Vale finally rose thanks to the burning sensation in his thick neck. The blood there now dried, the crusting around the injury stuck the brute's fur together in that area. It seemed branches from his little makeshift nest had managed to scratch some of the scabbing there away. Beast opened one eye before realizing it was only dawn, the sun still hiding away and revealing a sliver of light over the land. It would be a beautiful sight had this wound not been there, irritating him. Vale couldn't help himself but bite at the scab, nipping and pulling at the dried blood. It was just so itchy, he couldn't just leave it alone. Self-control now out the window, he decided to full on chew away at his own flesh. He managed this for a good ten minutes before he realized it wasn't the best idea, as it only made the pain worse.

Beast huffed before trying to get up, then he remembered the broken toes and the pain came suddenly, radiating throughout his leg. Still, Vale had dealt with worse, and he wanted to get his horn before Elias woke up and left with the carcass. Vale limped to the dead sheep and laid down beside it. His front paws positioned so he had a good hold on its skull as he tried to rip the horn from its skull. After realizing he wasn't going to be able to take this things horn hole, he decided he'd have to break it. However, this thing's horn was thick, it wasn't coming off without putting up a fight. Still the brute chewed away at the horn, stopping every now and then to get a breath. Once he felt the horn was weak enough he would press one of those massive paws on it, near the spot he'd been chewing, and put weight on it. Opposing that weight on the other side by holding the sheep's skull in place with the other paw. A loud snap echoed through the little cave and a grin spread across his maw. He was successful, and he would have to worry about Elias taking his trophy home.

Vale would limp closer to the man and poke at him with his horn. "Hey, get up. Imagine if I was some kind of beast, I could've eaten you by now you big doof." He was surprised the male could have slept through his chewing and snapping. The blood was now dripping steadily from his wound, and if they were going to get some kind of help they needed to go now. Looking back, chewing at the scab definitely was not the best idea. "Hey I'm dying over here, lets go!" His voice only got louder, he didn't wanna poke at sleeping beauty again.

Elias slept rather peacefully through-out the night with no real pain to hinder him from doing so, though when the beast started gnawing away at himself.. Elias could no longer sleep. He was curious as to what the apparently neurotic man was doing to himself, ripping his wound's first scabbing open right before they had a long journey ahead of them back to Lirim's healers. He sighed slightly, though Vale seemed to miss this. His ears remained attentive, but he let his ruby eyes close once again as he tried his best to relax through-out the noise. They had a very long route ahead of them, and Elias wanted to get as much rest as possible to make for the least amount of stops needed on their journey.

He heard Vale begin to mess with the ram's skull and he lowered his ears, trying his best to block out the sounds of his teeth scraping against bone and crunching away until he finally managed to snap and break it. He remembered Vale declaring the horn as his, and Elias did not protest- not vocally. However, Vale would be a fool to assume that Elias wasn't doing him a favor by allowing him to mutilate the kill he'd won in their little spar. He had been through enough fights in his life to know how hindering they could become if any serious injuries came from them, so he decided to pick his battles with this one wisely- besides.. he was still trying to warm up to the barbarian man.

When Vale poked him with the horn, his lip curled only slightly and a single yellowed fang exposed itself on the left side of his maw toward Vale. When he barked his commands again, Elias' fragile mind was beginning to slowly crack. Elias was patient with most when in the right mind, but he was approaching a dangerous level of frustration with this brute's unnecessary display of dominance. If Elias' was to be Vale's mentor, respect would be necessary if Elias' wanted to trust himself not to flip in the middle of their lessons.

He decided to show off just how quick and agile he still was, even if this season was the turn of his fifth year. Every muscle in his limbs tensed, as his back muscles did the same and prickled his short hackles to life while he immediately got up on to his feet. His claws drug against the ground beneath them as he growled, low and loud, toward Vale and snapped the air at the left side of Vale's face. Saliva rolled off his teeth and hit Vale's neck wound in gentle tethers when his jaws snapped shut, reminding him of just who it was that administered that wound in their spar. He didn't bite at Vale's flesh, but he wanted to issue a warning.. and hoped his message came across very clearly.

He flashed him a toothy grin right after, one with his crazed red eyes nice and wide and every incisor, canine and molar alike on display in that daring smile. "You're notttt.." he hissed, "...but," his teeth clicked in dramatic emphasis before he continued on with his words, "...you will be if you do not control yourself."

He lowered his black lips over his thick set of daggers, sheathing them once again as a look of cool neutrality slowly came over him as long as Vale was calm. His eyes fluttered down to the open wound before he shook his head, "You needed those scabs to keep you from bleeding out, I don't think you realize just how long of a journey we have ahead of us. We are going to the East, to the only healer I know who might be willing to help and do a decent job at it."

He took a few steps away from Vale, looking down to the ram. He didn't want to bring the whole thing, and he didn't want to waste time trying to tear off the other horn like Vale had- instead.. he decided to make this as quick and effortless as he could. He put his left forepaw on what was left of the cracked skull and remaining horn, his right forepaw on the half-eaten shoulder and lowered his teeth to the middle of the beast's neck. He kept a watchful eye on Vale, but began to work his sharp jaws in between the vertebrae of the ram, wedging more and more space between them until he could cut through the precious tendons holding them together completely. He didn't want to waste time, so everything was done in very savage and jerky movements until the head was free and then he grabbed the ram's head by the horn and carried it with him.

He looked back to Vale, giving him a nod of his head to let him know it was time to go. He held his head at spine level with his jaws clenched, though he moved more leisurable than he normally would- being considerate of Vale's broken paw and his neck wound. He didn't want Vale's heartrate to increase too dramatically during their journey and risk the brute bleeding out. No, then he'd never know more about this man's interesting brain and he would be of no use to him. He took him around the Stone Steppe and toward Singing Caverns, where he had spent a few nights not too long ago. They would have to stop and rest here for the night, considering a travel from East to West took a few nights for most wolves. It was alright since these caves were still on their way to Lirim.

He didn't say much at all to Vale, but curled up inside of the caves for a few hours.. allowing them both to get just a bit of rest. He didn't want to linger too long before they set off again, and this time he would be the one to rise the both of them and demand Vale awake. He knew the tunnels attached to those beneath Fenrir's Maw, and after just a bit of wedging themselves through tight fitting spaces- they'd be able to come out through the tunnels that made up Locus Obscuro.

From there, it was a walk across the familiar fields of Buffalo Knolls and The Range, which he tried his best not to let them slow down during this part. Buffalo Knolls were popular hunting grounds, and Elias did not feel up to fighting off anymore wolves or other predators that might be lured to the thick smell of blood the two traveled with. He saw the peaks of the Glowshroom Caverns he'd left Kane at, and knew it wasn't too long then.

OOC: Kurt, you really only need to read from here on in my post, and the next post from Vale- then you're free to enter with Hailey!

On the other side of those peaks was Lirim, though he half-hoped to run into Zuriel around the perimeter picking herbs.. or even Kane, Miach or Daelos. He wanted to avoid another interaction with their alpha if he could help it, but beggars can't be choosers. As they came around the peaks of the caverns, the dunes met them with unforgiving heat transmitted by the noon-high sun. He groaned around the horn of the ram's head before looking back to the darker male in his company, how would he fair in the western sun? They really needed to find a healer.

Vale simply ignored the other man's ramblings and threats. He got what he wanted and the man was up now. They could finally get on with this journey. He watched him remove the creature's head, shrugging when he seemed to have done a better job than Vale did at getting his horn. He still felt his hard work was necessary, at least for getting the horn that had hurt him in the first place. He followed the man on their travels silently, there was no need to talk and Vale was glad they didn't have to. Despite their steady pace, he still felt they were going a bit to fast for him to deal with. The man couldn't decide if it was the pain from his broken toes or blood loss, but he was starting to regret enduring this journey now. Couldn't he have just slept it off? Still, the traveling brought Vale through lands he had yet to travel. However, he didn't have the energy to ask Elias about it. The blood loss was really starting to get to him, maybe he should have left his injuries alone. No, no, nevermind Vale had done the right thing. There was no way he was wrong in picking at it, it was bothering him. When they finally came to a stop for some rest, Vale couldn't have been more thankful. He was just about to pass out.

Once they woke to leave again, it felt as though he hadn't gotten enough sleep. He couldn't tell what his issue was now, was it the injuries or maybe hunger? Regardless, Vale was definitely feeling off. Still, he was sure they didn't have very far to go. He was putting all of his faith in Elias. Then they had to squeeze through tight spaces, and Vale was almost positive he wouldn't make it. The squeezing also started to irritate the wound on his neck, but maybe they didn't have far to go. Elias wasn't slowing down at all after this, and Vale was starting to miss their little nap time again. Vale felt like he was practically running behind Elias. When they finally made it to the dunes, the heat started to really throw Vale out of wack. Maybe it was his own psyche breaking down on him, but the heat and dehydration definitely played a part in it. Vale could feel the headaches returning, and he tried to simply shake them off. However, it wasn't working and the male started seeing flies flying around his maw. Man finally broke down, no longer able to contain his own rage. He began snapping wildly at the things, Paws swatting at his own maw. Poor bastard probably looked like he was beating himself up, because he practically was. They did need to find a healer soon until then Elias would have to calm him down before the beast went berzerk on himself. Who knew what would happen if this went on any longer, Vale might end up really popping that wound back open. With more blood loss added to his dehydration, he'd be dead in no time.

Man what happened to Elias helping him? Big dude was about to kill himself out there in the heat!

Earlier today Hailey had planned on doing a hunt, but once more she had gotten distracted soon after. She made sure the food pile was filled of course before leaving, at least some sort of storage for Lirim as she was a hunter within the pack. So on her spare time, she went to look for herbs. In order to do that, her destination was beyond the dunes. Something that she'd been doing out of habit, was sending Shiva out to scout before she went anywhere. Living as a loner for some time - specially in the area she had - made her wary. The warm sand on her toes felt nice, as Shiva came back alerting Hailey about injured ahead. Hailey was quick to go into a run, collecting sand behind her as she went. Just above the hill she caught the sight of the two males. The scent of some pretty bad wounds in the air. Though Hailey didn't want to startled the two, after all one of them seemed to be snapping out. At flies? Or was it just those wounds there. "I'm here to help." Hailey called out, not wanting to end up being attacked when all she doing was helping. Not to mention perhaps the pack scent on her would either make it worse or better. "Shiva go back to Lirim and pick up some herbs for me would you. Ones for infection and the usual." Hailey asked the owl as she quickly hooted in reply. Shiva spread her wings off towards the direction of the pack lands. As Hailey crawled closer. "Alright, what do I need to heal here. My name is Hailey." "Talk"

No sooner than he looked back to Vale to check on him, he witnessed him collapse into the sand and begin snapping furiously at the air around him. He didn't doubt that the man was beginning to feel dizzy from blood loss alone, not even accounting for the heat that they were both now exposed to out in the western dunes.

He turned around immediately, his large frame twisting back around to face the brute in his company as a look of concern raised the pale 'brow dots and widened his eyes. He watched as Vale seemingly slipped into madness, but no sooner than he witnessed this did he hear the faint words of a female ring over the desert sands. 'I'm here to help.'

Elias snapped his regal crown back to look at the white angel making her way toward them at a mere crawl, his chin lifting as he assessed her for any possible signs of familiarity. None could be detected, but the thick scent of Lirim wafted to him on the wind and let him know exactly where she was coming from. He had no time to argue, no time to ask for Zuriel or Daelos. They needed a healer now.

Watching her send her owl companion off intrigued him, filled him with the hope that the herbs would be delivered swiftly. He watched the owl leave and watched her approach before looking back to Vale, suddenly concerned for the new girl's safety with him in a delirium. He lunged at Vale, snapped at the front of his face as he growled out in command, "Snap the fuck out of it and focus on me, got it? Whatever the fuck you see, forget about it. Look at me. Don't look the fuck away, you hear me? You're not fucking weak, so stay focused." Harsh, but he hoped that the harshness of it all clung to Vale's mind enough to keep him paying attention.

He looked to Hailey and nodded toward Vale's massive neck wound on the left side, right above the collarbone. It was quite obviously caked with blood, though not scabbed over enough for the bleeding to be stopped completely. "Help him, I'll keep his attention. He needs the bleeding stopped now." He realized he was barking orders quite aggressively and flashed a look of his red gaze over to her, hoping she didn't suddenly become disobedient. He was appreciative, but now was no time to show it.

Vale was definitely not himself and when the healer approached her voice was distorted, he could barely tell she was even a wolf. Femme sounded more like a demon, something terrible from the depths of his psyche which was crumbling before him. Walls he'd built up for so long were finally collapsing and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Was it really the heat that had triggered all of this? Perhaps infection? Regardless he began snapping in the direction the voice was coming from. Hot saliva dripping from the beast's fangs as his jaw pried open.

Maniacal laughter escaped him, but to him it seemed as though it was just in his head. Man couldn't even recognize his own twisted sounds. It wasn't until Elias began barking orders that the brute began to regain a bit of control. Elias told hi to focus on his voice, so he tried as best as he could. Of course not all of his sanity had returned, but enough to try and communicate. ”Elias its gone, everything is gone. It's starting to come back but the headaches. I can't hear, its so loud.” As he spoke, bits of a memory came to his mind, accompanied but the headaches came with it. Someone bigger than Vale snapping in his face, a woman beside him laughing hysterically. Was this the laughing he heard earlier? No this was too light, not as deep and twisted as what he'd heard before. 'Look he's protecting her. Don't worry, boy. We want you tonight.' the woman beside the brute hissed. Who were these people?

Another flash of pain in his head, specifically near his ears, or lack thereof. Vale laughed out loud, his head tilting and jaws snapping shut. He tried to search for Vale in the blurs that were his vision, searching for those ruby eyes of his. Finally finding them, young man would focus, doing anything he could to snap out of this. He wasn't sure what the memory was, but the feelings associated with it were not feelings he wanted anymore. Terror, he was horrified by these people, and also for whatever girl they spoke of. However, Vale couldn't remember a time he had interacted with anyone, much less cared for another. So how could he have memories like this? Had he been blocking this out? If so, the reason was obvious.

Focusing on Elias kept him from getting to violent, but still did not keep these memories away. Another came back, the voice of a pup, feminine, crying out for Vale. He felt a sudden pain and heard the tearing of flesh. Felt himself being thrown against a den wall after. At least it had to be a den, as the memory was vivid enough for Vale to hear the smack of his body on the solid rock wall. Something warm and metallic running down his face on his right side. Blood. Everything was a blur but he could feel all that he felt in that moment. The hurt, both emotional and physical pain. What was this shit and wh couldnt he stop it. A low growl came from the base of the man's vocals. ”Elias” he managed to finally make out. Black, leathery lips pulled back to reveal those sharp yellowed teeth. Man was trying hard to keep himself from getting violent. His one goal to avoid angering Elias. Why was that suddenly so important to him now?

OOC:
Infected Bite Wound, Neck front left side above the collarbone
Broken Toes, Front Right Paw

Hailey was glad that she had sent Shiva back for her herbs. She was certain she had a few handy things for infection and the owl knew enough to bring them back. It was so hard for it to come by but she swore she had some trillium pulp within her inventory of when she had returned to lirim. Even as a hunter now - she kept herself stocked specially on the precious herbs she gathered while on her own. Hailey didn't care - danger was danger and she wasn't afraid of it. She didn't mind Elias' snapping, it made no difference to her. Considering this must have been a stressful situation whoever they were. Hailey was quick to come up to the side where the male's neck was bleeding. The infected wound definitely gave off a stench, rotting from the sun that shone down on it. How long had this gone untreated? Shiva returned promptly. Holding a large bannana leaf that the owl often collected for Hailey, full of herbs. Some moss balls with water as well. "Just keep him distracted long enough for me to tend to his infected wound. His others can wait if we can help it." she said. As she knew as soon as she started touching him he'd probably grow more irritated. She grabbed some of the moss balls filled with water and started to trickle the water into the wound, no matter how wiggly or snappy that he was either she was going to get hands on with him. Her paws came forward and pressed into the wound. Infection leaking out as she cleared it. "Stay calm." she muttered before she finished that. Now the wound looked much better. Hailey turned and grabbed the trillium paste. Slathering it onto the neck wound, hoping that would both cool him down and ease the pain that he felt. She returned to the supplies, the last things would be the horsetail for the wound. Then... Poppy seeds, Lavender and Boneset. She gathered a group of poppy seeds, a little of the lavender and some boneset not much because she didn't want to make him sick. "Make him eat those." Hailey told the male who seemed to be the more stable of the group. He looked injured too, but not as badly as his friend. Hailey turned with the horsetail and set it upon the wound. Slightly poking it within the skin to bind it together. Now that the paste had stopped the bleeding. Hailey knew there was a possibility of herself getting hurt throughout this but she didn't care. "There... the rest is up to him now. We should get him some place with water. And one of these herbs will need to be periodically applied until his wound becomes not so infected." Hailey noted as she took a step back. Shiva landing between her shoulder blades. "Talk"

He watched as his friend seemed to be slipping into mania, and suddenly it struck him what it must feel like for Eliana every time she witnessed this happen. He was full of fear, but not for himself.. for his friend. Vale was going through something that Elias was all too familiar with and knowing that made him immensely empathetic. He lowered himself down against the sand, ignoring the heat against his belly and chest. He crawled closer to Vale's volatile jaws, risking danger but putting himself right next to Hailey and using his own mass as a sort of shield to keep her safe.

His right forelimb came up to hook over the upper part of Vale's neck, gently resting down on it right behind the man's skull. He wanted to be able to hold him down if he needed to, but this brought him very up close and personal with him. He didn't know what to say to Vale's first set of words, it made him choked up. Was he experiencing the same demons that haunted Elias? Did he even know what they were? Elias started to drift off into thought and concern for Vale as he silently prayed for them not to plague his friend like they did him, not to the same extent. He would have to teach Vale how to resist them, how to listen to them.. and how to keep them from taking over completely.

When Vale called out for him again, he snapped out of it and barked back. Elias' words came out in a low, growling rumble as he aimed to soothe him now that he had his attention. "I'm right here! Focus! Ignore them, alright?" He looked to Hailey now who was pressing into Vale's wound, releasing the foul smell of infection that he was certain would irritate Vale. Elias would apply more weight on his forelimb if Vale started to struggle, determined to keep the beast down if he decided to attack her, or himself. "She is cleaning your wound, she is almost done. Keep your eyes open, and keep them on me. After this is over, we're going to get the fuck out of this desert, alright? It's almost over."

He continued to talk to him as she worked, which thankfully seemed to be done with urgency. She was getting it done quickly, and before long she was finished and handing a mixture of herbs to give to Vale. He was hesitant, flashing her a look in the eyes for a moment as if to tell her something. If there was anything harmful in these herbs, it would be the end of her... but... he knew Lirim wasn't a pack full of people with ill-intentions. No, that was more like Ruina than anyone else. Those were his people, not Zuriel's. He decided to trust her and moved to pull the bundle of leaves over to Vale's face, unfortunately getting a bit of sand on them but he was sure the brute could handle it. "Vale, open up. These will make you feel better, make you stronger. Get up! Eat them. You can do it."

When this was all over and Vale was stable, he would have to thank Hailey and introduce them, but.. for now he was entirely focused on Vale and keeping him focused and out of mania. Elias' own heart was racing as he desperately kept making noise, growling and nudging him with his nose to try and keep him attached to the here and now, stimulating his sensories to pull him out of his mind. It had always worked for him when Eliana did it, and he had a dire need to keep Vale out of despair.

Currently, Elias' voice was the only connection the brute had to reality. Every time the man spoke, the voices faded and he could see Elias. As the female moved to get at his infected wound Vale tensed up. What the hell was she doing, why was she close to him? Still, Elias insisted he let her do this and he was the only person keeping his sanity intact, so he had to trust him. However, when the healer started pressing the infection out, the pain was too much. Vale had a line and with the headaches and voices already ailing him, this crossed that line.

Vale snapped in Elias' face, not intentionally trying to hurt, he was just pissed. The voices were still fighting and clouding his thoughts. He tried to remain focused as his friend said, looking for anything to keep him connected. Vale was just glad he didn't have to see those memories anymore. Though he would definitely have to discuss this later with Elias. Maybe these demons he'd spoken of before gave Elias some kind of insight into this new problem. He might help in understanding how he'd progressed from having no memory of his past to these voices accompanying memories that couldn't be his own. Of course, he felt an emotional connection when he'd seen the visions, but he felt they were stolen. something he shouldn't have.
Feelings he thought he wasn't capable of feeling were overwhelming him now. Guilt, fear, and pain. The pain was fading now though thanks to the healer's cleaning of his wound. He still felt like he might not be ready to talk to anyone he didn't trust yet, as the voices were still there and he didn't want to snap at anyone again. He didn't want to disappoint Elias. When the man told him to open up, he obeyed. Lids closed, protecting him from the bright sun, he fought to chew the herbs. Swallowing the bitter plants, Vale almost choked. Whatever the fuck that was, he didn't want to take it again.

After a few moments, he was starting to feel a little less like death, and the voices were silencing themselves. ”"Let's get the fuck out of here.” he finally managed. His voice was gruff, he almost didn't recognize it. Vale stumbled as he attempted to get to his feet, but he regained his balance and managed to do it. Beast felt like everything was too dry, chapped almost. His skin, his pads, especially his lips and nose. He needed to get to water, and soon. ”Well?” he spoke again, the man was getting impatient.

Hailey knew that there was nothing she could do about the bond between these two. It was easy enough to see what was going on between the wolves. She did her work though and still kept a smile on her face. Shiva watching warily knowing that Hailey was gullible to these sort of wolves to begin with. She was too kind hearted, to a fault. As the while wolf heard the second say that they needed to get the fuck out the white wolf flicked her tail. "Just make sure you keep cleaning that wound and it should heal over time. You aren't going to get better right away and if you miss one morning without cleaning it will come back to bite you. Here, you can take these." Hailey grabbed what was left in her banana leaf - offering it to Elias. For the time being she assumed he was the care taker. "Just give him a bit of each when he starts hurting." she didn't want to sound like she was ordering them around but that was just the fact of it. "Elias was it, I'm glad I found you. Any later and your friend would be dead." She smiled her ears perked. She hated it when others died, specially when she could have helped. At the end of the day she knew she wasn't all powerful, but she hadn't had a wolf die on her yet and she hated the thought of what that was going to feel like when that happened. She had picked up the male's name from when Vale had been talking. "Talk"

Elias knew that he had to get Vale the fuck out of dodge, but he was hesitant to leave without the advice of the healer. As Vale barked to leave, his eyes immediately found Hailey and it seemed she had the same thing in mind. She started telling Elias how to take care of Vale's wound, and Elias really hoped Vale was paying attention- he wasn't going to be able to follow him for the following days. He cursed silently under his breath as he looked around, thinking for a moment. He had so much to do, would Vale be able to hold his own?

He watched Vale get to his feet and moved to his side after accepting the herbs from Hailey. He set them down in the ram skull, "Thank you, I will remember this. We're in your debt." He picked up the ram skull and said no more, rushing out of the desert with Vale as fast as they could to relieve the dark and tired man from all of the heat of the West.

-exit-