When Lillianna snuggled with Lark a week ago, she hadn't been expecting to catch what he had. When she did, she expected even less the severity of the illness, instead assuming - like Lark had - that it would go away in a few days. When it didn't, she remained stubborn, refusing to go to see a healer. Who would she see? Starling? Ha! As if he did anything other than mope around and feel sorry for himself. Harmony? Crazy though it would appear to one who was thinking rationally, Lillianna saw that almost as a weakness. Seeing the alpha's sister. Sparrow? The girl despised her anywho, and was merely an apprentice still like the majority of her siblings. She was determined not appear weak to any of them - and so she decided to weather out the illness.

It was a poor decision.

Curled into a ball, groaning in pain and hacking, Lillianna shivered in her den by the rocks in the thicket. The air around her was tinged with that of sickness, and it was humid - almost burning hot in the tight space. A little cat watched with concern - regardless of what Lillianna said, he was about to go find someone. While he could catch things as big as rabbits, she needed so much more and she hadn't eaten in days. Barely any water, too.

Stirring for the first time in a while, Lillianna's head rose, and she blinked blurrily around her. What...? Coughing some more, she tried shaking roughly, rubbing her dry and hot nose across her fur. Her awareness didn't last too long; eyes drifting close again, form shuddering.

Farrym frowned then; this was the opposite of good. Who to find, though? She had been spending time lately with Lark - perhaps him? Starling was a no-go and he didn't really know where to find Harmony, though Lark would be easy to find. And truly, it did not take long for the cat to find the wolf, who seemed to recognize him; he explained the situation quickly and then darted back the way he came - hopefully with Lark in tow - back to where his wolf lay, sick and hurt.

"Lark" | "Lillianna"

For a solid two weeks, Lark had felt absolutely horrid. It almost felt like he might never get better the general achiness had developed into a rather delusional sort of state, and his body had been wracked with fever and a horrible cough. He was grateful that Starling had helped him through it, and though he still felt as though he and his brother were not on perfect terms, he definitely felt better. Not perfect, but better.

It was surprising to see Lillianna's companion. He seemed scarce when they were together, and though Lark didn't necessarily dislike him he didn't know just how to feel about him. He wasn't just here to chat, though; Lillianna sas sick. Really sick, like he had been. He should've know better than to let her curl him to him when be wasn't feeling well the other day.. letting out a soft sigh, he would turn and follow Farrym's lead.

She looked pretty awful, he could tell right away, and her smell wasn't as pleasant as he remembered. A frown touched his lips as he crept into the den, head low as he entered carefully, not waning to startle her. "Lillie?" He'd ask, his voice a touch softer than usual, his brows pulling together in concern. "Are you alright?" Obviously she wasn't well, but he wondered just how sick she really was. And since he wasn't a healer by any means, the easiest way to figure that out was just to ask.

Lillianna was oblivious to her little companion's absence, and remained that way through the entirety of his disappearance - that is, until he returned with a wolf in tow. Farrym himself felt pleased and relieved; maybe Lark could do something to make her feel better. The cat didn't know the very, very large wolf all too well, but he knew his wolf was friends with this one, so... that made the decision. Pausing at the entrance, he watched as the wolf crept into the den.

Lillianna stirred somewhat when the heat on her back suddenly cooled, green eyes blinking up at the shadowed figure in front of her. It was that figure, that shadowy demon, that made her cry out suddenly, flinching back away - not that she had anywhere to flinch, tight as she was curled up. What was that? A face swum in front of her eyes, and she shook her head roughly, her eyes nearly unseeing as she stared up at Lark, the familiar stranger whom she did not recognize. Then the creature, this demonic being, spoke her name and she startled again. Panting from just the little movement, she shook her head from side to side. "How do you know my name?" she rasped. "What are you? How did you get in here?" Was this the demon that killed Finch, spilling her blood so roughly across the harsh red ground? Was this the monster that tore her to shreds and poisoned her? She tried to growl, but with the wet, ragged cough that broke out at that point, she found herself unable to.

Farrym would whine, looking back at Lark, and then back at Lillianna; what on earth could he do? Say? No matter, the red wolf was already recovering from her cough this time, and was now successfully growling at Lark, a crazed look in her eyes. "Are you just here to taunt me, you demon? What? Killing her wasn't enough? Who are you after next? Lark? Well, I won't let you!" to her, her words were loud and clear; however, they probably sounded a bit muddled - hard to distinguish, but possibly clear enough. As if the sick wolf was a threat, with soft, almost inaudible growls intercepted with hacking coughs that would disable her, and the occasional pant for breath as her lungs protested a lack of air.

"Lark" | "Lillianna"

Lark didn't quite know what to expect. His own sickness had been horrible - besides the coughing and the fever, he'd been quite delirious, though Starling's herbs had helped keep him calm and sedated as he was brought back to normal. He still didn't feel perfect, but definitely not really sick like he had been. He was wary as he crept into her den and eyed her, unsure of what to expect.

He watched as she stirred, surprising when her reaction was a negative one. Instead of being grateful for his presence, which he had expected, she flinched away - looking quite frightened, her eyes hazy as they looked at him. Did she even see him? It seemed like Lillie was looking right through him. He frowned, his brows furrowing together as he briefly swung around, seeing nothing but him and Farrym there - no one else. He didn't know who she was speaking to. Perhaps she was having hallucinations like he had?

"It.. it's me," he offered, though his voice was uncertain. She hadn't seemed to recognize him, and he wasn't sure what reassuring her would do at this point. "It's Lark." His ears flattened against his skull as she growled. Though not afraid of her, he was quite uncertain, and though he wanted to comfort her, he wasn't quite sure how to go about it without putting her in danger. She seemed wildly unpredictable. Wary, he'd take a few steps closer, tail curled near his hindlegs as he offered a slightly submissive approach. "I'm not here to hurt you."

No, she didn't see him, not at all. Her mind instead replaced a monster, a monster that had blood dripping from it's jaws, almost laughing. She knew this demon would not kill her; that was already pledged long ago, shortly after she became sick and these visions began. She did not fear for her life, but rather, the lives around her that she cared for, or that those she cared for cared for.

The growls paused as the creature spoke once more, and she frowned. Of course it was it! She already identified - wait, what? Her growls subsided for a moment as her brow furrowed in confusion. "No you're not, I'd recognize Lark," she replied promptly, though already her voice held the same befuddlement she felt. She would, right? Her confusion only grew as the demon seemed upset and unhappy, and uncertain. Why would it feel like that? The creature approached.... moving its tail by the hind legs and almost a submissive stance. What? Why? How? She didn't understand, not at all. Why would it approach her silently, then stand submissively? She shook her head roughly, coughing again. It didn't make any sense. She whined softly.

It was in that moment Farrym noticed the confusion and the opportunity, and he took it, padding over to where the woman laid. He nuzzled her paw, and she jumped, looking down. "Lillie," he murmured, poking her paw again with his nose. Her brow furrowed even further, and her head tilted to sniff at the creature at her paws. It seemed familiar, and not at all like the demon. Then, inaudible to anyone but her, a soft, trilling, "Momma," emerged from Farrym. It was then it hit her - Farrym! "Farrym?" she asked, voice incredulous. He'd not used that term - thankfully - since a young kitten; once he realized that she was in fact, not his mother (though to him she may as well be) and that he was a different species, he had started using Lillie instead.

Farrym purred encouragingly - this was a breakthrough! For the first time in days, she recognized him. "Yes, now look at Lark!" This was where she tilted her head, glancing up at the demon. "Lark...?" she questioned Farrym softly, glancing between the cat and the wolf. The second time she glanced at Lark, her gaze paused... and then her eyes widened. "Lark!"  She sat up abruptly, eyes clearing as she stared at the brown male - what, how? Her wide-eyed, shocked stare broke off as she started coughing again. When she looked up again, the shock was replaced with horror, as she realized what just happened. "Lark, I-" How does she explain? How can she explain the visions that she had seen? Obviously, what just happened wasn't real. But the others? Were they real? Were they fake? She didn't - couldn't - tell. At a loss for words, she just stared up at the much larger wolf, an expression of hopelessness clear on her face.


"Lark" | "Lillianna"

Now that his own sickness had faded, now that his mind was clearer and he was more himself.. he found himself once again wildly confused about Lillianna. He liked her - a lot. More than he liked most wolves. Once she had infuriated him, but now she only irritated him on occasion, and he wanted to spend more time with her. And now, seeing her sick, was more painful than he imagined. It was even worse when she didn't recognize him, and looked at him as though he was not just a stranger, but someone who might hurt her. He couldn't imagine ever doing anything that would make her fear him. Keeping his posture slightly submissive, and unassuming, he eyed her as her own demeanor changed.

First, she said that he wasn't Lark. He didn't know how else to convince her, though. His jaws parted, a soft sigh falling from his lips as he stood still. He noted that she seemed to brighten, as though he looked familiar again, and his head would lift slightly as he peered at her. First she recognized Farrym, and then she looked his direction, and he'd nod slowly as she repeated his name.

"Yes.." he'd offer her tentatively, his ears flattening against his skull. "You're sick, like I was," Lark would explain quietly. He knew that she hadn't been in control of herself. "You need to rest though." Her expression was painful to watch, full of sadness and helplessness. Slowly moving toward her, as though fearful she might have another fit, he would attempt to press his nose against her back, a slight amount of pressure encouraging her to lay back down. "I can stay with you if you want."

When he spoke again, after she recognized him, his tone was hesitant and cautious. Her ears remained flattened as she felt absolutely awful; how... how had she not known him? She even said she would! And she didn't. The sickness... it made sense. It explained why she was having trouble remembering things, it explained why everything was hazy, and most of all it explained what just happened now. Was it the sickness that caused... those horrors? Within moments, Lark's muzzle pressed against her back; it wasn't much pressure at all, just... a sort of nudge, trying to make her lay back down. She obliged, sliding back down and spreading out a bit more than she was before; she laid like a normal wolf, instead of one in a fatal position.

Her gaze glanced past the male to spot Farrym, who sat quietly and watched a few feet away, his body in darkness, but his eyes illuminated by the sparse light. Upon her looking at him, he started purring lightly, the sound a soft, soothing one that was also in the background, and she found herself looking back up at the ridiculously tall man who crouched near her. A rush of gratitude filled her, and it showed clearly on her face. "Thank you," she murmured, even before he made his offer. Her eyes widened, shock filling them, but also warmth. "Y-you would?" she whispered, before breaking off for a cough. "W-won't it make you sick again?" Gods, did she want him to stay, but she also didn't want him to get sick again. She thought that since he had it already he might not get it again... but still, she was afraid. "I don't want you to get sick again, because of me." She didn't want him to be in pain, or in any sort of misery at all.

"Lark" | "Lillianna"

This sickness was.. genuinely terrifying. He'd experienced, but Starling had helped ease his symptoms. It seemed Lillianna had not gotten help as he had. Or.. perhaps her sickness had simply come on too quickly to even realize she needed anyone's help. Lark was simply grateful that her hallucination had passed, even if she was not totally well. At least she was not completely terrified of him as she had been just moments ago.

She seemed willing to relax, bowing under the slight pressure of his muzzle with ease. Farrym was watching, and Lark regarded him briefly. Usually he left when he spent time with Lillie, but he didn't blame him for staying now to ensure her safety - and possibly to run and get someone else if help was needed, in whatever way. When she thank him, he was briefly taken aback; it was like she'd been someone else, and she'd returned to reality too quickly for him to process easily.  "It's fine," he'd brush off her concerns with ease, unsure if he could get sick again or not. Considering he'd already gotten over the same sort of sickness, he wondered if he might not get it again, but what did he know about illness? Little more than the most common bits of knowledge. He sighed, moving to slide to his stomach at her side. "Don't worry about me."

He'd dealt with his own sickness; now it was time for her to get better. "Do you need anything?" Lark would ask suddenly, his face contorting into a slight frown as he wondered what he could possibly do for her. "Water or food? Or a healer? I could try to call for Starling or Sparrow or Aunt Harmony.." He shrugged, a slight hint of panic reaching his strained voice. He couldn't just let her sit here and suffer, not if he could do something to help her.