A Shifters Tale. ''Healer of the Wolf'' (Closed for Mairu)

[Wolfias]

A Shifters Tale. ''Healer of the Wolf'' (Closed)

Arnan the second born son of Arnaud and Narissa Trueblade Alpha's of the Wolflands, largest of the northern Packs that ruled by intimidating force. Bound hand and foot brutally forced into a kneeling position by his sneering elder brother Ardis, who had over eagerly beaten him. The Elder of Law a gnarled old shifter that no one knew his true age as none was yet to out live him. ''Arnan TrueBlade second born of Alpha Arnaud and Narissa Trueblade, younger brother of Ardis the first born. You are accused of disobeying a direct order of your Alpha to kill any and all Leopard kind.''

Arnan lifts his head proudly despite the backhand that split the corner of his mouth, his response was loud and clear. ''Aye, I am second born of Arnaud Trueblade. I disobeyed that direct order to murder a starving child!'' This time when Ardis went to strike Arnan, he quickly drives his bound hands powerfully up between Ardis's legs. The blow is hard enough that Ardis could only gasp, felled like a woodsman fells a large tree. Standing up slowly with his ankles bound his balance a bit iffy he shouts. ''I have lied for ten seasons, no longer will I keep this secret. Mortal enemy or not, I shall never murder an innocent child!''

The Pack Council turned into absolute bedlam at this statement from a Pack member, the fact it came from Arnaud's own son was even worse. In a rage Alpha Arnaud stands and lets out a thunderous roar. ''SILENCE! Arnan you have brought shame upon the Trueblade family name, yours and all Packs. I hereby strip you of the name Trueblade to banish you from all Pack territories on the penalty of death!''

The great gathering of packs form a gauntlet the dishonored was Arnan was striped of his clothes, only to be stuck in the face by his Father slapped and spat upon by his Mother. Beaten in as many ways as could be imagined the adult shifter dizzy with punishment is through the gauntlet. Only to be chased and harried by the teen shifters in wolf form into the forest untill he lost them. Staggering through the forest as the sun had set it was black as pitch, he trips and falls into a shallow ravine to strike his head knocked unconscious.

 

[Mairu]

Krystal, the elf and snow leopard hybrid of the forest she lived in had lived in peace for a long time now. It was a lonely life but a very peaceful one that she lived even though she shared the forest with a wolf pack, mortal enemies of snow leopards. Actually she had heard that there was a disturbance in the pack about not killing a leopard. How terrible. Wolves were not the kindest creatures, unwilling to forgive and forget, selfish and terrible creatures, even if one had ignored her all those years ago, not even remembering the face of the person. That's how Krystal felt as she walked the forest in her green dress that came to her knees. She had used her magic to create it using some of the leaves and stuff in the forest. She was now gathering food, (not meat since she got that in her snow leopard form) but fruits and vegetables. She sighed as she had been alone for as long as she remembered. The name Krystal even something she had just heard in her head, as she had been abandoned as a child for no apparent reason. Though now as she was older she realized maybe it was because she was a hybrid. Hybrids were something to be ashamed of, and there was also the fact that her whole body was made of markings, especially in the middle of her forehead where a moon with what looked like waves of water on either side encased in a circle that connected to the other markings. She was definitely a freak. Krystal didn't care though, as she gathered up the food, wandering around the forest. She was at home even if she was alone.

Krystal had just finished as she sniffed and growled. Damn those wolf shifters, they entered her territory! She then raced over and her eyes glowing with anger she stood in front of the teen shifters, who probably knew about her. She was known as the elf woman and all wolves respected them. "Get the hell out of my territory. NOW!" The trees started bending and the wolves fled and immediately Krystal calmed down, wondering what that had been about, since they had been reluctant to leave. Krystal then sniffed. An older one was still here? What the hell! This was her damned territory! Damned wolves. After putting the food in her tree house Krystal turned to her snow leopard form and followed the scent of the wolf to the ravine. Once there she grimaced, he looked so beat up it was horrible to look at, because she felt so bad for him. Being the usually kind soul that she was she got him onto her back and got him back to the tree house and into it before shifting back to human. With her vast knowledge of herbal medicines and stuff she was able to dress his wounds and put some things on that would help him. She knew he would still be sore when he woke up though. Krystal then yawned and layed down, falling asleep.

In the morning she woke up and still seeing that the werewolf was asleep she fixed her breakfast of berries and got some for him and waited for him to wake up while eating the berries, wondering why he was so beat up and why the teens had wanted to chase after him so much.

 

[Wolfias]

Arnan didn't hear or feel anything for quite a long time, laying face down in the dirt arms and legs sprawled awkwardly. Unconsciously groaning out in pain as the lateral motion transfers to the vertical, as he's dragged up into a tree? Coming to only momentarily, but just long enough to see an extremely blurry image of the forest floor dropping away. When he was hauled over the edge of the treehouse platform, the pain was so extreme he growls falling into unconsciousness once again.

Going completely limp he's just dead weight for whatever it was that was physically dragging him by the collar. Something that really burns his nose to the point bringing him awake, he squints just barely able to see a blurry female form. Attempting to sit up the wave of agony made him dizzy forcing him to just give up, so he very slowly lay back down and stayed put.

''W-who are y-you...where a-am I?''

 

[Mairu]

Krystal ate her berries and watched the wolf guy until he woke rushing to gently put him back down once he tried to sit up, even though clearly it wasn't needed since he went back down on his own. Men men men. He then asked who she was and where he was and she sighed. "I'm Krystal and right now you are in my tree house. Wolf shifter. I should be the one asking you questions mister, you and other wolf shifters invaded my territory. You might have heard stories about me, I'm the elf woman that the older ones seem to respect, even though I may be younger I am very powerful. None of that matters though, I am not here to question you, only to help you for now." Krystal made sure he stayed laying down as she got some of her water in a bowl and added some very ground up medicinal herbs to the water and mixed it before bring it over to him and putting it to his lips. "Here, it's magical water and I added some herbs. It should lessen the pain and heal some of the lighter bruises. Though there aren't many light ones. What even happened to you?" Krystal mostly asked the last part to herself as she sat there, curious why he was so beaten up. She could save the questions for later though, at least she knew he was sort of okay, he wasn't in a coma or anything. That was all she needed to know for now and she had given him some nutrition. Now it looked like he might need more rest soon. "Well anyway you can answer my questions later if you want, but you are suspicious, coming into my territory, the teen ones even reluctant to leave. You must be a very very big enemy, though you are a wolf shifter yourself. How odd." Krystal narrowed her eyes, very suspicious of this male, but for now but a berry to his lips. "Eat, you need something to eat after all that beating. It will help if you get more strength and nutrition in you and I can't very well have you starving on me before I learn why you were chased." Krystal smiled and then looked at him again as she held the berry, he actually seemed older than her. Well she would learn why he was here, even if it took some time.

 

[Wolfias]

Arnan tried focusing on the female replies to his question frowning as he was questioned, but it was understandable being a Wolf shifter. As Krystal told him that he's in the tree house of the the Elf woman, he manages a sigh of relief upon hearing this bit of good news. Sipping whatever she was attempting to give him, he made a awful face at the bitter taste of the medicine. The searing pain from many lacerations as he made a face, warns him not to do it again. "I was banished for refusing to kill a innocent shifter." The other questions Krystal had asked earlier could wait, but this was one that must be answered, hopefully it would ease her suspicion and assure himself of continued healing. Slowly opening his mouth to avoid as much pain as possible having split swollen lips, accepting the berry very gently without biting her fingers. The magic water began to ease Arnan's pain his vision slowly comes into focus, just in time to see the beautiful healer smiling down at him all he could do was stare in awe. "I was banished for refusing to kill a innocent shifter." The other questions Krystal had asked earlier could wait, but this was one that must be answered to assure himself of continued healing.

 

[Mairu]

Krystal's eyes widened at his answer and almost dropped the berry but blinked, coming back when he said it again after he ate the berry. "I see. Well you are welcome here anyway. I'm curious though, why save an innocent shifter? If I'm guessing it was a snow leopard one, which they want to kill all snow leopards. Why didn't you do as you were asked?" Krystal was by no means angered that he didn't kill, actually it was a good quality to have a good enough heart not to kill a child, and if she was right.... that child...... Krystal touched the blue girl marking at her neck. It was a girl with wings wrapped around her, holding her legs to herself, the eyes closed. It had only came to be after he had saved her. The only one but still it was weird. Anyway, she didn't want to know because she thought he should have killed the shifter, she wanted to know because the wolves always followed the leader, sure he was the son of the alpha, but disobeying one? Never heard of. You know why? Because alpha's were blessed, usually by an elf and they had the power to make the others obey, even if they had a good heart. So how was this guy so strong as to overcome it? How odd. To Kyrstal's knowledge this had only happened once before, and that was when a dire wolf lashed out and wouldn't obey the alpha cause he was too far gone. Oh well no use pondering over it, she just hoped that even though she had an enemy, the wolves would stay in there territory. Or there would be hell to pay. She had other forest creatures on her side, one was slithering close to the house right now, wondering why the hell she had a wolf shifter. She spoke to the tree snake while handing another berry to the wolf shifter, deep in thought. She also told the snake not to come, he might scare the daylights out of the wolf shifter, snakes weren't usually the kindest to wolves. This tree snake though wouldn't harm anyone unless Krystal wanted her to. Yes the snake was a she. Still, it would be good to have the snake close, if the wolf turned on her. He wouldn't find out what kind of hybrid she was unless he caught her when she went to get meat, and she had enough for awhile right now anyway. Hopefully when he got well he would leave, but there was always the chance he would want to stick around, and Krystal had a big heart. Which often got her into trouble, especially with the pixies, mischievous little things. They came around her often, only to cause trouble though. Well that was the life of a hybrid. Krystal was all the time putting berries up to the wolf shifters mouth, deep in thought about all this.

 

[Wolfias]

Arnan sadly notices the shocked expression on the beautiful Healers elvish face as she almost drops the berry she's feeding him. Krystal recovers quickly continuing to speak to him saying he's welcome, then more questions. She was as curious as a cat, elvish ears or not. He was musing to himself a moment before answering her question. "Despite the stories about the Trueblood Pack and other Packs, Alpha's can't magically force their Pack to obey them. We have free will to obey or disobey, Alpha's come to be by sheer force of will, strength, fighting ability, intelligence and leadership. Most fall in line out of loyalty, respect, or fear. I was loyal out of respect for my Father. I lost all of that for him the moment he ordered that the child be murdered. She was only in Trueblood territory hunting because she was starving to death. I purposely fired my arrow to barely miss without injuring the poor innocent girl. Arnan grew winded quickly still weak as his exhaustion would take awhile to recover from. Blinking slowly as his slight hunger was satiated as the touch the lovely Lady of slumber came to caress the shifter. "I must sleep." He mutters softly drifting off, soon he's faintly snoring with his hand laying limp palm up on Krystal's lap. A elvish mark forms in the middle of Arnan's palm, two red elfish symbols of a feline the other of a wolf were combined into one symbol.

 

[Mairu]

Krystal listened to the werewolf's views and chuckled. Oh maybe for him that's all it was, please. She knew because she was a freaking elf. Maybe only half but she still knew the traditions! Unless the Trueblood pack's leader hadn't taken the blessing, or it hadn't worked on him, which was very possible being as he wasn't very honorable, it was just this guy's ego thinking it was loyalty and fear. It was much more then that. Though she could see the alpha not having a blessing or it not working, since that alpha ruled by fear, as many did nowadays. It was so sad, but Krystal didn't have time to be sad, she had to keep focused on helping this man recover. "Well despite your views, and I do thank you for not harming the poor child, I'm an elf, and I know the alpha's receive a blessing. Whether it worked on your father or not, well that no one can be sure of, just don't let your own ego get a hold of you, they do get blessings to help their pack, not to harm. Maybe that is why it didn't work." Krystal smiled as she watched him fall asleep, narrowing her eyes though as an elvish symbol appeared on his hand of a feline and a wolf and Krystal scrambled back. "What the hell? What is the meaning of that symbol?!" Krystal then went back to the hand, shaking her head. "No no no no no. If this means I'm to be with this wolf that isn't ever happening! Damn high elves." Krystal went to muttering and left her tree house and shifted to snow leopard, running far away, but still in her territory. She stopped when she saw a herd of deer and launched out and ripped into one and brought it back to her tree house and after making sure the wolf was still asleep hauled the thing up into the tree house and quickly changed back, washing her face with some water and she then put on her slim top that showed her belly and shorts that she made that revealed most of her legs and she started tearing apart the meat from the skin with a knife, being sure to be careful about it. She then put most of the meat to the side and cooked a little of it over her fire. She usually ate it raw but if she was to fool this wolf she would need to eat it cooked, though she wondered if the wolf would want his raw or cooked. After the meat was cooked she gently touched him. "Mister wolf shifter, if you want any food you better wake up, though I don't know if you want your meat raw or cooked."

 

[Wolfias]

One thing he wouldn't put up with, was a person telling him what he knew about his own Pack wasn't true. "I know that Alpha's are blessed by Elves so they have power to rule us, so Packs don't kill as they once did. You're right about my Father he wasn't an honorable Alpha, but he once was an extremely honorable loved respected and obeyed by all of the Trueblood Pack. Until one day a Dark Elf Mage named Valdan came to Father offering his services, blessed by a Light Elf Mage Father could see the evil within him. Father refused ordering the Dark Mage to leave all Pack Lands. So Valdan cast a curse upon my Father that his blessing would wither and die. Valdan chanted a dark spell vanishing as the great renowned Trueblood Guards attacked him. Everyone laughed the curse off thinking it was just weird rantings of a crazy Elf, until my Father slowly became power hungry ruling by a iron hand. When the Pack Elders confronted him he shifts murdering them in cold blood with such savagery it terrified our Pack. After that everyone feared him from that day on and none would dare provoke the Alpha. So what I told you Krystal wasn't my ego, it was... I'm sad to say the truth." Arnan was awakened by the civilized aroma of a deliciously fire roasted Venison, his stomach growling was louder than any snoring he may have done. "Ohgh!" He grunts as he tried to reach up to rub sleep from his eyes, lightly feeling to find stitches and bandages. One eye swollen shut the other swollen half shut he could barely see, it's a painful victory to prop up an elbow. "Grrrnnnn." Gingerly placing a battered black and blue hand on bruised and broken ribs that were bound snug around him. "Good morn Krystal." He rasps out as his larynx had been chopped edgewise with a hand as well as from having a parched throat. "I must look worse than I feel." Trying to laugh it made his sides ache so he quickly stopped being the pain made him cringe smothering a whimper.

 

[Mairu]

Krystal became amused as the wolf shifter replied to her, saying about a dark elf mage. Interesting. She didn't know any were around here, good to know. She did feel bad for the wolf shifter though. To see his father turn from the good side to the bad side must have been hard. "I understand, sorry but I was only going by what I knew. How was I supposed to know he was changed by the darker side of elves? Hmm? All I could guess is that it was your ego. Sorry." Krystal had a small smile on her face as she said it before watching him sleep, still wondering what the hell that elvish symbol had been.

Krystal smiled as the wolf shifter woke up and decided later she would heal some more of his wounds, it would make it better for him, but right now she needed an answer. "Good morning to you too, wolf shifter. I don't know if you look worse then you feel but I can say it's pretty bad. You shouldn't laugh, and as I was asking to wake you up, do you like your meat cooked or raw?" She pointed to the meat, her portion cooked and she smiled before getting a thing of water in front of him and with her magic put some in her hand. "Actually before you answer that I need to do something, also sorry, this may sting." Krystal then held her hands in front of his face and the water went to it, healing his eyes so that he could have them open and okay at least without hurting so much, deciding one body part at a time was best and what better way to start then with the face? Quickly Krystal was done and hoped she had done a good job, and it hadn't hurt much, now going and cooking another portion of meat. Even if he decided raw she could eat a lot, being a shifter herself.

 

[Wolfias]

He managed a wry grin nodding at what Krystal said of his appearance. "Aye, it only hurts when I laugh." Turning his head to sniff the scent that wafts from the portion of Venison. Then tries to see what she's putting before him he senses magic withdrew from her as she said this may sting. "Wait! it's going to do more than sting!" As the healing water was about to touch his face Arnan yells out only to quite down quickly as it only stings a little. He couldn't keep from blushing as he'd momentarily behaved childishly but finally seeing how beautiful she was he stares slack jawed. "I..can see again..without pain..but how?" Reaching up slowly to feel the swelling and cuts to find nothing at all it's just a little touchy. "Many thanks Krystal I will never be able to repay your kindness." To answer her question he'd speak softly as his throat was still sore. "I prefer cooked, but raw isn't bad either." Watching Krystal move about Arnan smiles. "My names Lupo, if I haven't said yet."

 

[Mairu]

Krystal smiled gently when he said it only hurts when he laughed and knew that could do it, he was really beaten up, even her magic couldn't heal him all, and she had a lot of magical energy. Krystal smiled as he said it's going to do more then just sting when she healed him and afterwards she giggled and smiled. "That didn't hurt so bad now did it?" Then he asked how he could see without pain. "I healed you with water magic. Elves are known for having lots of magical energy which helps us do more things with magic then most other species. So I was able to heal you. The slight stinging though was because of the mending, which will hurt but those were little things so they didn't hurt so much." She then nodded as he said cooked and handed him some, smiling as he said his name was Lupo. "Well nice to meet you Lupo, I'm Krystal." Krystal then took the portion of meat she had been cooking off and ate it, sighing happily at the taste.

 

[Wolfias]

Arnon breathes a sigh of relief when the kind Healers magic took his pain away. Her giggle was like music to his ears, after living for years under the rule of a cruel tyrant. He couldn't keep from grinning sheepishly as the healing didn't hurt, his actions even seemed humorous to her. Laughing his ribs hurt but he manages to hide it from the lovely Elf, the pain masked with a smile as he holds his ribs. "You're truly blessed by Mother Luna, to share your gift so freely with others." Listening closely to each word she uttered, he just didn't understand half of it. "I wish to understand everything you said of magic, but I am afraid that I do not." His stomach decided to growl loudly, protesting that it's been empty far too long. Picking up the pottery plate she must have put out to at some point. "Many thanks." Accepting the Venison Arnon ate slowly, savoring each bite as it it might possibly be his last. "It is nice to meet you, Krystal. Looking into her eyes with a soft smile. "Beautiful name you have, like the jewels in the crown of a queen."

 

[Mairu]

Krystal smiled at his words and then muttered under her breath, "You have no idea how blessed." Before she went silent. Yes Luna was usually seen as a giver to wolves but snow leopards also were blessed by them, as well as Elves a tiny bit. Elves were blessed by Luna so they could use water magic. She wondered if he knew the truth in his words, that the blessing actually let her use magic but she said nothing about that. "Well thank you, but surely you as a wolf shifter should be more blessed than an elf like me. Aren't you Luna's chosen people? Also it's alright about you not understanding. It's too complicated to say in simple terms but I healed you with magic." Krystal then smiled and ate little bites of her own meat before looking surprised at what he said about her. "I will tell you one thing, I am nowhere close to a Queen." Krystal actually thought 'If I was anything close to a queen my people wouldn't have abandoned me in a forest.' She then felt lonely as she thought of it and ate the meat, lost in her own thoughts.