Blackfeather Woods How to save a life

Mature Content Warning

This thread has been marked as mature. By reading and/or participating in this thread, you acknowledge that you are of age or have permission from your parents to do so.

The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: Burke will be close to death. Vomiting, and maybe other little gore-y things. :) 

@Meldresi @Cicero @Potema Save my BunnyButt, please! :D

Burke looked up from his heavy meal, swallowing another big chunk of meat. That he had been so lucky to find a dying old buck would only happen a few times in a life time. Burke wanted to get his share before dragging it back to Black Feather home. Burke's stomach was getting pretty full and naturally the scent of blood was wafting through the woods. Two lone wolfs that were probably a gang together jumped on him. Burke wasn't going to back off since this would feed their pack greatly. If there was someone with an amazing work drive then it was Burke. The large male bared his teeth and a fight began. 

It didn't take long, after a certain dodge, that his stomach began to hurt. Burke wasn't weak on a bit of pain but this hurt. He instantly trotted off with minor cuts, only his stomach was hurting badly. It worsened when his trot turned into a gallop. His nose moved lower to the ground like he could even hold up his head. He had to force himself to stiff legged walk. Burke knew something was wrong when he wanted to vomit but nothing came out. He had to reach Meldresi. He couldn't panic because then his heart would race and that was bad. Luckily for Burke he was usually calm. The tank of a male kept his head low, drool coming from his mouth, as he tried to steady his breathing. 

Burke was at Meldresi's infirmary and tried to howl but couldn't. Only grunting came from his lips, along with more drool. His stomach contracted painfully and Burke tried to throw up again. He might as well look pregnant with how his abdomen were swollen. Crap. Not good. Burke marched into the infirmary and laid down on his side. He couldn't help but let out a whine. Fuck. It hurt. And if Burke was thinking that, it hurt really badly....

Slight PP for Cicero and Potema

While it seemed at first Potema was the only one of her litter who had shown some interest in healing, Cicero had surprised her, as always, and expressed his interest as well. Meldresi was pleased that two out of three of her children were the slightest bit interested in her trade. She took them out this morning, and led them to her herb store, starting Cicero at the basics. Potema went off to gather a few mushrooms that were tucked in the dark corners of the tunnels, as well as moss. She sat there, pointing at a few of the most basic herbs, saying their names, and what they did, over and over, until Cicero could learn them from memory. But her lesson had to stop for now.

The priestess caught Burke's scent and a glimpse of his gray pelt from the corner of her eye, and she turned to greet him, but fell silent at his appearance. His stomach was distended, as if he was pregnant. But Burke was no female. This could only mean...

She followed after him, eyes dark with worry. "Burke, if you can speak, answer me." She said, leaning her head down by his side. "Cicero, find your sister, quickly!" Meldresi lightly touched the tank's side, noticing the contractions rippling through it as if he was in labor. This disease was common among wolves like Burke; in their middle years, but still active and strong, it would bring them down low without warning. If she did not release the gas trapped painfully in his stomach, Meldresi would lose one of her strongest wolves and supporters. She could not have that happen.

Cicero was excited for the lesson they were going to learn today -- little did he know it would soon become a very real lesson. Cicero followed his mother and listened as she explained about some of the basic herbs, nodding each time she mentioned something and taking the information in with surprising patience for a child his age.

When they happened upon Burke, Cicero initially said, "Hi-hi Burke!" But he soon noticed that his mother seemed worried. Cicero did not know worry, young and abrassive, and so he just waited until his mother asked for him to find his sister. The child trotted off to find Potema, shouting "Poooooma!" through the forest -- which was, even though he was able to pronounce her full name now, still how he called her -- until he happened upon his dreamy sister. "Poma, come Cicero quick! Burke is ouchy-ouch!" While Cicero turned around to bring the collected Potema to Meldresi and Burke, he lowered his head and secretively whispered to himself, "ouchy-ouch."

Potema looked like a pack mule. Tendrils of moss were draped along her back, covering her white, mud-streaked pelt with dark green. She struggled to keep them from slipping as she attempted to keep mushrooms tucked underneath her chin and in her mouth. She was failing, however, with her constantly having to stop as mushrooms fell out. As she would dip down to collect the mushrooms, moss slipped from her back. It was a very tedious and frustrating process. Perhaps her mother intended this all along to increase her patience.

But her labor ended when Cicero came, telling her Burke was hurt! Potema's eyes grew wide. "Burff murfft?" She asked, mushrooms falling from her mouth as she spoke. She spat the rest out so she could speak clearly. "Cic' grab the mus'rooms! Mama might need 'em." She gathered a few of them again, and starting running past her brother, nervous if Burke was deathly ill. He was old enough where that possibility was high, Mother said, like she was.

Pack Mule omg. i hope that is a typo XD

Burke laid down and could hear Meldresi approach. The large male tried to keep his breathing steady. His pale eyes were looking around. The pain and contractions were giving him a headache. "You didn't give me a question to answer," Burke panted lightly, trying to be humorous about it. Even while he was close to dying the male was showing no fear. Burke was not afraid of dying. He would have hoped that it wouldn't be this soon. But if the Lord of the Dread decided that today was his day to die then he would accept it. His pale eye turned to Meldresi, maybe she could lengthen his life for now. He hoped so. He would hate to leave her without another Dark Brother. Crescendo hadn't been seen, Kove left for love and Morgana would soon be disabled for any type of work because of her young. There wouldn't be much left of the brotherhood. He was her main men to go to.

Burke turned his muzzle to the ground and tried to vomit again. It was a weird mix with a grunt and a bracing sound because the contraction hurt so much. His tongue hanging out of his mouth to get his excessive heat from his body. If he wouldn't the wolf would be heavily sweating by now. "Damn Lone wolves. I.." Burke cleared his throat. "I think I have bloat. I had a very heavy meal before fighting off wolves from the buck I found." He wanted to explain to her what happened. He wasn't just some fool that went running with a full stomach. The large grey tried to empty his stomach once more. His energy draining from his body.

She sighed; at least he could talk to her. It was comforting that he still kept his wits during his pain. She watched as he painfully tried to vomit, but nothing would come out from his mouth. "You definitely show the signs of it." She ran the ingredients for the cure through her mind, trying to recall it from years past. It was a deadly illness, and the only way to truly relieve it is to release the gas trapped inside of Burke's stomach, and sticking a tube down his throat was not an option. It would be risky if she used an actual stick, as well. Getting him to vomit was their first priority.

The sounds of her children scrambling towards Burke and her diverted her attention away from the inflicted Dark Brother. Potema looked wild, moss hanging loosely onto her back and mushrooms stuffed in her mouth. The priestess gestured towards the herb store. "Potema, bring yarrow, elderberry root, mustard seeds, and the bamboo stick." She turned to her son, and pushed the fallen moss strands towards him. "Go to the river and wet these balls of moss. Be quick about it." She turned back to Burke. "What I need to do to heal you is to get you to vomit and burp so the gas and food comes up. The less dangerous way is to use emetic herbs, but a more dangerous method is using a hollow stick to go down your throat and into your stomach. That is going to be my last resort." 

Cicero picked up the mushrooms that Potema indicated for him to take along, and waddled after her as they made their way back to Burke and Meldresi. Once there, Cicero deposited the mushrooms where Potema put hers, and he arched his neck to see how Burke was doing, watching with interest.

Meldresi then instructed him to bring balls of moss to the river to wet them. Cicero grabbed the balls of moss and listened briefly, with an ear turned backward, to what his mother told Burke, before he galloped to the river to wet the moss. Once there, he dipped the moss in the river and then galloped back to Potema, Meldresi, and their sick patient Burke, where he held the moss, water dripping off it onto Cicero's chin, out to his mother.

Potema paused besides her mother, blinking curiously at Burke's large belly. She dropped the mushrooms and shrugged the moss off of her back. "Is Burke pregnant?" She asked. His belly looked almost exactly like how her mother described pregnancy to her. But it didn't make sense. How do men get pregnant?

But her curious thoughts disappeared the moment her mother spoke in that commanding voice of hers. Yarrow, elderberry root not the berries, mustard seeds and bamboo. She sprung to attention instantly, running towards the herb store.

Her baby-blue eyes darted to every corner of the herb store, searching for the materials her mother needed. She found the ingredients swiftly, after long days of her mother giving her menial tasks of where everything was. The princess grabbed the wrapped bundles of yarrow, elderberry root and mustard seeds, tucked the bamboo stick under her chin and toddled back to her mother. She looked ridiculous as hell, but that didn't matter when someone's life was on the line.

I think I want the stick thing to happen>D So he has to recover longer inside of Mel's den. :P

Burke knew that if Meldresi had to put a stick down his throat that it would be bad business. It could hurt his throat and other insides of his organs. Somehow he wasn't afraid of the pain but more of how long he would be injured. He found admiration in the two youngsters. They were utterly focussed and trying to heal him. It was wonderful to see and it made Burke soften his heart more towards them. He watched the pups run of and come back with the things Meldresi needed. His pale eyes were clear and alert. Only his body wasn't doing so well. His insides contracted once more and it had Burke curling up in pain. Such an intense pain he had never felt before.

Burke opened his eyes when Potema asked when he was pregnant. The male showed a hint of a smile. Often it was done within an hour. He had heard about it. Then Meldresi would have around 30 minutes left to heal him. The male inhaled sharply. If he would survive this he should give the two youngsters a hug... Or something. What would he pups like? And Meldresi. He turned his pale eyes to the healer and his alpha. He already worked harder than everyone else... How could he ever repay her. Another jolt of pain made him push that thought away. He would think about that the moment he actually did survive.

Both Potema and Cicero returned promptly, Potema with her herbs and Cicero with the wet moss. Meldresi took the herbs first, unwrapping the yarrow first. She divided the portion into four parts, and looked up towards Potema. "Chew up the roots and seeds. Cicero, I need you help me chew up the yarrow. Do not swallow it. You'll throw up. Work quickly." She proceeded to take a part of the yarrow into her mouth and chew it into a pulp, her mouth moving quickly to crush the disgusting tasting herb. Her plan was to use the yarrow and herbs four times, for four chances to help Burke bring up whatever was festering in his stomach. If they all failed, then she would be forced to use the hollowed bamboo stick, something that could potentially kill him if anything went wrong. She sat on that morbid thought, working almost furiously to finish crushing the herbs.

Potema asked if Burke was pregnant, a valid question considering the size of him. Cicero did not ask questions, for he noticed that Meldresi did not answer Potema's. Instead he just waited and listened to what he could do to help next, for he knew too little about situations like these to act properly without instruction.

Upon being instructed to do so, Cicero took the yarrow into his mouth and started to chew it, making sure that he did not swallow it by chewing carefully and paying utmost attention. He didn't like throwing up; Cicero had done so before, when he had gotten sick from eating random plants and found out that they were poisonous because they made you throw up, and he did not like it, so it made him pay attention. When done, he made a "Mhffrmurml" sound while he looked at his mother, mouth full, to indicate he was done and what to do with the contents of his mouth now.

feel free to pp cicero doing whatever with the herbs if it moves it along faster, he'll just follow all of meldresi's instructions. (:

Potema, like her brother, diligently began her task. Since she was the more experienced with herbs, she was given the job of chewing up the harder plants: the roots and seeds. Luckily for her, the roots were soft, and barely gave her any trouble as she gnawed them into a pulp. The princess divided the pulp into four parts, like her mother, and set them on each pile that her mother made.

The seeds were hard though. Being so small, they would be hard to chew. The princess stared at the wrap of seeds, wondering how she could possibly manage to crush them. Then she realized it. Potema ran to the edge of the infirmary, grabbed a rock in her mouth, and returned to the circle. With the rock, she began smashing it on the seeds, pausing every once and a while to scrape pulp off of the rock until all of it thoroughly crushed, in her eyes.

PP'ing slightly that Burke already got the mix. Feel free to PP Burke in the stick situation if needed.

Burke slowly closed his eyes, unable to keep them open for now. His stomach kept contracting quicker after one other that he had to just focus on numbing out the pain rather than looking at what the other wolves were going to save him. Burke felt like these were his last moments. What a horrible way to die in such pain. Did he deserve it? No, not really. At least Burke thought so. He had chosen for himself, was such a thing selfish? Yes. But would he be more of a saint if he had suffered through that horrible life? Burke found no one was a saint. The male realized that he needed to stay in the presence before his mind started drifting.

His eyes opened when some weird paste was fed to him. He automatically swallowed it. Big mistake. He remembered Meldresi's words now. The vomiting potion. Burke instantly squirmed. It didn't do what he expected. He hoped that he would throw up what was bothering him but the paste seemed to press against his bloated stomach. The gasses prevented the mixture from entering. The gas had to be pressed out by that damn stick thing, Burke realized. He slowly opened his eyes but realized his vision was blurred, he closed them again. A heavy pant came from the male. He felt like he was exploding.

Meldresi cursed silently as Burke did not vomit as inspected. She loathed having to do the secondary method; it was painful and possibly dangerous, but at this point, it was all she had. Meldresi dragged the herbs away into a corner behind her and pulled the bamboo stick to her paws. The Alpha pawed at it absentmindedly for a while before giving directions to her children and patient. "Potema, run back to the herb store and get me poppy seeds before start. Burke, I need you to keep your neck as straight as possible. Cicero, you make sure his paws stay still and he does not flail when we begin."

She grasped the bamboo stick in her mouth, gripping it in a way that would allow her purchase when the time came to stick it down Burke's throat. She was not looking forward to this.

Cicero watched Burke, waiting to see what would happen next. He was supposed to vomit, but somehow it didn't happen. Cicero looked back and forth between Meldresi and Burke, silently waiting for what was to come next. Surely, Burke would be okay again? The child waited until he would receive further instruction. His was the last of the instructions that Meldresi gave, and Cicero nodded at his mother. It was possibly the first time he was serious in his young life.

As instructed Cicero moved to Burke's legs. The best way to make them not-move seemed to be to lay down on them, and so Cicero flopped his body over Burke's front pair of legs, making sure most of his weight was on the legs so that Burke would have to keep them still.

The young princess squeaked with distress when Burke did not vomit, but instead looked worst. What was going on? Was Burke really, truly sick? Mama had told her about how not every patient could be saved, and when it all seems lost, you have to let them go. Potema blinked up at her mother, trying to read her reaction. She looked annoyed, but determined as always. Burke had one last chance...

Her ears perked up at the sound of her mother's snapped command. Reading the urgent tone in her voice, Potema ran fast to the herb store, grabbing the nearest bundle of poppy seeds before running back to her mother, panting. She dropped the poppy seeds by Meldresi, then looked up at her mother, waiting for her next command.

Burke heard her command and felt some safety wash over him. He moved his head on a nearby rock and stretched out his neck. It didn't take long for him to feel weight on his paws. Oh no this was definitely going to hurt. Burke's breathing was turning raspy, his tongue hanging out of his mouth to have his huge body cool down. His body was panicking and it was clearly shown that it was screaming out in distress. Burke's mind was numbed with the pain. Only panted wheezing and grunts came from his throat by now. This stick was his only option. 

He closed his eyes once more. Still the male was surprisingly calm mentally, while his body was clearly freaking out. Burke didn't mind dying, it would be unfortunate and painful but he didn't fear it. But he couldn't disappoint Meldresi and he believed that she would be able to save him. Soon he felt himself sink off in the distance. His hearing was slowly becoming dysfunctional, or at least everything sounded so far away. His thoughts also slowed down. The end was near.

She took the poppies from her daughter, then eased it towards Burke's mouth. "Eat this, it will dull the pain." The priestess, noticing his almost catatonic state, pressing the poppy seeds down his throat gently. Naturally he swallowed it, and Meldresi waited for the seeds to hopefully take its effects. She looked towards her daughter. "Potema, hold his mouth open." She placed the stick closer towards his mouth, easing it closer.

The stick entered, going down his throat towards his stomach. It was tedious work, but it had to be, or she would tear through his throat. Meldresi paused every once and a while to let Burke get used to the pressure, before pushing further. Hopefully, he would not struggle, or he might hurt himself immensely.

Cicero waited in silence for what was to come, and he watched Meldresi closely. He was used to having a healer for a mother, though an earlier moment with Burke had taught the boy that not all wolves were healers; it was something to be learned and earned, like Meldresi had, and Cicero intended to do so for himself, too. Cicero kept his weight upon Burke's legs and waited for his mother to finish, not for a moment considering it might be the end of Burke, for he had never lost someone through death thus far.

Potema was not sure what part of his mouth to hold open at first: top jaw, or bottom jaw? The princess mulled over the decision for a brief moment before gently grabbing the top of the gray-masked wolf's muzzle, pulling it upwards as her mother began guiding the stick through his mouth. Here she had full view of Burke's reactions; his painful winces, his face screwing up. It was enough to remind her that with healing, there was going to be pain afflicted on the patient, even if you were trying to save their lives.

Apparently his end wasn't near because when Meldresi came with the hollow stick and started to push it down his throat Burke's eyes shot open. An adrenaline rush sprung to life with made the male try and move away from it. It took a few moments to realize he would need to accept the stick in order to be alive. His chocking like sounds filled the infirmary. Eventually he calmed his legs, due to the weight on it. Burke was still tired which means that fighting this weight that was Cicero was not helping him grow less tired. The same was for Potema holding his mouth open. 

His breathing grew more labored and wheezing like squeaks and yelps came from the warrior. Burke felt horrible. If he was weak mentally he might have given up due to the pain but he had to be there for Meldresi and also for her kids. He couldn't die today. Not today, he told himself. 

Meldresi was steadfast, despite Burke's struggles and chokes. If she slipped, she could tear something vital in the tank's body, and that was the last thing she needed. The bamboo stick inched its way deeper into his throat, slowly reaching the stomach, inch by inch by inch.

She felt the moment the end of the stick reached the stomach, for the sound of gas hissed its way into the infirmary. The healer pushed it a little further into his stomach, and the hiss increased in sound. She wrinkled her nose, smelling Burke's stomach acid mixed with food. It was rancid, but it almost calmed her in a sense. He would live.

Cicero wrinkled his nose when the rancid scent came free, though he did not make a fuss about it. The black-and-white pup just waited patiently while he studied his mother and Burke's faces; Burke remained in pain, his mother seemed relieved. This led Cicero to believe that the procedure had gone well, and he stayed quietly by Meldresi and Burke's side alongside his sister.

Potema held on tight to Burke's top jaw, even as he squirmed slightly. He didn't move as much as she thought he would, which was good for him. He would not be as hurt inside. Finally, it was finished. Almost. Meldresi's stick had reached the stomach, and the gas came forward, filling the air with its stench. Her nose wrinkled, but she kept his mouth open until her mother gave the word.

I think this one can be wrapped up! :D

Burke was so out of it all that he didn't even smell the horrible gasses from his stomach, all he realized was that the pressure on his other organs was getting so much more tolerable. The tired male was close to passing out, not form pain but from fighting for his life. With the adrenaline rushing through his body he couldn't feel the throbbing of his gullet. Burke was glad that everything seemed better, but maybe that was because he was dying? It didn't feel like he was. But how could he know?