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It was late and she was tired. Hunting hadn't gone so well tonight, but training had been decent. Tonight wasn't a total loss, Delila decided, sighing and sheathing her fighting blades. She would head back to the homemaker's caves and see if she couldn't get something to eat. She ought to have enough 'credit' with them for past catches to get a free meal tonight. She would more than make up for it in the future. Hunting season should be approaching soon and the prey would be plentiful for all.

Rolling her shoulder and hearing a couple satisfying pops, Delila grinned to herself, turning back towards the Quicktalon common area. She would be home in minutes, not that the wilderness was that bad for her. The darkness offered both warmth and comfort to the Shadow Huntress; moreso than the lights of the common area could. The nightmares continued and she could do nothing about that, but at least the 'screaming horrors' as she had dubbed them seemed to be lessening in frequency, if only slightly.

That was when she heard it. The howl of a wolf.

Even Delila couldn't hide the shiver racing up her spine. A wolf...this close to the common grounds? While strange, it wasn't unheard of for a predator to journey this far up the mountain into Quicktalon territory, but usually would only do so in the pursuit of other prey. What could it be chasing up here? Delila hadn't had much luck hunting, so what could the wolf have found that she couldn't? Frowning, she decided to investigate. If nothing else, she needed to see what sort of beast had ventured this close to the tribe's territory. Warnings would need to be spread throughout Quicktalon in a call for the warriors to despose of the beast before he began preying on kittens.

Taking to the sparse trees, Delila practically flew through the treetops, blending in perfectly with the shadows, appearing only briefly in the moonlight before dashing off again. Blood...there was blood on the wind.

The coppery scent of blood was practically flooding Delila's nostrils now. The blood's source was obvious as well. Cougar blood. A young Cougar from what she could tell. She didn't think twice as she flew to the scene; there was no time to consider whether or not this young one could be from an enemy tribe or from her own. There was a kitten in danger and wolves were nothing to laugh at in any occassion.

She arrived just in time to take in the situation at a glance. A kitten, pinned on her back by a young wolf. No more than an adolescent himself, this was probably his first solo hunt. Lucky for the kitten. If he had been older, she wouldn't have survived nearly this long. His inexperience had been her lifeline; though she wouldn't survive much longer if Delila didn't step in. Or would she?

A creepy, dark grin crossed the Shadow Huntress' muzzle as there was a sharp yelp of pain from the lupine. Perhaps the kid had some promise afterall. A new set of bleeding gashes left on his maw from the kitten's young claws seemed to infuriate the beast. Losing all sense of control, he snarled and ducked with jaws open, seeking to maim, rip, and shred anything he could get his teeth into.

Instincts she didn't know she possessed took over and sent Delila into a battle lust the likes of which she had never felt before. Darkness creeping into the edges of her vision, she let out a feral snarl as she leapt from the trees at an angle, tackling the wolf and sending the two of them rolling across the ground. Claws, teeth, fur, and blood combined in a deadly, chaotic dance. Delila wouldn't have dared take on a full-grown wolf, no matter what the circumstances, but perhaps with a fellow adolescent, she might have a chance. Plus, there was the kitten. She couldn't just stand by and watch.

Delila's instincts had been correct in this case. The young lupine was angry and overconfident, thinking only of destruction and revenge for his injury. His attacks became more and more furious...and more and more irresponsible. Delila was taking some pretty bad hits, but she would survive...and she only needed a little...more...time...

That's it! Sensing her opening, she went for her blades, drawing and striking in a singular motion. Blood splattered, droplets flying through the air as the wolf leapt backwards in pain and surprise. Snarling, the two young hunters crouched in a dangerous standoff, both bleeding from numerous wounds and both panting tiredly. "Think you can take me on? The Shadow Huntress? I'd like to see you try, my friend..." Delila purred softly, a creepy grin crossing her face despite the pain.

The wolf hesitated only a moment, seeming to weigh his current injuries with the possible injuries he might receive if he continued pursuing this particular prey. Seeming to decide that easier prey would be the better option, he refused to acknowledge that he was giving in. Snorting derisively, he turned slightly, stalking away with pride, despite the obvious open wounds on his chest glimmering in the moonlight.

Growling quietly as her opponent disappeared into the darkness, heading back down the mountain towards the lowlands, Delila fought down the blood lust and the urge to chase down her foe and finish him off. The thought was absurd, though she took some secret pride in her accomplishment, as well as in the observation that the wolf hadn't let her out of his sight until he was a safe distance away.

Ignoring the fact that chasing down the wolf was a stupid idea to say the least, there were more important things to worry about right now. More important than her own injuries. The kitten. Was she even still alive?

After taking a moment to gather some leaves and press them as firmly as she dared to the worst of the kitten's injuries, Delila scooped the child into her arms and took off at top speed for the Quicktalon common area. Steeling herself for any possible lashing out, she burst into the healer's tent, nearly running headlong into her quarry.

Vixa.

"Have you lost your sense?"

"No more than what little I have left," Delila responded automatically, biting her tongue afterwards in preparation for harsh retribution.

Fortunately for her, the shamaness had taken notice of the bundle in her arms. Immediately, she bustled back into her tent; a quick gesture indicating that Delila follow. "What happened?"

"A young wolf, probably his first solo hunt. He was unskilled and overconfident. He got sloppy, which is the only reason she's still alive." 'Maybe the only reason I'M still alive,' she thought bitterly. Only now did she seriously consider how stupid her actions had been.

Vixa glanced up from the bowl of herbs she had gathered and begun crushing. "You're injured as well."

"I'll be fine," Delila muttered automatically, laying the kitten on a pile of furs by the door. She would survive; maybe with a few new scars, but she'd be fine. She'd endured worse before...not all horrible wounds were physical.

Eyes narrowing suspiciously, Vixa took a closer look now at the bleeding kitten. "I don't recognize her. She's not one of ours. Where is she from?"

Delila sighed, shaking her head. "No, she's not one of ours, not that I'm aware of. But I don't know where she's from. I asked, but..." Brushing the child's silvery hair to the side, she indicated the jagged gash along her forehead, now caked with dried blood. "This head wound..."

"Yes, I do know what a head wound looks like, thank you."

Delila bit her tongue again to prevent another sarcastic response, tasting blood this time. "I think she hit her head at some point. I think...her memory is damaged. She told me she doesn't know where she came from."

"Hmm..." the shamaness looked thoughtful as she crouched by the injured kitten. "That may or may not be true. We shall have to see, but for now we will play on the side of precaution. In case this kitten speaks the truth, we cannot allow her to perish like this. Our numbers are few in Quicktalon and if she shows any signs of promise, we could need her in the future."

Delila nodded thoughtfully, thinking back to the battle in the wilderness. "She has spark, I'll give her that much. When cornered, she didn't back down, even in the face of an angry wolf. She fought back with all she had. Gave him a rather nice set of gashes that I'm sure he'll be thinking about for some time," she recalled with an air of something akin to pride. "She could become quite an asset with the right training." Yes, this was the humble opinion of a teen-in-training, but it was her opinion.

Vixa seemed to ignore her comment, though in reality she logged it away for later contemplation. Preoccupied with inspecting the kitten's injuries, she peeled some of the blood-soaked leaves away, revealing the already clotting wounds beneath. "I see you are not completely useless. You managed to stem the bleeding until you could get her to me. Good. Now go get me some water to clean these wounds. They'll be infected in no time with this much dirt and filth packed into the open wounds."

Growing used to Vixa's harsh demeanor, Delila resisted the urge to comment. She was helping the kitten afterall it seemed and that was all she could ask for. She was about to sigh in reliefb before rising to her feet when she froze.

"Delila!" Vixa's voice was sharp and carried a strong undertone of warning. "Before you go, I want to make sure you understand something." She paused, making sure the teen was paying attention before she continued. "We still have no idea where this kitten comes from. She could be an innocent, separated from her tribe and given up for dead. Or...she could be a spy from an enemy tribe for all we know. Until the truth is known, she is your responsibility. Do you understand me, Delila? I know you are but a teen yourself, but if we are to allow her to stay here, she will be completely under your responsibility. You will feed her, train her, and keep an eye on her at all times. If she says or does anything the least bit suspicious, you will report to me immediately and she will be...dealt with. Do you understand me completely?"

Delila frowned, understanding exactly what Vixa meant. Both in what she said...and in what she didn't say. "Yes, I understand. Completely." With that, she turned and exited the tent, moving swiftly and surely despite her own injuries.

Vixa nodded, turning her attentions back to the kitten. This little one was in for a long night...as was the healer, herself. As soon as she took care of this one, there was the Shadow Huntress to tend to. Even if she didn't believe she needed care.