Blood burned through Mouse's system. It felt like lava in his veins and seared his flesh. He gasped for fresh air, yet his lungs could never pull in enough. His tongue hung from his jaws in hopes of relieving the pain. Claws tore at his throat with each breath. Weight pressed down against his side, while the sun teased his fragile pink eyes. The air shouted at him, so loud he heard nothing. He simply laid there as blurry eyes looked out beyond the strange terrian. He remembered little of how he got there or why. He only knew the heat. He only knew the pain. He only knew he was alone. His limbs did not listen to him, rather they trembled in weakness. His jaw had parted to allow his tongue to escape its cave. It searched for water, but it had found nothing. How long had he laid there? Mouse could not remember. A long drawn out whimper shredded itself through him. It quivered on the wind before falling silent. He breathed in a wheezing breath and glanced about.
Shadows stood off into the distance. Mouse narrowed his eyes, but he was unable to identify them. They shimmered, there but not. They just stood there as they gazed down at him, which only caused his heart to race. It pounded its drum in his chest. He felt rising panic in his body as he begun to glance around. The panic grew until it started to consume him. Was he running? Were they after him again? Mouse tried to will his limbs to move. He needed to move! Still, his body refused and instead nausea took root. Mouse snapped his muzzle shut with another whimper. The shadows moved closer. Only then did he note that his fur was no longer white. It was stained with scarlet. They had found him. He had to get away. Where was momma though? Where did she go?
Mouse forced his head up as he glanced about. His pink eyes searching for any sign of life. Anything, but he found nothing. Everything blurred, blending and turning until his muscles gave way. His head fell. Pink eyes glanced up at the shadows as anxiety coursed through his system. It attacked his nerves giving way to his basic instincts. He needed to flee, find momma and run. He needed to run! The coyote felt the sickness begin again as his aching muscles screamed. The canine pressed himself onto his stomach. Then, he folded his paws under him. Hanging his head low, he took a step, but heavy heaving stopped him. A dizziness took control as he stumbled. His ears curled back as his jaw parted. Once and twice he emptied his stomach. The acid buried his throat until only dry heaves remained. After a few moments, he was able to take a step, then another, and finally another. A shiver wrecked his system.
"Freya!" He cried out in his search. Freya? The name brought terror vibrating through him. It slammed into his very being until it could escape in another howl. The sound broke against the quiet forest before colliding into him. The world turned on its side as he fell again. The shadows moved closer. Their crimson eyes blinking. Their maws parting to reveal a set of razor sharp teeth that dripped with green acid. It slithered from their maw, along their chin before it burned away the greenery on the ground. Each step, their claws tore away the life underneath them. Black coils swirled around the large beasts as if made of smoke. Their steps were silent, as if not truly there. Yet, their wheezing invaded the space. Their breath sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Their bodies moved as if strings on a puppet. They jerked and twitched.
"Freya!" Mouse screamed out. "Momma!" Fear had become a full blown tornado inside of him. His claws ripped at the ground as his eyes widened in terror. His breaths came out in gasps. The heat had been replaced with the cold that choked his very being. His heart leapt from his chest. Yet, there was no where to go. He was trapped. He was tied down with chains of weakness. "Alec! Justin!" Mouse cried out as tears stung his eyes. "Anyone! Please!" He was alone again. Why? Why?! Mouse did not understand. He did what they wanted. He left Bellaroos! He left his momma... Why?! The coyote howled helplessly.
Soon, the shadows made their way to stand above Mouse. He froze. Their piercing eyes gazing down at him with a smirk. Slimy dark green tongues slipped from their jaws as hunger entered their expression. Mouse's eyes widened as his breath became stuck in his throat. They were going to kill him. No one would help him.
"Mouse!" The voice sliced through the fear. The coyote pulled back his lips and releasing a snarl he lunged. The animal tasted blood on his tongue, yet it was the painful scream that broke through his insanity. The shadows vanished leaving behind golden eyes that looked down at him in shock. The canine soon slipped away to leave behind a man. His eyes filled with tears as he wrapped them around Freya's waist.
Sobs wrecked him. "Don't leave me. Please, oh Gods please." Darkness soon took hold again as he felt a warm hand stroke along his hair.
---
Hot blood seeped from Freya's wound as she clenched it. She had fallen to her knees as she ground her jaw. Her back arched up in pain as she try to prevent another scream. She could taste her tears while she trembled from the after shocks. Pain became lightening under her arm. It tore at her muscle with each one sending another choked cry from her. She breathed through it, even when her throat wanted to close. Oh God it hurt. She could not move her arm. Each tiny movement brought another painful whimper for her. It felt like hours she stayed like that. However, soon the agony cooled to a throb. She glanced down at Mouse then as she swallowed thickly. His usual pale flesh was a deep red. "What the hell happened?" Freya hissed through clenched teeth.
Clenching her jaw, she pulled a hand away to brush against his cheek. He was burning up. A surge of rage flickered through her. He bit her. He fucking bit her. Freya raised her hand to strike him. The male curled in on himself with a low whimper. It cooled her rage into concern. Her pain filled eyes softened before she glanced around. Agony had blurred her vision, but she found the area clear. Their abandoned prey laid on the ground along with the wasted water. There were no foot prints, nothing disturbed. She found only where he had gotten sick along with Rose who stomped on the ground. The longma whined as he threw up her head in concern. He had been hallucinating?
Freya hissed as she slowly stood up. Mouse's hand tightened on her leg causing her to glance down at him. Even in his sleep, he was afraid of something. What had he said when he passed out? It made her wonder. She needed to get his fever down either way. He would die if it stayed that high. Yanking herself free, she made her way over to Rose. Freya needed to treat herself first, otherwise she might bleed out. Not to mention she needed to calm her temper. She was trembling with nerves. Instincts told her to run, but her heart willed her to stay. He had no idea what he was doing, right? Cursing, she only found a cotton wrap. There seemed to not be much else in the sac. They had used most of the supplies, which meant soon they would have to stop to gather more. Maybe there was a town nearby? Grumbling, she accepted her fate as she sat down. There was enough to cut for her wound, some to make a sling, and a bit more to use for Mouse.
Freya threw herself to the ground. Without bothering to clean the wound, she started to wrap the cotton around the bite. Each touch of the fabric sent a long painful hiss from her lips. Her eyes blurred against the tears until finally it was covered. Blood soaked the cotton, however she did not dare add more. She made a knot before placing a piece in her mouth to tighten it. She did the same for the sling. She used as little as possible. In the end, it was not comfortable in the least, but it did enough to keep her arm from moving around. It may not be broken, but she knew soon swelling would make it useless. Besides, she was losing feeling in it already. Letting out a shaky breath, she cut the last pieces into place with her knife. She placed the knife back in the sac before grabbing the last bit of material.
It was then she dared to look up at Mouse. He was curled up where she had left him. His lips parting as he gasped for air. Could this be from heat exposure? She thought they had done well to avoid the weather. Perhaps his injuries? No, he had become sick to quickly. Dread started to gnaw on her. There was truly only one answer. The Snakeheads had been poisonous. "Shit." She whimpered as she stood again. In the middle of nowhere with no one else, this had to happen to them. She knew nothing about treating something like this. She was not even sure if she was correct. Anxiety gave way to fear as she knelt at his side. He looked so pale. His jaw and eyes clenched in pain.
"Tell me what to do Mouse." Freya nearly begged as she brushed a hand along his cheek. He gave no answer to her. "Damn it Mouse." She whispered before looking around.
"Hello?! Anyone?!" Freya yelled in desperate hope someone was close. She prayed Alec's group was close, but to no avail. There was no one... nothing. All she could do was hope someone, anyone would find them. In the meantime, she was Mouse's only hope for survival.
"Listen to me Mouse. I am going to go get some more water, okay? I will be right back, I promise." Freya moved to stand. A flicker of pink caught her eye and stopped her in her tracks. They gazed up at her with a twitch of a smile on the male's lips. In seconds, they were closed again as black circles begun to form. The male trembled making Freya's heart clench. Knowing full well she could not move him, she pulled her arm from her sling. Still numb, she did the best she could to pull her shirt off and down the hurt arm. She hissed as it brushed against her swelled flesh. Once off, she placed her arm back in place and folded the shirt to place under his head. She moved to Rose and removed the blanket from the horse's back.
"I'm sorry girl. He needs this more." The beast snorted at that. Freya gently tucked it around Mouse. "Don't die on me." She dared him, grabbed the bowl she had the water in before, and left once again.
---
Freya sighed as she changed Mouse's rag again. She wrung the water out, dipped it and placed it back on his forehead. Darkness had consumed the land. Only the light from their campfire penetrated through it. The cold invaded Freya creating shivers down her form, but she refused to take any cover from Mouse. She had eaten a hot meal at least, however that did little for her. Tired eyes burned. They needed rest. She had been up for almost 24hrs now. She refused to sleep though knowing Mouse's life hung in the balance. No, she needed to stay awake. If she slept, they would die.
Reaching out, she placed her hand near the fire. It warmed her flesh slightly. She smiled a bit at that while her mind wondered. Where was Alec now? Was Justin okay? What were her dreams about?
"I just don't understand anything anymore." Freya whispered softly.
"No, you don't." The growl slithered from the darkness. Her eyes snapped around. She searched along the ground, along the trees and leaves. She glanced to the sky, yet she found nothing. Only the endless void of darkness that stretched out before her. Slowly, she turned back to the flames. Only, she found herself looking at a shadow that stood far off in the distance. Green eyes stared back at her.
"Alec?" Freya nearly cried, but when she blinked it was gone. She reached out towards it. "Please, come back." She begged, however only the crackling of flames and Mouse's wheezing breath remained.