i'll teach you how to shine || open

Separating from his sister was not a decision he had taken lightly. Jinx was a mother, her life already tied to a clan that Castor felt no obligation towards. His nieces and apparent nephews would be cared for, and perhaps he would see them again. For now, that was not his concern. Kahru'hu, the buried pup that had been luckily uninjured in any permanent way, had been taken into Castor's care. The lanky hound kept the scrap of fur close once he was free. He presumed that the ren would have had a much more socially balanced life if he had stuck with Jinx. However, it seemed the youngling's decision was made solely on whoever's face he saw first through the debris, much like the ducks Castor had seen on long walks in his previous life. He took to his new position as a protective figure with ease. Thus, the odd pair of lanky red and white hound and grey scrap of fur was created. He had no clue if Kahru saw him as more of a father figure, or merely a guide through the next chapter of his life, but Castor would do his best to fill whatever role he found himself in.

Castor had no intention of staying in the city. Though he hadn't seen any more humans since the snags placed him within the chained walls of the prison, he would not risk it. Humans would play no further part in his life, and would not harm Kahru ever again. "Come forth, you dogs," an authoritative voice rang out amidst the throngs of dogs fleeing every which way. Castor let out a small hum, his attention piqued by this figure. He nudged Kahru gently, steering the pup towards the voice so the pair could listen. The black form was a beacon of strength, at least that was what he projected. The Ibizan was a dog who could easily lead on his own if he wanted to, but the thought of trying to create a patchwork pack of strays while giving Kahru the proper attention and guidance he would need was not something he figured could be balanced. A place of strength and order would do them both good.

He was not the first to speak. That position was taken by a young dane, her introduction deeming her to be Akoda. With all these new dogs he had met in recent times, Castor found himself longing for a true name. Greyo'miera, a light thief, that was a name worthy of a leader. His monicker reeked of humanity, one chosen for him rather than found within him. Perhaps this light thief could find the sighthound something better fitting. He stepped forward after Akoda finished speaking, a small dip of his head to the larger dog in respect before he spoke, "I am Castor, and this is Kahru'hu. We will follow you as Ah'mir dogs. Your knowledge will become ours, to blossom as the shilah'mira does. Isn't that right, Kahru?" He directed the last sentence down towards his small charge, hoping the eager pup wouldn't embarrass him in front of the chief. He would hate to discipline the ren so early in their partnership.

@damien @akoda Kahru'hu

Castor was not one to be fooled. He would not put his life, or Kahru's, in danger for some chunk of fur that barked the loudest. His stance held firm as the leader of the Ah'mir's plunged into the river. Of course, he made it across easily. A slender muzzle barely managed to contain a scoff at the task set ahead of them. Winter was approaching swiftly, and though his pelt matched snow easily, the male did not prefer it. Becoming a literal block of ice was not on his list of favoured activities. However, he needed a family, and Greyo'miera seemed to hold enough power and prestige to lead that cause.

Kahru'hu's incessant yaps battered his ears as the pair drew closer to the water. They were the last to start their journey - if the one-eyed outcast silently trailing them counted. Castor assumed he did not. The young pup's questions about his mother sent a pang through him. Castor had no intention of kidnapping a ren from a mother rightfully searching for him. However, Kahru was alone in the shelter, and his mother likely met an untimely fate. Right before a daunting task for such young pup was not the time to break his heart.

"I hope she'll be able to find us, Kahru. We have to make it to the other side first. Stay upriver of me. If the current pushes on you, I'll be able to catch you and get us both across with your help paddling," the last part of his sentence came out as a rush, not wanting the little ren to lose confidence or think he'd be unable to do it. He doubted much could dim Kahru's spark, but he certainly wasn't trying to find out. Positioning himself downriver of Kahru'hu, Castor stepped forward into the river. He winced as the icy cold water instantly soaked through his fine coat. It felt like his bones were being chilled. His small apprentice was lucky he had enough fur to just make him a sopping wet mop instead of an icicle. "Let's go."

The slender hound pushed into the water, trying to keep his ribcage in line with the young ren paddling away beside him. There wasn't much else that made the male, and he didn't want Kahru to slip under his haunches where he was practically just a spine. The pair pushed forwards, making good progress in Castor's opinion. He could only hope that the young pup truly did have the strength of an Ah'mir to make it across.

OOC: Post ends in the middle of crossing the river for *plottage* >:3

Chuffs of air left the skeleton as they made their way across the frigid waters. He could feel his muscles stiffening, his entire body begging to curl into a ball to preserve whatever semblance of body heat still kindled within his chest. With the wisened knowledge of an adult, he knew this pain was temporary. They were already easily halfway across, so if he rounded up he was practically already climbing up the banks. Damn this Damien and his wretched tasks. Damn this river and its freezing currents. Damn this-

Kahru. The soggy lump of fur was slipping behind him. He could feel the ren's fur drag from up by his shoulder to down by his ribs. No. Castor flicked his head to his side, hoping for his nip to find Kahru's scruff to drag him back up to a safer position but instead the river slapped him for daring to interfere with its plan. No, no. The splashes of the pup grew weaker and slower. He heard the river steal the little one's breath for a moment before he thankfully surfaced again. However, now the ren fell further and further behind. There was no way for Castor to turn around in time to snatch him away from the water's grasp. No, no, no!

"C-Castor! Castor help!" the strained voice of Kahru'hu struck the final frozen blow in Castor's chest. "Kahru!!" He all but bellowed, the goal of reaching the other side of the river abandoned. He had been through too much in his short life for it to end like this. Only hours ago he had been trapped beneath rubble barely able to breathe. The suffocating river did not deserve to take that victory away from him. His body swiveled, now streamlined heading downstream towards the pup. He could always find the rest of Ah'mir later. If his muscles were screaming then he couldn't hear them. He couldn't lose Kahru so soon. "Keep paddling! I'm coming!" he boomed once again. The ren was exhausted, that was clear from the ordeal he was facing. He could only hope that his voice could spark something in the pup to keep trying.

"Go for the bank! Keep trying to get across Kahru! KAHRU'HU!" his voice rasped, the exertion of pushing himself as fast as he could through the glacial river stealing the sound. It seemed with every paddle he made, the smokey, soggy pup got five further away. It felt impossible. The Ibizan started to paddle diagonally, bringing himself closer to the end of this trial. He called out to the pup once more, his name fading over the swirling monster that kidnapped the pup. Amber eyes scoured the small crests, hoping to see a small grey head pop up out of the waves. For just one more annoyingly yapped sentence to carry over the wind. Shaking out his fur instinctively, the hound sprinted down the river, searching for any sign of his ren. Twice more the youngling's name rang over the water, hoping to fall on Kahru's ears instead of Rumblier's.

He forced himself to stop, tears pricking at the edge of his eyes that he forced not to fall. He did not cry. He did not... cry. A shuddering breath left him as his mind returned to his own body. The nippy air turned to full-force bites through his thin coat. Ice clung to his whiskers as his breath fogged insultingly before him. He couldn't save him. The pup that he had worked so hard to save earlier that morning and he lost him already. His freezing body thawed with rage as he hollered at the sky, a slew of curses unleashing themselves upon the gods. Still, not a tear fell. Out of breath and far from the clan he had lost everything to join, Castor began the long walk back.

As he drew closer to the group, he kept his gaze trained on Greyo'miera and not on the reactions of any of the dogs around him. He knew that the anger burning in his chest couldn't be turned on this massive canna. Not only would he get snapped in half, but he would likely end up like the pitiful Askabi. "The river took him," his tone was flat, numb with both cold and what he couldn't admit was grief. They were the only words he could manage. Despite this, his eyes were still ablaze with tears he refused to shed and anger he had yet to unleash. Turning away from the Chief, Castor found a place to sit stiffly, his gaze fixed back on the churning water. His ears were deaf to all except Li'Greyo and Kahru. Only those two voices mattered for him moving forward at this moment. Everyone else was inconsequential.