The cart had been loaded, complete with Roan. Resin, her mother, was harnessed to said cart. The titaness had little trouble pulling the wheeled apparatus until they entered the gully. The ground here was moist and the wheels spun often. After much growling and snarling, Iolaire suggested a break. She unhitched her mother from the cart and the giant woman stalked off to take a much needed breather.

Moving to the back of the cart, Iolaire looked up into it, the black and silver man within her field of vision. "Do you need anything?" She could get him water or food. Jumping into the small cart, Iolaire inspected the wounds upon his face. They were already scabbed over. She was confident that they would heal cleanly. The scars would make him look rather dashing, she thought.

The bumping and jostling would most likely inflame Roan's shoulder, so Iolaire placed some white willow before him. "Eat this. It'll help." Since Resin was off taking a break, the small woman settled down beside the large man. The cart wasn't terribly large so their bodies touched here and there. She didn't mind this one bit. The pair had been engaging in casual touching. Purely for comfort, mind you.

He wasn’t happy about being pulled behind the tall mountain of a woman, but he suppressed his displeasure and did as he was told. Mostly he wanted to sleep, but he was continuously being throw about the cart. Thank goodness for the mass amount of furs they had piled up or he would just be a bruise. With Resin upset and growling he was far from sleep when Iolaire suddenly appeared at the back where he had his head over his arms.

”No, I’m fine.” He was honest this time he said the words to her. Mostly he just wanted to sleep, but he likely wouldn’t get a whole lot of that until they settled into the new packlands. She joined him in the cart, her slim frame climbing in easily and she looked over the claw wounds at his face.

She was constantly looking out for his comfort though and offered him some of the usual pain medication. This time he didn’t hesitate at all to take up the bark into his mouth. It was awful, but he was particularly sore today. Iolaire settled in beside him after that, and he couldn’t deny the comfort of her presence. He was already embarrassed by his forced containment in the cart. Having someone there to look to after losing the one he was closest to was invaluable. He wasn’t sure he’d have really recovered if he didn't have the dainty woman to lean on.

”How close are we?” Roan asked while leaning into her side.

Once in the cart, Iolaire looked out towards where her mother had stalked off. "She didn't used to get so... emotional." Emotions were beyond Resin. Or at least they had been. "She'll be alright though. Just needs a breather." Roan went on to say that he was fine, but he eagerly consumed the willow.

Roan asked how much of the journey they had to make. "We're about half way through. The next leg will be difficult. We have to go around waterways." The journey had to be made, however. They had no choice. She'd already built a garden and a cottage. There was no turning back.

Having settled beside Roan, Iolaire began unwrapping her bandaged left paw. She'd sliced the pad open very deeply earlier that morning. Walking upon it had caused the wound to seep. Pain throbbed in the damaged pad. Maybe she would eat some willow bark as well. Taking out the same salve that she used on Roan's face, Io applied some to the wound. She would rest until her mother returned, then she would walk beside the cart again. If the other cart hadn't been so far ahead, she very well may have ridden for a time.

She explained quietly about Resin and how unemotional she usually was. He nodded softly, the two of them had settled into a comfortable silence during the journey. Minus the cursing from Resin. Iolaire answered his question easily, but it was good and bad news. They were half way there as the crow flies, but this would be the most difficult leg of their adventure.

He noticed her bandage for the first time as she drew attention to the blooded wrappings around her paw. Roan's eyes widened in concern as he realized she was walking alongside the cart with an injury like that. "You're wounded." the silver marked titan remarked the obvious. He couldn't do anything to help her, and he knew she wouldn't want to burden Resin any more than needed. Roan was almost surprised at the concern in his own voice, but he knew that he was depending on her in so many ways. The emotional ones were adding up. The warrior cared for the dainty woman.

Roan commented on her wound and Iolaire turned the sliced pad upwards so he could see. "Nothing major. I cut it this morning while I was putting the awning on the cart." There was indeed a stretched deer skin extended over the wagon. At least she'd finished her task.

The concern in both voice and features was noted and it seemed to bring a little skip into the small woman's heart. They had bonded during their time together, it was true. Ah, but there was nothing there, right? And even if there was, he would surely lose interest one he discovered that she was barren. That was why she was alone. That was why the one good thing that had ever happened to her had become the one worst thing.

He was ashamed at how much effort she was putting into him, literally her blood, sweat, and tears. Roan would have gone without the canopy if he had the option of her paw being whole. Io shrugged off the severity, but he had a feeling she was like him. He didn't want to be worried over. Roan didn't press her, but she did not lower his anxiety over her.

Roan didn't know love beyond that which he held for his lost sister. Dapple was the whole of his world, his companion, his shield mate. They were inseparable, and not having her beside him tore him apart. Whenever Iolaire wasn't beside him. She distracted him, but commiserated with him as well. He liked the way she took his mind from darkness when he most needed it.

Not that he could do anything about her paw, but he still worried. She had walked and still needed to walk great lengths on an injured paw. "Would you take my place, for a couple miles?" Surely he could manage that far on his own four feet.

Roan suggested that she take his place for a time. It was a very thoughtful gesture and the diminutive fae truly appreciated it. "No," was her answer, however. "With that shoulder, you wouldn't make it a hundred yards. Abs you definitely wouldn't make it without undoing all of my hard work." Extending her neck, the woman gave a reassuring nuzzle to Roans chin. "Let me care for you. You can make it up to me later if you wish."

Pulling a clean piece of hide from her pack, Iolaire wrapped her injured paw once more. Resting it had helped. The throbbing had ceased. The lithe dame slid from the cart, stretching when she hit the ground. Surely her mother would turn soon and they could be on their way. Truthfully, she was getting tired, having been up all night preparing. That was what she dId though. Overworked herself to get things done. She often paid for it later.

Iolaire was quick to deny his suggestion, but he hadn’t really expected any different from her. She was much more realistic about the progress he made in the short amount of time, and was sure he wouldn’t make it even a quarter of what he estimated. Io had been far from joking when she said his wounds would take time. However much he felt disappointed she made it up to him with her unabashed affection.

The pair of them had taken to each other easy, little affections, gestures of comfort and support. They were shared easily between the two silver marked wolves. Verdant green gaze rested on her delicate features as she promised that he could repay her kindness later. Roan nodded softly but with determination, he wouldn’t let her work go to waste.

She slipped away from him after rewrapping her paw, he hoped she wasn’t lying when she told him that she wasn’t in distress. Though he was sure when they got back going he would be on the lookout for her limp. Surely if he asked they would stop, he could force Io to take a break. ”Take it easy,” he asked of her quietly.

Of course she would say that she was fine. Iolaire was always 'fine.' Whether or not it was true internally. She always projected outward strength. When she jumped down from the cart, however, the woman winced. She would pay for the abuse on her pad later. The cut was very deep, almost bisecting the heel pad of her paw. Had there been time, she may have considered stitching it. No time though. They were in too much of a hurry. She kept telling herself that she would rest when she was able. She would not be the one to hold everyone back.

Roan's voice met her ears and she shot him a happy smile, no sign of pain on her face. "Will do." The small woman went about inspecting the cart, making sure that everything was in working order. Might as well make sure that things were well so that she could fix any issues before her mother returned. As she moved around the edge of the cart though, she couldn't hide a slight limp.

He might not be able to see past her facade, she said she was fine and everything said she was. However, she couldn’t hide the difference in her gait as she tried to compensate for the wound in her paw pad. Roan was sure he’d seen how deep it was, and he wasn’t sure that she’d even allow him to move if it had happened to him.

While he hadn’t noticed before, Roan didn’t miss the hitch in her step now. Concern washed over him, and the first time since the bear struck him his mind was completely devoid of Dapple. He didn’t think about his leg or anything but what he was doing. Faster than he realized he was even able to move he placed himself beside Iolaire to be used to support her obviously wounded paw. ”Iolaire.” Roan didn’t raise his voice, but he wanted to convey his seriousness. She had no business walking anymore than he did.

In an instant he was beside her. Iolaire's eyes opened wide for a moment and she stared incredulously at the man. He said her name, a note of sternness within his tones. Io wrinkled her nose slightly and returned it. "Roan." He had no business being out of that wagon. They would just have to get him back in it again before they continued on.

Was he worried about her? A little hitch formed in the healer's chest but she pushed it away. They barely knew one another. Why on earth would he feel anything other than gratitude? "You really should be more careful. If you injure your shoulder even more, it could alter your use of it." If he hurt himself, he would just be in her care longer. He didn't want that, did he?

He could see the displeasure in her features at his current position, but he felt very strongly about his position. Roan would have no qualms tattling on her to Sirius if he had to. The Warlord would know how to wrangle her stubborn form into a wagon. He met her stare, if he wasn’t fit to walk then neither was she. Her limp would only get worse. He was no healer but continuing on a wound like that wouldn’t help her healing.

”I am fine.” Yeah he knew that he was going to be sore at the end of their journey, but if he was in the cart or right here wouldn’t change that fact any. ”You are lying to me.” He spoke what he believed to be fact. Her paw was bothering her more than she was letting on. Roan wasn’t a healer but he couldn’t bring himself to stand idly by as she torturned herself trying to work through the pain. ”I’ll get back in the cart, but you shouldn’t be walking either.” The silver marked titan didn't know where the words were coming from, but as far as his current convictions went this was the number one. He couldn’t allow her to walk the rest of the way.

Having cooled down considerably by taking a walk on her own, the giant woman decided that it was time to return to the cart and get this journey over with. Massive paws moved the dame's prodigious mass back into the clearing where she'd left the cart and the wolves with it.

Brow furrowed as both Iolaire and her charge were standing outside of the wagon. Coming close, the one-eyed woman spoke in her growling tones. "We've no more time to waste. Back in the cart." She then looked to Iolaire. "Help me with the harness. The sooner we go, the sooner we'll be there." It was more than the woman normally spoke, but direction needed to be given so that they could finish their journey.

Before Iolaire could react to his attempt at looking out for her the woman who birthed her reappeared before them. She was more long winded than she had been the whole start of the trip. The old warrior had a way about her, with those few words he suddenly had the urge to do exactly as she said. Roan grit his teeth, unsure of his next move. Would Resin be able to convince her daughter to get off her paws?

Undecided he moved to get himself back into the cart as he brooded over what he was going to do. It wasn’t a difficult struggle but putting himself back where he was wasn’t easy either. He was confident he didn’t cause anymore strain than the cart ride on his shoulder. By the time he got comfortable Roan saw the giant form os the Warlord in the distance. At the least he could carry the tiny woman, right? ”Sirius!”

Sirius took a break when the smaller cart, which had trailed somewhat behind him, also stopped. He was unhitched, and gave everyone a chance to catch their breaths and take on some water and food if they liked. He had been organising some hunting teams to track the area around them, heading in the same direction, but away from the noisy main party. He raised his head now and howled for them to bring back any prey they had caught.

As he started to move away to relieve himself and take a drink of water, he would see Roan, who was beckoning him, and calling out. He fell into an easy, quick stride, and made his way towards the dark coated, injured male. His thoughts for the bear-hunter where reserved. He was waiting for the man to prove himself worthy of the treatment he had been receiving. Not now, but when he was better.

If her gaze could have killed Roan on the spot, he would have been left there, food for jackals and vultures. The small wolf glared daggers at the injured man. How dare he? Telling on her like a pup. He hadn't even said anything yet, but she knew exactly what he had in mind. Pelt bristling, Iolaire wrinkled her nose and bared her teeth at the wagon-bound brute momentarily before staring at the approaching form of Sirius. Just because he was heading her way, however, didn't mean that she had to listen to him. She was a force and she made her own god damned decisions. An angry, glaring look was still on her shapely face when the warlord drew near.

Alright so he didn’t want to force Iolaire to do anything, but she shouldn’t have been walking the rest of the way back and deep down she knew it. Roan tried not to look at her, but he could feel her jade gold eyes boring holes into the side of him as Sirius came forth. He shouldn’t have looked at her again before seeking out the Warlord’s gaze. ”Warlord.” He greeted, his voice hushed. ”I have concern for my caretaker.” His words were serious despite Io’s harsh gaze.

Roan grit his teeth, telling on her was hard as trying to convince her himself. He took in a deep breath, ”She pushes herself too hard. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that of your sister.” Roan tried to lighten what he was doing and his emerald gaze dashed to the dainty she wolf, she looked more prickly than he last remembered. ”Io, I’m sorry.” He muttered. ”Her paw…” Roan tailed off then, looking back to the she wolf he couldn’t help but feel like he’d just betrayed. Still, there was a force within him that couldn’t see her in pain. She covered everything so well, if she was showing any kind of limp she was hurting.

He felt the hostility in Io, and turned to Roan with a frown. If Io was done with her patient, Sirius wasn’t attached to him yet. They could dump him off the side of their wagon and be on their way - especially if he had done something to upset his sister.

Roan did not give him the news he expected, instead he informed the Warlord that Io was injured. Sirius frowned deeper, turning to his sister. What was this? He remembered the injury to her paw during the argument with Zee. he hadn’t thought she had done more than give herself a light graze, was it much worse then he had thought?

“Show me” he ordered softly, leaning over to gently grab at the leg above the injury with his mouth.

"Traitor," she snarled low as Roan told on her as though they were children. Of course Sirius would get his fur in a bunch at hearing that she was injured. It wasn't even a terrible injury. It was something that she could realistically deal with until they arrived at their destination. Then she would take it easy.

Sirius told her to show him and Iolaire snorted. "I'm fine. There are more important things than a scratched paw." Her pelt was still bristled and she refused to even look at Roan again. This was a slight that she wouldn't forget any time soon. He had betrayed her. She should let him bump around without pain relief for the rest of the journey in payment, but it wasn't in her nature to let him suffer. The bastard was lucky. She would still see to his wounds, but he would have a lot of making up to do to get on her good side again,

Roan definitely felt like a traitor as Sirius moved away from him and Iolaire called him out. He looked away, finally ashamed for something that wasn’t his sister’s death. This was much easier to deal with, but he still felt the brunt of Io’s ire. He couldn’t just allow her to walk all the way to their destination, they were only half way and she was already limping. He couldn’t have brought himself to watch her in pain all that way. If she wouldn't listen to him, surely she would take their alpha’s words into consideration.

She didn’t look at him but he didn’t look up either. His green gaze was pointedly looking down or the opposite direction. He could hear Sirius wanting a look and Roan felt even worse as the huge warlord grasped her dainty leg. Sorry wouldn’t cut it with this one.