ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Now that she had located most of her family, Eris was feeling a bit more brave. Although she took great comfort in their presence, she didn't want them to see her as a weak little girl any more. After all, she had tracked them so far! Thanks to her, their memories had begun to awaken, and she was sure it would only be a matter of time until they were reunited with Amaretto and this whole jumbled puzzle would be complete. With this in mind, she had set out to explore these new lands on her own. The more she knew about the world around her, the better she could understand where she fit into this landscape. The Ademre would need a temporary home, and she didn't want to take advantage of another pack's kindness for too long. So she set out for a new place to rest her paws. The morning went well - with the sun high overhead, she was able to see large shapes and could navigate quite easily. Just after midday, cloud cover diluted the light and made it a shade more difficult to see. Eris paid no mind, her spirits still high. They needed the perfect place. In her mind, she envisioned another great tree with a huge network of roots to make their dens in, never too far from each other. She knew they could never replace the Sword Tree, but maybe something similar... a Shield Tree, to protect them in these unknown lands. Well, not unknown for long! She was sure of it. Eris trekked onward, spotting a great, leaning tree in the distance - at least, it was definitely tree shaped. With her ears pricked, she trotted eagerly towards it. The strange slant gave it character. Could this be a new place to settle for a spell? Eris yipped joyfully, and found that the noise echoed off of nearby rocks. The wolf, although she'd like to think herself mature, was still young. She yipped again and again, thoroughly enjoying the chorus of herself. As she got closer to the tree, Eris felt the ground grow soft beneath her paws. Was there water nearby? She stopped to scent the air, finding no hint of nearby reservoirs. "Mmmmm?" She mumbled aloud, slowing down a bit. If it was even possible, the ground was beginning to give way beneath her. Her hackles rose in worry and confusion. Out of habit, she tried to sign the Ademic for worry with her left paw, but found herself more deeply rooted because of the motion. "Oh, Tor," Eris breathed, her red eyes wide and alarmed. "Help! Help!"

Silver paws continued to carry the boy onward, never staying in one place longer than a couple of days. This place was much like the last, mostly plains with a few rocks and scattered copses of trees. He walked slowly, in no real hurry as he travelled further through the east. He watched as the clouds started to cover the blue of the sky as the zenith of mid day passed. Deep garnet gaze travelled the horizon, the scent of earth changing slightly. Oxide hadn’t ever encountered quicksand before, and the scent of it compared to normal ground set him on edge.

He hadn’t found his own patch when the faint sound of a distressed voice reached his rust ears. Ox paused, ears perking in the direction of the woman. Not usually one to go out of his way to help anyone the boy hesitated to approach. However, when one was in dire straights as this woman sounded to be, bigger better deals could be made in his favor.

Commiting to nothing the red tinged Nightingale boy strode further, his pace careful as he couldn’t trust the ground he walked upon, when he finally found her. She was a dark little thing, much smaller than himself with delicate white markings. She was up to her elbows in the earth, and Ox felt his own heart rate increase at her predicament. He was resolved to keep himself out of such a pit.

”Having trouble?” He asked, nonchalantly to mask his own insecurities with where he found himself. He stood behind her, and even if her vision had been perfect she might have had difficulties seeing him with her angle.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Her eyes were rolling with fear. By the time Oxide approached, Eris was already deep in the throes of terror. Even his approach didn't startle her more than her current predicament. Sweat had broken out all across her body and coat was puffed out in distress - her tail was high and alert, straining towards the sky. She tried to look over her shoulder, but the more she struggled to lay her eyes on the stranger, the further she was stuck. "Yes, obviously," Eris said bitterly. She was goodhearted and couldn't imagine leaving a creature to struggle as much as this stranger was. The female was young enough that it didn't occur to her that there was evil in the world, more real and powerful than she might have imagined. The dark forces that compelled others didn't even occur to Eris. Although there must be death alongside life, she believed there to be a higher good in the world. Suffering did not occur without meaning or karmic retribution. It looked like she was about to receive an important lesson. "Please, help me. What can I do?"

Fear rolled off the girl in waves as he stood by and watched her. Distress obvious in her form with her tail waving frantically and her fur fluffed up considerably. He felt an amused grin tug at the corner of his lips as she struggled to catch a glimpse of him over her shoulder. ”Yes, obviously," she was a fiesty one wasn’t she? She didn’t hide her panic, ”Please, help me. What can I do?" Likely if he didn’t help she would perish here in the sickening sands. Though it would likely take her whole and he would be left with nothing. If he helped.. well she’d already offered a trade in exchange.

Silver paws brought him closer, his towering form more obvious the closer he got to her. Really there wouldn’t be much effort to put in to get her out, as long as he kept his paws on solid ground. ”I don’t know, what do you have to offer?” He questioned her back, his chest near her rump at this point. Oxide allowed her to squrim for a few more moments before taking action. He was big enough that if she tried to go back on an offer he could always force it out of her. Or take her captive.

Carefully the rust marked behemoth reached out over the quicksand, aiming to grab hold of her scruff to pull her out. There would be a little bit of struggle as his main goal was to keep himself out of the sand. The boy would eventually dislodge her, and with one more heave freed her. The sudden removal caused him to fall back, landing on his rust marked rear.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ "I'm studying to be a healer, and my family would be greatful for your assistance," she said through gritted teeth, trying to suppress a growl. It wasn't in her nature to be angry, but his blatant disregard for the safety of another creature - especially of his own kind - was frustrating. Rather than fear him, Eris found herself self-righteously disappointed in him. Who was he to decide who lives and dies? He was no god of hers, that was for sure. She felt more than saw him approach from behind. A tingle of alarm raced up her spine, but she forced herself to lie limp in his jaw. It went against every single instinct she had. Eris screwed her eyes up tight, just as prepared to die as she was to be saved. What a terrible thing that it had to end like this, just as she was finding her place in the world. Even though it felt so meaningless, she tried to take faith in her deities. Tor and Fenris would not allow her to die for nothing. In her heart of hearts, Eris made peace with her mortality. When she was thrown to solid ground, she gasped aloud. Her "savior" was seated heavily next to her on the nearest solid ground. Now that she knew she was safe, she scrambled to her paws. Eris' chest was heaving from adrenaline and her eyes were wild. She squinted to focus on his hulking frame - he had over a foot on her, but that wasn't necessarily unusual. "Thanks..." she said uncertainly, feeling carefully with her paws the correct direction towards safety. The female took a few quick steps back onto solid ground, putting distance between herself and the pitfall. Her nose and tail tip quivered as she waited for a moment, the silence growing between them. The stranger's cavalier disregard for life was new to her, and she found it strange enough to hang around and see what he had to say.

She was less than amused as she answered him, but the prospect of a whole family being in his debt? Surely he would be rewarded and then some for keeping her from the reaper. Oxide shifted slowly and managed to pull her from her trap with little effort. She didn’t struggle as he took hold of her, either resigning to her fate or just being much too trusting of him. Though her disdain for him was almost palpable as he finally removed her whole form from the sand. They both landed back on solid ground with a thud.

He recovered slowly as his garnet gaze watched her scramble to her paws. ”Thanks..." was all he got as he expected her to find her paws and attempt to flee him. Though he was no high and mighty wolf, he didn’t seek to harm the slightly younger she wolf. However, if he was going to put effort into her rescue he deserved to be compensated for his efforts. Nothing in life was free.

He watched her patiently as she observed him. Oxide had found his paws and looked down at her with a mild curiosity. ”What’s your name? I’d like to have it so I can collect my due when the time is right.” He held himself a little higher as he let his gaze leave her form. He looked around, noting a few places that could easily be the same as this pit. He wondered if she might find herself in the same predicament if she wasn’t careful. ”Now that you’re unstuck, how are you going to stay that way? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this place is full of those pits.” Oxide’s dark red gaze returned to her diminutive form, finding her similar colored gaze. He hadn’t noticed earlier how foggy her eyes were. Even more likely that she would find trouble again with such a hindrance to her eyesight.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ "Eris Pyre of the Ademre," she answered with her full and complete name, hoping it had the same amount of gravitas that she heard when it was said aloud. There was a careful truce between the pair, but Eris found the silence deafening. What would he take from her when he called in his debt? She was a rudimentary healer at best, but perhaps she would improve by the time he needed her assistance. Nonetheless, she hadn't told him she was a good healer. She didn't like the way that he looked down on her. It was true that she was used to being looked down on, given her small size, but he had a certain air about it that she didn't like. His gaze made her feel smaller than she really was. When he mentioned the surrounding terrain, Eris tensed. "I should get along just fine," the smaller wolf insisted, leaning towards the pit to take a good sniff. There was something distinct about the smell, for sure - it wasn't the typical loamy smell of soil, it was a little bit different. But would she be able to reliably navigate an entire minefield of them? Eris didn't like her odds. "But," she tentatively began, "if you want to ensure your debt is paid, I wouldn't turn down some assistance." She turned her nose up to him, trying to make eye contact as best she could. Although he was larger, she was more afraid of the quicksand.

For one so small the girl help a weight to herself, almost puffing out her chest as she said her name. Oxide hadn’t heard of her or her name, but committed it to memory as he shrugged her off. Silence fell over them for a few moments as he mentioned the danger surrounding them. She sounded intent on watching over herself, voicing with conviction at first that she indeed could make it.

He watched with deep red stare as she leaned over the pit, noticing as he had that it held a difference in it that the hard ground did not. She didn’t look as sure as she sounded as her gaze returned to him and she confessed that he would be better off giving his assistance. Oxide felt himself chuckle softly with amusement. She was full of spunk for one so small and delicate.

”It would be in my best interest,” he mused softly as his eyes left her again to look out at the treacherous landscape. ”I trust you’ll be more comfortable following?” He asked without waiting for an answer. Silver paws shifted, turning him around to head in the shortest distance between them and safety. He wondered if he might glean some information out of her as they walked. ”Should i know the name ‘Ademre?”

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Of course, Eris thought. He was only interested in so far as he could benefit. This transactional kind of relationship was strange. She was so used to doing good for good's sake, at least when she could, that she felt as if the world had been turned sideways. Slowly, she was putting the pieces back together again. This place was very odd. "You'll have to go slowly so that I can follow. Nose to tail," she instructed, a bit bossy. She was used to getting pushed around in fights, but now that she knew she was safe (more or less), Eris felt herself wanting to push his buttons. The female trotted up closer to Oxide, enough so that she occasionally felt the tip of his tail on top of her skull. "And your name is...?" she added, careful to remain just behind him at all times. She needed some details herself, so that she could give her family a heads up once she finally returned. The more prepared they could be, the better. Eris took her downward position as an opportunity to commit the stranger's unique scent to her memory. Next time, she would know he was coming. "I suppose you wouldn't," she said, with a tone of of course you wouldn't. "My people are new to these lands. We come from far away, from the island of Haert." Their code of balance helped her understand his request for a favor. If he saved her life, she truly was indebted to him. Only time would tell if she made it out of this treacherous area alive.

Now that she wasn’t in her life or death predicament the girl Eris was becoming more bold in her interactions with him. She told him, not requested, he go slow enough that her nose would be right at his tail. He ignored her tone, and knowing he’d be better off with her alive than dead, did as she bid. Silver paws carried him forward slowly, taking care that he didn’t wind up in a pit after painstakingly removing her from one. He’d be quite the fool to talk up getting out of here and be unable to perform.

She rushed forward, keeping pace with him easily enough ”And your name is…?” He hadn’t given her his own name, not willing to give up his own information unless pressed. She hadn’t given him a fight when she gave up her name so he extended the courtesy to her as well. ”Oxide Nightingale,” his voice smooth and suave as he offered an answer. Deep ruby eyes shifted as he looked back over his shoulder towards her.

The way she answered his question about her people at least told him that he wasn’t missing anything big yet. Her family had only recently appeared in this land, he had plenty of time to know them. He hadn’t ever heard of Haert. Garnet gaze lay on the ground before him, the flat barely disturbed surface causing alarm in his instincts. He paused, mumbling a soft ‘stop’ so his shadow wouldn’t run into his rear.

”Never heard of Haert either,” He mentioned as he lowered his rusty features towards the potential pit of quicksand. He inhaled sharply before putting out a mottled paw to test the density. They were safe, it just looked like a pit. ”We’re good,” His voice was soft as he let her know they were forging ahead once more. ”So, how’d you end up here? Seems like you should be with your family.” He commented on her situation, if she’d had one of them with her would she have still gotten stuck in the pit?

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Eris nodded to herself as he gave his name, storing it alongside his scent in her mind. She was certain she'd never forget this day. The mud on her legs was still drying, somewhat stifling her movements. It was so caked on that it added almost an inch of muck to her skin. She couldn't imagine the nightmare of grooming it off - but at least she'd have help from Ballad or Lament. Her ears briefly saddled at the thought. Maybe she shouldn't tell them... it would just worry them, and the last thing they needed was something else to worry about. Eris didn't want to be a burden. She sniffed derisively as he said he had never heard of Haert. Of course not, the Ademre warriors would have headed him off if he'd been anywhere near their sacred Sword Tree. He would be a fool if he attempted to even spar with someone who had even made their first stone. Typical wolves were no match for their highly trained specialists. Eris, lost in thought, scrambled to stop in time before she ran into his rear. She waited, breathlessly, until he gave the go ahead. Steeling herself, Eris continued onward. Today would not be the end of her, she was certain. She still had more to do. "I..." She paused, considering how much to tell of her story. Eris didn't want him to think her family had left her behind - which wasn't true, anyway. "My family and I came here to scout the area," She said. "I got turned around here looking for a new home." What a terrible home this place would have made.

Oxide had been a loner all of his life, though he remained close to his mother and his uncle a lot of that time. Nysa had always been overprotective of him and despite being the freest of wolves he didn’t feel like he’d ever had freedom. There was always the stipulation that his mother had to be there over his shoulder. Both to praise him when he did well and crack down on his failures. The later more often than the former, one of the reasons the boy had been so eager to shed her presence. If he didn’t see his family again it wouldn’t have bothered him, they were nothing to the selfish boy. Just a hindrance on his path to where ever he chose to be next.

The Nightingale boy lacked purpose, now he just traveled. He explored the land laid out at his toes. Despite the danger they were in Ox felt truly alive here in the pits. He didn’t miss that Eris had come close to running into him, but he stifled his amusement as they continued on. She hesitated, but he didn’t look back at her this time as she eventually went on, careful with her words. The Ademre were looking for a new home, though Ox might have decided on this treacherous place as a nice stop for the night he could see what a family wouldn't want to linger here. Pups were stupid, and liked to try and kill themselves.

The boy had no intentions of finding a place to settle down. There was too much out there he hadn’t seen yet. He startled suddenly as one silver paw sunk alarmingly deep into the ground ahead of him, before he could be sucked down too far he returned his weight to his other three paws. ”Stop, veer left.” He told her before she could find herself back in the muck as well. ”I can’t see you settling here.” Ox offered amusedly as he recovered from his own near trip. Tracing the edge of the pit he urged Eris on with a flick of his tail.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Family was the most important thing to Eris, despite the fact that she wasn't blood related to any of them. The bond they had forged in her youth meant more to her than any genetic code could. Her own mother had left her for dead, but the Ademre would fight for her until their last breath. A niggling doubt had been lodged in her mind since the training mission had gone awry - did they really care? They just left... - but she brushed it aside. Not possible. Lament and Ballad had told her, she'd saved them. Of course travelling appealed to Eris as well. Although there was little she could see with perfect clarity, she still wanted to see as much as possible. If she ranged far and wide, perhaps she would find a way to keep seeing more and more. She cherished the thought, although she admitted it was selfish. A companion would be wonderful. Someone who was with her always, who could describe the world around with perfect clarity. A true partnership. Frustrated, Eris wondered to herself what use she could be to anyone when her vision finally went. She didn't see Oxide misstep as much as feel his body language change. Eris tensed and stepped left, following his directions to the letter. His words broke the tension and she found herself chuckling. "No, I can't really see it either. I think we'd all be fossilized before too long," she joked, her tail swishing in approval at her own sense of humor. "Anyway, there is still plenty to see. I don't want to settle just anywhere." Nothing could replace the Sword Tree and the island of Haert. Eris was already struggling to imagine a world without landmarks like the Sword Tree. She would have to establish new touchstones soon. "What brought you out here?"

Really, family couldn’t have held less value to the rust marked boy, he didn’t want them at his back. Nysa had been heavy handed in her involvement in his life, and now that he was free? He didn’t want anything to do with her or any that shared his name. He was all for one and that one was him and he wanted it all. Oxide was out to see the world, he wasn’t about to let anyone slow him down. Especially not family.

Eris joked with him as he mentioned his observations, noting that everyone would be preserved in the sand pits. He managed to crack a smile, amused with her words and how much she had seemed to relax around him. ”Who says you have to settle down?” He asked her, pushing his own thoughts on her just a little. There would be no permanent home for him, he would live and die a vagabond. She pressed a little further, asking a more personal question of him as he continued to lead them forward.

They were closing in on the border of the pits, soon enough they’d be back to safety and he’d be able to bid her farewell until he called upon his debt. ”Freedom.” He answered her simply, his voice losing the superior tones he’d used earlier. ”My paws take me where they want to go,” He had little other purpose than to follow the wind. The boy had no real ties and no responsibilities.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ Who says you have to settle down? The thought struck her as profoundly... interesting. And unsettling. In fact, it almost made her hackles rise. She had just assumed that she would settle down with the Ademre, wherever they led her. She owed them her life. The Lethani guided her very being, and she looked to Tor at night for guidance. For the very first time, she supposed that she could take what the Ademre gave her and... what? Move on? By herself? The thought was almost chilling. Without her siblings, the world seemed dark and bleak, for more reasons than one. "Well, I like company," Eris said quietly, following after the male's footsteps. In fact, Oxide's scent had become familiar in this treacherous landscape. It was almost comforting. "As you can see, I just get into too much trouble on my own." Eris was trying to make light of her situation, but she wasn't exactly wrong. She took his reply in stride, picking up the pace to keep up with his lope. By the way his stride changed, she could tell he was growing more confident. They were coming up on the end of the pits. "Who says you can't have freedom and family?" She countered. Her family was her freedom. Without them, she would be shackled by her own failing eyesight, which would surely be a death sentence if she was left alone. If she could no longer hunt and feed herself, she would be relegated to tracking carrion. By wintertime, if she survived that long, she would surely perish. The thought of her small body, lost somewhere in a great snow drift, slowly starving to death... Yes, her family was her freedom. "Well, my paws too! Maybe we'll cross paths again soon." She tried not to sound hopeful, but she was already starting to like him. It was hard for Eris not to like others, and Oxide had lent a paw just when she needed it. Of course, in her mind, they were friends.

Eris paused silently as she took in the soft words that fell from his rusty lips. She continued behind him, her paws in step with his own as they approached the lands beyond ans where safety from quicksand waited. She did eventually defend her decision, however Ox could tell she did give some thought to what she said. He didnt know if she was trying to convince him or herself. She brought up her points, companionship and their help to her disabled form. He gave her a pity chuckle as she attempted to lighten the mood that lingered over them.

"Your family is not here now, and other than a lingering debt you will make it out alive." He offered another chuckle. "
"Who says you can't have freedom and family?" Oxide shifted his ruby gaze to look back towards her again. "Freedom is impossible with my family. He muttered, obvious disdain for the wolves who raised him. He shoved thoughts of Nysa and Deimos from his mind as she told him her paws liked to carry her as well he managed a genuine grin. "Oh, Im certain roads will bring us back together." He planned to take advantage of his debt from her, though he could glean it from her family as well. Oxide would never admit out loud he looked forward to seeing her again too.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ His comment about her family not currently being here stung more than she thought it would. Of course they weren't - but not because they didn't want to be! "I slipped away while they were sleeping. Things are... complicated. But they will be greatful to you for saving me," she murmured, lowering her head as she followed him. Lament and Ballad cared for her, but there were larger forces at work in their story. It was important they recovered their memories. She kept her lips sealed when he spoke of his own family. Of course he didn't know that the family she spoke of was her chosen family, not her blood. There was no love in her heart for her mother and the siblings she could only remember as warm, sleeping shapes. "Oh, they will," Eris nodded, bumping her nose against his back leg playfully. "We're friends now, and I'm never too far from my friends." Although he may have thought of their relationship as a simple transaction, Eris wouldn't stand for it. He had saved her life, and she owed him more than whatever meager service she could offer. Oxide, for better or worse, had found a true friend.

Again Eris attempted to defend herself and her position as he pointed out that her family was not here to help her through this predicament. It hadn’t meant to sting, only show that forced other than her blood could be used. Ox couldn’t depend on those blood ties, never would he depend on them again. The fight seemed to go out of her now, her voice was quieter and her head was hung as they walked forward.

She didn’t make any comment on his family, but it was better that way. The less he spoke about them the better off he was. Oxide might have appreciated Eris and her words more had he known that she had been adopted into the Ademre. Much like his own blood sister, taken under the wing of some unnamed healer. ”We're friends now, and I'm never too far from my friends." Her words coupled with her sudden playful affection surprised him, though he didn’t show it.

Friends were baggage, but he’d take the potential alliance with Eris and her Ademre family. If she felt some kind of attachment to him? All the more likely that the boy would receive his due. ”Good, I wouldn’t want to get too far.” Boreas was a big place, he’d want to be close if he wanted to collect. Slowly silver paws finally reached what he considered safe. ”I think you’re in the clear now.” He mentioned, sidestepping so she could continue on wherever it was her siblings lingered.

ERIS PYRE ______________________________ She smiled to herself at his words. Wouldn't want to get too far. A warmth pooled in her ribs and stomach, pleasant and bubbling like a forest creek over rocks. His stride was more sure now - they were likely approaching the edge of the quicksand. Although she was glad to be in the clear now, there was part of that was sad to see him go. It wasn't like she could keep putting herself in mortal peril to keep him around forever. "Well, I'll keep my nose out for you," she murmured, trotting forward and bumping his lower shoulder with her muzzle. "Just don't sneak up behind me next time." Eris offered him a shy smile, then stood quietly for a moment as she attempted to orient herself. There was still a bit of light in the sky - with the days longer, she had a better chance of seeing for longer. Clouds were beginning to part, and the landscape started to make sense again. "Goodbye, Oxide. I owe you my life." Eris said solemnly, padding towards the distant orchard.

As he shifted from her path Eris moved by him, offering a quick gesture of affection as she passed his shoulder. She bumped the silver fur there as Oxide felt himself achieve another victory. He hadn’t collected yet, but with her attitude towards him much warmer than when they had first been thrown together he had no doubt. ”Just don't sneak up behind me next time."
A genuine chuckle fell from his lips as he tossed his rusty features in amusement.

”No promises,” He told her in return. He found himself smiling back as well while she regained her barings and decided which course to take. ”Goodbye, Oxide. I owe you my life." The Nightingale boy bowed low to her, he really had saved her life hadn’t he? ”Indeed, Eris.” She did owe him her life, and he had every intention of calling on that debt. ”Fare well, we will meet again soon.”

-exit Ox?-