Apology in blood

Mika didn’t think he would make them return north. After saying their goodbyes to ethne they’d been waiting for Beau to finish claiming a spot for the pack. So alone in an attempt to seek out more information on their memories. In the hopes that the hole they currently felt would go away. Leave it to Mika to get lost when a storm was beginning to brew. They’d been on the outside of this weird stone wall frozen in the ice. It continued as far as they could see which was rapidly decreasing as the weather picked up. What an idiot, they were out here alone, no pack mate or even Beau knew where they were at this very moment. Mika growled in frustration digging at the wall for a few seconds while the wind whirled around them.

Time to look for shelter, there had to be some considering this huge thing. They continued to walk trying to crouch below the wall's holes as a buffer to the snow beginning to spray around them. Then it happened. Mika swore as a huge ball of ice slammed into their back. The pain shot through them suddenly freezing them in place, there were huge balls of ice falling from everywhere. Their lips raised, pushing their back against the wall when they heard someone a few feet away.

“ABOMINATION!” Mika felt the stranger suddenly jump on him, feeling teeth pierce their scruff as they were violently thrown forward deeper into the storm. Mika scrambled to get their bearings. Turning to face the attacker who stood staring at him. A ghostly face, one side scarred with no eye however the gray and striped male made Mika have an uneasy feeling. Like they recognized the scent of this stranger.

“Abandoned, you, you left me Cassandra!” The strange male lunged. Mika backed up while they watched a few snow balls hit the stranger causing him to fumble. Mika felt like they were drifting. Stubbornly he lunged forward grabbing onto the stranger. Was he sobbing now? Mika felt the stranger heaving underneath them, before their eyes blinked and Cassandra let go of Harlowe.

She stumbled backwards in confusion trying to gain her bearings. Where was she, in a storm? She could barely see what was in front of her. “Harlowe are you okay” her instincts to protect her brother kicked in until she actually saw his rage filled eye.

“Okay? Is Harlowe okay? You ABANDONED me. You left me all alone so May says you have to go.” She didn’t understand and then it hit her. How long had she been hiding, what had happened the last time she saw Harlowe? He attacked again. Going for her shoulder as Cassandra bit into his ear in retaliation. Blood welled on her shoulder as she grunted in pain. She didn’t want to do this. Cassandra kept her hold, pinning Harlowe to the ground as balls of snow thumped around them.

“I didn’t abandon you Harlowe, please believe that…. tanelan.. he… there was an emergency I swear it!” If she could remember correctly. Harlowe snarled, kicking her stomach making them recoil away. Cassandra cried out she had to defend tans body right? Her teeth snapped for Harlowe's head but he was far too quick for her. Not to mention every step she took she was being pelted with balls of ice. Slipping she fell flat and felt Harlowe biting at her scruff. Blood splattered the ground as wind and cold caused her limbs to begin to numb.

Harlowe dragged Cassandra closer to the wall, slamming her against the stone. “Fine…. I’m sorry.” Harlowe seemed to pause at that. Cassandra felt herself slipping then. She didn’t fight it, it felt like something important needed to happen here. Harlowe continued to tear into them. With a few soft blinks it felt like they were giving in. Tan felt their paws underneath, pain all around their body. Snapping upwards, Tan caught Harlowe by surprise, their teeth latching onto the good side of Harlowe’s face.

“They threatened to kill you if I didn’t leave. Cassandra didn’t want to but I… left and I’m sorry… brother.” Tanelan felt his vision going blurry. Throwing Harlowe into the storm as now it felt like it would never stop. Harlowe snarled lunging one more time as Tan dodged to the right, their legs buckled beneath them. Shit. They thought as their head hit the cold ground. Tanelan supposed they just had to hope Harlowe believed them. What would happen if they couldn’t get back to Beau? Terror engulfed them, they didn’t want to die in such a cold place, without their beloved by their side.

Tanelan forced themselves to rise. Watching Harlowe scramble towards them. Tan rushed forward, colliding his shoulder into Harlowes own. Tan heard a pop, then Harlowe howling in pain began to run off. Tan panted watching their brothers' shape vanish into the obscure snow. A large hail ball slammed into their head, then everything went black…


What terrible wounds…. Tanelan heard someone, their ear giving a flick. Something was touching them, or at least someone. Opening their eyes slowly they could see the faint glow of the moon shining through the overcast clouds. Groaning he tried to get up when a small hand like a paw gently slapped their snout. Tan lay back down blinking when a brown mammal-like creature met eyes with them.

“You shouldn’t move, nothing life threatening but my poultice needs time to kick in.” She said, a slight whistle in her voice. Tan looked over their body. Covered in weird green stuff it smelt strongly of herbs.

“You treated me, thank you.” Tan rasped, the weird creature grinned, spreading her hands wide.

“The names Payday, I’m a quokka.” It seemed she’d noticed how They were looking at her. Tan smiled and laughed a little. They settled with a sigh.

“Tanelan Discovery, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up. So thank you again Payday.” Tan gently pushed on his paws. Sitting up softly as Payday clung to one of their legs in worry.

“Can’t have you goin an hurtin yourself anymore, I think I’ll stay by your side. I know lots of herbs.” She insinuated she’d be staying for an indefinite amount of time. Tanelan nodded thankfully. Raising his head he howled. Hoping that even in quester Beau could hear them calling.

“Let’s wait for my mate.. I need help walking home.” Tan grunted painfully. Payday letting go and shuffling into their fur. He was back…. But he didn’t know how to feel about it.



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