Blackfeather Woods and there is time to kill today

Even before he chuffed, she knew he was there. He could have come as silent as a wraith and she would still know, for his presence cut through the din of voices like a knife--a disturbance. Perhaps an unwelcome one, for the gods, but Maegi cared not. With one last bow toward the altar, she turned with a smile on her face, which faded as she noticed the awkward way he stood.

"Mou," she breathed, stumbling over to him. His back legs trembled in such an odd fashion, so unlike him. She circled him quickly, looking for injuries and finding none. Just the inexplicable, weak stance of his hindquarters. "What happened? What hurts?"

Internal injuries were a thing, she knew. After all, her own hind leg was still mending from the muscle tear in the other forest. But this was different--this felt different. And she didn't know what to do for him. She didn't even know if he could explain it to her adequately enough for a solution to be found. Her mouth trembled, a wave of despair rippling over her.