Phoenix Maplewood Who do you think you are

Another whine slips past her lips as she stirs to the sound of her name, eyes fluttering open a few moments later and fixing on Derg. Talk to me, he says, and her throat flexes in automatic response, sending another bolt of stinging agony through her. She swallows her cry of pain, trying to focus on Derg's words, but they only barely register. Predictably, the stranger's arrival slips past her; for all she knows, Derg could be the only wolf around for miles.
Derg, Her voice is halting, raspy from the damage to her throat, and each word feels like swallowing a hot knife. I-it hurts — She nearly chokes on the last word, faltering in her explanation as a cough tears itself from her tender throat. The harsh sound ends in a ragged, involuntary sob, and she squeezes her eyes shut against the tears and falls silent again, exhausted and overwhelmed by the pain.