My time in Spirane since my joining had only been brief but I had been working especially hard to get to know the terrain and build up my endurance once again. The constant uphill and downhill movement was straining at first but now, after only a few weeks, I had begun to find it easier, my breath no longer hitching or running short. I felt... good, healthy and my mind had been put somewhat at ease with this new found purpose. I had heard the issue of challenge for Alcide and though I had spent half the morning worried, I was positive he would return in good health. He was a good wolf - wise, strong, with surely more experience in the battlefield. I could only hope, for I knew not what I would do had he come back the conquered. Spirane had only just become my home and I was not prepared to lose that just yet, or ever for that matter.

I had spent the rest of my morning fretting over Alcide's return, tending to the borders near obsessively, bouncing through the snow to each vantage point and looking out for him. I had been only some minutes away when a strange call rung out - fear struck me, fear that my worst case scenario had come true. I paused, frozen on the spot as my ears swiveled towards the direction, eyes wide and panicked. It took me a while to finally swallow my nerves and begin onward, unsure as to what I was walking into - or bounding, at least, for I threw myself forward in a burst of speed, desperate to find out.

The first one I saw was a wolf I did not know but one who appeared reminiscent of Alcide himself. Along side him were another two, a child and a dark, bloodied female and leading them on was Alcide, bruised and bloodied. I moved from over the hill directly in front of them, my tail swooping low behind me and my ears pressing back submissively. He had won but I knew well that with victory came many sacrifices - I had only recently tended to Iblis who had been mauled so savagely by unknown wolves. I just hoped these two injured were not so severe for it had taken three of us to mend him well enough to survive. With that in mind, I shot forward, coming within ten feet before I realized what it was the strange male was doing - healing, his own rabbit skin of essentials. I paused, perking up and staring over at him as he began to tend to the female. No sooner did I bound over, flashing him a kindly smile and waving my tail slowly behind me. I had not met him but I was sure things would be fine. We were both healers, and healers were seldom cruel or selfish wolves.

"Would you mind if I helped? I can help with Alcide's wounds if you would like to care for this lady's."

I motioned to the dark female, bowing my head in a momentary greeting before flashing the small child a warm smile. What a brave boy to assist her.. I would need to tell him such a thing when we had the time. For now, we had to patch up the two and get them somewhere more suitable rather than the outskirts.

"I will congratulate you, Alcide, once you let me have a look at your leg, please."

It was hardly a question or suggestion - more of a demand as I moved along side him, trying to catch a proper glimpse of the wound as he moved. I frowned in frustration, sighing quietly to myself - men could be so stubborn. It was true that we needed to move away from the outskirts but he just had to stop for one moment to let me have a look, then I could at least work out the plan of attack.