Snippet #2246146

Isis sighed to herself and curled up. She wasn't sure, but... maybe Leon was upset with her. He seemed to have answered her question, but she wasn't sure what the meeting was about still. He was usually easy-going... but she was probably overthinking it. She wanted to ask someone... but with Akitla leaving again, she decided it was best to hold her tongue. Sometimes she worried that the pack would end up dissolving itself. She didn't hate the Rohani and she was sure that if the pack dissolved, the Rohani would accept some of them...

But when she heard a howl, she got up. She recognized it-- she recognized everyone's voices-- and she slipped out of the den into the rain. She wasn't sure if anyone else had heard-- or was following.

Akitla was fast, but she clearly hadn't been paying attention to how she was moving, because her tracks were clear even if the rain washed away the scent. It wasn't too long before Isis caught up to the hunter, whose tail was pinned under a tree branch. The smell of singed wood hit Isis's nose and she cautiously circled, assessing the situation. Alone, Isis knew she was too weak to move it. If she went back, even at top speed, she wasn't sure if she could notify the others and get back before a fire started up, if one could start up at all. The wood was wet-- the rain would dampen the fire too-- Isis was certain a fire couldn't start, but there was already a small blaze on the tree that apparently was hit by lightning. Akitla was struggling to stand, but her feet couldn't find purchase. Akitla, you're going to make it worse, Isis told her, trying her best to be calm.

Even though Isis was aware that shifting would not make her any stronger and the branch definitely didn't seem like something she was going to be able to lift alone, she shifted quickly, pulling up the hood on her hoodie and heading over to Akitla. "...Akitla..." She said softly, "...keep calling for help. I'll do the best I can." Her sneakers sank into the mud, but she managed to lift the branch just enough to free Akitla's tail. She didn't know how long she could hold it-- but she definitely wasn't able to hold it for long-- too slippery with mud and rain, the branch would slip and hurt Akilta again if she didn't move quickly...