bring me to life

@Reiko character progression for tib! where he eventually talks about how he's feeling. tiberius doesnt do emotions. but here... we learn.

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He had been wearing himself thin. He had known that, of course, but Tiberius had not been in the habit of slowing down. The brute had been stressed with the knowledge that Shiroshika hadn't a proper guarding system and in type Tiberius fashion, he took it upon himself to go overboard with it all -- especially after the fiasco with the cat, those wolves from the other mountain and Vera. He often became the wolf that held onto something and took it in, taking as much of the responsibility that he could, especially in the act of applying ones body because... well, that's what he was good at.

Tiberius had been trained for it, worked for it, was so fucking invested in it that he had tunnel vision that showed little else. Wanting to prove to Reiko that he could take her route of diplomacy and shifting his very nature for Shiroshika whilst fighting the desire to let it all out, Tiberius had allowed himself little time to sleep. Border patrol, marking the territory, border patrol again, hunting here and there, doing his usual training routine, and then some -- he repeated it when possible. Vera had held so much potential that Tiberius had become infuriated to learn she had thrown it all away for a moment of reliving the past and with it, he had looked to increase his daily routine.

His body had been thrown into overtime, his mind on one goal only: protect Shiroshika. Yet... it was so tiring, to pretend to be someone that not all of his being was. Had Reiko even noticed? Tiredly, he thought that at this point, he didn't care who did. 

Tiberius had taken a trek from the Tundra, venturing towards the mountain ranges with full intent to let off some steam that wasn't on the ground of snow but very soon into his endeavor, he had come across trouble. The cat was not the tiger from the Tundra, that much had been obvious yet he had came across one equally as furious but not so willing to talk. Tiberius, tired and at the end of his rope, had been all too eager to engage the cat in his fury.

It had been his anger that had clouded him and it had been the fact that the cat had been only likely barely fresh into adulthood, inexperienced and nervous in fighting a creature it had likely not been exposed to yet, that had spared his life. Tiberius was good at fighting, trained and skilled for it yet he had not been on his game for a while and felines held claws that Tiberius' own were no match for. He sported fresh wounds on his shoulders and nicks of teeth here and there on his legs but the one that had the most concern was stretching from the side of his chin, up his face and over his right eye. 

Split open with fresh flesh, Tiberius had hauled himself back to the Tundra with heavy breaths. He was close to home, he knew, but his head was swimming, from pain, from exhaustion, from some blood loss and he knew that he was not to step safely into Shiroshika. Tiberius huffed, inhaling shakily after as he felt his legs give way and down he went, dropping to the snow with a grunt and a thud. He noted that his face felt almost numb as it laid in the snow, white turning crimson and he could not bring it in him to care.

The man laid, feeling the cold against his body and there he stayed, perhaps only hoping that someone of his packmates may scent him on the wind. The other half? Well, the other half didn't totally care. ^^

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Of course she would notice that Tiberius was gone for a while longer than usual. The man was capable and free to roam as he pleased, though knowing Shiroshika had few guardians left to guard the pack other than @Antares while Tiberius was gone, at least they had two now... well, Reiko didn't want to think about what happened to third. Not now. They were desperate for more guardians to help aid Tiberius and Antares, but she also could not announce their weakness to the world - remembering @Ira's words of wisdom.

So she wandered the borders - doing so had helped to keep her mind off of the other duties at hand, to focus on something else other than @Gyrfalcon and how to make her more comfortable than she already was; without a miracle to reattach the now rotten leg. There was little she could do to defend the borders, but at least she could aid Tiberius in marking them by refreshing when she could as well. Hopefully some day he would notice her efforts in helping the little ways she could. 

It was the smell of blood and Tiberius on the breeze that caught her attention. Lifting her head and ears drawn forward, attentive and alert to the odour that was brought by the breeze that ran through the tundra's landscape. He was near, and the blood was certainly his. Without a second thought she rushed off to meet the man who was now laying in the snow, stained red with the same hues that were just washed off from her paws to aid Gyrfalcon and her wounds.

Such as the life of a medic - blood would always be on her paws no matter how much she avoided injuries and hoped none of the Shiroshika members would be involved in them as well. “Tiberius!” There was no hiding the the anguish in the monarch's utterance. Stopping only when she was able to look over his wounds closely, immediately cleaning the wounds with the only tool she had at the moment by running her tongue through the bloody patches of fur to see where it was coming from.

“What has happened?!” Even through her words she didn't stop combing through the injuries to get a better idea of how to deal with it - how deep, was the blood gathering over time or was it gushing?!

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He would not be alone in the snow for long, his collapsed body tired and heavy as he heard his name fall from the Icelings lips. It repeated, over and over as he blinked, vision bleary. The Samurai was both pleased and displeased to have her find him, for he'd look a fright and only cause her worry but he knew there was no one else he would trust as much with his vulnerable body than Reiko. Despite being their Empress, she was a healer too and made quick work of cleaning the most visible wounds. Had he not been so tired and then numb from the snow, Tiberius would have winced when her tongue made contact with the open wounds.

Tiberius rumbled a low, broken chuckle as he peaked his eyes towards the ethereal vision of his Empress, "danger lurks 'round... every corner, Iceling," he mumbled he flared his nose, breathing her in as much as he could from the scent of his own blood on the cold tundra air. "Is all okay," Tiberius tiredly assured her, "taken care of." Who, he didn't say, but he was certain that the cat wouldn't come looking for retribution -- hopefully to die from its wounds for they hadn't a Reiko to take care of him.

"Am tired," he murmured, breathing lowly as he wondered why he had said it so -- he'd not look to worry her or think he couldn't handle responsibility yet he was. He was exhausted, both from the fight and from the events that had felt never ending for the Pack. He had himself to blame, partly, for throwing himself into work with little time to breathe. But... he had wondered, if he'd not do it, who would? He had to protect them, to ensure the lands were taken care of and in turn, the wolves that called it come. He could not disappoint Reiko, not when he had told her he was going to try things her way.

Had he failed? ^^

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They needed medicine, to stop the bleeding, prevent infection and to ward off pain. They were too far from the den for the time being, in Tiberius' state he was too tired - as he stated - to move another inch. Now all she could do was quick work, enough to get by until they could get the proper treatment for him.

Tiberius spoke of danger. What kind of danger was it? Why did he have to face it alone too on top of it all! Have they not spoken of trying diplomacy first before taking action? Such things were also for his well being as well, to avoid confrontation unless it was their only and final option... did he at least try that?

But now was not the time to chastise him. To question his decisions, there were other more important matters at hand here. “Rest — but do not sleep. Tell me about the danger, what was it?” He had to stay conscious, if he fell unconscious now who knows when he would regain it; if he would regain it.

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He thought of the irony that he had battled a cat and it had not been the striped feline that had given them grief all those moons ago. Moons, he thought tiredly, like it was years ago now and simply history. If it were history, Tiberius thought he'd not be so tired now. "Cat," he rasped as he tilted his head in the snow, relishing in the cool touch of the snow. He shifted, uncomfortable though unable to properly shift himself in the way he would like.

"It got spooked, didn't it," Tiberius rumbled, his jaw ticking as he grit his teeth as he aimed to shift once again, to fight against what his body was calling for. "Fuck," the Samurai hissed in frustration, in pain and in exhaustion. There was little he could do but try, listening to Reiko's order of not to sleep. He blinked rapidly as his vision swam, his tongue rolling from his mouth to sweep over his bloody lip, dipping as he felt the change in his face.

He hadn't been pretty in the first place, he reasoned, so what was another scar? Tiberius huffed a tired laugh as he exhaled, "gotta get up," he said, his nose flaring as he decided then to try and move. She could tell him to rest but he was putting her in danger by being out of the territory with his blood on the wind. He was in no position to offer her protection out here, so he needed to get them back into the claim of Shiroshika. Tiberius bit down, clenching his jaw as he shifted in the snow, aiming to roll onto his belly.^^

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A cat he said, but not the cat neither judging by the lack of victory he seemed to be feeling. Nervously she hummed as she watched Tiberius move around, blood soaking the snow around him as she watched him carefully. Quickly finding herself next to him to support the large man in any way she could. Her fur would stain red once more, a fate that a healer was bound to accept. As hideous and horrid the crimson looked on her, she was getting use to the sensation and smell.

All she had to do was wash it off later once Tiberius was safe and stable with his wounds. It seemed while he would rest and let his injuries heal, she would have to focus more on the patrolling (while she was around at least, unexpected time away would soon be upon them).

As he moved to try and get up, asserting that he should - she slid next to him and offered silently to be someone to lean on. With a stern voice and glance from her icy stare. “You should rest.” Though if he would continue to try and get up, she would not fight him. He was much too large for her to try and force him to sit and listen. “We can make our way back to Tsukiishi when you can move safely.”

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His smirk at her words was a half, tired grimace as the movement stung his wounds. He would rest once inside the territory; keeping Reiko safe within their borders. Not out here at anyone's mercy. Still, she offered her assistance at keeping his larger frame more steady and despite his exhausted limbs, he tried to not bear too much of his weight upon the Iceling. She was must too small to withstand the entirety of his weight, perhaps even half. "Ain't all that difficult," he slurred, scuffing his paws forward through the snow.

"Slow an' steady, yknow wha' they say," Tiberius mused in a rasp, his vision swimming as he continued to take uneven steps forward. Just until they got in the border, he reminded himself. Then Reiko could do whatever she wanted or needed to his wounds. "Aye, thanks fer comin' ta me, Iceling." The man murmured as his head hung, bowed to his chest as blood dripped from his chin. His limbs screamed at him to stop, to drop but he pressed on, knowing that likely soon, his body would take his choice from him.

Just a little further. ^^

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It didn't matter their titles or whatever way the world had viewed them. He was wounded, and she was a medic here to assist. He may be her guardian, mostly hr daughter's guardian as there was no other she would trust with such an important task - but he was her patient now. Her limbs would shake under his weight, much more than she could ever bear alone - but even if she could alleviate it just a little for him, it was good enough to get them moving.

“It may be your duty to protect us Tiberius, but it is mine to care and aid.” She wasn't good for much else after all. The little lady could patrol all she wanted, but with her tiny stature and lack in battle prowess, she was only as good as an alarm to bring others should a trespasser be found. To refresh the scent marked borders as she'd pick through herbs and berries. On the rare circumstance, she could try to use diplomacy and diffuse whatever danger came their way...

Other than that, this was what she could do to be useful.

“One step at a time, we will go as slow as you need.” Reassuring the best she could, as soon as they could make it within Shiroshika she can run off for the herbs and some pelts to keep him warm. There was the unlikely chance he could make it to one of their dens, so to make wherever he fell next as comfortable as possible was next on their list.

At least with the colder climates of the north, bleeding out and infection wasn't as much of a concern as it was down in the south.

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