Moonspear When darkness speaks, it changes everything.

Just as his eyes fluttered shut once more and he willed sleep to take him, there was movement beyond his hollow. A dark ear swivelled in the direction of claws against stone, a working nose at the cave's entrance. He knew without even looking in her direction who it would be, yet despite the Queen's anticipated arrival he struggled to find the energy or enthusiasm to welcome her. For a silent moment he hoped she would simply pass him by, let him recover in peace - her son lived, did he not? What more dud she think he could tell her that hadn't already been shared?

Still, she waited. Hydra, a fierce mother raptor whose chick had been wounded at the teeth of her enemy, would be going nowhere anytime soon until she'd plucked from him every single minute detail she wished to use. Dacio exhaled breathily as he unfurled himself with a low groan, having underestimated the ache in his bones that was enough to prevent him from gathering to his paws to greet his Alphess. He lifted his head and pointed his speckled snout in Hydra's direction, tired pastel gaze searching her features to find exhaustion plagued her, too.

"Your son," he started, "Osiris. He has not worsened in the night, I hope?" It seemed like a good place to begin, rather than asking outright what it was that she needed from him when he was barely in any condition to stand.