Had he gone a bit over the borders on his hike back north? Perhaps. Maybe. But the Grove was filled with small prey and inviting berry patches. Surely they wouldn't mind if a squirrel or a chipmunk went missing, along with some blackberries. Cutting across the northern corner of the land on his way home, still limping from his run in with the tunnels. A hitch in his gait, hindering his ability to focus entirely on the landscape. Baitboy was sore, okay?

As he wanders, the boy doesn't see the patch of brambles. Tripping over a downed branch from their recent winter, and going solidly ass over tea kettle, an involuntary oof. Ears pinning to his skull, the boy struggles to disentangle his right foreleg from the tangle. "Mother fucker," he grumbles, feeling the way the thorny plants dig into his skin. By the time Tide pulls free, there are more than a few thorns embedded in his already sprained paw. Of course. Why not.

"Tide"

The goal for today? Gather berries to make ink. While he could easily utilize the charcoal from the many hearths spread through Hearthstone, the pup also enjoyed the fluidity of berry ink. Plus, he could achieve different colors from the berries unlike charcoal that was always some shade of black. With basket in tow and a slight lope to his step, Ioan made quick work toward the bustling grove. Already teeming with life and full bushes, he could pick whatever he wanted as long as he didn't get in the way of any bears. But which would he choose today? His fiery colored eyes scanned the grove until they halted on a form tumbling through a thorn patch. Ioan's brows shoot up as his eyes widen. From the sounds of it, whoever that was was indeed stuck. Abandoning his mission, Ioan rushes over to the boy and instantly wrinkles his nose at the distinct scent of another pack. While his brain tells him to leave and alert his father, his heart tells him that The Hallows is a safe haven for all that need help. And this boy needed help. Arriving just as the boy pulls free, Ioan peers out from around the bush. "C-can I help? I s-see those thorns st-stuck in your paw," he murmurs, lilting tones hushed under the cacophony that was spring in the grove. "I'm Ioan, by th-the way. I live in the castle." His tail wags a few times, attempting a friendly smile in hopes it alleviates some of the awkwardness. Ioan Carpathius

code by bunni, gif by minimoss

Spring colored this place, the opposite of autumn back home. Weird how that worked out, though Tide had been here once before. During the Bonfire festival, but it had been too dark to get too far and things had gotten a little interesting. Wild eyed, Tide is still taking in the Grove around him. Bushes heavy with the first of the season's berries, the smell of them incredibly heavy in the air.

Over the sound of the bird chirping and squirrels playing, there's footsteps. Coming closer, though Tide straightened up immediately. Hackles up, head low, shoulders rolled forward. On the defensive, depending on who came through the underbrush. Lip even lifting to expose pearly white teeth, he's primed and ready to protect himself, if it comes to that.

Green eyes narrowing, training on the boy. "What's the catch?" Almost offended that someone would approach him in his peril, there had to be a reason. He considers lying to the boy about his identity for a beat, giving Davey's name instead. No, he'd probably confuse himself, though it would be a trick to try another day. "I'm a Raider." Hackles still up, still on the defensive, Tide doesn't trust the boy with his name. Not yet. At least he could hope the Raider reputation preceded him.

"Tide"

Ioan isn't a fighter, but his father made him sit in the lessons. Learn the stances, have some idea, in case anything went wrong. It was instinctually really. The way his fur bristled, ears pulling backward, brow furrowing over his eyes as the other boy whirled on him. The boy was clearly saying don't touch me, don't come closer. But the thorns... Ioan's sense of self-preservation was lost when it came to those in need apparently. Still crouched, body on the defense, he takes a tentative step closer. "N-no catch," he stumbles over his words, fiery eyes meeting those of oceanic green. "Th-they need to be re-removed before infection," his nose nods toward the paw that is stuck with the thorns. It is clear now, as he takes another hesitant step closer, that he needs help. Without him or a companion, the boy won't get those nasty thorns removed. "Raider?" Ioan's brain tumbles around. At this very moment, he was glad he had insisted on so many lessons. Fighting, politics, navigation, healing, even trap making. His body smooths, staying crouched, but his fur lays down, head canting, brow raising slightly. "Ah, our n-neighbors across th-the water," he murmurs. "You n-need help. It d-doesn't matter where you c-come from," Ioan insists, another step until he's clearly in the boy's personal space. "P-please let me help," holding out a paw, an olive branch, asking the boy to give in at least until the thorns were removed. Ioan Carpathius

code by bunni, gif by minimoss

Tide bristles as Ioan comes closer, head low, green gaze burning. Around them, the Grove seems so alive. Were they even safe here? He knows this is Hallows territory, but there were still predators in these woods. Undercrawlers. Creepy crawlies. Every bit of the boy is tense, as he watches the other boy. All teeth and sharp angles... but he's right. Unfortunately, Ioan is very right.

There would be no comfortable way to do this. Instead, Tide flops down heavily on the ground, still tangled and poked paw up. Gazing up at the trees above him, the nascent buds and blooms a curious sight. Staring at them carefully, and trying not to think about what came next. "Fine." Snarky, but he wouldn't bite the hands that were trying to help him. Not yet. "'m Tide." He mumbles, sour expression unbroken.

"Tide"

At least the boy would give in. Ioan could not help the sigh of relief that rushed from his lips. It would worry him terribly if the other boy had run off without getting any treatment. Infections happened so quickly that leaving it untreated was not smart.

Starting a little when Tide flops onto the ground, Ioan blinks at him wide-eyed. Okay, a bit dramatic, but that's okay. Maybe the Raiders were just that sort. Taking a deep, calming breath, Ioan puts on his best awkward smile and closes the short distance between them. "It'll sting, but I'll be careful," he murmurs, noticing now how tiny Tide's paws truly were. It was a wonder the thorns had even gotten stuck in them.

"Tide? Why're you named that?" Ioan questions as he sits and brings his paws up beneath Tide's injured one. Leaning down, he grasped the first thorn between his front teeth, and hopefully while Tide is distracted with talking, Ioan pulls away quickly, the thorn coming with him. Spitting it out quickly, he takes a paw and presses it against the pin sized hole to staunch the little dribble of blood.

Ioan

table coding by bunni ♥

Dramatic? Absolutely. Playing up the theatrics of it all, but not quite the vibes of a wounded animal. Maybe a pouty child. Okay, listen, absolutely a pouty child. But he flops over, allows the boy to take a better look at his (admittedly dainty) paws. A hiss rising in his throat as the boy starts to pull at the thorns, recoiling at first. Tide yanks his paw out of Ioan's grasp, though he refuses to yelp. Shit. Okay, fine. This is for his own good, but he's going to be a bitch about it pretty much the whole time.

Though he doesn't apologize, he does offer it back. A bad patient, yes, but he hadn't tried to bite the boy yet. There's a question hanging in the air between them, one he doesn't know how to answer all the way. "Buncha my family have watery names. Deluge, Wake, Tempest, shit like that." Tide tries to distract himself from the feeling of the thorns being plucked free.

"Somma them call me Bait though, a lotta the time. I'm good predator bait, means we can smack 'em to death." Is he lying? Sorta, yeah. But if he's telling the story, then he'll spin the narrative to be way more fun than 'my brother keeps trying to feed me to predators.' Tide has to look cool instead of lame in front of his new friend, okay. And yeah, they're friends now. He's declared it. Sucks to suck, they're friends now.

"Tide"

Ioan is patient. Though Tide is dramatic and pouty, Ioan does not show on his face that he cares for the theatrics. The boy needed his medical help, and he would take all the time he needed to help him.

Once the paw is placed back into his own, he continues to pluck the thorns from the tender skin. Pressing firmly, but delicately upon the pinpricks to stop the bleeding. One by one until Tide's paws are cleared from the pokey devils. He listens all the while to the story too. His brow even furrows with concern. "Bait?" His tone is incredulous as he lifts orange eyes momentarily to look at Tide. "You cannot be serious," he says sternly, sitting back a moment to look over Tide. Sure, the kid is small, but that's no excuse to put your brother in danger. A surge of protectiveness overwhelms Ioan. A need to get this boy away from such terrible wolves.

"L-let me help you out of th-these brambles," he says, clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth. Without waiting for permission, Ioan begins to untangle Tide from the thorny vines until his small body is completely freed. There's slices and cuts, but nothing too deep thankfully, but he would do well to get some antibiotic to help prevent infection. "Are you hunngry? We c-can go get a snack," the boy offers his friend, hoping he'll agree so he can then convince him to go to the infirmary as well for bandages and ointment.

Ioan

table coding by bunni ♥

The incredulous tone, the look on Ioan's face-- yeah, he's gotten the awe factor down to a science. Or he's intentionally misreading it, allowing the prideful smirk to eat the entirety of his face. It's almost enough to eclipse the poking and prodding at his paws, grinning as he looks to his new friend. "Well yeah, a'course. We baited and killed an entire shark, it was cool as hell." Were the circumstances terrible? Was his brother terrible? Well, yeah. That's part of the whole deal. They're Raiders, and they're not supposed to be good. Something about a character building exercise.

As the boy untangles him, Tide tries not to let it hurt that pride. He probably wouldn't have gotten out of this one on his own but... is this what friends are for? Tide is still grumbly, climbing back to his feet and shaking his matted coat out. "Fuck yeah, what kind of snacks?" Okay, the way to his heart is probably through his stomach. "If you can catch me, I'll even show you my shark bite!" Tail wagging, Tide is already running. In what direction? Okay, listen, he doesn't know the way, but he's already been still for too long. Circling Ioan and taking off at a dead run, call it the zoomies.

--exit to the next one

"Tide"