Somehow they made it home but the toll was a heavy one. Hika was in the den, laying on his side, hardly able to move as his body had become more mushroom than wolf. He could hardly breathe, and was doing everything he could to stay here, to remain alive because there was a wolf that needed him. Someone that loved him.

Despite the pain, the listlessness, the feeling of drowning with every breath… Hikaru still wore a grin on his features. What you could see of them at least. Ooze poured from the lesions that sprouted the mushrooms, he felt like he was really coming to the end of his life. He wouldn’t go down without a fight, and he struggled with every breath.


"Hikaru"

Hika and Mortis were an interesting case. They had been gone during the infection, but it had still struck them all the same. They were as heavily infected as the rest of the pack - or at least, Hika was. When she popped in to see them, Mortis was already looking a touch better.

The winged heir was pressing a cold cloth to the forehead of the white wolf, looking stressed and concerned. These two wolves had always been kind to her, and the stress on their features saddened her. She moved forward and pressed her paw to Hika’s forehead herself, feeling the heat flushing his skin. “Hmm” she said softly, looking up at Mortis when he asked her “Is there anything you can do” She kept her gaze to the winged heir for a moment, and then lowered her gaze. “Maybe, perhaps. I’ve been working on something. It’s got Elderberry and Ginseng for strength. Meadowsweet for the flu like symptoms. I haven’t tested it, Hika. I don’t know if it will help.’ she warned him, looking from winged wolf to white. She wouldn’t give it without permission. They needed to know that their were risks.


"Speech"

Where Mortis was getting better Hikaru was getting worse. Barely able to breathe or move every moment was a struggle. It felt like he couldn’t sleep anymore, couldn’t eat. He wasn’t doing well. Mortis was there, but Hika was delirious and barely realized anything was going on. That didn’t stop his paw from reaching out towards Mortis, deep down he was still there. Hikaru’s eyes fluttered, what wasn’t covered in mushroom. He had a moment of clarity as another wolf made her way into the den.

There were voices and the young koi kind of understood what was going on. He didn’t hold out much hope for anything now, but he fought for every breath. He wasn’t giving up yet. Hikaru whined softly, barely moving his head but he could enough for it to be interpreted as a nod. Half of his brain felt like it was full of fungus, but he focused the other half as best he could on Mortis and Lia.


"Hikaru"

It was almost like Hika was giving him strength. As Mortis looked to his love, and thought of how his own strength had been improving - Hika’s had been wavering. Seeing Hika hurt in a way that Mortis could not help him hurt in every fibre of his being. Seeing it and feeling that he was taking Hika’s strength for his own… it was torment.

Unaware of Mortis’ thoughts, bar for the surface fear that showed on his face, Lia gave him a comforting pat, before turning her attention back to her patient. His breathing was raspy and terrible, and his head moved, a small, tiny gesture. Was it agreement? She couldn’t tell. She looked to Mortis, seeking instead his mate for approval. Mortis looked like he would rather do anything else then make a medical decision, but after a moment, he nodded sharply. “Do it. He’s not getting better, we have to… we have to try.” his voice broke, and he buried his head in his paw for a moment. He started to move his wing over Hika, but was gently nudged by Lia. “He dosen’t need the extra heat. Fill a couple buckets with the coldest water you can find, we need to bring his temperature down.” she instructed him instead. It felt strange to give the heir orders, but the need to help was a twitch in her paws. Alright Hika, i’m going to pry your mouth open, try not to panic, okay?” she gave his head a soft, comforting pat, before hooking a claw into the side of his gum and prying gently. She placed a wade of her ingredients on his tongue, and massaged his throat. “Your doing great hika, I just need you to swallow that. Mortis will be right back, okay?” she soothed gently.


"Speech"

Had Hikaru known about Mort’s thoughts he wouldn’t have allowed them. Even though he would have given himself for Mort that’s not what was going on now. He was just more susceptible, maybe he was weaker, it was impossible to tell but Hika was ailing. That was plain for everyone to see, but Hikaru gained the most from Mortis’ close presence. He was beside him all the time, there to keep him warm and safe as he struggled to live. Struggled to overcome this terrible disease.

Then suddenly Mortis was gone. Hika, unable to truly grasp what was going on, protested by struggling for a moment, but then Lia’s soft paw was against his hot skin. Hika still, soothed by her touch and her words. He was safe to work around, even his mouth that continued to dribble the violet ooze that afflicted him. Though he didn’t enjoy it, Hika complied, letting her squeeze the medicine onto his tongue, and allowing her to massage his throat as he eventually swallowed. Maybe this really would be the cure.


"Hikaru"

She watched as he swallowed the meds, and wondered exactly how much awareness he had of the world around him. She looked at his ailing form with concern and sorrow. She loved these wolves. She had very few people in the world she cared about, but Briar, Art, Hika, and Mortis made the shortlist. Perhaps Ruga, too, with his crooked smile. She sighed, and eased herself down until she was lying across from Hika, holding his paw gently in her own. Filling in until Mortis returned with the buckets of chilled water.

She got to her paws then, directing Mortis to take her spot and hold the little white wolf's paw. She began to assemble the cold buckets around Hika, pressing them against his hot skin. She dipped a strip of material into one, and laid it across his forehead. Watching, waiting, to see if the medicine helped him.


"Speech"

Hikaru

Your nose begins to bleed, the red blood mixing with a glowing blue fluid at first, but eventually becoming all blue as the substance trickles steadily out. It stops after a few minutes.



You gain:

• Crystal (2x)- Used in Firefly's Shoppe, and perhaps elsewhere...
  

Lia

Your paws feel as if they've been lit on fire as a voice tells you to run.


You gain:

• Mushroom (1x)- Used in Firefly's Shoppe, and perhaps elsewhere...