would you follow me?

He smelled her blood on the air, but as he uttered his question the girl was quick to tell him she was fine. Oxide on the other hand.. Deep garnet gaze watched her in the waning light reappear at his side. She was worried for him. He pushed the thought aside with ferocity as Eris shimmied into the old log. He kept watch, eyes and ears open but straying the direction the wolverine had gone. Blood dripped from the wounds at his chest and coated his front legs.

She was quick in her retrieval, he didn’t expect her sudden touch, but found himself following the silent request without even thinking. Still the stubborn one he didn’t see any need to lean on her, besides he would squish her if he tried. That moment the pain decided to show itself. His chest started to throb as the red ichor fell from rust fur. Oxide grit his teeth as he winced, holding back a cry of pain.

He found himself using Eris as more of a crutch than he intended on, but he managed to mostly keep himself upright. Ox hobbled along beside her, starting to feel panic well up in him as he left puddles of his blood with each step. With effort the boy lifted his head to set his gaze to the horizon instead of his bloody trail.

”This is going to have to be far enough.” He said when he knew he wasn’t able to continue and still be able to defend himself in his current state. Oxide unceremoniously lowered himself onto his right side, lifting his left leg so as not to aggravate the wound, but also so Eris might work. Again he suppressed his need to vocalize any pain, from a young age he was taught to keep the hurt to himself.