So Stepped On

Aliana hadn't even noticed Chimera approaching until suddenly her world stopped spinning and she found herself face down in the dirt with Viper's weight pulled off of her. Without even thinking, Ali crawled out and away from the two wolves, positioning herself submissively behind Chimera's back, head lowered and ears flat to her skull while she gazed between the two with shock and fright. Thankfully she had been mostly unharmed, just a few bite marks where Viper's teeth had caught flesh, but those would scab over in hours. Chimera snarled at her, and Viper very calmly disrespected him to his face again, looking like a woman on a mission—or with a death wish. Hackles raised from the fae, and teeth were bared by the brute, and then shit hit the fan.

Watching the fight between Chimera and Viper was like watching a spectator sport. Aliana sat off to the side, observing the powerful rippling muscles of her once-master in action, doing what he was built to do. To her credit, Viper was no pushover, and fought back with equal vigor and ruthlessness. Her breath caught in her chest as she watched every bite, every swipe, every scratch and grapple. Fighting was such a messy affair, and although Ali wished she'd been able to defend herself better, she knew she would never match the likes of these two wolves. Chimera was a perfect specimen of what a male wolf should be, and Viper had the fire of someone with nothing to lose driving her. She just hoped Viper wouldn't do any damage to Chimera's healing ribs, knowing that a wrong placed kick could be the difference between life and death for her monochromatic... lover? Partner? What did she even refer to Chimera as anymore?

Chimera was brutal and efficient, and although he did his best to subdue Viper, the weasely woman managed to get out from beneath him no matter what he did. She was like an eel and proved impossible for Chi to hold down. All throughout the fight, Ali just prayed that Chimera's ribs and Viper's stomach would not get hurt, fearing for his life and the lives of his children. When it was all said and done, Viper crawled her way out, then glared and and bared her teeth at Aliana. She declared that they could keep the den, then stormed off—as much as a pregnant she-wolf could storm off. Aliana took a step forward, mouth open to try and stop Viper to ask to check on the puppies for her... but then she remembered how Viper had ignored her when she tried before. All at once it became clear to her that neither Chimera nor Viper cared for the children growing inside her. They hadn't been planned, weren't wanted, weren't loved. Ali watched Viper begin to leave, her chest tight with all the things she didn't know how to say. She might have been freed, but her mind was still very much a slave. That sort of freedom would take time.

Instead, Ali turned her attentions to Chimera, petite paws hurrying over to his side but taking extra care not to touch him anywhere he might be hurting. "Chimera..." she breathed, looking him over quickly. "Are you hurt? Did she hit your ribs?" She needed to make sure he was okay before anything else. He was her world, her life, and she had to protect him in ways she knew how to, just as he had come to her rescue when she needed him.

"Aliana"