wolfess. He attempted to gently fold one of his own wings around her and make her lean against him to help her stand and keep balance. "There's no need to be so alarmed you know. That was just me playing a little trick. I've kept up with you this whole time, even enough to see your little accident." Once more his voice was laced with care and concern but this time, it also had a much more dominant tone than before. "You'll be fine but you really need to take it easy for a while. Stop trying to push yourself so much." Alastolan let out a huge sigh and his tone became as gentle as it was before. "As amusing as this little game of chase was for a while, you're weak now and need to rest. I don't care how tough you are or how tough you THINK you are, even a wolf like me wouldn't be able to defend myself in a fight in a state like you're in. Just relax and lay down."

With a loving smile on his face Alastolan began to speak once again. "If I do remember correctly you DID say you would tell me your name if I managed to catch you. And technically.... I did." He began to laugh playfully as he awaited her response.

[ulrica]

<sup>The male's sudden arrival had surprised Aiu, making her whip around to see who and what had snuck up on her. The jerking movement was more than a little painful to her shoulder and sent a new flare of pain through her already aching body, not to mention the increase of throbbing in her poor skull. Stupid dog! She hissed at the male, or did she? Maybe it was just a bunch of mumblings... The slender wolfess couldn't tell and honestly she was too angry to care. Snarling in annoyance, she began to tell him where to go when something draped across her back and pulled her against a warm, strong side. He's.... Supporting me...? Aiu wondered a bewildered look coming across her face as she tried to make sense of it. Hadn't he heard her insult? Of course not you fool, it didn't make it past your thick head. A voice scolded inside the female's head. Still, she was too stubborn to admit she needed help and her pride wouldn't let her anyway, so she jerked away from the wing and the warm body of the male, growling when the sudden movement sent another bout of dizziness to wreak havoc on her already spinning world. Her attempts at independence turned out to be in vain as she simply fell back against the male's side, her right wing the only thing keeping their bodies from touching. Then the male's voice pierced through the dizziness and the pain and it was all Aiu could focus on that didn't spin uncontrollably or tilt over into a lopsided position; for that reason, she welcomed the stability it offered, but still disliked having to use him for support. "Stupid. How dare you pull such a childish prank." The winged wolfess growled under her breath, unsure whether he could hear or not but not caring either way.

When the male spoke again, his voice had a tone of dominance. Aiu glared up at him through jade glaciers, such cold refusal in her narrowed eyes that she was surprised when he didn't immediately fall over as a block of ice. "I don't want to relax or lay down and you can't make me." She argued stubbornly and more than a little childishly. "Besides, I can beat anyone at any time. I can...I can... Ugh..." A small whine came from the female's throat and her legs trembled beneath her, she absentmindedly leaned more of her weight against the male's sturdy frame and forced herself to swallow down whatever had been creeping up her throat. Suddenly, laying down didn't sound like a bad idea, but she was too unwilling to prove the male right to even think about resting. She had to prove that she was perfectly fine without his help.

A smile spread across the winged male's face, a strange tenderness in the action. What's that all about..? Aiu wondered absentmindedly, before realizing he was speaking...again: "You would tell me your name if I managed to catch you..." Stupid male!! She almost screamed, biting back her angry retort for fear of throwing up if she opened her mouth at the moment. When she finally felt safe enough to talk, she said only two words, the male's laugh echoing painfully through her aching head. "Bite me..."</sup>

[Xenoxice]

"I don't want to relax or lay down and you can't make me." Alastolan raised an eyebrow with a childish smirk on his face. "You know I don't have to make you lay down." He began to snicker a bit. "You're making yourself do that right now the more you keep struggling to try and do things on your own." "Besides, I can beat anyone at any time. I can...I can... Ugh..." He waited for a moment as it appeared the femme became even weaker as her weight shifted. With a sarcastic yet playful tone he replied. "Oh yes I'm SO sure you could right now. Especially since you can barely even stand up and talk."

"Bite me..." Alastolan began to laugh heartily now in response to the femme's remark. "Well well well. That wasn't very nice now was it? Here I am, pretty much the only thing holding you up right now from falling face down in the dirt, comforting you, giving you GREAT advice which in my opinion you should take to heart and listen to by the way AND just being here for you. And all you can say is 'bite me'?" All the while through his comment he was laughing somehow finding her attitude amusing and strangely attractive as nobody had ever tried to refuse him like she has been before. "Come on now why do you have to be that why? All I've asked for is your name. Nothing more. What's so hard about that? Am I going to have to earn the oh so grand privilege of knowing your name in more ways than the one I already have?" He began to laugh just a bit again with his slightly sarcastic remark he made at the end.

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu growled angrily at the male's sarcastic remarks. How dare he treat her in such a way?! This was his fault anyway, he should be begging for her forgiveness. The young female ranted mentally. If you have a problem with supporting me then go away!" She snarled, shoving him with her wing and wobbling away on unsteady legs. Turning back to continue on, she made sure to put the jagged edge of ice in her voice. "See! I don't need you or anyone else! And stop acting like you know everything, your advice isn't that great! You're just arrogant! I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to!" Aiu would have continued had she not suddenly tilted to her left, her balance askew because of the dizziness. She flapped her wing, but quickly stopped when the only thing that got her was more searing pain. So, she teetered to the left, trying desperately to right herself before ultimately falling painfully on her wounded shoulder just as the male had said she would without his support. The winged she-wolf let out a yelp of pain as her shoulder connected with the ground and her left wing bent in an odd position that stretched some of the muscles too far and caused even more pain. This isn't fair... She silently complained before trying to stand, obviously not having learned her lesson.

The male's voice temporarily made her pause so she could listen as she had found it was hard to focus on more than one thing for some reason. Once again he asked for her name. Oh gods!! He just doesn't give up! "Aiu!" She snarled viciously, angry and embarrassed, and not feeling very well at all. "Aiu is my name! Are you happy now?!" The young she wolf returned to her struggles, trying as hard as she could to stand back up. However, no matter how hard she tried or how much she flapped with her right wing, the ground still wouldn't get any farther away. When it did, it was only momentarily at best and then she would come crashing painfully back down. She finally just laid there on her left side, everything in her body aching and throbbing with the fire-like bite of the poison. Her sides rose and fell quickly with her shallow panting as she just stared with a defeated expression into the forest. Making sure to completely ignore the male laughing at her.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

"See! I don't need you or anyone else! And stop acting like you know everything, your advice isn't that great! You're just arrogant! I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to!" As she wolfess began to stagger Alastolan took a step forward to her but it was too late. She had fallen and the yelp of pain she let out struck in his heart, making his face cringe with sympathy. "Aiu is my name! Are you happy now?!". Alastolan smiled just slightly as he watched the femme laying their on the ground in pain. Slowly stepping over to her. He looked at her wing and very carefully moved it back in to its natural position. Alastolan let out a deep heavy sigh and his face was overcome with an overwhelming expression of sincerity and care. He layed down beside her and began to carefully use his head to pick her up a bit until he wedged his way under her so she was laying against him instead of the ground.

His large black wing gently closed around Aiu. A new tone overtook his voice which was now, almost a whisper, that hadn't been present before until now. Affection. "Please.... just rest now." He spoke with his loving, deep bi-colored eyes looking in Aiu's own. "I swear to you I wont let anyone or anything come near you while you recover. And if anything wishes harm upon you I will fight even to the death to protect you. I'm not telling you to do anything.... I'm asking you Aiu... Please stop trying to be so tough. You don't have to close yourself off from me. Please believe me...." Alastolan turned his head and layed it down ever so lovingly on her unwounded shoulder and closed his eyes. Any and all gods out there.... please... I beg you.... let my words get through to her heart. A tear rolled down the side of Alastolan's face facing toward Aiu's. This is a wolf that even though I barely know.... I have grown very fond of. I have a feeling you're telling me my future lies with her. I will do anything.... anything....... to make her life better. Another tear rolled down his face. This time on the other side and landed on Aiu's shoulder.

[ulrica]

<sup>He was smiling! The big oaf was just standing there smiling! Aiu closed her eyes, refusing to see the male laugh at her again. But he didn't laugh. The sudden contact made the female jump and her eyes flash open even as the pain bloomed anew. But she wasn't concentrating on that, she was more interested in the wolf nudging her ever so slightly until she was laying against him his warm, soft side instead of on the hard ground. His wing spread over her back and pulled her closer against the warmth of his ribs. A small tremor ran down the she-wolf's spine. Strange... Her fur was that of a northern born so no matter the cold outside she had never felt it. Is it really that cold or... Her thoughts were abruptly called to a halt when the male started talking again, but his voice had changed. Where once there had been simply concern, now tenderness and caring had replaced it. Simply in the tone of his voice he offered his protection and companionship. "Please... Just rest now." Aiu almost whimpered at his plea. Why... She wondered absentmindedly, unable to understand how a wolf could care for another as this male did for her. She had never had a family, never had a friend. Loneliness was all she had known and for this male to act in such an intimate manner was a mystery to her.

However, the male continued in his plea, their eyes meeting and him holding her gaze. The male swore his protection and begged her to let down her fierce facade. His large head lowered to rest on her shoulder and something wet her fur. A tear? But why? Another followed from his other eye, but Aiu couldn't tell what could make him feel so strongly that he would show such pure emotion. Her heart was pounding in her head, with every beat another throb of pain. With every beat, another throb of confusion. She didn't understand, but she didn't want the male to shed his tears for her. The young wolfess knew she didn't deserve them. It hurt for her to breathe, it hurt for her not to breathe, everything she did hurt. If not herself then it would hurt him. Wait... When did that start to bother me...? She was confused and scared and in agonizing pain, but something told her not to move. Something, some voice in her head said to stay.

Aiu's head rested against the male's paws and she moved slightly so they rested on them. She breathed in deeply then forced her knotted muscles to relax. "Don't wake me up." She warned quietly, though there was a softness to her voice that shaved the edge from her words. When did I start to trust him... The winged she-wolf asked herself as she closed her emerald eyes. Then, she fell asleep alongside the brawny form of a wolf she hardly knew.</sup>