DotW | Tristan's Exit

Tristan

The sun was high in the sky, leaves beginning to turn and fall from the trees, and the air was cool and starting to feel crisp. Tristan was taking his daughter out for a little walk of the territory. Though she was grown now, he still couldn't make himself stop treating her like his little girl. He adored her completely. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her. She had grown into a beautiful, talented young she-wolf and he couldn't have been prouder. Both of his children had grown into fine wolves, and good assets to Aryn.

"Hey, come on, let's go see if we can find any hares." He offered, giving her a prod with his nose and grinning.

Gwen

Spending time with her father was one of Gwen's favorite things to do. Even as an adult. she was still her father's daughter, and she enjoyed learning from him. She had learned so much from him, and heard many of his stories from when he was a loner. It made her wish she hadn't joined the pack when she was so young. Oh the adventures she could have had! It all sounded exciting. Still, she knew it had been for the best, and her father was happy to take her on short trips around the territory with him.

At the mention of hares, Gwen laughed and nodded enthusiastically, tail wagging. "Yes, let's go! You still haven't taught me the best ways of catching them."

Tristan

Seeing his daughter so excited made him very happy. With a grin, he led her on toward the path to his favorite hunting spot, where he knew a large warren lived. As they neared it, he slowed down a bit and lowered his body, stepping carefully around the freshly fallen leaves so he wouldn't startle them. He peeked through the brush and spotted several young hares grazing around the clearing.

"Look there," he whispered to Gwen, pointing with his muzzle. "Now, the trick is to be as quiet as possible and take them by surprise. They're fast little buggers, so you have to catch them off guard and chase them down quick."

Creeping closer, Gwen at his heels, he crouched and prepared to spring, waiting for the right moment.

"And... Now!" He whispered sharply before diving out of the bush toward one of the hares.

Gwen

Spotting the rabbits up ahead, Gwen tensed with excitement, tail twitching. She'd never been quick enough to catch a hare, but now maybe she'd have a shot. She listened to her father's instructions carefully, hanging on his every word, and when the time came and he gave her the order, she moved without hesitation.

Springing from the brush, Gwen charged after one of the larger rabbits who took off running, but Gwen was already on his trail. He weaved around, trying to out maneuver her, but Gwen had an advantage now and she dove forward, grabbing the rabbit by the neck. For a moment it squealed, then with a snap of her teeth it was quiet and still.

And it was then that she heard a scream, but this time it wasn't from the rabbit. She dropped it and spun around, frantic.

"Dad?!"

Tristan

Pride filled him as he watched his daughter take off after her prey, but he couldn't watch long, still chasing his down. He was so fixated on catching his meal that he failed to notice something slithering in the grass until it sprung on him with a hiss, teeth sinking into his paw. Yelping sharply, Tristan kicked it off and scrambled away, holding his leg off the ground. Blood dripped heavily from the two deep puncture wounds.

Struggling to stay standing, Tristan collapsed into the grass, panting as his daughter came to his aid.

Gwen

When her father collapsed, Gwen panicked. Her prey forgotten, the red female darted over to Tristan and came to stand at his side, trembling.

"Oh, stars," Gwen gasped, seeing the wound. "What do we do?"

Is he gonna die? Gwen asked herself, gasping out loud.

"Please, Dad, tell me what to do!"

Tristan

"Gwen, easy..." Tristan soothed his daughter, smiling weakly through the pain. His veins felt like they were on fire. "Go back home, find a healer bring them back here. It'll be alright, just calm down."

His vision began to blur, head spinning, and he felt sick to his stomach. He knew he needed help fast, or he likely wouldn't make it. It was a scary thought, but he had to stay calm to keep Gwen from panicking.

Gwen

His voice calmed her, but Gwen was reluctant to leave him. What if he didn't make it? What if he died alone out here while she was getting someone?

Her fears were overwhelming her, but she also knew he needed help. Fast.

"I'll be right back.. I promise." She murmured, licking his forehead once before she turned and darted off into the woods toward the den site as fast as her legs would carry her.

Tristan

Time was a blur. He wasn't sure when his daughter would return, or how long he had been lying there, all he knew was it was getting increasingly harder to breathe properly, his breaths coming in sharp gasps.
After what felt like an eternity, Tristan rolled back onto his belly, panting heavily. Drool dripped from his maw, his eyes wide, body still twitching in pain. In the distance, he saw the blurred outline of a wolf, someone familiar.

"Gwen...?" he croaked out weakly. He got no reply, and the wolf turned away and started walking back into the forest.

"No, wait... Please..." Tristan gasped out, still struggling to breathe. Despite the pain, Tristan struggled to his paws, holding his injured leg up off the ground. Blood still dripped from the wound, leaving several droplets behind as he started to make his way into the trees, disappearing into the brush.

Gwen

When Gwen returned with a packmate, Tristan was nowhere to be found, only a few drops of blood remaining where he had been laying. Gwen looked around frantically, searching for his scent, but it was like he'd just vanished into thin air.

"He was just here.. I swear, he was dying, he..." Gwen choked out, pacing back and forth. She scanned the treeline, searching for a sign, but saw none.

"Dad? DAD?!" She called for him at the top of her lungs, but no one answered. Her father was gone.