CC|The Eye of the Cougar| Howl and Nyssa

Rp between 's Howl and 's Nyssa




The mountain ranges at the very edge of Chanigah were a sight to see. Especially how the sun peered over the very tops, the sky painted in hues of pinks, purples and blues. Sunrise. The part of the day where the nocturnal creatures go to sleep, and the day creatures were waking up. The snow sparkled in the light, undisturbed. As it was, this was the part of day that Nyssa loved. It wasn't too cold or warm. It was the time of day she was equally relaxed. Not to mention the mountains kept most of the blowing winds from disturbing her peace. She was at its very base, having spent the night before in an old badger sett.

Nyssa shook out her white pelt, and started to explore the area. This was one part that she wasn't sure about, and was determined that it would be soon. The light crunching of snow beneath her paws were light, as was the sweeping of her tail over it. She looked up at the snow covered trees, then back to the path ahead of her. Yes, mountains were beautiful indeed. She peered over to the boarder, and started to think of Howl. She wondered how he was faring in his pack.





On this morning in particular, the Omega had been up for a few hours already, waking in the early hours of the morning due to bad dreams. He felt more worried and anxious than normal, knowing that he was hiding Bloom out near Chanigah territory without anyone else's knowledge, and it was keeping him up at night. The male was pacing irritably in a large circle, some distance from the border in order to not arouse suspicion, whilst he thought hard about what to do. He couldn't think straight right now, and felt that he needed to get away from everything around him. He was beginning to find out about his pack-brothers some more, and was more settled than he had been, but that somehow made things worse. Made it worse that he was beginning to feel more at home whilst his puppyhood friend constantly faced the dangers that being a rogue could bring. He huffed loudly, looking to the mountain ranges for a few moments, the urge to just get away from his anxiety for a few hours.... it was all too tempting.

He would have gone to find Bloom, though she would be asleep, and she needed all the rest she could get, she needed to remain strong... He took this moment to think hard, wondering what to do, before he took off running. Prey was hard to find here... maybe he could bring something back to Bloom... the pack would know he was gone... would they? He ran rather quickly across the snow, the colours of the sky lighting his path as he shot across the border, snow flying behind him as he raced on, his tongue rolling. He tried to block everything out... the impending trouble, the torn choice.... he ran on, though skidded to a halt upon a familiar scent leading up before him... Someone was near... but he knew this one. His ears flicked a little as he remembered, a small smile appearing. With a worried glance back to Chanigah, he let out a soft and low howl, so only those quite close by could possibly here. He knew Nyssa was here... he could only hope she could hear him.




However, Nyssa wasn't as close as her scent lead Howl to believe. She was also in the middle of chasing a snowshoe hare, causing snow to fly up everywhere from the two. If she had, she'd have stopped. However, something else had. A cougar was on the prowl in the area, searching not only for food for its young, but looking over its territory. Yellow eyes were slitted when the small howl caught its attention. It slunk on large, but silent paws to the awaiting brown wolf, unseen or heard...

Closer.... Its ears perked, tail barely brushing the snow. All one could hear was the wind... And then, a slow purr like growl was the only warning given, right from behind the male. A glint of teeth and claws as it pounce at him!





When his howl had ceased, he had pricked his ears, his weight more on his front two legs as he stood rather proud looking, eyes slowly blinking to catch any kind of movement ahead of him. The wind was blowing into his face, which he thought left him in the most ideal position to spot her, eyes frowning a little as no response was picked up. His breath left small clouds of air swirling around his muzzle, and he licked the tip of his nose in anxiety. Nothing. He didn't understand, he could have sworn that was her scent. Maybe he wasn't loud enough? Or maybe she didn't want to know, and was only being nice when they'd first met. He began to doubt what he knew for a few moments, his mind busy whirling and distracted, before the growl reached his ears from behind.

The males' heart froze as his ears swiveled backward, every muscle tense and burning as he registered the noise. It took him a mere millisecond to whip his head round, the flash of claws and teeth meeting him as he yelped loudly, his fight or flight reflex screaming at him to get away. He finally felt his body respond, with his tail tucked between his legs and his back legs crouched beneath him, he attempted to leap away, though got caught heavily on the shoulder by the cougars outstretched claws, raking up half his shoulder before the weight of it pulled Howl off his feet, landing heavily in the snow. Without hesitation, the male scrambled to his feet whilst the cougar had fallen forward, having mainly missed his target, and darted away, his tail streaming as his paws carried him further up into the mountain ranges. He knew for a fact the large cat would follow, and he panicked, before letting a louder and longer howl out, this time a plea for help.





The cougar snarled as it's prey managed to just get away with a scratch, for now. It gave chase to the male, growling as it lunged each time it had the chance. His howl was louder this time, and it reached the white female. She stopped in her tracks, panting from still chasing the hare. She turned and hightailed it to where she had heard Howls plea.

The ground became rocky and icy the more the two ran in the mountain range. It was no problem for the cougar however, as it was built to climb and run over rocks and craggy surfaces. It was gaining on Howl, its breath on his heels. And then it let out a yelp as it was suddenly tackled from the side by a white solid mass. Nyssa had arrived in time before it could do more damage to him. She rolled with the feline, a mass of muscle and fur. When they finally pulled away from each other, both were panting. Nyssa had managed to get a few bites, but she was bleeding from her shoulder already. The two clashed again, once more a fast pace ball of grayish brown and white, snarling and growling. However, the white female was not enough just by herself, as it started to overpower her. Its eyes though was still on the male. Nyssa clamped around its neck, more to give it a warning then anything else, as it pinned her down.





The wounds already sustained upon his shoulder were bleeding, dripping down his leg and landing in the snow below as he galloped on, adrenaline and fear driving him. He could feel everything go numb, and he felt the cougar gain ground, as his own paws slipped and skidded upon the icy patches, slowing him down immensely. He was about to give up all hope of escape, when the sudden noises of collision reached him, causing him to skid to a halt and spin round, lifting the leg with the injured shoulder. Nyssa! She had heard him! He stood panting and regaining his breath for just a mere few moments, before seeing that she was in trouble herself now.

He let a snarl escape his lips, anger bubbling inside of him, before he lunged forward, forgetting his injuries for a small moment and using the distraction of Nyssa biting into its neck to his advantage. "GET OFF HER!" He let the growl rip from him, using all of his weight, he rammed into the feline, taking it off it's feet and tumbling away, what with Howl being heavier and larger than Nyssa. The cougar landed on it's feet after a couple of rolls, it's eyes staring right at the two wolves before it. Howl stood and snarled at it, looking to her and nodding, signalling that they should attack again.

Howl raced forward again, aiming for its face mainly, to try and deal some considerable damage. His jaws opened and he clamped his teeth either side of it's muzzle, causing it to scream out and lash out with its claws at Howls chest, blood spurting from the newly opened wounds that caused Howl to stumble to the side in pain, raking his teeth across the felines face. He let go and panted for another moment, regaining himself yet again before launching for it's neck once more.





Nyssa quickly got back to her paws, ignoring the pain from her own. At the nod to her, she flanked him, and headed behind the cougar to attack its rear end. As it snarled at them both, she made sure to jump out of the way when it had broken free from Howl. As it turned to her was when he got it's neck. She jumped, balancing on its back, and started to bite and tear into its shoulders. It yowled, swiping at Howl and rearing up and swiping at her with a paw. Nyssa let out a yelp as she was hit hard enough to skid some ways in the snow. "Damnit!" She hissed, getting back to her paws. However the cougar now knew it was too overpowered. Two wolves were harder to deal with then a measly one.

Nyssa stood at Howls shoulder as it seemed they had managed to corner it, growling and baring her teeth. The cougar was growling, and hissed at the two of them, swiping at them to back away. All three were littered with injuries, and all three did not want to back down it seemed. Nyssa did not want to continue to fight, however. She was tired, and she was sore, and she still needed energy to heal up. She started to snap at it's paws, causing it to move them constantly, trying to get it to run again. Because of this she didn't see the large paw coming till it connected with her head once more. The cougar then jumped over her, and turned tail. It needed to stay alive for its young, and knew the wolves wouldn't allow that if they knew! Whether Howl continued his attacks was unclear to the white she-wolf at the moment. Nyssa's one eye was covered with blood from the blow, causing her to have to keep it shut till it stopped and was cleaned. But she'd still be able to see, luckily. "I hate felines!"





It was finally some assurance when the Cougar was cornered, Howl snarling alongside Nyssa as it tried to swipe out. He could see it was giving up and it gave him all the more fight to keep the creature at bay. He watched in dismay as it hit Nyssa, then leap above her. In one final act against it, he leapt soon after, crunching his jaws round its tail, causing it to screech out, pulling at it's tail. He heard a sickening crack, before he let go, sliding in the snow a little from the speed they were going, allowing him to watch the wretched and bloodied animal escape, part of it's tail now hanging limply. He grunted as his head fell into the snow, taking a few deep breaths of air, and steadying his heart rate. The snow around him now stained red, it was enough to jolt his head up again, and struggle shakily to his paws.

He looked to Nyssa and felt sorrow, seeing the state she was in, and the fact they both now had injuries that needed to be looked at... now. Luckily for them.... his mother had been a healer. He limped over to her, giving her the smallest of smiles, though concern was written across his face. "Nyssa... thank you... you've just saved my life there" He said gently, looking to her eye in worry. "Quickly... follow me, I can get us patched up.. my mother taught me all she knew about healing... she was one of the best there was" He assured her, looking to the slopes around them in some concern. He saw a ledge not too far up, and he knew that perhaps it would make a good platform. He led the way slowly, burdened by his own injuries, bloody paw prints the main giveaway that he had been here.

He motioned toward the ledge now, scenting around it quickly, ensuring they were along, before nodding his head toward it. "Lay on that... I'll be back shortly with what we need" He promised, turning and limping off to find the plants he wanted.





Nyssa had been trying to wipe the blood from her eye, but flinch at the stinging that accompanied it when she tried. Her one eye, free of blood, looked to Howl as he spoke to her. Was that.... Concern? She wasn't used to that, to seeing a pack friend look like that. She could see his own wounds, and she grew worried. Especially the one on his chest. That looked deep. His words brought her one good eye back up to his. "Couldn't let ya.... Have all the fun..." She chuckled, and followed him as requested. She listened to his words as he spoke about his mother. She had never heard of healers, but then she didn't know much of pack ranks. She knew a few medicinal herbs and remedies, but not to the extent needed on theirs.

She looked up at the edge, and her ears folded in uncertainty. She could climb that.... She so could! She watched him limp away though in concern. "Be careful!" She called to him, and then looked back up. She hunched down, and jumped! But she jumped to low, her should stinging, and her side. She looked with her good eye, and noticed a wound she hadn't felt during the fight. "Great." She muttered to herself, and looked back to the ledge. She jumped again, managing to get her upper body. Her hindlegs tried to find a hold, but not even a small crack to get a nail caught! She had to stop, half on and half off. "Oh sure....I can jump! I can... So climb this!" Nyssa grunted to herself, and sighed, lowering her ears in frustration to herself. "I bet I look ridiculous."





It didn't take the male long to find what he wanted, though it wasn't huge amount, what with it still being winter.. it was going to be hard anyway. His chest burned and bled, making him feel weaker, occasionally having to stop to regain his breath, despite only walking. He needed to get back very soon, before he passed out and endangered them both...He carefully took the mix of aloe vera, lemon grass as well as other bits he could find to where he had left his friend, walking slowly in order not to make his wounds worse... though he looked up to see Nyssa only half on the ledge. It took him a good few moments of staring at her predicament, before he couldn't help but laugh, despite what pain he was in.

He moved forward and used his head and upper body to try and help push her up some more, trying to get her on the ledge now, despite his amused cackles and snickers. "You know... you do choose the most difficult ways of doing things... must be a rogue thing" He smirked at her, before back tracking, finding a small slope to which he climbed up steadily, leading to the ledge now. He walked steadily and slowly, his tail swinging lazily as he balanced, before he was upon the same ledge. "See... we pack wolves have the smarts" He grinned, shredding some of the aloe vera now, chewing them up to a mush, and doing the same with a couple other plants, before mixing them with snow, his movements slow due to his pain, but precise, his eyes frowning in concentration. Eventually, he had what he needed, before using a paw to suddenly smear over her gashes, ignoring himself for the moment.

He firmly waited until he had already applied it before smirking. "Oh, by the way, it's cold" He grinned, attending to her shoulder. "Use the snow to clean your eyes first... then I can use this on the wounds. It might not completely stop the scarring but it will heal you nicely" He instructed, waiting patiently until she was ready before carrying on.

"You're a tougher cookie than I thought... A full on tackle? With a Cougar? You must be at least slightly crazy" He smiled, tilting his head a little.





Nyssa scowled upon hearing Howls laughter, and felt her ears burn in embarrassment. She used his help to get up, and laid down as soon as she was able. She decided to give him the cold shoulder, not staring at him as he found an obvious path. But she did speak. "I couldn't see the path..." She muttered, then motioned to her blood covered eye with a paw. "But I did get up here in the end my way." She said, and laid her head back onto her paws. She watched him work, and though she wouldn't admit it, his laughter had made her feel better at the fact that he'd be okay. So lost in thought she didn't even realize he had stopped doing what he was doing, until she felt the cold mush touch her scratches. She yelped, head raising up to try and get a good look of what he had just smothered on her. Nyssa looked back to him, her one good eye, the red one, glared at him. Oh, she'd get him back for that later. "You don't say." She huffed, but lay her head back down. Scars? Well, that came with the territory.

She braced herself the next time to her shoulder, as she brought some snow over with her paw that was near by. She used it to clean her eye, and the part of her face. Which was still slightly tinged pink. Oh she wished it was summer! It was so much harder to keep her pelt snowy white after a fight during winter. Her ears flickered at his words, and chuckled. "Well, I never said I was sane, did I?" She giggled, and felt the soothing effects of the medicine that was being applied. She decided she had had enough being tended too, and sat up. "Alright you, your turn. Your chest is the worst, and I rather not lose a friend like you to such a wound."

It looked like it was Nyssa's turn to doctor his wounds. She remembered what he done, and used up the rest of the herbs to make the mush. Her movements a little more precise than his had been when he had been mixing it before. She first brought snow up to his chest, to help get it cleaned before she took a pawful of the mush, and started to spread it over the majority of the wound. "You know, you say I'm crazy. But I wasn't the one who thought to explore a cougar's territory. Why didn't you howl for me? I know my scent was in the wind." That had been bugging her. But as she hadn't heard him the first time, she didn't know that he had tried. "Did you think I hadn't meant it when I said that I'd show you around? Cause I keep my word. All the time."





He noted her getting huffy, but only chuckled, not taking it to heart. He knew she was more independent, so there for probably annoyed for being helped... he couldn't tell she was hard to read. He made sure her wounds were covered, or at least tried to before she sat up. He gave a little roll of his eyes as she made it known she was done now, though it was more in amusement than anything else. He was more used to his patients being less... fidgety. He gave a quick glance around him, a natural habit of seeing if there was anyone close, but relaxed once he couldn't scent anyone around. Either that, or the herbs had hindered his ability to smell anything.

He was surprised when she wanted to give it a go, and was about to insist on doing it himself, though watched on with growing interest as she seemed to be able to duplicate his movements and produce the same results, making him blink a little in confusion. "Wow... you learn fast! How on earth did you remember that?" He asked, genuinely impressed, though smirked as he thought it could be beginners luck.

"Oh, so I'm you're friend now?" He teased lightly, his tail shifting in the snow. "Not too long ago, I was merely... not bad for a pack wolf" He smiled, repeating her own words whilst looking ahead now as he allowed her to start treating his own wounds. "Did I not tell you? I am at one with the Cougars... I explore here all the time!" He raised his eyebrows, blatantly lying, though laughing soon after. He coughed a little for a moment, recovering quickly, before giving her a strange look. "But... I did call for you... I howled first when I left Chanigah, though... that might have been what attracted our friend" He said gravely. He gave her a serious look for a moment, before nodding.

"I know you keep your word... I can tell. I always believed you."




"Need to learn fast, or someone get's dead fast." Nyssa said it like it was a common saying. Which for her, it was when it came to learning things. She wasn't one to be hesitant the first round, but put much effort and confidence. It looked like she may have learned fast, but give it another day or two, and she wouldn't be able to make the mush as fast as she had right then. "It's beginners luck the first time, and then I need to practice. But, I already know how to mate a paste with the few herbs that I know." She clarified for him, and winked.

Her ears lowered, and she cleared her throat. "Yes, well, keep it up and it'll go back to being 'not bad for a pack wolf'." Nyssa flustered, as she concentrated on doing his shoulder next. Her movements were stiff, but that was because of her own wounds and their coverings. "Must explain why that momma cougar wanted to get you so bad. To be at one with her." Nyssa snickered, and raised an eyebrow back to him. He had called for her? Why hadn't she heard it? She was musing about it, as she started to finish up on Howl. "Maybe, I was just so into chasing that hare that I hadn't heard.... I'm sorry. I always keep an ear out for you whenever I'm around your pack's lands.

She had finished, and started to use the snow to clean her paw free of the mush. She didn't feel like licking it, and tasting it all over again. She then laid down, effectively tired for the day. "What a start to the day. Chasing a hare, meeting you and that cougar friend of ours. What a pity it didn't stick around to be treated to your green mushy stuff." She mused, and then frowned in thought before looking back to him. "You'll always believe me...? Why's that?"





"Well, I can understand that... it's tough without constant guidance" He agreed, resting his head upon his paws. "You know, it took me a long time to learn all this stuff, though, it's all I have left of my mother... so I treasure it" He sighed now, looking ahead a little in forlorn, though one ear was always turned toward her. He grinned at  her when he mentioned he could go back to being okay for a pack wolf, though he somehow doubted this in his mind, tucking his paws underneath him more now. He remained silent for a few moments, before a soft chuckle left him. "Oh yes, can't keep those cougars away... they're always after a piece of the Howl" he laughed now, though it seemed to echo around them, making him look around for a little bit.

"Hmm, maybe I should just start resorting to screaming in fear... you responded to that one at least!" He offered, his tail twitching as he looked down the slope, seeing small movement, though seeing that it was only a couple of hares, and of not interest to him. "Heh, I don't think it would have taken too kindly to the mush... I somehow think I would have a little bit more of my hacked off if I tried" There was another moment before he turned his head to look at her a little more clearly, another confused expression.

"Well... why wouldn't I? I trust those that I get to know... I know not everyone should be trusted, but I'm always willing to give others that chance" He answered simply, though a small smile present.





"I wish I would remember my mother... But then, sometimes I don't...." Nyssa's voice was soft, wishing to remember that far back. But she just couldn't. She must have been pretty young when she had been left in that hole with her brother. Or, she assumed it had been her brother. She curled up a little, bringing her tail closer to her body, as she stared out and over the ledge. The trees, and clear sky making the snow seem to sparkle. She couldn't stop the laughter then, and shook her head. "I don't know why they would. You ain't much of a piece of scrap meat." She teased, grinning as she did.

Again, Nyssa laughed, though it was more of a burst then anything else. "Yes, you're screaming made me think it was some poor beast in need to be put out of it's misery." She said, and sat up to itch a little at her coverings. Her wounds were itchy, and she was trying to be careful on not scratching them off. Nyssa hummed in agreement at that. They would have indeed been worse for ware. She looked to Howl in surprise, and then looked out at the mountain forest ahead of them. She wasn't the only one to think that? "Well, don't most pack wolves think a Rogue's word is just mere words, nothing else?"

Nyssa didn't understand Howl. He was so different than most other pack wolves she had met in the past. He hadn't chased her away the first time, even though he clearly had the right. He had taken her offer, even if she hadn't heard his first howl. They just fought a cougar side by side! "That's what all the others thought. You're different though. I've never met a pack wolf, who thinks like you when it comes to Rogues..."





"Perhaps it's best we just occasionally think of them, it's in the past now... my own mother ran away from the pack we were in. i don't know why, but I feel it was to do with my sisters death. She took it hard... I know that. Who wouldn't? But my brother left after that.... then so did I" He sighed a little, his tail moving and shifting the snow beneath him around a little. He grinned a little to her comment about putting something out of it's misery, the thought making him chuckle just a little. He took a few more moments to look around some more, half pondering how he was to eat now... they couldn't very well just go and hunt something down in this state.... The thought made him nervous, and h frowned as his usual thought process took over and he found he had began stressing over the next step to take. How could he provide for his pack is he couldn't hunt? And what about Bloom? He fidgeted for a moment, still frowning, though Nyssa broke through his head with her words.

"Hm? Oh... well to be honest, I thought there were many more like me... Just because you're a rogue, doesn't mean that your word means nothing or your promises are fake... it's a life style choice, or not, but it doesn't in my eyes reflect what your word should mean or your personality... same for a pack wolf. How you choose to live doesn't immediately depict what you should be like" He reasoned. "I prefer to know a wolf on a more personal basis before I judge... Unless they give me incredibly bad vibes to start with"




"I don't have bad vibes? Well, now I'm disappointed in myself. Nyssa sniffed, acting as if it was important that she must have such vibes. She had noticed his concern and worried frown though. Was he worried about getting back to his pack? She didn't want him to irritate his injuries, but she didn't want to just let him get up and go. "How are you feeling?" Nyssa's concern was evident in her one good eye, and she frowned then. "When can we take this stuff off? It's making me itchy!"

She had to sit up to itch once more. She wanted it out of her fur! To try and distract herself, she started to clean her fur, being sure to not get the coverings on her scratches and such. She didn't want her pelt to stain from her own blood, and the cougars. She wished she had dark fur, and not white! It was annoying to try and keep clean. She stopped then, and looked over to the brown wolf. "Do you need any help getting the rest of the dried blood off?" If she didn't like blood in or on her fur, and Howl was more injured than she was, then surely he didn't like it either. Snow could only do so much, and the ledge hadn't had enough snow to actually help besides clean their more deeper wounds.





"Ha! I'm afraid not... not to me at least. Maybe to others you might appear threatening or exude bad vibes, but that I reckon depends on who it is and what they themselves are like... But as for you.... you're alright" He smiled to her a little. She asked how he was feeling, and he looked back to where he had come from, sighing gently. He wasn't sure if she'd fully understand, but at least she'd appreciate what he would say...though he struggled to his feet now, putting more weight on his back legs, most of the damage having being done on the front. He scanned the ledge around them, before making his way back to the small path he had previously used to get onto the ledge in the first place. He knew it was too soon to move, but he couldn't stay away forever... he'd have to try and bring something back to the pack.

"It's fine Nyssa.... I'll be fine at least. You will too, right?" He asked now, giving her a tired expression, the fun gone out of his eyes it seemed for a short moment. He glanced to the coverings, blinking a couple of times, before pausing fully to answer. "Leave it on for a couple hours, it's crucial.. it'll protect against infections and the like. Last thing you want is for it to get infected and make you ill." He responded, looking down the slope and edging forward, slipping down it on his paws, keeping himself upright as he landed on the snow below. He glanced up at her  here, his tail curled once more. "It's crucial I bring something back to the pack... I'm sorry, I can't sit around for much longer" He apologized, not seeming to give away as to his sudden drop in mood.






Nyssa's ears lowered and she frowned lightly. He had to go....? Why, it was still too soon for him to get up! She got to her paws, ignoring the pain and stiffness of her own injuries. "Wait, Howl!". She followed him down, but got off sooner so as to het ahead of him. "You can't hunt in your condition! You looking to get yourself killed!? I'm sure your alpha and pack won't expect anything with you the way you currently are!"

Nyssa couldn't understand him, it was like he wanted to continue to look for trouble. "I'll go hunt for you." She decided, and raised her head up in a stubborn manner. "I have more energy, and less major injuries. You go back and lay down." Nyssa wasn't going to take no for an answer. If need be, she'd knock him out!





He had tried to walk on, when her appearance in front of him made him stop, a paw raised as he had gone to take another step. His mouth opened a little, a small fog appearing as his breath hit the cold air, unsure whether to walk around her. There was a moment the male said nothing, shifting his gaze to the side as he frowned a little, sighing now. "Your condition isn't great either, you can't hunt like that... Sure, they might understand if I returned like this, but what is a pack wolf if I can't even hunt for them. I'm a young male, if I can't hunt... I'm not much help to the pack i pledged my loyalty to" He sighed now, his head lowering as his eyes closed a little. He glanced to his chest, seeing where she had applied the mush and placed his paw gently to the ground, his tail motionless now.

"If they know I enlisted the help of a rogue because I'm too pathetic to provide for them by myself... well they would perhaps not look too well on me... They know a rogue life is hard enough without having to help some injured pack wolf hunt for something they're not even part of" He protested here, turning his head to the side a little more, though looking back to her still. "What would you even get out of hunting for me? I don't understand? I would get it if I helped you, but not the other way round? It's tough being on your own, why give up the food that's already limited... to a pack no less?" He asked now, trying to understand her actions.





Nyssa frowned and shook her head at his words. "What good are you to them dead?" Her voice was soft as she spoke. "I'm in a better condition than you. I can hunt in any condition, I've needed to be with being alone."

Nyssa felt a little hurt, and her ears stayed folded down. She wanted to help! How was that strange for a rogue? She frowned, and started to get defensive. If he thought she'd suffer from helping him get some prey, then he still didn't know a thing about her. "Why shouldn't I help you? Or your pack? You had offered me, the first time we met, your help with anything. Why can't I do this? I am no helpless damsel, Howl. I can take care for more than just myself!" She turned away from him, needing to calm down. She sat, her back to him as she tried to collect her thoughts. Maybe what he really wanted, was to get away from her. Had the novelty of knowing a rogue worn off?

"Nevermind then Howl.... Forget I ever offered anything. Hurt radiated off of the white female, as she stood and shook her pelt, ignoring the sting of her injuries and hurt feelings. She started to walk the opposite way.





His ears flicked back in alarm, seeing that he had hurt her feelings, and he cringed. That hadn't been his intentions... he was only wanting to look out for her. "Hey... Nyssa... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you... I just... I don't get help from rogues often... I'm used to doing things alone too when supplying my pack. I know your not a helpless damsel... I just didn't want you to take something down and then...  I just take everything. It's not fair on you... I was only looking out for you" He told her gently, flicking his ears forward.  He sighed and cursed himself silently, his own anxiety coming back. He felt frozen to the floor as his head lowered yet again, the fact he could never seem to keep a friend for long seemed to still be the case.

He watched after her a minute, sniffing the air carefully. The cougars scent was still everywhere, though it only made him nervous. He began to pace forward, heading more down the slope again. "Hey, come on, we'll find something together, and if you really want to, you can take it down for me" He told her gently, before looking to her again. "I appreciate your help.. or at least helping. Thank you"




Nyssa was still upset with him, and would have continued on. However, it just wasn't in her to leave and not look back. She lowered her head slightly, and sighed. "I can hunt twice in one day, Howl... Not getting anything but the satisfaction of having helped you, is all I want in return...." Nyssa wasn't a greedy wolf, never ever thinking of asking for half of something. She glanced from him, and sighed and then nodded. "Alright....." She agreed to his proposal. She wasn't looking for a thank-you, but more of an apology.

As they walked, she was silent, looking over the landscape for any prey to be found. Even a hare was something to being back to a pack. As they need, neither seemed to notice the stalking feline. It had returned, angry at the two for having taken part of it's tail. Short from actually almost dying, this cougar wanted vengeance...





"Well, alright. I'm sorry again. I didn't want to offend you. I was just concerned about you" He sighed now, lowering his head a small amount. He looked to his chest as they paced on, seeing that his fur was stained with blood, not really having paid attention till now... he wasn't really sure how he was to explain this one... he had gathered that perhaps hunting outside the territory was really rather frowned upon.. though the rules were always fuzzy and blurry, and seemed to depend, and if worst came to the worst, he could say he stalked the prey out of Chanigah... He shook his head again, looking ahead, not noting any scents to be alarmed of, his tail waving lightly from side to side.

"You know, a couple more wolves like us and we'd have the ultimate cougar slayers" He smirked a little, seeing if he could brighten her mood now, not catching the returning cougars scent.





Nyssa glanced to Howl, and sighed and gave a small smile in acceptance of his apology. She went back to looking ahead, a little less feeling down. "Concerned about me? You did see me take on a cougar back there, right?" She smirked, and bumped her shoulder against his. She winced, forgetting that had been her injured shoulder. That hadn't been a smart thing, but it wasn't too bad. She was unaware of his dilemma of what to tell his pack, but that was because it hadn't occurred to her that he'd have to come up with excuse for why he had been outside his pack's lands.

She glanced over, and chuckled, shaking her head. "A bunch of crazy wolves is more like it." Like him, she was unaware of the cougar's return. It was silent, just ready to strike. But not yet.... Almost, but not yet....





"Hmmm the way I remember it.... I saved the day with my mighty strength and power" He joked, looking to her and dancing on the spot. "No cougar can keep up with me!" He chuckled, jumping suddenly as he spun in the air, facing backwards now, though pacing backwards to keep up with her as she walked forward. He was about to continue and make the situation lighter, when the sickening scent hit him again... it was.... a fresher scent. He stopped dead, his eyes widened a little, treading backwards once with his back paw.

"Nyssa.... Can you.... can you scent that? please tell me that it's just me going crazy" He whispered now, not able to see it.... why couldn't he see it? It was here moments later, there was a loud snarl that ripped through the air, as the large feline circled a large mound of snow, leaping right toward them. Howl snarled immediately, even in hie weakened state, his flight or fight reflex paralyzing him as he stared at it. Despite his better judgement, he ran forward to meet the cat with his jaws. It was clear this wasn't going to finish until someone died.





"What are you talking about, you were running and screaming. I had to save you! Remember?" Nyssa teased, feeling better. She rolled her mismatched eyes as he walked backwards, and was about to say something before he started to panic. The white female was instantly on alert, and had just raised her muzzle to sniff, before the snarl and return of the feline. "Howl wait!" She called, and rushed forwards to stop him. There wasn't just one!

Just as she reached him, another came out of the shadows, landing heavily on her back. Nyssa yelped, and struggled under the weight, but to no avail. It snarled in her ear, but it made no move to hurt her.... Yet. It was keeping her from interfering with Howl and the cougar that was missing part of its tail. "Stupid flea bag!" She snarled to the one pinning her down.





The fact she had called made his falter for a second as he turned to look at her, allowing the cougar to take advantage and tackle into him to the floor, causing a yelp to escape the wolf. It took a moment for Howl to regain his breath, before he used the weight of the cougar to lift up his front half and immediately sink his fangs into it's face once more, before the feline had time to react. It snarled out and back up to try and shake him, though he hung on for a moment, before letting go and snarling himself.

"You really don't know when to give up, so you?" Howl barked, his hackles raised and his tail high. A mere moment later, and the cougar was charging once more, though Howl had a plan. He turned tail and ran toward the one that pinned Nyssa down, slowing deliberately so he was just out of reach to the one that gave chase. He looked like he was about to collide with the second cougar when he skidded and launched himself away last moment, instead giving the feline no time to react but to head on crash with her friend, both cats tumbling over one another. Howl was immediately by Nyssa's side, helping her up rapidly, snarling at the cougars once more.

"What the hell is our plan with this one?" He asked, his tail waving.





Nyssa was thankful to finally be back on her paws, and grinned to Howl. "The only plan there is! We run! They were still hurting, and they didn't have a lot of energy left. The only thing they would have to rely on, is that they could still run while the two cougars were detangling themselves from one another. "Come on Howl.... I know how to lose them." She said, and started to run in the opposite way they were going. She had been running further up earlier, and knew the area semi-well. There had been a ledge, one she herself had almost missed-stepped while chasing a hare. With a lower ledge under it, but it was a small ledge, and would hold them both. The way down led to a large, and cold flowing raging river.

The cougar snarled at the other, pissed off and confused. If it wasn't for the fact that it had caught sight of the two wolves at the edge of it's vision, it would have swatted at the other. As it was, it was time to give chase!






He had to be honest, he was expecting some elaborate and clever way to outsmart them and get away, though her plan of running was really just as good. "Right.... Run.... yes!" Howl spoke, his eyes wide as he watched the large felines, before he turned tail and followed her, kicking snow up behind them as they raced on. He was feeling sore all over, and he wanted to just lay again, having overestimated how much he could handle right now. Adrenaline was the thing that kept him going now, though a quick glance behind him did confirm that they were now being pursued and he gave a frantic bark to Nyssa.

"We gotta keep going! Move!" He encouraged, feeling his legs and chest burn, causing him to grit his teeth as he ran. He could hear the river, even though it was quite far and down below at this point, so not being able to see it. He looked to Nyssa worriedly, keeping his pace up. "For the record... you don't plan on having a swim right?"






Nyssa ran, her legs mere blur in the snow that they kicked up. It wasn't much to think that, considering her pelt color was near the same. She didn't dare glance behind her, knowing she might stumble or slip-up. She ignored the stinging of her shoulder and side, and grinned upon his question of swimming. "We aren't."

They were almost there, and this is when she slowed down, stopping at the edge, and looking at the lower ledge down that they could hide on. "Get down! Quickly!" She instructed him hastily, and looked. Good, they were far enough away that they wouldn't be wise to what they were doing. She jumped down on to the ledge, just waiting for the inevitable sight of them jumping over their heads. It was a small ledge, which called for them to really huddle close together.





It was a moment before Howl clocked on to what Nyssa was talking about, skidding to a halt on the snow, having little grip, plus his legs were practically killing him. He panted for a few moments, sides heaving, daring to look back in the direction they had come from. His attention was deviated despite this however, not having enough time to truly take in where their pursuers were, looking down to the ledge now. "Down there?!" He exclaimed, though had to quickly follow her if he was to save his own skin. He landed on the ledge heavily, his larger bulk taking up more of the room, though pressed himself to the wall, he winter coat poofing a little. He was still breathing a little harder than normal, though now glanced up to see the felines sail over their heads, cauising Howl to pin his ears back and duck so they wouldn't notice him as much. Nyssa blended nicely with the snow... him? Not so much.

He closed his eyes now, so he could try to control his breathing and pain, the initial shock still shaking him. He couldn't believe it... he had gone to attack them! He gave a slight shiver, not daring to think of the consequences. "I think.... we need to get out of cougar town... this is not my kinda area" Howl spoke now, his legs shaking as she tried to support him as he sat up now.





Nyssa could feel how weak and shaky Howl was, as the Cougar's sailed over their heads and the splashing of their large bodies hitting the freezing water. She looked at him in concern, and shook her head. "Not yet, you need to rest...." She told him, worried that if he moved even more, he'd collapse and never move again. He needed something to eat. Her ears were pinned back, as she looked over the higher ledge, and jumped back onto solid ground. "They won't come back till their fur isn't covered in ice. You'll be fine here..... Please, stay till I return?" Nyssa begged the male.

Nyssa needed to go and hunt, to help him get some of his energy back, and for his to take a nap. He had already taken on the cougar, again, and he was so much more weaker than before. She was scared that he'd die, and she couldn't let that. She wouldn't, let that. She put her nose to the wind, and started to search for a small meal for her friend. "If you move from that spot, I'll hunt you down and find a way to tie you down! She told him, before she bounded away in search of a meal.





Howl's eyes narrowed, watching the thrashing the felines try and get out the water. He wrinkled his muzzle slightly at them, though he knew at this point it wouldn't be seen, so he felt safe enough. Now the main drama was over, the male was feeling more tired than ever, his head drooping a little. "But... there's no time to rest..." He began to protest, though looked up to see her expression, instantly shutting up, his jaw snapping shut with comical effect.

He watched her leap up, sitting up some more a little more to see her vanish for a moment, though his gaze fell to the river once more, trying to locate where their foes had gone. He found that now the ledge was more free, he could slide his front paws out, resting his belly on the floor as he lie down now, his tail curling over his back legs. "There's... not anywhere else I'd really rather go without an escort now" He managed to joke, though the smile he gave was tired. He lifted his head as she said her leaving statement, leaving him alone in silence for a few moments, before he gave a small chuckle, a growing smile on his face.

"With a threat like that... I don't think I have a choice"





Nyssa smiled, but said nothing as she walked away. She kept her eyes open, and her ears perked. She knew there were hare's near by, and that one or two would be enough to help Howl regain part of his strength back. The moment she came across a small den, she started to dig. She didn't have time to go and chase one, she was digging right in the heart of it. Not to mention, she herself was exhausted to much to run. When the ones that were in the hole tried to escape, she moved quick, her jaw catching it by it's neck and snapped it. The second one, she did the same. Glad that they were fully grown, she picked them up by their ears, and headed back.

Nyssa felt so sore, but pressed on, needing to bring these back to Howl. She made it to the ledge, and dropped the bodies right beside him, before flopping onto the ground above him. "Eat, don't let them go to waste." She told him sternly, before yawning. Her eyes closed for a few moments, just needing to rest a bit. She could get herself something to eat later. She opened her eyes, to look down at the male.





Howl had fully laid down on his side, breathing gently and trying to rest up as much as he could. He hoped his wounds wouldn't open up beyond his coverings, and bleed out, though he was sure it had set enough to avoid being made worse. He was drifting in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware of scents and passing noises. Was this what dying was like? Maybe he was dying! His thoughts were interrupted when a rabbit dropped on his face, causing him to lay stock still for a moment, his eyes snapping open to see what had dared interrupted his 'death'. He grinned as he lifted his head, looking up to Nyssa now, ears flicking forward. "Yes Ma'am" He smiled, beginning to tear at one of them.

"What about you?" He asked up to her, tilting his head a little. He knew he was a little more injured, but that couldn't excuse her from eating. Despite his question and whatever her answer, he grabbed the second rabbit in his jaws and chucked it up toward her face anyway.






Nyssa grunted, and opened her eyes, one clearly visible around the hare's front paw and body. The toss to her face, made it land perfectly on her muzzle and head. She lifted her head, then tilted downwards to make it drop back down onto Howl's back. "I'll be fine. You eat." Nyssa told him in a no nonsense sort of way. She would be fine. However, her stomach betrayed her, and rumbled loudly when she lowered her head back onto her paws.

She frowned, and lifted her head to look to her stomach in annoyance. Great.... She looked back to Howl, and raised an eyebrow. "Just cause I'm hungry, doesn't mean a thing." She informed him, and her stomach once again rumbled defiantly and loudly.






Despite the hare now dropping back to his back, he gave Nyssa an unimpressed look, both his eyebrows raised. "Uh huh... sure..." He said sarcastically, taking a moment to once again take the rabbit in his jaws, chucking it back up to her. "Now, I insist... I'm the biggest out the two of us... If you don't eat, I'll sit on you" He threatened back, a smirk on his face, before he looked back to his rabbit, tearing at it hungrily. It was a couple of mouthfuls later, that he looked up to her, blood coating his maw.

"Thanks Nyssa... you really didn't have to... thanks for everything" He said gently, his tail resting over the edge of the ledge now, swaying gently. He paused for a moment, putting his chin to his chest now as he relaxed. "I owe you a lot now... My life... perhaps twice!" He mused, looking up to her once again. "How do I repay you?"





"Pfft, you ain't that much bigger than me. Your threat holds no merit." Nyssa muttered, and looked to the hare that was back on her ledge. She gave in though, not because of the mild threat, but because her stomach wouldn't stop being so loud! She dug into the dead hare, effectively stopping her stomach from growling for much longer. Her ears flickered at his thanks, and she paused in her eating to look down at him.

".....Be my friend?" Nyssa asked softly, and went back to her hare. She didn't have a lot that she wanted, just friends or something to be close too. Someone she could rely on at times, and someone she could tell her secrets too. "I mean, like I know I could probably ask for anything, but that's all I'd like, really. Just a friend who can be there....




"Heh, it holds no merit now... but wait until I'm up there... my sitting powers are but to be reckoned with" He smirked again, focusing on his hare once again. He pulled the meat from the bones in a precise fashion, having done this a hundred times before. It took a little fiddling, but he eventually managed to get a good chunk from it, chewing using the side of his mouth, almost the way a puppy would. He licked his jaws as he looked back up at her, a surprised expression on his face. She didn't have any friends? Surely she had a couple? He decided not to ask, in case it struck a nerve, however.

A wide smile spread across his muzzle, tilting his head a little to the side as he considered her words. He had never been directly asked, it always more kind of.. happened. Though he looked to the rogue now with a good degree of tenderness, rather different to their first meeting... for that he was glad. There was only a certain set of words that came into his head, as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Of course... I'll be your friend. I'll make a promise to you now... If ever you need me Nyssa... I'll be there"