Summer seemed like the perfect time to check out the colder sights of the world. With little prompting, she coerced Roan into coming with her into the north. It helped that she whispered sweet, dirty things into his ear about how fast they could melt snow together. So the pair made their way north. She'd heard tell of a beautiful place with sights beyond compare. With so much time spent tending to her garden and the aches and pains of the pack, Iolaire had excused herself and was taking a much needed break. There was so little time to just Roan and herself. Always, there was someone else around, or the worry that someone would interrupt. Not today though. Today was for them.

She could hear the waterfalls before she could see them. This place was said to be unlike anything else in the whole of the land. She was excited to share this experience with Roan. Cresting the edge of a rock wall, Iolaire looked out over a vast chasm of ocean and sand. From their higher vantage, the pair would be able to see a plethora of seals sunning themselves down below. Io thought that she could see the dark shadows of whales out in the water, but from where they stood, the glare on the water was too much to be sure. Leaning against her love, the small woman smiled. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Even without the not so subtle coaxing Roan would have followed the dainty healer anywhere. Her threats and promises about their potential activities and aloneness was an added bonus he looked forward to. The journey up was pleasant, seeing new sights and having these experiences with Io was priceless. She would point out rare herbs or flowers and he would show her game trails and predator markings. Thankfully the latter hadn’t bothered a pair of wolves going through.

For the first time in.. well almost never, the pair of them without the possibility of being interrupted. With duties, with tasks, no today was Roan and Iolaire. He couldn’t keep the grin from his face as they travelled into the northern territories. When it seemed like they were near their destination Roan hesitated as Io want to the edge of the cliff. His verdant gaze was only for her, despite the beauty all around them none of it compared to her.

Roan was there for her to lean again, and instead of his eyes roving over the landscape they were on her. On her beautiful features as she took in the sights and sounds around them. He put his chin on her head and pulled her into a loose embrace. ”You are.” He countered, shit-eating-grin and all. ”I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip so far.” Roan added in his deep rumbling tones as he let his green gaze take in the scenery then.

Roan pulled her close and commented on the beauty of the 'land.' Io scoffed and gave the man a nudge, though she didn't pull away when he slid her body closer to his. "I've enjoyed this very much. A little cold, but just imagine how cold it would be in the winter." Reaching up, she nuzzled beneath the man's chin. "I'm glad we could share this together."

Iolaire pulled away from her lover and began her descent down into the chasm and towards the beach full of the honking seals. She wanted to get a closer look at the water to see if there were in fact whales within. She'd heard of whales singing, but had never heard it before. The thought intrigued her. Her mother used to sing, not that the woman was a whale. Birds could sing. It wasn't often that she heard other creatures singing. It was something that she'd like to witness at least once in her lifetime.

Cold sand squished up between the woman's toes and she grimaced slightly, but she'd soon get used to it. The seals shied away from the pair of canines, giving them a wide berth. "They're kind of cute, don't you think? Look at the fat on those things." She imagined how many candles she could make with the fat of one seal.

Io didn’t pull away as he held her closer, she did scoff at his musings but he couldn’t blame her. Maybe he was a little corny, but he only spoke the truth. She was his whole world and she would forever be more beautiful than any scenery brought to his attention. He snuggled against her and gave her a quick kiss before she pulled away to lead them downwards. ”Me too,” He mused softly, more grateful than she would ever know.

The trail was dangerous but their paws were deft as they made their way into the soft sand of the beach below. He held back his amused laughter as the creatures scattered away from them, they were huge lumbering creatures that were obviously not made for dry land. ”I suppose you could call them cute. Appetizing sounds better to me.” He chuckled. ”Maybe we should try and bring one back.” He suggested as massive paws carried him through the damp sand.

Roan mentioned taking a seal back and Iolaire grimaced. "Are you going to carry that thing all the way back to the Armada?" She did have Ila close by. The damn caribou was never far from her side. She didn't have the cart, however. Perhaps she could devise a pole drag, but she doubted the little reindeer could even pull one of the heavy seals.

She'd just opened her mouth to mention the possible crafting of a pole drag when motion from the bottom of the rocks caught her attention. "What's that?" Without any thought to her own safety, the small woman padded towards the rock face. Something white periodically shone above the sharp rocks below. A low, warning growl sounded as she drew closer, but she just couldn't help herself.

Now she moved cautiously, stretching her neck out to peer over the rocks. There was a cat. A growling, angry snow leopard. Io jumped back before the beast could lunge at her, but it made no move. She cast a glance over her shoulder at Roan. "There's a leopard in here. I think it's injured." That was the only explanation that she could think of as to why it hadn't either attacked or bolted.

Iolaire grimaced as he made his suggestion, and she reminded him that he was going to be the one to carry it. Likely the beast weighed hundreds of pounds. ”Your big strong man will bring you home a seal.” He boasted as he puffed out his chest, however much he was bluffing the wolf wanted to bring it back for her. They didn’t talk much about the potential for long as Io’s attention was caught.

Roan felt a protective intuition grow deep in his gut and he followed after the dainty dame cautiously. He felt his hackles raise as the sound of the growl reached him and he prepared right then and there to fight for their lives. He didn’t like how close Iolaire was getting, but nothing happened as she returned to his side and spoke about what she had seen.

”Better for us I suppose.” He wasn’t sure if they should go in after it and just end its misery or what his dear mate wished of him. ”Now what?” He asked, still obviously tense despite her words.

Roan came up beside her and commented before asking a question. "Now..." she began with a sigh. "Now we see what's wrong with it." If she could save the cat, she would. If it was injured beyond repair, she'd have Roan kill it. "I'm going to approach it, just be ready in case I need you." She couldn't give him further instruction. He should be on his guard.

Creeping close again, the cat's low growl seemed to reverberate through the small woman's form. As she edged around the rock, she was far enough out of range to keep from getting injured, but close enough to see what the issue was. "It's leg is caught between the rocks. It might be broken." The leopard hissed and growled as the woman came closer. Inspecting the trapped limb, she made a thoughtful noise in her throat. Though it was trapped and looked to be at a slightly odd angle, it might only be fractured.

"I'll need your help to free him," she spoke to Roan, never taking her eyes off of the cat. Beasts were dangerous when they were injured. As she moved forward, one wide, clawed paw struck out, swiping at her. Reflexively, Iolaire smacked the paw downward and offered up a growl of her own. Her gaze was hard. The small fae's pelt bristled and her tail curled high above her spine. "You stop that. We're trying to help you." She motioned to leopards trapped limb with one paw. The beast, taken aback by the canines reaction, hunkered down, eyeing the pair of wolves warily. It didn't try to strike her again.

He didn’t admit how much he hated this, there was a dangerous leopard on the other side of the rocks. He’d already lost one woman who was close to him he wouldn’t lose a second. He sighed heavily but didn’t protest, he lingered close enough he could jump in on anything that happened. His fur bristled but he remained calm and on guard. He wasn’t going to be able to talk her out of this.

Roan bared his teeth as the cat swiped at his love, but he didn’t over react. He was ready to move, but as Iolaire spoke the thing seemed to back down. Like Sirius’s cat Bast at least this one knew how to listen. Roan still wasn’t happy, but he supported the dainty dame’s decisions. Even if he thought they were reckless or dangerous.

”What do you need me to do?” he asked, hoping that he would be the one put in the danger zone and he could get Iolaire a bit farther from the clawed beast. Verdant gaze found her dainty form, he would help her but her safety was his priority.

Roan was a constant support as she surveyed the situation. He asked what she needed him to do and she was silent for a moment. Eventually, she spoke. "We need to roll this rock towards us. It will release the cats foot. Then I can see if it's broken or not." Io gently tapped the rock that needed to be rolled. It was rather large and she definitely wouldn't have been able to move it. "Good thing I have my big strong man with me." Shooting his words back at him, she winked.

Moving closer to the cat, she stared it hard in its pale green eyes. "You behave. This might hurt, but we'll get you free." Again the cat glared, but it didn't strike or growl. The language barrier between felines and canines was fairly large, but they were capable of bits of communication. "No harm," growled the cat and Io nodded in response.

Turning to Roan, she nodded, giving him the green light to roll the rock away. Once it was removed, she would be ready to treat the cat.

Roan wasn’t one to rush, and even though Iolaire took a moment to think the silver marked titan was ready when she told him the rock needed rolled. He still didn’t like the proximity to the leopard, but his little lover seemed convinced to take core of it. Putting it out of its misery or repairing it he wasn’t sure yet. Either way it needed removed. ”Good thing.” He chuckled, not letting his nerves show through his voice as he followed her.

Close up he could see the pain playing on the leopard’s face. Hearing it speak threw him off guard, but he recovered quickly enough not to be noticed. Hopefully it would keep its word. He gave it a side eye as Io gave him the signal to go to work. Carefully so he didn’t cause any further damage to the feline Roan struggled to roll the boulder. This was the farthest he’d tested himself since his recovery.

After a bit of work and gentle prodding Roan managed to move the rock and free the leopard from its trap. He was ready in an instant to protect Iolaire from any retaliation.

With the rock removed, the leopard leaped forward, away from both of the canines. It turned its back to the mountain face and eyed them warily. Now would have been the perfect chance for them to harm him. Neither wolf moved forward, however, much to his confusion. He had never experienced kindness from another before. Even among his own kind, encounters were bloody events.

Iolaire stayed where she was, noting the leopards fright. "Does your paw hurt?" She asked from her place beside Roan. She indicated his injury by pointing out her own hind paw and giving it a little shake. The snow leopard furrowed his brow, green eyes glancing towards his own paw that he was holding off of the ground. Again, he growled out. "Hurt." Io smiled and nodded, patting the big bag against her shoulder that she always carried. "Healer," she said. The cat nodded and moved forward, though hesitantly. He settled himself on the sand, body curled to the side so that his injured paw was near Iolaire.

Moving forward slowly, Io smiled again, this time patting her chest. "Iolaire," she said before pointing to Roan and giving his name as well. Again, the cat furrowed his brow. Eventually he lifted one odd front paw and touched his own chest. "Enki." Iolaire noted the strange paws and inspected them with great curiosity. The cats digits seemed to be longer than average paws. Thumbs flexed against the movement of the rest. It was something that she'd never seen before. A birth defect?

Roan’s hackles rose involuntarily as the leopard was freed and moved much too quickly for his liking. He didn’t over react though, he was just on guard. Verdant gaze was sharp as he observed the injured cat and the woman he loved interact. The cat didn’t attack, and he fell in love with Iolaire all over again as her kindness was obvious in her words and demeanor. The silver marked warrior stood at attention as the cat crept forward carefully and Iolaire did the same.

”Roan.” He offered softly as he took in the cat’s name. He didn’t feel at ease, but with every moment that passed the trust was being built. He couldn’t help his gaze as it took in the fluffy leopard, its fur was plush and beautiful he could not deny. He wondered absently if Enki could be brought into the fold, or if he was too old to end up like Bast. Though curious, Roan remained quiet and vigilant. If the leopard made one wrong move he wouldn’t hesitate to end it, but deep down he hoped they might have found another ally.

Roan gave his name and the small woman smiled. She was proud of him for being so calm about all of this. She had an idea that had he been another man, he would have tried to keep her from doing what she was born to do. The situation was a dangerous one to get into. If at any moment this cat wanted to kill her, it could. One bite to the back of her skull and there would be no more Iolaire. She trusted the feline, however. He made an effort and was trusting her to help him.

Stepping towards the leopard called Enki, the tiny healer gently worked the hind paw that had been trapped. When she got to the longer bones that led to the toes, the cat growled low and involuntarily jerked his paw away. Io blinked. It had been quick, but she felt it. There was a break in his inner most metatarsus. Left untreated, that could spell death for a lone leopard.

Sitting back, Iolaire motioned to the feline's paw. "Broken. Needs fixed." Enki's brow furrowed and he growled again. Obviously knowing that his foot was broken brought the same dire thoughts about in him. "If you come with us, I can heal you. It will take time." Iolaire offered. The cat seemed to have a sense of honor, for he pulled himself to a seated position and nodded, bowing his head. "In debt," he growled. She took that as agreement that the cat would come back to the Armada with them. She cast a glace to Roan, silently asking if he agreed with her offer.

Had he not been expecting the cat to jump Roan might have jumped in between the cat and Iolaire. He was far too aware of the danger the animal posed to the woman he loved, and he wouldn’t let her kind heart get the better of her. Roan took a deep breath and calmed himself, unwilling to get the better of himself. He didn’t trust the cat but he did trust her, and he held himself back as the limb’s brokenness was vocalized.

He sighed heavily as she offered to bring him back, but Roan again trusted the dainty woman. Had he not known Bast the silver marked warrior might have made protest about her idea, but when she looked at him almost as though she was asking him. He made no comment, but nodded his head in affirmation. He wasn’t willing to sleep near it, but it was more than time to work on their ‘second home.’ Even if he was nervous Roan did feel himself relaxing.

Io was surprised how easily everything was falling into place. The leopard was agreeable and would be coming back to the Armada with them. Roan agreed to the plan as well. The woman grinned and nodded her approval. "Well, boys... it's a long way back. Would you like to start now or shall we rest the night?"

Gears began turning in Iolaire's head. Since she had been a matchmaker over the past few months, she wondered if she might do it again. Enki was a snow leopard and Bast was a snow leopard... Perhaps they might learn to like one another. Io had a soft spot for the lady leopard and wanted her to be happy. There were possibilities here, though they definitely wouldn't be forced. Io found her tail swishing lightly back and forth as she thought.