Per usual, worried thoughts flitted through his mind, making his head spin with unlimited possibilities of doom and terror. Why did he always imagine the worst possible scenarios? If everything was always as awful as he thought it was, the world would've ended by now. His audits flicked back as he thought, portraying his rather strong concern for her and the situation, specifically how it would impact their journey and her life. If she could not sleep, she would literally pass out. She would be exhausted, delusional, and delirious. They would not be able to finish the journey. Not getting enough sleep was truly a problem, not just because it would blame her super grumpy and unhappy.

As she started speaking, he swiveled his audits forward, deciding to focus and pick up every word. His orbs met hers as he tried to sort out her words and decide what to say. "It could be a memory... it wouldn't make sense if it was just a random reoccurring nightmare... but you know that already." He mumbled, his voice low as he was trying to figure out what he could do to actually help and not just say things that would earn him the title of Captain Obvious. "I don't know how to help.." Saying the words obviously seemed to pain him, as he paused with a slight frown, recollecting his thoughts. Of course, he hated not being able to do anything. Not having any ideas. "Except.. I guess- poppyseed. It's like a drug- it'll make you pass out and see nothing but black, usually for around 8 or so hours. It can also be used to numb pain. I've used it a couple times, and it's really effective, especially with- nightmares, of sorts. Of course, I don't know exactly what it would do for you, but in my experience, with every horse I've given it to... it's completely knocked them dead, no dreams, nightmares, or otherwise." He explained slowly, irritated that he could see no other way to help her. Distracted, he stared at the ground for a couple seconds, thinking. A mere millisecond later, an unwelcome scent hit his nostrils, about the same time he caught something out of the flicker of his eye. Leaping forward, in front of Noda, he got in the way of a leaping mountain lion a split second before it dug its claws into her neck. The animal let out a screech of Fury and rammed into his side, its claws raking down his flank as it scrabbled backwards. Ripp's knees almost buckled as he landed, but he managed to wheel around just in time for the animal to leap up on his back. He could feel its hot breath on his neck, its claws digging into his shoulders, and its teeth on his withers. With a trumpet of pain and anger, he threw his head down and shot to the ground with such momentum he all but flipped over, half crushing the mountain lion under his weight. As he heaved himself to his feet, the animal went after Noda, obviously undeterred by this. Its ribs were showing and there was a wild look in its eyes, so it obviously hadn't eaten in quite a while- otherwise it wouldn't have fought like this. The animal managed to get to Noda before Ripp could get up, but with Fury in his eyes, he shot forward and struck at it with his hooves, sending it flying. The lion twisted and landed on its feet, letting out a blood curdling screech before launching at him again. Its claws viciously raked his chest and shoulders, but he met the attack with his hooves, striking it backwards before wheeling around and kicking it with his back hooves. The mountain lion fell to the ground after his hooves made contact with a Crack, obviously having hit bone. The lion didn't stop moving though, instead trying to get up and swipe at him again. Staying in between Noda and the crazed animal, Ripp reared up and brought his hooves down on it, swiftly ending its misery. He then took a couple steps backwards, sides heaving, blood already staining his grey pelt red. He could feel it trickling down his sides and legs.

The grey stallion stared at the body of the animal, in shock at the moment, not even feeling the pain. Of course, he had had to fight animals before, but it felt so wrong taking a life. Slowly, his nerves made a connection with his brain, and the pain started flooding in. However, he ignored it for the moment, blocking it out as he turned to look at Noda. "Not exactly alright- but- are you okay? I'm sorry- so sorry I failed to stop it from getting to you- I should've been faster..." He stopped as a wave of nausea slammed into him, making him sway on his feet. The whole world was spinning, but he refused to give in, although now that he focused on staying standing, the pain was again throbbing. He had deep wounds everywhere, but the worst of it was on his shoulders, where the big cat had repeatedly clawed and bit him. However, as he tried to take a couple steps forward, his hind leg faltered, almost sending him crashing to the ground. In the midst of the heated battle, the mountain lion must've done something to his leg, as he couldn't put weight on it. As she hurriedly left, he opened his mouth to tell her to stop, but it was too late, as she had rushed back to the shallow cove in which she had slept. At this point, he was just trying to regain his bearings and try not to fall over. The dizziness was most likely from blood loss. He couldn't help but think- dizziness must be his true love, because it was the only thing that could sweep him off his feet. As the red mare returned, he mustered up the resilience to limp after her, black creeping against the edge of his vision as he moved. He needed to stop the bleeding, or otherwise this would get much worse. To say the least, he'd have some mighty big scars after this. Her quiet order was met by the slight pinning of his audits, as he didn't want to leave them open to attack, but he couldn't protest more than that, as any words he tried to speak seemed to be swept away by the wind. Folding his knees, he sank to the ground with a quiet groan of pain, lowering his muzzle and breathing out heavily, trying to regain control. Ripp attempted to pay attention to everything, but he also knew the quickest way to get back to normal was to let himself be treated, so he didn't move. Partially because he couldn't, at the moment. After a while, he lifted his cranium slightly, feeling less dizzy- however, there was more agony now, radiating through his veins. "Like I just got ripped to shreds by a mountain lion..." He mumbled, sucking in a breath, his nostrils flaring. "No- no, I can find some more, you've done enough. Thank you." He smiled weakly, commanding the strength to his body to glance up at her, his dark brown orbs portraying pain, but also gratefulness. "I'm here to protect- thats my job." He replied, breathing in slowly before pushing himself to his feet, not content to lay down any longer. He'd be a prime meal for predators like that, and he didn't want to force Noda to hurt herself trying to protect him. That was his job. They also needed to move, and quickly, otherwise the carcass would attract quite a bit of unwanted company. A slightly terrifying scent had started to tickle the inside of his nostrils- wolves. Since they were upwind, he could smell them, but they couldn't scent him. He guessed they were still a little ways off, but it wasn't Safe to stay here any longer. Steadying himself, he tried not to look like a foal taking its first steps as he lifted his head and walked a couple feet, unhappy to feel he was still limping quite heavily to avoid the pain. "We need to go- I can scent wolves, and they can't be very far away." He commented, his voice quiet, his orbs on the forest ahead. So many shadows, bushes, places to hide. Danger lurking behind every corner. Of course, now he was hindered, just as they were getting to the rather unpleasant part of the journey.

Ripp didn't try and calm his breathing, his reckoning being that if he breathed long enough, it would eventually calm. He glanced at Noda, concern slowly starting to write over the pain on his face. "No, you shouldn't have helped. It is my job to protect you, not the other way around." He said firmly, then paused. "Don't feel bad about this, and also, I'll do everything in my power to help you find your dam. Stop worrying about that, too. Too much worry and anxiety is not healthy." He smiled faintly, his cranium bobbing slightly as each step sent pain shooting through his leg. As their pelts brushed slightly, he knew it was because she was trying to help, but he couldn't help feeling a tingle of hope. Hope that she would... would... but no. It would never work out like that. He let one audit swivel backwards to keep tabs on the wolves, the best he could. He could hear their howls, which were getting uncomfortable close. Hopefully, the wolves would stop at the carcass and be fine, rather than follow the trail he and Noda had left. He quickened His pace just slightly when the howls grew even louder, ignoring the pain. He would have to deal with it later. As they were walking, albeit quickly, he could tell at least two of the wolves had started to follow the trail. His audits pinned, and he sucked in a breath. His orbs roamed the landscape quickly, and he spotted a small, concealed cave within the shadows of the trees. Flaring His nostrils, he confirmed there was nothing in there. "Go in. I'll be right back. And stop worrying!" He called, wheeling back around and lengthening his strides to a Trot, limping heavily as he quickly moved back and away from Noda. He prayed she didn't follow, as his plan would fail AND he'd get more hurt. Just like he wished, the wolves followed the scent of blood rather than hers. He stopped in a small alcove not too far away, waiting. When the wolves rounded the corner, he silently stepped away, then jumped out behind them from downwind. They wheeled with snarls, but Ripp made sure to look as big and aggressive as possible. Although driven by the scent of blood, the wolves had already eaten, and after a couple attempted strikes and close calls with his hooves, they fled. He then limped quickly back to the cave. "We need to go. And find a river. The marigold is already flaking off, and I should wash the blood away- it's just attracting predators." He said quietly, his voice slightly strained from the pain. He went onward as quickly as he could, a mile or two later relieved to hear the sound of running water. As they came upon a small river, he slowed, lifting his cranium and scenting the air. Nothing. Without more than a second of hesitation, he walked into the chilly water, shuddering slightly as downriver started to have red blood trails in it as the water washed his stained coat. His wounds prickled with pain, but he ignored it the best he could, trying to get as much blood off as possible. Then, hopefully, they could find Marigold somewhere around here.

She shook her head at his insistence. “Someone CAN look out for you, Ripp, that’s how it works.” She herself insisted conveying her concern for him with a soft smile. “We have to be a team out here.” She was a bit surprised when he mentioned her dam, taking note that she wasn’t as good at hiding her emotions as she had thought, especially when her mind was rather a little preoccupied. “Don’t worry about that right now, let’s just get somewhere safe.” She buried her thoughts underneath the dirt they walked on, trying not to think of the new struggles ahead for them on this journey, nor the lingering danger behind them. Each howl sent shivers over her body, and she couldn’t help but look at the stallion, watching for his emotions as he tried to hide a considerable amount of the pain he was in. She couldn’t help but feel like it was her fault in some way. She couldn’t help but think that it was her own thrashing and cries that practically announced their location to the cat. Her own scent still hinted her old, slow healing injuries, but also wreaked of the fear and stress she had felt while trapped in her nightmare. Hell, she might as well have rung a dinner bell. That awful feeling sat in the pit of her stomach as they continued to walk in silence. It was only when Riptide urged her alone, into the cave that she finally snapped out of her thoughts. "Without you? Where are you going?” Her voice was poisoned with concern as he turned away from her. He said to stop worrying. How could she not worry when he was trying to head straight into battle once again, lame!? She wished to protest, but swallowed her words as she watched him fade away, not even giving her time to utter a thing. As she sat alone, pacing the length of the crevice, she tried to calm her mind, but the howls and barks she heard every so often kept reminding her of the what ifs. He wouldn’t have gone out there if we didn’t have a plan, right? She had to trust him. “Ah, I wish there was something I could do!” The mare growled. “I’m useless.” …

.

“I’m useless! And this is hopeless!” The young two year old snorted as she turned away from the black mare. The older horse closed her eyes with a soft grin. “You will get this, you remember what I’ve taught you, I know you do.” Her dam tried hard to encourage her but the filly was stubborn. “Now, tell me again. What do you use for pain?” The mare nudged forward a small clump of plants for the blood bay to choose from. “Uh, willow bark, lavender, tumeric and … ech- uh- echinacea?” she paused, looking to her dam for certainly. “That’s right!” She nickered and gently nudged the filly as she then attempted to identify the plants she had called out. “Okay, what are you going to use for small wounds or burns?” The filly looked down at her piles. “Marigolds and aloe Vera,” she ran off with a happy toss of her head . “Right! Now your big wounds?” Noda stared blankly at the plants before her but could not summon a name in her mind. Her brows furrowed and she flicked her tail frustratedly. "Concentrate, my love." Her mother's words gently touched her audits and she pinned them. "I don't know." Noda sighed. "Yes, you do. You've seen me use it many times." Liona continued to encourage her. "What clots bleeding?" She redirected her questioning. "Yarrow," the filly named off rather quickly. "Correct, and where does that grow?" The red mare thoguht for only a second. "open forests and around the coast." "That's right. What else grows there?" Liona continued. "Tumeric ..." Noda paused. "And?" there was a beat of silence between them before the filly looked up to meet her dam's features. "comfrey?” She guessed sheepishly. “That’s exactly right, Noda!”

.

The flashblack blurred away as the black mare embrased her daughter, leaving the now grown mare back in reality with a new calmness and reassurance she was only familiar withh from this maternal figure she longed to be reunited with. She had become aware of her surroundings once more only a few minutes before Riptide returned to the cave, no more harmed than when he had left her. "Are you alright?" She was barely able to get the words out of her mouth before the stallion began ushering her to move on. The mare nodded in agreement and quietly followed him. As they continued to find a river, she kept her eyes peeled not only for danger, but now a new plant she hoped would save Riptide from infection ... and death.

.

The meadow they found had a small portion of it within a wooded clearing. This sparked a hope in Noda that she could find this plant she had seen in her new found memory. While Riptide clensed his wounds and she had investigated the area around them long enough to deem it safe, she slipped away. She didn't go far, but was just out of reach where she no longer could see the stallion. 'I'll only be gone a minute,' she told herself and trotted along the clearing where the flowers bloomed close to the ground. She remained very vigilante so no predator had the chance to sneek up on her. She kept her nose to the ground, inspecting everything that grew until she finally found what she had been after. "Ah ha." She celebrated quietly to herself and plucked a mouthful from the earth. She long trotted all the way back to Riptide which took no longer than a minute, hoping he hadn't noticed her absence too much. "Here, I have something for you." She called out to him queitly. Near him, she dropped a familiar golden yellow flower, but this time, she also carried a small white one. "Let me see your wounds." Noda stepped closer to the stallion, examining his gashes. Now thoroughly cleaned, she took notice to how much deeper they were than what she initially assessed them to be. She kept her face neutral, once again creating a paste with the fresh marigolds. "Eat these, they will help much with the pain." Noda motioned towards the other flowers as she carefully applied the paste to his worst wounds along his shoulders and back first, then the rest of his mangled body. She had to work hard to not allow her emotions to show through her fixed features. How Rip was still standing was a miracle. He was so much stronger than she had taken him for. "There." She smiled softly as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. After her 'lesson' with her dam in the cave, bandages almost seemed self explanatory as Noda plunged her muzzle below the water's surface and drew back a patch of river moss. This would be perfect for packing the wounds to keep them clean. She carefully constructed strips, pulling the moss apart with a hoof and her teeth and placed the moss over the marigolds to keep them in place, but also from drying out as quickly as they had been. "Now, we need to find somewhere to rest so you dont walk these off. We will just have to resume our journey once you've healed a little." Noda spoke quietly and nudged his shounder. "Now that the scary part is over, I'm glad you're still standing." She grinned and then dipped her head into the river. All the work she had put into her medicine had her building up a thirst. "I never would have guessed that my dam was a healter." She said the words so nonchalantly, but the grin on her face only hid half the excitement she was containing within her. She had one more small piece of her past. It was fleeting, but it was everything to her.