xxHiding from the storm.xx Open.

[Russet]

Darkness surrounded every root, every plant that has died in the forest, and any plant that may actually be alive, with the little sun. The thunder roared across the sky, shaking the forest and making him tremble with uncertainty. Beside him Ginger whimpered, her tiny form shivering against his pelt. She was petrified of thunder. Barking encouragement Russet crouched down beside her, letting her lean into his fur. Rain spattered down like rocks, clacking against stone and bark, and creating deep puddles in crevices and potholes in the ground. The wind blew fierce and coldly, giving no sympathy to the creates trying to survive, not even a hint of slowing down. Branches cracked overhead, and Russet barked in alarm. He shoved his sister with his muzzle, forcing her beneath a rock and protecting her with his body. The branches crashed to the ground inches from where they had been hiding before, and he breathed a sigh of relief, taking his weight off his whimpering sister. She was even worse than the night before, her coughing growing chronic, and her sickness escalating. Russet no longer knew what he could do, other than protect her.

As lightning lit up even the darkest of shadows in the corners of the forest he howled with piercing sorrow and desperation to the sky, hoping, praying even, for the storm to leave, and for his sister to be better. His howl trailed off into a low, mournful whine, and he rubbed his muzzle sorrowfully with one front paw. His sister let out a wail of fear and despair, and he froze in alarm and guilt. He had let his feelings break out, and in return showed to his sister that he was losing hope. He couldn't allow that. He sat up, his haunched flat on the soaked earth, and golden yellow eyes glowing with strong confidence, newly found in his heart. He would not let her be scared. He turned to his sister, drawing his tongue along her muzzle, washing off the mud. "I'm sorry. The storm will be over soon, I know it... Try and sleep, Ginge, everything will be better soon, I promise," he whispered reassuringly in her ear, hoping he sounded more confident then he felt. On the inside, his heart was filled with despair and fear for his sister, and fear that Spark would find them...

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[illxhusky]

Twilight was trotting along the dark, stormy forest when he sniffed two dogs. A male and a female. He followed their scent and when he found them he hoped they wouldn't be alarmed. He said in a calm whisper "Hello." then after a while added "I am not here to hurt you." He sat down and wondered why they were here on such a night as this. He yawned and listened to the storm as he waited for them to notice him. His ears twitched as thunder roared through the night sky. As lightning lit up the sky he saw the two dogs clearly and hoped they would not attack. He sat still in their line of site hoping he had not disturbed them. Though if he was attacked Twilight was more than ready to fight back.

[Russet]

Russet scrabbled to stand, his claws scraping against the ground and his heart pounding with alarm. He had not heard the approach of the other wolf, and he carefully stepped in front of his sick sister. He did not want to attack, and he nearly relaxed when the other wolf told him he was not here to hurt them. He replied with hesitation. "Hello. I'm Russet, and this is my little sister Ginger," he barked in reply, his ears pricked with alarm. He was no longer sure what the right thing to do was, and he did not want to fight in front of her sister, so sick and fragile. "Do you know of anywhere I can find something to help my sister? She's sick," her bark dropped down into a pained whine, fresh grief clouding him.

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Ginger shifted with a high pitched whimper, her entire body a sore ache and freezing from the sickness. Although Russet told her she was radiating heat, she could feel none of it. The rain had soaked her fur to her skin, and she shivered uncontrollably, water leaking from the corners of her eyes. She hardly heard the other dog, but she knew there was one because Russet suddenly got tense and got up quickly. She heard his bark, but could not make out the words, with the rain pounding, hurting her ears, now so sensitive because of the fluids of the sickness. "Russet!" She whined. Her brother's pelt brushed her as he padded back to her, and she felt his warm breath tickle her neck fur. His voice whispered close to her ear, so calm. So gentle. "I'm here. I'll always be with you Ginge, don't worry." He seemed to step away, but his fur was still touching hers...

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[illxhusky]

Twilight shook his head at the question and replied "No I'm sorry." He looked down at Ginger and his eyes saddened feeling sorry for her. Then he looked at Russet and said "I am Twilight. And i will help you in any way i can." He was a dark but sometimes he had a sensitive side which was very rare. He looked at the two dogs in front of him and figured he could trust them but still his muscles were tense for battle. The gray wolfs eyes showed great sadness for Ginger even though he just met her.

[Russet]

Russet nodded with a heavy sigh. He had expected as much. Being a loner he knew help only came so often, and even if it wasn't what you were hoping for, you should take it while you had it. He shivered slightly, his paws beginning to sink into the soaking wet earth, and shifted them. He was a bit nervous around other dogs, or wolves, well, he was nervous around everything, always suspicious that they may hurt his sister. He glanced at her limp, pitiful form again. Life had taken so much from her, and she did nothing. She did not deserve to suffer like this. "Is there anyone you know that can help?" He pawed the ground ahead of him, anxiously.

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Ginger raised her muzzle off the ground, her vision blurred with confusion and the rain pounding into her eyes. She couldn't even see right now. She could hear her brother, and another dog talking. She still couldn't hear the words, but her brother appeared to be relaxing now, as though the other dog wasn't a threat. She was glad, because she didn't want her brother to get hurt in a fight, not to mention she didn't really want a fight at all...

[illxhusky]

Twilight shrugged "No one i know." He glanced helplessly at the female shepherd. The big wolf finally relaxed as he was sure this dog was no threat. He felt rain soak into his thick fur and his shook the water off. He blinked water out of his eyes as he watched Russet. Twilight's thick gray tail lay unmoving on the ground. He didn't know what to say so he sat in silence listening to the storm.

[Russet]

Russet stifled his sigh, knowing that he couldn't act disappointed because he hadn't expected something to begin with. He glanced back at his sister, seeing that she was watching him, technically. Her eyes were a little off but they were still at him. He felt another flash of guilt and grief that he could do nothing to help her, no matter how hard he tried. He could not save her from this sickness with his poor hope and uncertainty. Only a miracle could save her now. He looked back at Twilight, trying to hide the raw grief in his eyes from showing. "Hopefully the storm will be over soon," he murmured, a poor effort to make up something to talk about.

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Ginger blinked up at her brother, hearing a strange emotionless tone to his voice. He never spoke in that tone... Unless he gives up. She wanted to whine, but she didn't want him to worry more. She kept her muzzle shut, letting him speak to the other wolf. Even as she did so her brother pressed his pelt against hers, and she realized she was trembling from the cold, from sickness, and just from fear.

[illxhusky]

Twilight nodded his agreement and watched them. Then he noticed a white Irish Wolfhound with a black muzzle approaching. Twilight thought he looked lost.
Calamity noticed two Germen shepherds and a wolf and grew slightly worried. He faced them with fear in his eyes and stuttered "I-I'm sort of lost..." He wondered if they would even want to help him. He glanced at the two shepherds then the wolf and back again. Calamity kept his guard up because he thought they might attack. He sat down where he was his gaze still shifting between them. He was ready to run if he needed to which he hoped he didn't.

[Russet]

Russet jumped and looked up as another wolf appeared. At first he thought this one attacked, although he looked a bit nervous to begin with. Then he tipped his head to one side when he realized that all this wolf was, was lost. He blinked. All he knew about this place was that it was called Sinister Woods. He had been born here, so he didn't really know anywhere else. He had never really bothered to leave these woods, so he just stayed in them. It was safer anyways, with less dogs and wolves, and it was easier to tell when there was someone else around because you could hear them. "This forest is called Sinister Woods," he replied, trying to keep his calmness his only tone in his bark.

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As the rain lightened slightly, Ginger heard a bit of what Russet said. Sinister woods. She looked up, wincing from the ache of the movement, and this time she let out a low, confused whine through her teeth. "Whose.. Here?" She fought back a cough, though her voice sounded strange because she hadn't used it for awhile, or maybe it was just because of the sickness. Either way, it was different.

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[illxhusky]

Calamity nodded and said "T-Th-Thank y-you." He looked around and knew if he went off on his own he would get lost again. He looked at the female shepherd and saddened but said nothing. He looked at the wolf who had not spoken yet.

Twilight looked at him and nodded at what Russet had said. Twilight knew these woods well for he was a wolf, and he left only to go to the cemetery which he knew equally well. He did not smile at the wolfhound as he never usually smiled.

[Russet]

Russet glanced back at his sister, startled by her speaking. It had been so long since she had been able to speak, constantly coughing and sneezing, or just too exhausted. Now she was trying harder to understand what was going on, not that he blamed her. He would want to know if there were other dogs or wolves around if he was sick. He responded quieter, and softer, as he always was like that to and with his little sister. "It's alright. He's just lost. Don't worry honey," he murmured. He glanced back up at the wolves, startled by how quickly they had arrived. Of course, no that it mattered anyways. He was fine with others, as long as they were not a threat to him or his sister.

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Ginger laid her head back against the ground, relaxing, as she was wondering if there was going to be a fight or not. She knew Russet, and he didn't do too well around other wolves. She stopped the cough that rose in her throat, swallowing back down. She wanted to hear the conversation, not interrupt it by coughing and sneezing...

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[illxhusky]

Twilight sat in silence not knowing what to say. He laid down on the damp cold ground still watching Ginger. He wished he could help her but he didn't know what to do. Then he looked at the wolfhound and wondered if maybe he could help. Suddenly he asked "Should I leave now?" He waited patiently for Russet's answer.

Calamity then asked "Is there anything i can do to help you---" He cut himself off as he remembered he hadn't heard these dogs names. The huge white wolfhound watched Ginger helplessly lay there. He looked over at the wolf partially scared of him. Calamity was ready to leave but he didn't want to get lost again, and he also didn't want to interrupt these dogs.

[Russet]

Russet glanced around at Twilight and nodded. "Thank you for trying to help," he replied. He had not met many dogs or wolves that were actually willing to help him and his sister, but Twilight had at least tried. He glanced back at the other wolf, and and thought quickly when he cut himself off. Deciding he should introduce himself and his sister he barked in reply. "My name's Russet and this is Ginger, my little sister," he told him. he noticed that the wolf had asked if he could do anything to help before he had cut himself off. He wondered if lives were so difficult to be lived now that everyone was getting closer. That would be a lot better for them all, instead of constantly fighting each other for things that they could help each other out with. He didn't add anything more to his answers, but now waited for Twilight or the wolfhound that appeared to reply, or in Twilight's case, hurry off.

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Ginger listened to the dogs and wolves speaking with each other, and wished she knew better of what they were saying, but they were too quiet for her to understand. To her embarrassment and surprise she sneezed, her nose stinging and she tucked her muzzle beneath her paws, as though trying to hide from everyone else.