I'll tough it out, I won't give in

Álarr eyed the thorns warily as he tried to decide what his best approach would be. He had an idea to create some leather bracers wrapped with thorns as a potentially lighter alternative to his current armor but he wasn't quite sure how best to get at the thorns. Brynhildr landed on his shoulders, wings spread as she balanced herself. "Yea, Bryn. I think you'll have to gather these. I don't know how to do this without getting hurt." It was already tricky enough getting into the briar enough to get the raspberry bramble stalks he wanted. The thorns snagged easily in his thick coat.

He watched patiently as the raven hopped forward, balancing on his head, just between his horns as her delicate head lanced forward, beak snipping at the bramble till it was severed from the plant. She then hopped down and grabbed it before hopping back over to Álarr's little work station while he trailed behind.

The last time Pestilence snuck off pack lands, the dreaded warlord had chased her into the strange territory and ultimately forced her to return home. With him living in the Armada now there was no way he could foil her plans. She left early in the morning, early enough that she could run as far as she could before the time her mother would be calling the children back to bed. By the time Deathbelle knew she was gone, it'd be too late.  One thing Pestilence did not anticipate was how very large the world was. She crossed a desert, and then a plains in her attempts to re-locate the ravine she called home. It had been so long since they were there that the little pup couldn't remember the landmarks back. She knew only what direction it was from the rocks, and so that's the way she traveled.  Eventually she came to realize she was lost and sat down beside a thicket of thorns to sulk, though quickly realized that the brambles were shifting and moving. "Is.. is someone there?" She called out into the web of thorns. Her head lifted and the pup began to sniff, moving around the thicket to try and find whomever might be nearby. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

I'll tough it out, I won't give in

Álarr carefully set the thorns aside as he checked the wrapping on the leather braces. He'd added bone toggles for easier removal and getting on. Now how best to get the thorns on? If he'd planned this better they could have created loops with the leather and added those on but it was too late now. Thankfully these were mostly a prototype. He supposed the could stick it on with sap or maybe he could wrap the thorns around tightly enough and have Bryn tie them. He really needed to make some sort of work glove for his paws. For now he'd just have to use scraps of hide as he worked.

Álarr was about to begin the wrapping when a voice spoke out. A familiar voice but he couldn't quite put his paw on who the voice belonged to. "I am! Over here. Who are you?" He couldn't see who he was speaking to yet but maybe they could find their way over to him.

The prospect of being so far from Ashen lands frightened her and as the stranger called back Pesto ducked into a low crouch. She crept forward as stealthily as she could, remembering her stalking lessons and doing her best to stay out of sight as she curved a path around the spiked brush. This was a bad idea. She shouldn't have left home, now she was going to be eaten she just knew it. But if the strange wolf wanted to hurt her, she'd make sure she got a few good attacks in first. Uncle Hari told her to aim for the jewels, and that was exactly what she'd do if given the chance. A bright white pelt was visible through the brambles though the wolf's face was still concealed. Pestilence took a deep breath and then barreled around the corner yelling her best war-yell, her eyes squinted in fear as she made her way towards the stranger to maul and kick and bite.  She recognized the boy just in time, though with little time to stop. Her feet skidded hard on the dirt and she did her best to plant them, her rear end spinning wildly out of control until it landed square in the thorns. "Ahh!" She yelped and tugged, but the movements only worked her paws into the brush with the rest of her. "Oh damnit, crap, Alarr!" She didn't know whether to be angry that he'd unintentionally frightened her, embarrassed that she was stuck, or happy she'd found her friend once more.  "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

I'll tough it out, I won't give in

Álarr gestured to Brynhilder who took her sharp beak and picked up the thorns while he grasped the leather bracer. Working carefully together they began to wrap the thorns around, the raven using her greater dexerity to wrap the thorns snuggling several times around the top and bottom and tying them in a knot. Álarr would then carefully add on some resin to help hold it in place. He supposed he should've paid more attention to the voice of the stranger lurking somewhere in the briar but it sounded young and familiar so he didn't worry too much about it. If Afi was awake instead of laying somewhere in a patch of sun he'd have lectured Álarr about it. So far the boys fight record had been subpar and the cat would call him foolish for not being more alert when he could only just defend himself. Álarr didn't care really. He wanted to be a healer, not a fighter.

Satisfied that they'd finished the bracer, Álarr was just about to pull out more from his pack when the stranger burst dramatically onto the scene. The yell startled Álarr who instinctively sprang back, right into more brambles where he let out a yowl of pain. The attacker skidded to a wild stop, pitching into the thorns herself as she yelled out. Álarr went to move his head to get a better look when he realized his horns were stuck in the thorns!

"Oh no! Pesto!"

Crap, what was she doing running at him like that? He jerked his head, thrashing wildly before he finally pulled his head free and flopped down onto the ground. He glanced up at the girl questioningly. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

Pesto's surprise attack had been more successful then she'd planned, and to her horror Alarr found himself tangled within the thorns just as she had. She yanked herself forward to try to help him, feeling the sharp prickles yank at the fur around her rump and legs. "I'm so sorry!" The pup cried, her ears flattening in shame. Luckily, his horns came free with a little thrashing and her friend fell onto the ground freed. This didn't work out the way she'd planned at all, and Pesto whimpered softly as she realized what a mess she made of things. She jiggled her back end around some more, but it hurt too much to continue to try and free herself. With her rump and rear legs suspended in the thorns, Pestilence laid her chest upon the ground and covered her eyes with her paws. "I was trying to find my way home." Her dejected response came. The red rocks were better then this stupid place. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

I'll tough it out, I won't give in

Álarr shook his head to send the remnants of the thorns flying off his head. He was starting to regret choosing to do his crafts right here instead of gathering the thorns and moving to a location that offered more movement. He glanced at Pesto and noticed she was still stuck. Oh no! Oh, how was he going to get her out of there. He moved over to her quickly. "It's ok, let's see if we can get you out of there." He turned to Brynhildr. "Can you clip some of these thorns?"

The bird nodded and carefully worked her pale body into the thorns, her sharp beak snipping here and there. Álarr hoped if he could get her free they could extract any leftover thorns and he could give her a salve to help with the pain and bleeding. The little white raven worked quickly, hoping expertly until she felt she'd snipped most of the offending plant structures. "How's that? Can you move alright? Why are you so far from home in the first place? I could try to give you directions but I haven't been down this way much."

Alarr moved quickly to have his companion help her predicament, and she smiled sheepishly at the bird as it clipped the thorns from around her. As each thorn was clipped she felt less and less tug upon her, and as the raven finished she took in a deep breath in preparation. Quickly she lifted her butt and skittered forward, feeling a few sharp tugs but much less pain then she'd expected. After a quick turn of the head to inspect her rear end, she looked back at the boy with a grin. "Thanks!" and then to the bird. "And to you, too." One day Pestilence wanted a companion as helpful as that. She sighed in relief and then plopped down upon the dirt far from the thorny bush. "I don't want to go home, I'm running away." The pup told him proudly. Although so far she'd done a rather bad job of it, she still felt like the fact she'd left home showed her growing maturity and independence. "Why are you here? You're lucky your pack actually lets you explore." Now that she thought of it, did she even know what pack Alarr belonged to? Hopefully whoever it was wasn't an enemy of the Ashen Empire. Did they even have enemies? Nobody told Pesto anything, and she huffed quietly as she considered. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

I'll tough it out, I won't give in

Álarr breathed a sigh of relief as Pesto was able to break free. He'd really been worried for a bit there though now she had some wounds that needed tending to. He reached in his bag and pulled out a balm made of yarrow that could help with the bleeding and inflammation if she wanted. "I have a yarrow balm here. It could help with the soreness if you want." He had it kept in a wide, shallow jar with a worn cork stopper. Eventually the stopper would wear out and he'd need to find something else. He wasn't quite sure what but it was holding for now.

His eyes widened as she mentioned she was running away. "Running away? Why? I mean, if you don't want to go back you could come to Legion." He didn't want her to have to be out here living alone but he wasn't sure what Chaos would say. Bringing in a pup from another pack could start a fight with Ashen. Then again Chaos seemed to thrive on Chaos, so who could say.

"I was just making some stuff and I can go anywhere I want. I'm a yearling now! I'm sure Ashen will let you wander when you get to be a yearling to. "

Pesto narrowed her eyes slightly as he pulled out the balm, feeling the sting in her hind end. Suddenly it hit her, she flushed and shook her head. "No, I'm fine really." There was no way that the princess would be caught letting this boy put medicine on her butt. She'd tough it out just like she had to with everything else. Especially now that she was leaving home and growing up, adults dealt with that stuff alone all the time. He seemed shocked at her response, and a small wave of pride washed over her. She knew it was a radical thing to run away from home, but hadn't realized it'd impress even the yearling - or at least, she chose to take his widened eyes as an impressed expression. "Just tired of it." Pesto admitted softly, scooping a snipped thorn over to where she lay with a paw to twirl it absently on the dirt with a claw. "Everyone's in love with Gods and stuff, mom wants my sister to be an empress, my dad is dead. I just want to get away." He continued speaking, and her head shot up to pierce him with her excited lavender gaze. "Really? I could come with you?" Pesto clambered to her paws, kicking away the thorn she'd been playing with. Her butt ached dully with the movement, but she ignored it easily. "Yeah! Please take me with you." She smiled at him, her tail wagging slowly behind her with anticipation. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Valdís worked her way south, following Álarr's scent. The boy was late for training and after sniffing around she'd noticed that his scent led south and right out of Legion's territory. She growled in irritation. She didn't like being stood up when it came to training, not to mention Álarr had spent far more time outside the pack than she cared for but there wasn't much she could really do. He was a young healer after all.

She worked her way farther and farther south, growing more and more irritated. At this rate it would be days before they managed to get home. A most frustrating inconvenience. She was going to beat his ass when they got back home, she was sure Valentine would understand not that she planned to tell him either way. Álarr had asked for lessons, she'd agreed, as teacher she was going to teach him some discipline.

When Valdís finally caught up with the boy she found him near a briar patch and had just heard him offer to take a little runaway back to Legion. And not just any runaway, another pack wolf.

"Absolutely not!" She strode froward with a snarl. "What are you thinking Álarr. Taking a runaway pack pup into Legion is a recipe for war. Surely, if she is your friend she wouldn't bring such a thing upon you or your family? And another thing I expected you at training hours ago! Show some fucking responsibility."

Her green eyes fixed upon the girl. "As for you, young lady, we will be escorting you back to Ashen, now. Álarr, get your things."

Before the boy had a chance to lead her away, another woman stormed around the thorny bushes and directly up to them. Her energy took Pestilence by surprise, and she sunk low into a frightened crouch as the wolf reprimanded her friend. Her ears pinned back hard and she flinched at the venomous words spoken aloud - nobody had ever talked to a child like that in Ashen, she felt horribly for her friend. As the athletic woman's eyes pierced her, Pestilence scurried instinctively behind Alarr for protection. This woman looked like she might bite if tempted. "I'm sorry ma'am." Pestilence offered in Valdis' direction from below the yearlings stomach. "Please don't be mad at him, Alarr was just trying to help me." Her voice shook slightly, and as much as she tried to channel the strength and confidence learned from her Klein family it fell very very flat. "They're trying to, to--" Heck what was the word? "--In-doct-ricate me." That wasn't it, was it? Whatever. Pestilence continued on to try to let the woman see reason. "My dad was sacrificed to the volcano, and they're trying to make me believe in all this religious Abraxas crap!" Alright so it wasn't exactly truth, but the Klein princess was fine with lying for the sake of getting what she wanted. Perhaps if she could paint Ashen in a negative enough light, the woman wouldn't insist on taking her back home to them. It likely didn't help how her voice wavered on saying 'crap,' but she hoped it's usage would show how mature she truly was or at least bring the foul-mouthed wolf onto her side. "I'm not a baby anymore, I'll be a year in the fall. But by that time it might be too late! My head might already be corrupted!" "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Before Pestilence could even comment on his request Valdís suddenly burst onto the scene. Álarr immediately hunkered down, ears back as she yelled at him. Shit, he'd completely forgotten about training! Guilt and fear settled in his stomach as she berated him and he could only meekly respond as she ordered him to get his things. He quickly packed up the bracers he'd been working on, both Afi and Brynhildr were silent. Pesto scuttled behind him before addressing Valdís directly. Álarr waited with bated breath. Valdís was pretty level-headed for a Legion wolf but he'd rarely ever seen her this angry.

He listened intently as Pesto relayed her story and his jaw dropped in horror. Her dad was sacrificed? That was horrible! He couldn't imagine someone throwing Valentine in a volcano and he turned to Valdís, a pleading look in his eyes. He didn't know what the heck the Abraxas religion was about but he already didn't like it. He knew he should probably keep his mouth shut but Álarr wasn't the sort to abandon a friend in need.

He stood up as dominantly as he could, trying to project confidence as he addressed Valdís. "See! She can't go back to that, we have to help her!"

Valdís listened to the youths as they spoke, her tail twitching as she listened. She didn't feel that the girl was giving her the full truth but she wasn't terribly surprised that the Abraxas would chuck someone into a volcano. She'd been there when Archon… well when Hannival had challenged for a pack who's name she'd since forgotten. His crazy was on full display as was his cowardice so she didn't have much positive to say regarding the Abraxas or their religion. Chaos had said something rather poetic about Archon and his ilk, ah 'a pansy who got scabby little weasels to do his dirty work for him'. Poetry.

The question was whether or not Ashen would throw a little girl in a volcano. She'd met Deathbelle and the woman seemed far more reasonable than the nutcase at the challenge. She didn't know what they had to do with each other, she only hoped Archon hadn't gone and sown his bullshit into a pack, particularly one as populous as Ashen. That's all Boreas needed was an entire pack of self-righteous, religious fanatics.

She sighed heavily. "I've met the alphess of Ashen. I don't believe for a second she would allow a child to be thrown into a volcano. However, I was there to witness Archon's cowardly attempt at claiming a pack for himself by having Hannibal Klein do his dirty work. That man is full of nothing but bullshit and you are a wise child for not buying into his garbage. You are nearly a yearling and have resisted thus far and I believe you shall continue to do so."

She glanced between Álarr and Pestilence. "I will speak with the alphess of Ashen and with Chaos about arranging play dates for the pair of you so that this does not happen again. There are no wolves in Legion that believe the Abraxas are gods. Spending time with Álarr should give you a means to air your head of nonsense. Is that a suitable compromise to the two of you?" She could not guarantee that either would agree but even if they didn't she had a feeling that if these two were friends they'd likely find a way to see each other, adult permission or no and perhaps she could convince Álarr to meet near pack territories and not in the middle of fucking nowhere where a young pup like Pesto had no right to be.

It was heartwarming to see her friend sticking up for her towards the angry woman, and Pestilence felt badly to know his worries were based on a lie. Deathbelle would never throw her kids into a volcano, and in fact a good majority of the Ashen Empire was non-religious. She considered speaking up and admitting her lie, but the woman was speaking again and Pestilence clapped her jaws shut to listen. Valdis was calling her bluff and had met her mother, and the pup frowned from behind Alarr. "Just because she wouldn't throw me into a volcano doesn't mean it's a good home." She muttered softly. The woman's words came across just like every other adult, enough pandering to make a child feel good about themselves but with just the right amount of firmness coming through to let her know resistance was futile. She got to her feet from behind the yearling and shuffled around him to come out at his side where he stood confidently against Valdis. Her head lifted and she moved to attempt to rub her forehead against Alarr's cheek gently. "Thanks for trying." She whispered sadly, low enough that the woman might not hear. With all the sad defiance the pup could muster she padded her paws heavily towards the adult, ears pulled flat and unwilling to meet her gaze. Valdis was still speaking, and even the mention of a playdate wasn't enough to lift her spirits. How would that ever be a suitable compromise? Ten minutes ago Pesto thought that she'd be living with her friend, not seeing him on supervised visits once or twice a year. "Yeah, okay." She relented, though her tone of voice said that it was anything other then okay. "Which way is home?" Hopefully Valdis was prone to getting lost too, and would be simply unable to find Ashen's lands to return her. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."