The cage that held her fluttered heart expanded with great intakes of rapid breaths as the canine creep across the great land at a steady yet swift trot, doing her best not to draw attention to herself. Only a light thumb of her paws that barely hit the earth below and the occasional crunch of the fallen underbrush could be heard. The she wolf swiftly and gracefully through the fogged forest, her vivid olive colored digit widened as her mind played tricks on her. A slight crisp in the still spring night air as the lupus glazed up at the breathless starry sky. A chill of the night air tickled down her spine, empty howls filled her ears only that made the thick fur on the nape of her neck stiffed in mock aggression. Dread filled her eyes, the fear of being caught sent a new rush of adrenaline. The canine panicked as she came to a brief stop to catch her breath, the moonlight sparkled in her widen eyes while the empty howls filled the canine’s ears once more. They seemed closer than before. Was this the work of her paranoia or something more? Pure anxiety pulsed through her veins as she glanced behind her, ears twitched as she listened for the empty howls once more. It was deadly silent while she waited to see if they had followed her scent so far away from home. Akira knew Vallen was smart enough to know how to track her, but hoped that his followers were not that smart. The she wolf figured that maybe they thought she had gotten herself killed or something. Akira needed to escape, escape before they handed her over to Vallen or Vallen found her himself. Deadly silence filled the spring night air for several minutes, the canine scanned the area and whimpered quietly as the she wolf dashed off in a steady trot in hopes to hide or possibly rest after running all day. Silence still filled the air still while the wolf trotted, her heart pounded against her ribs. Her strides were elegant through the forest, keeping in the shadows the best she would. Swaying and jumping over anything that stood in her way while she tried to keep on the move in hopes to find a resting place for the night or maybe some food. The poor female could barely stand anymore, let alone continue to run. But it was not very long before she heard another empty howl which sent another rush of adrenaline through her limps. ‘No…’ Akira thought while she whimpered quietly in a glance behind her to see several dark shadows before her very own eyes, ‘…He… he's found me…’ It was at that very moment when the female tripped over something that sent her tumbling forward into a pile of dead brush and slammed into a dead, but still solid, tree. The wolf smacked hard against the tree, a sharp pain rippled down her spine and a quick cry seeped from her throat while she laid there hopeless. Akira laid there for a moment while silent howls filled the air around her and shadows danced before her panicked eyes. Her green eyes wide, the canine tried to get up but nothing happened. Her mind commanded her limps to move, but nothing happened as the shadows got closer and closer.‘Get up’ she cried in her thoughts as she focused all her last bit of energy on her legs but still… nothing happened. Her very edges of her vision started to fade to black, slowly consuming her whole vision until the female has no chose but to close her eyes in hopes that maybe not wake up to feel the pain of Vallen’s ferry. ‘Please…’ she thought as her mind started to go blank, ‘please… please don’t hurt me anymore… I… I just… I just don’t--‘ Her mind went blank as her body became lifeless, passing out from pure exhaustion.

Steel was used to being alone. It felt like both a choice and something inescapable, no matter how he craved being anything but. Pitifully, painfully alone. A sigh fell from his lips as he trudged through the darkness, thankful for the slight reprieve from the cold temperatures. Though frigid still, the nights were growing rapidly more bearable, and he was content for the respite. He didn't mind to find anyone. He wasn't looking for anyone. Being alone, on a a night like this, sounded fantastic. The distance howling of strangers did not startle him, nor surprise him; and he continued moving as his paws so desired. Crimson red stare was locked on the dark forest floor as he attempting to navigate with ease through the tangled mess of vines and roots that seemed to spring from every way he stepped. The fog was heavy, which didn't help in the near darkness - he snarled softly as he felt his hind paw snag on a root, and nearly fell before wrangling himself free and pushing onward. Steel barely even saw the unconscious female before he stepped beside her. He felt fur brushing against his own paw and jerked back, taken aback at the sudden near-collision. Her scent had not been apparent.. perhaps the wind was not blowing in a favorable direction? A frown graced his features as he took a few steps backwards, examining the female carefully. She was alive.. and didn't seem immediately injured. There was no blood and he saw no open wounds Tentative, he stared for a long moment. It felt oddly personal - staring at a stranger while she was totally unconscious - and he didn't quite know what to do. His frown grew as he leaned forward, nudging her lightly, feeling obligated to wake her up, at the very least.. he couldn't leave her here like this. Steel would nudge her again, a bit more firmly, silently hoping she would stir.