GIVE ME SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN [Ivory Ridge]

Kassander was deeply asleep when Rommel nudged him awake. He started, dislodging Remy from the mouse lemur's position between his paw and his muzzle. "Trouble," the fox told him simply, his voice as always calm, but carrying a grim note. "Your alpha is calling the pack together."

A chill shot through the healer-crafter, and he immediately left the cave on Rommel's heels. His companion led the way to where he'd heard the howl, and Kassander trustingly placed his every paw step where the fox's paws struck, trusting to his agile friend to lead him there safely. He didn't stop to grab any herbs, though he wanted to. He didn't know what the emergency was so any time he wasted picking through herbs was time he couldn't get back if he guessed wrongly. He could send Rommel back for any herbs if he needed them - the fox's swift and sure paths through the mountains would mean that he'd waste little time.

He came to a halt, wide-eyed but with little trace of the anxiety that had always plagued him when he wasn't actively wearing his metaphorical healer's hat. Rommel stayed back, within easy speaking distance if he was needed but out of the way of everything.

Blood-scent washed over him, and he moved immediately to his cousin's side to check if she was injured, but the blood-scent wasn't hers. He sent a questioning glance at the den the others had gathered in front of. A deep breath to settle himself into that deep calm that would be almost eerie when he thought back to it. A healer had to be calm, had to spread that calm over the whole situation and everyone involved in it.

"What do we know?" he asked, directing the question to all there, slipping into the den as he did to check the patient. Dagmaer, he vaguely recalled. Qualm may have already examined her before he'd arrived - Karabela or the warriors might have been there when it... whatever it was... happened - they might know where to direct his attention and save time.