Ko-Ga didn't trust this newcomer. No doubt they'd come to eat his kin, and he'd seen the way Nate-Dog bristled. If a stranger was not good enough for one flockmate, then they were not good enough for any flockmate. Shitting on him was not entirely off the table. Or pecking out his eyes, if he tried to hurt either Nate-Dog or the big white-feather.

Aaa-Aaa Aaa Aaa! (A friend! A friend is coming. A helpful friend!) He cawed, bouncing to a landing in front of the raven. Aa Aa Aaa! (Big teeth. Soft mouth. Flockmate Nate-Dog.)

Aivar stared at Nate Ronan as if the man had lost his mind. A fraud, well, that made sense at least. It was a strange expression, but what did hawks have to do with anything? And snake oil? What was that? They were questions he wanted to ask, but questions he didn't ask as they crept closer to the injured raven.

Nate Ronan's bird was making an almighty racket, and Aivar's lip curled, but he only tried to see what was going on.

The raven was not like any that Aivar had ever seen. So different was it that he was beginning to doubt his own ears. It had sounded like a raven… But the bird was white, or rather a sort of dirty, brownish white, and its eyes were a piercing blue. Its wing and chest were bloodied, but it was too far away for Aivar to see the extent of the injuries.

It made its raven sounds back to the crow, and it peered over at this “flockmate.” It watched the wolves with suspicion.

“Aaa Aaa Aah. (Big greedy wolf pups want easy meal)" the moonfeather hissed, fluffing up his feathers. Not that he could go anywhere.

Aivar glanced at Nate Ronan with a silent question in his eyes. What was he going to do?

Skill - Healer

Hey there, fella. You're awful pretty, aren't you? Nate greeted softly, flattening belly to cold ground. A sharp glance at Aivar indicated he ought to do the same.

What happened to you, huh? Looks like it hurts. Maybe I could help. Nate smiled without teeth, dipping his head down, and waited patiently.

He'd learned it first with horses, but found most animals much the same in one particular regard, especially when frightened. If you acted in a rush, you'd be there all day. The quickest way into cooperation was to act like you had all the time in the world.

Ko-Ga had not learned a similar patience. Indignation ruffled his feathers, Aaa aaa AA ack! (Nate-Dog flockmate to Ko-Ga, will NOT eat! Watch!)

To prove the point, he flapped back to Nate-Dog and landed on his head. Nipped his ear, which earned an irritable Hey!, and then pecked Nate-Dog on the cheek for being uncooperative.

Sharp twiggy feet plopped down on the tip of his snout, stopping there to preen. Aa! (See? Not eat.)

Those piercing blue eyes set in the dusty cream face of the raven watched suspiciously. His feathers remained fluffed out, and he watched the crow, Ko-Ga, prove that this Nate-dog was indeed a flockmate. Well… maybe he was.

Aivar lifted a paw to stifle a laugh. What a strange pair these two were. He had no idea what was going on, but it amused him nonetheless. Even if he didn't get a snack out of this, the entertainment was worth it.

He stayed back, though, to not disturb the very wary bird.

“Do you think it can fly?” Aivar whispered. Surely not, right? That wing looked damaged.

Not very well, or it wouldn't be on the ground with us so close. Nate answered, grimacing, utterly serious beneath Ko-Ga's display, But I really need a better look to be sure. And thumbs.

Wings were delicate work. If he could get close enough to tend it, he'd be testing the theory that Ko-Ga was much smarter now than he had ever shown himself to be in their last life.

Ko-Ga was currently trying to wedge his entire face between Nate's teeth.

With a huff, he lifted a paw to push the crow off, Alright, look, I draw the line at swallowing feathers.

Not being able to fly was a death sentence for a bird, and it might well have been if Nate Ronan had not shown up with his loud crow friend to save it. Aivar wondered if he'd be successful in this endeavor, or if it was a waste of time, and a waste of a snack.

Aivar made a quiet hum of agreement.

The raven continued watching the two wolves with suspicious, narrowed eyes, but his feathers smoothed. He seemed more convinced that these wolves were not here to eat him if the crow's friend did not want to take a bite when offered.

I believe you, the raven quorked at Ko-ga, and if the wolf ate him, well… he was as good as dead on the ground anyways.

Ko-Ga tugged Nate-Dog's ear and flapped back to the raven, feathers fluffing in proud satisfaction at proving his point.

Nate crawled forward on his belly, slow enough to hop away from if minds were changed, and looked to Ko-Ga for confirmation. It felt good to be important, though he wished he had a better grasp on dog words to interpret both ways. He could only be proud to know Nate-Dog well enough to understand basically what needed to be done.

Looking to the raven, Ko-Ga explained, Aaa aaa aa aa! (Show him part that hurts! If you can't lift wing, I can help tell him.)

The raven continued to look suspiciously at the Nate-Dog, even if he did believe the crow, it remained hard to believe it entirely. One did not survive by trusting easily. Still he turned his head and touched his beak to a point of his wing. A puncture that had gone clear through and had cut through to his breast.

Aivar continued to watch curiously.

Skill - Healer

Okay. Nate nodded, relieved that Ko-Ga seemed able to help in a very real... very sentient way. And still quietly tucked that bit of newness away to fret about, later.

Birds were smart, sure. But... still birds.

The same way wolves are just wolves, right? He thought to himself wryly.

Tilting his muzzle toward Aivar, Nate kept his eyes on the corvids. I don't suppose you uh, have any salt around here?

Yeah, in a clay pot beside the fireplace back home, shall I grab you some stew while I'm at it?

But he figured you could still find minerals out in the wild, and surely a wolf could smell it, if they actually knew how to use their nose. He hoped enough to ask, at least.

Then to the raven in a calm voice, expecting Ko-Ga to translate, and feeling a little strange about how easy it was to assume that would happen, It's a clean cut. That's a good sign. Do you know what did it to you?