Summer faded to Autumn and with it went the leaves, but the heat lingered. If only for a few more weeks, but it was there. The sun hanging high in the sky, a dry breeze wafting across the plains and through the forest of willows. Leaves turning brown and crisp as they fell to the grass and dirt below, providing and creating a perfect environment for pests. Tiny, miniscule, invisible, annoying, tormenting pests. It wasn't the pup's fault that it happened, he was simply just laying there when it began to happen. A grouping of mites crawled up onto his fur and down onto his skin. Latching on and beginning their infestation. Gourami could not explain it, could not put words to it. Probably because he is a literal puppy, but still, he can't and it's aggravating. The way his skin hurts. No matter how much he itches, scratches, gets himself wet, the irritation will not go away. His eyes are bloodshit, his fur is beginning to dissipate into bald spots, and he's getting little sleep. He's tried to smother his fur in different things, but he can't find the right thing to help. His eyes try to water, but he fights back. Crying won't help anything. Frustrated and clearly in pain, he sits with his back against a tree and rubs his spine up and down like a bear getting a good itch - except his itch isn't good. His paws are clawing at his skin and his teeth picking at his fur. Would it ever end?! Gourami Klein

wc: 259

She hummed in thought as she walked through the nearby willows. Her mother had been pretty itchy lately...so had Ripper...and a few others. Herself, even. Though her itchiness was mild compared to some of the others, the fleas crawling around on her skin hadn't quite managed to cause an infestation since had had managed to treat herself in the nick of time. Now everytime they came in contact with her treatment, they died. It brought a little smirk to her face at the thought. Ah, if only it were that easy to kill larger creatures! It probably was, but she hadn't tested that out yet. Her head turned when she heard a strange sound, like something rubbing up against the bark of a tree. Rue followed the source, unafraid, curious, wondering who or what it could be. As she continued through the trees, she spotted one of Ghoul and Crickets smallest pups rubbing up on a tree and looking rather...pitiful. She got closer, but not too close because whatever he seemed to have was clearly more than fleas. She noticed the clumps of fur missing and leaving bald patches on the child. She almost felt pity for him...almost. She breathed a heavy sigh, why hadn't he been treated for this ailment? Whatever it was? Since nobody else had tried to help him (or so she assumed), she supposed it was up to her. "You look like hell, small one. When did it start? What does it feel like?" She questioned as she settled onto her belly, running through a list of possible afflictions besides fleas and potential cures once she figured out what it was. WC: 534/1500 "Speak"