Mercy | 5 Years | Female | Wolfdog Hybrid | Abolition Leader
Location: Abolition Camp | Mentions: Dove, Kirtonos

Mercy's eyes narrowed as they laid upon the pile of rats, and a creature that vaguely resembled one. Was this meager prey, likely riddled with disease and a foul taste that would linger on her tongue hours after the meat was gone, all her warriors could find? "Abolition will not live off of rats," she muttered to herself, lips pulled back to bare her teeth at the carcasses as if they had personally offended her. She would arrange a hunt tonight, one that would require teamwork and proper coordination.

Dogs rarely hunted together it seemed, preferring to capture prey solo. It was ridiculous. They had a higher chance of success and could bring down larger animals together. It was time her followers learned to do things her way. The wolf way. Formulating a plan in her head, Mercy could detect voices coming from the apothecary. Her ears swiveled toward the sound, recognizing them immediately as her beta and healer. Within seconds she arrived at the entrance to see what the fuss was about, her single sighted eye drawn to the raw flesh on Kirtonos' leg.

She'd caught the tail-end of the disagreement. Dove sought to mend this wound while Kirtonos refused treatment. Mercy turned her face to scan the empty shelves and could understand the dark-furred male's denial. Regardless, she trained her steely gaze on him, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Dove cannot make demands of you, but I certainly can. She is right. It is imperative you remain strong, and injuries such as this have a propensity for becoming infected. You will accept treatment." As if to emphasis her point, she rested back on her haunches, watching him with an expression that dared him to disobey.

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Levi | 4 Years | Male | Central Asian Shepherd Mix | Abolition Warrior
Location: Abolition Camp | Mentions: Dove, Kirtonos

Mercy wasn't the only canine lured in by the sound of an argument. Levi was plodding back into camp as Dove ushered their beta to her herb pantry and was quick to follow, lingering near enough to overhear the conversation while remaining out of sight. He settled onto his belly, chewing on a few overgrown claws with perked ears as the pair disputed. It was just like Kirtonos to refuse treatment, but if the sight of Mercy prowling over was anything to go by he wouldn't have any choice in the matter.

It seemed Dove's supply was growing low and she would need to replenish sooner rather than later. Now that sounded interesting. Levi had never been to the cooling tower. It would be quite an adventure. Heaving himself to his paws, he entered behind Mercy, careful to avoid walking up on her blind side. He'd made that mistake once and wasn't keen to repeat it. "I'll go with you," he volunteered eagerly, bushy tail wagging with enthusiasm. "Kirt is right, you know? You're too valuable to lose. It's dangerous to go alone, so take me!" He added in what he believed to be a convincing tone, standing taller and puffing out his chest a bit.

Rutilis | Loner | Pup | Location: Abolition camp; outskirts | Mentions: Open

The small pup was in darkness. He'd curled tightly around himself to ward off the chill his thin coat was so susceptible to. His heart ached, not just from loneliness. The stress and fear had elevated his heart rate, and a mild pain had begun to grip his chest. He tried to breathe slowly, but he was too afraid to move. He figured that if he stayed exactly where he'd been left, Mama would come back. Papa would swoop in to rescue him and carry him to safety. A bird shrieked nearby. Ru whimpered as he curled tighter on himself, the tightness in his chest becoming slightly less painful as the cry faded away. Despite the tight, heat providing ball he'd formed, he still trembled. The shaking found its roots twisted in anxiety, fear, and desperation instead of actual cold. Ru didn't like to be alone.

As he shook and whimpered, he wandered through his memories. Or, what was left of them. Stargazing, though, he remembered clearly. He would sit besides Papa and watch those glittering orbs, make up stories for the shapes they formed while Papa told his own. And Mama. Mama used to call him her lion boy. She said it meant he was brave. Rutilis' trembling paused for a moment as his lungs expanded and contracted in a deep breath. He would be brave. For her. He shook his head. The clotted blood at the base of his skull was itchy, but he knew scratching it made it hurt more. Thinking back on it, he wasn't sure how it got there. Did he fall? He tried to remember what his mother did when they hurt themselves, but he couldn't bring it to mind. His head ached from all this remembering. Maybe... maybe it would be best if he just went to sleep. He was awfully tired.

No. He had to find Mama and Papa. They must be close. He stood up, and found himself peering into another dog's eyes. How curious. But friends would have to wait. He skirted around the corpse, though he had no idea of the creature's state of existence, or even its relation to him. He had no idea the heavy, blood stained teats had once given him life-sustaining milk. He had no idea that ichor that soaked the ground was the same he bore in his own veins. He did not remember the bear. Ru simply walked, one paw in front of the other, the back of his head burning with his wound. Where did that come from? As he placed each oversized, extra- toed foot in front of the other, his little mind tried to kick itself into gear. Maybe if he called them, Mama and Papa would come to him. Shaking his head once more, he let his thin voice free into the air.

"Mama! Papa!" No response. He didn't know how long he walked before his legs began to hurt, before his lungs begged for air and his chest constricted like a fist about to strike. He just knew he had to sit down. He plopped his hindquarters in the dirt, realizing, for the first time, that there was a building. Maybe Mama and Papa were in there. As he panted, Ru realized it would be easier for him to simply call them, just as he'd been doing for the hour or so before. Gathering what little breath he had left and plowing through the ache in his chest, Rutilis let one more call waver through the air. "Mama! Papa!"

Levi | 4 Years | Male | Central Asian Shepherd Mix | Abolition Warrior
Location: Abolition Camp | Mentions: Dove, Kirtonos, Rutilis

"Indeed, two dogs are hardly an army. If Insurgent takes offense, it must mean they are exceptionally vulnerable, and if that is the case..." Mercy paused, nails clicking against the tiling as she rose into a standing position once more. "I'm sure you will be fine." She watched as Dove tended to Kirtonos' wound almost mechanically, her actions automatic and instinctive. The work of healers always did fascinate her. It wasn't a trait that came naturally to most canines. With the task of tending to one stubborn beta completed she turned to exit, settling again near the camp's center. She would remain until Dove and Levi returned, work out her hunting plans for the evening unless she was needed elsewhere.

"Yes ma'am," Levi chirped happily, grateful Dove hadn't made a fuss despite her reluctance to accept company. He followed at her heel, allowing the Shepherd to take the lead. He didn't exactly know the way and even if he did this was her mission. He was merely a bodyguard. As they ventured out of camp Levi paused, an odd sound carrying to them on the wind. "What's that?" His head tilted, ears perking up as high as they could do. There it was again; a shrill, weak cry calling for parents. He sent Dove a sidelong glance. "We ought to check that out, right?"

((Shoved Mercy and Levi into one reply bc I'm too tired to write separate responses tonight rip.))