Tears rolled down her dirtied cheeks to the dusty stone beneath her. Pain radiated from the inside of her core to the very skin that threatened to sag from her body. Oozing sores pockmarked her fur from snout to tail. Itching, scratching, rubbing, biting. No matter what she did, what she took, she could not relieve the feeling that they were still there. Sliding, slithering, moving about beneath her skin. Were they laying eggs in her intestines? Would she start crying blood in hopes it'll make the worms happy?

Eating was impossible. Drinking was difficult. Every bite, every sip, it would roll up her throat and onto the pile of grass that her companions had laid beside her. At least the plant would absorb some of the bile so that it would stop splashing back into her face. Cold and shivering, she huddled against a rock, eyes in a glazed over state as she attempted to stay coherent and aware. She was succumbing to the fear, to the sickness.

Falling from grace had never hurt so badly...

"Delphi"

Death and despair filled the air. Everywhere he went, he could not escape it. The stench forced his muzzle to wrinkle, eyes narrowing as if it would seep in past his eyelids. None of it settled well in Raumr. He worried for the felines and other animals of Boreas and Auster. Now that he called this home, he could not ignore the danger that lurked behind every tree. It urged him to stake his claim as a pride leader who could offer sanctuary and relief to any who needed it.

Prowling through the lands, searching for those that would need his help, a quiet sniffling draws his attention. Long strides cover the distance quickly as he sees the flicker of fire light against a large piece of fallen, crumbling stone. He almost didn't notice the girl who curled in on herself, hovering far too close to the fire for his comfort. Her companions go on the defense, that much he expects, but he pays them no mind. Keeping his distance, he stares at the small wolf with concern.

"You are sick. Can I help?" He inquires gently, staying on his paws in case she attempted to attack him.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥

Binti and Tas go on the offense. Fur bristling, snarls rising as they stepped in to protect her. At first, Delphi could not see the mountainous feline approach past the lick of flame before her. Not until he towers, blocking out the sun and allowing to no longer squint. A shiver rolls through her, but not from fear, but from the sickness. Her stomach churns, fighting the feeling of the worms sliding around in her body.

Meeting the liger's gaze, Delphi listens to his deep voice. He was asking to help her? How could he possibly? No one else had come to her rescue. She was hopeless. Hanging onto life by a thread. What would happen to her pack? Anxiety rises in her as she attempts to stand, all four of her limbs trembling as her companions turn to glower at her. Standing wasn't an option anymore. It did not help that she felt weighted down by the pressing stare of the male awaiting her answer.

Inhaling a wheezing breath, she fights back a cough that proves unsuccessful. Goop drips from her lips as she attempts to form the words. She's embarrassed, but far past caring.

"M-my pack. I-they need someone. Please, help them," her hoarse voice barely rasps over the crackle of the small fire. Binti and Tas give her incredulous looks, fully surprised that she was so willing to give up Hemlock. How had they not see this coming?

"Delphi"

Her coughing forces Raumr to take a step back, providing more space between them. He did not want to risk getting sick as well. Though he would most likely fair better than the imp laying against the stone, it would not matter. She appeared near death and that fate could be the same for anyone. Unlike his family back home, he did not believe himself to be invincible.

Giving her patience, he waits for her coughing to subside. She clearly needs time and he will not rush her. A great battle wages in that mind of hers and he is curious to be enlightened. How could he possibly help outside of retrieving a healer and medicine? Oh. Shock and confusion riddle Raumr's expression. Take her pack? His head lifts, tilting slightly, wide eyes blinking slowly. Was she serious? He could not just assume her role as head of a pack of wolves and expect them not to riot.

A thoughtful hum vibrates in his chest as he contemplates. This would make his goal far easier, far faster, but the poor thing. He couldn't just leave her here to die... Raumr feels conflicted, but could he truly deny the wish of a dying wolf?

Sighing, he gives her an agreeing nod. "Okay, I will help them, but I will not chain them to me," Raumr warns, leveling his gaze with her. "If they do not wish for my help, they will be free to go." He does not stop looking at her, ensuring and hoping to the gods that she understands what he's saying.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥

Delphi holds back the next fit of coughs so that she could hear his rumbling voice. It was calming, listening to him speak. Something about the way the words fell from his lips and how he held himself made her want to curl up between his paws and fall asleep in his mane. Or maybe she was being delusional. Probably the sickness. Since she was going to die anyway. Any day now. Which is why she needed to make plans. So many plans.

When the last word fell from the feline, she lets it sit for a moment. The crackle of the fire egging her on. Release them. Let them go. Save yourself. Flickering flames licking toward her, begging her to step into the warmth of the coals. Fuck, she was losing it.

"Yes, yes. Tell them. Call for them. Do what you must," Delphi grits out through clenched teeth, fighting back another urge to vomit. Her companions look ever the more concerned as they stand close by her side. They are not pleased with the turn of events, but they care more for Delphi than anyone else. "Just leave me. Hemlock is yours and I do not even know your name," there is sorrow laced in the words that she bites out, lips trembling as she looks away, refusing to cry in front of him.

"Delphi"

Pangs of pity flit through his chest. Looking down upon the sick wolf, Raumr cannot help but frown at her. A resigned sigh leaves his flaring nostrils as he takes another step backward. "Raumr. Remember the name in case you survive and ever need sanctuary," he murmurs, lips pursing together before he fully turns away from her. He wishes to help her, but his self-preservation screams no. Risking death on himself was not an option. Not when he had so many others to save.

Lifting his head to the skies, Raumr releases a thundering roar to the blood red skies. Calling for Hemlock to come to him and follow. Or not. He would not force his paw upon them. With one last look over his shoulder, he prays to the gods for the girl before disappearing into the shadows.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥

How he could be so careless.

Hotate since their birthday celebration a few seasons ago had healed his sprained ankle and then went about his way outside of Hemlock once again. A wandering spirit in the wind perhaps. But really just to avoid any sort of bad emotion he felt after his mother's death. So very bold of him to feel like a man when he was really quite the opposite. He never faced his problems, he always ran. And it pushed him so far away from those he truly loved and cared about. No matter how modest he chose to come off as. He really cared.

He had stuck near the eastern parts of the mainland, sometimes moving around the southern and western parts. He was around, he just wasn't there. But he did hear a far from familiar roar that called out to his home pack. And he was hot on heels whenever any bad realization struck him. Why was someone other than Delphi calling for Hemlock?

When he arrived past the boarders, he was met by the sight of his sister looking near death and a lion clearly who had made the call on her part. Naturally Hotate's fur stood on bristles as he growled at what seemed like the threat here, but he was quick to notice he wasn't the reason Delphi was on the ground. Instead of lashing out at the man-lion, Hotate found his way quickly to his sister's side, maybe one of the last wolves she thought she would see. "Delphi..." He laid down beside her, offering himself as a pillow despite what gross and terrible appearance she held. "You're going to be okay." Could those be tears in his eyes? Careless. He was so careless. And if he didn't change anytime soon, he'd have to live with being alone for the rest of his life. He couldn't watch anyone else die again.

"Hotate"