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                        “Why shouldn’t I help you?                                    You’re my best friend.”

Honestly, he’d rather himself be hurt instead of Kangin. The feline closed his eye once more and sighed out lightly. Dak Ho was tough.  Kangin was tough too, but … Dak was used to being in difficult spots. He’d had so many things drilled into his head since he was very young. He’d been taught to fight when he was very young and was also taught how to conserve energy when hurt. Sometimes, what he was taught becomes a blessing, other times, it weighs down on him. Being brought up in such a way caused Dak to not really show that many emotions. It was hard for him to laugh or smile.

       --- " I got to hand it to you though, you looked               good fighting those lone wolves. You'll have               to teach me your ways, oh wise one."

                                          Dang it, Kangin …

The feline followed after the footprints, watching ahead as he did so. When the sounds of fighting reached his ears, he began to run, fearing the worst. The sight of wolves fighting wolves was soon in front of him. Dak normally would have left them alone, however, one of the wolves he immediately recognized. It was Kangin. The other wolves were attacking him. His fur stood on end. No. He wasn’t going to have that. He wasn’t going to have Kangin getting hurt. He      was supposed to protect his friend.

Everything soon fell quiet and the red head was holding his side where it hurt post. Everywhere hurt --- obviously -- but more hurt than others. Hair had fallen out of it's usually pony tail by this point so his long hair was all over the place, falling over his broad yet hunched shoulders. Feeling helpless, he didn't mean to get into a fight even though he was quiet use to those. That wasn't at all his intention when walking over here ... why was he being punished like this. 

     "  ...... " 

Attempting to get up to walk, the pressure against his right leg hurt incredibly, causing him to fall again. He'd clench his jaw tightly as he tried again and limped his way to a slow walking stance. Meanwhile, the gash in his leg was literally spitting out blood with each step. He fell to the ground again, face first no less, and eventually laid there looking down toward the dirt. 

That was until it became early morning, the sun just began peeking over head in the foreground. Making it a new day to be faced and although he was not very much looking forward to it --- he had no choice. Ears twitched at a sudden sound from miles ahead and the stench made his nose cringe. Quickly, the canine got up on all fours and looked ahead toward the specific direction. Near by, the fire had died down to just smoke and the sleeping house cat was purring near by. Wanting to at least wake Dak up to say on how much he was worried that if they stayed here long enough a pack would pass by with no thought. Though, he stayed quiet and began to become the curious pup that he was raised to be. 

He didn’t head back yet. He intended to get the water that he had said he’d get. It took a while, but he eventually found water and brought it back in a small urn he’d taken from the village before hand. He had to turn into a larger bird to carry it, but that didn’t bother him much. By the time he got back to Kangin, he was getting dark. He’d spent too much time away, and he new it. He swooped down towards the figure he knew had to be his friend. 

                        “Kangin!”

He called as he dropped the urb near the other.

         ”Here. Drink. There’s enough     to last us a few days.”

Not mad or upset by anything just merely the fact that he was to tired and becoming kind of weak from always walking around all the time. The lack of sleep from days before was finally taking a toll on him and becoming warm due to what he was as well as the poorly made fire near by meant that eyelids were growing more heavy. 

     it wasn’t good. Bird eyes helped a lot.

He was able to see all around, see small things, see large things. He could see threatening and dangerous things, and could see things that were harmless. He loved being birds. The freedom of it was like no other animal. The wind beneath his wings and through his feathers. It took most worries and thoughts away when he flew up high. He felt at peace when      above the trees and soaring just below the clouds.

Those peaceful thoughts were soon gone however when he noticed a certain wolf down by the water that he’d already deemed bad. Crap. That wasn’t good. If Kangin took even a      small drink of it, he could become seriously ill. 

Dak soon swooped down, a nose dive, trying to get to his friend as quickly as he could. A loud squawk was let out before he swooped down. Talons were soon dug into fur and he yanked the other’s head away from the contaminated watering hole.

                             ”Don’t drink that! It’ll make you sick!”

the fish he had. Right. Kangin was obsessed with strength. He always had been. Ever since they were young, Dak Ho had protected Kangin from well … everything. Kangin tried to get stronger, just so Dak wouldn’t need to protect him. He still did though. Dak was always protecting Kangin. In fact, Dak had stood up to the elder when he’d decided to exile the other shifter. Kangin didn’t know this, and Dak would most likely never tell him. The old fool stuck to his guns though, so Dak volunteered to leave with Kangin. He felt protective over the other. He wouldn’t dare let anything happen to him. Kangin didn’t see it though. He didn’t see how much      Dak did. And honestly, Dak Ho kind of preferred it that way.

                                      “I'm done.”

He put the barely touched fish he had on a rock.

                         ”I'm going to go find water. Stay.”

With that, he shifted nearly impossible to react to this, he had to -- it was only fair. The wolf, red and beautiful as the reflection of autumn leaves within the water, ran quickly toward the direction in which the bird had flown off to. Leaving their 'camp sight' behind and not really thinking that the fish could attract other animals and human's alike. He'd run quickly through the trees, staring up at the sky toward the faded black bird who was miles high. The twigs and dirt beneath his padded feet was barely felt till they soon arrived at a water hole. In which he stopped and stood at the shore of said water. It seemed peaceful here, but it was odd to be out in the middle of such a place and not near the ocean shore line. Little did the dog know that said water was nearly toxic but seeing as he was so thirsty it didn't matter. Sniffing, tilting his head up toward the air once more and proceeded with caution, the canine would lower his head. 

                                        “Eat.”

The two had known each other for a long, long time. They’d been childhood friends. With a sigh, he sat down near the other, grabbing one of the fish. He’d actually done more of the fish catching. The birds he enjoyed were often great at catching fish. He didn’t particularly like this fish, but him eating one was his way of showing that he wasn’t too upset. Actually, he was kind of glad they were out here on their own. He didn’t have to deal with family or the tribe leader. That man was horrible. He had yelled at Kangin often before they’d been exiled, and Dak had hated it. His apple was  forgotten at this point, not that he cared.

   " Strength. --- I have enough of that to last me        forever. I gained enough of it to take care of       myself, ya' know. "

Harsh, he knew it was so he sighed and set down the fish on the ledge of the rock. Staring over toward the other he'd lean back, tilt his head up and stared toward the sky. A rough sigh, sounded somewhat like a distinct growl. 

Looking up, he noticed an apple. Was this an apple tree? He hadn’t even really noticed when he landed here. Turning back into his human self, he shifted a bit so he wouldn’t fall from the branch. Reaching up, he grabbed the apple and pulled it      from the branch. 

                        "You do understand why                            we’re out here … right?”

     "---Okay, well I'm sorry. "

Dak sighed a bit before reaching up to run his fingers through thick hair. They needed to avoid most towns, they couldn’t be found, otherwise things might turn out back for them. Dak sniffed before soon turning into a large black bird. He landed on Kangin’s head simply for a moment before lifting off into the air. The area they were in didn’t seem all that crowded or      dangerous. This seemed like a good place to rest.

Dak soon flew down to a nearby tree, landing onto a sturdy branch.

       " Oooooh - so now you wan'a rest, huh?             You little -- after I suggested to do so              kajilon times before hand. What makes             this spot any different from anywhere              else?" 

Exhausted as he may be, the worn down circles formed under his eyes -- his voice remained energetic as he always had been. Almost trying not to amuse himself due to the fact that the black bird ceased to explain himself, no that it could and maybe he didn't really want to hear it anyway.