Cool air flows down off the mountains. The forest seems almost impassible, but not to this biting wind. A small clearing opens ahead, it's open air sheltering a small pool of water.
Kibra sits near the pool of water, looking a bit worse for wear, her arm in a bandage.
Zilvar eases his way through the thick woods, ignoring the branches that claw at him and the brush that tries to impede his progress. His steps are nearly soundless in, the only sign of his presence the puffs of warm air condensing in front of his muzzle.
Kibra's ears flick at nothing, her back to the clearing's entrance. She stares wearily into the pool, looking into the water.
Zilvar turns his head slightly and changes his course. He tests the air, "Water...and..." The wolf stops and blinks. "Someone else?"
Kibra slumps against a nearby tree, curling her feet underneath her.
Zilvar ghosts to the edge of the clearing and peers across the open space. With the care of someone who wants to be seen, he reaches up and snaps a branch.
Kibra jumps at the sound, her hackles rising. Standing warily, she turns toward the sound, almost crouching.
Zilvar leans against a tree, unmoving.
Kibra calls.."Who's there?" She reaches down to pick up a large stick.
Zilvar pushes himself off the tree and steps just into the clearing. "I am."
Kibra falls back a step, raising the stick a bit. Her eyes widen.."Who..who are you?"
Almost against his will, Zilvar tenatively reaches out with his mind, the light mental probe caressing mental shields and then fading away into nothingness.
Zilvar tilts his head. "You may put the stick down. I have no intention of trying to harm you."
Kibra steps back again, feeling the probe.."Who..who are you? What do you want?" She does not lower the stick.
Zilvar shrugs, "I want what I have always wanted. As for who I am..My name is Zilvar."
Zilvar tilts his head to the side, "And your name is Kibra."
Kibra lowers the stick, suddenly unsure.."Zilvar..? Zilvar..I..know you..." Her hackles rise again.
Zilvar nods slowly.
Kibra hisses softly.."You..how do you know me?"
Zilvar shrugs, "The same way you know me...I remember you."
Kibra's eyes darken, shaking her head.."You..you were on..that planet..Kamots..where is Kamots?"
Zilvar's eyes fall a little, "I do not know. When I last left him, he was in the Forest Brightsoul."
Kibra slumps.."Brightsoul..I used to love it there." Her eyes flash. "You..were you sent after me?"
Zilvar chuckles despite himself. "Hardly.
Zilvar pads over to the water and lowers himself to his knees.
Kibra stares at the wolf for a long moment. She finally drops the stick.
Zilvar flicks an ear at the sound of the stick falling. He says, "Thank you." before leaning over and taking a long drink from the pool.
Kibra's hackles are still up.."You look different."
Zilvar sits back up, "People change, Kibra. My appearance is a reflection of an internal balance."
Zilvar says, "I do not remember you being quite so aggressive, either.""
Kibra nods, wiping her forhead. Her eyes are still dark. "I see." She looks at you, "People change, Zilvar."
Zilvar chuckles softly. "What happened to your arm?"
Kibra doesn't look down.."I was injured when my ship crashed here."
Zilvar remains kneeling at the edge of the water. "How badly?
Kibra says, "Bad enough. "
Zilvar lets his eyebrows rise to his hairline. "That is not a very helpful answer. What reason have I given you to distrust me?"
Kibra says, "No one rose to my defense..I was taken against my will and no one..not even my _mate_ came to my aid. What reason have I to trust you?"
Kibra's eyes flash angrily.
Zilvar's eyes take on a slightly distant look. "I ... was not in any condition to help anyone when you disappeared."
Kibra raises an eyebrow.."And for that I should trust you? I don't think so."
Zilvar looks back at Kibra for a long moment, then shrugs and stands, brushing dirt off his knees. "Years have passed since you disappeared. Should I have tried to follow a trail that I did not know existed and that was months old?"
Kibra blinks.."Years? Ye...years?" She staggers back a bit.
Zilvar nods slowly. "Two, I think. My memory of those days is very unclear."
Kibra wipes her eyes, trying to rub away stubborn tears. "Goddess. I had no idea.'
Zilvar tilts his head, "Neither did we. I had no connection to those events...I thought you dead, or gone beyond return. That last, at least, was essentially true."
Kibra sinks down to the ground, "I.." She falls silent for a long moment, then speaks.."It's in the past now..I should not dwell on it."
Kibra brushes hair from her eyes, wincing a bit.
Zilvar relaxes his stance a bit and repeats, "How badly are you hurt?"
Kibra slumps in on herself, looking much smaller. "My arm and two ribs are broken."
Zilvar walks around the pool of water and kneels down nearby. "When did you last eat?"
Kibra says, "I don't know..I've some rations from the ship. "
Zilvar shakes his head slowly. "Rations. Probably something completely healthy and totally tasteless."
Kibra says, "I..don't remember..sometimes I don't remember entire days, I think. Maybe..my head.."
Zilvar closes his eyes and sighs. "Lay down, and lay still. How far away is your ship, do you remember?
Kibra tries to struggle to her feet.."I'm fine, I don't need your help."
Zilvar rocks back on the balls of his feet. "Fine. I'll follow along and help you after you collapse."
Kibra blinks, eyes filling with tears. She slips and falls.
Zilvar moves to catch Kibra before she falls too far. The wolf eases her down to the ground. "I would prefer to help you while you are still alive, though."
Kibra's body is tense against the wolf. "Why help me now?"
Zilvar says, "Because...because I could not help you then.""
Kibra relaxes a little.."There is plenty of food on the ship..enough for months, I think."
Zilvar eases her to the ground, "Can you tell me where it is?"
Kibra looks reluctant.."I.." she sighs softly.
Zilvar waits for a moment, "No, then."
Kibra shakes her head.."North of here about three miles." She looks at you, the fear and need evident in her eyes.
Zilvar reaches to his belt and pulls out a black hilted knife. He places the knife in Kibra's paw and closes her hand around it. "I'll be right back."
Kibra looks startled, as if a snake had appeared in her hand. She looks up at Zilvar.."Oh..ok."
Zilvar pats Kibra's good shoulder and smiles. "Don't go anywhere. I will still find you."
Kibra shakes her head.."I'm not going anywhere." She pauses.."Zilvar?"
Zilvar stops in mid-rise and lowers himself back to the ground, "Yes?"
Kibra looks at you, eyes searching yours. "Thank you."
Zilvar smiles, "Thank me after you are feeling better."
Kibra nods, wincing as she shifts a bit. "Sure."
Zilvar stands up and takes off at a run northward, disappearing into the trees like a grey and silver ghost.
Kibra thinks to herself..o O {Why is he really helping me? Can I trust him?}