[IC] Okami

[MangaArtist15]

"Well, for starters," Hikaru said leaning closer. "I'm a nice guy- I hate seeing pain and sadness. Second, you two don't look like you're from around here. Plus, I'm not one to hold grudges." He grinned, trying to hold in his anger at his partner.

"Yeah," Leon growled, "except you forgot the part where we kill th-- ack!" Hikaru, still holding a happy visage, kicked Leon away before he could say any more harsh things.

"If you don't want my help, that's fine," Hikaru said, turning around. "Bleed to death if you really want to. But remember... if you ever need any help, I'm here." He sat down next to Leon, who was sitting on the ground, cleaning his face.

[Valkyr]

Anxius said nothing for a while. He didn't know what to think. He was not sure he trusted the peacock, and he most certainly did not trust the wolf. He still needed help, however. Neither he nor Malacia knew any medicine. Even if they did, they would have no idea what herbs to use up north.

He glanced up at Malacia. She returned the gaze, clearly frustrated at his silence. He sighed. He hated to accept assistance from the wolf, but he was not about to leave Malacia all alone. He looked up at the wolf. "Very well. I need help," He said grudgingly.

"Yes, please," Malacia said, nodding at the wolf. Yes, Anxius was going to be healed, and then they were leaving. Anxius was surely going to be angry about failing the hunt, but Malacia did not care about the rabbit anymore. They could go a little while longer without eating; they would eventually find a deer or similar without a Hissatsu.

[MangaArtist15]

Hikaru smiled and said, "Okay. Wait right here. Leon.. you'd better not pull anything." After that, Hikaru darted into the forest to get some herbs. Leon, still wary of the hyenas, laid himself on the soft grass and was keeping an unwavering glaring eye on them. Several minutes later, Hikaru returned with several small plants in his mouth. "I don't have a bowl to grind these in," Hikaru said, laying the plants onto the ground, "and I can't lay these directly on the cut, because the blood might seep through or cause the plant to become off-center. Unless you have a bowl-shaped container I can use, I'm gonna have to chew these up and lay them on the cut." He paused for a second and smiled nervously. "That is.. if you're okay with that."

[Valkyr]

Anxius watched the wolf leave the clearing. Malacia lay down next to Anxius and looked at his wound sadly. The blood continued to slowly ooze out of the wound, matting and ruining the fur around it, and eventually dripping onto the grass. She looked away and gazed off into the forest, waiting anxiously for the wolf to return. She avoided making eye contact with the the rabbit, who quietly glared at them, but made sure to not lose track of him in case he tried something. The two hyenas continued to wait around for the wolf, not saying anything to each other.

After a few minutes, the wolf finally returned with the herbs. Anxius' mood quickly dropped as the wolf explained the small predicament they had. He glared at the smiling wolf disapprovingly. Malacia glanced at Anxius and saw the expression on his face. For a moment she almost forgot her worries and stifled a giggle at his annoyance. She looked up at the wolf. "Perhaps I could do it? I don't really know how to work with this medicine, but I'm willing to learn," She said brightly. "I'm sure he'd feel more comfortable that way as well," She continued, hiding another smile.

[MangaArtist15]

"I can understand that," Hikaru said as he dropped the herbs at Malacia's feet. "You know that, if we had a container of sorts, it would be a lot easier- he would only need to drink it. Just apply the herbs to the cut like a bandage after chewing them." He sat next to Leon. Hikaru hung his head, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Not a very good first impression, huh?" he thought.

"I still don't trust them," Leon said in a snide tone, chewing on a few pellets.

"You never trust anyone," Hikaru chuckled.

[Valkyr]

Malacia nodded and picked up the herbs. She walked over to Anxius' side and sat down. She placed the herbs on the grass next to herself. She took a few herbs from the small pile and began chewing them up. She frowned in disgust as the foul taste hit her. Anxius wearily watched her, not eager to experience the herbs that undoubtedly tasted awful, judging from the expression on Malacia's face. Malacia caught Anxius' gaze and gave him a guilty smile. Once she was done chewing the herbs, she began carefully and gently placing them on the injury. She sensed Anxius tense, but he did not protest or cry out in pain. Once she was done, she leaned back and examined her work. Satisfied, she stood up again and turned towards the wolf and rabbit.

"I think that should do," She said, "Thank you. You probably want to go now. I'd rather not try to move him while he's still injured like this."

[MangaArtist15]

"Well, we were searching for a group to help us and give us shelter," Hikaru said. "We'd be fine if you came along. I heard they have a healer there."

"Hikaru!" Leon cried, his ears flat against his back. "No! If they have a motive to kill, we'd be leading the Seekers to their doom! No!" Hikaru shot Leon another glare and the rabbit immediately became silent.

[Valkyr]

Anxius nodded. "Very well then," He said as he began to struggle to his feet, "We're going."

Malacia looked at him in alarm. "Anxius, please wait!" She said, gently pushing him back down. "You really need to rest! You can hard hardly walk in this condition!"

Anxius snarled at her. Malacia took a step back in surprise. "I'm not sitting around like this all day!" He said angrily. Malacia looked at him sadly and said nothing as he continued to attempt to stand up. After a short while, Anxius finally stood on his feet. For a moment he nearly lost balance, but he caught himself in time before he fell. He groaned quietly as he felt the wound send another wave of pain.

"Anxius..." Malacia mumbled hopelessly as Anxius cautiously began walking around.

[MangaArtist15]

"If you wish to follow us, we don't mind," Hikaru said with a smile. He began walking out of the clearing, stopping at an oak tree as he was almost out. "Have you made your decision?" He noticed that Anxius had stood up; he appeared to be in pain, but looked like he could hold his own. "Very well. This way." Hikaru walked out of the clearing, leaving Leon alone. He turned around and looked at the two hyenas.

Leon's eyes flickered with light for a second as he angrily said, "I still don't trust you." before hopping off in Hikaru's direction.

[Stryder]

Minarawr said
Mina smiled faintly and nodded when she heard his name in return. 'Marcus, huh? Sounds good.' she said.She took a bite of elk alongside him and sat up to clean her fur. 'I was just traveling around these parts.' she said. 'I needed a place to stay for thr time being.'

Marcus' tail gently swayed from left to right in a rapid fashion in reaction to her compliment, a slight nod in her direction accompanied with a smile. "Thanks..." He said, listening on to her explanation about why she was even around the mountains in the first place. "A place to stay huh? Well, I can't argue with that logic, there are a lot of nice caves around here." He smiled before taking a deep inhale, catching the off hand scent of blood, and the smell of another wolf, a male, as well as other animals. "Hmm..." He grumbled.

[Minarawr]

Mina grinned faintly at his rapid wagging in response to her compliment. It seemed he had warmed up somewhat and she was feeling more comfortable around him as well. She nodded in response to his statement and shrugged. 'Well a lot of caves, but not all that good. I haven't seen a very good one up till now.' she said.
She noticed the sound he let out and peered outside to see if there was something there. She quickly caught on to the scents he had picked up and looked over. 'You think they will be a threat?' she asked.

[Minarawr]

Mina grinned faintly at his rapid wagging in response to her compliment. It seemed he had warmed up somewhat and she was feeling more comfortable around him as well. She nodded in response to his statement and shrugged. 'Well a lot of caves, but not all that good. I haven't seen a very good one up till now.' she said.
She noticed the sound he let out and peered outside to see if there was something there. She quickly caught on to the scents he had picked up and looked over. 'You think they will be a threat?' she asked.

[Valkyr]

Anxius scowled at the rabbit as it hopped away. If it had not been for that cursed Hissatsu, the rabbit would have been nothing more than a snack to him. The fact that such a lowly prey had defeated him, Hissatsu or not, was humiliating. If this incident had occurred back home, he would never have been able to fully regain his honor.

His mood drooped as memories of home came crawling back. He shook his head and tried to push the thoughts out of his mind.

He let out a sigh and glanced at Malacia. Still she watched him with a gaze of worry. He regretted snarling at her earlier. He knew she was only trying to help, but he refused to sit around for days feeling like a cripple. Perhaps she would feel better once they arrived to their destination.

He gave her a curt nod and began following the wolf out of the clearing, Malacia trailing close behind.

[MangaArtist15]

(Time skip to when we arrive?)