The long walk to the shrine combined with the excitement of the situation and dragging Duchess around had laid Aslatiel low. Something had clicked within her. A sort of... final acceptance. It was happening. The end of her life. Had it been a good one? Yes, she believed so. She had three children whom she was very proud of. Indigo had become hers and they'd had some good years together. She'd brought Mojito and Satira back together. She'd been an alpha for a time, defended her family. Peace. She was at peace.

Emaciated and weak, Indigo had carried her home, forcing the battered Duchess to walk beside them. That had been the day prior and, after a vast amount of sleep, Asla woke feeling peaceful and accepting of her situation. She had insisted that Duchess stay in their den, as wounded as she was. It was a good thing, too. There was no certainty that she'd even be able to make it to the guest dens.

Amaranthine eyes adjusted to the light, scanning for the injured woman. She rested nearby on a pile of thick furs and Asla shakily got to her paws. A little gasp pulled from her as she felt the harsh pull of gravity, but she managed to stay aloft. On wobbly legs, she moved towards the sleeping fae, just barely making it within range before she collapsed. Teeth clacked together audibly and she groaned before using her claws to pull herself closer. Asla remained on the stone floor of the den, but she reached out and gave Duchess a shake; one hard enough that she was sure to rise. "Wake up," the dying woman growled. It wasn't a request.

"Aslatiel Indarra"

Duchess had the day to rest, as did Asla. Everything around her moved like a blur. She didn’t even remember how she got here. She knew she was in a den with Asla and Indy if only subconsciously. But she was slowly recovering enough at least to get her bearings back. She was still in a massive amount of pain but it was more emotional than physical. She had been tended to briefly when they had arrived but she probably needed much more once her injuries had settled.

She was laid on what felt like a mountain of furs, she felt almost weightless as she laid there and the hours passed. Still not picking up a paw to move. She may have been written off as dead to anyone who came by at first glance. But her breath was as steady as it could be.

She could sense Asla was near her by the way she traveled, not so gracefully. But Duchess wasn’t moving until she was being shook. She raised her head off the floor of the pelts, everything feeling dizzy before her eyes could settle back onto Asla, "Aslatiel?" she bit her lip as she choked a bit on her words. Just the severity of the whole situation coming down on her. The first time she could be wholly conscious. Her babies she’d lose in a few days time, Noir’s death, and Asla’s condition. Everything she could blame herself for.

"Duchess"

Duchess is an !M rated! character for themes of Depression. Please Discord me if you have concerns.

Duchess was roused enough to utter Asla's name in question. The blonde and grey woman gritted her teeth, working to pull herself into a comfortable position. She was so very, very weak. All muscle mass had dissolved like ice in the summer heat. The phrase 'skin and bones' was very fitting.

Once situated in as dignified a manner as she could manage, Asla was left breathing heavily. Her vision shook and, for a moment, she thought she may very well lose consciousness. Asla held on, however. She needed to get this over with. She needed Duchess to make a promise to her.

"Death calls for me, Duchess." Asla stated the obvious, her sharp gaze locked on the woman's blue eyes. The tawny fae's tongue darted out to wet dry lips before she could speak again. "Do you still hold love for Indigo?" Straight to the point. She didn't have time to beat around the bush.

"Aslatiel Indarra"