Bloodied and sore, the big wolf whimpered as his mate approached, burying his little nose into the spot where his fur was wettest. Stellan's black and silver coat was sticky and caked down with blood and dirt, but that didn't stop him from licking affectionately at Sig's tawny muzzle. His gentle kisses were a small effort at conveying to Sig that the injuries were misleading. Though Stellan looked beaten and broken, Lofgren had been careful in his assault. Fucked him up just enough to remind him who was in charge, to whom the pretty re-discovered toy belonged. Stellan had received the message loud and clear.<br/><br/>He stood, all four legs shaking beneath him with the effort. Exhaustion bundled inside of every muscle but adrenaline still pulsed through him like a raging river, encouraging movement. Heaving, Stellan began to trot in the direction from where Sig had come. Despite the pain that pricked at every joint, Stellan was determined to fight for Blue if necessary. He looked back over his hunched shoulders to his mate, ears alert, pawing lightly at the ground.<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr"/><br/>By the time the young human had lifted himself up and over the sharp cliff face, he was gasping, lungs crying out desperately for mercy. Despite his improved health, scaling mountains with Eivind hadn't become a regular hobby. Blue looked down at his fingers, red, swollen and aching. The bones felt as though they would shatter if he attempted to grip anything else.<i>I need a break</i>, he thought weakly, leaning over, palms at his knees as his jaw hung wide.<br/><br/>"I can't wait here," he mumbled, eyes snaking along the rock to find an alternative route. He licked at his lips, his tongue sandpaper dry.<br/><br/>"There has to be something here.<i>Anything</i>."<br/><br/>With great trepidation, Blue began to inch across the mountainside. As he precariously trekked along the edge he discovered a cleft in the rock floor, wide enough for a narrow human adult to shimmy between without<i>too</i>much effort. The young man crouched down low, peering into the split ground to see inside. It was deep, but not so deep as to appear dangerous. He could definitely see a floor of sorts, rocky and uneven though it was. The entrance seemed too tight for Lofgren to fit through. It might be good protection, at least for a short while.<br/><br/>Blue crept into the hole feet first, finding small makeshift steps along the earth to help ease him down. Natural light streamed into the crevasse through the cleaved opening, illuminating streaks of red and gray along the interior walls. Despite the bristling terror guiding his erratic movements, Blue couldn't help but admire the beauty of the cavern. It vaguely reminded him of the place where he and Eivind had first come together as mates, and suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his gut as he ached for his irascible lover. Blue fingered the ring on his left hand, trying not to cry. He didn't want Lofgren to hear.<br/><br/><i>He can't get down here. I could only barely squeeze through. It'll be okay. It'll be okay until Stellan and Sig find me. It'll be okay.</i>