He's been ranging farther, these days. Trying to learn what he can, trying to see what he can. Dread was supposed to be learning about the other packs, about what they did. Their comings and goings. It wasn't so bad, actually. Being social, getting out, doing more. Doing everything he could, when it came to soaking in new knowledge. The more he ranged, the more he could learn. He was getting more comfortable being out, being in the world. Every time it was a little easier, every time he learned a little bit more. As he crosses the Gulley, though, Dread feels a shift in the breeze. There was a scent here, something dangerous. Something that hung heavily in his mouth, on the back of his tongue. It made his fur stand on end. Bristling at the very thought, at the very notion of... whatever was out there. A stiff shift in the breeze, Dread could smell it. Perhaps too late, but then, it still gave him a window to react. The grizzly was upon him, and Dread was upon the grizzly. He rounded on it, just in time to take a stiff swat from the creature. Making himself as large as he could, Dread pushed off on his hind legs, and directly into the bear. His head tossed, his teeth snapped. He could feel the bear's flesh catch in his teeth. It was on.

While it is fall in Boreas, Spring is in full swing in Auster. Yet, with the plants in full bloom and the sweet, herbal scents filling the air, Hay had quickly found the need to escape calling her; even if only for a bit. Memories of her murdered father dance in front of her eyes as the girl walks through the gulley, the plants here pulling into themselves to escape the coming chill. She is so caught up in her own thoughts that she misses the presence of a grizzly bear until the sound of fighting coming from nearby reaches her ears.

Head shoots up as she quickly pulls in a breath and sends her small frame rocketing toward the sounds. Snapping teeth and grunts fill the air as the small girl arrives on the scene, quickly recognizing the wolf as she races up from behind the bear. With a show of great dexterity, Haydée launches herself up onto the creature’s back and quickly moves up toward the beast’s neck. She may not have the same, power behind her attacks like Dread does but, what she lacks in strength, she more than makes up for in tenacity.

Making to the grizzly’s neck, Hay does not stop or slow her pace and, instead, strikes out at one of the tender ears. With a twist and pull, she removes the ear completely before leaping free of the angry grizzly. It roars its anger as she lands and she quickly darts out of its range before it has a chance to retaliate. Spitting the item on the ground, Haydée rounds on the bear as she readies to attack again.


"Haydée Kedieo"

He isn't alone in this for long. For that, Dread was grateful. He recognized the scent, the stature of the girl that thrust herself into the fray. Tiny and nimble, she was a weapon in and of herself. There was time for him to be impressed later, Dread resolved. For now, they had a bear to dispatch. He'd done well to grab onto the creature, but now that he wasn't alone, he could shift tactics. The grizzly bled profusely now, the blood-rich flesh where the ear used to be split wide open. Dread could hold down his usual role in a fight like this-- distraction. Diversion. Dread would take the brunt of the damage from the bear, remain on the attack. Relentless. Absolutely relentless in the way that he throws himself at the massive creature. Big old bastard, Dread was putting all the pressure he could on the predator. Snarling as he worked, he would agitate the bear. Irritate the creature. Make it as angry as he possibly could, snapping and snarling, dodging a thrown paw here and there. Though the grizzly made contact with Dread, it didn't matter. He trusted Haydée to do the damage necessary, as long as he could hold onto the creature's attention.

Dread takes the beast head on and, the much shorter girl, begins to worry about him. The metallic scent of blood fills the air, causing Haydée’s stomach to roll and the image of her father’s mutilated corpse to flash before her eyes. Her steps falter for a moment but she shoves away the memory along with the involuntary reaction to the scent so that she can help the boy. Racing back in for another attack, the girl only has a split second to decide on the target.

At first, she thinks of using Dread as a springboard to get back up on top of the bear, perhaps to remove an eye, but, as she moves in, she finds an even better option. Paws shift, pushing up to and past Dread as she darts between the grizzly’s front legs. There, dangling in front of her like two bullseyes, Hay finds her targets. With a smirk suddenly tugging her lips up, she wonders what Dread will think of her after this.

The roar that follows her strike is a strange sound, as if it is suddenly terrified and deeply wounded all at the same time. Haydée reappears from underneath the creature, something obviously in her mouth as she races over to where she had spit out the ear. Unceremoniously, she dumps one part the beast’s manhood next to it before spinning around to begin another attack. If she didn’t know any better, she would say that the grizzly looks rather afraid of her now and she cannot stop the grin that splits her bloody maw.

Maybe it would actually run away… maybe.


"Haydée Kedieo"

The bear was bloody and bleary and bleeding badly. Dread wasn't sure exactly what Haydée was up to, not at first. Instead he braced himself, working at the behemoth with the same practiced movements that had become all too familiar lately. Fighting off predators was part of his job, and this was no different. Driving a predator off, but now he wasn't protecting only himself. He wasn't protecting only his family. This carried weight too, carried it differently. When Haydée re-appeared, Dread realized what the prize she'd wrenched from the creature was. It made his stomach churn a bit to think about, but that was... well, all was fair in whatever this was. That was certainly one way to take out a predator, Dread supposed. He couldn't lose focus, not now. Not yet. He needed to continue to force his way into the grizzly. He needed to keep her safe. This was the boy who always swore he would save them all. He wouldn't give the bear the opportunity to retreat, the chance to flee. He had picked the wrong man to mess with. Dread found himself getting reckless in the moment, feeling the bastard's paw as it swiped against his shoulder. Feeling the scratch, and letting the adrenaline dull the pain. It wasn't that bad, after all. Forcing into the bear, knocking the creature to the ground. Bearing down on the creature, leaving Haydée an opening to dispatch it.

The fight drags on and, as the bear swipes at the tall boy, Haydée spies red wounds open on Dread’s shoulder. He is being so aggressive, locking the grizzly in one on one combat and the girl idly wonders if he is doing it in an attempt to protect her because she is short. That line of thinking is derailed as Dread wrestles the beast to the ground and leaves her a huge opening to take out the bear. She is fast, darting in to grab ahold of the beast’s neck and shred it open with growls and several twists of her head. It gurgles as she pulls back, air and blood escaping the gaping hole where its throat had once been.

Backing out of range, Hay watches the dying creature’s throes as its body attempts to continue drawing life where there is none to give. Cold eyes watch as the grizzly finally stills, a huff of air and blood its final word to the living world. Memories suddenly cloud her eyes as she sees her father’s dismembered corpse in front of her and she has to quickly turn away and swallow thickly as bile tries to rise. Emerald eyes turn away to land on the tall boy and she spies the wounds on his shoulder. Her voice tight with emotion as she says, “You’re hurt.”

Moving to his side, she orders, “Sit.” There is no room for argument in her voice and she expects him to sit and actually lay down so she can inspect his wounds. True, she isn’t a healer but she can lead him to one if needed.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Dread shook the trembling from his system. It was a side effect of the tired muscles, the spent energy. He's tired. Fighting off the bear had taken a lot of effort, and he was oozing blood from a few swipe wounds. Still, it felt good that he'd taken the beast down. Dread had managed to keep Haydee safe in this, and that's what mattered. The beast was down, both it and Dread reveling and gory. It wasn't until now that he really looked at the thing, and really considered that he was injured too.

Sit, her command comes. "I'm alright, it's okay," he tries to wave her off, but plunks down anyway. Realizing the height difference isn't on his side for this, Dread slides until he's laying down beside her, letting the girl take a look at the torn flesh and scraped skin. He hisses a breath, feeling the wound tug as he settles down. It was certainly sore. "Are you okay?" Dread implores, looking to the girl as she tries to fuss over him. "Where are you headed this far north?" It's a gentle question, the concern in his tone still shining through. She had to be okay to make it home in one piece, too.

"Dread Fatalis"

The small girl demands that the heroic boy sit so she can inspect the wounds that the grizzly gave him and his words have her scowling. At least Dread concedes to her demand and sits before sliding down to his belly when he realizes the height difference. Haydée immediately steps forward, brow furrowed with worry as she gently begins to wipe the blood so she can inspect the wounds closer. His hissed breath as he settled down and she begins to poke has her green eyes darting to his face as she mumbles, “Sorry, sorry.”

Hopefully the boy doesn’t notice the sparkle of unshed tears in her eyes before she is able to turn them back to his shoulder. Dread’s question has her rolling her eyes as wipes away more blood and gently prods the jagged wounds in an attempt to find out how deep they go. While she works, Haydée says, “I’m fine. Which is more than I can say for you, at the moment.” The words are meant to be hard but the soft giggle that follows as she continues to fuss over him, undermines her seriousness.

However, his follow up question has her heart suddenly hammering painfully in her chest as she reservedly says, “Oh you know, nowhere in particular. Just… wanted to go for a stroll.” Haydée hopes that her vague words don’t draw too many questions because, honestly, if Dread presses her, she might just reveal everything that has happened since she last saw him… and that might end with her in tears. Giving a soft sniffle, the girl amends that ‘might’ to ‘definitely’ and attempts to focuses more intently on the boy’s wounds as she asks, “What about you? You’re pretty far south for an Armadaian.”


"Haydée Kedieo"