big guy ain't'cha

It seemed the Fallen God was watching over him today, for just as the massive jaws of the beast had closed partly over the helm and throat of the wolf pinned beneath him, one giant paw pressed against his larynx to pin him there while it attempted to open his throat around the protective helm, the dire staggered, and Eligos took the opportunity to curl his legs between them and heave desperately at the heavy bulk upon him, barely managing to throw the dire away while he was distracted. A single trickle of hot blood slicked the dark fur at his throat, and though his breath burned harshly in his chest and throat he was on his on his paws in a heartbeat, bristling as he spun to face the dire. Eligos didn't spare a glance from his enemy for the wolf who'd saved him, though he did not swiftly in the male's general direction as he circled the dire to put it between him and the rescuer. Dividing his attention and giving him multiple targets to have to choose from, rather than one. "Eligos Abraxas," he rasped, and skipped back away from the dire's charge. He snapped at him in return, but the dire was already spinning to face another threat that had come upon them. Eligos gave a faint chuckle at the bitch's words, though the sound came out more like a hoarse caw. "Feel free to take this dance, if you want it," he invited her dryly. Despite his words he didn't back away to let her take over, but rather stepped forward to continue to harass the dire from his side with snapping teeth.

But the dire had had enough. Outnumbered, the desperate young thing backed towards his den, crouching in front of it for his last stand. Eligos gestured for his unexpected companions to desist, and backed cautiously away himself. "I believe he's had enough. If we leave him be, he may leave us be." The hoarsely spoken words must have gotten through to the desperate new father, because he stood there, gave a grateful nod of his massive head, and disappeared into the den. Eligos ruefully massaged his pained throat, and turned to nod at his rescuers. "Thank you. It seems we share our world with odder and odder creatures, since the ice bridge froze in the north. I will need to keep a more cautious eye out next time."

WC: 406
Final WC: 1950