Taufr stumbled, regained his footing and then, as he was about to take another step forward, lost his balance and tipped over. He lay there on his side reeling as the world around him seemed to spin. There was snow on the ground, but he felt as if he laying in the sun. He was hot. Taufr panted hard in the hopes of cooling himself. He couldn't stand the heat any longer; he needed to cool down. He was sick. He remembered that now. That's why he was hot. The giant heaved himself up onto his front paws, but couldn't get his hind legs under him. He struggled to rise, his legs shaking, and then suddenly the world tilted to the side again and dumped him on the ground once more. A sharp pain shot up his back and the scabbing, festering wounds along his neck and shoulders threatened to bust their bloody seams. Taufr wheezed and clawed at the snow in a vain attempt to right himself. He needed to get home. Every once in a while his mind cleared and he could think, but those moments were few and far in between. More often than not the infection clouded his mind and threw his thoughts into chaos. All he knew was that he needed to get home. His sisters, his mother, they would be able to help him. He'd been wandering for ages; surely he was close! Another failed attempt to rise sent him reeling into the snow again. The heat was deserting him; shivers began to race up and down his spine and his limbs, already unsteady, began to shake uncontrollably. His teeth started to chatter, the muscles in his jaw so tense they ached. Even in his feverish state he knew it meant he was running out of time. He needed to get home. But he was home, wasn't he? The world around him seemed to soften and grow dark. Warm, even. He was home. Taufr remembered the snow and the rocks. He was comforted by this, unaware that it was a delusion. If this was home, then his family was nearby. They could help him. He took a deep breath to howl, and then was seized by a coughing fit that left him grimacing from the pain in his neck. Heartened by the belief that his family was close by, Taufr pressed on and tried again. This time he was successful and a wavering, hoarse howl left his lips.

It'd been a fair while since Lark had wandered toward these lands. It was hard to feel particularly motivated for the last few seasons - and even though the Stone Steppe wasn't all that far away, just due northeast of the packlands, it was still a journey that left him feeling a bit irritable once he started it. Should've just stayed home, he thought bitterly as he traveled across the flat expanse of land. His attention drifted toward the rubble of ancient stones in the distance and he redirected himself toward it. Some snow still dappled the lands, though winter was on its downward path, which he was thankful for. His attention was jerked away by a pained howl that barely touched his ears. It started out okay but then died out - it sounded like someone needed help, if he had to guess. Lark had never been an overly selfless wolf, but.. something about this guy's call told him he really wasn't doing well. If someone ever found him out here in such a condition, he'd hope they might at least make an attempt to help. With a heavy sigh he turned to follow the sound, easily grasping onto the stranger's scent and following it toward him. Once he saw the figure - a male that seemed a bit younger and only very slightly smaller than himself - he slowed his pace. His scent was heavy with blood, and infection, maybe? He wasn't totally sure, but he certainly didn't smell healthy at all, and that was a judgment made by one with little to no experience with healing. Lark took a few steps closer, nose wrinkling in a mixture of distaste and worry at the brute sprawled on the snow. Not wanting to get too close, not knowing what exactly was wrong with him, he paused a fair distance away and cleared his throat. "Uh, hey, dude, you alright?" He cocked his head as he observed him, deciding quite quickly that he wasn't alright at all.. and even if this stranger spoke up, he'd probably have no idea what to do with him. The only thing that popped into his head was to call Sparrow. She'd surely know what to do, right? Taking a few more steps away from him, he lifted his head to the sky and let loose a summons for his sister - reclining to his haunches awkwardly once he was finished. There, he thought forlornly to himself, There's my good deed for the year.

Sparrow came to the call when her brother called. She hadn't heard from her brother in a while. At least it felt like it had been a while. Why was he calling her now? Why was he calling her outside of the pack? Worried, Sparrow broke into a run until she came upon her brother.

Immediately, she saw the younger male. Sparrow knew he was in no condition to go with them and that Sparrow was in no condition to try to bring all the things he would need out here. Besides, looking at him, she doubted he was going to be a quick patch up job.

Sparrow looked to Lark, "You just found him like this?" she asked.

Leaning to the male, Sparrow spoke softly and slowly, "We're going to take you to Abaven until you get better, mmkay? Just hold tight."

Sparrow directed her attention back to Lark.

"We have to take him to Abaven," she said decisively. She was using her alpha voice now. She wasn't asking if they should or how they should, she was telling Lark that he was coming with them.

"I can... maybe help you carry him. We just need to get him to an empty den."

With that, Sparrow set to help secure Taufir and get him into Abaven.

OOC: Permission granted by Laz to move him to Abaven. Exit Sparrow.

If Sparrow found out he'd seen an injured loner in the lands surrounding Abaven and hadn't done anything.. well, he had a feeling she'd have his hide for it. He shifted his weight awkwardly from one side to the other, not sure what to do since the male was all but unresponsive and he had to simple hope that Sparrow had heard him and was heading this way. He stood a fair distance from him, glancing Taufr's way every so often to make sure he was still breathing and alive, before glancing away again at something in the distance. He saw Sparrow finally, in the distance heading here from Abaven's lands. Once she drew closer and eyed Taufr, she asked if he'd found him like this. "Yeah, just like this. I heard him call out, sounded like he was in pretty bad pain." Lark knew next to nothing about healing, but he was sure if anyone could patch him up, it'd be Sparrow, so he offered a shrug. Taking hm back to Abaven didn't sound like the best plan, in his mind, but he wouldn't argue. Letting strangers into their home hadn't always been the smartest idea, but he'd called Sparrow here, so this one was on him. He nodded at her command, grimacing slightly as they started to lift the male and begin their trek back home with him in tow. - exit Lark -