She had spoken with all of her children but one now, gently preparing them for the eventuality that they would be alone. She wanted to be certain before she faded away that they were well on the path to taking care of themselves after she was gone, that they were certain of learning what they needed to support themselves in the fields they chose. Cairo alone she had not yet spoken to. He'd always been a sickly child, but there was little she could do to solve that in the time she had left except to make certain Paladin kept his eye on the boy to be sure he grew out of the weakness. His childhood illnesses had made it so that Cairo had spent much less time doing the normal things of pups, the play that was as much learning as it was anything else. She'd also been less able to observe his interests, and was less certain of his choices than she was of Artur, or Geoffrey and Viviane.

She coughed, then sighed and nearly set off another coughing fit but was able to hold back until the urge passed. She didn't rise from her newly-habitual spot beside the den, but raised her head to send out a quiet howl for her son. This time she wasn't able to hold back the cough that wracked her body.

Cairo Lanze Adravendi

Cai worried for his mother. Aurielle taking him under her tutelage helped distract him, some, but… each night he returned, the smell of his mother’s waning health permeated the walls of the den system she’d so painstakingly dug in preparation for his and his siblings’ births. He lunged for the shimmering white alphess but, as ever, his jaws snapped shut just short of that long-haired mane as she danced aside. But he was getting quicker. He’d actually felt the strands of hair tickle over his nose, this time. He resettled his weight on all four paws and loosened his joints like his mother had taught in his first lesson, lowering his center of gravity slightly as the mentor and mentee squared off again. His mother’s summons, specifically for him, broke the air and Aurielle straightened, nodding to him as she said, “You’ve done well. Go see your mother. If you see any good prey traces on your way, make note and let me know tonight when you join me for patrol—West Plains Gate.” The Chocolate based Adravendi dipped his head and turned, breaking into a lope, though he kept an eye out for any good traces, as asked, making note of which smells seemed tinged with illness—like that deer, an old buck by the smell. He made a particularly strong note in his mind, marking the spot in his mental map before passing on to join his mother. It had been hard, seeing her deteriorate from the strong wolf he’d grown up knowing. Now, as he looked upon her cream and fawn form, taking in the skeletal appearance harsh coat, and smelled the sickness in her breath and fur, he came to the realization that she wouldn’t come out of this. Perhaps she might not make it to spring. His throat constricted, both with grief and fear, and he moved to curl beside her, pressing his nose to her cheek. He wasn’t ashamed to be afraid. It was logical, and Aurielle had told him, quite plainly, that to deny fear in the face of hardships ahead was foolishness. To push on, even though one was afraid, in order to do good, was the mark of strength and courage. How was their mother’s imminent death going to affect his siblings? Viviane, surely, would be devastated. She was an infinitely sweet and gentle soul that cared for all around her. Would Geoff refuse to accept their mother was dying and keep searching for a cure? Caelia, certainly, would put on a strong face. As for Artur… A little guilt prickled at his conscience as he thought of his brother. He’d been avoiding his sib for some time. Not out of fear, but out of a sense of disappointment and worry for the path Artur seemed to be going down. He stepped in to defend Geoff from Artur’s barbed taunts and torments when he could, but he couldn’t stomach the deep bias Artur showed for those not of the “direct” Adravendi bloodline. Their mother, he feared, was the only thing keeping his brother from behaving even more cruelly. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think