[Up in the mountains, where civilization doesn't reach and humans rarely tread, life is harsh. It's cold (literally), bitter, and unforgiving. Even in the spring, when the base of the mountain is free of snow and the forest actually flourishes, danger abounds. Bears are emerging from hibernation with cubs they would fight to the death to protect. Aggressive bucks fight for the right to mate with the does in the area. Absolutely nothing is guaranteed, and the next moment could be your last...be it from exposure, starvation, or being mauled.
And right now? The winter is at its harshest. Many of the aforementioned creatures are either still hibernating or knew best to move to warmer climates, meaning that the predators that did stick around have to struggle to find food. Prey is scarce, and one good meal could mean the difference between life and death. In this, Rockfire considers himself fortunate. He has advantages most humans do not, as well as advantages that most animals do not. Perhaps because he simply isn't a wolf trying to survive through base instincts alone. He lives here as a conscious choice. It's secluded, but it's beautifully serene...
Lonely. Very lonely, yes...but when the spring came, it would bring with it more opportunities to make new acquiantances. Patience is a virtue. At least, that's what he's told himself for the last decade...
Imagine his surprise, then, when he's awoken in the dead of night to the sound of creatures howling in the forest. Because in this world...not just mere wolves and deer exist, oh no. Like Rockfire, there are creatures of magic, both bestial and small, that haunt the mountaintops and punish trespassers with great justice.
...and unfortunately for Noah? He has pissed something off. And whatever it is...it's not exactly happy with his presence as it chases him down, snapping entire trees in half at their base as it charges through the snowdrifts in his wake.]
He's just wandering through. Looking for stuff, on an adventure, genuinely minding his own business. This is the boy who doesn't like to kill, after all, and he'll do it if he needs to, but...
This particular monster — he doesn't even know what to call it, to him in his panic state it seems like a chimera, but he does not have the time to look to be frank — wants him dead. Deadder than dead. This thing wants to chew on his skull and use his femurs as a toothpick. Noah is normally not the sort to run from battle, but in this case?
He's injured. Pretty badly at that, using only the shadows to get around because his right leg is effectively useless thanks to a huge gouge in his calf. If he could just meld into the shadows and get it to go away, he'd do it, but he's still vulnerable as hell. The beast has a nose that could simply sniff him out, and it wouldn't leave him alone if he simply hid.
For now, Noah's still faster than it, but he's slowing down immensely the longer this chase goes on. There's a trail of blood through the snow behind him, and his vision blurring, and when he next blinks he's on the ground. His exhausted, dizzy brain can't quite calculate why that is, though to anyone else it'd be obvious — he lost his footing in the ice and tripped — and now... at least he has the self-preservation instinct to roll onto his back and put up a wall of shadows to hide behind, bracing his sickle over his head just in case, though he'd rather just... you know, not risk snapping Clamor in half. It's fine, it's fine, he's fine he'll be fine—
If he can just muster the magical strength to stab this thing in the neck as it slams into the shield, he'll be golden. Just a little push with the None Energy he has left.]
[Where he's made his home in an alcove tucked safely within the mountain, even if it's a bit further up-hill compared to where Noah is being chased, Rockfire can hear that level of commotion. It's loud- unforgivingly so- to the point where it causes his sensitive ears to ring as he rises to his hindpaws, heart hammering in his chest. And honestly? In any other circumstance, he would do the smart thing and park his ass right in the deepest part of the cave to hunker down until the danger had passed. It's kill or be killed for some creatures out there, and he knows when best to simply not engage.
...but it's the blood that gets his attention next, causing his already quick breaths from being awoken so suddenly to come sharper and faster. It could just be something hunting. A deer that was unfortunate enough to not die immediately, forced to drag itself through the snow until its aggressor finally claimed it. It'd be nice if that were all it was, of course, but Rockfire...is a wolf, at least in part, and he can smell better than that.
That's no deer blood. It's human.
Humans don't come up here often. It's dangerous, obviously, and those that do tend to stick near the mountain's base. He's relatively certain it's been years since any have been in the area, and...well. There's a reason he knows what human blood smells like.
For his own sake...he shouldn't. He knows he shouldn't. But he's dropping back down to all fours and charging into the night before he can stop himself, the ice and snow about as bothersome as a light spring rain as he thunders down the mountainside with his nose guiding him forward. It isn't long before the scent shifts, leading him down the very obvious carnage left in the chimera's wake. It's less a path, and more a tunnel carved through the unfortunate, already sparse tree growth that guides him to the scene.
It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on with that wall of shadow blocking part of his vision, but what he can see is the beast on the other side, multiple heads gnashing its teeth and yowling with rage at its prey being hidden from its view. There is blood everywhere, completely melting the snow in a few places, and that is only exacerbated by the way one of its heads seems to breathe fire at random. It's sheer stupid luck that Noah hasn't been barbequed yet, but at this point that's the least of his worries. The beast is rearing back, claws bared, horns primed with the intent on goring straight through that wall. And if it fails...whoever is on the other side is not going to survive it.
In the split second before impact, Rockfire skids on all fours through the snow into full view of the chimera, placing himself firmly between it and its prey. He snarls, baring his fangs with his fur bristling along his back and shoulders, heavy billowing swirls of icy steam engulfing his paws from where it leaves his jaws. His eyes glow to signal to a beast who may not understand proper language: back off. This is my territory.
It's one thing to just lie down and accept it — he'll come back and all. It's another thing for him to suck it up and admit he doesn't want to die, not now at least, when he has so many things he needs to take care of. Right now, he's trying to tell himself he won't kick it, but his vision is fading fast and now there's a blur of blue dashing between him, the chimera, and the shadow wall that's gradually fading.
Urgh.
It's funny, how all he can think about is how much "this sucks" and "goddammit" and not anything further than that.
The chimera, of course, would love to put up an argument with Rockfire's icy steam. Fire melts ice, but ice and fire can create water, which snuffs flame. The creature isn't that smart — three heads does not an intelligent creature make — and can't exactly triangulate that, but... another animal's territory? Is it worth fighting not one but two creatures, one completely healthy and equally-as-magical, and one slowly dying but strong enough to still resist it?
Chimera math...
What if you wanted to get a snack and some blue creature said: I'll eat it first?
...further chimera math...
Hm...
The chimera protestingly growls, the dragon head blowing a gout of flame onto the trees nearby. A few catch fire, but the blaze is quickly put out by wet, heavy snowfall, unable to spread further by the addition of the snow on the ground. That seems to give the creature enough of a blow to its confidence to make it wander back into the forest with one last irritated growl, clearly frustrated it'll have to get a snack from elsewhere.
At that moment, the shadow wall fizzes and dies, and Noah's not really sure what happened. Shapes are blurry, he thinks he can feel the ground shaking as one of the shapes moves away, and everything is very gradually going numb. It's probably because he's bleeding out and also in the snow.
[In all honesty? He hadn't been sure this was going to even work. Chimera may not be smart, but that doesn't mean he's a match for one. He's certain that if it had really come to blows, he could have very well died performing that little stunt...magic of his own or no. Fortunately for all involved, the chimera doesn't seem interested in playing around with a creature who can command the ice and snow around it...which is probably actually pretty wise, on its part. And so it stomps off into the trees, disappearing into the darkness...freeing Rockfire up to relax, his head lifting and ears perking.
What he isn't expecting to find when he turns to look behind him is a human who seems so...small. So fragile. And so very, VERY heavily injured.
The blood he smelled is all Noah's. That alone is concerning enough, what with how much has clearly been lost...but this is the near top of a frigid mountain, covered with ice. Not only is he bleeding, he's freezing. He might actually die of hypothermia before he bleeds out, at this rate. He doesn't know the full extent of his injuries, and he isn't interested in dithering to find out. Instead, he shifts forms again- from quadrupedal to bipedal- his body filling out in a way that's more properly human-esc than the canine form he'd assumed to run here. Carrying him on his back otherwise would only work if he could easily get him there without dragging him through the snow. This won't be as fast on foot, but it's safest to keep Noah from suffering worse...at least, that's the thought process behind scooping his broken body up in his arms before he lopes away from the scene into the trees beyond.
It takes about half as long to get back to his home as it did to leave it, but it's the best he can do in the moment. He isn't sure if Noah is even conscious- he hasn't tried talking to him, he figures that might just make things more complicated- so instead he focuses on trying to get him stable. Into the cave first, where they are spared from the driving wind and snow, all the way to the back where Rockfire's "home" of sorts resides. Obviously he doesn't have the same things a human might, but he does value comfort. Much of this space is lined with soft things, like soft material from the forest, moss...even some cloths in places, from the bits he had been able to salvage from various excursions in a more wolf-like form to nearby settlements. Not in a way that could be stealing, necessarily...just things that had been dropped haphazardly, or littered. His now.
Anyway. Noah gets very gently laid down in what could best be called a nest, his paws carefully pushing it up so that he's not laying quite so flat on the hard rocks. Only then does he get a better look at the extent of his injuries...to see what he might have to do to save him.]
[The injuries are pretty bad, but the worst of them come from Noah's lower left leg. It might be considered a miracle he was even half-stumbling at all through the forest as he was with how deep the damage goes. And yes, he'd more than passed out after the Chimera wandered off to go attack some other unsuspecting mammal. It's probably for the best at this point; awake people tend to thrash when they think they're being carried off to be eaten.
There are further, lighter injuries over his arms, and a gash across his side that isn't too deep, but still deep enough to be concerning. His coat and several layers of clothing had taken the brunt of the damage, but not enough. That leg, though... That'll need stitches. And physical therapy. One step (haha) at a time.
At the very least, Noah's breathing, even if he's extremely pale. Being inside, away from the elements, makes his breathing just a little easier. For now. He'll probably be fine (mostly) if treated... He'll just need an extended nap about it.
And probably to be made to actually rest, because he will try to leave again whenever he wakes up, be it and hour or days from now.]
[Right out of the gate, he's zeroing in on that leg injury. It is nasty, bad to the point where if something isn't done about it right now, he may not even keep that leg for much longer. There are other gashes and scrapes that need tending to, but Rockfire thinks that so long as the main ones are dressed and stable...he'll at least have a fighting chance. The least he can do is try, and there's no way he's going to leave him here to bleed out when there's a possibility he could help.
Though he is a magical creature in his own right, with elemental magic at his disposal, he doesn't have the ability to heal. The best he could do is provide plenty of ice to keep inflamation down, but that isn't terribly useful when it's already a blizzard out. No, he's going to have to rely on his own ingenuity to get this done. And...it's not going to be pretty.
Right away, Rahk snatches up one of the clothes from his little personal hoard, trying to pick out one that's as clean and untouched as he possibly can find before setting to work tearing threads from it with his claws. At the same time, he's looking over at the nearby pile of refuse from his prior evening meal, having been completely picked clean and near frozen to the ground because he hadn't had a chance to toss it into the woods yet. Small creatures, like rodents, since larger game is near impossible to come by...
What he ends up prising from the pile is a small length of bone- a rib from something, more than likely- that's hooked and sharp enough to act as a makeshift needle. It's going to be ugly, and not exactly the cleanest work in the world, but it's an emergency. Noah may just have to contend with an ugly scar in that place for the rest of his life, but that's assuming he survives the ordeal to begin with. Either way...with a notch gouged into one end of the bone with his teeth, and careful pushing and prodding of one of those threads onto it, Rahk sets to work getting the flesh stitched back together. He just has to hope he isn't already too late by the time he's finished.]
No, actually, he'll be fine. He unconsciously stirs at the first touch of the bone-needle, but after a bit, goes still, with his shallow breathing being the only indication that he's still alive after all of it. He's just passed out. Let him rest, he'll need it.
...
Apparently, he'll really need the rest. Noah doesn't stir for another day after Rockfire completes the DIY surgery, just... laying there however he's left afterwards. At least, within a few hours of the "surgery" itself, his breathing becomes less shallow, and some colour appears on his cheeks again. Noah's naturally a very pale boy, so it's not much, but it's the difference between white and cream walls. An interesting metaphor to use when there's just a dying boy laying on the floor—
He stirs, finally, late into the night, blinking at the cave in the gloom. He's not sure where he is, nor has he noticed that there's another presence with him yet. Forgive him when he speaks aloud in a raspy, weak voice.]
Did I die...?
[Because if so, he doesn't think this is where he normally wakes up when the timeline resets.]
[It had been a struggle, keeping Noah stable. Doing all of this on the fly, having to work with what he had...all of it last-minute, last-ditch measures to keep Noah alive. By the time he'd finished, the wolf had been left soaked with Noah's blood and with no bedding materials left. He didn't mind that part so much- he would just have to go out looking for some more at some point- but as it stood, everything he had had been used to patch Noah up. The threads for stitching his wounds, then the actual cloths themselves for binding and dressing them. He'd cleaned them as best he could with his own melted ice, which was much cleaner than the fallen snow, before getting the wounds covered and just...waiting. Because at that point, there was nothing else he could do but wait to see if he would wake back up.
It was arduous, and scary. To keep Noah from freezing to death in the cave, Rockfire had built a makeshift, small fire that he had to keep tending to hourly to keep the embers alive, adopting his feral form so he could sleep with his body curled around the boy's. Even if he had ice based magic, that didn't mean he was any less of a warm blooded creature. Perhaps not quite so warm as one with an affinity towards fire of course, but still...
When Noah wakes, he won't be blamed if he thinks he's alone. It's dark, the fire has died out...and the only sound he can hear initially is the wind blowing outside the cave. But then he speaks...and a pair of blue eyes open across from him, the only thing visible in the darkness. They stare back for a long handful of seconds before Rockfire steps into view, still on all fours as he lowers his head down to Noah's level, sniffing his leg at the worst of his wound. It's still pretty bad...but there is no sign of infection.
Yet.
Then, the wolf looks back up, blinking slowly.]
You didn't die. And you aren't going to die. Not if I have anything to say about it.
[Here, Noah pretty much jumps out of his skin. Hi hello what the fuck who is speaking—
Oh.
Oh! It's one of the blurs who jumped in front of him, now significantly less blurry. Still, Noah sits up in a start, letting out a pained yell when every wound on him starts to throb all at once. It leaves him sitting there winded for a spell, clutching the gash in his side with his hand and sucking in a breath through his teeth.
His leg, well, he'll get to that later.]
Fuck... u-um. [hey! how do you talk to others?] Um—! S-sorry to impose, thanks for... for the help. Should I go?
[boy]
I-I don't want to be a burden on you or anything. [BOY.]
[A burden??? The wolf actually laughs, a huffing, growling sound that might seem a little intimidating if it weren't for the fact that...well, he's talking for one, but also hasn't tried to eat him yet or anything. He shakes his head before giving the rest of his body a brisk shake afterwards, taking a seat on the cool stone floor in front of where he's laid Noah down in his own nest.]
I'm sorry to tell you this...but I don't think you could leave, even if you wanted to.
[...]
Which...sounds ominous, but don't worry! I won't force you to stay or anything...you just have a lot of wounds you still need to heal up from...
Um— I'll be okay, really. I don't want to impose on—
[Here is the part where he tries to get up and finds that he absolutely can't; a searing pain shoots through his leg all at once, leaving Noah to pitifully shout in the gloom and flop back onto the ground. Through grit teeth, he hisses out another pained noise, eyes locked to the cavern roof while a cold sweat breaks out over his forehead.
Okay. So... that's a no... on moving. Great.]
...maybe just... one day or two. I-I won't be in the way, I promise. I-if that's okay.
[Hm. It's...more than a little concerning that Noah is so insistent about leaving when he's so very obviously injured. Like, severely so. Rockfire spent a good while getting him stitched after all, but maybe Noah just isn't fully aware of the extent of it...
His ears shift as he wraps his long tail around his paws, leaning down again to sniff at Noah's leg, then his side.]
I understand if you're scared to be here. Or scared of me. But I'm not going to hurt you, I promise.
[And as if to prove it, he'll lay down on his belly across from Noah, laying his head on his paws.]
I haven't seen humans up on the mountain in a long time, but that doesn't mean I want anything to happen to them.
[Oh no he didn't mean to give offence! Oh no he's sorry, please forgive him—]
Um! I didn't— I'm not scared of you! [Well. Noah doesn't easily trust others, even if they're very cool-looking animals, but it's not out of fear. It's just a general sentiment.] It's... I-I just don't want to be a burden on you, th-that's all.
[Noah cranes his neck to try and look at Rockfire. Making eye contact with anyone at all is hard, so he... manages it. For about two seconds, and then his gaze darts elsewhere. He'll just look at Rockfire's paws, yeah, that makes sense.]
S-sorry. I was just passing through. I didn't mean to make things complicated for you.
[NOAH, SWEETIE, who hurt you and who does he have to kill, seriously-
He decides, then, to shift a bit so Noah can see him better...by rolling onto his side, exposing his belly like a friendly dog might. His ears fall back and his tail sweeps the floor a handful of times.]
Complicated? This is the most excitement I've had in months, I'll have you know. Not a lot happens up here during the wintertime...not when everything is asleep.
[And though he's not THRILLED about this "excitement" involving Noah almost kicking it under his watch...he's trying to assure him he doesn't mind having him here, okay?
So maybe they need to switch gears. He rolls entirely onto his back now, all four paws in the air.]
My name is Rockfire, but you can just call me Rocky! What's yours?
[Rocky seems like the most chill wolf. It's nice, he thinks, even if he's a little bit wary still. Maybe he's dying and he made all of this up... that sounds like something that would happen to him. So, does he... rub the belly? Is that what he's meant to do here?
Honestly, when he tries to reach and arm out to do so, everything hurts too much. Ugh. This sucks. Can't even pet the dog—]
I'm not a very exciting person, though. I'm just... me. Sorry. I-if you thought I was going to be fun, I mean.
...
How can I make it up to you for taking me in? [NOAH PLEASE]
[Oh...Rocky (who will be known as Rocky from now on because Noah is calling him that, it is law), seems to realize what's happening as Noah struggles to move, so he decides to make things a bit easier on both of them. He'll move if it turns out that Noah is still a bit...too nervous to be this close to a wolf, rolling all the way over so he can get back to his feet. He pads closer, circling around behind Noah before flopping down on his stomach there, laying with his chest right behind Noah's back so he can lean back against his side instead of having to force himself to sit up.
There. Also the added benefit of adding Warm to the scenario, which he most certainly needs.]
You can make it up to me by getting better. No getting an infection on my watch, alright?
[Because that is still a very real possibility, those bandages weren't like........sterile..........or even real bandages.
He pushes his head gently up under Noah's arm, then, letting his head act as a rest for it. If Noah's hand ends up on top of his head then, well, so be it.]
Just extra company is exciting enough for me...you really don't have to worry about it. I mean...you brought a Chimera through the forest. That was pretty exciting!
[Oh... Yeah, that's much nicer. After some initial shifting around, it's a lot comfier, and the pain subsides quite a bit. It feels awful having to rely on poor Rocky for this much, but Noah's gradually (hesitantly) accepting the fact that he doesn't have a choice in the matter at all.
He combs his fingers absentmindedly through soft fur. That, at least, he can do without being in massive amounts of pain. Pat doggo. Befriend doggo. What a nice wolf, so unlike the Chimera who tried to shred Noah to pieces earlier.
...
Was that earlier? Fuck. What day is it—]
It wanted me dead. I wasn't trying to make it mad. [His face scrunches up.] I must've stumbled too far into its territory or something. I'm just glad it didn't die... I thought I'd have to kill it to defend myself, but...
[But he couldn't even do that much, weak as he was. Is.]
...I guess it doesn't matter. I really thought I was done for. I probably would've been...
…hey, it’s okay. There are…a lot of magical creatures up here that most don’t know about. It isn’t just deer and rabbit, unfortunately…
[He exhales on a deep sigh, closing his eyes as Noah finally settles into petting him. Yes good, be soothed.]
It probably wasn’t anything you did other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And…it’s winter. Those of us who don’t hibernate have to find food. You might have been the first thing they saw in days.
[Barely a snack, but it doesn’t matter if you’re already starving.]
I just wish I hadn’t gotten there late. It tore you up pretty badly, you know.
[Noah still feels bad...! The chimera couldn't found something healthy to eat! Not tiny like Noah!
"Tiny" really is how he feels when he's using a literal wolf as a pillow, enough so that he's supported at his back but also able to pet said wolf's head, just by the way. Noah knows he's short, and he doesn't expect to grow anymore even though the world promises him that men don't stop growing 'til their twenties. It seems incorrect for his case.]
Yeah. I was... trying to get away from it. Operative term. I didn't succeed. It got my leg early into me trying to mount a defense, and I had to run from there. I don't remember too much... just suddenly finding myself in the snow with my vision blurring and stuff.
...um! But it's okay! I can help you find food when I'm better, since it's winter and all! It shouldn't take long, right?
[Help him find food? Why does he get the feeling this is Noah trying to make up for Rocky's help, and also being allowed to stay here...
Once more, he lets out a long sigh as he tilts his head up, deliberately nudging his nose into Noah's palm before dropping his head back down so he can keep petting him, if he'd like.]
We'll see. Like I said, your injuries weren't pretty...I stitched and cleaned you up the best I could, but it's not going to heal overnight.
[It may take weeks, even months for Noah to be able to walk around properly on his own again. But Rocky isn't going to say that. Instead, he just curls around Noah a bit more securely, as if he'd been staying here with him this whole time.]
[That... tracks. Noah shifts a bit, looking off to the side to see where Clamor went. Right now, the sickle itself is dormant — sealed — which is what brought him through the mountains in the first place. Trying to find a way to... unseal it, he supposes is the term there. Noah's no mage. Being able to do magic doesn't make you a mage. That's like... A formal education.
When he finds said sickle, he finally nods. He's armed, at least, and he thinks he can cast his shadow magic again after it fizzled the first time. It just... it feels weak when he thinks about it. Like it's not all there, like he hasn't actually recovered that much. Of course he hasn't.
Ugh.]
I-I'll be fine. I'm pretty good at taking care of myself. This is a... um... Bad example.
[Poor Noah. Rocky is a little concerned that even with that weapon, he might struggle if the cave was overrun or something...but fortunately, he isn't going to go very far. In fact, he wasn't even planning on leaving the cave...
He will get up though, nudging at Noah's hand with his nose again before he starts to move away.]
This cave goes a bit deeper than what you can see. It's where I keep the food I've stored, so others can't get to it as easily. So give me just a moment!
[And off he goes, just the tip of his tail visible before he disappears into the darkness. Noah...will have to contend with the howling wind outside, and maybe the occasional howl in the distance...but Rocky comes back before he can potentially get snapped up by the dangers of the mountain, dragging a sack behind him in his jaws.]
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timeasmymeasure
tmw the name of your character wasn't taken
Date: 2023-02-01 05:44 am (UTC)And right now? The winter is at its harshest. Many of the aforementioned creatures are either still hibernating or knew best to move to warmer climates, meaning that the predators that did stick around have to struggle to find food. Prey is scarce, and one good meal could mean the difference between life and death. In this, Rockfire considers himself fortunate. He has advantages most humans do not, as well as advantages that most animals do not. Perhaps because he simply isn't a wolf trying to survive through base instincts alone. He lives here as a conscious choice. It's secluded, but it's beautifully serene...
Lonely. Very lonely, yes...but when the spring came, it would bring with it more opportunities to make new acquiantances. Patience is a virtue. At least, that's what he's told himself for the last decade...
Imagine his surprise, then, when he's awoken in the dead of night to the sound of creatures howling in the forest. Because in this world...not just mere wolves and deer exist, oh no. Like Rockfire, there are creatures of magic, both bestial and small, that haunt the mountaintops and punish trespassers with great justice.
...and unfortunately for Noah? He has pissed something off. And whatever it is...it's not exactly happy with his presence as it chases him down, snapping entire trees in half at their base as it charges through the snowdrifts in his wake.]
imagine
Date: 2023-02-01 06:20 am (UTC)He's just wandering through. Looking for stuff, on an adventure, genuinely minding his own business. This is the boy who doesn't like to kill, after all, and he'll do it if he needs to, but...
This particular monster — he doesn't even know what to call it, to him in his panic state it seems like a chimera, but he does not have the time to look to be frank — wants him dead. Deadder than dead. This thing wants to chew on his skull and use his femurs as a toothpick. Noah is normally not the sort to run from battle, but in this case?
He's injured. Pretty badly at that, using only the shadows to get around because his right leg is effectively useless thanks to a huge gouge in his calf. If he could just meld into the shadows and get it to go away, he'd do it, but he's still vulnerable as hell. The beast has a nose that could simply sniff him out, and it wouldn't leave him alone if he simply hid.
For now, Noah's still faster than it, but he's slowing down immensely the longer this chase goes on. There's a trail of blood through the snow behind him, and his vision blurring, and when he next blinks he's on the ground. His exhausted, dizzy brain can't quite calculate why that is, though to anyone else it'd be obvious — he lost his footing in the ice and tripped — and now... at least he has the self-preservation instinct to roll onto his back and put up a wall of shadows to hide behind, bracing his sickle over his head just in case, though he'd rather just... you know, not risk snapping Clamor in half. It's fine, it's fine, he's fine he'll be fine—
If he can just muster the magical strength to stab this thing in the neck as it slams into the shield, he'll be golden. Just a little push with the None Energy he has left.]
also me realizing I dont have any angy rocky why okay we'll just use this icon over and over
Date: 2023-02-01 06:48 am (UTC)...but it's the blood that gets his attention next, causing his already quick breaths from being awoken so suddenly to come sharper and faster. It could just be something hunting. A deer that was unfortunate enough to not die immediately, forced to drag itself through the snow until its aggressor finally claimed it. It'd be nice if that were all it was, of course, but Rockfire...is a wolf, at least in part, and he can smell better than that.
That's no deer blood. It's human.
Humans don't come up here often. It's dangerous, obviously, and those that do tend to stick near the mountain's base. He's relatively certain it's been years since any have been in the area, and...well. There's a reason he knows what human blood smells like.
For his own sake...he shouldn't. He knows he shouldn't. But he's dropping back down to all fours and charging into the night before he can stop himself, the ice and snow about as bothersome as a light spring rain as he thunders down the mountainside with his nose guiding him forward. It isn't long before the scent shifts, leading him down the very obvious carnage left in the chimera's wake. It's less a path, and more a tunnel carved through the unfortunate, already sparse tree growth that guides him to the scene.
It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on with that wall of shadow blocking part of his vision, but what he can see is the beast on the other side, multiple heads gnashing its teeth and yowling with rage at its prey being hidden from its view. There is blood everywhere, completely melting the snow in a few places, and that is only exacerbated by the way one of its heads seems to breathe fire at random. It's sheer stupid luck that Noah hasn't been barbequed yet, but at this point that's the least of his worries. The beast is rearing back, claws bared, horns primed with the intent on goring straight through that wall. And if it fails...whoever is on the other side is not going to survive it.
In the split second before impact, Rockfire skids on all fours through the snow into full view of the chimera, placing himself firmly between it and its prey. He snarls, baring his fangs with his fur bristling along his back and shoulders, heavy billowing swirls of icy steam engulfing his paws from where it leaves his jaws. His eyes glow to signal to a beast who may not understand proper language: back off. This is my territory.
MY prey.]
i forgive you
Date: 2023-02-01 07:23 am (UTC)It's one thing to just lie down and accept it — he'll come back and all. It's another thing for him to suck it up and admit he doesn't want to die, not now at least, when he has so many things he needs to take care of. Right now, he's trying to tell himself he won't kick it, but his vision is fading fast and now there's a blur of blue dashing between him, the chimera, and the shadow wall that's gradually fading.
Urgh.
It's funny, how all he can think about is how much "this sucks" and "goddammit" and not anything further than that.
The chimera, of course, would love to put up an argument with Rockfire's icy steam. Fire melts ice, but ice and fire can create water, which snuffs flame. The creature isn't that smart — three heads does not an intelligent creature make — and can't exactly triangulate that, but... another animal's territory? Is it worth fighting not one but two creatures, one completely healthy and equally-as-magical, and one slowly dying but strong enough to still resist it?
Chimera math...
What if you wanted to get a snack and some blue creature said: I'll eat it first?
...further chimera math...
Hm...
The chimera protestingly growls, the dragon head blowing a gout of flame onto the trees nearby. A few catch fire, but the blaze is quickly put out by wet, heavy snowfall, unable to spread further by the addition of the snow on the ground. That seems to give the creature enough of a blow to its confidence to make it wander back into the forest with one last irritated growl, clearly frustrated it'll have to get a snack from elsewhere.
At that moment, the shadow wall fizzes and dies, and Noah's not really sure what happened. Shapes are blurry, he thinks he can feel the ground shaking as one of the shapes moves away, and everything is very gradually going numb. It's probably because he's bleeding out and also in the snow.
Man.
This still sucks.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 07:49 am (UTC)What he isn't expecting to find when he turns to look behind him is a human who seems so...small. So fragile. And so very, VERY heavily injured.
The blood he smelled is all Noah's. That alone is concerning enough, what with how much has clearly been lost...but this is the near top of a frigid mountain, covered with ice. Not only is he bleeding, he's freezing. He might actually die of hypothermia before he bleeds out, at this rate. He doesn't know the full extent of his injuries, and he isn't interested in dithering to find out. Instead, he shifts forms again- from quadrupedal to bipedal- his body filling out in a way that's more properly human-esc than the canine form he'd assumed to run here. Carrying him on his back otherwise would only work if he could easily get him there without dragging him through the snow. This won't be as fast on foot, but it's safest to keep Noah from suffering worse...at least, that's the thought process behind scooping his broken body up in his arms before he lopes away from the scene into the trees beyond.
It takes about half as long to get back to his home as it did to leave it, but it's the best he can do in the moment. He isn't sure if Noah is even conscious- he hasn't tried talking to him, he figures that might just make things more complicated- so instead he focuses on trying to get him stable. Into the cave first, where they are spared from the driving wind and snow, all the way to the back where Rockfire's "home" of sorts resides. Obviously he doesn't have the same things a human might, but he does value comfort. Much of this space is lined with soft things, like soft material from the forest, moss...even some cloths in places, from the bits he had been able to salvage from various excursions in a more wolf-like form to nearby settlements. Not in a way that could be stealing, necessarily...just things that had been dropped haphazardly, or littered. His now.
Anyway. Noah gets very gently laid down in what could best be called a nest, his paws carefully pushing it up so that he's not laying quite so flat on the hard rocks. Only then does he get a better look at the extent of his injuries...to see what he might have to do to save him.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 08:01 am (UTC)There are further, lighter injuries over his arms, and a gash across his side that isn't too deep, but still deep enough to be concerning. His coat and several layers of clothing had taken the brunt of the damage, but not enough. That leg, though... That'll need stitches. And physical therapy. One step (haha) at a time.
At the very least, Noah's breathing, even if he's extremely pale. Being inside, away from the elements, makes his breathing just a little easier. For now. He'll probably be fine (mostly) if treated... He'll just need an extended nap about it.
And probably to be made to actually rest, because he will try to leave again whenever he wakes up, be it and hour or days from now.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 08:30 pm (UTC)Though he is a magical creature in his own right, with elemental magic at his disposal, he doesn't have the ability to heal. The best he could do is provide plenty of ice to keep inflamation down, but that isn't terribly useful when it's already a blizzard out. No, he's going to have to rely on his own ingenuity to get this done. And...it's not going to be pretty.
Right away, Rahk snatches up one of the clothes from his little personal hoard, trying to pick out one that's as clean and untouched as he possibly can find before setting to work tearing threads from it with his claws. At the same time, he's looking over at the nearby pile of refuse from his prior evening meal, having been completely picked clean and near frozen to the ground because he hadn't had a chance to toss it into the woods yet. Small creatures, like rodents, since larger game is near impossible to come by...
What he ends up prising from the pile is a small length of bone- a rib from something, more than likely- that's hooked and sharp enough to act as a makeshift needle. It's going to be ugly, and not exactly the cleanest work in the world, but it's an emergency. Noah may just have to contend with an ugly scar in that place for the rest of his life, but that's assuming he survives the ordeal to begin with. Either way...with a notch gouged into one end of the bone with his teeth, and careful pushing and prodding of one of those threads onto it, Rahk sets to work getting the flesh stitched back together. He just has to hope he isn't already too late by the time he's finished.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 08:58 pm (UTC)No, actually, he'll be fine. He unconsciously stirs at the first touch of the bone-needle, but after a bit, goes still, with his shallow breathing being the only indication that he's still alive after all of it. He's just passed out. Let him rest, he'll need it.
...
Apparently, he'll really need the rest. Noah doesn't stir for another day after Rockfire completes the DIY surgery, just... laying there however he's left afterwards. At least, within a few hours of the "surgery" itself, his breathing becomes less shallow, and some colour appears on his cheeks again. Noah's naturally a very pale boy, so it's not much, but it's the difference between white and cream walls. An interesting metaphor to use when there's just a dying boy laying on the floor—
He stirs, finally, late into the night, blinking at the cave in the gloom. He's not sure where he is, nor has he noticed that there's another presence with him yet. Forgive him when he speaks aloud in a raspy, weak voice.]
Did I die...?
[Because if so, he doesn't think this is where he normally wakes up when the timeline resets.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 09:21 pm (UTC)It was arduous, and scary. To keep Noah from freezing to death in the cave, Rockfire had built a makeshift, small fire that he had to keep tending to hourly to keep the embers alive, adopting his feral form so he could sleep with his body curled around the boy's. Even if he had ice based magic, that didn't mean he was any less of a warm blooded creature. Perhaps not quite so warm as one with an affinity towards fire of course, but still...
When Noah wakes, he won't be blamed if he thinks he's alone. It's dark, the fire has died out...and the only sound he can hear initially is the wind blowing outside the cave. But then he speaks...and a pair of blue eyes open across from him, the only thing visible in the darkness. They stare back for a long handful of seconds before Rockfire steps into view, still on all fours as he lowers his head down to Noah's level, sniffing his leg at the worst of his wound. It's still pretty bad...but there is no sign of infection.
Yet.
Then, the wolf looks back up, blinking slowly.]
You didn't die. And you aren't going to die. Not if I have anything to say about it.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 10:04 pm (UTC)Oh.
Oh! It's one of the blurs who jumped in front of him, now significantly less blurry. Still, Noah sits up in a start, letting out a pained yell when every wound on him starts to throb all at once. It leaves him sitting there winded for a spell, clutching the gash in his side with his hand and sucking in a breath through his teeth.
His leg, well, he'll get to that later.]
Fuck... u-um. [hey! how do you talk to others?] Um—! S-sorry to impose, thanks for... for the help. Should I go?
[boy]
I-I don't want to be a burden on you or anything. [BOY.]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 10:25 pm (UTC)[A burden??? The wolf actually laughs, a huffing, growling sound that might seem a little intimidating if it weren't for the fact that...well, he's talking for one, but also hasn't tried to eat him yet or anything. He shakes his head before giving the rest of his body a brisk shake afterwards, taking a seat on the cool stone floor in front of where he's laid Noah down in his own nest.]
I'm sorry to tell you this...but I don't think you could leave, even if you wanted to.
[...]
Which...sounds ominous, but don't worry! I won't force you to stay or anything...you just have a lot of wounds you still need to heal up from...
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 11:18 pm (UTC)[Here is the part where he tries to get up and finds that he absolutely can't; a searing pain shoots through his leg all at once, leaving Noah to pitifully shout in the gloom and flop back onto the ground. Through grit teeth, he hisses out another pained noise, eyes locked to the cavern roof while a cold sweat breaks out over his forehead.
Okay. So... that's a no... on moving. Great.]
...maybe just... one day or two. I-I won't be in the way, I promise. I-if that's okay.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 11:37 pm (UTC)His ears shift as he wraps his long tail around his paws, leaning down again to sniff at Noah's leg, then his side.]
I understand if you're scared to be here. Or scared of me. But I'm not going to hurt you, I promise.
[And as if to prove it, he'll lay down on his belly across from Noah, laying his head on his paws.]
I haven't seen humans up on the mountain in a long time, but that doesn't mean I want anything to happen to them.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 11:57 pm (UTC)Um! I didn't— I'm not scared of you! [Well. Noah doesn't easily trust others, even if they're very cool-looking animals, but it's not out of fear. It's just a general sentiment.] It's... I-I just don't want to be a burden on you, th-that's all.
[Noah cranes his neck to try and look at Rockfire. Making eye contact with anyone at all is hard, so he... manages it. For about two seconds, and then his gaze darts elsewhere. He'll just look at Rockfire's paws, yeah, that makes sense.]
S-sorry. I was just passing through. I didn't mean to make things complicated for you.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 12:16 am (UTC)He decides, then, to shift a bit so Noah can see him better...by rolling onto his side, exposing his belly like a friendly dog might. His ears fall back and his tail sweeps the floor a handful of times.]
Complicated? This is the most excitement I've had in months, I'll have you know. Not a lot happens up here during the wintertime...not when everything is asleep.
[And though he's not THRILLED about this "excitement" involving Noah almost kicking it under his watch...he's trying to assure him he doesn't mind having him here, okay?
So maybe they need to switch gears. He rolls entirely onto his back now, all four paws in the air.]
My name is Rockfire, but you can just call me Rocky! What's yours?
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 12:31 am (UTC)[Rocky seems like the most chill wolf. It's nice, he thinks, even if he's a little bit wary still. Maybe he's dying and he made all of this up... that sounds like something that would happen to him. So, does he... rub the belly? Is that what he's meant to do here?
Honestly, when he tries to reach and arm out to do so, everything hurts too much. Ugh. This sucks. Can't even pet the dog—]
I'm not a very exciting person, though. I'm just... me. Sorry. I-if you thought I was going to be fun, I mean.
...
How can I make it up to you for taking me in? [NOAH PLEASE]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 12:39 am (UTC)There. Also the added benefit of adding Warm to the scenario, which he most certainly needs.]
You can make it up to me by getting better. No getting an infection on my watch, alright?
[Because that is still a very real possibility, those bandages weren't like........sterile..........or even real bandages.
He pushes his head gently up under Noah's arm, then, letting his head act as a rest for it. If Noah's hand ends up on top of his head then, well, so be it.]
Just extra company is exciting enough for me...you really don't have to worry about it. I mean...you brought a Chimera through the forest. That was pretty exciting!
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 01:04 am (UTC)He combs his fingers absentmindedly through soft fur. That, at least, he can do without being in massive amounts of pain. Pat doggo. Befriend doggo. What a nice wolf, so unlike the Chimera who tried to shred Noah to pieces earlier.
...
Was that earlier? Fuck. What day is it—]
It wanted me dead. I wasn't trying to make it mad. [His face scrunches up.] I must've stumbled too far into its territory or something. I'm just glad it didn't die... I thought I'd have to kill it to defend myself, but...
[But he couldn't even do that much, weak as he was. Is.]
...I guess it doesn't matter. I really thought I was done for. I probably would've been...
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 01:24 am (UTC)[He exhales on a deep sigh, closing his eyes as Noah finally settles into petting him. Yes good, be soothed.]
It probably wasn’t anything you did other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And…it’s winter. Those of us who don’t hibernate have to find food. You might have been the first thing they saw in days.
[Barely a snack, but it doesn’t matter if you’re already starving.]
I just wish I hadn’t gotten there late. It tore you up pretty badly, you know.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 03:17 am (UTC)"Tiny" really is how he feels when he's using a literal wolf as a pillow, enough so that he's supported at his back but also able to pet said wolf's head, just by the way. Noah knows he's short, and he doesn't expect to grow anymore even though the world promises him that men don't stop growing 'til their twenties. It seems incorrect for his case.]
Yeah. I was... trying to get away from it. Operative term. I didn't succeed. It got my leg early into me trying to mount a defense, and I had to run from there. I don't remember too much... just suddenly finding myself in the snow with my vision blurring and stuff.
...um! But it's okay! I can help you find food when I'm better, since it's winter and all! It shouldn't take long, right?
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 03:39 am (UTC)Once more, he lets out a long sigh as he tilts his head up, deliberately nudging his nose into Noah's palm before dropping his head back down so he can keep petting him, if he'd like.]
We'll see. Like I said, your injuries weren't pretty...I stitched and cleaned you up the best I could, but it's not going to heal overnight.
[It may take weeks, even months for Noah to be able to walk around properly on his own again. But Rocky isn't going to say that. Instead, he just curls around Noah a bit more securely, as if he'd been staying here with him this whole time.]
Are you hungry at all? Thirsty?
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 04:05 am (UTC)[You know that thing where you don't eat for a while and don't really feel much about the thought Of eating? That's how Noah's feeling currently.]
I-I ate before I started my trek up the mountains. Before the Chimera got me. ...I haven't been out too long, have I?
[Weeeeeell...]
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 04:12 am (UTC)Well...it's been a day.
[So not like, weeks or months or anything! But still way too long without having any food or water...]
...will you be okay here for a moment by yourself? I'm going to get us something.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 04:29 am (UTC)[That... tracks. Noah shifts a bit, looking off to the side to see where Clamor went. Right now, the sickle itself is dormant — sealed — which is what brought him through the mountains in the first place. Trying to find a way to... unseal it, he supposes is the term there. Noah's no mage. Being able to do magic doesn't make you a mage. That's like... A formal education.
When he finds said sickle, he finally nods. He's armed, at least, and he thinks he can cast his shadow magic again after it fizzled the first time. It just... it feels weak when he thinks about it. Like it's not all there, like he hasn't actually recovered that much. Of course he hasn't.
Ugh.]
I-I'll be fine. I'm pretty good at taking care of myself. This is a... um... Bad example.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 04:48 am (UTC)He will get up though, nudging at Noah's hand with his nose again before he starts to move away.]
This cave goes a bit deeper than what you can see. It's where I keep the food I've stored, so others can't get to it as easily. So give me just a moment!
[And off he goes, just the tip of his tail visible before he disappears into the darkness. Noah...will have to contend with the howling wind outside, and maybe the occasional howl in the distance...but Rocky comes back before he can potentially get snapped up by the dangers of the mountain, dragging a sack behind him in his jaws.]
G'mme jus'ht a 'sche-kond-!
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