They pair had moved on from Polaris when Rasts wounds had stopped bleeding and had scabbed over. The process allowed her to be able to walk without busting them open again. However, she had to move slowly. It wasn't like she could have walked very fast anyways, she had no idea where she was going. Rast depended so heavily on Ocelot to guide her. But even his guidance couldn't keep her from tripping on the uneven pieces of ice. Moving without knowing where she was going was nerve wracking.
"No, I can keep going." She mewed, finding temporary comfort in the lick that Ocelot gave her ear. As she spoke, her paw snagged on a piece of ice. Rast stumbled with a frightened cry, but quickly righted herself.
"It feels nice in here... even though I keep tripping." The chilled breeze that howled in her ears made her feel at home. This is what her thick coat was made for.
@ocelot
"Speech." Kallista wasn't sure where she was going. She had wandered through different tunnels and caves for cycles now, not sure where to go. She constantly thought about Li and how the hybrid had snapped at her and then attacked her. It was really no wonder. She knew how Imperia was, knew there was no way Li could be normal after living like that. She had thought that maybe, with Li having left the caracal, she would've been better.
Certainly didn't seem to be the case.
For now, she found herself heading to Polaris from Pisces when she saw two others. Immediately stiffening up, she eyed the two. Both young, clearly younger than she. Not even fully grown. Either way, she was wary. Imperia was younger than her and still managed to wound her badly. Who's to say these two wouldn't do the same?
But on closer inspection, she realized one of them was injured, and badly so. In fact...did she lose an eye? The sight sent what felt like a stab of pain around where her own eye used to be. She watched the two from a distance, eyes narrowed. She looked at what had happened to the white one. Scars, and a definite loss of an eye. Recent, too. Very recent. Within some days, perhaps. And the other eye...was that their gem? Were they...blind? She blinked. That couldn't have been easy to adjust to. Or...to adjust to, as it seemed she didn't know her surroundings, judging by the way she heavily leaned on the other.
She eyed the two up and down but didn't say anything. She was somewhere the ocelot would surely notice her, not bothering to hide her observation.
@Rast @Ocelot
The snow leopard nodded as Ocelot reassured her. He was right. Once she was in a place to call home she was sure that she could learn. She was smart right? She could survive! Rast was confident that with Ocelot at her side, she could live once again. But the real question was, would she ever be truly happy? Only a few days after the fight, she was sure that happiness was a figment of her imagination. It didn't seem real.
Nevertheless, she trudged on. Her paw steps were stretched and awkward as she tried to follow Ocelots warnings for small cracks and crevices that could crack her up. Her large paws still caught in some places, but she did not fall. Rasts long tail drug listlessly behind her, only twitching to maintain her balance.
"Ocelot? Do you know where we are-" The snow leopard froze as Ocelot stopped and spoke quietly. Her fur stood on end, everything about his tone to the way his muscles tensed against her body told her there was danger. Even the gentle nuzzle from Ocelot didn't sooth her.
What if it was him?
Rast hunkered low to the ground as Ocelots physical presence left her side. Fear raced through her veins and made her wounds ache even more. There was an enemy and she could not see it! What if it attacked Ocelot? She would have no way of defending herself. At least, not well. Her ears were tucked flat against her head as she gazed forward.
@kallista @ocelot
"Speech." It wasn't long before she was noticed. Kallista continued to observe for a moment, ignoring his question for the time being. It wasn't until she noticed the injured one crouch down, ears flat against her head, that she spoke.
"Careful," she spoke quietly, but still loudly enough that she would be heard. "You don't want to cause her fear." Her entire posture was relaxed, contrary to how she really felt. She was just as wary as the one who had spoken to her, though she tried not to show it.
"I won't hurt you. Either of you." She looked between the two for a moment before her gaze settled on the one crouched down. "I know what it's like. To get into a battle at a young age that changes you. In more ways than one." By this point, surely they would notice she only had one eye. She used to hide it best she could, cycles ago. But by this point, she had accepted it. It was just who she was - she'd gone countless more cycles like this than before.
@Ocelot @Rast
Fear still gripped her as a new voice reached her ears. It was feminine. That allowed some relief. She would never forget the voice of the beast that blinded her. This new gembounds voice sounded so calm. It made her relax just enough for her fur to settle and her ears to raise.
She won't hurt us... Anyone could utter those words and mean the exact opposite, but something about the way this other creature spoke told her she meant it. Her voice also relayed a wisdom that Rast detected. Had she been hurt the way she had?
When Ocelot returned to her side, she pushed herself up to sit on her haunches. Her head hung in the general direction of the stranger. A short purr rumbled from her chest when Ocelot licked her ear and nuzzled her. Ocelot saved her the need to introduce herself Her muscles were now relaxed and she gathered up the courage to speak.
"What do you mean you know what its like? Did someone hurt you too?" The questions were innocent. Curiosity still played its part in this cat.
@ocelot @Kallista
"Speech."
Kallista continued to watch them as they relaxed, soothed by her voice. Good. Ocelot was sure to do whatever he could to protect Rast if he thought she was in danger, and she didn't need that. She'd had enough battles in her lifetime. There were only two but, it was two too many.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Ocelot lick Rast's ears and nuzzle her. She felt a stab of jealousy and, not for the first time nor for the last, wished she still had Todd. It had been cycles since she'd seen the silver fox, and she always feared he was dead. But now was not the time to be thinking of that, not as Rast spoke.
Her one-eyed gaze turned to her and she flicked an ear. "Cycles ago, more than you could begin to comprehend, I was attacked. They stole my eye, leaving me partially blind. Perhaps not as bad as you - I can still see - but I know and understand the pain you are in."
@Ocelot @Rast