The laceration on her side had also brought on something much worse. Hanaryō didn't know it when she entered the water, and knew it even less as she was separated from her siblings on the swim back home. Dragged north instead of south, cut from the herd in the most dangerous way possible. Buffeted by the waves, by the time she looks they're gone. No one else, as far as the eye can see. It's a wonder she makes it to land at all. Whatever clotting and scabbing had formed came loose on the swim. By the time she makes it to land, Hanaryō's side is dripping blood once more. Shaking the sea water and whatever else from her coat, the girl carefully limps inland. At least she's on solid ground. Getting home... could probably wait. At least wait for morning, as the red dusk began to settle around her shoulders. Keen gaze sweeping the plane, low tide leaving the area barren and soggy. Shoulders hunched against the stark breeze that kicks up as she moves inland, Hanaryō isn't stupid enough to think she's alone. No, the lone girl is a target in her current condition. Teeth bare by default, it's impossible to look any bigger. Have to look tougher, instead. That too, is difficult. Especially when she's keenly aware something is stalking her through the trees. Ryo is no prey. Red gaze narrowing, fixating on whatever skulked after her. A shift in the breeze... a man. The fight would find her soon enough, and it's best she greets it head on. Shit, is it? In her condition? Aching in her broken ribs a reminder, as her heart pounds in her chest. "You're no tougher than the monster I just took down. Especially not when you're hiding like a little bitch." An odd echo-- no, it's the ringing in her ears. Hanaryō tries her best to chase the tremble from her tone, but fuck, she's tired.

Winter was on the horizon and that meant shifting his hunting and stalking patterns south. Not too far south though. For his thicker coat never did so well in the arid heat of summer or the balmy humidity of Auster. South far enough though that the archipelago was his target. The cluster of islands was far safer than the mainland at this point. With the spread of disease, Ursus stayed on his toes. If he or Senua became sick, someone would have hell to pay.

He was in progress of hunting some mourning doves when his crow dive bombed him from the cloudless sky. Her screeching caws pierced his ears as her wings fluttered harshly at his face. The sudden alarm sends his prey scattering and Ursus turns a snarl to Marion. “It better be good,” he snaps, deep baritones agitated already. ”Danger! A male is stalking an injured girl,” Marion caws back, once more flapping her wings in his face to gather his attention. At the word stalk, Ursus was on edge. ”Show me,” come his words but she’s already taking back off into the sky.

Unfortunately for both he and the damsel, she’s on an island a bit farther south. Larger than the one he was on, but at least the swim isn’t far. Coating in a thin layer of salt and brine, he rushes from the waves without missing a beat. His paws thud against the packed sand, kicking up debris behind him as he scents the air and begins to pick up tinges of blood, sweat, and fear. No mongrel would attack harmless females if he could help it.

Ursus doesn’t wait. Doesn’t ask questions. It is clear that she’s injured by the scrapes along her ribs and it’s clear he’s readying to attack by how he lurks in the shadows. A bellowing snarl rips from his throat as he bursts from the brush, clearing the small girl’s dark form and barrels into the brush at the male. Slamming sharp bear-like nails into the guy’s shoulder, Ursus pushes him up against a tree for extra pain.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma
pixel by moon810801

The humidity sticks to Hanaryō's coat, her ribs, every bit of her. It settles deep into her bones and allows the chill of the coming evening to permeate even further. Hackles up. Ears back. Red gaze burning-- when is it not? An eerie fixation, as she tries to sort out exactly where the threat in the dark lurks. Footsteps, approaching quickly, drawing her attention away from the threat. They come from the shallows, the splashing giving way to paws on sand. Ryo's hackles up, her gaze snapping one way to the next. Teeth flashing beneath dark lips, stark contrast outlined in the red light. She's being flanked. There's more danger out here than she intended. Were they working together? Ryo doesn't have time to process that thought, though the new threat dodges her entirely and goes-- oh. Goes straight for her hunter. He must have caught her pursuer on the approach but... but why? Why was he intervening? Hanaryō has a difficult time trusting his motivations. Considering making a break for it, but the broken ribs would only slow her down. He slams the bastard into a tree, and Ryo shifts closer. Intense, fixated on the man. "Filth, what do you have to say for yourself?" Sneering, adrenaline coursing through her system. It mixes with rage, disgust, and pain. Fuck, she's still hurting. Though her attacker squirms against the tree, it seemed like she was safe enough. Well, as safe as she'd be. Her savior's motivations remained unclear, Ryo's next puzzle. One thing at a time.

The wolf who had been intent on harming the injured girl was securely pinned against the tree. He tried, squirming, thrashing, flailing whatever limb he could to break free. Unfortunately for the mongrel, Ursus was stronger, beefier, and far more determined. Pressing his paw harder and digging hsi nails in deeper, he lets rip a fierce growl when the male refuses to answer her question.

Instead of words, a paw comes loose and smacks Ursus across the cheek. His head turns, but he quickly looks back, eyes placed firmly upon his opponent. "You'll regret that," he sneers, a chuckle building in his chest as he brings up his free paw and trails his bear claws down the male's face, over his eyes, blood beginning to trail in rivulets down his cheek. A scream of pain starts to ring until Ursus once more uses his free paw to now punch the guy in the throat, sufficiently shutting him up.

Though quieted, the wolf still fights back. Hind paws clawing at his leg and chest, trying his damnedest to escape. "Answer her and I might let you go," Ursus hisses, baring sharp white teeth centimeters from the wolf's bleeding face.

Ursus

table coding by bunni ♥

Hanaryō's head spins. Her ribs and chest ache, stomach churning. Exhaustion coming in waves, washing over her system. Going dark around the edges as she fights to keep her breath, though she stumbles. A sinister chuckle from her savior, enough to send Ryo's hackles even farther up her spine. Red eyes wide, trying to get a pulse here. Get a beat. Figure out exactly what his game was here, but... fuck. As difficult a time as she had trusting him, it's the best she has right now. The scent of blood heavy in the air, mixing with the murk and the seawater and the screams. Ryo remains tense, tightly strung, leaning into the otherwise terrifying situation with a snarl. Barely concealing a whimper, allowing a grimace to pull her face as she stands on her toes to examine the bastard's face. With a great, crushing bear paw on its windpipe, her assailant struggles to draw breath, let alone speak. "Pretty creatures shouldn't be alone at night, not like that. She just needed a little company," ragged breath around only the slimiest statement. "Creep." Ryo sneers, eyes narrowed, shining and red as the last dregs of daylight slipped away. Head spinning from the pain, Ryo stumbles backwards. Let him be dealt with, and try to keep the panic at bay until then. It's all getting more difficult by the minute.