[imgright]https://media.discordapp.net/attachment ... i_scar.png[/imgright] Journey was both exhausted and inexhaustible in equal measures. His heart felt hollow and heavy, there was a burden on his soul that no amount of travel could soothe and yet he could not stop moving, could not give himself even a moment of rest. Having returned to the Swamp from the mountains, he had been terrorized by his own fears, in more ways than one.

So he walked and he ran and he followed the sun across the sky and then back again. He visited family along the way, found only brief solace in the knowledge that his children and grandchildren were living well and would continue on long after he expired.

But it wasn’t enough.

Spiritually, he was lost.

If only he could climb the mountain again, maybe he could -

A sudden yelp interrupted his thoughts and Journey finally slowed down for the first time that day, coming to a halt and turning to check behind him. “Companion?” He called out, searching for the sand dog amongst the swamp roots and brush.

The canine slowly limped into view, visibly pained, holding her front left paw off the ground.

“Oh. Oh dear. Sit.” He moved to the dog, who obediently sat and looked up at him, panting.

“Ah, sweet dear, I’m so sorry.”

Weariness smashed into him like a wave and regret rolled in soon after. Companion had been following him across the swamp this whole time, loyally keeping pace no matter how punishing the endless walking was.

“Let’s rest, shall we?” He knelt down beside her, gently nosing at the injured paw. “Did you step on something? Let me take a look.” If it was broken, that would end his ceaseless travels for some time and a part of him both longed for and loathed the thought.

"YEEEOUCH!" The shriek carried as Truth tumbled out of a bush. Sat there on her haunches, glaring back at it like the bush itself were the responsible party, she puffed stray bangs out of her eyes.
A chittering sound was followed by an explosion of leaves as a ball of fur flew from the foliage and onto the doe.

"Come on now! I didn't know you had BAAAAAAABIIIIEEESSS!" The mongoose was now upon her face.

It was a bad start to a day. Growing worse by the second. She didn't want to hurt the angry mongoose but she wasn't in the best position either.
Those teeth and claws were no joke.

After much negotiation, which was basically Truth shaking her head vigorously until the Mongoose dislodged and flew back into the bush, she was free.
A deep sigh, an eye roll, and a retreat from the area concluded the disjointed rescue mission.
Whoever told her there was a lonely, injured, Mongoose here was going to hear it later.

That Mongoose was neither injured NOR alone. She was lucky the mate hadn't been there.

Gathering her wits again she heard a pained yelp somewhere close by.
That didn't sound like a Mongoose.
Ears flicking this way and that to pin-point, she headed toward the sound. Maybe she'd had her wires crossed and they meant a different type of Familiar?

It didn't take long to find what she was looking for. She nearly stepped right on Journey. Coming up behind him abruptly and startling herself in the process.
The scene before her registered incorrectly immediately. Her eyes darted from the kneeling Acha to the injured Sand Dog.

"STOP! You weren't hunting that poor Sand Dog, were you?!" It was definitely injured and, from her angle, it looked like the Acha had just been.. oh heavens.. biting the poor thing's paw?

Shocked, she was almost at a loss for words.
The Sand Dog wasn't putting up a fight. They both looked exhausted. It must have been a long chase.. now the brutal end was near. But not if she could help it!

@Ruriska (God.. I MADE IT. )

Journey had been gently nosing Companion’s paw, hopefully searching for a thorn or pebble he could pull out to ease her pain, when the doe arrived behind him. He was in a vulnerable position, his legs tucked beneath him and head lowered, completely unprepared for the sudden angry accusation.

He let out a startled breath, head jerking up, body shifting to try to look behind him. Companion growled low in her throat, moving defensively despite her limp. It took all of Journey’s effort to get his tired legs to move and push himself up, stumbling a little as he turned to face the Kimeti doe.

“Excuse me?” He questioned, exhausted, annoyed.

She looked young, and normally he would have had more patience for that. But his heart was too frayed and his body too exhausted, and perhaps he felt guilty knowing it was his lack of care that had led to Companion being hurt.

“Of course I wasn’t hurting her! How dare you make such a presumption!”

( @Kinu so did I Q__Q eventually waaah )