Kaleigh
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 99
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Post by Kaleigh on Mar 28, 2011 20:28:20 GMT
CONTINUED FROM: The Lobby with Derrick.
As soon as they were outside, Kaleigh pulled in a breath, glad to be out in the open with fresh air to be had. She didn’t stop moving, though, glancing around and finding a spot that she thought was far enough away from the building, focusing on it and helping Derrick move in that direction, knowing that he needed to get off his feet. She wanted to check his injuries the best she could and at least take stock of them. She knew that he could tell her what they were- she had an extremely good idea already- but she knew that it was still best to check, just so she would be able to tell someone else about them. At least she could do that. She knew that it was best that she hadn’t stepped into the fight, she really did, but it didn’t make her hate the fact that helping Derrick had been so beyond her abilities.
When they reached the spot that she had focused on, she glanced back at the hotel. They would be able to be seen by anyone coming out of the building from the front or even coming around from either sides, but they were far enough back that they were out of the heat and danger zone as well as far enough away that they would have time to react in some way should someone less than friendly spot them. Derrick was in no shape to try fighting again, but Kaleigh figured that, if nothing else, they would have advance warning. “I think we’re far enough way now. Lets see what we can do about getting you settled for now.”
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Derrick
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
I will not fall, won't let it go; we will be free when it ends.
Posts: 101
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Post by Derrick on Mar 28, 2011 22:30:12 GMT
The fresh air was painful in its own way, it sliced down to his lungs and only seemed to hurt his shattered ribs all the more, bringing new tears of pain to his eyes as they closed tightly. Once they reached the spot and Kaleigh stopped them moving with the announcement that they were far enough away from the hotel and the dangers it posed and that he should rest his legs gave out on him. Derrick didn't try to catch himself on his mate for fear of dragging her down with him and hurting her somehow. As it was he barely had the strength to keep from striking the ground too hard, what little breath was in his body rushing out of him when he landed heavily and uncomfortably.
He didn't try to sit or keep his scrap of balance but instead let himself buckle back completely to the ground, feeling the hard concrete of the parking lot under his shoulder blades and the way they shifted when he tried to breathe. His good hand sought out Kaleigh's almost desperately, trembling fiercely and unsteady in its search and when he found hers he gripped it with a panicked intensity. In his current condition he wouldn't have a hope of defending her and he was terrified that someone -- another wolf like the one he had tried and failed to fight -- would come along and take her away from him.
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Kaleigh
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 99
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Post by Kaleigh on Mar 30, 2011 20:55:25 GMT
When she felt Derrick start to drop, Kaleigh tried to shift a little and help him down, watching where she was holding onto him and doing her best not to let either of them injure him more than he already was. He still went to the ground harder than she would have liked and she wished that there was a more comfortable spot she could have taken him to. She didn’t know where else to go, though. They had to stay where they could meet up with the rest of the pack, but she knew that they were still in a dangerous situation. While they were safe from the fire and slowly collapsing building, there was still the chance that they would be spotted by someone they really didn’t care to get found by.
Settling herself next to her mate on the concrete, she squeezed his hand, trying to be comforting even as she realized for herself just how much trouble they were in if someone with nasty intentions came upon them before someone else from the pack. Derrick was in absolutely no shape to so much as try fighting and, while she would do what she could, she knew that she was no match for anyone like the male they had come across. She tried to quiet those thoughts, knowing that she couldn’t completely silence them, knowing that she had to settle for what she could get where they were concerned and silently urged someone from the pack to join them soon, to help. As much as she needed to check Derrick’s injuries, she thought that the least she could do was give him a moment.
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Derrick
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
I will not fall, won't let it go; we will be free when it ends.
Posts: 101
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Post by Derrick on Apr 10, 2011 0:15:42 GMT
It wasn't getting any easier to breathe, if anything being on his back applied a strange kind of pressure to his chest and abdomen and the shattered ribs beneath the surface. Pain had long since escalated into burning agony and tears pricked behind the closed lids of his eyes as a strangled sound of anguish rolled in his throat. He had to move, he had to try and find something less uncomfortable, he at least had to get the awful taste out of his mouth, the wetness of his tongue; the tickle at the back of his throat was making him want to cough and Derrick knew how much that would hurt, how much extra damage something so simple but volatile could do to his already battered body.
Summoning whatever meagre scraps of strength he had left Derrick slipped his good hand from Kaleigh's, struggling to breathe as he moved and rolled himself over, a full grimace sweeping over his pale and bloodied face and with the length of the forearm that was responsive and didn't drive sharp bolts of agony up towards his shoulder if he even so much as tried to use it he braced against the floor to give himself leverage to allow the coughing. It was even more painful than he expected it to be and had he had the breath in his lungs he might have cried out against it; instead all he could do was tremble in its grip and wait for the worst of it to pass. Unconsciousness was creeping closer but Derrick refused to let it take him no matter how much of a relief it would be; that would leave Kaleigh alone and he couldn't allow that.
His ribs feeling like they were being swallowed by a greedy inferno and his skull pounding mercilessly Derrick opened his tear-filled eyes enough to see the blood over the concrete. It dripped from his mouth as he struggled to breathe and he felt it wet and warm over his tongue. Awkwardly buckled over close to the ground with his mate by his side, Derrick knew exactly where the blood had come from, that it wasn't from wounds in his mouth but instead from deeper down. His ribs had been shattered, brutally broken in a single, unbelievably strong strike, and in breaking they had gone on to damage something else. Blood continued to drip to the concrete to join what had already been loosed and the wounded male squeezed his eyes shut as if that would help fend off the need to cough and clear more from his throat and the back of his mouth.
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Charlotte
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack: Historian
Hold on tight, wait for tomorrow, you'll be all right.
Posts: 47
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Post by Charlotte on Apr 10, 2011 0:21:50 GMT
CONTINUED FROM: Side Street with Adalina and Imogen.
Even before they got close enough to see what was going on Charlotte knew only one of the pair up ahead had heard Imogen's call. With keen eyes taking in the sight ahead Charlotte suspected not even Kaleigh had heard them.
Charlotte had never had a mate but she had had a husband and she remembered the devotion and blind loyalty, having your whole world revolve around one person. As she and the other two females moved closer in a brisk walk that was almost a jog, cat still cradled in her arms, she could see the male of the pair wasn't just in pain, he was badly hurt. Fear took a tight hold of her stomach and tied it in a knot and when she saw blood on the ground it was all she could do to keep from stumbling over her own feet as her heartbeat drummed loudly in her ears.
Oh god, who else had been hurt? How many had been killed? Her panicked eyes looked to Imogen and then Adalina. Charlotte was a historian, she wasn't cut out for this sort of thing.
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Kaleigh
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 99
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Post by Kaleigh on Apr 12, 2011 20:32:13 GMT
Kaleigh didn’t notice the three females joining them, though she would probably berate herself over it later. They were pack mates and, therefore, not a threat, but she would hate herself for not realizing that they had been joined by someone because, really, what if those who had approached without her so much as suspecting they had company had been a threat. There was little she could have done anyway, but that was beside the point. She was supposed to be paying attention to their surroundings, making sure no one got close enough to cause her mate more harm than had already been done to him. Even with Derrick coughing up blood and the panic that sent her into, that she was fighting down with every ounce of her strength even as she tried to steady Derrick, she should have known that someone else was there.
Instead, she was consumed by fear and worry for her mate, along with hatred for the stranger who had hurt him, as well as for herself for not being able to help Derrick. She had to keep herself together, though. She wasn’t going to do anyone any good if she let herself fall into panic.
Where were the pack leaders when they were needed?
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Adalina
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 25
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Post by Adalina on Apr 12, 2011 20:42:24 GMT
She stopped a few feet away from Kaleigh and Derrick, feeling that getting any closer would be intrusive, especially since she knew there was nothing she could do to actually help. She didn’t even know if they even realized they were no longer alone in the parking lot, though she certainly couldn’t blame them if they didn’t.
The male’s injuries made her worry even more about those still inside, made her wonder even more how those still inside were faring. If she didn’t tell herself that they would all be all right, that everyone would make it outside, perhaps some injured but alive, she thought she might lose her mind. She knew how unlikely it was and she had been doing extremely well at keeping her head, but how could seeing a pack mate in the shape that Derrick was in not make that slip, at least a little?
Ada took a deep breath, steadying her mind and her nerves, reminding herself that staying calm was really her only chance of helping anyone. She met Charlotte’s eyes briefly and wondered if her own expression was a reflection of the historian’s.
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Derrick
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
I will not fall, won't let it go; we will be free when it ends.
Posts: 101
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Post by Derrick on Apr 17, 2011 16:30:31 GMT
The feel of Kaleigh's hands carefully steadying him kept him grounded in the moment and held him back from the edge that would carry him over into unconsciousness. He needed that anchor, the physical stability she provided for him and silently he was grateful for it. Derrick didn't know if she realised how much she was helping but he would tell her later, he would make sure she knew.
After what felt like an excruciating eternity he managed to stop coughing. There was still blood in his mouth, it lined his throat and kept a constant grimace on his face but the coughing had stopped and right then when he was in so much pain that was enough of a relief to have him collapsing weakly sideways and against his mate. It was reassuring to have her there, to be able to lean on her even though he hated how much he had to rely on her; Kaleigh would never complain, never act like it was a burden but Derrick had always believed it should be the other way around. Kaleigh should have been the one leaning on him, relying on him. He should have been stronger. Knowing that he wasn't filled him with a familiar shame and regret.
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Kaleigh
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 99
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Post by Kaleigh on Apr 22, 2011 21:20:28 GMT
She really doubted that she was helping much, if at all, but she really didn’t know what else to do. All she was really thinking about was making sure that Derrick knew that she was there, making that her point of focus so that she wouldn’t start going over his injuries in her mind. That would just lead to her slipping towards panic again and she simply couldn’t allow that. She needed to keep herself grounded and calm.
Kaleigh had always been more than ready and willing to let Derrick lean on her when he needed to, knowing perfectly well that he would do the same for her should she need it. Her mate was never a burden, despite whatever he might say, think or feel otherwise. She knew that Derrick felt like he should always be the strong one, always be the one to be leaned on. She didn’t think he would ever actually believe her no matter how many times she said it, but he was the strongest individual she knew and that wasn’t ever going to change. She rubbed Derrick’s shoulder lightly, wishing that everyone else would hurry up and join them so they could get her mate somewhere safe, somewhere he could heal.
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Imogen
Pack Werewolf
Rayne's Pack
Ya gonna watch me walk, then watch me walk
Posts: 38
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Post by Imogen on Apr 28, 2011 16:56:20 GMT
Part of Imogen wanted to run straight to Kaleigh and Derrick. She liked them both well enough, not that it took much for her to like anyone, and she wanted to make sure that both of them were all right. However, much like Adalina, the young female realized that things were certainly not all right and that stopped her in her tracks. Derrick was injured, and quite badly given the amount of blood she could smell.
It was enough to make Imogen wonder who else had been hurt. She and her companions had been lucky enough to find each other in the madness, but what about the rest of the pack? What if they had run into one of the intruders? And Derrick -- she knew a wolf could handle more grievous injuries than any mortal, but they still had their limits.
The pink-haired she-wolf hung back. It was only when she felt the ache in her jaw that she realized how hard she had been clenching it, but she was afraid of what might come flying past her lips if she didn't. She wouldn't do anyone any good if she started screaming.
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Derrick
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
I will not fall, won't let it go; we will be free when it ends.
Posts: 101
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Post by Derrick on May 30, 2011 18:28:13 GMT
The taste of blood was still heavy on his tongue and coating the roof of his mouth. Derrick knew without trying that there was no way to get rid of it, it was there to stay until he had the opportunity to wash it out thoroughly and even then there was always the risk of it coming back, he needed a chance to heal before he could count on anything like that. He needed time and the opportunity, it would do him no good to just lie on the ground in the parking lot -- supported by his mate though he was -- if he was just going to move again; in his current condition even being carried would ultimately do him harm, Derrick was aware enough to know that much. If anything being carried would do more damage than moving under his own power, he knew where his injuries were and how to take them into account.
So he fought to stay conscious, worked at it with all his remaining strength. It wasn't just because of that, he wanted to stay awake so he could keep Kaleigh reassured and be aware of her condition at all times, passing out would leave him ignorant to his surroundings and whatever might be happening with his mate. There might come a moment when his body simply couldn't handle any more and he would lapse into unconsciousness regardless of intention but Derrick planned to fight that as long as possible.
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Charlotte
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack: Historian
Hold on tight, wait for tomorrow, you'll be all right.
Posts: 47
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Post by Charlotte on May 30, 2011 18:59:56 GMT
It occurred to Charlotte in something of a daunting rush that she was the senior wolf in the odd little party that had gathered in the parking lot and that meant she should perhaps play the part. She was afraid of doing something wrong but there was little in the way of options and that meant she had no choice. Someone had to play the part and it made sense for it to be Charlotte even if she was just the pack historian.
Swallowing down her trepidation and steeling herself for what needed to be done she turned to Imogen. "Can you hold her?" With that she eased the cat from her arms to Imogen's, soothing Figaro as she was handed over. With a last scratch to the space between the feline's ears and a moment to assure herself the pink-haired she-wolf had a good grip -- she didn't think she could bear to lose her beloved pet cat as well as all the pack's historical records -- she moved forward from the group of females who had arrived on the scene after the pair of mates, attempting to push the sleeves up on her cardigan as she went before deciding it would likely just be easier to shed it altogether, leaving her in a pale short-sleeved blouse.
"What happened?" she asked, directing the question to Kaleigh. It didn't look like Derrick was in any state to be answering questions himself and it was a sure bet that they had been together during whatever had happened. "Do you know where he's hurt?" Charlotte was no medic, there wasn't going to be much she could do but she could at least try and right in that moment she needed to busy her mind, think of something else while their home and everything they had known for several decades was reduced to ash and rubble behind them.
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Finn
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
War is overdue. The time has come for you to shoot your leaders down.
Posts: 46
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Post by Finn on May 30, 2011 19:13:50 GMT
CONTINUED FROM: Side Street with Penelope.
There were no leaders -- or more to the point dominant pack members -- in the parking lot. Finn and Penelope had followed the voices from the side of the hotel and the street that was nestled alongside it to the parking lot and when Finn saw who was present he felt a fleeting sneer of disapproval cross his face before he pushed it away. The last thing they needed right then was to alienate anyone who might be able to help them should the worst happen and any enemy wolf follow them out of the hotel. Finn wasn't above playing nice -- or his version of nice -- in order to stay safe and the situation in which they had found themselves most certainly qualified. If he had to tolerate members of the pack who, frankly, he considered useless in order to get by then that was what he would do. It would only be temporary anyway.
Finn quickly assessed the situation as best as possible for someone stepping into a situation already well underway. Charlotte was kneeling down and speaking to Kaleigh, asking what had happened, and Derrick was buckled against his mate. Finn fought off the urge to sigh. The historian's eyes flicked up towards the two new arrivals and took in their appearance, both bloodied and haggard. She looked torn briefly before saying, "Others should be out soon, we should all just stay together." With that she went back to what she was doing.
Glancing at Penelope, Finn masked his irritation as best as possible, turning to look back over his shoulder at the hotel. Flames and smoke could be seen clearly from where they stood but there was no sign of other members of the pack just yet. It was a matter of time, he was sure. It seemed stupid to all be standing with their backs to the hotel, with a tight frown he moved around so he was standing on the other side of Kaleigh, Derrick and Charlotte so that he could have The Four Seasons in his line of sight. Penelope wasted no time and followed him around to the opposite side of Adalina and Imogen.
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Kaleigh
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack
Posts: 99
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Post by Kaleigh on Jun 3, 2011 18:49:20 GMT
Carefully smoothing Derrick’s hair, Kaleigh looked to Charlotte when she spoke. Kaleigh was, she thought, doing pretty well at keeping herself from panicking, just reminding herself that doing so would cause one more problem and they had more than enough of those as it was. She wasn’t going to become just one more issue to deal with, no matter how worried she was about her mate and those who were still left in the burning building. She hoped they would all be able to make it out but, realistically, she knew that the chances of that were slim. For now, she had to focus on what was going on in the immediate vicinity because since there was so little she could do for her mate, she felt there was even less that she could do for those still inside.
She was surprised that she sounded so calm as she explained to Charlotte about Derrick’s injuries and what had happened on their way outside, but grateful nonetheless. She told her about the strange male that they had encountered on their way to the door and the fight that had ensued. Though she wouldn’t say anything, she was glad that there was someone there to take charge since she would much rather pay closer attention to Derrick than their surroundings. Even better was the fact that someone she actually liked was taking charge.
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Mateo
Pack Werewolf
Bella's Pack: Senior Fighter
Life is a journey during which we all stumble at times.
Posts: 72
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Post by Mateo on Jun 3, 2011 18:53:54 GMT
CONTINUED FROM: Hallways with Tievel and Samson
If Mateo had been the sort to voice such things and feelings, he might have commented that the fresh air was glorious. They had made their way through the hallways and out one of the side doors, cutting around to the parking lot. He spotted the little group that was gathered and made his way towards them. Tievel had managed to balance the things he was carrying and had started helping Mateo with Samson as soon as they had managed to put enough distance between them and the fire to be sure they weren’t going to get caught by it if they stopped for a moment.
They quickly moved Samson towards the group, Mateo’s grip not as strong as it normally would have been due to his shoulder, but strong and sure enough to get the other wolf away from the building.
As soon as they reached the group, they carefully put Samson down and Mateo took his things from Tievel, putting them aside carefully in order to kneel down and check on Samson. He would ask about Derrick as soon as he was able to finish checking on the male he and Tievel had gotten out of the building. Derrick already had others dealing with him, after all.
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