one last breath

Kassander was lost and delirious with the pain and fear. He thought he trembled, but he wasn't sure if it was from cold or fright. He found himself wishing for the first time in years that his mother was still there. When a shadow fell over him, for one confused moment he wasn't sure if it was Raisa, or Sigmarr, or... He raised his heavy head with some difficulty, but had to let it fall again and tilt to the side to see. Even that small effort had him panting, breath hitching. It wasn't Sigmarr, nor their mother. It was... Kassander blinked painfully, with some confusion. He actually had no idea who this was. This young, gray stranger who dropped a bundle between Kassander's paws.