Ocean's Breath Plateau ice plant

For once, the panther had not appreciated a joke. The messenger was privy to the rare sight of Dutch in a foul mood, a thunderous expression overlaying the worried shine to his eyes. He'd known that Chakliux's paw had been bothering him, but it was shocking to hear how bad the infection had gotten — and then chilling when he arrived, drawing close enough to smell the infection.

"Lockjaw! Look what you've done to my seal hunter," he said, in jest but still snappish as he came to the man's sickbed. He collapsed beside him and pushed his forehead against the other man's, as if he might siphon off some of the heat of his fever this way. "Do not talk about dying," he said in a fierce murmur. "You must not say this even in jest."

The spirit listened. Dutch did not want them to further test the proud man. Chakliux did not know when to back down. Not against a bear and not against the gods. That was Dutch's opinion, anyway.

Okay, fixed! I know he said he is not dying but Dutch just doesn't like to think about death at all.