Drabble Challenge: Day 11

    Gosh, that was a close one. Nine minutes away from midnight. My excuse is that we're watching Iron Man 3 in the background, plus, again, not having arrived home from the cousins' house until ten. As usual. 

    We're nearing the end of the Vena and Astarot introductory saga, but I think there'll be at least one more after this one. We'll have to see, though. Those words are really starting to pile up.


    Drabble Challenge: Day 11 - prepared
    Word Count: 660    Minimum Goal: 666

    Vena had been prepared for a lot. She’d been prepared to have to fight for her life, to try to fend off a savage wolf with little else but her bare hands and bruised body. 
    She hadn’t expected to feel tugs on her heart strings, taking in the laid back ears and the second whine that the wolf let out. Mangy, bleeding, covered in snow, the Great Wolf wasn’t much to look at. He probably looked worse than she did at the moment. 
    And he was asking for her help. Going against all his ingrained instincts and seeking relief from his greatest enemy. A human.
    “Don’t do this to me, please,” she whispered, one arm pressed tight against her side. She kept her distance from the world for a reason. Because she couldn’t handle getting her heart broken by everyone who passed her by. Or everything.
    It clawed at the snow, trying to drag itself along to little avail. Vena looked behind her, towards the North Star, Dunlark, and safety. Then back at the wolf, with its black fur and frosty eyes, that couldn’t even find enough strength to stand like she had.
    It only took her a couple more moments to know that she wasn’t going to be able to leave. Digging through her bag, the mindpath searched for the remainder of her extra shirt. It wouldn’t be enough, but she had to try.
    Once it was in her hand, she dropped her bag in the snow and limped towards the large canine, moving slowly so it wouldn’t get startled. Even at her rate, its ears still flattened further against the curve of its skull.  
    “Calm down,” Vena whispered, carefully getting down on her knees to get down on his level. “You wanted my help, I’m giving it. If you decide to rip out my throat, you are going to die.”
    By now, her pants were already soaked through, but kneeling in the snow sent a fresh wave of cold through her. 
    Her molten gold eyes flickered to the side, where the white was getting stained red with blood. At this proximity, she could see the shaft of an arrow protruding from the wolf’s shoulder. The end of it had broken off, leaving only a small section of it to use as a grip. She could only hope that only the arrowhead was embedded in his shoulder, not several inches of wood as well. There were more gashes along its side, but she didn’t think that they were enough to be life-threatening. Not yet, anyways.
    When Vena looked down at her hands, they were shaking, the scraps of her garment wrapped loosely around her bloody fingers. I’m scared. I’ve always had the advantage over people, but animals are things I can’t control. 
    The Great Wolf was silent a handful of paces away, as if waiting for her to make up her mind. 
    “Alright, come along, let’s do this.” She said at last, taking in a deep breath and starting to walk on her knees towards him. 
    It watched her, wariness in its blue eyes. But it didn’t try to escape her beyond drawing its head back a small space. Vena stopped when she was still a couple of paces and reached out with one hand, her fingers curled. She’d seen children approach strange dogs this way—she could only hope that it would work the same way here.
    After a long moment, the wolf sniffed. Once, twice, then it sneezed.
    When there was no retaliatory bite, Vena felt a flame of hope ignite in her chest. Maybe. 
    Scooting forward a small space further, she reached to touch its head. Still nothing. Her fingers traced soft hairs and scarred skin and she felt it. Him. A consciousness, a spark of life. 
    Vena let her touch trail down, towards the arrow, to inspect the wound. She could feel the Great Wolf’s breath against her front, feel his wariness towards her, then there was wood against her fingertips.

    Well. I hope that that meets expectations. Don't expect everything to be smooth sailing next bit, though. Just FYI. 

    And with that, I will see you all tomorrow.

    Ad astra per aspera.

    To the stars, through difficulties.