[b]Leia
Chapter 1: Matronage[/b]

Snow. Her paws sunk into it as she trotted forward. The freshly fallen snow clung dis-pleasurably to the drooping fur of her lower legs and it made her movements heavier. Leia's side already ached where The Threat had hurt her. It had smelled of similar threats and Leia was gladly rid of the scent now. She looked up again, padding next to the large Phoenix who rattled as they walked. The person carried Master in their arms as Master could not walk alone. Leia was concerned and she had since they set out circled around the phoenix as they walked. First with distrust as they did smell of fowl and Leia had no trust for things that could fly, but now with anxiety. What if Master never woke? Leia was uncertain how long Master had been gone now but in truth, it did not matter. Five minutes was excruciating enough. 
	"Wroaf!" She said. With intent of gaining Master's attention. There was no response. They only hung in the arms of the flaming bird with their eyes shut and arms drooping. "Waff!" Leia yelped. Skipping slightly on the spot. The Phoenix growled something in response. Leia did not fully understand but the tones were clear and she said nothing more to try and gain Master's attention, for now... 

She looked instead forward, letting her tongue hang out of fatigue from the walk. The two new threats walked in front of them. They had used Master's bag and fashioned a cot to carry The Blue person in. They were tediously careful as if the person they carried was a pup or someone familial. Leia enjoyed the Blue person. They seemed very kind and smiled with their mouth. But never with their eyes, opposite as to Master. But now they were hurt as well. Leia looked back toward the Phoenix until a sound caught her ear. She twitched her head around and looked toward the forest in the near distance. Squirrel? No. Gone, but it had been something and it might have been even larger than a squirrel! Leia blinked her eyes and looked to the Phoenix again. They were slow and Master needed assistance, how or for what Leia did not consider. But she did rush the Phoenix with a precedent bark. No response other than a glum gaze. The Phoenix said something in a tone Leia understood as angry to the two New People that walked ahead and they replied in the same tone. Leia did not understand their conversation and focused elsewhere. Maybe it had been a squirrel...?

Leia was thankful when the humans sat. They had spoken much between each other in the same angry tones and now elected to pause. They had sat down the wounded of the pack and the two New People were doting over Blue. Leaving the Phoenix with Master. Master was sat against a tree, Leia sat herself next to them and canted her head in thought while inspecting them. They breathed but seemed no closer to waking than they had before. Leia tried a comforting: 
	"Woaff!" - But there was no response. She then put a paw against Master and pushed her head against Master's arm while whining a noise, when hungry it had always worked to garner attention but it too did nothing now. Master was still unavailable. If not even the hungry whimper could rouse her, then nothing would. Leia sat down next to Master and watched the other humans, she flicked her ear, beyond the human's argument there was another noise, coming again from inside the forest nearby. Leia sniffed but could feel nothing except for the cold air in her nostrils as she inhaled. She did not feel threatened but she remained sitting by Master, in case anyone would attempt to bite them now. She would remain guard and she would defend Master against any Threat. Even Bears!... Maybe not Bears... Leia knew when she was outmatched.