New Discoveries

Walk | Talk | Think

Her steps hurried into a trot as the lithe grey wolf neared the edge of the lake, and as soon as her paws touched water she slowed and stopped and sighed. Cool and refreshing, soothing and gentle, the water lapped around her ankles, caused the fur there to wave and float. It was so nice after the warmth of the land, so nice to feel something cold and cool instead. Her gold and purple eyes closed blissfully, her head tilted back to let the sun's unobstructed rays hit her full in the face. Even this was made delightful by being in the lake water, made bearable by her body no longer feeling as if it might overheat. She wriggled her toes slightly, enjoying the silt under her paws, before she relaxed and lowered her head, letting her eyes open lazily.

With her vision set somewhere toward the center of the lake, and subsequently toward the single island that stood at this location, Ashtoreth saw first the shimmer of sunlight on water and realized that it was not some random fish flopping too close to land but a figure who surged up onto the island. Curious, she stayed her place for a moment, wriggling her toes longer as she debated with herself. Would it be rude to swim out there and see if someone had, indeed landed on the rock? Her eyes narrowed as she thought, staying her place for a moment longer before she gave in to curiosity and walked further into the lake.

Water swelled around her as she padded forward, her toes scraping the bottom of the lake bed until she was forced to paddle, moving herself slowly but surely out toward the lake. It felt nice to be fully submerged, and she coasted along casually through the water, half expecting nothing and no one to be out of the rock. Maybe it had been a fish after all. Or some small animal merely getting caught where it didn't wish to be. She had almost convinced herself she had imagined what she had seen by the time she reached the rock, and dragging herself from the water, Ashtoreth stood and shook and glanced across to its other side.

And felt her stomach drop. The wolf was in the poorest condition she could imagine, his body a mess of fur and exposed flesh. He didn't move, not really, though his sides rose and fell with each breath. He was still, unconscious, and appeared badly burned. "Oh no," Ash mumbled under her breath, a panic beginning to rise up within her. Healing was not her forte. She didn't know the first thing about tending a wound. And this wolf didn't look in the best of conditions, not by a long shot. She hurriedly stepped toward him, stopping by his side and tried not to visibly wince. Large patches of fur were missing, pink skin visible and no doubt at the mercy of the sun. He seemed rather disfigured for it, and it took her a moment to notice his missing limb.

Frazzled, she took a moment to compose herself, willing the still wolf to be okay despite the obvious evidence to the contrary, and lowered her muzzle toward him, sniffing a little as she spoke. "Hey. Hey, are you okay? Wake up, please." She couldn't bring herself to touch him, but there was enough anxiety in her voice to hint that she wished to. Anything to make him come alive and show her that he was fine, to reassure her that she had not just stumbled upon a half dead wolf who could very well be taking their last breaths in her presence.