Ever since she was infected and had crystals growing out of her face, ooze dripping out of her ears and mouth, she hadn't been too keen on leaving the safety of Habari. Even though she longed to seek out her friend to make sure he was okay after their last meeting, she was blind and needed to recover, so she understood and allowed herself the time that she needed. Her body was already weakened by her rough start anyway, she didn't need more on top of it. Although now she was healthy, it took her some time to venture outside of the safe walls. She wanted to see the sunrise, however, having longed to see one again after being starved of it for so long. She supposed she could have seen it by climbing the volcano, but that was another risk she wasn't interested in taking chances on. Instead, Fortunes gloved paws carried her as far east as the earth allowed her. Standing some steps back from the edge for safety, Fortune gazed upwards at the starry sky. She was a bit early for the sunrise, but who didn't want to do a little stargazing before a good sunrise show?

"Fortune Speech!"
code © skelle 2021

Once the crystals had erupted on his face, the boy had kept his head down. He still made regular trips past the pack his friend lived in, y’know, just in case she needed a protector or somethin… but otherwise, if he saw anything weird looking, he looked the other way.

Tonight when he came past the border, he picked up on a familiar scent, his tail flagging happily behind him as he moved to follow the trail. She was certainly out for a long wander tonight. He wondered if she even really wanted to see him at all?

Finally, just as she sun began to peek above the horizon, he spotted her. She was sitting back from the cliffs with a clear view across the ocean. A lump rose in his throat and Arne struggled to swallow around it. Well that was really strange. Usually he would bound forward with reckless abandon, not stopping to think that maybe the momentum would carry them clear over the edge of the cliff… but she made him cautious.

Instead he strolled over, trying to look cool (as cool as anyone could look with scabby wounds from where the crystals had fallen out and mud and twigs through their unkempt fur. He smiled as he broke the silence. "Y’ come here often?

"Arne Speech!"
code & art © skelle 2021