Secret Identity Nerdygeekflower & xx0mittens0xx

[MittyMittens]

Felice ran and ran until her legs were numb, the nipping at her tail and hind quarters stopped but she didn't dare stop. She slowed before finally collapsing near the river, she realized now that it wasn't the best idea to challenge the alpha but she so tired of being picked on as the omega. She lets out a big sigh/whimper as closes her eyes trying to ignore the pain. She had several open gashes that were bleeding rather steadily, on top of that an ear split in two. She didn't think she'd make it, but at least she tried. Her breathing was growing shallower, and her ears twitched at a noise here and there but at this point she didn't much care, she wasn't in any shape to run from anything now. She hoped her quickened healing would be able to catch up but it didn't seem the case if she couldn't stop the bleeding and she didn't have the strength to shift into her human form to do so. Not to mention she didn't have any fabric available to stop it anyways.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal got out of bed just in the early morning sunlight. Slipping on his boots and sweater, and bringing an extra jacket with him -mostly so his mother would see that he had taken it- he left the house. He wasn't really supposed to leave the house but his father and mother allowed it. His doctor would be appalled, but Neal was one of the healthiest SCID patients in the world so he could go out in the summer time! Plus he had seen some wonderful flowers out near the creek he wanted to draw and the press. Neal's family lived on a farm out in the woods, which seemed odd to anyone who didn't live in Maine. There was a field off to one side and a forest off to the other, the field where the horses goats and cows were was the only clear cut area for miles and miles. Neal trudged through the forest without watching much where he was going, he knew the way. He found it easily and sat on his usual rock, opening his sketch pad. He looked to where the flowers had been yesterday. Now there was a great brown hairy lump. Neal snapped his book closed and reeled back. Was it a bear? A dog? A... wolf? It was a wolf, and it made a snuffling sound. It was dying... He knew what dying canines sounded like, he used to have a dog when he was younger a German Shepard called 'Mott'. He eased his way down the slope crouching to look at the wolf. It was bleeding.


"Oh... Hi.... Doggy? Wolffy?" Neal bit his lip, he was overwhelmed he didn't want this dog to die, he pulled off his sweater and pulled on his jacket. He pushed the sweater into the dog's side to stop up the bleeding. Putting his hand under her chin he scratched. "My house isn't far... little one... Or big one..." The wolf likely weighed more than Neal who was skinny and short. "My mother is a nurse... not a animal one but still.. ah..." Neal stood. "Stay alive, it's been to long since I had a friend." He ran off to get his mom.

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice opened her eyes at hearing the snap of the book looking up at the human as he made his way over to her. She braces herself for the worst, having been told horror story after horror story about how humans were cruel vile creatures that would kill you as quick as look at you. She winces as he touches her, expecting pain but was surprised by the him scratching her chin, it felt nice, soothing even. She glances back at her side when he fashions his sweater onto her, this human was rather strange. She gives him a small whine at hearing him ask her to stay alive as if saying she'd try. Her mind was reeling from the blood loss and the confusion of his kind words. No one had ever been this kind to her. She watches as he runs off attempting to push herself up on her feet to follow him but failed miserably and kept her attention on him, watching as he disappeared from sight, hoping he was indeed coming back with help.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

"Mom? MOM!" Casandra Quarters was sitting at the kitchen table with her tea. She looked at her son as he came bursting into the door,


"Neal Honey are you alright?" She asked doing a quick visual check of her son, her baby. He was 19 now but had been so little when she met him, his mother dead him in the incubator small and fragile, she would always see him as her little baby even though he would be in collage soon.


"What? Yes- No. There's a w- dog. There's a dog by the creek it's hurt...." Casandra frowned at her son but stood grabbing the medical kit, she didn't really want the animals a dead animal would attract around and if it did die, she could dispose of it properly, plus if she could save it why not?


"Show me." They went off into the woods together first aid kit in hand. They approached the wolf together.

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice's eyes were closed when they approached but she snapped them open when she heard the two approach. She tries to sit up to no avail, a little panicked at two of them there. She just watches them approach worriedly but didn't growl or bare her fangs. She had hoped the the boy from before was telling the truth in wanting to help her. Her eyes fell upon the medical kit the woman was carrying, not quite sure what exactly it was. Her pack stayed away from human civilization, though she did know how to speak english she wasn't capable in her wolf form and had no intention of showing the humans she was anything other than a wolf. She wasn't quite sure what the medical kit was either, not sure of human objects or customs.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal knelt by the wolf's head putting his hand gently on her forehead. "Mom's got you." He said soothingly as his mother began to work at the gashes, muttering to herself;


"Might need stitches, this is a wolf, not a dog." She repeated the words and looked at Neal. "I need to stitch one of them, I'm afraid to move her before. It's gonna hurt...." She trailed off and looked at the wolf, "Your dad will not be happy when we bring her home."


"When? You mean I can keep her?"


"If she doesn't eat the chickens, I don't see why not..." Casandra was amazed that the wolf didn't attack them, and Neal needed a friend and a Guardian.


"Than she needs a name.... Ashka?"


"Yes.... Hold... her... Uh Ashka while I stitch then we can worry about getting her home." Neal braced himself with the wolf, looking the great brown wolf in the eyes. "Ready? 1...2...3...."

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice pushes her head against Neal's hand as he speaks with her. She lets out a sigh as they speak about "keeping" her. She wasn't a pet. Though her pride would have to be pushed aside, she had no other option and these people were nice. Perhaps she'd get a free meal out of them. She made a mental note to not eat chickens and to respond when she was called Ashka. She liked that, Ashka. A new name for a new life she thought before she looked back at Neal when he asked if she was ready. She was just nearly torn apart by a wolf much bigger than her, she should be able to handle a few pinches from stitches but couldn't help but brace herself anyways.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Casandra was quick with the stitches and Ashka didn't react. Neal let go of the wolf and backed up a few steps, "Um, come?" he said unsure if the wolf could walk, or even knew what he was saying, commands and such. His mother packed up,


"I don't know if she can walk... Or how we can get her back to the house if she can't..." She was strong, built like a nurse but her son was small, sickly and would not be able to help carry the rather sizable wolf, well he could try but she wouldn't risk it. Neal bit his lip looking at the wolf, then over his shoulder at the house in the distance, the Quarters family lived in a large white, old country style home. It was visible just above the tree tips "It's not too far...."

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice shakily gets to her feet, she didn't want to stay in this spot all night. She delicately places one paw in front of the other with a slight limp as she follows them to their house. She glances back at the woods briefly before back at Cassandra and Neal, studying their features closely before looking a head. She soon reached their house with them, occasionally lean up against Neal, just enough to regain her balance and making sure not to put too much weight against him either. She sits down once they reached the house, panting a bit. She already felt a little better, the despair of being cast out and having to fend for herself being gone lifted her spirits a bit. She turns her attention to the chickens at hearing them flap around and cluck, she feels her mouth water but quickly looks away at remembering she was not to hurt them. She lets out a small sigh but chooses to ignore them as she watches Casandra and Neal.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal looked at his mom, "Well, that answers that." Neal headed in the front door and into the living room. Finding some beef jerky in the pantry, they would need to buy dog food immediately. Neal sat cross legged by the couch with the jerky pulling a fleece throw down on top of him. He patted the area next to him inviting Ashka to lay next to him holding the jerky out to her tenderly. "Welcome home girl."

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice stops at the front door and tilts her head before peering in cautiously. She catches the scent of the beef jerky and gingerly takes a few steps in before making her way over to the Neal at the couch. She looks at the fleece throw and then the jerky and her tail wags slightly. She pulls herself up on the couch one leg at a time with a grunt and gently takes the jerky out of his hand before eating it in two bites. She licks her chops before sniffing at his hand to see if he had more before sighing when his hand revealed it was empty. She curls up next to him, getting settled in, she chuckled internally wondering why everyone thought humans were so terrible. In her short knowledge of them they were the nicest things she ever met, complete with delicious food and comfy places to lay down. She soon realizes sleep wasn't hard to find on the comfortable couch and blanket and was out like a light.


The next morning she finds Neal was no longer on the couch beside her and lifts her head up in alarm. She had never slept that soundly before. She catches his scent and follows it to his room, pushing the door open with her nose before jumping up on his bed and stares down at him. She was much livelier than yesterday, surprisingly so. All her wounds had almost fully healed and she wasn't nearly as sore. She tilts her head as she stands over top of him, leaning down to sniff at his hair curiously. There was something different about him, he smelled weakened. She had thought about leaving once she was healed but that would be no way to repay the people who saved her life. She decided then and there she'd protect this family to the best of her ability, especially Neal. He seemed vulnerable, even if his lively spirit said otherwise.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

(I fell asleep *Yawn*)


Eventually Ashka fell asleep and Neal headed up to his room, it had been an exciting day and he was tired. There was a niggling feeling in the back of his throat and a headache peeking over the horizon. His father, as predicted didn't seem too pleased about the wolf, he was a hunter and thought wolves were dangerous and terrible creatures. Though just like his wife he indulged Neal and as long and as Ashka behaved she could stay. For now. Neal was just on the edge of sleep when he remembered that they needed food, and possibly a collar. It didn't matter, he had an appointment at the hospital in town the next day they could get it while they were in town. Neal was a regular patient at the hospital, he went there for check ups and scans and other such tests often. Hemophilia required routine blood transfusions and other regularly administered immune boosters.


Neal woke to a wet nose very close to his face, at first he thought of Mott the long dead German shepard, then he knew it was Ashka. He blinked up at her then turned his head to the side and coughed harshly.


"Nyahhhh" He moaned, that spark of waking up had passed and Neal felt terrible. He moved his hands to his mouth and broke into a fit of heavy wet, laborious coughs that brought tears to his eyes.

 

[MittyMittens]

Ashka takes a few steps back away from Neal, giving him room as he had a coughing fit. Apparently she was correct in thinking he smelled weak. She gives a soft whine before jumping off the bed in search of Casandra, not sure this behavior was normal. She soon finds her in the kitchen and moves behind her to push her gently towards the direction of Neal's room. She huffed frustratedly at sacrificing her human form for sake of not terrifying these humans but it made trying to get her point across difficult and a bit frustrating. She runs ahead looking back to make sure Casandra was following when she thought Casandra would at least get the basic point of what she was trying to do.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Casandra hummed while she made waffles. Breakfast was her favorite meal of the day, she just really loved the uniformity of it, Bread item, meat and egg. It just worked, and always seemed to look happy, happy breakfast. When she worked mornings at the hospital she loved bringing the food to the patients, it was like a long hard night came to a close with a happy sunny breakfast. She was flipping an omelet for herself when Ashka came into the room and almost scared her to death, he husband who was on bacon duty looked at the wolf then glared at the bacon. Ashka looked much much better today. Which was odd, what was more odd was what the large canine was doing. Like some sort of lupine Lassie the wolf pushed her to Neal's room. She instantly knew what was up and pushed Ashka from the room and and shut the door, calling out for her husband to take the wolf outside.


Putting her hand on Neal's forehead she felt a fever, it was a small one but it was there. She slipped out of mom and into Nurse Quarters, taking vitals and temerature. Instructing her husband to cancel the appointment and call the doctor- after a quick prognosis and conversation with the doctor she decided it was a chest cold, which came on fast but there just wasn't another speed with her baby. Advil, rest, fluids and keep a stern eye on it.

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice sighs frustratedly as she was shut out of the room. She sniffs at the door giving a scratch at it before looking back at the man who was directed to take her outside. She eyes him cautiously, before giving him a look that said "don't you even think about putting your hands on me" and she made her to the door that led outside and sits by it. She looks back at the man, rather impatiently, waiting for him to open it so she could go outside as directed by Casandra. She didn't like the idea of not being around Neal in his state but it seemed the people weren't overly panicked so that must mean he was going to be alright. She lifts her nose up sniffing the air at the smell of breakfast, never smelling anything like it. She licks her chops but didn't dare go steal it and decided she'd find herself a rabbit or something of the sort to fill her stomach once she was let out.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal let himself be manhandled into a slightly upright position, the one that was good for coughs. Medicine was given to him and he was told to rest, read come downstairs if he felt he could. "What about Ashka?"


"Oh sweetie, Dad's going into town this evening, he can get the things then." She ruffled his hair,


"No, she's outside right? You should let her in...." Casandra frowned.


"Are you sure, now is the best time to get a dog - or wolf? I mean, You will be going off to collage soon and..."


"I'm going to collage two towns over so I can still live at home!" Neal felt the immediate need to defend Ashka, he hadn't known the wolf that long but he knew that she was smarter than she should be... Plus he got lonely... Ew! Not in that way! Neal was in bed so often he needed a buddy.

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice looks upstairs at hearing Neal and Casandra discuss where she should be. And if Neal wanted her upstairs she'd go upstairs, she owed him her life after all. She runs past Neal's father before making her way back upstairs, stopping at Neal's door. She looks at the doorknob for a moment which was right at eye level before taking it in her mouth and turns it, letting herself in. She jumps back up on the bed positioning herself to lay across Neal's legs and looks at Casandra, having made her her mind up she wasn't leaving anytime soon.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal looked at his mom who simply shrugged, Leaving the room she glanced at her husband, "That is one, strange wolf." Neal slid down and rolled over onto his side settling in for a day of sleeping and being miserable. He felt the wolf on his feet and was at peace with it, Ashka was strange in so many ways she was more like a human than a dog, or a wolf for that matter. He looked at her through half sleeping eyes, "I was gonna take you for a wallk today." He croaked, "Dad ' ll get you a collar though, hopefully not pink I don't think you'd like that would you?" He reached down to scratch her ears, then curled up and went to sleep.

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice lets out a short happy tail wag at going for a walk, only if he was up to it. She growls/grumbles at the idea of a collar in general but rested her head on her paws and leaned into him scratching her ears. She scoffs internally to herself, humans dangerous? Please this one can barely take care of himself. I don't know why this kind of life would be so bad? No fighting, there's always food, and you get ear scratches. She smiles to herself believing she got lucky. She soon fell asleep as well, sleeping softly this time, ready to wake up at any jiggle of the doorknob. Not that she had any reason to feel anyone opening the door would be a threat but you never knew and if they were going to attempt to drag her off the bed, that wasn't going to happen either.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal was drowning, what was up? and what was down? His body was on fire and he was underwater, he couldn't breathe, He couldn't move, he couldn't see. It was like he was bound by magical chains and was suspended by the wind the fire and the earth. Like all four elements had come together to suppress him and put his light out for good, and if he could just breathe! But he couldn't


Hands were coming down his throat and pulling at his lungs, till he would scream if he could. Snakes crawled in through his veins and down his spine showering tingles through his body, he was cold, hot and itchy and in pain. he just couldn't breathe.


((The chaos of the writing is meant to show how a fever dream is....))

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice sensed his breathing increase to a higher than normal rate, especially for someone sleeping. She lifts her head up and looks over at Neal, seeing his face was making some unpleasant expressions. She nuzzles her head up under his arm in an attempt to wake him, knowing he probably needed to rest but didn't like him having nightmares as it seemed like he was having.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal broke the surface with Ashka in his arm. "Uh?" He said looking at her with wide, fever bright eyes. Her eyes, he hadn't properly looked out before. Her eyes were a brilliant green, rather than the yellow that wolves normally had, or any canine eye color Husky blue or German Shepard brown. Or the plain black of some other dogs. Neal stared his blue eyes falling in to hers, those weren't normal eyes... they looked almost. . . Closing his eyes running his hands over his face.

 

[MittyMittens]

Satisfied he was awake and not dreaming of bad things she moves herself back to the end of the bed with a sigh, not realizing he was focusing so much on her eyes. She was debating leaving him to go hunt some food since that beef jerky from yesterday wasn't holding her over, but she didn't want to leave him in case something happened. Of course he had his parents, one was a nurse but still. She looks back at him and sits up, even if she wanted to watch over him she was getting a little restless. She gets to her feet and stretches her legs forward before sitting back down and looks back at him to see what he was going to do next. If he was going to sleep or bury himself in a book she was going to have a run.

 

[ChampionOfTheMorningStar]

Neal shook himself from his revere and watched the wolf become restless. He sighed and scratched at one of her ears. He was still trying to figure out where she liked to be scratched best. "Your probably hungry..." He broke off to cough "....mmm you should get used to a lot of downtime girl SCID. Severe Combined Immunodeficiency" Neal remembered why he had loved having Mott around now - it was like having a best friend who would always listen no matter what and didn't judge. Neal never really had many friends even as a child, most people thought he was some sort of freak, he didn't have any siblings either so all in all Neal could get lonely, so his parents had bought him a puppy and that had worked until Mott had died. "Plus you probably need to go out to like pee... If you pee in the house you will no longer be allowed in." Neal coughed roughly again. He hated being sick and he hated the stupid disease he had that alienated him from everything. All he wanted was to take Ashka for a walk and then play catch in the field but his body had other ideas. Neal however was not planning on listing to them. "Okay. Let's do this." Neal swung his feet over the bed slowly and stood up. Wobbly. He could hear his mother now 'If your having fever dreams you are NOT well enough to be walking around!' He pushed a breath out through his nose. "Kitchen isn't far."

 

[MittyMittens]

Felice's leans against his scratching, she didn't mind snoozing around all day just not on an empty tummy. Her ears go back at suggesting she might pee in the house, of course she wouldn't do that. She walks alongside of Neal as they head downstairs, looking up at him concerned. When they reached the kitchen she breaks from beside him, smelling around curiously. So many things she'd never smelled before. She tilts her head curiously at catching the smell of sugary cereal.