Blackfeather Woods Insight III

Torture. Every noise found its way through the pseudosleep that plagued him. Each footstep was agony, scraping against the ice-coated earth in a cacophony of creaks and splits and knives against his ears. In the throws of his fever Taikon moaned, sure that he was dying, sure that Astraeus had finished him. How could it have been that the scarred boy had found him at the lake? Why did they all want him dead?
He recalled the eyes of Wylla, fierce and strong. He remembered the pleasant smile she had given him on arrival to Sagtannet. He had only wanted to settle down, to find some form of happiness. None of what had happened after was what he wanted. Into his web of destruction he had spun Takiyok unintentionally. Takiyok.
Taki... he whispered, for he knew that her warmth and her scent were nearby, but there was no colour in his gums nor his eyes. His paws were sticky with sweat. He shivered. The movement showed his emaciation more plainly.