Eyes whipped open to a booming clap in the distance. Rain beat down upon the ground and wind howled. He was suddenly aware of what was happening. Storm. A bad one. Then he realized that Aurora was not by his side. He leapt to his feet. Water was pouring in the mouth of the den. The area was flooding, the banks of the rapids had burst. He needed to get out. Fast. More thunder boomed and lighting crackled and struck the ground. This was the worst storm he had ever seen hit the lands. In a sudden gust of very strong wind, the log thAt had acted as a sort of support was creaking and breaking. The wind and rain churning up the dirt that concealed it. He scrambled to the exit. He was just about out, the Wind was so strong. It buffeted him around, he struggled to keep on his feet. Rain made it hard to see he placed foot in front of the other, trying to get away. Just as he emerged from the den, he heard a sickening crack. Splintering wood. A tree. Coming down. It was going to hit him. He stepped back a little in the time he had. Not far enough. It connected with him. It landed on his left leg. A crunch met his ears. Fuck, oh God, it hurts he howled in pain. But it was almost definitely carried away by the Wind. He tugged a little, hoping to free himself. But it felt like someone was pressing into his paw and foreleg with a branding iron. The pain nearly overwhelmed him. He was stuck. Stuck. shit was all he could think. He was stuck here, in the midst of a thunder storm, with lightning hitting far too close for comfort, water rising. Not good not good at all. He howled again. Louder. Desperate for help. God he might not ever see his kids. He pushed the thought out of his head. He had to be optimistic. The pain was the worst in his left paw. He shut his eyes and prayed. HELP! Someone! he yelled. Eyes now open. A thin trail of blood began to seep out from under the fallen tree, mixing with the slowly rising waters. Bloody great he cursed. He tried to push the tree, but he couldn't get close enough without experiencing extreme pain. He was beginning to panic a little. He needed someone to help him. Desperately.

""

Pitter. Patter patter. Patter pit. Patter. Drop after drop of rain slashed onto the stone floor of Sage's den. It disturbed the boy's sleep, creeping into his dreams. The boy wriggled then jerked awake. His chest heaved up and down rapidly and his bi-coloured eyes darted around the den. He had dreamed of home, by the sea. The tide came in, but Sage was stuck in the rocks, unable to move. The salty water had pulled him down into the depths below, until he couldn't breath... Once the boy calmed down he looked outside. A terrible storm was raging. Luckily, his den was high up above the flooding waters above. A flash of lightning struxk through the sky, illuminating the dark clouds. Through the small flash of light, Sage saw a tree crashing down in the distance. He shook his hea. This was a terrible storm to take down such a mighty tree as that. It wasn't long after the tree fell that a piercing howl met the boy's ears. Whoever had called sounded in extreme pain. The boy jumped to his feet, sparing no second thought for danger. He grabbed a few pain-numbing herbs and ran out of his den. The boy was drenched in water barely a minute fter leaving his den. The current was strong below but Sage managed to avoid going down the hillside too far. Another howl pierced the air in front of hime. Sage quickened his pace and before long saw the tree. Unferneath it was an alabaster wolf with ebony socks. He barked swiftly to the man. One of his legs was trapped. How was Sage going to get him out of this? The boy layed the herbs down beside the man's head. Eat them. They help with pain The man didn't know the boy, but hoped he would trust him. Sage looked at the man's leg underneath the tree. It was obviously broken, but not too badly it seems. The tree was great, but it was worth trying to move it. The boy took a few steps back and charged forward at the tree. He made contact with his shoulder the tree moved few inches. Sage looked to the man to see if he taken the herbs. Sage could see the floods rising slowly. They didn't have much time. "Speech,"

The man practically sighed in relief when he saw the boy bounding down the hill. a bundle of herbs were laid by him. eat these. they help with pain. he obliged. He wasn't going to deny help. He picked them up in his jaws and began to chew. That had a horrid gravely texture. He chocked them down and almost instantly the pain faded. He could feel anything. He was completely numb. It was a horrid sensation. The boy moved back and slammed into the tree. Shifting it a few inches. He winced, not in pain. Purely because he was thinking about the broken leg under the tree. He glanced at the boy. lokking to see if je would attempt thw same thing again. He wanted to see the state his leg was in. Hopefully it wasn't damaged too badly. But judging by the immense pain he had been in earlier and the small amount of blood running from under the tree, that he hadn't been so lucky.

""

Permission to pp given by Arwen

Sage watched as the man devoured the bitter herbs, his face contorting at their gritty texture. The relief was obvious as the male's body relaxed. Sage didn't hesitate and longer. He took two steps backwards then charged himself towards the tree trunk. The tree rolled down the opposite slope, only to be swept away by the surging waters below. What was left of the man's lev wasn't pretty. The stub of foot had been crushed by the tree, contorting the foot. Two toes were missing. The brute was lucky he couldn't feel it. Sage looked to the man and then his foot. Sage realized suddenly that the gnarled limb would have to come off. Sage shuddered at the thought of biting the man's foot off. It would have to be done. Sage grabbed a clump of Dock and Sage that grew where the trees roots were. With a quick glance at the man he bared his teeth and lowered his jaw. With a quick bite he severed halfway up his limb. Without deley, Sage had slapped on the Sage and Bound the whole thing in dock leaves tightly. The man was safe from infection now. Sage didn't meet the man's gaze when he said We'll need to shelter under that shrub for now "Speech,"

The man sighed with relief as the log rolled down the hill. His relief was short lived when he saw what was the horrid gnarled stump of his paw. He gulped, that would not heal right. Jut as the man moved Magnus knew what was coming, he braced himself for the bite that would not hurt but certainly would in the future when the numbing herbs wore off. He brought his jaws around his pastern and bit. Severing the limb. He winced and looked away, it brought a smile to his lips though when he thought of what his wife would say. The man hurried to bind the wound with what Magnus recognised as Sage and Dock. The wound was concealed in a very short time, the boy worked nimbly with skill that was rather surprising for such a young man. We'll need to shelter under that shrub for now Magnus nodded, "Yes, thank you mister, I owe you my life. May I use you for support, I doubt I will be able to walk properly." he glanced to the boy, to see if he would let him.


"Jibber Jabber"