He was trying not to feel bad about slowing down for the morning. Erys wanted to work hard for Chimera in the pack but it was too much for his thin frame. So, as he was told or asked, however it was interpreted, Erystotle was taking things easy. As the sun warmed the island the pearlescent man napped at the base of the great tree in the courtyard. The sunlight streamed down in dappled beams, covering the sleeping wolf’s fur in warm patches. Content and safe were two emotions he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Being here like this was like nothing he could have imagined for himself.

He was peaceful and happy here, and sometimes he wondered if he had died and was living his own version of a paradise afterlife. Erys was unsuspecting and relaxing, naive to the excitement going on beyond the quiet courtyard. He was used to having the gaggle of pups in one direction or another. It wasn’t unusual to hear them laughing, or growling, at each other in one way or another. But something disturbed him, and Erys lifted his head from his paws.


"Erystotle Atlas"

Scylla's whole body hurt. The small girl had received a full blow from an angry bear and it had sent her careening into a fast flowing river. There were cuts in her shoulder from where the claws had grazed her, but thankfully she'd mostly just been smacked hard by the ursine's thick paw pads. The walk back had been long and difficult, but she had finally made it. Getting across the water and back to the island had been an ordeal and the child was quite thoroughly exhausted.

Holding her left paw up off of the ground, Scylla limped back towards home. The going was slow and she considered just giving up many times, so when she saw the reclining form of Erystotle, a soft, pleading whine squeezed from the girl's throat. Mismatched ears tucked back against her skull as she slowly approached the resting man. He would help her. She knew it.

"Scylla"

Erys yawned as the sun warmed him and before the reason for his wakefulness became more apparent. He was no stranger to a hard day’s work but Erystotle never really had a fight in him. He did know how to heal the after effects though, he’d seen more wounds than he liked. And death and despair.. It wasn’t very often he was reminded of the darkness in his past but the sound of the princess’ soft whine brought him back. It was the desperation in her voice, the sounds of one who had nearly given up and pushed through. Ghostly white eyes were brought to her small form, wet from the swim, and matted fur clued him in on her injuries.

Erys was immediately at his paws, he didn’t think twice about rushing to her side. Like he would move at seeing Chimera’s wounds he would do the same for his children. "Scylla?” He asked after her worriedly If it was a threat her father needed to know, and she needed treatment.

"Erystotle Atlas"

She didn't want to cry, really she didn't. When Erystotle turned his attention to her, however, the girl's eyes welled with tears. He questioned her and she released another soft whine, limping towards him as he hurried to meet her. "I got hit by a bear," she spoke in wavering tones. Scylla sniffled a bit. "It hit me into a river." She had little bumps, bruises and abrasions from being knocked about in the water, but the main area of concern was her injured shoulder. By some miracle, nothing had been broken, but she would be sore for quite a while.

"Can you help me?" The young wolf turned tear filled eyes up to the brightly marked man. Surely he could do something or get someone. The girls small frame began to quiver with exhaustion. She was so very tired.

"Scylla"

There was a paternal instinct inside him that he never really knew or showed, not when he lived the life he had. Chimera and Fenmyre had changed him completely though, and all of those softer sweeter qualities were allowed to flourish after a harsh few years. The emotional reaction he felt when he saw tears fill Scylla’s eyes was surprising and fierce. He had no business feeling it but suddenly he wanted nothing more than to protect the child before him. Her voice quivered as she told him about a bear, and Erys knew how dangerous that could be. She was limping, but not keeping any weight totally off any limbs so at the very least none of her legs were broken. He was worried about internal bleeding, but after such stress she would have been very close to death if she were. Or at least swollen by now.

She was definitely bruised and battered though, pale silver eyes were drawn to the girl’s shoulder where the most obvious wound was. ”Sweet child,” He whispered with concern as she confessed to being thrown into the river. ”Of course I can help you,” He told her confidently, and part of him wished he didn’t have to take her back to his humble little home. ”Come on, its not too much further to a bed. I’ll make you feel better and it will be a quiet place for you to sleep.” He explained to her, knowing she could take comfort in knowing what was about to happen and the relief she had to look forward to.

Erys led her to his room if he she would allow him, and he offered up his own bed for her to get comfortable in while he gathered up a few different herbs to help her find relief from her pain and a little something to help her fall into deep healing sleep. ”Here, take a little of this.” He offered the honey tincture to her quietly. ”A little poppy to help sleep, and some comfrey salve to help your bruises.” The simplest solutions. ”How does your shoulder feel?” He asked as he looked over the wound.

"Erystotle Atlas"

A great weight was lifted from the girl's shoulders as Erystotle told her that he could help. The man was sympathetic and she could see it in his eyes. It made her way to cry even more. With the adrenaline gone and the pain settling firmly in her little frame, her emotions were running high. She followed him to his rooms and moved inside. Were he a stranger, she most likely wouldn't have gone along with it, but her father trusted this man, so she would too.

Once inside, Scylla settled upon the man's bed, wincing as she did so. Jostling her sore shoulder brought another soft whine of pain, ears tucking back against her skull. Erys offered her something that would help her sleep and Scylla eagerly consumed it. If she was asleep, then she wouldn't feel the pain, right?

Laying her head down on the pile of furs, Scylla's brow furrowed as he asked about her shoulder. "Stiff and sore." The girl tried to flex her paw, but gave a soft yelp. Yeah... she wouldn't be walking on that for a while.

"Scylla"

He cried softly, but she had every excuse to, having been beaten by a bear and thrown into the water. He murmured to her softly, trying to comfort her as he walked her back to his small quarters. She let him lead her inside and didn’t hesitate to make herself comfortable in the bed he offered to her. Or as comfortable as she could be considering her state. She whined softly in pain, but that was what the medicine was for along with helping her sleep. Scylla wouldn’t feel the pain quite as strongly.

It wouldn’t take long for the drug to take its effect, and until then he would try and be as gentle as he could as he applied the salve to her bruises. He would carefully run his paw backwards along her fur so he could see where her skin showed the bruises beneath. "You’ll need to take it easy for a while after this. Even if the medicine takes away the pain, you must remember you are injured or you risk worsening your wounds.” He warned her softly as he began to gently rub the soothing mixture to her fur and massaging carefully to get it to the skin.

"Erystotle Atlas"