Kallik

4.5 || Male || Pack Member || Mentions: Kyomi, Casek [ind.], Pack [ind.]

Kallik soon recognized his brother's voice join in the conversation, he figured he should go join soon, but was still a tad tired and wanted to rest a little more before hopping into their conversation. He stood to reposition himself, shaking out some of the dust from his pelt before facing away from the group and resting his head on his paws once more. Kal was hoping to drift off for a bit since there didn't seem to be a pack meeting being held when he felt something step on his tail. Kal whipped around expecting to see Casek messing with him again, especially after the ear-bitting stunt he had pulled just earlier, but he quickly scented that it was a female.

He stifled a yelp as she came down on his tail a second time, and that's when he realized that the tan blur was Kyomi. Kal jumped up and spun to face her and she let out a squeak. He wondered if it was a joke, but quickly determined by the squeak she made, that she had just run into him on accident and had truly meant no harm. The male's gaze automatically softened, not that it had been hard before, but it had appeared surprised and he didn't want her to take that the wrong way.

The stunned female quickly rattled of an apology, but seemingly felt the need to do it again and spoke even quicker, "I am so sorry, I wasn't paying any attention, and I should have, but I wasn't and oh gods I am so sorry,"

Kal opened his mouth to reply when he saw her wince as she stood, and quickly rushed over to try and help nudge Kyomi to her paws. He then looked her over and assessed her for any more injuries she may have gotten from her rough fall. Then it dawned on him, that this female was also pregnant! Of course, he had known, the others wolves in the pack sure do talk, and she was starting to show a bit, but it wasn't too obvious yet.

Now that her tumble was over he remembered to speak, "Oh it's alright, anyone could have accidentally tripped over my tail," He started, Kal went to look her in the eyes as he spoke and found pure horror, he suddenly found himself rambling on and claiming it to be his fault, which really he thought it now was. "I practically brought it upon myself when I turned away from the pack and left my tail out in the open!" he assured her.

Kyomi apologized again and he almost cut her off, "Kyomi, it's alright," he said gently. Suddenly squinting off towards the others, a thought suddenly crossed his mind, "No one over there said anything to you, to make you run away like that. Right?" Concern filling his amber eyes, "And are you alright? You had quite the fall," he added, turning his gaze back to the shaken female, noticing she had pinned her ears.

Why should he care for these wolves? These two strangers? It was his own doing that the enemy wolves attacked, but would it be his fault entirely? If he ran away now, would it matter? Would he survive? Should he stay, or should he run? Oh, Orion had so many questions! What was he meant to do? No, of course you should stay, he thought. This pack could help him live and thrive. If he were alone, surely he'd die, wouldn't he? Maybe luck would be on his side? It had been twice already, after all, he had made it this far..

No, you can't leave. Do you want this put on yourself? Don't you want to know what you could have done if you hadn't run like a coward? If they died, maybe you could have helped save them.

The pup nodded to himself, his thoughts helping him relax. Of course he couldn't leave. He'd practically be guilty of murder, and he couldn't have that weighing on him for the rest of his life. He couldn't constantly be wondering if, hey, would life have been easier if I stayed? Did the wolves I leave behind survive, or did they die because I led the enemies right to them? No, Orion had no choice. He had to do as was told.

So, he continued, his paws practically numb as they connected with the ground. He could have sworn that he was bleeding somewhere too. Now that he thought about it, his entire body stung. Orion glanced down, noting his paw pads cut due to running upon hard terrain. The more he looked at his body, the more he noted small scrapes and scratches here and there. They were probably obtained from sprinting through thorny bushes and scraping past boulders for all he knew.

He continued inspecting, until the female's voice cut his concentration off. Koa, he thought, taking in the name of the wolf left behind. He could hear from the female's words that she thought highly of him. What kind of pack even was this? Why were there two random wolves sitting on the border? Was it a patrol? How odd. "I can try running faster.." He mumbled, practically gasping out. I'm sorry I'm holding you back, he wanted to add, but he could barely get a breath out. Even if he did, he would have been cut off by a howl. A sudden, panicked howl.

What was he thinking?

He should have kept running. If the enemy wolves got him, so be it, but at least he wouldn't have put other lives in danger. He shouldn't have been selfish. He shouldn't have worried so much about himself and-

"You'll have to go without me."

Orion glanced up at the female, worry in his eyes as he listened to her instructions. "I can warn them. I promise I will." Pinning his ears back, he nodded. "Ronin." He confirmed, nodding once briefly as he watched the female turn.

"Don't look back." She had said, and Orion didn't.

Ronin, Ronin, Ronin..

He needed to remember that name.

As his body surged forwards, Orion took what little, minuscule energy he had left and used it all. He propelled forwards, ignoring the pain shooting through him and the soreness that had begun to build up. Not to mention, a pounding headache. But he wouldn't stop. No, Orion was determined, so he ran, and ran, and ran, until he made it to the worn out path, and even then he still ran.

He ran right into the camp, where he saw other wolves. So many wolves. How many were there? He ran until he was just in sight of them. "Help," He gasped, his words strained and quiet as he caught his breath. "Help!" He repeated, this time louder. "Ro.. Ronin! Ronin sent me! Ronin and Koa!" Tongue hanging out, he shook his head and gasped once more.

"They need help!"

And before he knew it, Orion's vision faded and he hit the ground.

Her eyes were glued onto Akousa. She was staring, as if waiting for him to break.. To show his true colours in front of Takara. Dare Eira utter that she had observed him in the past? That she had taken notes on his behaviour ever since he presented a liking to Kyomi? That she knew of his ways? Oh, indeed. Eira knew of his little cry baby act, and how, when that didn't work, he'd result to using other methods to get his way? An almost.. Amusing glint shone in her eyes having known his small secret as she watched him. My, how she watched.

It was ways such that Eira knew that she was her mother's true daughter, not a pup switched at birth. She was conniving and intelligent in the same way her mother was, always a few steps ahead while others remained behind. Those were her mother's ways, and now, Eira had adapted some of them. But these ways were reserved for certain individuals, Akousa being the main and only one.

I'm onto you, she almost muttered. In fact, she even leaned in, preparing to speak those words before holding herself back. Instead, she raised her head, her smirk matching his own.

That same smirk vanished moments later.

Akousa wished to share a meal with her sister? With Takara? Did she not see how he acted? No, of course no, she wouldn't have been nice to him if she had. Eira's eyes twitched, the need to tell.. No, order her sister to not share a meal with this imbecile skyrocketing. She couldn't accept. She mustn't. If she disliked Akousa, then her sister must as well. It was how things worked.

But then again, Takara didn't truly know how much Eira disliked him.

Pity, here I was hoping to sit by my sister and Kyomi to eat. I suppose I will simply see you there, she was about to say, before adding a: If you're lucky, I just may allow you to sit next to Takara. Almost giggling, Eira opened her mouth prepared to speak, however, her excitement suddenly disappeared as Kyomi gestured that she would leave. Oh, what an awful friend Eira was! She wouldn't have entered the crowd had she know that her closest friend would feel uncomfortable, so she stood up, prepared to follow before seeing Kyomi look over her shoulder at her, signalling that she was fine.

Alright, so she'd find her after.

Eira watched her friend for a moment before turning away. As soon as she did, she heard a small commotion, only to learn that Kyomi had fallen! "Are you alright?" She called, stepping forwards. Eira ignored all current company and focused on her friend, staring at Kallik to ensure that he would accept Kyomi's apology. Dare a single insult be uttered about her, and Eira would strike. However, instead, a look of surprise and admiration struck her face when, in fact, Kallik showed kindness to her friend. Knowing she had nothing to worry about then, Eira turned away, only to catch a small chuckle from Enigma at seeing Kyomi stumble.

What's so funny? Did I miss the joke? She wanted to ask, but instead, threw Enigma a deep glare. A warning of sorts. Sometimes, looks said more than words. Kyomi had enough to deal with as was, she didn't need that as well. To make matters worse, Enigma strode forwards towards Kallik and Kyomi. As a result, Eira tensed. If Enigma said one word about Kyomi-

"Why don't we give her some room," she said, disliking the lack of sincerity in Enigma's tone. Stepping forwards once, Eira paused midstep. Did.. Did Kallik defend Kyomi? At that moment, Eira's eyes shone, her mouth turning into a grin. He defended her! Eira thought that she was the only one that did, but no! There was another. Oh, how she suddenly adored Kallik, practically watched him and Kyomi in awe. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

A small, sudden sound was head. Something between the mixture of a howl and a yelp. "Was that a howl?" Eira suddenly asked, worry filling her eyes. Forgetting about her little blows towards Akousa and hearing Enigma's little comments, she now focused on what she had just heard.

She hadn't heard a howl in a long time.

"Was that Koa?" Standing up, she shook out her pelt, head raising. "Does anybody know if that was Koa?" It sounded like him, and it was in his direction, wasn't it? Had the wind carried the sound? Where was Leviathan? Raising her head, she took in the sight of the male himself and nudged her way towards him. "Leviathan," she breathed, glancing behind her. "I think that was Koa," she added on, concern filling her. She paused as another howl was sounded. A longer, more desperate one.

"Leviathan," she mumbled, this time, with complete unease. "Shouldn't we- Is that a pup?" Glancing in the distance, she saw the small form of something stumbling through.

"Ronin and Koa..

They need help!"

Ears sitting upright, her eyes scanned across the group until landing onto Leviathan, awaiting for his move.