Who would of thought? In a place like this?{Vicki}

[Rivaxorus]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Zephard2.jpg] That was exactly it, who would of thought, in a place like this, I would be coaxed them out of no where ambushed. Really, I was only on the borders of these forbidden lands, and yet I felt no urge to stay here, only to flee away. Perhaps it was because something of some sorts was protecting me, like Minlo, even though I didn't want his protection it seemed he had a knack for protecting his own. Limping was the least of my worries, these thick woods, you couldn't locate anything except if you scented everything with the large scratch on my nose, that was a problem. I stopped when I finally got to the edge, yet, my sense of direction was flown off by that place. So I planted myself right on the edge of these cursed woods. Now that I had been here, more of the packs would think I was cursed, because of the fact I came back. I had injuries that seemed major to any other wolf, but it was basically nothing, most of the blood was from the other wolves. I didn't like killing, but I injured and scared them enough for them to flee. I had a large but not deep gash on my side, and a nick on my nose which was about it, the rest were just scratches. I hadn't time for my last spell to wear off, so there were still bits and pieces of bones on my fur, specially around my face, which made it almost like a bone mask. I sighed, if Vicki showed up in a place like this, I swear I would not let her stay. That was the last thing I needed, someone who transferred the wounds to herself only for them to be worse. That, and besides I was fine left to heal on my own in the first place.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] Why did I come here? Vicki thought as she stood just outside the forest. Of course, she already knew the answer: that she had been dreaming of this forest for days, and tonight in particular, it was calling to her really strongly. She wanted to ignore it, but she couldn't. Of course, she wasn't such an idiot as to go inside. That was suicide. But she did wonder why this place was calling her so fiercely. She saw wolves retreating from this place as she was heading there, but they ran past her too quickly for her to offer her services to them. It was odd, even for this place. It was then she saw a familiar figure on the very edge of those woods. It looked like...Zephard? But why would he be there? She smelled blood, lots of blood. Was he hurt? Without even thinking, she ran toward him, stopping less than a foot away. This was him, of course. He had bone fragments on his face, but she could still see his familiar purple eyes. "Hello, Zephard. What are you doing here? Don't you know this place is dang-?" she started to ask, cutting herself off as soon as she saw the gash on his side, which she had discovered when she walked closer to him. "My gods, you're wounded! Let me see that!" She closed the already short distance to try to touch his wound and heal it. There was plenty of life here that she could use to heal herself from that gash after transferring it onto her. She hadn't even given him the chance to respond yet, and already, she was attempting to touch him. Yeah. Don't read too much into that.

[Rivaxorus]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Zephard2.jpg] I was just thinking about how many different herbs I could heal these wounds with. Then suddenly, just what I didn't want, Vicki showed up trying to touch the nack on my nose. I blinked and quickly vanished into thin air and appearing behind her again, away from where she could touch me. "Oh, no, you aren't doing that on me, I'll be fine. Plus your the own who shouldn't be here this forest has a stronger pull on you then it does me." I said to her backing up a bit. This forest, it seemed to be whispering strange things. That any normal wolf without any godly protection would be mesmerized to go into. I watched Vicki, she had been so distracted by me that the woods had not caught her attention just yet, hopefully it stayed that way in my thoughts. I sat down behind her just waiting for another reaction. "Besides, sometimes healing it myself over time, can build up strength, otherwise, why would we get wounds. For our gods entertainment?" I almost laughed at myself. Of course it entertained them, but it still had benefits to those who healed through their sheer will. I didn't want Vicki getting hurt either, if she used the twilight wood's trees to heal herself, who knows what would happen. If she got cursed because of it, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] When Zephard disappeared and reappeared behind her, Vicki stumbled even closer to the woods. She could practically touch one of the trees. She turned back to Zephard, then suddenly heard voices whispering. She hadn't noticed them before, but now, they were interfering with her concentrating on him. She could see his mouth moving, but his voice was muffled. "I...just couldn't...not come here," she said, her voice strained. It was taking a lot of effort for her to stay still. She wanted to step toward Zephard again to try to heal him once more, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. The whispers were getting louder. "Makes sense, but...I still...I want to..." She couldn't concentrate on speaking anymore and whipped back to the woods. "Z-Zephard..." Her voice was tiny now, fragile. "Do you...hear that whispering? I can't...Stop..." She was moaning now. She knew not to go in the woods, and she was trying to resist it with all her might, but she was so close to them now. Surely one more step would not hurt? "No! Don't go in there! It's too dangerous!" She had to scream these words aloud at herself, but even then, she saw herself take one more shaky step toward the woods.

[Rivaxorus]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Zephard2.jpg] Great, she was going into the woods, was my first thoughts when she started walking towards them. It was obvious her sheer will, wasn't quiet enough to pull back from being on the edge of those things. I had to act fast, the bones on my face finally cracked and crumbled away when I vanished and reappeared right in front of Vicki. With a large attempt, to push her thoroughly back a few feet away, so the whispering wouldn't be as loud as it was from where she was once standing. It would help a little, perhaps just enough so she wouldn't be tempted to go into the woods. After my attempt using my bone manipulation in a unique way I covered her body with bones loosely to try and pin her to the ground. "Whether you want to help me in the matter or not, I'm not letting you heal me, not here at least" I told her getting close crouching down to where her nose was. I made sure the bones were loose enough where she wouldn't be uncomfortable in the condition she was in. I could still hear the faint whispers, but it seemed like to me they weren't strong enough to draw her near again. At least, that's what I though, after all I seemed to be immune so I wouldn't know.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] Even though he appeared right in front of her, Vicki could have avoided Zephard's push if she really wanted to, but in her mind, that was exactly what she needed to have happen. She let him push her back, then cover her body with bones and pin her down. She could have avoided it, but she knew she alone was not strong enough to resist the whispers that quieted slightly, but still had a pull on her. "And I'm...not sure I'd be able to do it correctly, anyhow," Vicki said. True, it was partly because she was feeling completely inadequate, having walked toward a place she knew was dangerous, but that wasn't her only reasoning for saying it. "The whispers...I wouldn't have been able to concentrate..." She shivered, then noticed how close he was to her nose. She only had to touch the wound, then, whether he liked it or not... No. I can't do it, she thought. Save the healing for another time. She looked him in the eye now. "Looks like...yet again...you're saving me. You can't catch a break from that, can you?" She laughed, although there was a slightly bitter undertone it. "Seriously, thank you." Even though she was saying and thinking all those things, the rest of her body didn't seem to agree with her. She was shaking just trying to stop herself from resisting the bones pinning her down, and that barely worked. If she was any weaker, say, from healing his wounds, she probably would not have enough will power to resist the woods' pull.

[Rivaxorus]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Zephard2.jpg] I sighed and shook my head. What am I going to do with you? I thought, this time I made sure my bone rope tightened around her right back leg{Hope that's alright} Or at least attempted to. As I dragged her away until the voices, were nothing more then wind and I certainly knew that they wouldn't be able to draw her near. The bones crumbled away and I looked at her, "What were you thinking, you know as well as I do that those lands aren't called forbidden for nothing." I told her, scratching the ground underneath me. I was going to bite against a tree, but then I would just plainly look stupid in front of Vicki. I didn't like it when others got hurt, it didn't help that I was covered in blood that was mostly not mine. Yet, from her point of view it must have looked like mine. I twisted around and cursed under my breath. Completely forgetting I was hurt. Then taking a deep breath I turned back to her. "At least your a lot safer then you were before" I muttered to the side of my mouth. This was turning out to not be my day in any way what so ever possible.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] Vicki was doing an okay job of controlling her urge to squirm against the bones holding her down until Zephard started dragging her off. That was when she started desperately trying to get back to the woods, digging her manicured claws into the ground and whining before she could get a hold of herself. After all, the whispers had started promising her things. Why are you letting this guy defeat you? the whispers seemed to ask. Why are you letting him pin you down and oppress you? Why don't you come in here? Here, you can be loved. Here, you can make genuine friends, not just acquaintances that need you from your healing. Here, you can be free of the emptiness that consumes you... Vicki let tears fly loose as she squirmed until finally, the whispers died away, although Vicki could still hear them in the back of her mind, like a whisper that's just quiet enough that you can't make out what it's saying, but you still know that someone is doing it. Finally, when the bones crumbled away, she stood up, stretched, then sat right back down. No way was she going to actually move back toward this place. Unfortunately, she couldn't exactly tell where home was from here... "What was I thinking?" Vicki asked, her eyes slightly glazed over. "I...well, I...I know this place is forbidden and supposedly cursed, but I heard it calling to me stronger than ever before. I tried to ignore it, but then..." She bit her lip. "The whispers...They told me a friend of mine was injured and needed my help. And then...a picture of you, wandering through the woods, injured and alone entered my mind and I just...I had to see." She blinked those tears that had flowed so freely earlier back. "I'm sorry. I'm so rigoristic when it comes to helping my friends..." She nodded at his last comment. "As are you..." She looked down, then remembered how she wanted to heal him earlier. "Would you mind if I healed you now?" Her voice was shaky as she spoke.

[Rivaxorus]

I looked at her tilting my head, she seemed to be okay. At least that was good enough to me. I shook my head with a mild grin, setting my head on top of hers. "Oh, boy what am I going to do with you." I whispered. Not really caring if she had a no touch rule, or rather not get too close thing. I was starting to think my body was moving on my own because I liked her more then a friend. I flicked my tail and backed away from her a bit looking at her and perking my ears.

I could feel that tug again, against the chains of my soul, it was like a voice ringing in the back of my mind. I ignored it, I wasn't going to let Minlo have my body here, maybe in another place, but not here. After all, I was able to survive this long, why not any longer. "Don't heal me, you'll just get more hurt, saving you is enough for me." I told her backing a bit more away, I didn't want her to heal me that was for sure. I wasn't going to get her more hurt then I was.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] Vicki felt Zephard's head on hers and blushed. Nobody's ever made that kind of physical contact with her unless she just finished healing them and were showing their gratitude. "Don't worry about me...focus on yourself," she answered. "I told you why I was here, but why did you come? At least I didn't get injured like you did, which I have you to thank for." She laughed nervously. "Honestly, if you keep saving me like you do, how will I ever finish repaying you?" And then he backed away, which caused Vicki to look at him. He seemed to be fighting something, and told her not to heal her, then he stepped even further away. Vicki wasn't sure how to feel about that...She sighed deeply. "You are very generous, but I pay my dues. I owe you even more now..." She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "So stop being ridiculous and let me..." She trembled fiercely, although not from fear or coldness. No. This was her attempt to bottle up all the emotions she was feeling about herself. "It's the only way I can think of to help you." It was a hard thing to admit, but it was true. It's not like she could stick with him and fight alongside him, nor could she cast any other spells that would be particularly useful to him. This was the only way she could even start repaying him for all the kindness he has shown her. Anything else she did would fall short.

[Rivaxorus]

The least I had expected from Vicki was to get all sentimental about it. I only wanted her to be safe and not be injured, and whenever she healed me, it would only scar her body more. I blinked at her as tears form at her eyes, repay me? She didn't need to do that, I was fine. I protected her because I wanted to, not because I had to, or wanted something in return. I wouldn't take advantage of someone like that. I inched closer, I wasn't avoiding her because of the pull, I just didn't want her to be more hurt then she already was. Even though she had no wounds on her, it didn't mean my wounds would end up worse on her body. "Hold on there, don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you" I told her setting my head onto her shoulder and pulling my ears back. I wasn't used to girls crying in front of me, unless I really knew them. I closed my eyes and relaxed though pulling my body close to hers.

"♫O.h. l.i.t.t.l.e. mocking bird
please don't cry
Your safe in my arms where the dark can't touch you
You don't have to fear for anything in the world

O.k. l.i.t.t.l.e. Mocking bird
Please don't cry.♫"

The lullaby had a sad tone in it, but it was a beautiful son that I made up just for her. I wasn't afraid to say that I had feelings for her, it was trying to find the right words to say it, that and the fact if I got rejected, it would just cause problems for both of us. There may have been a law about not having mates in other packs, but that was different from an outsider like me. I hummed the song along until I went into singing again.

"♫Listen to me as the sun sets
Listen to me as it r i s e s
Follow the steps into the moonlight
Don't shed a tear because of me.♫"

I finished the lyrics there, it wasn't a finished song, but it was more then enough to me to think to have calmed Vicki down. Whether she healed me or not was up to her in those moments. I wouldn't know until I looked at myself. After all, I was a bit distracted by the song, and my thoughts about everything else in general.

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] When Zephard said he didn't mean to upset her and put his head on her shoulder, she sighed deeply. She did like the feeling of his head there, and he was looking unbelievably cute when he did that, but she knew she had to try to explain herself to him. "It's not you I'm upset with," Vicki said. It honestly wasn't. How could she properly explain to him that whether or not he asked for a reward, it was the right thing to do to try to repay him? How could she explain that it was herself she was upset with, and not him? She opened her mouth to add "it's me", but couldn't bring herself to say the two little words. Wouldn't that make him feel worse than he did somehow? Maybe not as guilty, but certainly more depressed, or some such. God, this was confusing. Instead of saying anything further, she listened to his song. She had the feeling it was addressed to her, but it couldn't have been...no one she knew would literally write a song on the spot and sing it right then and there, as Zephard just did. Still, listening to that song, she couldn't help but smile, and she touched him, healing the nick on his nose and the gash on his side in one fell swoop. Sure, it stung, and yes, the action fatigued her, but she couldn't just leave him injured like that. Who did he think she was? "That is a beautiful song," she said. "I have never heard it before." She looked him in the eye. "I thank you very much for all you've done for me." She wasn't drawing life from the area around her to heal herself. Not right away, anyway, as she knew that would make her even more fatigued, and she didn't want to wind up passing out on poor Zephard, who already has done more for her than anyone else in her life has so far.

[Rivaxorus]

I didn't know what to say to her after that, although it had seemed she had healed my wounds. Yet, it wouldn't get rid of the blood tainting my pure black fur. I smiled at her, it was as if, I felt like I couldn't let her go. The warmth of her body was just enough to give me some comfort of my broken heart. She seemed drained, yet if she slept here near me, I would protect her, it was pretty easy in my condition and power. Of course she hadn't heard a song like it, I had made it up just for her, because I couldn't find anything else to say to her in that manner. I lifted my head away but, kept my body close to hers I definitely didn't want to move it and feel cold again, to be filled with that loneliness I had begun to accept until just now. Perhaps I was still accepting it, just not in a way I could think of it as, accepting.

"What were you doing our here so late anyway, wouldn't Gabe have scolded you? Or did you just so happen to sneak away from him because of these woods calling you?" I still didn't have a straight answer, yes I believed the woods pulled her here. Yes, I believed she came because she saw I was hurt, but why me? She should have known how much trouble she was already in for talking to an outsider. Let alone, helping one, let alone, I was considered a "traitor" at the moment. Although, even though that was possible she still came, and didn't resist even though she was far enough away from the woods. I didn't want to see her more hurt then she was here. I know I would have to get used to it, because she wanted to repay me. Yet, there was no need for that, I wouldn't ask for anything in return, ever. Not with her anyway, not with anyone, but especially her. Some would deny the fact of this happening to the ghost wolves.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt anymore, not as long as your with me" The words slipped out of my mouth. I didn't mean to say them, but I did anyway. Looking away I blushed a bit, making it hard to see through black fur though in the first place. I didn't know what else to say, just two little words that I didn't know were stuck in my throat, making it lumpy. It made me nervous, but what else could I do?

[lidarose]

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[atrb=background,http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss40/Milkyface4455/Vicki2.jpg] "I told you before that Gabe doesn't scare me," Vicki said with a smile. "So, naturally, I sneaked out." She laughed. "It's not the first time I've vanished late at night to do some healing, and it certainly won't be the last. Even if he wanted to punish me, he could not do so without probable cause. I'm needed too much." She allowed herself to lean on Zephard. Quite honestly, she liked his warmth, and wanted to stay like that with him as long as she could. "I don't think he likes me. Not sure that he ever has or would in the future. I try to be nice to him, but..." She let out a shaky breath. "Sometimes, he makes me so angry, you know? I even..." She averted her eyes a little sadly. "Said some really unkind things to him. I apologized the next day, but I don't think he was in much of a forgiving mood." She sighed heavily. "I hate when I have to be mean to get my point across." And it was about then she realized she had been rambling and she blushed with embarrassment. The last words he said made her blush even deeper, and she could see that he was blushing, too. "Zephard...Everything I do is my own choosing," Vicki tried to explain. "Besides, who's the one always popping up with the injuries in the first place, eh?" She nudged him playfully, laughed, then sighed. "I don't want to see you get hurt, either. Or remain hurt. That is why I offer to heal you all the time. It's not merely to try to repay you for your kindness."

[Rivaxorus]

I sort of laughed at her, looking at her again. "If it's not to repay my kindness then what's it for. Little missy." I asked, I flopped on the ground next to her, setting my head on the ground. It was a lot more relaxing then staying all tensed up the entire time I was with Vicki. Not that I was, but my muscles felt tensed up in a position like that. I blinked and looked at the distant Twilight Woods. Starting to wonder, were there souls trapped in the trees? That was what it sounded like mostly to me and something felt awfully strange about that place as well, different from even the black mist.

I turned over on my back and watched the roof of the trees. Considering you couldn't even tell whether it was day or night here. It was all gloomy, I doubted even Klux's would want to live in a place like this. "You know, the reason I came here was, I was chased, and the ones who chased me didn't even seem to be part of a pack. Or have the ghost element, so it made me wonder, how they resisted the pull of those woods." I explained putting a paw up as if I could touch the black burnt leaves covering the sky where the moon or sun should be.