Hanako hadn't left her den since the crystal incident, as though hiding away would do her any good. She wasn't well, at all. One look was all it took to see what a state she was in, riddled with pale blue crystals that sprouted out from the corners of her eyes. Each blink was painful, like an itch she couldn't scratch and yet somehow all of that was nothing compared to the deep-seated ache that stirred from within. She knew it'd been coming, it was inevitable as the sickness everyone had seemed to have caught and yet... She was terrified of the end, the future and the pain that was yet to come. All of this had been a mistake, she wasn't ready to be a mother, wasn't ready to face the end of the world but she had no choice. The forces that be seemed intent on savouring her suffering, forcing her to endure as yet another rush of pain rippled through her form. Stronger this time, enough to make her twist atop her bed furs. She simply didn't have the energy or drive to kick up a fuss or be dramatic. She suffered in near silence, quiet and still and so very alone.

It felt as though reality was twisting out of shape, finally coming to an end of all things and still it was time. Beneath her, the furs felt wet, kicking things off into motion regardless of whatever she thought.

Bluish-purple fluid rolled down her cheeks as she dragged herself to the mouth of her den with her front legs. She didn't even have the strength to stand, to do anything but whine softly in her throat. She couldn't do this alone, not when the thoughts were pointed at the tip like the crystals riddling her form. Breathing laboured, she trembled at the thought of it only getting worse, more intense. She couldn't do this, simply couldn't.

It had started like a grain of sand in her eye, each swipe of her paw across her muzzle like a cut, and something began to grow from the corner of her eyes and in the shell of her ears. It was so hard to not scratch at them, but each time she did the green glowing crystals would ooze, and seem to come back bigger. She wasn’t the only one afflicted, crystals and mushrooms were to be found adorning wolves coats in plenty, and strange shadows moved among the mist that had come to blanket the ground.

Despite her protests, the fireflies still swarmed her coat as well. If it wasn’t so close to Hana’s due date, Sedna would almost consider knocking on Habari’s door and asking if she could just fling herself into the volcano. Surely in death she would be given an escape from the constant annoyance of the itching under her skin that could not be shaken?

Bean hadn’t come for her, but she thought it would be worth checking on the woman regardless. Sedna was at a loss on how best to manage the outbreak. She had never seen nor heard of anything like it in all her days.

“Hana? She stopped at the entrance to the den, unsure as to whether she should enter or not, given the current state of affairs. Still, the edge of her mouth managed to pull up in a hint of a smile. “Yer popped yet?” She teased ever so slightly, knowing it couldn’t be too far off now.

"speech".

I've got no doubt that the only way out of this thriller
is if I am a killer too

Hanako hadn't even thought to call for Bean, who was no doubt on the scrounge looking for an uncontaminated meal. It was hard to think straight, to fall back onto common sense as panic surged within her, as if this was something she could delay till a better, less strife filled time. But it was all so inevitable, the pain mounting with each passing second, draining what little strength she had left as she flinched, and her toes curled into bedding. From outside, she heard the rustle of movement, followed swiftly by Sedna's voice.

A contraction squeezed at her insides, forcing a whine from her lips as she slumped and twisted further into the furs, tangling herself up into the wetness of the bedding.

"Sedna. Help." She whimpered, not sure what else to say. Surely the healer would know what to do, could help her like no one else.  "It hurts so bad." Everything and all over. From her eyes and ears, to everything squishy in between.

Azure was moping when his cat ran up on him, alerting him to the noises of pain that originated from within their den. It was about that time, all three companions had been under strict instruction to keep an eye on Hana without disturbing her. Azure got to his paws and sighed, letting his ooze-crusted eyes slide shut and willing away the self-pity for a moment before he headed through the grasses to attend. Bean rode quietly upon his master's back, a small mouse pelt in hand that was used frequently to absorb the drops of ooze that leaked from his nose and eyes. Nothing had felt right since he'd attacked the firefly figure - from his oozing, to the loss of his saber fangs, to the way his mind didn't seem to work quite right anymore. The paranoia came in waves, though it took him over more frequently as time passed. "Hana?" He poked his head into the den, hesitating to step into the darkened space. His fur stood on end, every sense telling him the darkness was dangerous, but that was ridiculous, Azure had never been afraid of the dark before. "Are you okay in there?" He half-managed to suppress a cough, and the fisher jumped from his back with the pelt and covered with it his master's nose before he could spew blue goo everywhere. Sedna was with her, Az noticed, and he wasn't sure if that made him feel more comfortable or less. His lip lifted with the beginning trickle of paranoia, but for now managed to ignore the healer. "Speech"

Sedna had seen difficult labours in her time but none quite so bad as this. The first to come was the hardest by far and the healer was too focused on the task at hand to really acknowledge Azure's arrival. She barely even took note of colours or genders, as once the first one was free, the others were keen to follow suit. She pushed them over to Hana to clean and begin to feed, and turned to her opossum companion, trying to keep the panic off her face. "Bracken and marsh fern. Ergot and sweetgrass for her." Her companion opened his satchel and began to dole out the herbs, offering some to Hana to help keep her strength up and try to help to slow the bleeding down herself, the others to Sedna to try and reduce the bleeding on her end. "Sorry Hana, just a bit of pressure..."

She looked across her friend to Azure, thinking she should probably check him out too once all this was over. Pointless to try and quarantine now. They'd be exposed to the crystals at a minimum but she wasn't quite sure what was going on with him. "Azure, don't let her fall asleep. Keep talking to her." Sedna's bedside manner was usually brusque at best so her reassuring smile and calm, articulated words should have been enough to set off alarm bells. They had a long night? day? Who knew anymore... ahead of them yet.

"speech".

I've got no doubt that the only way out of this thriller
is if I am a killer too