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AW A Slight Case of Charity - Printable Version

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A Slight Case of Charity - Nate - 5/7/2026

Forward dated to 5/12

They were wolves. Wolves were meant to hunt. Not the ravenous way hypocritical ranchers accused, to justify killing a free thing. But in the order of things, balance between beast clans, waya had a role. Prey that was sickly or frail were prime targets, to keep sick from spreading, to keep suffering from drawing out.

And yet Mythris had, until recently, been rather determined to stamp out wolven race no matter the cost. Even at the expense of the elk, and the chickadee, and the tortoise, and the frog. In some ways, life was restored. In others, it was still mending. Lives were always precious... wastefulness was the flaw of the arrogant, regardless of what skin they wore.

So Nate rather felt like being a wolf, and being a man with the power to remember histories, were at odds, here.

A wolf should cull this fawn, trapped in the washout. It couldn't run, couldn't work its way up the eroded bank. He'd been watching. Seen the mother hovering. Listened to the bleating.

Easy prey.

But the fact there was a fawn at all, when winter had persisted so fiercely, sort of made him reluctant.

He hovered just far enough away to not chase the doe off entirely (or inspire her to charge him, which felt like a stupid way to get hurt after everything that had come recently before it.) From there, gauged his chances of being able to boost the little fella out of his predicament without getting beat to a pulp for the trouble.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Etienne I - 5/8/2026

The bleating had alerted Etienne. A creature in pain or in fear. What he could do he wasn't certain. But the healer in him simply couldn't let it go. So he followed it.

Golden gaze on the surrounding area. Ears perked forward. And he found he was not alone in his curiosity. When he came along the flank of the other wolf. He kept a safe distance.

W'at be 'appenin'

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Nate - 5/12/2026

Nate had been so entirely focused on the fawn, he hadn't noticed the approach of another until they brushed his side. Leaping like a cat, Nate strangled back a yelp that would no doubt have brought the doe bearing down on them in matriarchal vengeance and clenched his jaw so tight his teeth squeaked.

Blinked.

This was undoubtedly a stranger. Or at least, a newcomer he'd not yet met. Unless death had robbed him of memories, or he'd finally gone insane, which he supposed were possible, too.

Nate cleared his throat, trying to retrieve some sense of dignity from the far reaches of his mind, and offered a grin that was a little apologetic. Mostly apologetic.

You scared me half to death, there. His whisper greeted, laughing softly. Glanced back to the washout. It's a, uh, fawn. Stuck down the slope. Can't climb out. Back to the stranger, Have we — met?

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Etienne I - 5/12/2026

Etienne had misjudged. He thought he had been far enough away. So imagine his surprise when he met fur and the firm side of another. He quickly back pedaled. Sorry he hush spoke. Voice quiet. So to not startle.

Etienne shook his head. Non. I 'eard dey cry and I be a 'ealer. So I came see if I could be of 'elp. I be Etienne.

He studied the fawn. And the sides. Could they put a log in there? If one of them got near it both mama and baby would lose their minds. And Etienne didn't know how to heal heart attacks in babies and mamas. Not to mention he and this wolf would probably both end up with swift kicks to the head.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Nate - 5/16/2026

Non. Nate tilted his head at the accent, and the curious stranger who'd manifested beside him. He supposed stranger things were prone to happen in Mythris.

Well I won't say no to industrious idealism. The chief replied, grinning. I'm Nate Ronan, pleased to meet you Etienne.

Then back to the deer. In my old country, I was a uh... Ranch... Paw. Lip pursed. Well, basically it was my job to look after the herds, y'know? We took care of what fed us. If Etienne had only ever been a wolf, hopefully the idea would make sense. If not, hopefully they knew what he was talking about, Sometimes after the rain, calves would get stuck in the mud. Wear 'emselves out trying to get loose.

Frantic mothers, frightened newborns. If he'd had a rope and a horse this would be no trouble to solve. But all he had now were paws, teeth, and the industriousness of his mind. If it was a particularly protective mama, we'd have one fella run interference, keep her busy. The other would haul in and get the kid free. Patch it up if need be. Then we'd all book it so they could reunite. Couldn't do that on my own, but now...

Nate lifted his brows with mischievous glee.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Etienne I - 5/22/2026

Etienne had not even realized he had been too quiet. Or that he would scare the wolf. Though he supposed he had been a bit sneaky. He felt momentarily bad.

Pleasure be mine. Nate.

A ranch paw. Etienne had no clue what that was or even what they did. But he looked after herds. Was he a naturalist? Watching the beasts and the plants? LIke his sister had?

Mud he understood. He had found himself on the wrong end of mud and mire before. And it always stuck tight to you.


Etienne nodded his head. I can patc' it up. But by first looks. Just looks dirty and tired. You okay with distractin'?

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Nate - 5/24/2026

Perfect. Nate nodded, deciding Etienne had to be a basically decent sort of fella to jump on board with this scheme so quickly. Leave the diversion to me, you get that baby up and outta there as soon as you can.

Maybe it was a little dangerous. Maybe some folks would call it stupid. Nate decided to call it 'an adventurous spirit' as he loped out into open grass, setting himself in full view of the doe.

She snorted, foot stamping. He sidestepped. Easy there, Mama... A spring-blue gaze darted back toward Etienne and the washout, to gauge his proximity. Wouldn't it be a laugh if he just took the free dinner and ran with me standing out here? Well, too late now for second guessing.

Eyes fixed back on the doe, he crept forward in a rough approximation of a sheepdog, and when she charged, he bolted in a way to keep her eyes off Etienne.

Heart pitched. Paws and hooves tore grass. Shit, she was fast! He laughed a little, in spite of himself, tail tucked to avoid stomping hooves.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Etienne I - 5/25/2026

Etienne waited quietly as the other man worked through the plan. It was simple. Hopefully it worked. Nate played a more important part than Etienne.

Etienne watched with golden gaze while the other man moved around and then in front of mama deer. It seemed to work. She was immediately at him.

Etienne darted forward. Clamping paw around the fawn's mouth at least holding it down so he didn't bleat. Then with his own body he shoved himself under the baby and pushed up.

The fawn bleated, but soon got the memo and though his hooves dug deeply into Etiennes shoulders. It was able to scramble past the rim.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Nate - 5/26/2026

For a moment things seemed to be working as intended. Etienne kept the tyke quiet at first, and Nate did his best to kite the doe far enough away to avoid noticing what they were about.

But plaintiff bleating as it climbed free turned the doe's ears, and promptly the rest of her. Nate skidded as she charged the wolf who'd finagled her fawn out of the gulch.

Shit. Bolting to catch up, he barked. When that didn't work, he aimed teeth at the white of her tail. Anything to divert her attention from Etienne.

Well, the bite landed.

But so did the retaliatory kick to his jugular that dislodged him with a mouthful of fluff. And the followup flail of foreleg crashing over his ribs and knocking the wind clean out of him, because of course it did.

Wheezing, Nate wrestled unsuccessfully for control of his limbs. Watering eyes watched her race across the green for her fawn.

RE: A Slight Case of Charity - Etienne I - 5/26/2026

Alas it was too late. Did they succeed. Oh yes. But at what cost. Etienne heard the smack of hoof into flash. Knew that sound, had been near enough injuries.

But before he could even react. The fawn nailed him with its hoof right to the flesh above his eye. Immediately Etienne felt skin give way. And warmth oozed down his face and blurred his vision. Mama deer bleated loudly at both Etienne and Nate. But she had her baby and promptly ran off with it.

Etienne lay dazed for a moment at the bottom he had slid down into. Mud coated his legs and paws. But luckily enough where there was mud and water. There was spring plants popping up. Etienne had to search for a few seconds. It felt like hours because he needed to help Nate. But he knew well that old adage. Put the oxygen mask on mama first so to speak.

He packed some yarrow in the wound and it stemmed the bleeding at least for now. But he probably looked a fright. Mud coating him. Blood caking the side of his face and into hia fur. Because head wounds always bled like the very devil's they were.

He grabbed a few more sprigs of the yarrow. And clamored his way out of the wash out. His eyes slightly unfocused. But he managed to get to Nate.

I be 'earin' 'er foot land. W'ere Dat mama get you?

Healing 1/5