Novel was on a mission. Ara was busy taking care of her own pregnant mother while she grew worried about her own. Song was due anytime not to mention her aunt Novella, who had given birth just a few days ago. Their herbs stores were being drained, and someone had to go out and collect more. Novel had volunteered, she hadn?t spent too much time on her own recently, and she and Elohim had some catching up to do. The golden primate would cling to her back as they travelled farther and farther from home. She?d also come into her first heat, and she was feeling extraordinarily uncomfortable. Her skin was hot and her emotions were strained, it was nice to be out of the pack for a while. Alone was not something she often experienced. Still it was hard to ignore the recent changes in her body, so she and Elohim would quiz each other about different illnesses and herbs as they sought out the herbs used in pregnancies and births. "Speech" Think "Elohim"

The sun had dawned upon his second year of life, bringing with it the warmth and plenty of summer; and something much more sinister. With the turning of this season came Lel?s leap into adult hood and with it the knowledge that now more than ever he was in his prime and his virility was a symbol of his status. The lands would have trembled had they been filled with the collective knowledge that the already promiscuous boy was now able to spread his seed. Or so he at least liked to believe. With his new found power the male was eager to unleash his supposed terror upon his first victim. Victim? no that was the wrong word, they would be recipients of his gifts, his innumerable gifts; weather they wanted it or not. Then he would turn his sights upon home and Jain, together they would raise superior stock that would live to follow in his own footsteps. So it was that the ivory boy stalked proudly through across the terrain, the slightly stale scents of a pack invading his senses, though clearly who ever had once claimed this area was gone. Then a vaguely familiar scent filled his nostrils and he grinned, a cruel wicked grin and picked up his pace to approach the girl. He had somehow ended up in front of her and as he stepped into her path he paused, adopting a much more innocent smile and fixing violet gaze upon her. "Speech"

Delicate white paws would support her delicate frame as she walked and talked with Elohim, the two so engrossed within their topics that neither would become aware of the stranger stalking. Novel was obviously comfortable as she walked, her pace was slow and her form relaxed. She would hardly startle as a tall man would appear before her. She?d stop, brilliant ocean colored eyes taking him in as he smiled at her quietly. For a few moments the babe would be confused, but his scent would wash over her and his appearance would make a connection to a memory that seemed so long ago. "Lel," she?d smile as she found the familiar name. They had been only pups when they?d met, now they were both full fledged adults. How coincidental to have found him here. "Speech" Think "Elohim"

It took a moment for the boy to recognize that the girl was not alone, there was in fact a strange creature accompanying her. She seemed to be chatting amiably with it and despite himself he found himself starring at it for a moment. Then her scent once more rolled over him and set his body alight. There was more than the former familiarity; instead he could detect the scent of her prime, a smell he had learned from the earthy woman. His whole body shook as he fought back the urge to rush towards her, instead holding his ground and nodding in greeting as she spoke his name. "And if it isn?t Novel." He said with false amusement, doing his best to appear much friendlier than he normally was. It wouldn?t help much if she didn?t at least allow him to get closer, he?d much prefer this to be as clean as possible. "Speech"

Novel was a grown woman now, and as she could plainly see Lel had grown the same way. Her stunning gaze would be drawn to the rippling muscles beneath his pelt, and the sly smile he wore on his features. She was correct, this was the small boy she?d met when she?d barely been out of the den. She?d find herself smiling more brightly, how much luckier could she be than to run into an old friend? As well he would echo her own name, she was glad to hear he hadn?t forgotten about her or her name. Her dual toned tail would wag, though she was still a bit unsure why she felt so excited to see him. In reality it was probably her heat speaking to her, the pull of attraction towards the opposite sex. Still she?d enjoy his presence as she tried to subdue her hormones. There weren?t really any available males within Ludicael that weren?t her family. She?d let her feet carry her a bit closer, she had no worries being within his presence so would feel comfortable being only a couple feet from him. "It is," she?d smile rather jovialy, "How have you been? Has life turned out like you thought it would?" There had been many twists and turns so far in her own, but for the majority she was right where she wanted to be. "Speech" Think "Elohim"

The small pup had grown into a delicate and elegant woman, the white of her pelt nearly blinding in the summer sun. Oh how he would enjoy tainting that purity. For a moment his gaze was dragged back to the strange orange beast, what role would it play in his scheme? If the creature tried to intervene he would simply have to dispose of it. He then noticed the girl?s tail begin to wag and he smiled again. Novel approached him and he bit back a laugh, seemed her own whims were being used against her, the closer she allowed herself to get the better. For him. The smell of her heat rolled over him and a slight shiver ran down frame, it was taking all his self-control to not leap upon her this instant. Honeyed lyrics fell from her lips and Lel fought the urge to roll his eyes, what pretentious bullshit was she on about? Outwardly he kept up his friendly fa?ade. "I?ve been doing fine." He chuckled lightly before speaking again. "Does it ever?" He regarded her for a moment and took a quick step towards her. "How about you?" "Speech"

Novel really had grown up, her and her family had been through so much recently that it would have been hard not to find some maturity in the last two years. However along with her mind she grown into a dazzling woman, unbeknownst to her. She could feel Elohim nervously cling to her, he was usually relaxed and at peace. Something would cause him to shake just slightly enough that she could feel the minute vibrations through her fur. Still, most of her attention would remain on Lel?s polite appearance and she would think nothing of her companion?s wary actions. He would fool her brilliantly, letting his words slip effortlessly from his jaws. She?d smile at his light chuckle, her tailing bumping softly on the earth at her hip. He?d tell her how he?d been since they?d met as tiny children. He?d in turn ask about her own encounters, she had so much life happen since they?d met, what could she tell him? "It?s nothing like I planned." She thought her father would have stayed with her forever, she never planned to loose her tiny brother from his sickness. She?d never thought she?d find a friend like Ara.. No life wasn?t what she?d expected. "Anyway though, what brings you out here? Elohim and I were trying to collect some herbs.." "Speech" Think "Elohim"

Lel was all too aware of how easy this was, how she was falling completely and utterly under the spell he was weaving. How could she really be this dense? He had thought maybe her innocent act had been just that, an act. But he was pleasantly surprised to find she really just was that trusting, that stupid. The girl would soon be his, his pained control would soon be at an end. He unconsciously licked his chops. It was an exercise in his patients to have to listen to what the girl was spouting, but he could not afford to drop the fa?ade just yet, he?d much rather be a bit closer. He nodded at her confirmation that life had not gone as planned, adopting a slightly thoughtful expression. She spoke of reasoning and indicated the orange creature upon her back, giving it a name. He inclined his head slightly at it but saying nothing, noted it?s wide eyed expression but unsure what exactly it could mean. " Nothing much," he laughed softly, "just out for a bit of a stroll. " He paused and as calmly as possible walked around beside her his chest parallel to her rump. "And when I caught wind of you being here, I just couldn?t pass up the chance to see an old friend." He gave her another friendly smile, remaining where he was, he needed to know how she would react, if she too stayed where she was his next move would be clear and then the real game would begin. "Speech"

Novel really was trusting of everyone she met, she had no reason to not trust Lel really. She was still Naive to the world around her and the evils that crept within. She wouldn?t let her mind wander to those dark thoughts and she wouldn?t find Elohim?s distrust of the boy sway her. She?d known him since they were small pups, he?d seemed so friendly then why would he have changed in the last two years? Though she had no idea what he?d been through, all the gruesome thoughts that ran through his head. She was untainted, for now. She would listen curiously, watching absently as he?d move around her. Apparently it was becoming too much for her companion, the golden haired primate would leap from her shoulder on the opposite side of Lel. Her attention would become focused upon Elohim, her head would turn away from Lel and watch as he raced up a rather tall tree. "Speech" Think "Elohim"

Good! He fought back the urge to grin, clearly she had not felt the need to shift her position. He had been about to continue on when movement caught his eye, the strange creature had jumped ship it seemed, scrambling nimbly up the tree. Lel watched it for a moment, his head cocked to the side and an eyebrow quirked up in curiosity. What an odd creature. Still it had gotten itself out of the way which is what he had hoped for. He gave the smaller girl a quick wink and quickly moved around behind her, squaring himself off. "Oh and how happy I am to have run into you again." He purred, the menace creeping into his voice this time as he suddenly reared up. Neck craned forwards as he lowered his weight upon her, jaw gaped as he tried to grab her scruff. A low growl rose from his throat. "So very happy." "Speech"

She?d let her bright eyes fall from Elohim?s side, though she was still rather curious she?d let her gaze come back to rest on Lel?s form. She?d find his sudden wink, odd but everything would be explained as he suddenly moved. For the first time she?d feel a bit of uncertainty, her ears would fall back as confusion covered her features. Before she could think to move he was behind her, dark words spilling from his lips. Eyes would widen as she felt his weight upon her back, his jaws grasping hold of her scruff. What was going on? "Wait, what? What are doing?" Her voice was rather panicked, the menace in his voice not lost on her. He would growl as her panicked voice would yell out over the plains, Elohim?s form suddenly shooting off in the direction of Ludicael. Confusion would run through her as panic overtook her and Lel would claim control of her body. -fade- "Speech" Think "Elohim"

Fortunately for the primate Lel was all too wrapped up in what he was doing to notice it?s sudden escape, otherwise things might have gone less then happily for the small creature. He could feel her panic beneath him, her fear mingling with the smell of her heat and making an attractive perfume that had his already rising hormones soaring. This was something he could get used to. -Fade to black- -Fade in- He was starting to wind down, unfortunately. Releasing his grip upon her scruff he leaned forward to hiss into her ear. "Do not tell anyone." With a simple movement he reared and backed up, front paws once more hitting the ground. "I really wouldn?t if I were you." He growled, making it obvious what he was implying. With a quick turn he began to walk off, tail and head held high. -Exit Lel- "Speech"

It wasn't normal to see Elohim without Novel. In fact, she had only seen him alone once -- and it was when Novel had been extremely ill, from the horrible plague that had struck the lands. Immediately upon seeing him she felt her stomach lurch and her heart begin to beat rapidly in her chest. Panic was written on his tiny face and immediately she would rise to all fours to stand before him. 'She was attacked,' he explained quickly, his words scrambled and frantic. There was no time to ask question. She wanted to make sure Novel was okay. Instantly she would begin to search the mental store of herbs that she had tucked away in her mind. Would Novel need anything? Perhaps something to help the pain? Or stop the bleeding? But she didn't even know what had happened. Already her friend's companion had set off into a near sprint, and she had no time to react, only to follow.

Elohim led her away from the lands she had come to know as home further west. She had called this range her home once, and she found herself traversing the landscape with ease. Her mind was strangely still, her body flooding with adrenaline at the thought of Novel being harmed or in pain.

She was led directly to her friend. A whine escaped her lips as she moved forward to touch her nose to Novel's shoulder, noting the scent of blood in the air. Though it was distressing to see that her friend had been injured -- no, it was downright horrifying -- the injuries didn't seem debilitating enough for her to need help here, rather than simply hurrying back home? There was something else wrong here. A whine left her lips as she nosed Novel's neck, trying to assess the injuries quickly. Besides the obvious injury to her next, something else seemed off, and she couldn't quite place it. She found herself panting heavily from the long run and would slowly recline to her haunches, another whine leaving her lips in the form of a question. What had happened to her?

She?d feel release, Lel would leave her side. She would barely hear his threat as she slid to the ground, tears in her eyes. It felt like an eternity she would lay there, eyes half open as her mind tried to process the events that had taken place. Novel didn?t wish to think about them, nor did she wish to move. Everything hurt, this was a different kind of ache than the sickness had brought about. Eventually she?d feel a touch on her shoulder, Ara?s features were suddenly beside her. Shame would overcome any other feeling she might have felt were their meeting to have occurred earlier that day. Very much obviously the girl had run the whole way here, Elohim had found his way to the girl?s back. He was completely exhausted. She would recognize the confused whine her friend would utter, but words would echo in her memory causing her to shiver. "Do not tell anyone." Mismatched ears would fall to her ears as she shook her head, she couldn?t say anything. Not now or ever. Instead she?d push herself against Ara?s side, emotions overflowing as she felt the comfort of her presence. ?Come on, lets go home.? She whispered, but there was a desperation in her voice she couldn?t mask. She had to get out of here.

Novel looked.. defeated. Her heart ached for her closest friend as she gazed at her, her form so broken and tired, and she let another gentle whine leave her lips. Around her, Ara found it easy to lighten up and show her more carefree side -- for her friend was so easy to smile and laugh around. But seeing her in pain made her feel panicked and almost hysterical, and she found tears welling in her eyes as she gazed upon the white-furred girl. It wasn't like her to grow so visibly upset, but she didn't know what had happened and couldn't begin to imagine why anyone would dare hurt Novel, let alone to leave her so upset.


'Come on, let's go home,' were the only words she gave her. The pain in Novel's eyes was not something she could ignore, but she straightened herself out as she felt Novel lean into her. All she wanted to do was to lie her down and inspect and clean her wound, to comfort her and nurture her to full health, but if there was a reason she didn't want to be here any longer, Ara would not question her decision. "You.. were attacked?" she breathed out a question softly, though her voice quivered with uncertainty at what the answer might be. Slowly she would begin to walk, careful to support Novel's weight as best as she could. She felt her paws quivering as she went but she would breath deeply, willing herself to remain calm.


"Elohim told me," she would explain again, her lyrics tender as she glanced sideways at Novel. "What happened, Novel?" She had the sense that she didn't want to talk about it, but she needed to know what exactly had happened to hurt -- one, to know how to treat her, and two, to make sure it didn't happen again. She couldn't grasp the severity of the attack, and needed to know precisely what had happened in order to begin to understand. She didn't know what else she could do to help other than to get Novel home, and to gather as much information as she could on the way.

She didn?t want to think, about anything really, least of all what she?d just experienced. Novel didn?t want to admit to herself, she didn?t want to voice what Lel had done. He?d threatened her not to tell anyone, there was no way she could tell Ara anything more than what Elohim had seen. Her darker companion would lend her shoulder, Novel finding her weight easily accepted. Before they started to walk she?d hear the question she feared most, clarification. Her body was tired, sore, bloodied and bruised, she just wanted to be in her den, pretending this had never happened. Ara would insist though, she knew that someone had done this to her, it had been no accident. She could feel the girl?s gaze upon her, but Novel couldn?t bring her blue eyes to meet her. From a healer?s standpoint she needed to know what happened, the logic that wanted to get through would be withheld by her fear of Lel and what he might do. ?I can?t say.? It was all she could say as she tried to pick up the pace. She wanted to be home and in her den. Her voice was obviously pained, but she simply could not say what happened.

She couldn't help but feel hurt, but she was certain she was not nearly as hurt as Novel herself. Ara would stifle another whine from slipping from her throat, unused to feeling so utterly helpless. All she could do was get Novel home, and clean and tend to her wounds. They didn't look terrible -- and they were certainly not life-threatening -- but it was obvious something else had happened here. Novel's smell was different, tainted with the stale scent of a stranger, and she felt her stomach lurch as she considered what could've happened to her. Why, of all wolves, had someone attacked Novel? She knew life wasn't fair but this seemed so merciless. Still she didn't know what exactly had warranted the attack, but she couldn't imagine Novel provoking anyone, especially not to do something like this. Silence would engulf her as they walked, as she struggled to remain calm but keep her pace steady.


It was obvious Novel didn't feel safe here. This had been her home once. What had happened? She swore she felt tears well in her blue eyes but she blinked hard, keeping them from falling. Novel wasn't ready to talk, as much as she wanted to know who had hurt her, and forcing it from her would likely only upset her more. "Okay," she managed to spit out, her voice hoarse with sadness and anger. Though she wasn't violent by nature, she was overcome with a sudden hate toward whoever had hurt her best friend. It made her stomach writhe painfully, her head fogging with malice and fear.


She didn't know how long they walked, but she would not stop until they made it to Novel's den. Finally she would let a gentle sigh escape her lips, her breath shaky and her. "Lay down," she would instruct her softly, stifling another whine that threatened to fall from her parted lips.

Elohim could hear the reluctance in his companion?s voice, he?d seen much of what had happened before he ran to get Ara. He was exhausted though, he could say nothing. As he clung to Ara?s back though he knew he?d have to tell her, it didn?t seem like Novel would be able to. Novel would hear the reluctance in Ara?s voice, the pain that she could not be confided in. She couldn?t say it though, for more than one reason. She?d keep her emotions bottled as they walked, her form becoming a shell as her dry eyes just watched the coming horizon. There was a feeling in her belly she couldn?t understand, and it would grow with intensity with each step she took closer to home. Novel would try to block out the thoughts and memory of the day, she?d let her own emotions flee while taking in the distressed energy Ara would show. She didn?t know what to think, everything was so overwhelming and confusing. As her friend would lead her to her den she?d follow her instructions without question. She felt exhausted then, as her body fell to the floor she would curl and put her head on her paws. Oceanic gaze would struggle to stay open as she sighed, happy to just be alive. Elohim would have found much time to rest on the way back, he?d quickly escape to find fresh water and bring it back. His voice returning as he refreshed himself. He?d place the leaflet of water by Novel?s still nose. She?d fallen into sleep. His own bright eyes returning to the worried Ara. "I think this is more serious than a bloody scruff, Ara." He?d pet Novel?s forehead affectionately, "She said his name was Lel, he seemed to know Novel but I didn?t feel right about him. He was a white brute, black tail tip and evil violet gaze." He?d shiver, ashamed he hadn?t urged Novel to run sooner. "I don?t think the purpose of the attack was to kill her. I think he wanted her to have his children." "Speech" Think "Elohim"

Though she wanted to know everything, she would remain quiet. Her gaze would briefly shift to Elohim, who looked quite shaken despite his own silence. The sudden emptiness in Novel's eyes terrified her and she felt a pit of nausea forming in his stomach. All she wanted to know was why. Why would anyone hurt Novel? She was the epitome of everything good and beautiful. She was gentle and kind and smart, and she couldn't begin to imagine why anyone would dare hurt her. The woman stifled another whine from falling from her lips as Novel lowered herself to the ground, very quickly closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.

She, too, would settle down to her belly near Novel. Leaving was the last thing on her mind right now. Instead, she would watch her in silence as she drifted deeper to sleep. Her concentration was only broken by Elohim's small, soft voice from her side as he returned to the den. She twitched slightly, as though surprised at his presence, her attention fully taken by Novel's slumber. 'I think this is more serious than a bloody scruff, Ara,' he explained, and Ara nodded slowly, feeling a lump in her throat that blocked her from speaking for a moment. "I figured," she whispered softly, her gaze still resting on Novel, her gaze brimming with worry and affection alike. His name was Lel -- she'd never heard of him, but she stored his name away quietly for later. She'd soon have to find Song and tell her what had happened. Elohim's next words surprised her slightly, but they shouldn't have. Novel had been.. raped? Now she couldn't stop a gentle whine from escaping her throat as she leaned closer to nuzzle Novel gently, so as not to wake her.

Her scent had been different lately, but she hadn't thought much of why. It had excited her, though she hadn't admitted it to herself, and she knew that it would be attractive to others... but enough to force themselves upon her? Who could be so cruel? She felt her eyes well with tears that she dared not let fall. It was in that moment that she realized she loved Novel. She was so beautiful laying there, even as she slept, and she felt her heart ache for all the innocent girl had been through. At the same time she felt unbearably guilty for not being there for her and letting someone do this to her, as though she could've stopped it. "What do we do, Elohim?" she asked softly, her words hardly audible at all, as she pulled herself closer to Novel, not wanting to be away from her right now when Novel needed her most and when she needed Novel just as badly.