A Hideaway

[2leez]

Echo looked at the herbs distrustfully. She shrunk back slightly, trying to keep her legs from shaking. But... something about this very strange wolf's presence calmed her a bit. She was silent for a while, tuning out the other wolves. However, it was nice to hear one of the males speak in her defense. Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone, she was terrified, alone, and lost.

Before giving Shanook (odd name) a response, she narrowed her eyes, shoulders relaxing slightly. "...Why are you helping me? Why aren't you trying to kill me? You're outsiders, you outnumber me, and I could... probably be good food...." She mumbled the last part, hoping that 'Bayla' wolf wouldn't take her up on the offer.

"...Echo." said Echo.

[Centeris2]

They all stared at her in shock, appalled at the idea she suggested. But they relaxed from their defensive positions.

"That's what you think outsiders, wolves not of your pack, do?" Andra grimaced, "eesh, I thought we were being sent to a nice world this time, not a cannibalistic one, if wolves here really do that..."

"We have no intention of eating or hurting you, we only attack to defend ourselves. We've seen enough war to know it is better to avoid it," Nye muttered the last part, they'd all lost their packs and good friends.

"We're trying to help you and be nice because we're nice, peace and cooperation is better for everyone, and means more friends!" Bayla bounced.

"I could use some food though, we should hunt soon," Beno admitted and got a grin from Bayla, pointing to the bags with a "we got some with us!"

When Echo introduced herself they gave their names in return.

[Ren]

Shanook wasn't entirely surprised by Echo's answer considering how antsy she had been about defending herself and her honor. It seemed she came from a pack that revolved around dominance.

He let the others speak first, noting their responses all entirely reflected their personalities - they truly didn't hide anything about how their minds worked.

At Bayla's comment about food he nodded, and lifted the satchels over.

"We found a barrel of salted meat. You'll want to run it in a creek first, to dilute the salt, else you'll regret it, but it's an easy meal in a pinch when we weren't sure of the hunting prospects."

He looked back at Echo.

"It's nice to meet you, Echo," he said with a nod. "As you can tell, we have no interest in hurting you. But we also don't know if we can trust you, given your history and approach to us. We can help you get back to your pack, if you like."

[2leez]

Echo watched with perked ears, listening intently to the gathered wolves. They were very, very odd, but... somehow still friendly? Even Bayla seemed to warm up to her again rather quickly. Maybe a sign of instability. She still didn't trust that one.... "More friends...?" she muttered.

"Oh, no! We don't eat wolves! That would be madness! Gods no!" She nearly giggled at the ridiculous thought. "But I was raised in a pack that teaches warnings about outsiders and how they eat pups that disobey....

"There's plenty to hunt," she continued, standing a little taller with a small smile, "if you can take on deer the size of human dens! One almost stepped on my tail! That's when I woke up lost...." She shut her mouth quickly, regretting revealing her current disorientation. That was another weakness they had advantage over. Still... they seemed true to their words- they were oddly peaceful.... It was actually a nice change.

She put a paw in the herbs, rubbed it into her pads, and then into the wound on her shoulder. It wasn't deep and didn't really sting. That was a good sign.

Her light eyes looked hesitantly at the meat in the satchel. Probably their best bet for food at the moment. Shanook's last words gave her pause. "...N-no, that's okay.... Um... could... I ask...?" she started to shrink again, losing her voice. If only someone had said something to her she could remember!

[Centeris2]

Beno and Andra glanced at each other, most familiar with this area out of the group, and then looked around, remembering where the little creeks and shallow rivers were.

"Oh I woke up in a trap!" Bayla added her story and then looked at her injured leg, "it hurt."

"Don't suppose there is a rope in one of the bags, tripping might be the safest way to bring down one of those things," Nye asked Shanook, looking at the size of the prey. If they could even be called prey at this point. Hooves were dangerous on normal sized animals, and Nye was trying to figure out how to get one of those things down without getting severely injured or even losing someone. Bayla was out of hunting for the next few days until she healed but if necessary could but used to scare the prey into scattering. Shanook needed to tend to his creaking metal but would probably be able to help. Echo... small and young but she might be willing to help, especially if it got them food. Nye, Beno, and Andra were all healthy and could hunt but he wasn't sure he wanted to try hunting megafauna with only three wolves. And he wanted a quick hunt, not a multiple day chase until the animal collapsed in exhaustion. Looking at Beno and Andra he could tell they were also thinking critically. Andra's thoughts were, like her, direct and figuring out how three wolves could get close enough to damage the tendons and make a target lame. Beno was trying to think of an area where they could trap prey and, ideally, get on the back of one and bite through the spinal cord. Bayla, inspired by her memory of being in a human trap, was trying to figure out how they could make traps of their own large enough to ensnare one of those massive deer.

But they said nothing of their thoughts, giving Echo quiet to think and speak.

[Ren]

Echo seemed to have forgotten what she wanted to ask. He smiled.

"When you think of what you want, let us know. We'll do what we can."

Shanook turned to Nye with a shake of his head.

"No rope, sorry. But..." he trailed off, thinking. "If we could just damage one enough, for it to bleed out... Get a wolf high enough to hit the jugular? Nice and traditional."

He looked to between them for input.

[2leez]

"I...." Echo was afraid. She was scared of what her pack would think, scared of these strange wolves, scared of the giant deer. She worried for her packmates and especially for Iccy, wondering where he was, if he was hurt, if he was lost like she was. But she was on her own, now. This was not the time to lose her voice. There was no one to speak for her. She had to suck it up and do this all on her own. The young wolf took a deep breath, steeled herself, and barked, "IWANNACOMEWITHYOU!" before bowing her head and avoiding eye contact with everyone gathered.

[Centeris2]

"Traditional works best, though may need a bit of tweaking," Nye thought as he studied the size of the prey.

They looked at Echo when she made her hasty and loud request.

"FRIEND!" Bayla grinned, making Beno chuckle.

"You are more than welcome to, another wolf will no doubt be helpful hunting such big game," Nye said with a smile before turning to Andra.

"I'll get an ankle, bring it down so it's easier to get on," Andra said before Nye could ask.

"Just be careful, you can only dodge what you see. Guess it's time to split up then," Nye looked at Bayla and Shanook first.

"I'll take Shanook to the den!" Bayla remembered her orders, "Let us know when you guys get food!"

"Echo, would you rather help hunt or go with Bayla and Shanook?" Nye asked, wondering if she wanted to stick with Shanook since she seemed more attached to him.

[Ren]

Shanook let them discuss strategy, and stood when Bayla mentioned the den, anxious to take care of his leg. He slung the satchels over his back again and looked to Echo, waiting on her decision.

[2leez]

Echo was still a bit twitchy. She looked down at her trembling paws and decided it would be a better idea not to join them in their hunt. After all, she didn't know how these wolves operated in attacks, and being relatively new to hunting herself, she would probably just get in the way. However.... She looked again to Bayla and Shanook. Bayla was like a three month old pup. How did one operate in such extremes?! First friend, then enemy, then friend again? But Shanook, the older wolf, seemed kind and understanding. But Nye was so pretty.... Another reason not to hunt with them. She'd be distracted.

She turned clear blue eyes back to Shanook with a pleading, soft smile. "Go with Bayla and Shanook," she said with Nye's voice out of habit.

[Centeris2]

"Alright, we'll call you guys when we got dinner ready," Nye said, giving a final nod and the trio trotted away, Andra casting a look back.

"Alrighty! Off to the den!" Bayla bounced off in the direction that Beno and Andra had come from, not sure where the den actually was. But fresh scents and visual directions was enough to figure out where it was.

"So, Echo, why didn't you want to head back to your home? We know where it is, we could have given you directions or even escorted you back," she followed her curiosity but was polite enough to not ask why Echo attacked them without provocation. But be friendly, don't give this wolf any reason to start a war, and move the pups as soon as possible when they could be sure no one was following. Echo didn't make any sense in Bayla's mind, attacking wolves that had only been friendly and immediately wanting to stay with them when she couldn't hurt them. Didn't seem like a good way to make friends and an excellent way to start wars.

[Ren]

Shanook gave Echo a reassuring smile, and stood. He packed the remaining herbs back in the satchels, and fell into step beside Bayla. He let Bayla do the talking, content to listen and only contribute if he had something worthwhile to say.

Once they were outside the den, he dropped the satchels and pulled out the oil, lying down and holding the jar in his forepaws and managing to get the lid off with his teeth. Finally, he could be rid of the squeaking from his mechanicals. He started by dripping the oil onto his foreleg, working the oil in by flexing the limb and letting the oil work its way between the metal joints. Slowly the metal became coated, and the squeaking was gone. For now, at least. He repeated the process with his tail, finding the angle more awkward but making do. He still wanted to remove the rust, but he had yet to see any citrus fruits around - and the tundra was the least likely place to find those plants.

When done, he packed away the oil again for another day.