The Choice - Brian

She watched as his stomach convulsed, his body wracked with agony until, to her horror, his skin tore open. As Enyo stood at the cliff's edge, the atmosphere thickened with an impending sense of dread. Brian's sudden distress sent a jolt through her, and her instincts kicked into high gear. Interest twisted into disgust as his cry split through the air. She watched as the wolf’s body reacted violently, his muscles twitching, and his back paws carving desperate grooves into the sand. The world around her faded into a blur, her focus zeroing in on the unfolding horror.

The woman took a step back.

Suddenly a horrific explosion of writhing worms spilled from the wolf's open side, slick with blood and stomach juices. The gruesome sight twisted in her gut, a visceral reaction that drew a low growl from her throat. Danger. The acrid smell of bile flooded her senses. Enyo's mind raced, and a fleeting thought struck her. She wished Erebros were here. His healing skills could offer clarity to this terrifying situation. For now, she was stuck trying to infer. Was it a severe parasitic infestation? But as she observed the writhing creatures, she quickly realized that whatever this was, it was beyond a simple ailment.

The grey one bumped into her, drowning in his fear. It earned him a snarl. Dany's panic irritated her. Too much was happening. She needed to take control. Get the infected one away. Another gray wolf, a woman. Would offer assistance. No. This woman was a healer. Worms were infectious. Surely she knew that? Or was she too worried about being kind to consider preservation?

Stupid.

Idiot.

She could not allow this to continue. The suffering, the agony reflected in Brian’s wide eyes. It was unbearable. No poultice would stop his agony. Only death. Enyo’s heart pounded in her chest, urgency igniting her movements. "Enough! Step away from him!" she commanded, her voice slicing through the chaos like a knife. The time for hesitation was gone.

Raising her head high, she barked sharply, "Foberos! Atromitos!" Her command echoed as her loyal birds descended from above, their powerful wings stirring the air around her. She gestured at Brian with a snap of her muzzle, then at the cliff's edge. "Drag him off the edge. Now." The two birds responded instantly, swooping down toward the writhing wolf with a precision honed through their countless flights together.

Enyo felt no sorrow. It was necessary to end his suffering. The scene was too horrific to witness any longer. She moved closer, her instincts sharpening, preparing to assist her birds as they lifted him away. "We must act swiftly!" she barked, her mind a flurry of thoughts on how to minimize the trauma. She needed to protect the others, protect herself, but above all, she needed to end this creature's pain.

With Foberos and Atromitos moving to hoist Brian’s limp form, Enyo took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of the moment. She steeled herself, resolute in her duty to free him from the torment that had taken hold of his body. The giant woman would attempt to push the dying wolf with the aid of her birds. She was determined to bring an end to the chaos and ensure that, whatever came next, it would be swift and merciful.

Most of all, she needed to ensure this parasite could not infect anyone else.


"SPEECH"