Surreal

Her mother had charged out in the night, following an urgent call from Imena, or one of the other healers? Surreal, currently, felt horrid. Her eyes stung, and she couldn?t quit shivering, but she felt hot, like she was being submerged in Hell?s River, then dumped in the snow. Hot, cold. Hot cold? Hot? She blinked in the gloom of the dark alcove that made her resting place in her mother?s expansive den. What? Why was she crying? Why did she smell blood? She swiped her face on the inside of one foreleg and stared blearily at the dark smear on the pale silver of her inner leg. She sniffed it cautiously. Blood. Panic swirled through her, and then her body seized, limbs jerking spasmodically. A faint whimper of fear left her, gurgling in her throat as the spasms tightened her jaws, jowls lifting of their own accord. The seizure stopped slowly, letting her gasp out a tiny sob. No. Stay strong. Stay? Through gauzy vision, she saw a huge black shape stepping into the alcove. The liquid golden eyes. The familiar scars. ?P-Papa?? Papa had left, long ago. Why was he back? The figure suddenly burst into a swirl of smoke. ?Papa!?? Was she going mad? He?d just been there! Mother! Where was Erani? Panic brought her jolting to her paws, and a seizure brought the Beta Heiress to the floor of her alcove again. ?F-F? Falk!? It came as a pathetic whine. ?Falk?? She needed him. Needed. Him.

Falk was awoken in the middle of the night by Surreal's familiar voice. It sounded like she was calling for 'papa', but why? Then suddenly it was his name she was calling and the distress in her tone was enough to pull him quickly to his paws and send him running to her side. He had been staying in Erani's amazingly huge den with Surreal so he was there in moments. The first thing he noticed was the scent of blood and worry set deep into his gut. "Surreal! Surreal, I'm here, what's wrong?" He skidded to a halt, dropping down beside her. It was easy to see the blood running from her eyes and his gaze widened with fear for her. "Surreal..." His deep tone was hushed and choked with worry. Was this a sickness? An injury? Where was Erani?! Speech Thought Others

Surreal

He came, like a guardian angel of mercy. His questions she tried to answer, but the seizure still had her in it?s jaws and all she could muster was a gurgled ?I d?noo?? Was she going to die? No! She wasn?t going to let that happen. She had life ahead of her. Alpha training to take from her mother. Falk to be mated to and have children with. No! She wasn?t going to let this be the end. The seizure lessened. She remembered something. ?Mother was.. C-called out. D?know how long ago?? Her fuzzy brain whirled with thoughts, and she was having hell trying to sort them out. She pressed against his larger frame, her own form shaking with fever shudders. ?Y-Yarrow. Maybe it?ll?Maybe.. It will help with the fever?? Her teeth were chattering so hard it was hard to get the words out. ?S-Smells like pine, but colder?? Her limbs started jerking, and an unbidden whine of frustration gurgled out her clenched jaws as she was bodily thrown onto her side by the convulsions. Her legs paddled rigidly, and then she felt the nausea rising. ?F-Falk.. Getback!? It was all the warning she could give before her stomach forcefully rejected her dinner of stag haunch and tripe. Oh yeah. She could really use the yarrow? She tried her best. She really did. She was trying hard to keep a level head and stay calm. To remember what plants would do what for her bizarre attacks of symptoms. But every time she thought she had a full grasp of what to say next, it slipped out of reach as she opened her jaws. So she said instead. ?I love you, Falk.? And I?m not gonna give up life to this. Not like this.