[ P ] You better run away

do not press this,
I am relentless.

His temper raged like a bitter winter storm. What had started as a simple protest, turned violent and all hell broke loose. Wolves rebelled against the soldiers while some sought to aid them. He had been near the bookshop when it happened, when chaos erupted in the streets and the tang of blood hit his nose. He hadn't seen what started the first brawl, not that it mattered. But it wasn't the audacity of those who stood against the crown that irked him.

Two women had ganged up on him, one going for his face while the other sank her greedy teeth into the back of his neck. A few superficial abrasions decorated his greying countenance as well. The wound to the back of his neck was the worst, blood matted his fur and the torn flesh stung. It was his ego that hurt the most.

His tongue rolled angrily behind his teeth. Emerald eyes glared at nothing in particular in front of him. With ears pinned back, he looked every bit unapproachable. His coat was dusty and disheveled which earned him wary glances from strangers he passed by in the streets. Nalik was headed home, or his home away from home rather, where he could rest and recover.

@Illaria

talk like this.

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The protest had gone exactly the way she’d believed it would. It had started off alright. And then quickly escalated into a fierce battle. She’d stayed out of the brawling for most of the beginning. But eventually she’d ended up helping the soldiers. Bodying a few protesters here and there to help with arrests.

But now she was tired. So very tired. She was sore, and covered in blood. She wasn’t exactly sure how much of it was hers or the others. In fact she was still high from the battle that she wasn’t even sure where her injuries were yet. That was something she’d have to worry about later.

She was currently pacing around, looking for anyone who was worse off than her. Anyone who she could help. It was during this she saw him. He look way worse than her. And she vaguely recognized him from this distance. He seemed familiar but he was covered in blood, sweat and dirt.

“hey! You! Soldier boy!” She yelled out, hoping he’d hear her cries and stop walking. He looked bad and he definitely needed medical attention. She picked up her pace, allowing herself to mostly close the gap between them.

@Nalik

do not press this,
I am relentless.

A bruised ego was a dangerous thing. He seethed at the memory, such feeble creatures overpowering him. hey! You! Soldier boy! It was fuel to an already very large fire. Lips peeled back as a snarl unfurled from his throat. He whirled on her without warning, but the sudden movement shot pain down his neck, causing his body to stiffen. "Boy?" He spat the word at her.

When his eyes settled on her face though, there was recognition. Enough to make him pause. "You." There was a subtle question behind the singular word. He had crossed paths with her a handful of times, whenever he needed a skilled hand to tend to his wounds. It had been many moons since he last laid eyes on the nurse.

Her merle pelt was hard to forget when paired with her dual colored eyes. His stance would relax, some, though he remained on edge. Fresh adrenaline coursed through his veins and the high of a brawl was still fresh. It made for a heady cocktail but a volatile man. His grip on his control had slackened, offering a glimpse of his younger self.

@Illaria

talk like this.

template by bean

She didn’t step away as he whirled on her, seething at her words and likely the events of the long day they seemed to have shared. But there was no mistaking him up close, and she had been right. He was the soldier she had patched up a few time in the past.

She offered him a cheeky grin. “Me indeed, and you” she tossed back at him. She wasn’t afraid of his demeanor. She was still battle high, and had worked on him before. Though he was now in far worse shape than she’d ever seen him before. Made her wonder what had happened to him.

“Why is it, that every time I see you you’re in need of medical services” she tsks at him, letting her eyes roam over his form, taking a mental note to rinse him off if he’d agree to let her take an actual look at him.

She looked him dead in his green eyes before she spoke again. “Come now, let’s get near some water so I can fix you up again” her tone dared him to challenge her, but was still warm and playful.

@Nalik

do not press this,
I am relentless.

She didn't shrink beneath the heat of his anger. It came as a surprise. Most wilted beneath his harsh stare, particularly women. It gave him pause, it caused him to look at her a little closer. A cheeky grin stretched across her face, her remark just as cheeky. While no smile touched his lips, his features would soften ever so slightly.

Her tut of disapproval would finally pull the faintest of smirks across his mouth. "Goes with the job." Came his gruff reply. Nalik stood still as her gaze roamed his body, taking note of his injuries he assumed. Her gaze didn't return to his face until she finished her assessment and there was something different about her expression. There was a lightness to her voice as she quietly demanded his compliance.

"Lead the way." He didn't have the energy to argue and he knew he'd fell better after. His pace was slow, his paws dragging with each step. Exhaustion was trying to creep in, his aging body complaining against the abuse.

@Illaria

talk like this.

template by bean

She was relieved when he agreed to let her treat him, telling her to lead the way. And she wasted no time in doing so. Leading the way at a slow and steady pace to the nearest water source, only then did she stop and turn her gaze back to the soldier.

“Sit, and bathe, I have to be able to see all of your wounds, and honestly with the filth from the brawling it’ll help clean the wounds as to prevent infection” she was in business mode now. She barked the command at him, while she laid out the supplies she had left.

She waited for him to clean himself up, eyeing what appeared to be the worst of his visible wounds. That would probably extra care. But for now she’s focus on any of his small wounds. They were easier to patch up. She’d save the worst for last, especially because it would probably be a wound he’d have to have seen again later on to watch for infection.

“I’m Illaria By the way. I never did introduce myself in the past” she offered. She knew some patients felt uncomfortable when they didn’t know who was treating them, but he’d never asked before. And she’d never offered up the knowledge nor asked a name of him either.

@Nalik

do not press this,
I am relentless.

She led him through the town, her pace mercifully slow, not that he would say so. They wouldn’t stop until she found what she was looking for. Her instructions to bathe had him arching a brow. Her tone was professional and while she had a point, he was less than thrilled with the idea of getting wet in the dead of winter. Years in the army had taught him life was easier when he didn't argue with the healers. With a sigh, he stepped into the chilly water. "I hope you have something to treat the cold I'm about to catch." He grumbled.

The chill sent a shiver down his spine. The water wet his coat, dirt and blood slowly dissolving. Breaking a new record, he cleaned up quickly his thick coat sticking to him like a second skin. His coat remained plastered to his skin for only moments before he gave himself a thorough shaking, sending the excess water in all directions.

Nalik kept still as she tended to his less serious injuries, hardly paying her any mind as she worked. His mind wandered, thinking back to the protest. It was her voice that pulled him from his thoughts, his gaze moving to her face. Illaria. A pretty name for a pretty face. "Nalik." His own name rolled off his tongue curtly. It didn't take long before he was cold on top of everything else. Pale jaws clenched, gritting his teeth against his impatience and the cold.

@Illaria

talk like this.

template by bean

She chuckled at his apprehension of getting in the water. But he did as she instructed. Which made her work that much easier. “Of course I do, don’t you worry about that. Let me do my job” she scolded.

She kept up a quick pace, and when all of his small wounds were cleaned and dressed. She took a breath. She offered him a smile. “It’s a pleasure to make your official acquaintance Nalik” She met his gaze, before she offered him a blanket.

“I’m done with the small ones. But that scruff of yours, that’s next. And unfortunately, not likely to be a fun one for you” she stated.

Pausing she looked at him, “do you mind laying down for me? I’m shorter than you and I need a closer look at it. And to be able to work on it” she asked softly.

@Nalik

do not press this,
I am relentless.

Her scolding had his eyes narrowing. He would bite his tongue begrudgingly. She moved with efficiency, tending to all of his smaller injuries until the last one was cleaned and medicated. Silence consumed them, his mind wandering to the days events. There would be hell to pay for this. First he would make sure that little bitch that attacked him was in jail and stayed there.

Illaria was speaking, her voice would drag his back to the present. His head inclined in acknowledgement. When she handed him a blanket, he would gladly take it, already feeling the chill spread across his wet skin.

When she spoke again, he would look at her. It was time for what he had been dreading. A sigh that teetered on the edge of the growl escaped his jaws. "Just get it over with." His forelegs slid forward as he lowered himself to his belly as she asked. Ears remained flattened against his skull as he took a steading breath.

@Illaria

talk like this.

template by bean

Illaria nodded and began pulling things out of her medicine bag. To the untrained eye it was a bunch of herbs, plants, leaves etc. but to her it was everything she was going to need.

She stepped over him, hovering over him she leaned in to take a closer look. Whoever had done this to him had no mercy. It was deep and brutal looking. Anyone else might have winced. Instead she reached for a particular poultice that she used regularly and some Comfrey leaves.

She didn’t give a warning at all, instead she did it quickly. Aiming to get it over with as fast as possible. She applied the Cinnamon Poultice to the open wound; it works as a great antibacterial in open wounds. Then she applied the Comfrey leaves over that and applied a little pressure to ensure they stuck. They were the second most important thing; as they stop bleeding and promote wounds to heal.

She removed herself from overtop of Nalik and looked at with a minor hit of pity. She knew that must have hurt more than the wound probably had. She didn’t say anything yet as she placed her things back in their carrier, when she finished she handed him some ginger.

“Eat it.” She left no wiggle room on that. It would help reduce the pain and inflammation of his wound.

“I’m only a Nurse, so that’s just a quick patchwork. I’d recommend seeing a Doctor in the next day or so. But that’ll hold you over until you go see one.” She gave him a warm smile. She loved helping others. And it made her warm inside.

@Nalik