It did not take her that long actually to carry her husband atop her back and shoulders, back to the Home Cave, back to the huge elephant skull that acted like an entry way for her family's home, she paused outside the skulls entrance and opened her jaws, quietly chuffing for her mother. Her husband's blood soaked her fur and she felt it run down her skin in warm trickles, there was so much blood, she almost feared for him. But her husband was strong. A dumbass but he would live. He would live!

The young wife and mother pants, secretly enjoying the feeling of her husband's weight across her back, feeling the small breaths he took brush her fur, he was alive, he was here.

""Mama!"" She calls out again, ears pressing against her skull as she waits, normally patient but not this time, she had no time for Patience.

@Camellia @Ryker

It was a strange sensation. Even as a cub, he'd never been carried in such a way. The world faded in and out and he enjoyed the warmth of his wife's body and the way she moved under him. Later, he'd be impressed she managed to carry him by herself. At first, attempts had been made to support himself, but eventually his limbs stopped fully obeying him.

He didn't know how long the trip took, only realizing they'd reached wherever @Levana had been taking them when her voice rang out, calling for her mother. Eyes cracked open, bleary, and he tried to take in details. A cave. Somewhere. And...seemed like @Camellia's turn to return the favor from her time within Firnen. Probably a good thing he'd played nice back then, after all.

No shackles on the demon in me

I'd rather be dead than average

code by corvus

She had waited anxiously when Levana had set out to search for Ryker. After hearing about his escapades with the Wolfbron crowd, she worried greatly for her daughter setting out alone. But Levana was fit and strong and had proven herself capable more than once. And Camellia knew it would be pointless trying to convince her to stay where it was safe. She had, at least, succeeded in forbidding young Abaddōn from going. She had also sent her eagle friend to fly after Levana and he had returned with word of her approach not long before.

Camellia had some doubts when word reached her of Levana's approach. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, standing there in the entrance of Home Cave, she would never have believed that her pregnant daughter could carry her husband such a distance. It was easy to see, now, how Levana had managed to do the same for he when she'd been attacked by the river demon. Camellia hurried out to meet her, dual-toned eyes sweeping over the bloodied form of Ryker Dantanian. A multitude of questions swirled about in the healer's mind but she did not voice them. Instead she urged Levana down the sandy slope into the safety of the cave, sweeping her gaze around behind them to be sure they had come alone. Fektesd ide, a víz mellé. She instructed in hushed tones.

There was a zebra pelt laying on a bed of straw near the edge of a small glimmering pool of water. A collection of medicines and implements had been arranged in preparation and Camellia circled around to help Levana guide the injured man down onto his side upon the bedding. Annyi vér... Camellia murmured, a note of fascination in her voice as the crimson liquid reflected off her eyes. Without any more hesitation Camellia tipped her chin back and chuffed several times, calling for @Lilliana and hoping that she was nearby. Her help would be invaluable now... Ryker had sustained countless injuries and any help would be needed.

And for the rest of her kin... would they come? Would they protest the presence this most unwelcome guest?

---

•Lay him here, by the water
•So much blood...

Levana's muscles trembled and ached as she carried held her husband up, she was smaller than him, but she was determined, she was still riding the adrenaline that had come with being so angry at him, and she carried on with the sheer will to make him live. He would not die. He could not die yet.

It does not take Camellia long to appear and Levana breathes a sigh of relief though it is shaky, emerald green eyes fix themselves on her mother, she is searching her gaze, her own rippling like a ponds surface after being broken by a stone. She feels as if she herself is rippling, her stomach and chest are nonstop up and down, slower then faster, it almost makes her throw up right there. Cam quickly ushers her down into the cave and Levana does not argue, she forces her legs to steady, and she follows her mother.

With a softer hand than what she had threatened earlier, Levana gently lays @Ryker down onto the zebra pelt, she stands next to him, coated in his blood, all she can smell is his blood, she swallows the lump in her throat as she stares at him for a moment, almost disassociating at the sight of her broken, bloodied husband. She grits her teeth and lowers her head, pressing her forehead to his, finally allowing some tears to spill, ""Nem halsz meg rajtam, Ryker Dantanian. A kezdetek óta szeretlek, szerelmem örök számodra. Nem halhatsz meg rajtam."" She barely hears her mother call for her sister, she cannot find it in herself to worry about what the rest of her family will have to say, about her being here, but most of all, about him being here .


1. You will not die on me Ryker Dantanian. I have loved you since the beginning, my love is eternal for you. You cannot die on me.

Camellia set to work fairly quickly, though she found herself somewhat distracted, pausing to glance around as she worked. They were in the main central chamber of the Savante lair, which they called the Home Cave. There were side chambers, their entrances dark and shadowy, and Camellia kept expecting to see a gleam of red flashing any moment. Using soft rabbit pelts that had been specially prepared to be absorbent and pliable, she cleaned some of the blood and matted fur from Ryker's wounds, watching for signs of pain. He seemed to be either incredibly stoic or incredibly weakened - perhaps both - but she didn't go reaching for pain relieving medicine straight away. It was not Camellia's healing style, and she felt it could do more harm than good in many situations. There was a familiar scent hanging around her daughter's husband, and Camellia could guess who his opponent had been though she did not speak the name aloud. She did, however, check Ryker's jaw to ensure that it was not broken and was not surprised to find deep punctures there. This only confirmed for Camellia who had done such damage to him.

Her ear flicked, swiveling to pick up Levana's words as she spoke to Ryker. Camellia swallowed hard against a lump in her throat, trying to keep her face neutral as she began carefully patting a pale mud-like substance onto Ryker's wounds. She truly loves him... Camellia thought, sparing a quick glance at her pregnant daughter, wondering if it could be that she had truly found her life mate in him. Élni fog. He will live, Camellia replied, even though she knew Levana's words had not been for her.

Levana rests her head against her husband's, she closes her eyes and stays perfectly still, trying to channel and ground herself, she is aware of her surroundings, listening as her mother bustles about, her eyes peek open slightly, watching her mother glance around every so often. She remembers then her great aunt, green eyes look out towards the little books and crannies and she presses a kiss to Rykers temple before sitting up to stay on guard while her mother worked.

Levana swallows even though her mouth is too dry, her throat acts like she'd just inhaled a mouthful of sand, she listened to her mother's soft words, nodding slowly as her eyes are drawn back to him. Her limbs are shaky, she's exhausted, her sides ache, and her fur is sticky with crimson blood, but she does not leave his side, she does not stop her guarding.

Camellia held her gaze upon Levana for a long moment, and she noticed how exhausted her daughter looked. It occurred to the Medicine Woman that this must be putting such an incredible strain upon her body, which was already pushed to the limit by carrying children. She decided that she would prepare her a special herbal tea after this, something to help ease her stress and promote the health of her sacred womb. She would not allow her mind to wander to the possibility of the stress causing Levana to miscarry or otherwise harm her pregnancy. She had to believe in her strength.

Camellia bid a silent prayer to the mother, and then went back to working on Ryker.

Wounds were cleaned and poultices were laid over some of the uglier looking ones. Ryker, laying upon the striped pelt, was starting to look a bit like a zebra himself - one who had just finished having a roll in the dust. His body was becoming a patch work of muddy blobs, where Camellia had spread bentonite clay - her "Healing Earth" - to soothe and protect his many wounds. At one point she hurried off, returning with a strange glowing object - a baboon skull packed with hot cherry-red embers from which a pungent smoke was emanating. She placed it upon the ground close to his head, where the vapors would trickle towards him and be inhaled. They would promote relaxation and allow for more restful sleep.

After a while, Camellia sat back. She'd done about as much as she could do for now. Now it would be up to Ryker's body to take over from there, with the help she had provided. She looked to Levana, who had been waiting patiently and providing comfort to her barely-conscious husband. Hogy érzed magad? How are you feeling? She asked, leaning down to press her muzzle gently against her burgeoning belly, and feeling a small sense of relief when she felt a small movement in response to her touch.

---

Healing Roll:

Rolling 2d10: 6 + 2

Medic Level 3 - Can roll an extra dice when attempting to heal wounded rolls

She is a shadow within the heart of this cave, hidden deep within the dark crevices. The night is cold, with the returning winter howling outside as it covered the boneyard with snow. Decorating it in a beautiful, crystalline blanket.

A shiver runs up her spine as she lingers just near the entrance, her figure hidden atop a jutting overhang that was hidden carefully by the shadows of the ceiling. Toes curl into the soft, warm Earth - reveling in the Mother's comfort. Here she was at peace - at home. Even if her scent belonged to that of the Hollows. All was right in the world, and nothing could disturb her - not even the interruption of arriving family.

That is, until the Blood Mother realizes...it was not only family entering Her domain. She could smell his scent from a mile away. It was pungent and choked her, making her throat tighten with rage. Saliva glistens along her razor laced snarl as her lips quiver and slowly peel back - the sound silent at first as Teodora prowled down from her perch quickly.

There is no sound, no indication of her approach aside from the hush of the wind outside - seemingly quieted by the sheer force of her fury. The hair along her back raises, rippling down along the lengthy tail that sweeps along the earth.

That single, vibrant red eye glints in the lowlight as the Blood Mother makes herself known - a guttural growl erupting from her gullet like a demon from hell. Jaws part, saliva flying as she snaps viciously at the air, " Most vegyem le a szemét vagy a nyelvét? Látta ezt a helyet, most örökre el kell hallgattatni." Shall I remove his eyes, or his tongue now? He has seen this place, now he must be silenced forever. She snarls, her voice a harsh, enraged hiss.

That single eye locks onto @Levana, then turns to @Camellia, the depths of her disappointment impossible to vocalize. No, but it shined ever present within that seemingly glowing red eye. " Ugyanezt csinálom veletek?" Will I do the same to you two? The Blood Mother seethes.

coded by flea + background credit + art

Florentina had felt a subtle shift with @Camellia, something that only sisters may know. She wasn't sure what was different, she just knew something was off. The Mother's tendrils pulled at her limbs, guiding her forwards. Perhaps it was curiosity alone that had caused her to follow her sister, weaving outward away from the Hollows and towards the very Boneyard that she and Camellia had discovered their Home Cave in. It had been so long since she had tread within these halls and Florentina let out a soft sigh as she began her descent downward. All at once she was hit with a multitude of different scents: overwhelming was the smell of copper but mingled in was that of Camellia, @Levana, @Ryker and @Teodora.

It is her Blood Mother's voice that draws her in past the mouth of the Cave, her emerald gaze quickly scrutinizing the scene before her. "Shall I remove his eyes, or his tongue now? He has seen this place, now he must be silenced forever. Will I do the same to you two?" The rage that leaked through every word that Teodora uttered was enough to cause a slightly tremble to go down her own spine. This was the Blood Mother they had grown up fearing, still fearing. Tina moves forward, moving slightly to Teodora's right before her gaze is quickly taking everything in. It will land on her sister however and stay there, "Nőtestvér, mit tettél?" Sister, what have you done? Her voice is eerily calm but the spirits, the spirits begin a war around her. Her fur is being wrenched and pulled and Tina visibly winces at the onslaught - angry, they were so angry and feeding off of Teodora's energy. "Miért hozta őt ide? Neked?" Why has she brought him here? To you? But the unspoken question that Tina really wanted to know was .. Why was Levana here?

code by cala

Levana waits as her mother works, she doesn't realize she's nodding out until she awakes with a start and resumes her position, her back straightens and she yawns, eyes returning to Camellia until she leaves and comes back with a skull, red embers burning with a fragrant scent. When her mother sets back, Levana watches with worried eyes, she questions Levana and the daughter gives a sad smile, ""jól vagyok mama..."" I'm alright mama... She waits patiently as Camellia presses her muzzle to Levana's stomach, she can feel the life inside of her move and press softly against the lining and she smiles softly. ""Erősek...Köszönöm"" She leans over to press a small kiss to her mothers cheek, happy to be in her presence again.

She was almost relaxed again, she didn't even notice the approaching figure, not until the red and white woman wass upon them, her eyes snap to @Teodora and she freezes, fear soaks into her very soul but she snaps out of that fear. A growl resonates in her throat as her husband is threatened, the woman's eye locks onto her and her mother and her words are enough that Levana stands, ready to throw herself in front of her mother.