This just isn't feelin' right

Heat day 3?

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How long had it been? A day? A week? A year? Her whole body felt numb, like ice had frozen over each hair on her body as she floated down the stream. Long ago her limbs had stopped fighting, incapable of gripping the ground as the rushing waters swept her out and away to who knows where. Pale nails bled lightly with the struggle she had put up earlier, desperately trying to dig into anything near by in order to stop and try to haul herself out of the treacherous water.

Nothing.

She was at the mercy of the stream which had long ago felt like a dream. Frost had built over darkened lashes as she was washed away, to where the autumn leaves blew in the breeze all around - deafened by the water that rushed through her ears.

A sense of weightlessness overtook her as the waters vaporized almost immediately, falling, that was what it was right? A sickening drop from the heights above as vapours swallowed her up whole first before the tumblings waters below.

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As daylight began to fade, Quicksilver felt tempted to hunt. He made his way quietly and carefully down the mountainside with the hope of tracking down something to snack on - a fat water rat, perhaps. Dusk was when the littlest creatures felt brave enough to venture out, to forage, and presented the best opportunity for success. The druid, with his eyes searching and ears twitching to every tiny sound, picked his way along the waterway's edge on the look for any sign of his intended prey.

Closer toward the sound of rushing water, his pastel gaze was lifted briefly to acknowledge the waterfall just ahead. A rodent family might make their nest in the area, he assumed, where predators may not pick up on their movements so easily. He paused to sniff at damp rocks along the way, and flagged his tail triumphantly when at last he detected the unmistakeable scent of the animal he sought.

Quicksilver lifted his muzzle to scan his surroundings and held his breath, concerned that his prize might spot him before he found it, but something else caught his attention. Above the roar of falling water there was a loud splash, suggestive of something else, and he padded forward to the pool's edge to lean over and look. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and he gazed down into the dark depths a moment longer, then swept his gaze across the foaming surface to spot something strange.

Something... white?

He lingered, very much aware of the unsettling feeling in his gut.


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Weightless —
She's been here before hasn't she? This outer-body experience where nothing seemed to exist other than peaceful darkness. The cold was once painful but not anymore as a numbing sensation followed quickly after. She could even be mistaken that maybe it felt warmer now? At least more than before.

As the churning waters pushed and pulled her body in the rolling current, it gave a feeling of bliss despite the actual turmoil. Floating in what felt like a heavy breeze. Everything felt peaceful until a sharp pain nearly woke the girl up from the slumber she found herself in. It rattled the world around her and for a moment she held on tighter to the gem that was still clutched in her maw - threatening to be swallowed down any moment now.

A little longer the undertow would carry her away, pushing the lifeless body of the pale woman until she was caught by some rocks closer to the shores as collection of water narrowed into another small river. Here her body would lay in a moment of rest while the current tugged at her lithe frame as though beckoning to continue her journey down and away into the great beyond.

This wasn't a deep slumber any longer - all consciousness stopped as red stained a spot just behind her ear where the rocks collided with her head.

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The unidentifiable, pale shape beneath the water's surface moved - forced along by the current. Quicksilver wondered if it might be a young sheep or goat, having lost its footing on the mountainside and perished to the treacherous waters. Never in a million years would he have suspected it to be someone so dear to him. The druid had no intention of leaving a corpse the rot in the river and taint Vanderfell's water supply, however, so he turned downstream and moved swiftly along its edge.

Quicksilver was cautious and unwilling to enter, not while the current moved so fast. Only as he came upon a curve in the waterway did he enter the shallows, paws sinking into silt up to his ankles, and he reached to grip at the unfortunate creature that'd perished further upriver.

It was not the fleece of lamb that his teeth found hold of, however, but the sodden pelage of-

Reiko?

Eyes wide, the silverwhite yanked the dead weight of her roughly across the shore. “No,” he willed, voice muffled by soaking furs; he tasted blood. Fear rose within him and, fuelled by a sudden and unexpected surge of adrenaline, Quicksilver scrabled over rock and driftwood to drag the snowflower among the grasses.

“Reiko!” Quicksilver called when he released his grip, and set about nudging and poking and shoving and whining in an effort to rouse her; “Reiko, please!”

Desperation in his voice, but she did not wake.

The water, his mind reminded him, how long as she been in the water?

Too long.

Without another thought, the silver medic reared up. He brought his paws down upon the dove's flank, intent on jolting her belly with a short, sharp push - enough that it might force her to eject the contents of her stomach and whatever her lungs might've drew in.


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Nothing. In nothingness there was also peace. No anxieties, no haunting memories - just that vast emptiness as far as her mind could see. That fleeting peace which never seemed to be within her grasp, no matter how hard she tried, how tightly she held onto it - like impossible to contain water, it would slip through her paws. Here however, it was eternal.

That comfort grew, wrapping its darkened tendrils around her in a welcoming embrace. And she wanted to follow. To hold on to that sense of serenity and just float for all of eternity in this blissful nothingness. Playing reels of memories that brought her joy over and over as she would never tire of them.

Just as she slipped into the infinite —

Something jolted. Not like before. Forcing something up and out and reactively drawing air in where it wasn't before. Her treasure fell as she coughed, hacked, vomited the water that had taken residence within her. Instinctively rolling over onto her side to let it out easier but not quite up. Still she felt heavy, groggy, incapable of standing or doing more than laying there on her side.

Wheezing, she drew breath again. Remembering nothing of what had happened, nothing but a shiver shook her to her core. Cold, so so cold. Where was she? With a shaky look around, nothing was quite familiar just yet. Feeling the pain at the back of her head, stomach where the one who brought her back had pushed, the stinging in her lungs - she whined. A low, soft, drawn out cry was all she could muster for the time being.

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Instantly, her body writhed. Reiko wretched without warning, spewing water and bile out onto the ground. Quicksilver could do little but linger and observe, helpless and confused, as the vomiting ceased and the snowflower, shuddering, attempted to take in her surroundings.

“I'm here,” he crooned, fooling himself into believing his voice and proximity would be a comfort to her. He swept his gaze over her and found the source of that coppery scent he'd noticed earlier; careful, Quicksilver stepped over the shivering fae and lowered himself alongside her. If she were to allow him he would press himself against her, urge her into his embrace and share his warmth; “you're safe, I-”

Was she?

“I won't let anything happen to you.”


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Every feeling flooded back into her like tidal waves crashing onto shore. She was here, somewhere. Remembering bits and pieces as they returned with oxygen bringing back the life that had just moments ago been stripped from her. Remembering that this place wasn't her home, that there was a new home somewhere in this world.

In a confused state she heard a familiar voice. It was soothing for some reason, bringing tears to her eyes for another. Overwhelmed by it all she welcomed his embrace, the warmth it brought. It didn't stop the cold that still crept in her bones but it certainly helped. Another cough erupted, forcing to clear her throat and lungs again of any lingering moisture.

“Wh —” A raspy voice squeaked out, raked by the tension of water just moments ago clutching across them. “What happened?” His comforting words of safety lured her in deeper, resting her sore, tired head on his arm. In the crook where his elbow lay. She wanted to sleep but that place no longer felt comforting in comparison to now, the warmth being shared and voice reminding she didn't have to go alone. That this was much better than the empty promises made back in there.

“I was... walking and —” A lump caught in her throat, cutting her off instantly as she came to the realization of what had nearly happened. “Thank you.” For bringing me back from there.

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He held her up, close to him, gentle but firm. Her soaking furs seeped through his own and his hide objected to the chill - she was ice cold. Quicksilver curled his body around Reiko's, and uselessly tried to shed water from her pelt with sweeps of his tongue. Unless she could gather to her feet and shake, however, he would end up trying to dry her all day.

He needed help.

The druid canted his muzzle skyward and sent forth a low call in request for aid, urging his comrades to his location. His dove needed shelter, a safe place to rest, and privacy so he could better examine her.

“Did someone hurt you?” Quicksilver hovered his snout above her head wound, his pale eyes studying; grit and dirt from a stirred riverbed had collected there, and it would need tending to.


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It had been a long time since she was the one being comforted in such a way. To be held so closely and guarded from whatever darkness has just lurked around the corner, willing the empress to join them in the great beyond before it was her time.

Soaking wet, she could feel him trying to dry her. His tongue running along her left her flushed, dizzied with all kinds of emotions she could not categorize in this moment. Even now her time of the year had slipped her mind as a less important subject, down the list as surviving was currently at the top. Along with the thoughts of Hotaru and how once again mom had gone a miss randomly.

Quicksilver’s call rang in her ears louder than it should. Holding pale ears against her head as pain shot through the already rattled head of hers - pressing against him more than before just to ease that internal pulsating in her head.

A moment later he asked, and she pondered back to what had happened. Piecing it back together as best as she could. “No… no I was alone. Walking in the moonlight and the snow…” that right, she went for a walk for some reason at night. Was it to watch the stars?

“I did not see the river below…” that’s it. Swallowed up by the earth and swept away by the current. How long had she been adrift for?

She wanted to apologize for being here, again and again - did he even want to see her after all this? It was why she left the gifts without remaining to chat. Certainly he was doing this out of kindness, for Quicksilver was too kind to ignore anyone in need. She would apologize later, now, she was simply thankful.

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She was awake, alert. His question had been to keep her talking, and his silver ears pricked to catch her response. Reiko claimed to remember a walk she'd made alone, through snow and beneath moonlight - if that were true, she'd have been in the water for many hours.

Quicksilver drew in a breath, feeling emotion rise within him. He could not afford to be hysterical in that moment, not while the snowflower was so vulnerable.

His focus turned to the relief in him. Relief that she was breathing, that he'd been there to pull her to safety before the waters could sweep her further away. Adrenaline continued to course the druid's veins; despite all the heartache they'd recently faced, Quicksilver could not bear to consider a world without her.

He settled his pallid chin atop the snowy fae's head, propped between her ears. There, safe from her sight, he felt tears prick the corners of his pastel eyes and he blinked them away before any could fall.

“I...” I don't know what I'd do without you. It felt like the right thing to say, but Quicksilver had a history of voicing things the wrong way. He didn't want to torment her with hope after the vow he made.

He tried again: “we need to get you some place to dry off, to... to get you warm. Does anything else hurt?”


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A deep inhale rattled her lungs still plagued with water - though lightly, it was still problematic. Where the skin was normally pink had faded to a blueish-grey. Alert yes, but not quite out of the woods just yet. Her tongue had slowly regained some colour over time, and in more it would regain that same healthy pink glow.

She had no strength to return the gesture as he rested his chin upon her crown, all she could do was rest and soak in the warmth they shared as shivers still trembled her skin.

He spoke again, someplace warm would be a good idea... and dry. It sounded nice, but to stay here was just as tempting. A little while longer perhaps. “Only my head.” Well at least from what she knew, how she felt. Everything else was numb and cold, even if a leg was broken she couldn't tell (not that there was any).

Until Quicksilver decided to move, she would remain still and wait. Finding comfort in this moment and who knew what would come after. Without moving her head she sought for the stone she remembered having with her, reminding herself to take it with her once they began to move.

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Her head, she said. Quicksilver lifted his head to look over her again. The wound on her head was small, fresh, but the bleeding seemed to have stemmed itself. Still, it would need cleaned, though hecwas satisfied that it could wait for a time.

He did not unfurl himself from her, despite the discomfort of cold wetness that pressed to his skin and the numbing of his limb where the snowflower rested her head. It wasn't that she was heavy, just that the angle was not ideal. “When you're ready to try standing,” he told her gently, not wanting to rush her, “just let me know, and I'll help you.”


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There was no rush on either end - and so she didn't quite feel pushed to move until ready to do so herself. It was selfish to want to stay here a little longer, to hold onto the moment as long as she could until it was over.

Looking away from the stone briefly, ashamed of her feelings, a soft hum escaped her lips before finally making the decision that would benefit them both. “Okay. Now is good.” There was some reluctance there before gingerly trying to move to her feet.

An ache in her midsection caused an instant flinch, curling over herself as she struggled to remain standing. It felt like there were a couple of bruised ribs, broken maybe? It was hard to tell.

Should Quicksilver be there for her, it would be easy enough to lean down and pick up the gem and naturally a sway in her tail expressed glee that it was still with her after this whole ordeal. Perhaps it was lucky?

A moment was taken before they would move any further... a hesitant pause in what would happen next. Mayan eyes fell to the ground, head dropping along with them to place the stone down to speak. “I know my way home from here, if it would be easier.” After all, she didn't want to be a burden any more than she already had.

The journey would be long and arduous, but not impossible if she would take her time.

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cameo unless they for some reason end up at her den

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The days were narrowing down now, the roan queen was sure as she had only grown more restless as she holed up in her den waiting for the inevitable. She and Hieronymous had spent plenty of time preparing, ensuring that the den was lined well with pelts or moss to keep it comfortable, and with little left to do she had begun to spend her days sleeping saving her energy for the soon to come battle that would wage her body.

It was for this reason that the distant call roused her uncomfortably as Quicksilver called requesting help, for what she couldn't be sure but the urgency was enough to know something should be done. Shifting she was able to catch @Hieronymous's gaze with a side glance of her own. “We should see to that, or go find someone who can.” Of course when she said we she meant he. As much as she would have loved to deal with it herself she was in no state to travel down the mountain. Nevertheless, she'd let out her own call for the silver-clad to know he was heard.

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There was no better time than the present, it seemed, for Reiko shifted her weight against him in preparation to gather to her feet. He collected himself, bracing for her weight against his flank, but despite it he could see that she struggled. Softly he urged her upright with words of encouragement and praise, and to see her stand after the trauma of finding her in an unconscious state made him sigh in relief.

She was not entirely herself, but she'd be okay. It was something Quicksilver would make sure of.

Reiko reached for something, but he didn't see what it was until she settled it close to her little white paws. His pale eyes looked upon the gold-flecked pebble, tall ears high with recognition. She'd found the bouquet, he realised, and his heart skipped a beat, but he said nothing of the gift he'd left near Tsukiishi for her to find.

Her talk of making her way home caught him by surprise and his pale eyes swiftly sought her own. “You need to rest,” the druid blurted, and took a momentto steady himself. “Come back to Vanderfell with me, Reiko. Let me take care of you -” like you took care of me. “We can send word to Shiroshika, I... you... I want to help.”

A lobe twitched toward the sound if Ira's voice, an acknowledgement of his own call. He didn't expect the High Queen to attend, considering she was nearing the end of her pregnancy, but her voice was a reassurance.


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There was some uncertainty in her posture. She knew what would be best for her own health, while hesitancy came from the thought of being more of a burden for the druid and weigh down his heart even more while she was just earlier this week trying to uplift him out of those shadows. Even now she simply couldn't stand on her own and against her will had been leaning against Quicksilver to manage to get to her own feet.

Only now did she notice the sting in her toes - the reddish hue they took as she remembered the desperation of trying to cling to the shores before haze covered her eyes.

Drawing her gaze as he suddenly, firmly uttered. He was right, and she had nothing to argue with. The High Queen returned his call as her song rang over the mountains, even that was reassuring in some way. With a slow nod. “Okay. Thank you.” Here she would pick up the stone once more and ready to make the small travel to rest, not shying away from Quicksilver's aid to keep her on her feet as opposed to risking another fall by being stubborn.

Every now and then a new cough would bubble up as lungs attempted to clear whatever remaining liquid lingered. She would be fine - especially now with Quicksilver here to assist.

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PP approved, fading here <3

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Reiko did not turn him away, nor did she foolishly move away from him - instead she agreed to accompany him, to let him support her. He felt relief flood his system that she did not argue, though the concern for her wellbeing remained in his pale eyes as they lingered on the snowflower's greyed, exhausted face.

The pair moved slowly and carefully toward Vanderfell's Southern border, and @Hieronymous' arrival definitely helped ease the druid's fraying nerves, Together, Quicksilver and the High King supported Reiko up the mountainside, stopping often for periods to let her coughing fit run its course or if she simply needed to stop. He didn't want to rush her, not at all, not rob her of independence, but he was afraid that if they didn't quicken the pace to get her someplace warm and dry then she would suffer all the more.

The snowflower, despite her size and her trauma, was strong. He felt immensely proud of her determination as at last they reached his chambers, and while she settled herself there he asked his friend to watch over her while he retrieved some herbs from his stores. Quicksilver gathered what he could: oregano as an antibiotic, peppermint as a decongestant, marshmallow root for the cough. He returned with them and presented them and thanked Hiero for his assistance. “I've got it from here,” he assured, knowing that the father-to-be would likely be keen to return to his pregnant wife.

He stayed close to Reiko through the night, stealing away while she slept to look for honey that might soothe her rugged throat for when she roused. Sleep evaded him, for worry clouded his thoughts over those long hours, and although he ached with exhaustion he stood sentinel beyond his hollow in attempt to assure himself that all would be well again.


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