Redhawk Caldera Dragon's gamble.

She knew she should probably ask for Fennec's help, but every time Towhee thought of her daughter, her stomach hurt even worse. She had been vomiting for over forty-eight hours now and her chest and stomach were both burning. Still, the Sovereign stubbornly avoided consulting with her daughter. She actually stayed away from everyone, even Caracal, abandoning the Hobbit Hole and retreating into one of the many caves instead.

As she squinted around at the dark walls, Towhee wasn't even sure why she'd come here or why she was avoiding everyone. Maybe you came here to die, she mused darkly, though she snorted aloud at the thought. She was struggling, mentally as well as physically, but it wasn't anything that serious.

She settled down and fell into a restless sleep, which was interrupted sometime later by the familiar, rolling nausea. Towhee managed to climb to her feet and step toward the doorway. She didn't quite make it outside before she hurled up her stomach's contents, which was mostly only bile, though now it was streaked with red.

Okay, maybe it was time to call for Fennec.

While he wasn't sure he ought to try and mend whatever rift had formed between Towhee and Fennec, the former was still at the top of his list of wolves to reconnect with after returning. He was aware of where her den had been so he scouted the area, but found her trail made his stomach turn. Traces of vomit here and there- bile, too. It smelled sour and made his lips curl, but he followed his gut instinct and followed her fairly obvious scent trail further into one of the caves. 

When he found her, he couldn't smell mucb other than the thick aroma of sickness, stomach acid, and the metallic scent of blood. He wandered in further, until he could see her faintly against the dark- but she looked feeble and miserable. Not knowing disease well enough, and keeping Killdeer's safety in mind, he backpedaled, exited the cave, and howled out for @Fennec even though his voice was raspy and weak.

She just couldn't bring herself to do it. She stood there for a long time, simply staring at those threads of bright red in the puddle of yellow. Maybe she could go to Brecheliant to see Bridget or, hell, even Eljay. She discarded that thought out of hand, though. Towhee didn't want to run the risk of bumping into Reyes. In fact, the mere thought made her stomach roll and she retched again.

Nothing came up this time. Towhee sucked in a shaky breath and tried to talk herself into summoning Fennec. This was serious. She took a step toward the doorway when the light flickered strangely. She started, catching only a glimpse of Bronco as he peeked inside and then just as swiftly retreated.

"H—" Towhee blurted, moving toward the threshold and then stopping there, squinting in the sudden glare. "Bronco," she said as her eyes adjusted, revealing the sight of him howling. Her fur stood on end and she mumbled, "Wait," but it was probably too late.

She couldn't be absolutely certain who he'd called or what he'd said, though Towhee could definitely guess. She didn't ask. She didn't say anything. She just stared, happy to see him back but noticing he looked the way she felt: fucking terrible. She knew he'd returned but she didn't know the first thing about where he'd been, what had kept him or why he looked like death warmed over.

Eventually, she croaked, "Bronco, you look like shit." Pot, meet kettle. Her cracked, dry lips twitched into a tired smile that did not reach her eyes, nor last beyond a second or two.

with this vacation and so much traveling/visiting family I'm barely having time to look at Wolf. Feel free to skip me if needed <3

When Bronco called for her she was, fortunately, pretty close nearby. The call was from the direction of Towhee's den and her first guess was that he was there to tell her. That guess changed, though, when she caught the scent of both vomit and, slighter... blood.

What happened? She asked, cutting straight to the point without greeting either.

She had no info yet but the indication that someone was sick and Bronco's summons. Towhee was here too, but it was hard to tell if that was it... and who or what was wrong.

He heard her voice croak at him, and he tilted his head to the side, perplexed, when he saw Towhee looking at him with an empty, macabre grin. Was she even aware how she looked? -"Towhee...What the hell..."- He signed, but he found himself apalled by her appearance. Did she have something communicable? Would Fennec even be able to treat her if she was, without catching it too? 

He took a step back, guiltily putting a bit more space between them. He'd always had a weak stomach so the scent alone of her vomit made him swallow hard. Fortunately, Fennec arrived with the deft speed of rain following a gust of wind, and questioned them. "I dunno," He fumbled quickly, hoping Towhee might have the ability to speak for herself.

She could say the same for him. Seeing Bronco like this momentarily distracted Towhee from her own ailments and his presumed summons. But the instant Fennec appeared, she felt the full brunt of her maladies. Her stomach gave a sickening roll and she slammed her mouth shut, sure she was about to throw up again. It filled with sour saliva, which she swallowed as she forced down the nausea.

That was just the physiological reaction. With Fennec only feet away, Towhee had no choice but to feel her feelings. And they were intense. Her eldest daughter had always been rather mercurial, though she'd been particularly punitive toward her mother lately. She'd cut her down about Reyes; quit leadership without warning; and even seemed to be keeping Killdeer away from her. Towhee didn't get it, didn't know where she'd gone wrong. She knew part of the reason was standing here with them. Did Bronco's absence really excuse or explain any of it, though?

But Fen's hurtful attitude toward her was hardly the only reason Towhee had withdrawn to this cave today or the sole culprit behind her recent deterioration. It was just the straw that broke the camel's back, as the saying went. The acidic bitterness on her tongue was the taste of her body breaking down from the stress of this entire month, year, lifetime. She was physically ill, but the root of her problem was the chronic cycle of mental and emotional distress.

She suddenly thought of Meerkat and how she'd run away from it all. Towhee couldn't do that, didn't want to. But she realized there was actually a middle ground. Fennec probably wouldn't like it and she wouldn't be the only one, but Towhee needed to be selfish, if she wanted to break the cycle and finally feel better.

She still hadn't answered Fennec's question. Finally, she sighed, "Nothing. And everything." Towhee took a couple breaths and continued, "I'm stressed the fuck out. I need a break. I'm going to see my sister," she decided warily, wearily. She didn't just need Raven's medical expertise and support, she needed to get away from it all for a little while. She needed a goddamn hug, which she knew Rave would be happy to provide. "I'll be back in a few days."

She smelled the sick. She knew that something was wrong, and from the way Bronco was acting.... it sounded like it was Towhee. Was she sick? Had she been sick? And if so, why the fuck hadn't she come to her?

Well, apparently because she didn't want to. Fennec waited in silence for a moment after Towhee spoke as a complicated mix of emotions roiled. Mostly hurt, some worry, and definitely a significant dose of anger. Sure, go see Raven. Because obviously Fennec couldn't help her, seeing as she was so fucking not worth being around. Cool.

With no clue as to the source of Towhee's anxiety, Fennec took the perceived slight extremely personally. Her expression went neutral and she flicked her tail, turning away. Fine. Whatever.

It wasn't fine. It wasn't at all fine.

Prob Fennec out!

He'd been told that a rift had formed between the two Redhawks, but he wouldn't have expected that it would be so strong an aversion that Towhee would shrug off the assistance of a medic when she was clearly in horrible condition. Blood-stained bile was indicative of some condition that shouldn't be ignored or shrugged off. And in refusing to tell Fennec what was happening to her, she was denying herself treatment. She might not have realized it, but in choosing to travel to see her sister rather than accepting Fennec's offer for help, she was being somewhat insulting as well. She'd rather go somewhere else in this condition than let Fennec tend to her?

Fennec wasn't going to waste time trying to convince her otherwise- and while Bronco was normally inclined to be a peacekeeper...He reminded himself that Fennec was now his mate. And that meant having her back, even if he wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. So he nodded stiffly, saddled uncomfortably with this newfound duty that girdled him a bit too tightly for his liking. -"Safe travels,"- He croaked, regret clear on his face and in his gestures as he slowly turned to leave and follof Fennec away.

Fen’s reaction was not surprising, though it still kicked Towhee in the gut. Lately, it seemed she couldn’t do anything right when it came to her eldest daughter. What had gone wrong between them? She couldn’t make heads or tails of it and didn’t even try this time. She also didn’t make any effort to stop her when she bailed again. Fennec couldn’t really help her with this, she realized now, not when she was part of the problem.

The former Regent disappeared and that left her orange eyes to shift to Bronco, her stomach rolling. She was struck again by how terrible he looked. What had he been through? Towhee opened her mouth to ask when he wished her save travels and left to follow Fennec.

It’s good to have you back, she said awkwardly to his retreating back, feeling quite bereft for a moment.

She stood just outside the cave for a few minutes longer before moving off to let her kids, Phox, Rue and everyone else know about her trip. She didn’t bother speculating about what they’d think because it didn’t matter. The last five minutes had demonstrated just how much she really needed to get away and heal.