Ironsoul

Ironsoul scratched at the rock, gouging deeper into the earth. Sweat lightly rolled off his brow and the gash in his leg causing him anguish. To the west a haze blurred a setting sun. There wasn't a lot of time...

The pack had been too large as it was, with the faster, stronger members taking more of the hunt than they needed, and Ironsoul, true to his name, wasn't much of a fighter. He hoarded knowledge, not bones or gems or material treasures. The others would laugh at him with high pitched shrieks. At night he'd be abandoned to his own pathetic fire and thoughts...

Scratch, dig, hue. His claws were losing their edge as he carved into the earth.

There were always minor skirmishes for the left over scraps once the hunters had their fill. But more playful. Nips to the neck, shoulder charges, a flick of the tail across the nose.

Never full on attack. Never raking a rival's side then pushing them off the ridge.

The wind picked up, howled through the canyon as the first flecks of a sandstorm pelted Ironsoul's obsidian hide. He snorted as he turned around and fully inspecting his lair, both angry and pleased with himself with the sheer expanse of it.

When she thumped down in front of him. Navy blue with coppery wings, the female guardian hunkered down against the storm and laid her two eyes into Ironsoul's four. She bobbed her head and he backed up, allowing her into his shelter. He settled down, head resting on his forearms, tail lightly wrapped against his body. It wouldn't be too long until-

She licked his wounds!
All four eyes went wide as he looked at her.
She licked him again.
He turned away and resettled his head back on his forearms with a grimace. "I have Aid, you know. I just need to catch my breath."
She licked him a third time then snaked her massive head around to look into his left two eyes.
"I suppose I'm your charge?" he mumbled.
"Yup~" she sang. "Let's do this~"
"I...uh...what...sure?"
"Absolutely~"
"A clan?" he asked. "Just you and I?"
"Well, that too I guess," she said with a grin.
Ironsoul's mouth quirked up in a smile as he watched the sand and gravel lash and sweep outside.