«We Could Be Legends»

[Cluckcluck1215]

'No. Sherri,' Sherri meowed. She squinted through the dust that seemed to cloud her vision. Most of it was a strange blur of indefinite color and wreckage, a definite downside to feline vision. But in the corner of her eye, quivering movement made her glance twice. Not only could she see the black and white cat now, Wolfram reeked of fear.

Wolfram let out a sharp meow, and whirled on the she-cat. 'You aren't to be here. Blood and bone and flesh and fear, Sherri. Mapleshade. Go back to group, safety. I'll find Connor.' His growled was low, broken and raspy, quivering slightly. 'Mapleshade destroyed city. People are dead. Go, Sherri, find group. Safe there.' He flicked his tail, and trotted forward, jaws parted. He smelled wolf, and blood, Connor was close, and injured.

 

[Amer]

Wolfram let out a sharp meow, and whirled on the she-cat. 'You aren't to be here. Blood and bone and flesh and fear, Sherri. Mapleshade. Go back to group, safety. I'll find Connor.' His growled was low, broken and raspy, quivering slightly. 'Mapleshade destroyed city. People are dead. Go, Sherri, find group. Safe there.' He flicked his tail, and trotted forward, jaws parted. He smelled wolf, and blood, Connor was close, and injured.

Sherri shook her feline head. "If you fall, I must tell them."

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Sherri shook her feline head. "If you fall, I must tell them."

Wolfram scowled. 'What do you take me for? I'm not a kit, I won't fall. Go back, Sherri!' He froze suddenly. 'Go back and get me River and Mrs. Asfaw. Quick!'

 

[Amer]

Wolfram scowled. 'What do you take me for? I'm not a kit, I won't fall. Go back, Sherri!' He froze suddenly. 'Go back and get me River and Mrs. Asfaw. Quick!'

Sherri suddenly nodded sharply and bolted back. She knew what had happened. They had discovered Connor. And he didn't seem to be doing well.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Sherri suddenly nodded sharply and bolted back. She knew what had happened. They had discovered Connor. And he didn't seem to be doing well.

Jessi saw Sherri bolting towards them. "Did you find him?" She asked. By the look on the cats face it wasn't good. "Is he dead?" She asked quietly.
Toby walked back over to the rest of the group. "Where is he? I can go treat any wounds." He offered.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Just Ash and River, just Ash and River...they'll help, and they can keep themselves together.
Wolfram pleaded silently that Sherri was smart enough to only get a few people. He knew Connor was near, but he didn't dare look. His legs trembled with fear at what he might see. 'Connor? Bark if you're there.'

 

[RiverStorm]

Sherri suddenly nodded sharply and bolted back. She knew what had happened. They had discovered Connor. And he didn't seem to be doing well.

River nearly pounced on Sherri, having half the mind to yell at her for sneaking off, but shoved the growls down her throat. She seemed like she had seen... Something, and it could be a wounded Connor. "Sherri, tell me. Now. What happened? What did you see, hear, or smell?"

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Peter watched this all with an strange expression. He didn't understand most of what was happening, and he was worried. His sister was still in the city... And it was falling apart. He leaned heavily against the car behind him, staring at the ground with unfocused eyes. Grace... I shouldn't have left her! I'm such an idiot! He brought up a hand and rubbed his face, some part of his mind registering that it was trembling noticeably.

 

[HeavensHens88]

“No, it’s fine!” Brisa hurriedly spoke up, wanting to sink into the ground and looking around for something to take the attention away from her. “Um... Does anybody see Connor yet?” She asked desperately.

"Er... no, h-he was missing?" Toby asked, glancing around. Now that Brisa mentioned it, he did see a strange lack of one of their members.

"Yes, and it's her fault!" Wolfram snarled, glaring at Misty, "where is Connor, Misty? What have you done with him?"
(@MysticChocobo)

Toby climbed out of the car and slammed the door behind him. His purple eyes were dark and full of anger. "Hey! You don't know she did something to her, so don't blame her! Besides, why would she hurt him, eh? And don't say she's crazy, or a psychopath, or anything else the like that, because I'm tired of hearing it. What would she get out of hurting Connor?" He asked angrily.

"She is psychopathic!" Wolfram snarled, "for all I know, she's working for Mapleshade. That could be why she would hurt Connor. Truly, I wouldn't be surprised if she came out and told me she worked for Mapleshade, with her psychopathic and homicidal tendencies and all, not to mention she's a wanted criminal!"

"Both of you!" River's sharp voice erupted from her throat as she walked forward, glowering at the two inhumans. "Lay off. Wolfram, Misty wouldn't have hurt Connor. I've known her for half my life, and I can easily tell you that she would have hurt him. And calling her a Mapleshade spy?" She stalked closer to Wolfram, glaring down at him. "That's childish of you. If Misty were working for that monster, I'd be the first to know. And I promise you; if I even suspected that she worked for the woman who murdered my brother, there'd be very little of her left for you to accuse."
She backed up, glancing between them angrily. "I'll go look for him, and while I'm doing that, you two better watch yourselves, and stop acting like children, especially if you want to get out of any of this alive." She spat.

"Then why hasn't she killed us yet? Why would she only attack Connor?" Toby paused. "I get you don't like her, or anybody for that matter, but come on. You're going to verbally attack her? She wouldn't do that. Most people here have known her for many, many years. You don't need to instantly blame one of our friends just because you don't like her." He said calmly. "Go ahead and just blow this off. I'm trying to be nice, but I will not tolerate you, or anyone, saying things like that to one of my friends." So for goodness sake Wolfram, do us all a favor and keep your mouth shut for once.

Brisa stepped aside as Toby got out of his car, raising her eyebrows in disbelief at Wolfram’s claims and nodding in agreement as the others spoke. “Wolfram, look, don’t ask us to turn against a trusted friend whom we’ve known for most of or all of our lives, especially when you have absolutely no proof that she did anything bad.” She added.

Sherri caught the whole conversation with her catty ears, and rubbed away her tears fiercely, not liking this cat shifter one bit and looking for a chance to condemn him. Red welts formed under her eyes where she had rubbed so hard, and she sniffed a little for lack of a tissue, but she spat fiercely, "Oh, Wolfram, stop being so hypocritical! Think about..." your own actions for once. Sherri blushed a deep scarlet, quite impressive on her pale, freckled face, it's brilliance brighter than her orangey hair. Oh dear, Sherri, you've done wrong. I've been so self-centered recently, haven't I? Sherri blinked to prevent more tears from springing up. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry," she said in a guilty voice horribly ashamed. "I've been the worst of us, haven't I?" Those words were up for personal interpretation, and she hoped at least one person would disagree with her. Or maybe not. Maybe she should bear a little pain for all this, feel a little convicted.
Indigo simply stared at her with a long face, soulful eyes suddenly staring deep into Sherri's own soul, it seemed. Her pursed lips almost traced the faintest smile, wondering if the group would work harmoniously at last.

Jessi turned to Sherri. "Sherri, no, you've done nothing wrong. You and Brisa have been the only ones not arguing like a pack of wolves-" She glanced at the wolf-shifters. "-No offense."

"It's not my fault that I'm untrusting. You can't say I don't have a good reason, look what happened to my mom! Just because you trust Misty doesn't mean I should," Wolfram glowered slightly, a growl to his voice, "looks can be deceiving, River. She may look and act innocent, but so did Mapleshade, while standing over the body of the woman she had just murdered. And you aren't going anywhere, you're staying here. You've already run far enough, and God knows how many Pure members might be swarming around out there..." He drew off, looking at Toby and Sherri, "for your information, Toby, I do in fact like some people, just not others, and for good reasons. And Sherri, yeah, yeah, I should think before I speak, whatever. I get it," he leaned against his car, eyes glowering slightly. "If you all trust Misty, fine. Just don't expect me to trust her."

"I never asked anyone to do anything! You all tell me that I don't listen, but you all must be as deaf as a person without ears." Wolfram shot a scathing glare at the girl, before staring back at the road for any sight of Connor.

"No one asked you to trust her, and I doubt anyone is going to make you." Toby said. He paused. "Okay it was a little unfair of me to say you hated everyone. Sorry."

"Look, Wolfram." River growled, eyeing him. "You don't need to trust her, but you don't need to accuse her, nevertheless. If we were in your shoes, we might not trust her either, but we're not. And don't you dare preach to me about how looks can be deceiving! I know better than any of you, at the least as much as you, about that. But Misty Hero and Connor Asfaw are both some of the only people who haven't cut me open just to watch me bleed. They're my friends." She finished, turning away from him to peer down the winding road for the big black he-wolf. "And if you weren't right, I'd run out there to look for him just to show you I can."

Wolfram snorted, a strange contorted look of both satisfaction and disgust on his face, "whatever you say, River. You know everything after all," he spat sarcastically. Don't come crying to me when she turns on you, because I'm just going to say 'I told you so!'
"So we have to believe you," it would be good to shut up now.

"No one asked for you to be leader," Wolfram's voice was deathly quiet, and his expression didn't change in the slightest, "I don't need to be stood up for, I'm very capable of taking care of myself when I need to. I haven't come crying to you once, have I? Isn't it always you who steps in?" He paused, very little emotion to his tone. "I'm not your leader, River. I'm no one's leader. I'm just what you said, aren't I? I'm just a little to weak, just a little to cowardly, just a little to mental to lead you. I can't answer those questions, I don't know what to do. I'm just doing my best here, and as for who'll go look for Connor, I'll willing risk it and go out there. Like I've said before, I don't care anymore. I don't care if I die going to look for him, as long as my friends stay safe." He paused, his chest heaving, a strange feeling in his throat. He met her dark gaze with his icy one, and gave a small shake of his head, "I don't know what to do, River. Everyone relies on you, and why? Because you're better then us. You're stronger, faster, smarter and way more sane then us, and because of that we look to you. I won't say I know how it is to try and lead a group of rag-tag people whilst the city is falling apart, because I don't, but I do know how it is to feel helpless with no answers. I can't tell you what to do, that's your own choice, but I'll try my hardest to help, if you'll let me." He blinked slowly, eyes burning as he realized he hadn't blinked the whole time.
"I don't know what to do, River. We need to work together if we are going to get out of this alive."

"Maybe... someone small, like me?" Sherri suggested, still eyeing Wolfram warily, hoping there would not be another outburst. A crow, silhouetted by the blinding sun, flew over head, clinging to a leafless branch on a young tree. Its eyes glinted as it stared ominously. "Or, with wings?" She tried not to stare at Jessi, Zion, and Lachlan. "I can crawl under the wreckage." Hopefully, my cats can too. She thought, wondering how they were faring in her apartment. How many animals -and people- would die?

Toby rolled his eyes as Wolfram and River started fighting. "At this point I think he just argues for the sake of hearing himself speak." He grumbled under his breath.
"People could say the same thing about you." Jessi replied, poking his arm.
"The difference is that I don't constantly argue and say how depressed I am. He needs to stop being a wet sock."
"A... wet sock? Seriously?" Jessi asked, looking confused. Toby stared up at her with a blank look on his face. "No one likes wet socks." He said matter-of-factly. "If they get physical my bet is that Mrs. Loson wins." He added.

"Maybe I'm standin' up for you 'cause I'm trying to do somethin' right for once in my life." River growled, shaking her head as she eyed at the teenager. "Faster? Sure, I'll buy that. Stronger? Nope. Smarter? Sane? Well, I knew you didn't know me, but I expected you knew more than that." Does he even have eyes? Or ears? Didn't he just see that horrid display? Or the fifty others? "And if you ever call me 'better', I swear, I'm gonna just outright lose it." She muttered, backing up and leaning against a tree. How stupid can these idiots get? Maybe I don't want them to look to me. But do they think of that? No.
"No, you're not goin' to find him. Mapleshade would recognize you if she is out there, and a wolf or wyvern would be very noticeable, so me, Jessi, and Misty are out. Hooded crows aren't from around here, so Lach's out 'cause he'll stick out. Jenna, Toby, Indigo, Camilla, Delilah, and Finlay can't, either... So that leaves Zion and Sherri." She reached up, wiping sweat off her forehead, smearing her blood that was slipping out of the cuts on her hands onto her face.

"You are better then us, River." Wolfram murmured, ducking his head slightly. He fell silent, listening to her quietly. "Stay quiet, stay quiet, just shut up...and—
"No!" He snarled suddenly, "I won't let you! She know's who Zion is, even in eagle form! He was the one who blinded her, and who know's what'll happen if she finds him. And as much as I hate Sherri, I won't put her life at risk." He glared at River scathingly, "I'm going, and if Mapleshade finds me...." He gave a lopsided grin, "good. I'll give her a piece of my mind," morphing quickly, he waved his tail at the group in almost a parting wave, and set off, muzzle to the ground.

Toby's head snapped up to look at her. "Why can't I go?" He asked curiously. "I mean, I get some of the others, but I'm small, fast, and can easily go through the rubble without a problem."

"You can't shape shift, I'm afraid they'll recognize you easily."

"No, no! I'm not, okay?!" River snapped, listening as he went on. "Point taken, I forgot about the whole blinding thing. But no! You're not going, what if she catches you? What if she pries out of you where the rest of us are? I kn- Wait!" She shifted, lurching forward and skidding to a stop in-front of him. Oh come on, do I have to hog tie you? Let Sherri go, you idiot!

Toby frowned. "I'm not very memorable. And if for some reason they recognize me, I'll..." He paused, the words not coming out of his mouth. "...Kill them." He finally said.

Wolfram craned his narrow head up, and gave the wolf the best grin a cat could, and shifted back into his human form, finding himself on his knees in front of the wolf, "look, she won't get information out of me. I promise. If it makes you feel better, Sherri can come, but I'm not letting her go herself. I won't risk her life like that, I'd rather die. Take it or leave it."

River shifted back, standing tall with her arms crossed. "First off, you can't promise that. People can be forced to do unimaginable things. Ever heard of truth serum? Bet they have it. But..." Oh just let you kid go. If he dies, he dies. But he could find Connor. And I should keep an eye on these idiots. And could Sherri pull this off? She squeals at the sight of blood of a Pure member, let alone her friend... She lowered her voice as to not to be heard by the others. "...I guess one is less noticeable than two. When you get back here, I'm hog tying you and putting you in Toby's backpack."

"Good, because I was leaving whether you wanted me to or not. And you are not hog tying me, I have more dignity then that. Beside, I'll just find my way out one way or another," Wolfram snapped, and shifted quickly, gave a nod to River, and trotted back down the road. Oh, I hope I find him. And Mapleshade, I'll strangle her if I find her, that good for nothing little—....

"Ok, first of all, no one is bird watching. No one would notice any kind of crow, except for a cat like me," Sherri said. "Yeah. I can go. After all you've done," she blushed at the slightly sentimental comment.
Indigo reached out and clutched Toby's arm, before awkwardly unpeeling her fingers. "No Toby! Look at me. You're not going." She would never admit it in the future if she used enchantment in those words.

Toby recoiled away, his gaze glueing to the ground. "Please don't touch me." He said quietly. "I should still go, for the reasons I've said earlier, and I think I'm the only one with a first aid kit and training on how to use it." He said, still staring down.

"Get the joke, kid. Just get a joke for once."

"Don't you get it? These guys are professionals! They are trained to look out for things like that!" River growled.

Brisa returned the glare in full force, her eyes glistening back and forth between black and green. “Oh, you know full well what I meant, Wolfram.” She replied defiantly.

Brisa turned away suddenly, leaning her elbows on the hood of Toby’s car and resting her forehead on her hands in frustration as Wolfram left. That poor guy. He’s so messed up- extreme trust problems, found his mom murdered, anger issues... you know what, screw it, we’re all pretty messed up. Some less than others. But we’re all complete messes. I don’t know where I was going with this... she sighed, annoyed with herself for some reason.

Indigo mirrored his actions, before looking at the trees in the distance, unsure of what to say.

Toby wandered behind the car, away from the others. He kicked the ground, sending mud flying off and hitting one of the trees. He was feeling useless, all of his attempts at helping were crushed by Indigo and River, and that was making him frustrated. The only thing I've been doing this entire time is driving everyone around. Which is useless because a lot of them can drive! Just let me help for once!

Wolfram's gaze flickered around every second, eyes searching the dark woods on either side of him. Paws aching, he pressed forward, pleading for any sign or scent of Connor. He had a horrifying sense of dread in his belly, that something was horribly wrong. It was painfully silent, not even birds chirped, except for far off he heard noise, like that of grinding rocks.
Ears shoved forward, hackles raised, he sniffed the ground, and found no scent of the wolf. He glanced at his wounded shoulder, shrugged, and pelted down the road, a yowl ripping from his throat. It hurt. The strength of the noise he admitted hurt his throat, seeming to rip at the tender flesh of his voicebox from the inside.
It was a desperate yowl, one that a cat or even a human or another animal could translate as 'help me! Something's wrong!'
Something was wrong, but not in the sense a cat's voice could describe. Connor was hurt; the pit of fear in his gut told him so. And if he couldn't trust anything or anyone else, he knew to always trust his gut. That would keep him alive, at least for now.
Paws aching, lungs burning, he pressed on, tree's on either side of him torn from the ground, revealing miles upon miles of destroyed land. He swerved into the broken forest, sniffing the ground, looking at the bushes and fallen trees, hoping and praying he would find hide or hair of the fallen wolf.
'Connor! Connor! Where are you? Answer me! Howl, whimper, yell, something! Answer me!'
It hurt to yowl, but his only hope of saving Bleddyn's father was to call him. His nose was blocked by the overwhelming scent of pine sap from the fallen trees, causing all other scents to be drowned out. Sight and sound was his best bet now, and to keep relying on that sinking feeling in his belly.
Mapleshade's around, Mapleshade's around. It's not safe, not safe, find Connor, run! Run because danger, danger....run back to group, safety! Must find wolf...

Sherri's ear twitched as she detected a far off tom-cat yowl -the kind that can be heard for miles- glancing at the place where Wolfram had been. He's gone, she deduced. She took a few steps away from the others before she stood behind a tree, crouched in the dead undergrowth, and shifted into cat form. She could still be easily seen, of course, but it felt safer to be a few steps ahead of everyone else. She sprinted, her little ginger form streaking in the direction of Wolfram, uttering not a sound. She knew he was far, far ahead of her, of course, but if he was to fall she could close the gap.

Blood, bone, flesh, plaster, wood, sap, pine, fear, must run!
The sharp, metallic scent of blood overtook the scent of pinesap in Wolfram's nose, the bronze scent of fear tinged underneath it. His heart hammered, the feline part of his mind taking over his human one, his memories and thoughts becoming strange and mixed.
'Connor!'
He was desperate now. He scented Mapleshade now, and blood, oh, so much blood. Flesh, and...he scented wolf. Fear, and...desperation, no...that was his own scent. His yowls though fell on deaf ears it seemed. He skidded to a halt, chest heaving, ears pinned, and adrenaline rushing. He looked around wildly, blue eyes wide and searching. No noise...just grinding...horrid grinding sound of rocks...or bones...probably bones...of people...buried...alive....no birds...no paws, no feet. Silence. Why? Find Connor.
He thought he scented the bronze tang of fear that wasn't his own, but from what? He scented wolf, he thought...he crept forward, jaws parted. 'Connor?'

'No. Sherri,' Sherri meowed. She squinted through the dust that seemed to cloud her vision. Most of it was a strange blur of indefinite color and wreckage, a definite downside to feline vision. But in the corner of her eye, quivering movement made her glance twice. Not only could she see the black and white cat now, Wolfram reeked of fear.

Wolfram let out a sharp meow, and whirled on the she-cat. 'You aren't to be here. Blood and bone and flesh and fear, Sherri. Mapleshade. Go back to group, safety. I'll find Connor.' His growled was low, broken and raspy, quivering slightly. 'Mapleshade destroyed city. People are dead. Go, Sherri, find group. Safe there.' He flicked his tail, and trotted forward, jaws parted. He smelled wolf, and blood, Connor was close, and injured.

Sherri shook her feline head. "If you fall, I must tell them."

Wolfram scowled. 'What do you take me for? I'm not a kit, I won't fall. Go back, Sherri!' He froze suddenly. 'Go back and get me River and Mrs. Asfaw. Quick!'

Sherri suddenly nodded sharply and bolted back. She knew what had happened. They had discovered Connor. And he didn't seem to be doing well.

Jessi saw Sherri bolting towards them. "Did you find him?" She asked. By the look on the cats face it wasn't good. "Is he dead?" She asked quietly.
Toby walked back over to the rest of the group. "Where is he? I can go treat any wounds." He offered.

Just Ash and River, just Ash and River...they'll help, and they can keep themselves together.
Wolfram pleaded silently that Sherri was smart enough to only get a few people. He knew Connor was near, but he didn't dare look. His legs trembled with fear at what he might see. 'Connor? Bark if you're there.'

River nearly pounced on Sherri, having half the mind to yell at her for sneaking off, but shoved the growls down her throat. She seemed like she had seen... Something, and it could be a wounded Connor. "Sherri, tell me. Now. What happened? What did you see, hear, or smell?"

Pinned beneath the accumulative heap of rubble, Connor was caught in an intense skirmish of soundless reasoning. I could shift to get myself out of here...but could I even move then? And I can't move fast on two feet...
Look at all of that. At the minimized view of his city's ruin, his already suffering breath suddenly found it even harder to progress through his airways. As he skimmed his grime-fogged eyes, he was able to catch a myriad of conspicuous red splotches among the upheaval, spreading from their dying hosts out into visibility. And where do I even expect to go from here?
He winced as the bone-rattling scream of an emergency vehicle went up from somewhere in the distance, yet close enough to be torture. But at the end of the next discordant shriek, something unobtrusive enough to be starkly noticeable warbled up and trickled into his range of hearing. When it came again, he'd already pinpointed it as a certain cat's yowling. Not even knowing what to feel, Connor scrabbled as far forward as his situation would allow and replied with the most forceful yelp he could muster.

Ash gave a sigh that sucked her shoulders downward and knelt down beside Sherri, her clammy freckled hands giving the little cat a grateful pat for her efforts. "Just...I'll find him." Again, they'd all let tension whip them into senseless aggressors desperate to find their intended allies' weakest point. And this time, it was her own husband who'd instigated it- when she should've easily located and recovered him without having to struggle through this mess of mismatched misfits once again. Too bad I let myself get so...out of it when it matters most. She stood up and began the process of sealing herself far enough away from here to become in tune with areas beyond. But as soon as her eyes closed, her ears were already efficiently sorting through the thousands of chaotic sounds that the crumbling cities were screaming.
Bleddyn's eyebrows dipped sharply to demonstrate her concern as displeasure. "What the heck, Dad?" she said, hardly managing the tone of weak disdain. "Why'd you go and get yourself..." Her words trailed off into a hushed little squeak as she watched her mother's face contort accordingly the sounds she was exposed to.
Ash pulled herself out of the plane of sound waves with haunted eyes, yet her face was calmly set. "I don't think he's okay." She pulled her loose woven shirt tighter around her front, again chilled by more than the unfavorable late autumn weather. "But he's close. I'll go myself. No need to send anyone else out."
"Me too." Bleddyn shoved her way through the group until she reached her mother. Her tightly folded arms said that she completely expected and refuted the redundant protests that would surely come. "Regardless of whatever's waiting for us."

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Pinned beneath the accumulative heap of rubble, Connor was caught in an intense skirmish of soundless reasoning. I could shift to get myself out of here...but could I even move then? And I can't move fast on two feet...
Look at all of that. At the minimized view of his city's ruin, his already suffering breath suddenly found it even harder to progress through his airways. As he skimmed his grime-fogged eyes, he was able to catch a myriad of conspicuous red splotches among the upheaval, spreading from their dying hosts out into visibility. And where do I even expect to go from here?
He winced as the bone-rattling scream of an emergency vehicle went up from somewhere in the distance, yet close enough to be torture. But at the end of the next discordant shriek, something unobtrusive enough to be starkly noticeable warbled up and trickled into his range of hearing. When it came again, he'd already pinpointed it as a certain cat's yowling. Not even knowing what to feel, Connor scrabbled as far forward as his situation would allow and replied with the most forceful yelp he could muster.

Ash gave a sigh that sucked her shoulders downward and knelt down beside Sherri, her clammy freckled hands giving the little cat a grateful pat for her efforts. "Just...I'll find him." Again, they'd all let tension whip them into senseless aggressors desperate to find their intended allies' weakest point. And this time, it was her own husband who'd instigated it- when she should've easily located and recovered him without having to struggle through this mess of mismatched misfits once again. Too bad I let myself get so...out of it when it matters most. She stood up and began the process of sealing herself far enough away from here to become in tune with areas beyond. But as soon as her eyes closed, her ears were already efficiently sorting through the thousands of chaotic sounds that the crumbling cities were screaming.
Bleddyn's eyebrows dipped sharply to demonstrate her concern as displeasure. "What the heck, Dad?" she said, hardly managing the tone of weak disdain. "Why'd you go and get yourself..." Her words trailed off into a hushed little squeak as she watched her mother's face contort accordingly the sounds she was exposed to.
Ash pulled herself out of the plane of sound waves with haunted eyes, yet her face was calmly set. "I don't think he's okay." She pulled her loose woven shirt tighter around her front, again chilled by more than the unfavorable late autumn weather. "But he's close. I'll go myself. No need to send anyone else out."
"Me too." Bleddyn shoved her way through the group until she reached her mother. Her tightly folded arms said that she completely expected and refuted the redundant protests that would surely come. "Regardless of whatever's waiting for us."

Wolfram froze, ears angling north. There! He was sure he heard it. Faint, but certain. A wolf yelping, or at least a dog. Hope boiling inside his chest, he pelted towards where he had heard the faint yelp, tail streaming from behind him. What are the chances it's actually him though? What if he's stuck and I can't get him out? What if he's dead by the time I get there? No...stop...gotta stop thinking like that...
He slowed as he reached masses of fallen houses, blood running like a river from under them. I'm to late!
Panic stricken and frozen with fear, he stared at the river of blood with wide, blue eyes. There were so many scents...blood and humans and wolves and cats, mingled together until he couldn't even differentiate one from another.
He shifted into his human form, getting to his feet slowly. Breathing heavily, he glanced around, searching for a sign of life. "Connor?" He rasped, wincing as the word left his aching throat, "howl...or something...anything, so I know where you are, exactly..."