Northstar Vale but if you close your eyes

set late at night

Adrenaline had not taken the boy far from the plains; once he was certain Runion had not followed, the pain came rushing back to him. Shards of ice and molten rock shot first through his right shoulder— moments later, his left thigh lit with the same agony. His legs buckled. Suddenly, he was cold. He realized dimly that his fur was soaked in large patches, and shivered to feel the breeze. It chilled the blood clotting in his pelt, bit at the exposed wounds. Alarian sucked in a breath— and immediately regretted it, attention drawn quickly to his sore throat, then to his neck. The puncture wounds of several bites decorated the delicate flesh under his chin, none quite deep enough to truly alarm him; they ached nonetheless.
The Governor halted his assessment. It wouldn't help him in that moment— he needed to move, or he would die there. Ali didn't let himself think about it a moment longer. He shifted to his feet, biting back whimpers. Weakness had brought him here— weakness, to have ever allowed Runion to live to see this day. Weakness, to hesitate when he had the chance to end it. Weakness, to simply collapse and give up here— now. Alarian had always been a weak boy. He swallowed hard. Not anymore.

Reaching the Vale was, predictably, more difficult in his condition. The hours blended together. He trudged silently, without pause or thought beyond his destination. The boy's awkward gait took a toll on him— no matter which way he moved, a torn muscle would pull the wrong way. It made for a strange limp; perhaps the type to inspire a whispered "ouch" from sympathetic strangers. "Ouch" could not begin to describe it.
Alarian only vaguely registered the border markers, just in time to avoid crossing them. Reactive and nervous in this state, he flinched and took several steps back. He was here— he had made it. Irrationally, he wanted to leave— suddenly the idea of his new friend seeing him in this state... ugh, what a thought to have. He lowered himself to the ground, resting his head on his paws. Several minutes passed.
When he finally called for @Delight, it was a low, broken howl— cast into the night with the hopes that he wouldn't be too upset at being woken up.