Slowly, I was gaining purpose once more. I had yet to fully repay Yojimbo for his words and I find myself questioning, often, if such words had a tangible price. He had encouraged me to be a fighter and I had taken such words to heart; for starters, I had climbed the steeps of Spirane to be welcomed into their ranks, ready to once more live the life of a pack. I would hunt along side them, I would heal them and tend to them... I would have purpose. But there was more to it than that. I need more than just the comfort of a pack. I had never been more content than I had been when I had helped those that could not help themselves; it is why I had taken in the children of Jaylah. She needed me even if she never did truly like me - that was my real purpose. That's who I truly was.

Winter has befallen us all once more and it it easy for me to assume that it is then that many will need my help the most. It is a time of starvation, of tussles and mothers unable to feed the life within them. I have been there enough times to know that is an awful predicament and one that often needs another to help with. I search actively for them, those that need me though they do not know that it is I they need. And soon enough I find them in the stones of Susil Crags.

The air is thick with the scent of stagnant blood and the more I travel, the more I am inclined to find the stain of red sprayed across the snow. It is of wolf, that much I can tell, and I follow it slowly, checking each and every corner tentatively. I am no fool and I know of the wolves that hunt others - that is how dearest Juno had been injured, and how her beloved child had been taken from her. I would not allow such a fate to befall me or whatever wolf it was that I was following the blood of. I am determined though my heart fluttered nervously. Then I hear them - or him, at least, his voice echoing out of the cave. For a moment, I stiffen, sniffing wearily and listening in to what it is that is happening. The one who is injured has many, or some at least, but an extra paw to help never does harm.

I enter the cave tentatively, small steps as I call out with a singular yip. Once I am sure they know I am there, I enter more confidently, swallowing my nerves as I watch the scene before me. There are two males, young but large, perched over another that bleeds freely. A female is nearby, wagging her tail away and yet she seems as if she is comfortable there. I am not sure how to take such a scene even if I have heard one of the males speak from outside - it is the injured I am drawn to. It takes me but a moment to recognise him through the congealed blood and matted pelt. He is a face I remember well for he is a face I imagined dead. Iblis. The wolf I had met so joyously upon the beaches of Litherum. I cannot help but stare in awe, so dumbfounded.

Why must they all fall like flies? My son, Kavik and now Iblis... why?

"Iblis!"

I call out to him, my chest aflutter as I lope forward with little regard to the others. I stand closest to the male, certain that he is at least somewhat competent at what he is attempting to do. I am completely fixated upon he and Iblis then, my ears pushed back as I quickly assess the wounds. There is so much damage, so much blood. Iblis is no large wolf and his fur is visibly thin. If he is to survive, there can be no mistakes.

"You - please. Hold him down."

I direct the question to Chryosynthe though I do not know his name - for once, I am authoritative, my words brisk and loud before I turn my attention to the girl.

"And you, please, keep him warm. Stay away from his wounds lest you can clean them but he must be kept warm."

Now it is my time to shine alongside the male who had pointed out the younger girl's mistake. I swallow hard, my mind racing as I look between the young male and the wounds. I can only hope that the other can hold Iblis down safely as I shift to the opposite side of Mastodon, lowering my muzzle closer to Iblis' ear.

"Iblis - it's Niviaq. Do you remember? Litherum. I remember you, but now I must help you. Please, forgive me."

With that, I place my paw gently atop his skull, placing just enough weight on it so that I may keep him from mauling me. It is then that I begin to lap at his wounds, watching as they reveal themselves more clearly. It will take time but I am sure it is doable - we can stop the bleeding, and we can at least have him stable. Perhaps he will be restricted to this cave but.. I am fine with that. I will hunt for him if I must. I simply will not allow another piece of my past to die.