Warmth be futile [Day 1; Sorrel/Carbon]

Carbon Chem

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In all my training over the years, I've always told my patients to take it easy after a break. Bedrest and no strenuous activity at least for a week or two before they'd take off back to the mines like everyone else does because being out of work is the most unheard of thing in district twelve. Yet here I am disregarding my own advice like a five year old listening to a lecture. Of course, when there's a mutt not too far a way, I edge my way back to my feet and try to coax the creature closer as if it wouldn't maul me or Sorrel to death. Something was just...

different-

"I'll be okay." I reason with Sorrel taking her concern about my health as a delayed response due to the prospect of something big hanging around. She, too, notices the creature and doesn't seem to deny me the curiosity that would otherwise kill a cat. She calls for it, reasoning with it just like I was trying to do but it's hesitant and I wonder what kind of mutt the game makers would create that wouldn't just attack immediately.

"I think they are friendly, Sor. Or else they would have pounced on us. He's a real beaut though. Look at his fur. Looks like a snow hill speckled with dirt." A smile is gracing my lips and I realize how close she's trying to get to him and my alarms start to ring out.

"Be careful. Don't get to close. We still don't know if he's friendly or not." I warn, and step beside her, my ribs aching tremendously but I still hold out a hand, watching the creature tilt it's head slightly to the left. It's trying to figure us out.

"Hey, Tux. Do you need a friend..." I take a step closer, this time trying to shield Sorrel just in case of his rabid nature. "We could use your help?"

[Carbon attempts to tame a wolf (Attempt #2)]

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Carbon Chem

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The wolf that sat on the edge, half hidden with his head poked out, slowly approaches me. Even more slowly, hesitant even, as he looks to Sorrel and then me several times. His tail is tucked, fearful until I stop where I am and just let him come to me. The name just came out of nowhere and just like that, he moves a little faster, this time his ears move backwards a little as if he's listening.

"Tux..." I whisper out again and I meet its gaze as it stands almost nose to nose to me and even at my height that's something. I crack a grin and my stomach drops with fear, waiting...

He nudges his head against my cheek and then rubs his head against my arm, making it outstretch until it's length is graced with my hand and I am in complete awe of this creature that allowed me to call it a friend, a soulmate. Something was different about it and I could tell from the moment I saw it. It sat down beside me after circling me and stood like a statue and then as I glanced back to Sorrel, I somehow missed the second one that had began to approach her and for a moment, I felt regret that I was so captivated by Tux that her safety was in danger.

"Sor, good job. What will you name it?" I'm curious and turn to my wolf, still apprehensive about touching it but nearing my hand to it's ear to give it a scratch and demonstrated the same motion of nudging my head against him as well. It's fur smelled like nothing I've ever witnessed before. For once, something in this frozen wasteland was warm.

"He's so warm, Sor. So gentle." That's when I noticed the item on the ground near us and Sor had already grabbed one up. I bent down to pick it up, grimacing. An idea came to my mind and slowly, I untied the black bow and draped it around the neck of my wolf before giving it a smaller tie.

"Now you are dressed for the occasion, Tux." The sled came into the picture and I looked at Sorrel and her wolf. "Sled races? Do you think that they could do it?"

I turned to the wolf and picked up another item and sat it on the sled. "Do you wanna run?"

[Carbon picks up icicle club, bandages, and a giant bow]