Those Who Hunt & Prey (Closed)

[Sweetp4u]

Closed for silvertongue217 and myself
​

Emma

Spring 1845 - New Hampshire

"Is it near, Father?" Emma followed as best she could, excited to finally be out of the cabin and to have an afternoon with her father. Her excitement was palpable, the first thaw was a fortnight before but it had been to muddied to go for a picnic. Impatient and impetuous as always, Emma kept demanding he take her out and John Martin kept insisting that the time was not quite right.

"Almost there." The humor in his tone as he spoke was missed entirely by Emma who only had eyes for the clearing ahead. He was tall, young enough still and quite handsome, but not quite sure he wanted a second wife. However watching his little girl trek about in muck and mud was giving him doubts about child rearing on his own. Emma's mother had died birthing the girl as they had crossed the great ocean from Britton to New England, it had a lasting impression on the Huntsman as well as his accompanying mother. It had been a hard birth and a slow death, a shock to most as Hannah had been young and healthy. His mother had said that these things can happen, much can possibly go wrong. It was God's will.

God's will or not, he had no desire to go through such again. At least, not now. That was nine years ago, of course, time was healing wounds. However, he had to get his family established and coin in his pocket before he thought of another match. Still he was not an old man himself, quite charming and funny. Or so Emma believed him to be. He taught her things that most girls would not ever learn, and perhaps she did belong in a parlor learning the proper way to care for a man's home. To sew and stitch, bake and harvest. But for now, she wished to learn to track and load a musket.

The small hand basket Gran had packed was set down upon the new spring grasses. A small lap quilt laid out as her Father walked the edges of the clearing. She did not know he was checking for wild life or possible dangers, only that he walked the edges and searched among the reeds. She chatted away, almost nonstop as she set up their picnic and tea, sandwiches and such. Telling her father what she wished to learn and her thoughts and plans on the future. Voicing her opinions was something only her doting father tolerated. Her Gran however, did not appreciate her loose tongue and outrageous plans.

"NO girl seeks such things, Emma! Well you do to remember that. You will make fine wife some day, and even a mother."

Was but one of many lines her Gran liked to repeat, to drill into her stubborn little mind. She did not want to mend and cook! She wanted to hunt and ride! She did not want to go to sewing circles and bake fritters and pies. She liked to eat, yes but why did she have to cook and Timothy Nevins get to ride and shoot? She often shocked many people in Surry Township, but everyone believed that one day, and hoped that it be soon, little Emma Martin would learn propriety and her place.

Some little girls were just out right stubborn. At first.


She sat with her lemon cakes piled into a decorative pyramid, smiling. It was then that things seemed to slow to a crawl, and that the shout from her father was but a crack of gunfire in the distance.

"RUN! Emma! RUN!" His frantic waving arms, pointing to the opposite tree line which they came, to Gran's place from which they traveled.

But run? Why?

She did not notice nor know that her father had stepped further into the tree line to a small stream. That across the stream were a pack of very large wolves, napping after what seemed to be a doe kill. He had tried backing out the way he had come, as silently as he could do so, but Emma's sweet voice was carrying across the brook and their ears were turning and their eyes were opening, one by one. Only when they opened, they were looking at John retreat.

Was only one that jumped up, at first. One that gave a low growl of warning. It was John's instincts to grab for his rifle strap, and detriment as well. Had he just backed out, kept his hands clear. The pounding of her heart drowned out the thumping of her Father's heavy fleeing boot steps as they pounded through fresh grass and trampled over a pretty picnic. He did not stop no slow, he merely threw her over his shoulder, and ran. Bent over his back, she could see the wolves coming. Could see wolves that looked larger than new born fowls, getting closer. And closer. One with a black bandit mask over his face, grey gave way to a little bit of white but those blue eyes and that mask imprinted in her mind.

It went black from there, flashing in and out as John tripped over root and rotten felled wood. Emma went flying as he shoved her, throwing her into the brush and logs to keep from landing on her, to keep her from their jaws. She lost consciousness almost immediately, except for the horrible scream that rend the afternoon air. The scream of her dying father was the last thing she heard before darkness claimed her.

=====================

Autumn 1856 - Surrey Township - Gran's House

Emma jerked, the howl in the distance awakening her from the horrid dream tormenting her yet again. Another night, and many just like the night before. It had been this way since her return to Gran's. She sat up from the small cot, kicking her feet and gown over the edge of the bed and sat. Hunched over, her trembling hands on her face, rubbed away the sleep and the effects of her dream. Her night cap had come free in the night, a bundle of linen on her pillow as her hair now hung in knots.

Calloused fingers tugged at her lower lip, her mind trying to clear the remnants of dream from her mind and find her center again. At twenty years of age and her few years with Mr. Jao, she should not fear such dreams. It were past, but perhaps it were merely a reminder? She had trained and now, she had returned to see that justice be carried out. No one wanted to hunt the beasts responsible for her Father's death. Not one single man stepped forward to rid the earth of such dangerous beasts. Well, that had left only one choice. One disproved choice, but it had been hers and was hers to make.

No one knew her reasons for being back in Surrey, they only believed her to have had a milady, a break down of sorts and lost her mind for a time. She had been sent to a woman in the city of Manchester, to be seen to and cared for until made better. It was there she met a delivery boy with a father famous for his hunting skills. It was that boy who had helped her meet that man and convince him to teach a lowly girl to avenge her father. So when it was said she was hale and hearty, and returning home, few were shocked and many had no idea who was spoken of. No one knew, and no one was going to know.

She stood from the bed and shed the gown. Taking her hair into hand, she braided and wove it into a respectable bun atop her crown without mirror, without a stitch of clothing on. She next dressed in her warmer underthings, and then leathers. Breeches were a man's wear, but it was also armor. Hard to bite through, the hides treated and tanned with a thickness no cotton this day could possibly be. She donned a simple light weight gown of browns over the top and fastened her own corset ties at each side. Bracers were laced up each fore arm, tied at each wrist as she stood looking out into the night. She had only a couple of hours, at best, before sunrise. Time to get on the trail and scent herself down. A bowyer's glove slipped onto her left hand.

She pulled a neatly folded letter for her Gran from beneath her pillow, letting it rest next to the night cap and dented pillow top. Taking the ladder from the loft as silent as any well trained Native, she made little sound at'all as she descended and exited the cottage. At large wood pile she pulled clear the flap at one end, pulling out her father's rifle and a newly crafted hand held pistol as well. A knife was strapped to her soft soled leather boots and secured within. A small pack stitched of old burlap was tied about her chest and let hung at waist height. In it were a canteen of water and dried meats and berries. Lastly she pulled free a long bow and slung it too across her back.

She did not think about what might happen to her, what may befall her out there in the wilds. She had no doubts that she would find the large beast as there were none so large as he, so large that they claimed her to be mad or exaggerating. But they did not see what she had saw. They did not see a wild wolf the size of a horse barreling down upon them, with followers of equal measure. She had, she knew without a doubt that the beast was real, and that this beast, where ever it was, had to die.

 

[silvertongue217]

Autumn 1856 - Surrey Township

High up in the surrounding mountain

The wolf slowly walked across the stone picking his way as if he was a ballerina or a dancer walking a series of intricate steps. He tested out his humans legs a wolfish grin on his face as he bounded and jumped across the stone. He felt the power building inside of him and tipped his head back letting out a echoing wolf howl that could be heard from the town below.

The wolf was in his human body for the first time in ages, after being a wolf and wolf alone for two decades he was ready to experience both sides of the coin again. Eating raw meet was fine and all but after he practiced and found some clothes he would be eating a warm meal and filling his gullet with ale. The wolf of course had not forgotten his godly status his rule over the forest that even the humans whispered about but he reasoned even gods needed to spend time in mortal skin for a while.

He jumped again then winced his hand coming up to the long jagged scar on his left side. His eyes narrowed as he remembered the cause the woodsman twenty some years ago who stumbled upon him with the pack in the clearing. The wolf would have forgave him for stepping into his domain since he had the smell of a new comer but his incessant screaming and that little pups wailing was enough to set his teeth on edge. He ordered his pack to attack and was pleasantly surprised when the huntsman showed himself to be a some what worthy opponent.

"May you do well in the great hunt" He said toughing his wound as a symbolic gesture before going over to the small rock he was using as a staging area. His latest forage into town netted him a small razor and after sharpening it with a grindstone he went to work trimming his facial hair down. The wolf was a vain person and so he admired his rough handsome animalistic features and his shocking green eyes as he chopped away the scraggly facial hair, after he was done he turned to his hair trimming it down before he finally nodded in approval.

"very good" He murmured turning to the trail, he sensed them down below the fourth (or was it fifth it should be noted the wolf was not the best tracker of time) generation of his pack gathered below restless and wary. They sensed the change in him and didnt like it, though he cared less what they thought. He admired them for a second before he moved down the trail his form changing as he went from man to beast.

When he finally reached the forest he was back in full form towering above most of the other wolves. He stood above them watching them cower first before dipping their heads in respect. He regarded them for a second before he tipped his head back ready to let out a howl before a sudden change shivered through the forest. It was slight and so small most wouldn't notice it but not the wolf, not the king of the forest.

"there is an intruder in our forest" He barked "some one has went to far in our territory pack to me"

They all gave their confirmation and in seconds they were moving making their way through the forest in harmony. They neared the area and The Wolf caught the scent noting it was a woman specifically a young female that just turned of age. Some young buck on a dare? He thought to himself before he decided it was no matter. The rule was broken which meant the punishment was certain.

tonight this woman would die

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma

The dress was left behind, near the mud hole and picnic site of so long ago. She had mixed grass and mud as well as feces of deer into a paste that was applied to her leathers. Mud into her hair a bit, down her neck to hide the whiteness of her throat. Paw prints larger than a man's fist were littered throughout the valley, clearing and even across the fishy scented brook. There she paused yet again, wetting her hands, her boots in the brook and letting it air dry. Clay there was applied to her face, it's scent so rotten that eggs would have been impressed.

The area was well marked, with claw marks and urine pools against ancient trees. their prints were out there, for all to see if they ventured this way. No masking, no sporadic trail but a clear line of travel. Well worn and used, it was right where she naught have been but right where she needed to be. This was his hunting ground, his pack's den. With paws twice the size of any large wolf in the known region, she had no doubts,, just a cold dark need to see this animal bled, slowly. His pelt her new blanket.

She moved silently, along well worn path, tying down saplings with snares that would catch a leg or paw. She went further still, digging out ground and placing wooden spikes, watchful of the horizon and sunlight. Entrails were left scattered here and there, a scent to draw the most hungry of predators into her snares, into her traps. She worked tirelessly, driven and silent as possible. Digging holes and laying brush and thicket over it's precipice. Another cage type trap, one so deep, she barely crawled out of it with only a narrow log in which she could cross. It lead to a massive oak tree, with limbs she hoped were more than high enough to keep her from their jaws but not keep them from her arrow nor blade.

"Come and get me you whores' son bastard!" She spoke loud, daring and turned her eyes to the cloud cover and graying skies. Notched an arrow, she let fly into the fluff of a cotton tail rabbit, hating the sound of it's screams but knowing it would draw the predator's she wanted. Bow and quiver set high into the oak, she hit the ground running, back to the start of her snares and trail. Back to the brook her father had stumbled upon, making noise with intent purpose.

She did not clear the waist high grass before she saw a set of ears, a flash of tail and heard a few gruff sounds of a large beast. Were they communicating? It was all she could think of as she listened with wild beating heart, their coughs and woofs. They found her, they were circling her and they expected she was without smarts not to see what was going on. A helpless human intruding on their land..

Laughable, if she were not so full of hate, a bit of panic and a rush of some kind that not even the sweetest of treat could compare to such a sense of soaring! She had found them! "For you, papa" whispered out in soft prayer, may God bless her and her endeavors to see justice and right the wrong done.

"That's it.. Come on you!' Her fist found the dagger, the other took up the hand gun already loaded and waiting. She had one shot, just ONE single shot and she waited until a white and brown head peeked up from the grass not a yard away before she pulled the hammer back, took aim and shot it right between the eyes! The yelp was loud, the resounding snarls were even more so, and like a mad woman, she laughed! Spun on her leather soles and bolted down the trail she had set in wait, throwing the useless gun at another passing beast seemingly to herd her some where.

"COME AND GET ME!" She roared with her temper, her rage and like a lust filled madwoman, she cackled with laughter.. at least it sounded mad and cackle like to her ears, before darting over spiked trap and snared sapling. She wove and ducked before leaving the trail, knowing some how, they weren't following exactly, but they were following her. Or were they leading her some where? Herding her as a Sheppard would?

She was hit hard, a large beast tackling her from her side to the ground, it's jaws snapping as it snarled and tried for flesh, for her throat. Panting, she wrapped thighs and legs about it's middle and squeezed to cut off air, to block it's hind claws. She shoved hard then, her fore arm in it's jaws as it bit and shook leather and shirt beneath. Rolling, they went across the ground, narrowly missing the hole she dug out and coming to rest at the old oak tree. Struggling, she pushed her arm deeper , past it's back molars, forcing it's jaw open as it bit through her fleshy fingers and into her palm. Yanking free, she had no way out but one and seized it! It screamed, near human sounding as she shoved her blade deep into belly and tore the thrashing beast open. Smaller than the rest, it lunged away from her enough to give her little opening. With her dagger in hand and it's guts coating her freed arm, she grabbed for tree, gained her feet on shaky legs only to freeze from the chill that ran from nape to soul.

She could feel him, looming behind her. Baring down on her, having some how missed the trap that awaited this bastard's fall. He missed the trap! But he wouldn't miss her, she could feel him behind her as sure as she could feel his growl vibrate her entire body and heat her skin.

Panting, bloodied and not nearly broken, a sadness crept into her eyes but for a moment. Having failed her father was not something she would have ever ventured to be such an out come. How had they missed every single trap set? How? There had to be at least thrice their numbers, set all over the trail and they did not capture a single bloody wolf! Her chin jut upwards as she turned to press her back to the tree and eye the large monster poised to lunge at her not even a stone's throw away.

"Go on then.." She rasped out, arm lifting to wipe blood and sweaty goo from her eyes and itching cheek. "Get it over with!" hissed out, breasts heaving with labored breathing. She could take some pleasure to her grave she supposed, she killed one and severely injured a second. Her hands fisted, she would not go gentle nor pleading for her life with beasts such as these. Not that a wild thing had compassion to begin with, but something in this wolf's eyes tricked her into believing, some how, he understood her.

 

[silvertongue217]

The forest rumbled softly as the wolf pack moved with him. The wolf imagined them a truly terrifying sight to behold a black mass of fur, fangs, and teeth. They moved in unison jumping, ducking, and weaving through the forest as generations of ancestral knowledge took over.

For the wolf it was so much more than that

Where does a king feel most like a king? If not in his lands surrounded by his army. The wolf knew the stories from days he didnt think about any more, stories of mighty armies clashing and grand battles. He often dreamed about it since his forest was relatively peaceful with little to no "army" to fight.

But here with his pack running it was no dream even if there was no great enemy to fight there was still the thrill of power the fear as the animals surrounding them took them in. They knew as every one else in the forest knew who the alpha was.....

Who the king was

There! His head whipped around catching the scent once more. There was a attempt to hide it which if not for his keen senses would have tricked his pack. He slid to a stop ignoring a tree that he barreled into and sent toppling with a sharp distinct CRACK. He narrowed his eyes scanning the underbrush looking for.....

A snare!

His lips curled into the hint of a smile and he arched his head down narrowing his eyes as he began looking through the underbrush. Spotting the snares were easy enough and he quickly sent his orders telling his pack to fan out around them. He shook his fur loosening up his claws sliding out at the thought of a worthy opponent again.

He decided to let his pack draw her out and was rewarded minutes later by the signal that the enemy was found. He refrained from joining in even though his muscles went taunt and instead sent a mental command to the wolves to not kill the female just yet. Once he was sure they understood he watched his eyes assessing her with startling clarity as she faced off against his pack.

She fared well at first even managing to kill one of his greater wolves a feet which hadnt been accomplished this generation. A smaller one was killed as well when the wolf tried to take her alone rising the body count to an impressive two. The kill didnt come without cost however he noted watching as she moved dazed and no doubt wounded though it was hard to tell from the wolves blood and guts.

He sent the mental command to back off and circle her which they did until finally she was pressed against the tree. He made his appearance then coming out of the shadows and tress and deliberately stomping some of her snares. He approached her teeth bared but his eyes curious to see what she would do next.

She did not disappoint

she issued her challenge the dagger poised and ready and fire in her eyes. He smiled and lunged forward moving so fast he was a blur. He head butted her hard slamming her against the tree with enough force to knock her out. He used his head to lift her up throwing her onto his back like a sack of potatoes before turning to his pack.

He told them to rest and leave him be ignoring their curious probing questions and instead bounding up and to his cave. His mind reeled with the thought of the woman on his back her fire her passion and fierce fighting skills. If he could turn her.... make her his.

then maybe the king would finally have a king

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma Martin

Wild eyed, heart hammering what was sure to be it's last beats, she did not scream though she longed to do so. No, it lodged in her throat, cutting off her scream and air but she tensed in preparation for one last fight as the large beast leaped at her. Tense muscle, taunt and quaking with adrenaline as much as fear near wound up tight enough to launch into the stars, never got the chance to release and fight back.

One moment it was do or die and the next, it was just black.


She woke, hours later, or at least .. she thought she was awake? It was so dark, such tar black dark that she could not see anything. The ground was hard, a combination of dirt, debris and rock and whatever was over head, was close. She could hear her breathing and slight movements but nothing echoed. No stars or moon over head, and when she reached, her fingers found stone over head.

A cave? She was inside a crawl space sized cave?

The how she got there made no sense, she could not recall moving. Is she dead? If so, she was still bloodied, bruised and stank to high heaven. No, she wasn't dead but she was trapped within the surrounding black. The thought made her quiver, a small mewl of sound escaped, a whimper. She did not like cramped places, especially when she could not see a thing!

How did she get here? Where was here?!

She shift a bit, trying to sit up or move and could only tremble with head spinning wildly about and nausea building within her throat. A soft sob came, she had no idea if she were safe or not, dead or alive. She knew she hurt too much to possible be dead. Was she...

The wolf!

Faintly in the darkness she could make out a form, between her and a lighter shade of black behind it. It could've been anything, a boulder, a bush or dirt mound but it shift as it breathed and she knew she was not alone. Her head hurt, the room spun still and she was so frozen with fear, she could not move nor breath. Had it truly carried her back to it's den to be eaten alive later? Her breathing hitched, her hands shift bit by bit as it felt about her person for some form of weapon that might have remained on her through this ordeal. Denial at it's finest there, as she knew she had nothing to arm herself with, yet still she sought it out.

 

[silvertongue217]

He brought her up the trail easily shouldering her rather minute weight, as he moved his mind turned thinking and contemplating just what he wanted to do with her. He was intent on having her... of mating with her making her a princess worthy of a king. He had never met a girl quite so impressive some one with the courage and bravery to come in and face him. Two of his pack lay dead by her hand another feat she and she alone held. Even the hunter who gave him his scar hadnt managed to kill any of his pack mates because his focus was foolishly on the great big beast of a king.

He reached the outer bounds of his home and bounded forward crossing over the threshold in one large bound. He ignored his small house and ran over to the cave padding inside and letting his senses take him to the cross space he was looking for. It was small small enough to barely fit her which meant she wouldnt be able to move and or leave while he prepared himself top greet her.

The great beast shrugged her off of him letting her fall to the ground before he himself began to change. Fur shed and then fell in great big clumps revealing tan rough skin, his face began to morph becoming that of a handsome man with a small goat and jet black hair his eyes however stayed teh same grey like storm clouds and wolf like. He finally sat up his hand legs began hair muscular human legs as he brushed off some of the mud from his run in the forest.

He stood naked towering above he admiring her for a few minutes, he reached out as if to touch her then stopped cocking his head as if deciing some thing. Whatever decision he made he removed his hand grabbing her pulling her forward and then pushing her into the crawl space. He spent a few minutes making sure there was no way she could wiggle out and then turned whistling to himself as he entered his house.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

He came out carrying a fresh bowl of steaming soup not bothering with any covering for his hands. He placed it on the stump of a felled tree and walked over noting by her heart beat that she was awake. HE rolled up his sleeve having put on his finest tunic for their first meeting and reached out grabing her twitching leg and pulling it with a yank.

He backed up giving her some space as he waited for her to get used to her surroundings. He raised his arms the universal gesture of I mean you no harm and put on his most charming smile.

"Hello there" He said his voice a low rumble "I have soup for you fresh if you are hungry"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma Martin

Grabbed out of the blue, she gave a startled yelp as she slid past what she had thought was a beast, but merely a pile of leaves and needles. She expected pain of a wolf's bite, expected that this very well may just be her end... But felt no pain? Only a hand, a man's hand to boot!

Her face scrunched up, an injured hand going up to cover her eyes as the bright sunlight came into full view. "Whom speaks?" Shaky as her voice was, she still managed to sound like the proper lady her Gram had always wished her to be. Gingerly she lowered her hand, eyes adjusting to the bright white and startled with a curious wonder to the man she now was staring upon.

Never had she seen such a man in all her years here in Surrey, was he a new settler or migrant? He seemed unfamiliar, but his smile was friendly enough. A little shocked to find herself at his home. "Did you .. find me?" She asked quietly, sitting up and scooting back a bit across the ground. Her eyes scanned every where, seeking signs of the wolf pack, of the large beast.

Why was she not dead?

"Soup, would be lovely. My Thanks, stranger." Every where hurt, her head was pounding louder than a Clydesdale's hoof pounding the ground as it plowed. Her body felt bruised but nothing seemed broken. Her hand was on fire, evidence she was not going stark raving mad, but had in fact battled for her life against a wolf. A few wolves.

"Where did you find me?" She had no notion where she were, nor how she got there. The last memory she had.. Was... What was it? The last thing she recalled was, gray eyes.. And a very large beast. Why was she not dead?!

 

[silvertongue217]

He waited letting her talk it out and not bothering to interrupt her. He had to struggle not to reveal to much of himself to let the calm facade fall away and give her the wolfish sneer that so wanted to burst forth. He hadn't been around another human in a while and he found himself struggling to remember the rules and etiquette of his last foray into the mortal world.

Still he was impressed. she was adapting well shaken and curious about where she was but approaching it calmly. He felt further proof that he was making the right choice in trying to tame her and make her his. Once she found out the truth she would be all that harder to control but he was confident she would learn soon enough.

He didnt answer her questions not at first, instead he turned grabbing the soup and bringing it over. He placed it by her along with a simple spoon and then turned grabbing the waterskin hanging from a low tree branch and throwing it to her side.

"I am sure you have many questions" He said keeping his distance and watching her "much more than the ones you have already asked so i shall answer them all in one fell swoop you are at the top of the mountain at the heart of the forest below. Normally it would be unreachable but you were brought here by a creature that is both beast and man. Left to be cared for and mended the fight you picked you were doomed to lose though if you have been brought to me you no doubt proved your self well you see the beast you hunt is to put it bluntly a werewolf a creature that is both beast and man he has long claimed this forest as him set himself up as a king of sorts..... It was he who brought you here for me to tend to he has plans for you of which i do not know" He said stating the story with such bluntness that there was no room for it not to be true.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma

She heard him, he spoke the king's english, or sorts. She understood she was brought here, to be tended but no understanding of whom brought her here.

"Wolf, yes. I do recall the wolves." She did not know this term 'werewolf' but she understood wolf. Perhaps the 'were' part of the wolf was merely a species known for inhabiting this region of the providence?

"A man beast? Is this another term for the natives in the region?" She was at a complete loss as to what to say to the man, whom she believed.. at one time.. to be a normal sane man. Now she had to question even that fact!

Accepting the soup, she scoot back a bit, bowl in both hands and fumbling a bit with the spoon. It pained her to try and eat, and without a proper table, it was most difficult, but not impossible. She had eaten in stranger places and by stranger means before. Just not injured..

"Why would I be brought here? Are you a doctor, Sir?" She stirred the soup, wandering what was in it as he did smell good.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I am more a healer than doctor" Came his easy reply as he starred at her and watched her eat. She did not understand what he was trying to say she even seemed to have scoffed it off and disregarded it as a fairy tale. A part of him debated telling her that it was no jest but he decided to hold off for now and instead let her finish her food.

"You were brought here to recover and rest" He said taking the bowl once she was done "there is a small hot spring a few feet up the trail you can wash up there after wards the cabin is open for you where you can sleep I would rest and recover as best you can I have no idea when the wolf king is coming back to get you" He said to her. He turned walking a few feet towards the cabin before he turned back to her.

"This forest is ancient and it would do well of you to have a more open mind this world is still quite new and there are still quite a few secrets that have not been shared you would do well to remember that" He said before disappearing inside of the cabin.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma Martin

She gave up trying to hold the bowl and use a spoon with her injured hand, instead she tilt bowl to lips and sucked it down. Uncaring what dribbled down her chin, her wary eyes were every where she could manage to look while still eating, while still listening to the strange man speak. Barely she noted him, only after inspection of large hands to note that he held no weapon in hand nor on hip. She would have thought him native, if not for those green eyes she caught a good look at.

Wolf king? What in the blue moon was a Wolf King? She sensed no safety in this place, nor at his words. It seemed that if this wolf king came back for her, this man would not bother to defend her from .. it. Why would he? She were a trespassing, injured stranger herself. He made no remark on her attire and lack of propriety and lack of dress. Said nothing of her stench, he did not even strip her of her dagger within her boot. Curios but it was promise, perhaps of redemption?

Setting bowl aside, clamoring to her feet with aid of boulder, she managed to stand upright without fainting. The world did spin a bit, her head really ached something awful. His back was turned, vanishing into the log cabin with a few words of a spring above. Bracing arm to the boulder as prop, she bent a bit, fingers reaching down to take her dagger free of boot and hold it in her only working hand.

He did not come back out. She stood there a few minutes, listening and wary and saw nothing and no one. Perhaps the bath was his way of telling her to wash away the filth? Why would he tender to her injuries, he knew her not. Not her name, her purpose nor her situation. Dire or no, they did not know one another and the man merely just sauntered off without a care in the world? Chivalry is most definitely a dying breed. Wary, she turned to the path he had pointed out and began to walk in a gait that spoke more of her injuries than she would admit to.

By god's good grace! She ached every where, everything hurt her! Eyes did water with the pain, both in body, in mind and in spirit but refused to shed as her stubborn little chin jut out and teeth clamped down. A tick at her jawline started as she made her way to the water. Weightless would be a relief, would it not? Her head felt heavy, throbbing with every heart beat she did not have the ability to cease just to ease the hurt. Fist tightly wrapped about the dagger, she look as best she could, about the area and once more, saw nothing and no one.

Clothes and wall, she walked into the water. Dagger set to a smooth flat rock within reach, she turned her muddied expressive face to the hand swelling, punctured and caked in grime, blood and wolf saliva. "This is going to hurt, Emma girl..." She spoke to herself, bit back a foul word and drug her hand under. A groan growled from her throat, eyes watered further as she trembled within the warm waters. It stung like surely hell fire would sting like! But she dare not pull it out just yet, she knew she had to get clean. With free hand she grabbed at sand in the bottom, lifting it to scrub at her face, throat, clothes.

Wary eyes scanned once more, pausing all movement as to listen. She could hear a bird chirp now and then, whistle of wind and lapping water as well as her labored breathing.. Nothing more. No one else. Yet she felt exposed... As most women would, wouldn't they? This was no private solace of home and hearth but the wilds, with large man eating beasts lurking about. It took a good twenty minutes or so before she felt alone enough to strip her clothing off, washing piece by piece as she did so. Setting each piece of her leather armor layer to rock to sun dry.

Another ten minutes of dousing herself, washing and scrubbing with sand, rinsing off and repeating until she went from smelly wild thing to a pale young woman. It was not easy to wash her hair, unsure she managed to get it all clean without soap and without both hands, but she did her best. It drug down over her bottom, thick and dark with water. She eyed the dagger as she slid forward, debating on cutting it off to a more reasonable length. She reached to pick it up when her pale arm and bruise caught her eye. It was then she began to inspect herself, her injuries more than she thought but less than she expected.. The latter being death, so this was .. perhaps, the better out come?

"I tried, papa." she said so softly, tears slipped down her red hued cheeks. Angry to give in to such weakness as to cry, she hatefully swiped them from her face. A twinge of pain, a wince as light bounced off water's surface and into her eyes. She moved to clear the water and gather her clothes. Needing to dry off before she could wiggle back into the leather armor. Then.. Then she would head for Gran's.

 

[silvertongue217]

He stepped into the cabin and sat himself down in one of his chairs. He had no wish to spy on her bathing at least not with his eyes.

Instead he closed them reaching out with his other senses. Years of living out in the woods, of training his senses and his instincts gave him a kind of situational awareness of his surroundings. He knew the natural sounds of the forest as well as he knew his own body and so it was easy to pinpoint her as the new comer into the forest and the thing that did not belong.

She was nervous and wary but eventually she moved off of the boulder and began to walk to the hot spring he told her about. While she walked he assessed her injuries, he could still smell the edge of death on her. He would need to assess her when she came back.

He struggled not to laugh as she waded into the water with her clothing. The curse that followed was muted but there speaking of how much she was hurting. He couldnt help but sigh a little at that it was a...... waste to have harmed such alluring bueaty in his opinion. It was reckless as well of him to have gotten carried away like that.

He got up giving her some privacy to scrub and tend to himself as he went about making her a healing tea. Once that was boiling he looked in his trunk finding some fresh clothes for her to wear and going outside to lay them out for her.

He turned cocking his head and hearing her starting to get out. He debated for a second before he finally began to head up the trail his hands behind his back as he took in the beautiful forest.

"I am coming up" He called out to her stopping at the edge "Are you dressed?"

Once he heard the answer he moved forward stepping into the clearing "Do you need help getting back? I have brewed you some herbal tea which should help and I need to get a look at your injuries"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma

The trembling was really getting to her, angering her more and more. It was as if the harder she tried to dress, the more awkward she became. She shook from arms to toes, the pain was nearly too much.. yet it made her senses highly sensitive. Fear perhaps? She was far more injured than she thought, numbness was long since past by this point. She heard him leave the cabin, shuffle about and call to her.

She ignored it at first. Glaring hatefully at the leather vest, she could only manage to put on her white undershirt. Her hand was bitten through, thankfully she lost no digits, but it made use impossible... Despite efforts to do so, to use it. It proved to be a waste of energy and cause of much pain. So leather britches could not be laced, clung to her hips. A tear in the left thigh matched the alarmingly large and purple/ red bruise decorating from arm pit to upper thigh along her whole left side. And dear God in heaven! Don't ask her to breath deeply..

She had minor cuts and bruises from ankles to throat, a lump on the back of her head that surly were the cause to her light sensitivity and most likely a few cracked ribs when that beast launch at her and made contact. She had nothing to try and tie her thigh together, nothing to sew and stitch the flesh together either, but it was washed, probably still seeping blood.

"Yes.." Barely audible, but she answered him. She was as dressed as she was going to be able to be. Dagger tucked into waist band, she tried to single-handed braid her long dark hair. The WHY he was back and bothering her, annoyed but did not raise questions. She knew she needed a few days before she could manage to get off this mountain on her own. Like it or not, she was his 'guest' until she could move without fear of collapse. The trail down to the cabin did not look inviting, not sure she'd make it without falling on her ass either.

He would be here to witness that indignity..

She saw him come up the path way, head first, then shoulders and so on, and so on, until he stood looming before her in a rather large presence. He was intimidating, but she would not show him that. Her chin lift a little more, eyes meeting his boldly even from her seated perch atop the flat boulder. "I may be awhile.." She added once their eyes met. Injured hand tucking behind her as the free lift to tug her undershirt up her shoulder a bit further up her neck, in the event bruising were showing.

 

[silvertongue217]

He couldnt help but stare

Even with her body bloodied and wounded she still looked fetching. The wolf in him stirred scenting the wounds and the desire to take his prize blossomed inside of him. The human part of him was amused if not a little off put by the wolfs lust.

"Wait until she is able to be taken" He reminded himself stepping forward

"Allow me to help" He told her taking her in "Here"

He spent the next few minutes helping her get dressed. It was also a test of restraint for him. He moved with care and diligence dressing her methodically. He made sure any danger or fear of danger was non existent.

"There we go" He finally told her rising "Come you can lean on me as we go back down the trail"

He turned helping her down the trail when needed. Soon they were back in the clearing and the cabin and he was handing her the tea.

"Drink and relax" He said nodding at the chair "I will see to your wounds while you do"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma

By the time she made it to the cabin, she was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Shaking a little and pushing past her limits on remaining up right. The first thing she found to sit down upon, she sat. Tea cupped in quaking hands, she did not bother to try and hoist it to her mouth and drink whatever he was giving her. She hadn't energy for that, "I need to lie down." She confessed, her breathing shallow and heavy and hurt like hades!

Really not wishing to bend and pull off the boots he just stuffed her into, she lean back and shut her eyes. "I think as the moments pass, I grow more tired and more stiff.." She mumbled with a soft, self loathing chuckle. Mustering up some energy and strength that seemed to sap from her with each passing minute, she placed the tea to a wooden table top.

As he drew nearer to her, she inhaled sharply and groaned in agony at doing so. "Damnation! I think my bones may be broken.. or cracked a bit.." She glanced up and halted movement, thinking and simply stared at him. Lord he was a big man, a handsome one at that as well. It is those eyes though, strangely she felt she had seen them before, some where. Could not recall exactly where, if ever as his features were most striking. Even she was feminine enough to know that this man she would have taken notice of had they cross paths before now.

"S-sorry.." She blushed, whether from swearing or from his nearness and attractiveness she did not rightly know.

 

[silvertongue217]

"There is no reason to apologize" He replied to her his mouth slightly twisting up into a smirk as he took her in "You have gone through a ordeal I will assist you"

He reached out stroking her face before picking her up. He gathered her in his arms carrying her bridal style into the cabin. The cabin was warm and cozy dripping with his scent and presence. He moved her to the bed and laid her down gently so as not to hurt her any more.

"Give me one moment" He said moving outside. He grabbed her tea and paused reaching out with his senses and taking stock of her injuries. She was.... more or less stable however her body was struggling to recover from the wounds of the battle.

"Here at least take a sip" He told her bringing it to her lips and letting her take a sip "There we go"

Once he was sure she had enough he moved to her boots taking them off for her. He brought over a chair and sat by her bedside.

"May I?" He asked moving to her shirt and waiting for permission to lift it up.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Emma

She made a noise in the back of her throat, eyes wide as her heart hammered crazily at being hoisted so easily, quickly, up into the air and in his arms! She grip to him, as he was the only thing solid she could touch. He had not hurt her in lifting her, but she was completely caught off guard by him. He settled her within his darker cabin and on top of what was certainly his bed... Still, she could not complain or protest, she was too busy trying to breath easily.

He lift each heavy foot and pulled a boot off, a bit of a relief really. To his question, she gave a curt nod as her hands moved to cover her unbound breasts. He could lift as far as he could, only to see by and no further.. So her eyes said, as she may very well bite the man if he got too friendly with her person. "Aye.." She muttered shifting her body a bit to expose the entire left side of her body to him. The britches weren't tied in place, only sat where they did due to wet and clinging as they dried out. Were the only layer between her skin and this stranger.

She knew she would have to strip down if she wanted the lacerations on her thighs looked at, but it weren't like she had a ladies maid handy to help her into a night gown she did not have either. Her cheeks went red, her eyes diverting to the far log wall and small high window.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Be calm" He told her his voice soft and as deep as the forest "I will not harm you and or look upon you in any way unsavory"

He spoke that very clearly and through his voice and his eyes she could see the conviction behind his words. Without further ado he reached over grabbing the bowl and the bottle on his dresser and pouring in the cool mint scented liquid.

"This will heal you" He told her pouring it over her words "Should sting however then it will cool and provide some relief"

He made sure every inch of the wounds were covered and then placed the bowl down. He reached out with his hand, nimble fingers dancing on pert skin as he rubbed it in firmly.

"That should help" He told her softly moving down to her breeches "Now I am going to take these off remember no harm"

He grasped her breeches slowly rolling them down until he exposed her wounds. He began to tend to those as well humming to himself softly as he did.