Sands of time....(Kodi)

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Probably because you have you dork" Mirage said with soft teasing to her voice. A groan came from her maw as he began to lick her wounds it hurt like a son of a bitch. She hissed and tensened hopefully she wouldnt come down with cat scratch fever. She looked at him now he was talking about this Howl character again and that confused her even more. "Who is this Howl you keep talking about you were doing it while I was trying to wake you up as well" she said a frown on her maw as she looked at him with worried eyes maybe it was a close family member. "I think Im fine but I could be wrong I dont feel broke or anything however i am sore as ever like when I got attacked by that evil porcupine when I was a pup thats what I feel like" she said with a laugh remembering that day.

[<3Kodi]

Soul's eyes darkened and he paused in his wound-washing when the pup said he'd spoken about Howl. "I did?" he murmured, not looking at Mirage. Something about him seemed to withdraw, like a flower closing its bloom when night came. Soul touched his nose lightly to one of Mirage's shallower scratches before rasping his tongue over it to help fight off any potential infections. He was hesitant to tell her who Howl was but she had a certain right to know and...maybe it would help him too? Soul thumped his tail on the ground, wincing as the motion sent a sharp pain up his spine. Hopefully his tail wasn't broken.

"Howl was my brother. He disappeared when my pack was massacred." Soul turned his head to lick one of his shallower cuts, buying himself some time to pull his wits about him. Finally he laid his head on his paws and sighed tiredly. "I had run off after fighting with my dad. When I came back my pack was dead but Howl wasn't there. I buried them all and they're the reason I wouldn't go with you if you chose a pack. I can't...let myself have a pack again. It's like I'd be burying them again and I can't do that."

Soul turned away from Mirage, curling his tired legs up against his belly though weary of his cuts which had just stopped bleeding. The smell of wolf blood brought the images of that night swirling to the front of his mind but Soul shoved them back forcefully. He dealt with them in his dreams, he didn't need them during the day when his eyes were open.

"Always told my brother I'd take care of him and I didn't do it. Instead I snarled at him, told him to get lost and that's the last I saw of him. That was about five years ago this winter."

The massacre was the reason Soul fought alone, walked by himself without a true pack and why he was such a twitch sleeper. The mere season his pack had been massacred in was the root of his dislike of winter and the cold which he often complained about when the snows fell. Surely Mirage had noticed in the past winters that he got grumpier during the cold season.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Yea you did " She said looking at his wounds and licking the worse ones. Seeing him wince she raised an brow "um are you ok" she asked him curiously as he thumped his tail and winced which made her grin served him right for always trying to help her. when he began to spill his beans all she could was listen and not intently to him like she was understanding everything which she was he had had a hard life as well but hers wasnt as blood as his so she licked his muzzled with comforting affection. His spilling out his history made her smile h e cared for his brother for him to look so grim and finally she decided to speak. "I'm sure hes probably alive and still looking for you like you are doing for him" she said. She wasnt exaclt smart but it was nice to tel a wolf not to fret to much about things his brother was alive in some shape or form maybe he was somewhere in Soul so alive and free.

[<3Kodi]

Soul shrugged and bit his tongue to keep from yelping. Motion. Bad. Very bad. The big wolf heaved a sigh and looked around at the dead feline laying a few feet away. He knew he should probably get up and toss it in a ravine or something but strangely he just didn't care at the moment. Stupid cat, let it sit out and rot for all he cared. They'd be gone soon enough so they wouldn't smell it rotting away. Soul laid his head on his paws, stormy eyes staring at the cougar, probably a relative or something of the one that had scared Mirage witless as a pup. Soul probably should have known better then to just let it go knowing it was possibly still alive but, Soul had come to accept that he did a lot of things wrong.

"I think I might take you to the packs Mirage. Living like this isn't good for you, this afternoon proved I just made another mistake thinking I could raise a pup on my own and then expect you to know what to do or say to another wolf. You need to learn and I don't trust myself to teach you."

The male braced himself mentally for argument. He knew it was coming, Mirage never took things paws down. It was usually some sort of fight, the silent treatment or just plain disobedience. Soul had to admit when she'd been a pup Mirage's prissy attitude had been sort of cute, her disobedience endearing but now she needed to learn if she was going to survive and Soul wasn't sure he could teach her right. He didn't like the idea of being the bad guy but he had to be. Maybe that was why his dad had always been so unhappy with him? He'd been a rulebreaker, a rebel without a cause. Mirage wasn't quite that bad but Soul wasn't taking chances.

Soul turned his head away from Mirage, laying his ears flat against his head and waiting for her inevitable tantrum or argument about staying with him, a promise of disobedience or something of the sort.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

She listened to him and her heart dropped. Great he wanted to get rid of him he shouldnt have brought that up he knew it was gonna bring out an argument oh well his problem not hers. She flattened her hark immediatly and pulled herself to her paws "Im not going anywhere or to any pack to be thrown around like some dog" she said. She was a free soul she didnt want to be in a pack where there was rules and regulation she wanted to be freee and be able to do what she liked and have fun with Soul. She stalked away from him to lay under the shade tree licking her wounds and sporting an ego wound. Why would he want to get rid of her sure she was lacking soemthine but did he really want her gone that badly it pist her off and it made her growl to herself.

[<3Kodi]

"Mirage every wolf has a pack, a family. It's in our blood, it's something we all have" Soul barked, his patience thin. "You need to be with other wolves, not just me like some anti-social hermit. The remarks you made to Eveningstar could get you killed if she had been a lesser wolf. If you were not my charge and I were like I was, I would have killed you for such disrespects. You need to learn these kinds of things Mirage and obviously I can't teach you." Soul's words were sharp and cutting, no time to bother with wounded egos and gentle words. That wouldn't work. "Loners don't have packs because we had them once, don't need them now but we know how to act around them or at least most do. You can't treat other wolves like you do me Mirage, it just doesn't work like that."

Soul heaved himself to his paws, biting down a groan of pain as his muscles protested. Is very bones seemed to have gone soft and his joints were probably going on strike soon. Well too bad. No good lecture was given while lying on the ground like a kicked dog. Soul stared over at Mirage, his stormy eyes icy. Mirage had softened him over two years of being together, fought off his reserved nature but now it was starting to swing back in full.

As he studied his young charge, Soul couldn't help but be reminded of something his mother had once told him about, how humans used to let foals out to pasture until they were mature. When the foals were mature humans would use strange devices to make them obey but some foals rebelled more then others. She had said it was called "breaking" or something like that. He couldn't remember much of it. Mirage reminded him of that. She was so used to just Soul's word being law or a half law. She knew he wouldn't raise a paw against her if she misbehaved, he never had. Now that she needed to stop acting like a whelp and act like an adult however, it was like breaking a wild stallion to a bit and saddle.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Your my pack Im not living with anyone else" she said her own anger rising. "The remarks I made to Eve were what I was feeling not my fault you keep your thoughts bundled up and dont know how to express them" she said grouchily. "Well if you want me dead so much why didnt you let that cat do the job it would have made you job so much easier getting rid of me" she said. "I had a pack once do I look like I need anything else besides what I have with you I love being a lone hell this is the only thing I have known my whole like practically and now you trying to take me away from it and toss me aside like I was never here" she said. She stood now glaring at him sure she was the little lone filly not able to be broke you couldnt break a free spirit a horse was always wild and they could kill. Emotions were bubbling up in her mind she felt hate, anger and so much more and so she voiced her opinion that were fueled by her emotions "I hate you and all the packs around here I hate it" she said tears falling down her cheeks and she turned his back on him running off like the little whelp she was. She ran and ran and ran until she could run nomore she was to much of an emotional wreck. "Why doesnt he want me" she cried to herself laying down and letting her head rest on her paws maybe if she stayed here he would forget all about her but she would never forget him.

[<3Kodi]

Soul kept his eyes icy and his face blank, making it look like Mirage's remarks were simply bouncing off. In a way they were, his old mental shields coming up faster then he would have thought but still, they were necessity. He couldn't break and say he was sorry to Mirage. No. She needed to learn her own lessons, make mistakes like he had. If she didn't want a pack life, fine but Soul was done. His job was done. Mirage could hunt for herself, she knew how to find a den and hopefully knew which plants would make her sick. His part in her life was over. Mirage didn't need a parent anymore and she needed independence before she made him crazy. Soul bit his tongue to keep from calling Mirage back as she turned and ran.

When the pup was gone, Soul let his tired legs give out and fell on his side. Pain shot up and down his spine, down each leg and bounced around in his skull but he didn't do anything about it. Mirage needed to grow up. She would do it with or without him and from the looks of it, it would be easier if it was without him. Soul let his eyes droop. He could feel the fur on his belly getting warm again and knew he'd probably opened up the gashes again but he was too tired to care at the moment.

"Why did I get the stubborn one?" Soul muttered, flicking his eyes open and staring at the base of a tree as if expecting an answer. "What even started this argument? Eve? Probably but...she won't listen right now anyway so it doesn't matter."

Soul sighed and glanced down at the gashes on his belly only to find blood in the grass. Yep, he'd opened the wounds again. Perfect. Soul sighed and let his head fall back to the ground and his eyes slide closed. Just before darkness took him the white male caught a faint whiff of another wolf. Mirage? No...

The sun sank and dusk came fast finding the large black and gold form of Raja padding through the forest. The healer stopped as he came to a small clearing and to his surprise found a dead cougar and...what looked like a dead wolf. Raja's brow furrowed as he padded up to the wolf. Dipping his head he sniffed the wolf's head, poking his ears with his nose. The wolf didn't move.

"My my, what a mess" Raja murmured. "Well...I guess I could try a paw at this again..."

Taking a firm grip on Soul's scruff, Raja began to pull the white male toward a more protected spot only to freeze before taking a step. The bushes rattled. Had he just heard paws? Raja turned his head. The white wolf's head flopped slightly in Raja's hold.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Mirage had known he wanted her gone by the gleam in his eyes. Perhaps she could go back and apologize for the way she acted. He probably still wouldnt want her back he hated her more so. Sure she could hunt and find a den but could she really live without Soul. She didnt think she could she knew she was a pain and knew how much a hassles she could be and simple moaned in agitation could she actually change to where he wanted to keep her around or would he simple discard her like trash once more. She stood shaking out her peltage her eyes going wide another scent was on the wind she shouldnt have left Soul alone the way he was bleeding that was most dangerous and she took off like a bat out of hell praying that Soul was ok. Her paws traveled quickly and the scent grew more it was definatly wolf and all male. She growled low in her throat emerging from the trees hackles raised and teeth bared widening eyes at what she saw Soul in the jaws of the enemy "let him go" she snapped in a veral snarl brown eyes flashing anger and a silent warning. She may be just a young wolf but she didnt carry around a nasty bite with her.

[<3Kodi]

Smaller then a mountain lion but just as fierce was what came to mind as Raja saw the pup come running out of the foliage. Flicking his ears the big male lowered his head, resting Soul on the ground, pausing to sniff carefully at one Soul's ears, nudging his head lightly. Soul didn't move but Raja didn't expect him to. From the looks of the cougar corpse on the other side of the clearing they'd both gotten each other pretty well. Raising his head, Raja eyed the young femme. "Easy there pup, I put him down. I was going to treat his wounds." Raja kept his tail hanging low, his fur flat and his gaze innocent. From the gleam in the young wolf's eyes she meant business and even though he was probably twice her weight, Raja wasn't a fighter. Too much of a softie for such things.

Raja ran a practiced eye over Mirage and chuckled. "Looks like you could use a little help too hmm? Stop that snarling now, I don't bite, not my patients anyway."

Turning his head, Raja sniffed at a plant before plucking several leaves and chewing them for a moment. Padding to Soul's side, Raja sat back on his haunches, coolly ignoring the pup now. He was close to the wolf she was obviously protecting. She wouldn't pounce him for fear of missing and hitting the white brute. Of that, Raja was sure. Or at least fifty percent sure. Ok it was a bluff but...hopefully it worked. Raja spat the leaf mush onto one of the cuts on Soul's side and used his paw to press it over the wound and into the wound. Soul jerked sharply as the herb made contact with the open wound.

"Easy there" Raja murmured, touching his nose behind Soul's ear. Raja looked up to Mirage. "I take it you know him?" He flicked his tail at Soul.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Seeing the brute lower Soul she still growled he was still near him. She wasnt a happy camper either and felt like she could rip him wide open. She didnt need to let her ego get in the way it tended to do bad things. She lowered her lips and quieted as her eyes watched him carefully as he chewed up plants and watched as he placed it on his wounds. She was keeping a steady eye on him a like a hawk did with the rabbit of her choice. She sat down upon her hauches and spoke to him with an edge to her voice "good you better not hurt him or Ill hurt you " she snapped. I mean come on give it to the pup she had spunk and was protecting someone that had to be mature right? After she figured the wolf wasnt going to hurt him she relaxed even more "yea I know him " was all she said she was more worried with what he was up to it made her uneasy she had never in her 2 years seen a wolf like this who could heal others and it was cool to her but she kep her eyes focused on the wolf before her was he dangerous that plant could be dangerous yet he stuck it in his mouth so that was out of question and she settled in for a sigh least the brute showed up.

[<3Kodi]

Raja nodded, plucking a few more leaves off the plant and chewing them. Going back to Soul's side Raja spat the herbs into the remaining cuts, using his paw to carefully press it down. Under his care, Soul jerked again, more instinct then wakefulness though Raja was weary to keep an eye on Soul's eyes. If the white brute woke up, Raja was sure he'd have fangs at his throat and they wouldn't be Mirage's. Heading to the plant again, Raja grabbed more leaves and laid down facing Soul's belly to tend the gashes on his underbelly. With these, Raja was more careful seeing as they were deeper and more temperamental, the skin around them a little warm for his liking as he probed gently. Raising his head, Raja pulled a leaf from a different plant and chewed it before pressing it around the belly wounds.

Sitting up, Raja looked over at Mirage. He nodded in approval. "Good, wolves shouldn't be alone. I don't care what anyone says. Not natural." Raja chuckled and settled himself on his haunches, keeping an eye on Soul. "He should be alright but those stomach wounds concern me. Now, what about you." Raja ran a critical eye over the younger wolf. "Will you let me take a look at your wounds or are you the 'I'm fine' type?"

How many wolves had Raja wrestled to the ground to just examine their injuries? Ten? Twenty? He'd lost count but that had been a long time ago. Raja didn't do a lot of healing anymore, just simple stuff like disinfecting cuts and whatnot. He wished for feverfew but knew he wouldn't find any without leaving the white wolf and if he did Raja was sure something would go wrong. Something always did. Not only that but if the younger wolf needed some care, he could at least see to her before worrying about other little things.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Tell that to his stubborn ass" she said with a growl. She was still mad at him for earlier but not that bad. "Yea the stomach wound is a problem its dead and it bleeds the most we should be concerned about infection then" she said softly thinking about if Soul got an infection he would probably die. She stood up when he spoke to her getting up her injuries werent that bad just a small gash on her shoulder. It had grown numb between the giant adrenaline rush and all the excitement. She came closer to him "sure take alook their not as bad as his but they are ok" she said. She winced slightly now the feeling was coming back with each step she took. She was atleast cooperating that wasnt normal maybe she was taking Souls advice to be nice to other wolves. It seemed she only had problems with female wolves male wolves werent that bad.

[<3Kodi]

It was always a pleasant surprise for a healer, or former healer as Raja called himself, to find a willing patient that wouldn't make a fuss out of being tended to. Really it was ridiculous. Rising to his paws the big wolf stepped around Soul and leaned forward. Using his nose to brush through Mirage's sandy brown fur the male sought out the few hurts the fae was sporting. She was right, they weren't horrible, not life threatening in any case. Leaving Mirage, Raja padded to the plants and sifted through various plants that most would mistake for weeds or just useless foliage to feed rabbits or even horses. To Raja the plans were lifesavers, valuable tools.

Chewing a mix of leaves, Raja padded back to Mirage and spat the mix onto a larger fern leaf before using his paw to smear it over the wound on her shoulder to chase off infections and help numb the pain. Satisfied with his work, Raja glanced back over at Soul and poked the wolf experimentally. Soul groaned and his stormy eyes flickered open.

"Back from the dead?" Raja barked lightly.

Soul's eyes snapped open, pupils slightly unfocused as he sat bolt upright and let out a feral snarl, snapping his jaws at Raja. Raja recoiled, Soul's fangs brushing his muzzle. "Easy!" Raja barked, springing away from Soul. "I come in peace. My name is Raja." Raja causually sidled over to stand behind Mirage, just in case.

Soul blinked, trying to focus. "Raja? Raja!" His eyes widened and seemed to clear a little. "Mirage?" He caught sight of the pup and looked confused. "What...what's gong on? What's he doing here?" Soul jerked his muzzle at Raja.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Mirage let the unknown male work on her woinds wincing slightly at the burning sensation of the plant and then the sheer numbness of the working medicine. She lifted her harks as her she heard movement in Souls direction and the spoke words of Raja. Like she figured Soul lunged like a mad cougar same as she did. He was like a wounded drug crazed animal which you should never touch afraid they could very well rip your throat out. She tensed slightly as it came close to snapping Rajas muzzle. Jeez Soul was grumpy talk about manners dont even give the wolf a chance to speak talking about her manners she rolled her eyes watching as the other wolf hid behind her. Wow he was a sissy she thought silently and then smirked coming foreward. "Im here Soul " Mirage said coming to stand beside him licking his muzzle in a comforting manner. "He showed up looked like he was gonna tear your throat out but I gave him time to speak and then he doctored you up so I suggest you calm down before you rip another wound open" she said softly. Her eyes were watching him like a hawk "so I suggest you thank him " she said saying thanks like to show him how to she could be mature in her own way.