Serpent Lake go for the throat

set a few days after this thread. vague for reasons. for nanowrimo If You Can Dodge a Wrench weekly challenge & utilizing the bwp illnesses.

a violent shiver ripples down scarab's spine, wracking his body. it is sudden and though he knows it is cold — though perhaps a bit warmer than it's been in a few days despite that the night just gave birth to dawn — he is hot. heat lingers in his face, and if he didn't have fur and was capable of it his cheeks would be bright red. as it is, he pants like it's ninety degrees outside despite that each push of breath of from his body curls into steam the writhes into the air before dissipating. for a second, he pauses fearing that the tremble in his steps is more quakes from the upset earth. but the earth has been quiet for many weeks now and he realizes that the trembles are from him. his body trembles with each shiver and he suddenly feels unsteady on his legs.

a fuzzy, funny feeling settles in his head and he lets out a low whine of uncertainty, unaware that he is plagued with a high fever. he creeps towards the bank of the lake thinking that perhaps a drink of the cool water might help but with each small step scarab takes: it looks so far away and his energy depletes unfairly quick. his shoulders sag and he plops down on the hard ground, curling in on himself as he shivers — cold and hot at the same time and closes his eyes. maybe, scarab thinks, if he rests his eyes for a few moments he can restore enough energy to make it to the lake's bank.

nanowrimo: 268