Trouble, Blood Is in the Rocky Waters

@Percival @Lunafreya we are ignoring that its 4am and I'm dead this is going up

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The pale raven never saw it coming. One moment they had been flying free, high up in the mountains between the shadows of trees, then the next there had been a sickening roar. Tiw had come to the hidden valley in search of pretty flowers; it was a location they knew well, even if they rarely took flight above the peaks. Unfortunately, all they would find on this venture was a crashing wave of rock. They had tried to dive out of the flood, but a stray stone was quick to chip the bird's wing and send them into the oncoming downfall of rock.

What happened next was more or less a blur; somewhere in their tumble they were sure they had hit their head, or perhaps a rock had hit them. By the time they were able to refocus on their surroundings, Tiw would find themself unable to move as pain coursed through their right wing. Upon closer inspection, the appendage had been wedged tightly in the now still sea of rock. Wincing, they tried to pull the wing free only to squawk out in pain from the failed effort.

They were stuck...and it would only be a matter of time until something came to finish them off.

With no better plan, Tiw would wait as the sun set lower in the sky; their pale body cowed against darkened rocks in some mild attempt to hide as if waiting out the inevitable would do any good. Despite their efforts, they still could not resist a pained croon any time they twisted their entrapped limb too abruptly. Maybe it was broken, but at the very least blood had been drawn. They could see the stain between the rocks as it spread to pale feathers and likely lured the very creatures they wished to avoid.

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Percival had heard the rockslide from the close end of the ridges. He'd race towards the sound— usually the opposite of what they would want to do— but he had done it anyways. Many wolves lingered around these areas, so after the remnants of the clashing sounds, he went to investigate. 

With his lean build, he slid through the tight corners of the rocks, light barks coming from the back of his throat. No one returned his call. Interesting. He thought he saw a pale white of a blob fall from the sky and into the— blood.

Percival had smelled the blood. But where was it? His nose dove towards the ground, tempting to seethe the trail, but it was blocked by a stone half his size. His brows furrowed, and welcomed the challenge. His head pressed against the juxtaposed side, pushing on it. Harder. Until it budged, finally falling off the ledge of the cliff. Behind it sat a small bird, it's wing still caught between a fallen rock. Dried blood cracked at its side. 

The bird was quite peculiar though, no doubt. A white raven. It's beak was pink with perhaps lingering albinism, but Percival was all the more intrigued. He was now convinced this was a gift from Aeris above. No doubt about it. He spoke no words as he began moving the rock that sat on its wing. This one was heavier, but it still didn't deter the King.

With a soft tumble, the rock fell down the mountainside, clamoring at the bottom. The King's indigo gaze returned to the bird. "Are you alright?"

 

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"What is it?" she called, trailing behind her king with a slow gait, head held high and tail raised. She could not smell anything cept for the thick scent of overturned rock and mud. Coming to stand at the edge of a grassy patch., she lifting a paw forward to take a step, only to realize that dirt was eminent. Grimacing,  Luna quickly shook her paw of any disgustingness that may have touched her white fur. She would let Percival be the one of do the dirty work though it sickened her.

"Is it a creature?" she sneered.

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Fate would come to meet them as hope dwindled. Even if they escaped would they make it out with their wing? They had two legs, but compared to large predators Tiw was a sitting duck. Eventually, the strain of shifting rock would catch their attention as light quickly flooded their view. Tiw winced momentarily as their eyes adjusted and strained to make out the pale figure before them. A wolf...

Tiw could feel their stomach drop.

He stood there like a god. One who could easily smite them and effectively wipe their remains from the earth...but he did not come with fangs bared. Their feathers would puff as Tiw closed their eyes waiting for the inevitable, but no fangs came to meet their neck. Instead, a weight was lifted as cutting rock was soon shifted and sent tumbling down the mountain side causing the bird to peek open an eye. They were...free?

Tentatively, they stretched the wounded wing and winced as sharp pain cut through their shoulder. Free, but dead all the same... The cut ran deep and even if they managed to gather what they needed from the valley to patch it, they would have to wait weeks to be able to use the wing again...if they could use it again. Tiw tried to pull the injured wing close, but even that proved painful as they resisted wincing in front of their...savior. It had been a long time since they tried to make out the words of wolf and frankly, they weren't prepared to try.

Instead, all they mustered was “Why?”

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Lunafreya had traveled close behind him— Percival had heard her soft footsteps clamor against the mountainside. He'd hate for her to worry, but his voice carried over the steep ledge. "A bird." He'd say shortly, his eyes never leaving the albino fellow. It tempted to stretch its wing, petrified beneath the High King's gaze. It twitched, unable to do so, but Percival would turn to face Lunafreya now, closing their distance. 

"Aeris is speaking through this bird, Lunafreya." He'd notion towards it's light coloration. "We are entitled to help it." Percival wasn't making a suggestion. It was an order. This bird would fall into Highvalley's debt, no less. 

It spoke to him. He turned. "You are God-given, that is why." Percival spoke with such certainty, such grace, that it could convince the skies as much to turn away storms of thunder. The bird would receive help, and aid, from anyone who could help them. "If the God wills it, it will be." He said it like a prayer.

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"A bird?" she echoed, clearly perplexed. Luna was curious, but not one to question god's will when bestowed upon her. Falling into line with Percival she would dip her head, closing her eyes to echo the same prayer up above, hoping that it would please Aeris who shined down upon them so brightly. "If it is god's will, it will be" she spoke righteously.


When prayer was done she would be back to tapping her paws excitedly, wavering like that of an impatient whelp.  "Well bring it here, let me get a good eye at it—quickly!"

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Tiw watched with wide unblinking eyes and a tilt of their head as the two spoke amongst themselves. They spoke a lot, some of which the meaning was lost in translation as they looked between these two wolves. It seemed...they had no interest in consuming them. Something about will or God. Things they knew about in theory, though they had never grown under such ideals.

“Tiw know no wolf.” How could they be given if they never once interacted with their kind aside from afar? They wouldn't lie, they were interested and it seemed they would be spared from further violence for the time being. The one's excitement stirred a primal feeling within their gut, but if they had wished harm...wouldn't they have done so already? They would turn their head once more for a better look as Tiw took tentative steps forward, their head raising out from the rubble enough to enter the light and see the woman who danced in place.

Perhaps if their wing was uninjured they too would tap along, but the thought of jerking their wing about stilled their movements. “How give? Wolf like Tiw?” Tiw liked wolf, but they never dared close the distance between their kind aside from cleaning up abandoned meals. They'd swivel their head to look between the two expectantly, though they'd secretly hope they would not say any more confusing words or language. Tiw only knew so much.

“Wolf help Tiw?”

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The squawking of the creature caught her off guard. Instantly she drew away, nose pinched and brows furrowed. "My, what an ugly noise..." she hissed.

If it were not for the sign of Aeris Lunafreya would not think twice for dismissing such a petulant creature—but so was not the case. Grimacing, she held out of paw- reminding that this was a precious gift bestowed upon them. "Come," she beckoned to the bird. "We have much to show you." If the creature accepted her paw she would graciously raise it to her shoulder, hoping that it was a suitable perch.

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Whatever excitement the woman once held was gone as soon as they opened their beak. Rather disappointing if you ask them... Tiw recoiled from her reaction, enough of her words reaching to sour their tongue. Still, the woman would offer a branching limb for them to climb. Tiw glanced to the one who seemed to enjoy them more. They seemed like a better back to settle upon, but he was silent and so carefully they would step out to clamber onto the wolf's limb and eventually settle upon their back. The raven still had questions, but given the reaction they last received, they chose to keep their beak shut for the time being in case this one decided to kick them from her back.

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Lunafreya was caught off guard by the feeling of a bird clutching her shoulder. The weight surprisingly heavy, if not awkward. Clearing her throat, she looked at the direction she sensed her husband, tail swishing at her hocks. She felt powerful having a blessing of the gods attached to her and couldn't wait to show it off. Oh how she'd be the talk of the inner circle.

"Dear i'm off to give a tour. I'll meet up with you later-" she sing-songed.

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