things can really get rough when you go it alone

This was a place that the small healer had never explored before. She walked around the edge of the opening, nose working to test out just what was inside. It was difficult to get a clear gauge on what was going on inside the hole because of the strong, rich scent of blood. It was wolf blood and it was very, very fresh. Concern etched the woman's face and she cast a glance back towards where Ila stood by the cart. She had unhitched the caribou to let her roam about and she was snuffling about the ground. Iolaire called out to her, "I'm going inside. If you hear me yell, go get Sirius!" The dwarf caribou responded with a little bleat and Iolaire made her decision to go inside.

Sliding down the sandy pathway where other paws had obviously trodden, Iolaire picked her way slowly to the bottom. Dusty blue nose continued to work, pointing her in the proper direction. The smell was so thick... It seemed to be coming from everywhere. Since her nose failed her, ears swiveled and eyes swung this way and that. She followed fresh tracks. Wolves and bear it seemed. Not a good combination.

Up ahead a low burring growl sounded and Iolaire tucked her ears against her skull. A bear was coming her way. She moved quickly backwards into the vegetation, her body becoming enveloped by shadows. A massive cave bear lumbered past. It stopped a moment, lips and nose curling as it tasted the air, then it continued on its way. The blood was too thick for a bear to smell through too, it seemed. She had noted that there was blood coating the ursine's pelt. Hopefully Ila was paying attention. She could easily outrun the lumbering bruin, but only if she saw it coming.

Deeper into the cavernous orifice the woman went. Up ahead she could see a pile of red mush. She really didn't want to approach the pile, but she'd come this far. Sadness crossed her features as she neared. It was a wolf. Had been a wolf. Half of its body had been consumed. The woman's lifeless eyes were open and glassy. A pity. She had been rather pretty. Rather than let the bear come back and eat her, Iolaire would bury the woman's remains, though there weren't too many of them.

She had wandered off a bit to find a suitable place and had just sunk her claws into the earth to begin digging when a voice called out in a panic. The small woman literally jumped with fright. Spinning in place, wide eyes panned about until they fell upon another form. This one of a giant man laying in a pool of his own blood. Io rushed to his side, careful to make sure that he saw her approach. "Hush now. The bear is still fairly near. I'm going to send someone for help. In the mean time, you need to stay still until I can see just what your injuries are." Turning, Iolaire released one single, abrupt call. It would be enough for Ila to recognize and she trusted the reindeer to go fetch her brother. Turning back to the man in question, she offered a soft smile. "I'm Iolaire and I'm a healer. We'll get you sorted and then we'll..." she was going to say 'see to your companion,' but she couldn't quite bring herself to do so.