Kichi lay on his favored rock, watching the fireflies do their odd little dance as his mind worked through all he had learned lately.  Lurid had stolen away from his childhood and left him this scarred wolf he had become.  His face had a few scars on it and spots of fur that were less dense hinted at scars hidden under the fur.  The physical scars weren’t the ones that hurt the most though, it was all the emotional damage that had taken place.  Who would Kichi be if he hadn’t been Lurid’s toy since he was a pup and then left abandoned after that?  After his first angry burst on it he now just felt drained and empty.  Hollow.

Kichi’s gaze flicked from the fireflies to below the rock where his water deer Torch was grazing.  Thankfully neither he nor the deer was sick.  After having seen that strange firefly-looking fellow Kichi had been sure to not harm the flying bugs.  The strange form had appeared and disappeared with all those strange potions and anyone who could do things like that were dangerous and to be cautious about.  So, while Kichi didn’t know for sure if the fellow had an affiliation with the fireflies it was possible and he wasn’t going to risk it.

He could smell some large cat to the west, probably behind another rock but it also carried the stink of the ooze.  If the animal was foolish enough to go near Torch it would die soon.  Kichi’s best guess was cougar but he had no need to fight so long as it didn’t go in the direction of Torch.  The wolf let out a lazy yawn, “Lurid, damn you,” Kichi muttered, “come back to life long enough for me to make you suffer.”

"Speech"

Ricin looks over his shoulder as worry forms knots in his stomach. The brothers had decided to do some exploring and the lighter hued pup fears that his wanderlust has caused to go further away from Chade than he normally would have. The darkness and fog are disorienting and Ricin soon finds himself becoming hopelessly lost. Chade is the fighter, hunter, and tracker of the duo and Ricin berates himself for having allowed his curiosity to get the better of him. Panic fuels Ricin’s frantic, futile search for his brother. The pup has no idea that death waits for him behind a rock.

The cougar is sick, bright ooze blocks its nostrils and clogs its ears. However, the healthy pup does not pick up on the bigger cat’s presence. Ricin growls in frustration at himself and the cougar’s ears perk up. Maybe its ears weren’t completely clogged after all. The big feline peeks out from its hiding spot, eyes finding the wandering pup easily. Even sick, the cat’s instincts still work. It crouches, coiling its muscles, preparing for the chase ahead. Ricin, unaware of the threat, circles back around, trying to lay a map of the land in his head and failing.

Silent paws creep closer, staying downwind of the oblivious pup. He keeps moving, circling franticly around and around. Finally, Ricin stops, casting a glace behind him and contemplating the risks of calling out for his brother. The cat sees its chance, muscles release the tension, sending the cougar exploding forward toward the pup. Paws cover the distance swiftly. When Ricin hears rocks skittering from behind him, the worried pup turns to see if Chade has found him.

Instead, his eyes find fangs and claws rushing to meet him. The cougar’s sick and Ricin is thankful for the small miracle. Its reflexes are slower and the pup manages to dodge out of the way of the sharp claws aimed at his head. He yelps in surprise and shouts, “Chade! Chade where are you? Help! There is a cougar!” His young voice is filled with fear as Ricin tries to remember what Chade taught him about fighting. His thoughts are quickly scattered as another large paw swings for the pup’s face and fear pounds through Ricin’s veins.

"Speech"

Kichi turned his head as a voice split the air.  A scared child calling for help.  Kichi didn’t move for a second as some part of his mind wavered.  Decision made he leaped down from his rock, “wait here,” he quickly told Torch as he ran to where the voice had come from.  Darkness and fog were no concern to Kichi.  The scent came first, movement in the fog, and then as he neared the actual shapes took on color and a more formed shape.  

Kichi wouldn’t have given care if it was an adult in trouble but this had been a child's voice.  Lost in memories of his own childhood and what he lost had caused him to feel a need to save another child from whatever.  The kid was young and as far as Kichi could tell no sign of help coming, certainly not in time.
Kichi was still eager for a fight and there was no hesitation as he ran to the cougar who was too focused on its potential meal.  Kichi shoved himself into the cat, sinking his teeth right into the top of its neck, using the force of his charge to help shove the cat off balance.  Clearly, the sickness was also dulling it and the cat stumbled down so that its swipe of a paw hit empty air. It attempted to bite Kichi’s neck and he let go, snarling at the oozey animal.  

The cougar got up but hesitated in its attack uncertain.  Kichi’s bottled-up anger split a grin of pleasure on his face, and he moved for a harsh shove back into the cat, hunching up his shoulders to the neck as he saw cat claws coming at him.  The claws did cut but again it was sick and Kichi pushed his weight into his side so that it lost balance and the claws only glanced.  

The cat got back up and attempted to run away realizing it was outmatched with its current situation.  Oh hell no, Kichi wanted a fight.  Kichi ran behind, jumped up with his front legs on top and grabbed the neck again, and thrashed.  

More blows were exchanged, the cougar focusing on trying to get away and Kichi focusing on causing it pain and dealing damage.  Eventually the cougar was down and Kichi bit into the underside of its neck, killing the already weakened animal.  Kichi stood over the corpse for a moment and finally acknowledged the fight was over.  

Turning away from the dead corpse he walked back towards the pup, “You alright?” Kichi’s voice was gruff no animosity at the boy.  “Shouldn’t be out roaming alone.  Plenty of sick animals looking for easy food.”

"Speech"

Chade’s words scream through Ricin’s mind as he watches the paw swing toward his face, “Don’t close your eyes!” So, he doesn’t, he keeps his crimson eyes open and on the paw of the cat. Terror roots his paws to the ground, keeping the pup from moving out of harms way. A thought flickers to life, ‘This cat is going to kill me’. The comfort he has is that at least he will have followed his brother’s orders and not closed his eyes. Time seems to slow and stretch with each heart beat lasting an eternity.

And then help arrives. A blur of gray slams into the cat and bright red blood appears on the cougar’s neck as this new wolf sinks its teeth into the creatures’ neck. The paw swings wide, barely missing Ricin. But it causes the spell to break, freeing the pup from its paralyzing grasp. Without hesitating, Ricin blots for the closest rock, hiding his small body behind the cover and allowing wolf and feline to fight. Blood paints the ground around the pair as blows are traded and Ricin feels his heart plummet. What if the wolf dies trying to protect him?

Just as Ricin steels his nerves to go help the big wolf, the fight ends. The wolf’s teeth sink into the soft throat of the downed cat and the body stills. Crimson eyes flick up from the body of the cat to inspect the wolf that has killed it. His protector stands over the dead body for a moment and Ricin slips out from his hiding place, cautiously approaching the big wolf. Conflicting emotions war for dominance in his mind as the pup tries to think of what Chade would do.

His brother is the cautious one, always worried about meeting new wolves and getting hurt. Guilt forms a lump in Ricin’s gut as he realizes Chade is going to have another lecture with him about the merits of wandering too. However, the chance to sneak away passes as the big wolf turns toward the pup, freezing the light blue boy in his tracks. The wolf’s gruff voice asks if he is alright and Ricin nods quickly, unable to trust his voice to not crack with fear. When the wolf reminds him that he shouldn’t be alone, the pup drops his head.

Ricin feels ashamed that he has allowed himself to get caught up in the moment and lose sight of his brother. He had done everything wrong. The panicked circling to try and find his brother had only served to put himself in further danger. Tucking his tail between his legs, head lowered, ears flat against his skull, Ricin says, “I’m sorry. The fog confused me. I can’t find my brother anywhere. I’m sorry.” He tries to shrink away from the bigger wolf, unsure of what he will say or do.

Crimson eyes flick up to the bigger wolf, trying to see if he will attack him when Ricin spots blood on the gray pelt. Head shoots up and he wails, “You’re bleeding!” as tears spring to the pups eyes at the notion that he has killed this stranger because of his stupid wanderlust.

"Speech"

The sick cat’s blood was splashed here and there over the grey and white wolf's blood and of course, some of it was his own.  Kichi was aware that it was questionable what spread the sickness that was going around but what to do was quite simple in his mind.  Since food still needed to be hunted and predators still needed to be dealt with he would live his life as he had up to this point.  Did blood contact play a part?  Unless Kichi planned to go on a long-term fasting program that was just a risk to take, which meant killing sick predators was all the same.  Anyway, he enjoyed killing things.

Asking the boy if he was alright got Kichi an apology in answer.  The boy looked at the small pup with some bemusement at the need for an apology of all things.  “I like killing,” Kichi explained, “so no need to apologize, it was a bit of fun.”  

How many deaths would it take to give him a sense of peace?  At least one more seemed a good answer.  Kichi looked at the boy and could recall what it felt like to be alone at a young age.  At least this kid had a brother.  Kichi was imagining of course an older brother and perhaps a family father off waiting for them.  Normal wolves had packs or at least a few family members to live with.

The boy's cry of alarm was a surprise as was the reason for the alarm.  Kichi glanced at the patch of blood on his shoulder that was indeed his own.  “It’s fine.” Kichi lay down next to the boy, “Let me tell you one of life’s truths,” the grey and white wolf offered, “If a wound isn’t bad enough to kill you or weaken you overly then it doesn’t matter.  The cougar didn’t have the strength it would have had if it wasn’t sick so the wound isn’t deep.”  Kichi had more than enough scars on both face and body so if this even scarred it would hardly be noticeable.

“Now,” Kichi added, “when you’ve calmed down I’ll help you find your brother .  “Do you belong to one of the nearby packs?”

"Speech"

Firefly Shoppe - Kichi

It comes for us all... but you are safe... for now.

Your attention blurs and refocuses. IT feels as if you are in a dream as you find yourself alone in the mist. Fireflies gather and light the way to a table with a figure waiting behind it. On the table lay three items, with their prices beside them. "Choose w̶̢̧͉̥̻̟͈͙̽̉̆̿̈͒͋̓̇̍͌̇̎͠͝ì̵̢̝̄͐́͆̓̚ṣ̶̛͙̟͎̤̞̤͎̹̙̭̪͔̓̐̾̂͆̄͆͌̈̈́̏̚͜͝͠ȩ̴͔̱̗̜̾̉̀̓̀͆͛̊̂̍̕̚̚̚ͅl̵̢̦̲̼̠̖̜̺̮̜̺͋̈́y̴̧̨̧̪̗̥̘͇̾͑͗͜͠, and only choose o̷͕̭̊̃̌̊̏̀ņ̸̼͚͉͔̒͐̊e̵̮̯͛̔̀̑͜," the figure says, looming over the table as his eyes seem to peer into your soul. Are they... moving? "If you can afford it, that is. Beware, however, for there are many d̷̡̯͉̎̊̈́͐͠á̴̬̪̣̝̞̅̀̈́̄ṉ̸̢̠̤̹̥̙̜͋͆̚g̷̛͍̹̣̬̙͖̝̘̃̈e̷͓͕̖͓̝̤̿͐͐͜͠ŗ̵̤͚͔̟̹̳̽̒͝ş̸̛͓͔̩̥̦͛̊̈̾̐̒̓ ̴̺͔̃̇̆ahead." He does not seem like he's in the negotiating mood...


I̵̜̖͎͓͒̑̕n̸͓̗̘̫͉̗̻͐̔̿̊͆̋͝v̵̦̹̠͉̖̼̮̎̌͆ȩ̸͕̦͔̳̩̈́͜n̶͍̝̙̯̣̹̫̩͋t̶̟͈̟̲̜̙̣̋̿̓̆̅͊͝͝ŏ̶̼͊r̶̖͎̙͔̥͎͙͈̊̍͝͠y̴̧͔̭͒͆̉̕͝:

• Crystal Bath Bomb- 2 /
  It looks like a bunch of crystals, glitter, and plants rolled into some mud. The seller assures you it’s good for styling your coat texture exactly how you’ve always wanted it.
  
• Opaque Sack of Mushrooms/Crystals- 1 /
  Running out of event currency and not sure what else to spend it on? Gamble on this mysterious pouch and potentially find more mushrooms/crystals within it! Or perhaps something else!
  
• Racing Shoes- 1 /
  Some nice kicks that make you feel like you can just do it!
  

Kichi had just been talking to a kid and now where was he?  The wolf stood up glancing around the misty landscape.  Everything seemed strange here but no threat was presenting itself.  The fireflies around him reminded him of the last time the firefly guy had shown up.  Following them, the grey and white wolf was less surprised this time by his sight.  He was still an odd sight but no harm had happened last time Kichi had met with him.  Again more items for sale for these mushrooms and crystals?

What was this guy wanting mushrooms and crystals?  There were enough mushrooms sand crystals all over the place but were the random ones not good enough for him or perhaps he didn’t like picking them up?  Perhaps the firefly guy was leery of the sickness but if so why collect them?  As Kichi hadn’t gotten sick yet he wasn’t worried if this guy had a part in it or not.

“Dangers ahead?” Kichi questioned cautiously, “What sort?” Kichi glanced about the wares and back up to the firefly man.  “Sorry, I don’t have anything.  I just saved a pup’s life though and need to get him somewhere safe.  Will these things help?” Tilting his head he offered a bargain, after all, he had been reasonable last time.  “Look, if anything in that sack would help can I have it to better protect the kid?  Oh, and how’s the cloak?” He’d got the guy supplies for it at least, had he bothered making it?  

So did saving a kid cause the fellow any softening of his heart. “I could grab you something again if it helps.  I’d offer you a meal but I’m betting we eat different things.”


"Speech"

Firefly Shoppe- Kichi

The figure regards you warmly, a glowing hand touching a fresh patch on his cloak, but seems focused elsewhere, as if in a rush, "Many things are coming. The bugs in the ground whisper of it and the skies scream it. Find your own strength, wolf, for you'll need it." Ignoring his pleas for something to help the child, he disappears in a whirl- and for a moment the ground tremors beneath your paws, but it subsides just as quickly.

The gray wolf speaks and Ricin dutifully listens. Chade is going to kill him for not only getting lost but also meeting another wolf. The brothers have every reason to not trust others and Ricin feels ashamed that allowed himself to get put into another situation where he endangered himself. Nodding as his protector says he is fine, Ricin does not shrink away as the bigger wolf lays next to him. Uncertainty wars within the light pup for a moment before he steps closer to the stranger and lays against him.

When had Ricin’s body started to shake? Tremors course through his frame even as the stranger continues to speak. Head bobs in understanding as Ricin’s quaking slowly starts to subside. Offering the wolf a tight smile, Ricin says, “You would like my brother. He is fighter and much braver than me. I always seem to find trouble.” Shaking his skull in answer to the question about belonging to a pack, he adds, “No, we don’t belong anywhere. It’s just the two of us against the world.”

Pride flares the small one’s chest at the fact that, despite their age, the brothers have managed to survive on their own. Leaning against the gray wolf’s bulk, a heavy sigh escapes as Ricin’s heartrate finally returns to normal. Just as Ricin opens his mouth to give the stranger his name, the gray wolf disappears. With the wolf’s body no longer there, Ricin flops heavy onto his side, releasing a yelp of surprise. Scrambling to his paws, chest heaves as wide crimson eyes search for the wolf. Timidly Ricin calls out, “Hello? Mister wolf? Where… where did you go?”

Was this a dream? His gaze finds the body of the cougar and the blood painting the ground. It seems to have happened and the wolf had felt solid, so he had to be real… right? The panicked pup’s mind tries to understand what is happening as Ricin starts to franticly circle the area, nose working to find the scent of the stranger. Ricin does not call out, knowing he cannot draw attention to himself since his protector is gone. Finally, Ricin darts behind a large rock and curls himself into a tight ball, waiting for either the stranger of Chade to find him.


"Speech"

Kichi had planned on getting to the pup’s level to not be intimidating but he hadn’t expected the boy to lay up against him.  The kid tells him how he would like his brother and Kichi hides a small smile.  If the kid knew how few wolves he liked he might not say it.  Still, this boy was innocent of causing the evils in this world.  

And before he could hear more from the child he’d ended up in the firefly man’s presence – and shortly after returned.  He imagined it more as he had probably closed his eyes but looking around the familiar landscape he saw the boy was no longer in sight.  Standing up he walked to the stone the kid had hidden beyond and peered around, “Hey, you alright?”

Kichi’s mind was distracted with part of it circling about what had happened and what it all meant.  He hadn’t been gifted with presents this time but the fellow had offered him a warning of the future with no real insight on what to do besides find strength.  Oh well, not much he could do of an unknown threat.  Kichi had always taken one day and problem at a time and that’s what he’d keep doing, “Ready to find your brother?”

"Speech"

Curled into a tight ball, eyes squeezes shut, nose buried under his tail, the blue pup tries to imagine finding Chade. Silently, Ricin promises not to get lost again, begging whatever or whoever was listening to bring back the gray wolf. When he hears the gray wolf’s voice above him, Ricin’s crimson eyes snap up and he quickly lifts his head to make sure he isn’t dreaming. His tail thumps the snow lightly as he looks at his protector, nodding his response unable to trust his voice not to crack. When he asks if he is ready to find his brother, Ricin quickly stands and nods vigorously. He feels a strange bond with this wolf, a sort of hurt and understanding that not many can comprehend.

Moving out from behind the rock, the light blue pup glues himself to the gray wolf’s side, not wanting to lose him again. Looking up at the bigger wolf, Ricin says, “Thanks for not leaving me. My… my name’s Ricin.” Tears prick the back of his eyes as the light blue pup offers a small smile. He will follow the gray wolf wherever he goes. Ricin does not want to be left alone again. Hopefully they will find Chade soon and Ricin can hug his brother. He will gladly listen to one of Chade’s lectures if it means being with him again.


"Speech"