Sweet return [open Tempest]

[Hunter]

It had been three weeks since his rescue, and Ryu lay in his room inside the Mental Asylum. With closed eyes, his head turned from left to right and muscles in his muzzle tensing, he tried to get away from the nightmare which didn’t want to let him out of his claws. He ran, shadows with long claws and fangs chasing him, coming closer. When he heard Nikita’s screams behind him he turned around but was shocked to see that the screams came from Estelle who was being ripped apart by the shadows just like her mother had been by the felines. One of the shadows then caught him and pinned him upon the floor with its talons. He met its glowing, red eyes and quivered with fear, and as its jaws opened to strike him, he screamed.

His eyes shot open and he jerked his head up, skidding with his paws to get himself up in a sitting position as if the floor was dangerous. The black and white male panted as heavily as his heart pounded in his chest, his skinny body shivering from the horrors of the nightmare. But taking in a deep breath, Ryu realized where he was. He wasn’t in the stinky pen anymore where the felines would torture him for fun. He was behind the Mental Asylum’s safe walls. He was home. I’m free, he thought, feeling how calmness rushed over him. It was nothing like the plaguing shivers which had haunted him in the year he’d been imprisoned. It felt warm, like his mother’s soft and caring tongue on top of his head when he’d been a puppy. The only thing which felt wrong was that he was alone. He’d heard that Hueso had found Estelle during the day of the rescue, but he hadn’t spoken to her yet. A few days after the rescue he’d been allowed to see her because he didn’t believe that she was free, but she’d been fast asleep at the time and after seeing her, Ryu then knew that she, probably more than him, needed time to recover. The young dog still felt terribly guilty for her capture and seeing her in such vulnerable state was heartbreaking. But he’d been told that she would recover, and Ryu tried to soothe himself by the fact. Hueso must be heartbroken, he thought, not able to imagine what the white shepherd was going through these days. Luckily he’d found Estelle, but Nikita had been killed. Ryu didn’t want him, or any other canine in Tempest, to think that the rescue had been in vain, that Nikita’s death had been in vain. So he’d decided to become strong again so he could fight the Iris Pride and make them pay for what they’d done. He had chosen that he from now on wanted to be strong and put an end to his scared, inferior behaviour. He wouldn’t let anyone boss around with him as they wished anymore and he would learn to be a good hunter and fighter. It was time to show the pack that he wasn’t a coward anymore, that it hadn’t been for nothing that they’d risked their lives to safe him.

But first things first. He’d been inside for three weeks – the dogs which took care of his health hadn’t wanted him to go outside and catch a cold because he’d been too skinny to fight off sickness. But with their care, he’d quickly gained weight, and even though he still was thin, the two elders would hopefully see him fit to have a little walk outside today. They’d been training his muscles – first making him walk around the room and then the week after out in the corridors. Yesterday he’d walked a little on stairs, and as long as he didn’t do it too much, it wasn’t a problem for him. He was doing great, feeling better and stronger for every day that went. He had no words for how thankful he was for his pack’s care and he would pay them back soon enough, showing them the fruit of the seeds they’d grown.

”How are you feeling today?” An old Jack Russel Terrier looked at him, standing in the entrance. The elder male had been one of the two elders who’d taken care of him during the last three weeks. Ryu smiled and stood up. Back in the Iris Pride, he would have been shaking of effort by this simple movement, but now he was doing it with ease, and his heart jumped happily at the positive reminder of his improving health. ”I’m feeling great, thank you,” he answered, waiting a second before putting up his question. ”Do you think I could go out today?” The young Canaan Dog’s eyes shined with hope of the older dog approving. A chuckle escaped the terrier’s lips. ”Of course. The frost on the ground has melted by the midday sun which is shining brightly. But don’t stay out there for long. The weather might be mild compared to the other days, but I won’t have you becoming sick. You’ll be out for half an hour at the longest, but promise me that you will come right back in if you start to feel cold.” Ryu’s two coloured tail wagged wildly at the older male’s words. ”I will!” he beamed happily and trotted out of the room, the terrier moving out of his way with a smile so he could get out.

It didn’t take long for the three year old Canaan Dog to get to the Mental Asylum’s entrance, and as he stepped out of its doors, he felt just as free as when he for the first time in a year had felt fresh air in his face. I’m free, he thought, chocolate brown eyes taking in the world around him which was bathed in the midday sun’s soft, yellow rays. The soft breeze which sometimes caressed his fur didn’t feel cold at all and Ryu inhaled the fresh air deeply as his heart fluttered with joy. Jumping in the air, Ryu shouted out at the top of his lungs. ”WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO-ouch!” Panting a few times with a smile on his lips, Ryu had to confess that his body wasn’t quite fit for fight at jumping so high into the air yet. Laughing, and with his tail wagging behind him, he shouted again, still not caring if anyone heard him. ”You ain’t gonna get me again, cats! I’m free!” Rolling around upon his back, Ryu started to laugh warmly, filling his heart with happiness.

((OOC: Suddenly felt a boost of Ryu muse ^^ So feel free to join with your Tempest charrie!))

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