Crunching snow cracked under each step the small patrol made. Ventus took the lead through the forest, leading a path that was wide enough for their new, terrifying friend could use. Tah limped heavily on his broken leg, every now and then making a grunting sound as he hopped over to keep up with Tahliz and Ventus. "You sure he would be able to walk all the way back to camp?" Tahliz asked, concern taking over his expression. Tah made a small whine once he did, nudging his snout on Tahliz's back in such a gentle way.
It was almost hard for Tahliz to think such a large creature such as Tah could be gentle. Though it was a little more believable when considering that the creature's ribs poked through his scales and each bone could be made out of his frame. "Maybe" Ventus soon stopped, looking over at the dragon with deep thought. "But what would they think?" Ventus muttered under his breath, looking over the unhealthy frame that Tah had in the gentle rays of sunlight.
"What was that?" Tahliz asked, despite hearing him. He wanted to know what was troubling his superior, a feeling twirled within him, one he couldn't quite name. Tahliz didn't like seeing Ventus look so troubled, he felt a distress.
"Tah... sure he saved us but what would my father think?- what would our cheif think?" Ventus clarified, turning his hazel eyes to Tahliz. "All my uncle would ever say when telling his stories about the howlers is how horrifying and dangerous they are" Ventus pointed to Tah, the howler sniffing a bush and letting out a pur when he found some winter berries to snack on.
"Yes, very dangerous" Tahliz couldn't stop his chuckle, be moved to gently pet Tah's shoulder, finding the softer scales to feel like the sandpaper he uses to smooth out any new furniture.
"I'm being serious, Tahliz" Ventus raised his voice, speaking up to empathise how serious this subject is. "What do you think they'll do if we bring an injured and weak one home? Regardless if he saved us or not" he asked, looking down at the apprentice who was half mindedly feeling the texture of Tah's scales.
"They will" Tahliz spoke slowly, thinking it through. Captin Glacies had already shown a distrust towards Tahliz, so it's not like he would be willing to hear him out. And Cheif Nix practically passed out in fear during the blizzard just by hearing a howler. "They will kill him" Tahliz finished that thought, a grief already in his tone. Tah may have only been in his life for just a couple of days but the dragon had helped Tahliz and the tribe in more ways than one. "I wouldn't be surprised if you killed those bandits who stole from us because you knew they had stolen from me" Tahliz thought but then let out a soft sigh, it was a far stretch to be true anyway.
"Exactly" Ventus nodded, concern and sympathy mixed within his tone, he to looked at Tah with a sorrow. Tahliz knew Ventus as a generous warrior, all throughout his apprenticeship, he had seen the warrior repay every favour, no matter how small. So seeing that this dragon had saved his life from an ambush, Tahliz knew he is grateful of the good deed. "We should" Ventus started, thinking through his words before speaking them outloud. "We should hide him, that old store house, he can hide out there at least until he heals" he explained, keeping his tone steady and full.
Tahliz nodded, looking over at Tah who had his head tilted whilst huffing at the two elves. "Do you think he'll stay? I mean, I've seen him all over the forest, from up to the river to down by the crater and now all the way up to the ravine" Tahliz explained, gently scratching the puppy like fur on Tah's chin. Tah whined and shook his head, the horns on his chin scratched Tahliz's armour. The dragon rubbed his chin into the ground and scratched the spot, "he is ticklish" Tahliz mused with a grin.
Ventus, however, had his brows frowned deeper, he was clearly lost in trying to make a plan. "I guess" Ventus sighed deeply, "we'll just have to find him? If he's able to move around it'll be a good thing" he added. Tahliz nodded, that is true, if Tah is able to wonder that far on his own then it would mean his wound had healed for him to do so. Just one more problem at hand, however.
"How to get him to the store house? I mean, he can walk through the forest to hide from the camp but he's limping and barly able to make it this far and we're still a ways, away" Tahliz explained.
With a slow nod, Ventus leaned back on a tree, looking over at Tah who had layed himself down to groom the fur on his paws. "He seems fine here?" Even Ventus's tone sounded unsure on that one. Sure, this stretch of forest is remote but it will very soon be used as hunting grounds for the elk herds. Especially since during the upcoming spring it would be their breeding season, many bull elk would be out in the open for hunting.
"I'm not too sure on that, what should we do?" Tahliz moved his gaze to Ventus, he could feel the warm touches of the sun on his skin and eyes. Ventus looked down at the apprentice, his gaze softening as he stayed silent for a moment.
"We can leave him here" he repeated, more confidently, "we know he can burrow under the snow when needed and here there's deep layers. He saved us but he's also a wild animal that has survived this long already" Ventus declared.
Tahliz gave a nod, knowing just how true that is, as much as he would love to just observe such a creature, he is wild and not some pup he found in the woods. Crystal blue eyes gazed at Tah, the purple eyes staring back, large and gentle eyes purred without needing to make a sound. Tah had half buried his wings in the snow already, resting peacefully as be watched the two elves discuss their plan. Tahliz crouched infront of him, gently petting the scales above his nostrils, up to where the fur began just above his muzzle. "Stay safe, boy" he patted his head before getting up again and making his way to Ventus. Tahliz flet a guilt for leaving him in the snow and injured, but Tah looked so understanding and most importantly, so trusting.
Tah purred as he wiggled his way under the snow, as if ready to wait here until they return. "We should check on him later in the evening, let's get back camp and report the attack" Ventus advised, putting his hand on his shoulder. With a nod, Tahliz followed, taking Ventus's lead towards the camp.
"We should come back with cods, Tah seemed to love them more than the seal" Tahliz explained, rubbing his nose as an ich formed, Ventus responded with a nod.
Silently walking down the hill, the trees soon broke to a large clearing that lead to the open hills where the camp settles itself into. Tahliz could see the shape of the camp, the morning sun just about hitting it. The walls that marked the camp looked so alive in the morning, warriors switched guard duties and healers ran up and down the convinced and cleared paths of the upper wall. As the patrol approached, Tahliz was greeted with a playful smirk of his sister, who's eyes looked ready to fall asleep any moment.
Agiles nodded at the patrol, he too looked ready for some rest, though Tahliz noted that he looked a little paler. "Morning" Ventus spoke, nodding back at Agiles.
"Morning, Ventus" Tahliz raised an eyebrow as he heard how horse Agiles voice sounded, a grating strain.
"Catching a cold?" Tahliz asked, stretching infront of the gate. Agiles only mumbled with a yawn, looking back into camp, over at the barracks.
"Maybe" his throat sounded dry.
"He's been like that all night" Qahnaar yawned back, leaning on the gate as she looked over her brother and Ventus. "Tahliz, you've got... water? All over yourself" she looked at it with a confusion that turned to a disgust when she felt how slimy and slobbery the liquid was.
"Don't ask" Tahliz crossed his arms with a pout, which earned a smirk from his sister.
"On another note" Ventus spoke to the apprentice, "can you report back to my father about the attack? Whilst I'll go visit my cousin" he asked, his expression in a soft beg.
Tahliz nodded, knowing that he would feel just as concerned for his sister if she were to ever be as sick as, Lux. The image of the feverish boy flashed into his mind, "no problem" with that Ventus wondered off towards the grate hall.
"Attack? Left you alone for a few hours and you've already been attacked" Qahnaar mused though it failed at masking her worry and concern for her brother, after all, they only have each other. At least, that's what it felt like half the time for Tahliz.
"Yeah" Tahliz sighed, "bandits, over at the ravine, got some flashy new weapon it seems" he explained. His answer only drew the concern and interest of both Qahnaar and Agiles. The older warrior letting a gruffly huff as he replied.
"They always do" he coughed, his breath misting in the icy air of the early morning.