“No, I’ll be fine…you’re not any better off than I am,” Theluji’s growl came pained as he began to hobble forward. The blackened wolf turned slowly to face his beta, one of the black wolf’s legs was broken and useless. ‘So we both only have three working legs…I wonder if we’ll make it?’ Theluji thought bleakly.

“Camp…we have to get to camp…” the varg gasped brokenly as he attempted to walk forward. His gait was painfully slow, his other legs had been injured as well, just not as bad as the broken one. He had to find Mica though…to see if she was alive and well. “Obsidian…can you make it that far?” he asked, concern for the black wolf overlaying the pain in his voice. Obsidian had run on three legs, Lupus knows how, but it had weakened him and Theluji feared he wouldn’t make it to the Treasure Beach.

{Theluji}

THe young varg gasped as his beta collapsed. "Obsidian!" Theluji exclaimed, concerned. His howl echoed through the charred remains of the forest, loud enough for any wolf to hear. "I'll get help...you won't make it to camp..." at a lurching gait, the arctic wolf attempted to make his way to camp. It however was very hard to walk without the asisstance of his front left paw and even the three that weren't broken were sore and weak.

Just as Obsidian did...he collasped a little ways off from the black beta. He tried to crawl forward, but found he was rooted to the spot. 'This is the end...the end of Volkenoneka. We're going to die...Volkenoneka's all dead,' he thought despairingly.

{Mica}

A regal auburn form stalked through the ruined forest. Charred trees loomed up on either side of her, piles of ashes were all that remained of some trees and bushes. Ash and hardened lava coated the forest floor and rocks. Mica tried to not dwell on the fact that her territory was so damaged. Eaglewing silently trailed behind her, letting her half-sister and alphess get lost in her thoughts. (Sarita consents to this...*cough*)

Suddenly she heard a shrill howl that broke through the silence of the dead forest. "Theluji!" she cried, recognizing the voice, "He's alive," she cried out joyously. 'But for how much longer?'

Following her keen ears, she raced towards the sound. Bursting through a few charred bushes, her emerald eyes were met with a pitiful sight. She saw the young white varg...though he could hardly be called white anymore. Half his fur was singed off and that that remained was blackened with ash. A little ways off from him, she spotted another form, at first she was unsure whether it was Fra'kin or Obsidian. A quick scent of the air told her it was her beta rather than her mate. 'He's dead...' Mica thought...accepting the worst.

She turned her attention back to the mass of black fur...she could only tell he was alive by the faint rise and fall of his chest as he laboriously breathed. "Obsidian! Theluji! Maybe Lupus hasn't forsaken me quite yet." The auburn alphess looked over her shoulder at Eaglewing.

"So...maybe this is your first chance to test your skill as Shaman. They'll die without any healing aid...even minimal knowledge will help."


{Theluji}

Behind his sapphire eyes, Theluji's head pounded and his heart pounded even louder. He barely heard or saw his alphess, her words were mumbled and distored...yet he realized it was her. "Mica..." he whispered, his voice weak and broken, "Thank Lupus you're alive." At that, the young varg passed from consciousness.

The regal alphess stood completely still for a second, her eyes shut tightly, sealing out the images of her injured packmates. Through her mind raced thoughts of the few things Renaj had taught her...but that had been long ago, at least two years. The Berry Forest had once been crawling with healing herbs...but after seeing the destruction, Mica knew that it was no longer so.Helplessness threatened to overwhelm her and despair gnawed at her heart as she again opened her deep, fathomless emerald eyes. You have to think! You can’t let them die! a voice shouted inside her head as the alphess almost gave into her despair. I know…but how? They’re almost through the Black Gates…everything’s burnt…what herbs will be left? the auburn wolfess thought desperately. She was given no answer.


“Maybe…the Ruin Valley…” she whispered uncertainly to herself, “The lava missed it…it’s either that or other pack territory.” If the ruin valley yielded none of the needed herbs…they’d have to venture into Janichanua Territory and possible bring about the absolute end of Volkenoneka. But if there was anyway to save Theluji and Obsidian, she had to try. Annatto… Mica suddenly remembered a herb used to cure burns, It grows in the Ruin Valley, I’ve seen it before, green tendrils climbing over the stone fragments.

Then yarrow will help with the wounds, it can also be found there, along with poppyseeds to numb the pain. the voice whispered again. It sounded strangely familiar…then it hit her…it was Renaj. The late Volkenonekan shaman and her mother was talking to her through her mind.

How…? Mica thought, amazed beyond belief. How could the dead communicate with the living? How could she be talking to her dead mother through only her mind? The ginger alphess’s mind swirled with questions, but she decided to keep quite, finding that the healing of Obsidian and Theluji was more important.

Lupus…he’s allowed me to communicate to you through thoughts…but only until Eaglewing has learned all that she can from me through you. I shall teach her the ways of the shaman through you. Aloe will also help them where the fur has burnt off and all that remains is raw skin. It is found on the Treasure Beach, a deep green, rubbery plant.

Still shocked beyond belief, Mica nodded, Yes, I’ve seen it before. She realized at that moment that she’d been staring blankly at the two injured wolves while she was talking to Renaj. The auburn wolfess shook herself, pretending all was normal.

I leave you now. Gather what I told you and save the last two members of Volkenoneka… Renaj’s voice whispered as it faded into the mists. “Goodbye, mother,” only after murmuring this did Mica realize she’d said it out loud, blushing with embarrassment and not wanting to explain she quickly turned to Eaglewing.

“The Ruin Valley and Treasure Beach have all the herbs you’ll need. They’re undamaged by the volcano so the herbs still live. Annatto is found snaking across the stone pieces in the Ruin Valley. It’s a very dark green vine-like herb and its leaves are used to soothe burns. Yarrow is a bush-like plant also found in the Ruin Valley. Its leaves are a lighter green hue and it has pale brown branches. Yarrow is used to stop infection and bleeding, you’ll only need that for Theluji. Then, poopyseed is found there as well, it’s a single large flower where hundreds of seeds reside. It will numb their pain and help them rest. On the Treasure Beach grows a plant called Aloe. It’s a rubbery deep green plant; its leaves are long, skinny triangles. It will soothe the broken and raw skin where the fur has burnt off,” Mica quickly told her all the Renaj had said, hoping she’d left nothing out.

The alphess’s attention snapped back to the dieing wolves…they needed help immediately. “I can collect the herbs, for I know this terrain. First I’ll go to the Ruin Valley and as quickly as possible I shall return to you. You can then administer the herbs while I go to the Treasure Beach. Aloe isn’t as important as the Annatto and Yarrow, so I’ll get it last. Is that okay with you?”

Mica looked again at Obsidian and Theluji, she hated seeing them in so much pain. Her heart wrenched painfully so it was as though she shared their agony. Then, she suddenly remembered something Renaj had said… ‘Save the last two members of Volkenoneka.’ “So Fra’kin and my pups are dead…” the aurburn wolf murmured sadly to herself. She wanted to curl up and forget all her duties and be alone with her grief. But, as alphess she knew that was no option. She had to keep the few members of the once almighty Volkenoneka alive and keep their hope alive even if hers had vanished long before. Briefly she thought of the wolf, Faellen and if he’d decided to stay or not and where he was now.

The wolfess’s emerald eyes glittered in pain as she remembered a day long ago.

“Dog pile on Obsidian!” Angalia was yelling. Mica watched with tears sparkling in her eyes as her pup playfully attacked the beta. Out of nowhere came Mwako, he dug his small teeth into the black wolf’s leg.

Mica noticed how fit and healthy Obsidian looked…he looked so different from the mangled, charred black form in front of her. Then, Malaika came and pain wrenched at her heart as she remembered the beautiful albino, mute pup. On the night of Renaj’s death she’d disappeared, gone to find Hatsyume. It had been over a moon since then and Mica knew that an evil fate had befell the unfortunate pup.

Malaika leapt onto Obsidian, not to be outdone by her talkative brother and sister. A smile curled slightly on Mica’s face as she watched the peaceful scene. All the tranquility of pack life had been destroyed in only one day…

Then a magnificent black figure appeared and pain awoke fresh in the regal femme’s heart. ‘Fra’kin!’ she wanted to call out, though she knew he wouldn’t hear her. This was only a memory and when she opened her eyes…it would be over. She watched as her dead mate walked silently over to the heap of pups. He was laughing, the happy sound made a bittersweet emotion well up in the wolfess’s heart again.

Unable to watch the scene of tranquil pack life any longer, Mica opened her eyes and found herself in the blackened and charred remains of the Berry Forest once more. Above her loomed a tall sequoia tree. The trunk was charred, but near the top a few brave leaves still clung to undamaged branches. ‘Maybe this was a sign that although some of Volkenoneka had died…the ones that remained would live,’ she thought.

Suddenly, the tree turned its natural brown color again, the wood became strong and thick once more and leaves sprouted from the new branches that formed from the trunk. Gasping, Mica realized what this meant…Volkenoneka would come back just as strong as it had before. She blinked and the tree was blackened again, but now hope flared in her chest and for the first time in the past two days, she sent thanks to Lupus.