No fear allowed

*Naiche* · 03-04-2021, 08:51 AM

Naiche was feeling grumpy by this point. Between his normal dislike of the snow and ice it also included his dislike of the scenario in general. So his mind was also irritated she had put the choice on him to begin with when she knew the area better than he did. Maybe it was a petty thing to be annoyed at but he was tired of the sense of danger he was feeling. The threat of danger from a bear he could fight and have fun, but nasty terrain? Maybe once it would have been a fun challenge and maybe on its own it would be a fun challenge but Naiche was worried about Asla. He was annoyed at himself for that too. It had been a little bit since he’d felt so irritable, that had been about Asla as well in fact. Naiche smirked at himself, amused in a fashion but not enough to get over his irritability.

Naiche didn’t gripe at Asla though as he followed along. No lashing out at her but just buried it within even as he eyed the shape of the bank. Damn it would be good to get back to the den. Did he still want to patrol? Not really. He would of course, but that didn’t mean he’d be in a great mood while doing it. Maybe once they got away from the falls he’d be able to enjoy the walk back and get in better spirits. Half of his irritation was mostly just stress anyway. “It’s not as if we actually fought the bear,” pity they hadn’t, “taking a little jaunt isn’t a reason to not patrol.” Ignore the distance of their walk or the amount of effort the walk took with muscles working harder on the falls. Damn it, his next training session would either be a spar or finding a large dangerous predator to fight with someone. Naiche wanted to vent and since he wasn’t targeting Asla it would have to be in a fight.

Naiche really did have good footing. There was a lot he had missed out in living the first year of his life in a roaming band, but all that traveling had helped him grow quite sure-footed. Still, even a sure-footed wolf could fall over this. The farther down they got the more relief he felt as it seemed things were going to work out.

With horror, Naiche heard a sound that seemed to freeze his blood and stop the heart. His head jerked up where the sound came from, “Asla mo-“ it was all too fast, the ice had already collided with her self. It was like a vision from his nightmares, seeing the ice strike, the ground crumbling and what really happened all so fast seemed to go slow in Naiche’s mind as he watched the ground give out and Asla fall. Certainly, it was a picture locked away in his mind forever. Sprays of ice had coated his muzzle and the fur coat that protected his back, shattered chips had bounced along his ledge along with a few larger pieces but not enough to do real harm.

Naiche had been so cautious before now he leaped from step to stop, he didn’t question the best route now as sure as a mountain goat hops along rocks he took each stride and the kindness of luck was on his side as he reached the snow and rocks that hid her form. “Asla!” He heard her voice calling for him which at first was a balm to help calm his panicked mind but it only took a heartbeat to realize the fear in her own voice that was so contagious.

Naiche was digging at the snow before the thought to dig had registered in his mind. The spot where he started to dig a hole was quickly filled with more snow from above. Naiche stopped digging to force himself to look more carefully at the snow, ice, and rock all about her. Rocks slid from their location and the wolf imagined if he dug the wrong way they could fall on her instead of harmlessly off. Naiche was panting from the stress, looking around waiting for help to show up. Damn, they were nowhere near the pack to call for aid in digging her out and too far to run for help and leave her there also. They were on their own.

Calm. He had to be calm for Asla. That was worth a moment of stillness instead of digging or even talking. Once he’d found some center, a wall inside of him to force away from the terror to a back part of his mind where it raged and screamed at him Naiche looked with a fierce focus at his problem. “Asla, can you see in there? How much is it rock or just snow around you, can you move?” Heart hammering, but his voice lied with that calm tone he’d found so shakily inside himself. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out. Are the rocks in their stable enough and do you have enough air for me to go slow and carefully?” It was important. Naiche could rush and dig fast of course but that meant more risk of sending rocks to fall directly on her.

Speech:"Live to fight" Think

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