His back still ached from the most recent raid. He had lost his fight, but that was his fault. He had gone into a fight before he had even completely healed and he ended up aggravating his wound even more. It bled again as the scabs tore open, and he didn't quite feel like going for a swim back to the island nor waiting for the raft to get back to the mainland, so in the meantime, he left Insomnia's lands in search of some herbs that would help to dull the pain. He knew of a cavern with glowing mushrooms...whether or not those mushrooms would help was beyond him, but maybe if he took a couple back, he wondered if Rivin would know. He found the place relatively easy, and it wasn't too far from the pack they had just raided, and it was also sort of on the way back home. He figured taking a peek wouldn't take very long, and besides, with his slow movement, so his wound wouldn't worsen much more, he'd be getting home a little later. Slipping into the darkness of the Caverns, Ignis made his way through the tunnels until he spotted the soft glow of the mushrooms that grew here. "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"

Well, the raid had been a bust. The skeletal marked Wraith told the others to keep watch over the lands while she went off to get a headstart on restocking what the raiders had taken. She was none too happy about losing her stock, but alas. Insomnia had lost, and she was a woman of her word. It was only fair they take the resources they came for, she just hoped they didn't take her favorite pieces. Raids were all (mostly) in good fun, so she didn't have any hard feelings toward the former pirates. She wasn't a new alpha anymore, but she still had a lot to learn, and being diplomatic was still something she had to get used to. With her companions in tow, the group made their way a little further out from the pack in search of prey or...otherwise, to start restocking their cache.

As she passed the familiar cavern, she stopped midstep. She could smell something familiar in the air, and she looked around to figure out where he was. It was a scent she recognized, a male she had encountered several times before. Not only him, but she had learned recently that one of his sons was a member of her pack, and he was also one of the raiders she had just seen earlier at the raid. A grin began to sneak onto her lips and she giggled as she found where his scent was going. These caverns were practically like her personal playground...no doubt she knew them better than most. With that in mind, she followed the Crimson males trail to see what he was up to. The scent of blood that was in the mix also made her more curious. Was he injured? Lost? She was keen on finding out!

"Speech"

The glow of the mushrooms lit the cavern up in an eerie glow. He sighed as he approached a cluster, careful not to touch them quite yet since he was unsure if they were safe or not. He frowned as he looked at them, and since he was aware he knew very little about plants and fungi, he was...hesitant, to say the least. He licked his lips for a moment, almost daring himself to take one right then and there, but before he could commit to the thought, he heard the shuffling of paws and scatter of pebbles, causing him to turn around. Hackles bristled, a low growl in his throat as he turned toward where he had come from. "Who's there! Show yourself! I'm not in the mood for games..." He growled, tail lashing. The scent that wafted in was...somewhat familiar. But considering he had just come from another pack, he figured the scent lingered on his pelt after the fight with the Insomnian wolf he had tangled with. "Ignis""Blödhgarm"

Art by Naiterion

She spotted him. The red man that she had seen so many times before. He always looked beat up, and she swore everytime she saw him, there was a new scar or something missing. He heard her coming, and she giggled again. She knew she sucked at being sneaky, not that she was trying to sneak around down here. "Aaww! But Medusa likes to play hide and seek!" She exclaimed as she hopped into the cavern in full view. He didn't look very happy, but then again, he always looked grumpy whenever she had run into him. "What's the red man doin' down here? Lookin' at the pretty mushrooms? Is he gonna take some home? Red man's pack already took Medusa's things from home, he's takin' more?" She cocked her head to the side as she glanced from him to the mushrooms and back.


"Speech!"

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Ah, shit. It was her!? He still wondered how the hell she had become an alpha...the knowledge that this strange woman had beaten Recluse was mind-boggling, but perhaps she was just that much better of a fighter than the former Habari alpha. He didn't know Recluse well, if at all, and didn't really care that she had lost to this strange creature, but it had always sort of amused him that this woman had secured that win. Then again...she was a pretty good hunter. The strange woman had hunted with him and Corbie a time or two, and they seemed to run into each other quite often, and no two encounters were the same. "Shouldn't you be back at home handling your affairs after your pack lost?" He retorted, trying to avoid the question. "Ignis""Blödhgarm"

Art by Naiterion

She frowned at his answer, but it quickly lifted into a neutral look and she shrugged. "Medusa knows when she has lost. And that does not bother her like it bothers the red man." She flashed a knowing look, "Medusa can smell your blood, and she saw the tear on your back. Red man is not healed, and he fought anyway. Did that make you mad? Is that why he is here?" She shot back, knowing full well that her reply was potentially argumentative. When others tried to put her down, she had ammunition of her own to shoot right back. Sure, she had lost, but at least she had finished her fight with the young raider boy.


"Speech!"

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Her response took him off guard. He hadn't expected her to say that, let alone even really pay attention to what was going on around her. He never pegged her for the observant type, but clearly, she saw more than she let on. "Tch...Worry about yourself. I'm fine." He shot back as he looked away, ears pinned to his skull as he pretended to observe the mushrooms again. He couldn't afford another fight right now, not without worsening his wound, and he was already hurting from it...If he were to try to fight Medusa now, there was a very good chance he'd lose...again. Taking a deep breath, he let out a long sigh before answering again. "I'm trying to decide if I want to take a couple of these back for our healer. I'm sure they have some sort of medicinal property..." No. No he wasn't sure at all. And he highly doubted Medusa knew, either. Walk ---- "Ignis" ---- "Blödhgarm" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She clicked her tongue, head cocking to the other side as she moved closer. "Red man does not look fine. He looks mad. But if he wants to stay mad, then he can. But he did lose against Widow. She is a good fighter, and Medusa is proud of her!" Not that that had anything to do with anything, but she figured she'd toss it out there anyway. Her packmates had done a good job defending. They did their best, even if they still lost. But Medusa was proud of them all the same.

When he finally addressed the mushrooms, Medusa approached right up alongside him, right into his personal space. Did she care? Nope! She was sure she could handle herself if he tried to bite her. She'd simply bite right back. She knew these mushrooms weren't good...but clearly, he didn't know that. Now, while she usually wasn't the vengeful type...she was probably a tad annoyed that she hadn't been able to fend off her first raid. And the fact that this guy had been acting hostile from the getgo. He was all beat up. But his coat was unique. So...

"Oh these mushrooms? Why yes, Medusa has taken some home, and they are very good for you! Red Man's healer would love to have these! In fact, if he eats one now, the mushroom will help the pain!" She said nonchalantly, poking at one of the mushrooms with her paw.


"Speech!"

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Annoyed by this woman was an understatement. She had a strange way of talking. And she talked... a lot. She just had to keep trying to rub it in, didn't she? He was about to turn around and say something when all of a sudden she was right up alongside him, right in his personal space. He froze, hackles bristling, but each time he took a step away to put some space between them, she wouldn't get the hint and kept following. "Fuck me..." He muttered under his breath. Then she addressed the mushrooms. His brow raised as she said they were good, and that if he ate one now, his pain would go away. He looked at the mushrooms again as she began to poke at one. He wasn't sure that he should, but...he also didn't want to walk back home in pain. It seemed to be getting worse with each movement, and he wasn't keen on having to make the trek back like this. "Are you sure? You've tried them?" Walk ---- "Ignis" ---- "Blödhgarm" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She nodded vigorously to his question. "Medusa is sure! She has not eaten them, but the Healer Rue has worked with them and she said they help!" She grinned again. Of course, she didn't mention how they help or how they help the pain, but if she could sell this pitch, then she would get her win at least. "Medusa crosses her heart and hopes to die!" She exclaimed as she raised her paw and crossed it over her chest.

Only...it won't be Medusa maybe dying...

She picked up a mushroom between both paws and practically shoved it in his face. "Here! Medusa will help! The pain stops, and Red Man can go home, promise!"


"Speech!"

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He was...skeptical, to say the last. But she was adamant that her healer had worked with them and that they helped with pain. She seemed so...trustworthy. And from what he understood, Medusa seemed to be pretty honest. What reason did he have to be wary other than her strange way of talking? She had been a good hunting partner, and she was a decent fighter. He'd heard no trouble about the woman other than winning Habari fair and square...but he also didn't know much about her beyond that. Indecisive until a searing prick of pain touched his back, he winced and gave in as she shoved it in his face. "Alright...I'm trusting you on this...And my name is Ignis. Stop calling me Red Man! It's weird." He muttered before turning his muzzle to the mushroom. "Do I just take a bite or do I e--" Before he could finish his sentence, she had shoved the whole mushroom into his mouth and down his throat before he had time to react. He choked and gagged at the bitter taste, recoiling back as he coughed and sputtered. "What...the..fuck!" He spat in between gags and breaths as he tried to catch a breath from that. "Ignis""Blödhgarm"

Art by Naiterion

Oh good! He decided to trust her! Okay, maybe that was good for her. Not so much for him. But he wouldn't know until she had already skedaddled on out of here. She smiled innocently again as he told her to call him Ignis and not Red Man. Okay, that she could do, and she nodded to show that she understood. When he asked about how to eat the mushroom, she took her chance and shoved it into his mouth before he could finish talking and jumped back at the same time that he did. She cocked her head as he coughed, gagged, and sputtered from what she assumed was a very gross and bitter taste. But he had consumed one, and that was all she needed.

"It does not taste good, Medusa can tell! But it will work! In three...two...o-" Before she could even finish counting, Ignis seemed to already be swaying on his feet, struggling to keep his eyes open. He looked disoriented, which was exactly what she expected. She looked around. To the entrance where they had come from. To each and every corner of the glowing cavern. No one else was in sight. It was just him, and her. "Is Ignis feeling better?" She asked, a cackle following suit.


"Speech!"

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TW: drugging, etc

He was feeling...not so good. The vile taste of the mushroom spread over his tongue and throat. He swore he was starting to feel dizzy and disoriented, and he couldn't seem to stand up straight anymore. He legs felt weak and wobbly, and his heart began to race. He could sort of hear what she was saying, but not really. He could see her mouth moving, but the words were muffled. Echoing. The vibrations of her voice made absolutely no sense to him, and before he knew it, he was on the ground. "Guys..." He whispered weakly as he desperately searched the room for his companions. They were nowhere to be found. Maybe they'd gone back home with the others...fuck. He could barely keep his eyes open, his breathing was ragged and his senses were dulled. Did she just...poison him? Had he just gotten tricked into death? He wasn't ready to go yet...but perhaps it was what he deserved. He somewhat felt movement around him, but he couldn't really grasp what was going on before everything went dark... -fade- "Ignis""Blödhgarm"

Art by Naiterion

TW: Drugging, etc

He was completely at her mercy now. She grinned wickedly as she got up and walked a circle around him. He had fallen to the ground and she knew it was only a matter of minutes before the mushrooms made his heart stop. She had tested the effects before on someone else, and that was how she ended up with half her pretty wolf pelts back home. And to think this guy was as gullible as they had been!? She thought this guy was smart, but clearly not. Desperate to relieve his pain, he had trusted her. She had played with these mushrooms on several occasions, and knew the effects they had...their properties. What they could do. How dangerous they were...and had even managed to secure some antidote just in case any of her packmates had ingested any.

Would she use it on Ignis? Maybe...if she was feeling generous. She looked at him with curiosity as he drifted in and out of consciousness. She had been feeling an itch lately that she wasn't sure how to scratch. HHHmmmm....she hummed to herself in thought. Welp, they had gotten a win over her, it was only fair that she got one over them, no? And besides...no harm no foul! At least, if she didn't let him die, that is.

She moved over to him, stepping over him so that each limb was on either side of him. She leaned down, toward his good ear then. "Don't worry, Red Man will make it home." She whispered. She just wanted a little taste of him, first.

She scratched that itch. Albeit in a rather indecent and potentially very questionable way. But she got what she wanted, and when she was done, she frowned. Her itch was scratched for now, but she had to admit it was rather disappointing! Maybe the Red Man really did suck at everything, and not just fighting! What a shame. Oh well! Quietly, she pulled a small bottle of liquid from her makeshift pack and dribbled a little into Ignis' mouth, waited a minute or two to make sure he was still breathing and bailed before he had the chance to wake up.

- fade before exit-

"Speech!"

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