Things were going back to normal, slowly albeit surely. The first hint of sun creeping over the horizon had been enough for his own mood to shift substantially - it meant hope for the future once again, when the world had been dark and foreboding for so long. He knew he wasn't one to speak about the effects of the last few months; somehow he'd gotten out of without as much as a hint of sickness while other wolves weren't so lucky. Some had wounds that would never fully heal, physical and much as emotional, and others... well, he thought of Laeta then. She still had no use of her legs and was bound to a single room within the castle, with though some of her symptoms seemed to be letting up, the worst of them persisted. No longer would he question whether her life was worth living or not. It was, without question, regardless of what his younger self may have thought. He'd visited her once during the worst of her illness, and hearing that she was doing better he thought she might like his company once again. Quietly he navigated to her room, clearing his throat once he arrived and only slightly peeking into the doorway. It wasn't like she had much choice in who came and went but he felt it important to still give her whatever autonomy she desired, so he wouldn't intrude unless given permission.

Laeta had drifted off into a sleep of broken dreams and fragmented memories. Though, compared to her near-death experience with the ooze, her inconsistent sleep schedule now was much more preferable to the incoherent comas she’d endured. She had mended from the ailment, and it was still a relief to wake up each morning without the slime slicking her face, making it constantly wet and gunky. Her pelt was no longer marred and cow-licked with the ooze and festering abcesses, instead it had returned to a soft, healthy glow. The monochromatic pattern on her pelt was striking as ever, even if it did look like a furry quilt draped over a skeleton. Some aspects of her had healed, but the paralysis continued. As such, she looked more emaciated by the day as her once fit muscles atrophied. Still, she could run and jump and walk around in her dreams, and as such, the naps she took during the day and the slumber at night were activities she looked forward to. She’d drifted off until her badger, Mel, addressed a presence that had c;eared his throat in the doorway. She flicked an ear, still close to the clutches of sleep, when the badger had exclaimed, "Ah, sir Sota! W-Would you like to come in?" Mel then looked back at her, imemdiately flushed. "Oh dear, lady Laeta, apologies, I did not know you were resting!" Laeta opened her eyes and smiled at her companion reassuringly. "It’s alright, Mel, I was just resting my eyes for a bit." From her position, her chin resting on a pile of pillows so as to be able to see the ocean view from her window, she was able to look at Sota and greet him. "Sota! How nice to see you. Would you like to come in?" "Speech"

At least she was doing better. For awhile there Sota had feared she was coming dangerously close to death, not that she hadn't somehow cheated it already. Physical ailments were one thing, but seeing how her mind had seemed almost fragmented was deeply unnerving.. but he'd heard she was doing much better now. The sickness had begun to ease up with the return of the sun, though the symptoms Laeta still endured - well, she might never fully recover. It was a shame, truly, and he was willing to do anything he could to help lighten the burden of her disability that no doubt weighed heavy on her shoulders. Sota was happy to be greeted by Laeta's companion, and he offered the smaller man a polite smile and dip of his head. "Ah, yes-" He started, though his words trailed off when Mel turned and spoke to Laeta, apparently having not noticed she'd been sleeping. Fortunately she wasn't bothered by being interrupted, and he redirected his attention toward her as he took a few steps inside. "I'd love to, thank you. It's a pleasure to see you as well - you look good," Sota observed quietly, honestly. She looked different than she had upon first joining the Hallows, of course, but she at least looked like she wasn't on the brink of death now. Perhaps she could continue to recover from the illness that had wreaked havoc on her body and begin to heal as best as she could. Though her muscles might waste away from lack of use hopefully through group effort they could keep her well-fed and nourished and help her regain some needed body fat before long.

Laeta could tell she looked different, and she could see that in Sota’s eyes as well. When she first joined, she wasn’t even very fit - she’d hit a rough patch in hunting, as she recalled, and thus had lost weight considerably. And when the ooze ailment permeated the land and infected its inhabitants, Laeta was only further battered. Thus, her bony appearance was the consequence of all that had happened her her. A stark reminder that the illness that had faded with the sun’s rising did not loosen its grip with some of the symptoms. She just felt nauseous when trying to eat - a few bites at a time was all she could muster until it was too much. At times, she’d vomit, as she did during the ooze, when the mysterious glowing fluid had clogged her throat and nose. It was unpleasant, to say the least. Not that that mattered at the moment - Sota was here and she’d do best to pay him attention. Curious about how the pack was faring, she asked him, "How has everyone been doing since the ooze disappeared?" She paused, then adding, "And how have you been faring?" She wanted to keep up to date with anything the pack was doing currently, and how its members were tolerating the return of the daylight. It was certainly a great relief that she hoped Sota felt as well. However, from the few wolves she had talked to when they visited, it seemed not all was perfect. That was to be expected, but it concerned her to know that the pack’s members might still be struggling, perhas\ps not so much physically anymore as mentally - due to the losses from the events of the last season, or their own brushes with death. She certainly had hers, but it helped her to try and get others to open up and know they weren’t alone if they were struggling to cope. "Speech"

As he grew older, Sota had begun to realize that life was about more than just what you could physically do. There was so much more to living than that. It mattered much more who's lives you touched along the way - and likewise, the individuals that touched yours. Laeta was definitely in the group of wolves who had changed him, even if she'd never quite understand why. Maybe it'd benefit her to know, but he hoped she'd get the gist of it by his persistent company. "Everyone seems well," he answered her quickly. Sota intended to be tactful; reminding her of how the sun had returned and how good it felt on his cheeks seemed a bit callous, given her situation. At least she got a taste of its warmth from her position by the window, which was better than nothing at all. "It seems everyone is recovering well. It's hard to shake off some of the mental darkness now, even still," Sota admitted softly. No doubt Laeta knew precisely what he meant, perhaps even more than he did. "But... summer will be here before long. That should help." That and time would help heal the wounds they had endured, both physical and emotional. "And speaking of summer," he started, his eyes gleaming as he studied her. "I've seen some flowers beginning to bloom in the fields. Want me to bring you some for your room?" Even if she couldn't enjoy the spring as he could, perhaps he could bring a little piece of the weather to her.

Unbeknownst to the smaller male (or perhaps, it was), Laeta was beginning to catch on that she might be helping her packmates in some way. For the longest time she felt her paralysis was nothing more than a curse, something that forced her to sit and drench herself in constant misery and relive her traumatic past. True, some portion of the near-endless night had dont that to her, reliving every horrible moment in the midst of a life-threatening ooze. However, now with the sun shining its healing rays upon the land, there was none of that to be found. The more Lae recovered in mind, she accepted the condition of her body as just a hindrance in her movement. Her ability to communicate and spread her words of hope and wisdom and comfort to other wolves, however, was perfectly intact. She’d use what she had and be grateful for it, which she was. The emaciated woman nodded at Sota’s quick reply. "I see. I’m glad to hear that," she said, her ruby eyes twinkling with some essence of relief. Everyone seemed well, which was fine for a quick glance upon the recovering condition of the pack. It didn’t erase the struggles hidden deep within, though, but it was nobody’s fault for not catching on to those struggles at a glance. Indeed, she was also grateful for what she could experience, including the sun on her sore bones. Deion’s massages worked wonders on relieving the pressure and pain built up in her arthritic joints, built up from inactivity and years of constant, stressful movement. Then Sota mention the mental darkness, making the woman offer a soft hum in concern. Mental darkness was arguably just as painful as the pain on one’s physical form, or so she believed. She only hoped that her packmates could come seek counsel if they wished, as her current condition allowed her not to exit the room on her own - thus, the words they’d utter would stay within it. Nobody deserved to suffer, that she believed quite strongly. Still, she wouldn’t pressure anyone to talk - sometimes those who struggled with the darkness needed time on their own to heal and process, just as she did. Each wolf was different in how they dealt with that darkness that each person held within. She smiled softly at the mention of summer, a deep sigh of relief at the upcoming warm season emanating from her nostrils. "Indeed," She said softly. Summer was a time of joy and warmth, preceding a time known for rejuvenation and rebirth. Perhaps something rejuvenating and joyful would come her way. As Sota mentioned the flowers blooming in the fields, Laeta smiled kindly at his offer. She did enjoy flowers. The dried ones on the mantle of her fireplace were beginning to crumble, anyways, and she did like the idea of sprucing up the space that she spent almost all her time in. Her eyes shimmered with a beam of joy as she replied, "If you’re up to it, that would be wonderful! I always enjoyed collecting flowers. I’d dry them and then decorate the room with them." The old but still slightly colorful flowers she’s dried that sat in ancient yet colorful vases was a reminder of what she used to be able to do. Not that she seemed upset about it anymore, rather, she felt more optimistic each day. If anything, she’d teach Mel how to dry them. She’d even learned how to press them onto sheets of paper material, but she had yet to create a scrapbook of sorts for that. "Speech"

He'd been raised to think of things so much differently than he did now - in his homelands Laeta would never have been cared for or tended to so openly. It would've been a thing done in secret, gifts left at her bedside when she was sleeping. There was just as much humility in this sort of thing though, being open and communicative - he realized that now. No matter what had happened to here, she still had value, and he wouldn't come bring her food and gifts in secret; Sota cared little for pride in the way he'd been taught. This, after all, was so much more rewarding.. no doubt to her as much as it was to him. He tilted his head toward the window with a sigh, as glad to feel the sun on his face as he was to quite literally see it. Its warmth had been quite missed, and wasn't something he'd take for granted again, not anytime soon at least. He perked right up at her response, saying that she'd love some flowers. Perfect! His own eyes reflecting the same joy, a brilliant smile breaking across his gentle features at her approval. "Flowers it is, then!" He agreed, sounding chipper now. "Any certain kind you like? I'm not too sure what grows around here," he started, trying to remember what all he'd helped collect to decorate the courtyard so many months ago. "Well, I don't really know what any of them are called, so... any preferred colors?" He gave her a toothy smile as he clarified himself.