Northstar Vale Countdown to Doomsday

Waking to the stillness of the caverns would have been a confusing thing to any other wolf. The smooth water-worn stone held the broken girl carefully. She did not feel her wounds. Part of this was due to her severed spine, but most of Dawa's mental swimming had been abated by the chewing of herbs. She stirred weakly within the dark, her claws kicking against the rock. The scrambling scratching sounds made her wake up, and with fluttering lids Dawa reacted as if she had sight all along. When darkness greeted her she huffed softly and sank with her head to her extended limbs; above her, the earth moaned.

The suggestion of geranium by the old shaman was one Tenzin had come to greatly appreciate. He moved now, slowly, toward the caverns where he knew Dawa to be resting. The Dragon had seemed to be gone at the moment and the monk took this time to go in search of the charge he had abandoned. He had promised Yonten to look after Dawa always, but had he failed? Would Dawa be afraid of his company now that she had been lost within the snow and rock?

He hovered outside momentarily before dipping into the rock that sheltered her. He made his approach loud enough and saw her lift her head in the shadows. He stopped some distance from her and hung his head in shame, though she would not see it. "Dawa," he whispered, searching her milky eyes, "do you think less of me?" Truly he was not bothered by such things, right? As a monk, he had standards for himself that were higher than others; but he could not bear the weight of her distrust should she harbor any ill feelings for him now.

There was nothing that could be done for her, she knew this. She knew that each morsel of mind-numbing herb could be her last. Or rather, that was what she thought when the herbs wore off. During their strongest moments Dawa could not discern much at all. The once-cleric faded from the waking world and sat within a sea of numb. On this day her mind was clear - it was sharp and lively, picking up on the scent of Tenzin as he slipped through the darkness.

At first she wanted to go to him. To sit as close as her nerves would permit. Dawa jostled in place but was met with the grim reminder of immobility.

"-do you think less of me?" Tenzin queried suddenly, his voice barely audible within the dark. At least she could pinpoint his location, even if it meant sitting prone and only listening. The question itself made her whine softly, breathing through her teeth with tender lungs. "No," She sighed and tried to move again, but only strained herself and fell flat.

"It is you who should think less of me." The woman was heartbroken - or as heartbroken as one with her condition could be. There was still a nothingness where the true sensation would be. But Dawa wished to console him - for he was still alive, still able. "I am ruined."

Dawa had shifted and he had the urge to race to her side, to help her, but he could not move that fast anymore. She answered him and it pained him to hear her whine so. He took note of her crooked spine and frowned at her immobility. When she fell flat, he dislodged himself from his held back state and approached her slowly, laying so that his muzzle would be next to hers though he dare not touch her. To feel the subtle warmth that eased from her was the best thing he had felt in a long time.

"You know I could never think less of you," he said softly, letting his body curl into a broken state. "How has the Dragon been treating you? Who looks after you?" If Tenzin could hunt for her and care for her, he would; but he could barely muster the strength to do so for himself. He'd easily let himself starve for her wealth, but he did not have the ability to even try right now. The Dragon had certainly done a number on him. He was feeling rather light-headed and wondered when such symptoms would go away soon. Tenzin was not here to seek her medical advice, however; "It's good to be with you," he said tiredly with a heavy, worn out sigh.

The questions lingered around her for a few moments, and when she shrugged her shoulders, Dawa lost all urge to speak. It was dark in the cavern though, and she clued in to that pretty quickly. "I do not know who tends to me," the woman - what was left of her - was in a perpetual state of drift. Still, it wasn't much of an answer. "At first I refused to chew any herb. I told my tender to save them for more worthy individuals. I did not want our supply to go to waste." But she had been overruled. Dawa was no leader now.

His sentiment was lost on her, but the words still felt freeing upon her ears. Tenzin's sigh prompted her to try and move closer once again, directing her crooked nose towards his cheek - or where she anticipated it would be. The cold press of her nose followed, and she expected pain to jolt up her face; however, a mixture of nerve damage, herbal remedy, and perhaps her wounds, kept her from feeling it. "I hope the pack survives this. But they have you, and that is good."