Verdigris Ravine to each his day is given

yes hello, anyone nearby is welcome, but tagged Candle for reference. @Zoug @Koa

S'ari opened her eyes, and for the first time in months, she knew where she was. She lay in a cool, dry place, and the scent of the open air was somewhere off nearby, though the close ceiling suggested she was in a cave. She felt the weakness in her bones, the hungry, exhausted quaking in her limbs. She felt as if a great passage of time had occurred, and yet, no time at all.

Gripped with anxiety, she tried to call for @Candle, but her voice was so hoarse with disuse that nothing came out.

S'ari.

Candle went to her without hesitation. She crouched at S'ari's side and touched her nose lightly to her cheek, her ear, her muzzle. The fever was fading from her, finally, finally. The priestess could have cried with her relief.

S'ari, She pressed close to her. After a moment she called out for Zoug and Ko'a.

Candle came to her quickly. She must've been hidden in the corner of the cave somewhere. This place was full of her scent, old musk overlapping new. Candle, S'ari whispered, for that was all her voice could handle. What-- She had been about to ask, What happened? but she found herself caught in a fit of coughing, her throat dry as sand. W-Water, she begged, and tried to stand, to go to the ravine outside, but her legs failed her and she crumpled to the ground.

The others were not so quick to arrive as Candle might have liked. She caught S'ari as she fell, eyes abruptly heating with the threat of tears as reality struck down her relief: the Mediator was still terribly weak. All was not well just yet. 

W-wa...ter fi - irst, Candle told her softly. She would try to describe to her all that had transpired, she would do her best! But truthfully the priestess would rather Zoug or Ko'a handle this part. Even Zoug's skill surpassed her own by now, she felt. He did not stutter as she did!

Quietly, slowly, the priestess led S'ari out of the cave and to the water.

S'ari leaned on Candle heavily. She did not mean to--did not want to--but she had no other option. Her limbs felt watery and her head spun. She stumbled along as best she could, using the girl for support, and then collapsed before the stream and dunked her whole head inside before lapping at it like she'd been lost in the midst of the desert heat for days. Submerging her head had made her think a little clearer, and the water seemed to give her a tiny bit of energy, but she was still panting with exhaustion.

Finally, when her belly felt so full of water that she thought it might burst, she lay back in the sand and stared up at Candle. What happened? she asked, her voice a bit stronger now, though still very raspy from lack of use.

This one is out of her fever haze, I see! Ko'a spoke with a laughter in her voice, all smiles as she comes trotting into the direction of both her cousin and Candle, at hearing the sound of S'ari. Though she had come in and out of consciousness, this was the first time S'ari seemed actually aware in months. It has been months cousin. You were very sick.

cameo!

s'ari awoke.

zoug looked up from where he had been applying fresh blood to the underside of his jawline and the center of his throat.

he followed and stood sentinel as s'ari drank, as the others spoke. he said nothing, but the gruffness in his single eye was gone when he looked at s'ari, pleased to see her on four legs.

Candle is skippable now, tag me if a response is needed from her! <3

Slowly the others appeared. Candle was relieved. She kept a protective nearness to S'ari but surrended the conversation to Ko'a, sparing a fond glance for Zoug when she saw his arrival. For now, she did not go to him.

She would find him later, when S'ari had been settled and caught up on all that had happened in her absence. In the mean time the priestess glimmered quietly with a muted sort of joy; their Mediator was back. The Tribe would thrive again, surely.

Guess it's just you and me, @Koa !

S'ari stared at Ko'a in shock. Months, she repeated faintly. How is S'ari still alive? She thought hard, which was difficult because her brain still felt fuzzy from her illness. She recalled vague memories of being told to eat and drink. She supposed she had been just well enough to chew and swallow on her own, or she would have died long ago.

Well, she said, and said no more, for she could think of nothing. It was not often that a coyote of the Tribe was rendered speechless, so well-known were they to talk overly much.

Ko'a can do words!

Much coaxing and much patience. She wrinkles her nose yet smiles. Sari had not made it all that easy on them either, but had pulled through none the less. She had a will to live where sometimes others did not. Cousin would not have made it, if it weren't for this one. She jut her muzzle into Candle's direction. Knower of medicine. 

For much time, the Tribe was but four. Her pale-peach eyes swept the three of them. It wad but them alone. Wolves came. Come still. A wolf Queen and with many. This only Ko'a knew of vaguely, by hearing their calls, following their trail and scent. Candle knew more of this specifically in her ventures. Just recently, a few new coyote have come. Both pale. One half blood. Like her. One young, quite a looker. She grins.
 
There was also great sand storm too. Very big.

A wolf queen, S'ari repeated, concerned. Have they caused trouble? S'ari's brow creased and she gazed into the deeper desert. She felt awful for falling ill and leaving the Tribe to fend for itself without her, but she knew that was ridiculous. One did not choose to become ill. She had done nothing wrong. She had no qualms with wolves, but she knew the others did--especially Candle. She frowned.

None, She paused as she spared a glance to Candle and Zoug should they state otherwise, That I know of. But so many in the sands is quite worrisome and yet- the desert here is vast. They are only a threat if they do not keep their distance. If they want these lands however, they are strong enough to take any they would want. 

It was really a manner out of their control. The Tribe did not have anywhere near the numbers to say otherwise. If the great pack decided they wanted Tribe's home, then Tribe must leave to live. Thankfully, they were a rather nomadic bunch historically.

S'ari frowned at the implied threat, that these new desert wolves might come and take the Ravine from them. That was a strange thing for her to frown at, however, as the Tribe had always been nomadic. Still, she had grown fond of the Ravine...

Well, coyotes shall keep their eyes peeled, yes? And if our bigger cousins come sniffing about, we will be gone like sand on the wind. She gazed out at the Desert, frowning.

S'ari. Ko'a reaches out, to place her larger paw onto the slender one of her cousin. The wolf has strength, yet the coyote is as swift as he is keen. Keeping an eye out is not a problem for Tribe. She would reassure her cousin.