this won't change my opinion of you

Avantika walked beside Audra, just as scared but trying her best to hide it. It wasn't going very well. She kept touching the crystals growing from her ears and eyes gingerly, like poking a bruise. She wasn't sure if she should talk to the healers or not. The plague had spread throughout the pack, so they were probably swamped with cases already. Avantika was willing to risk being sick for a little while longer and make sure everyone else was safe. That was her job, after all.

Still, she was scared to pieces. She was young and already tired, and now something she knew absolutely nothing about was afflicting her, and god, she was so damn scared. It felt selfish and weak to be afraid for herself, though, so she kept "fixing" her thoughts every time, switching her sentence from "scared because I'm sick" to "scared for Audra" or "scared for the pack". It was easier that way.

Audra flopped down on the grass, her paws in the air. Avantika lay on her side next to her, facing her. She looked so pretty in this light, even through the fear. She pressed a paw to her face, and then whispered, 'What's happening to us?' Avantika didn't say anything at first. She couldn't say that she didn't know. Somehow saying it would make it real: she knew nothing about what was to come here. She hated uncertainty. But eventually, she spoke, looking away from Audra as she did so. "Don't worry. We'll be okay."

She hoped it wasn't a lie.

"Speech"