We sweat for a nickel and a dime

For @Izumi

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He had travelled far enough South away from the Tundra to feel tired. Still ever so lonely in his travels as no one seemed to really be interested in chatting with him or coming along or even letting him tag along on their own journey. Everyone was too occupied, too focused on their own lives to be bothered by an odd vegetarian wolf like him. It was disheartening, but not enough to break the lanky lad.

The meadow of flowers tucked under the canopies of trees was a delightful little treat. Pansies, violas, clover blossoms and lilacs were tenderly chewed and picked through, mindlessly foraging while enjoying the soft sweet flavours of nature's bounty. Reaching up by balancing on his hind legs, grasping a few branches gently with his toes to keep him from falling over - he'd pluck the flowers and accidentally bothered the hive of a wasp nest that had gone unnoticed within its leaves.

“Ouch!” The first sting wasn't too concerning, these things happened and he would just wander away from the insects to leave them - but as he prepared to leave, more and more of them began to swarm. Stinging anything they could stand on and forcing the young man to abandon his foraging to escape the onslaught of stingers. “Ow! Ow I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!” He cried out pathetically as though the wasps were able to reason with him.

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❁

  Izumi had also headed south ward, but from the mountains rather than the tundra....with everything that had happened as of late, the femora did not think she was ready to traverse those parts again. Lest she be reminded of the hellfire that occured in the Everfrost.
  The crane now had a choice between Kuhn and Reiko -- and that was with neither of them. To no longer be caught up in the idea that one side should be more victimized than the other -- to be forced to hurt one in favor of the other or be damned if she didn't -- and to carry the weight of guilt for doing something. Or not doing anything at all....
  She was done with it all -- done with feeling like a string puppet in her freind's petty game of cat and dog...and if they couldn't except that....then......

  'Then they were never my freinds to begin with.'

  Suddenly, the swell of pride she felt with her newfound independence turned into silent desolation. Was it really impossible to be friends with both Kuhn and Reiko without conflict.....or was she truly alone this time?
  As her head and stomach lied in a bed of flowers, the ex-duchess would close her eyes tightly and put a paw over her muzzle -- trying to forget the flood of memories that invaded her mind when she thought about the dove and the tiger, and what she'd need to leave behind if their freindship and precious time she'd built with them truly was gone forever.
  It's okay though, she was used to it. Solitude had been a part of Izumi's life ever since the days of joining Seelie Court. Surely she was capable of doing it again. Surely.....

  ............

  Was that screaming?
  Izumi could not even be bothered within her own thoughts before the sound of someone begging for their life could be heard in the distance. Along with the horridly loud sounds of buzzing in the distance. It wouldn't had taken a rocket scientist to realize that someone had fucked around with an angry beehive and found out -- and Izumi was not intent on going in that direction to get caught up in the onslaught of it...........but hey, that red man being attacked by bees looked strangely farmiliar......
.......
...........
................
  "ATREYU!?"
  -- and the crane dashed. Leaping from her dormant position on darkened stilts and running directly towards the very hellish cloud of bees that she didn't plan on getting caught in.
  and the best part? These were wasp -- not bees.
  Her eyes shut forcibly to brace herself, but not before her mouth would open to clamp down upon the red man's scruff -- intent on pulling him to safety. Away from....whatever the fuck he's done.

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The angry cloud of stinging flies followed him for a while as he ran and Atreyu wasn't the slow type either. They were just faster with their furious wings, angry at the rude awakening they were given by the mushroom lad who just wanted to pick some flowers and suck out nectar as a little treat. Now he was running blind with tears clouding his sight as the pain and sadness of bothering them spewed out.

While running he barely heard his own name, perhaps he was just imagining it really but he was too panicked to stop and see who was calling out to him if they were there to begin with. Was it water he had to find and jump into, or was it wasps that waited above water for them to take a breath and barrage them with stings all over again? He couldn't remember!

During his mad dash something, someone tugged on his collar and forced him to run with them. “Waaaah! What do we do?!” Through the sobs he couldn't even see it was pretty Izumi who came to his aid, just a white blob he had to follow and hope they had a plan against angry wasps.

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❁

  With one sting after another, the cranebird could feel her own eyes begin to water uncontrollably as the pain of wasp venom burned the surface of her skin. Wasp, in a way, were like wolves -- angry sons-of-bitches on their own, and life-threatening in groups. At this rate, if the crane didn't find her and Atreyu's way to safety out of the aggravated nest they might surely die at this rate.
  Luckily for them, there was a chance -- a water source. To the dame's knowledge, wasp could not swim -- no insect could, really. If they could make it to one quick enough, she could save the both of them before the chance of death actually managed to catch up to them.
  -- and there was a small lake nearby. One she had remembered passing just as she entered this meadow.
  "こちらです-!" — This way-! The crane directed -- commanded -- with another firm tug at the fox's collar, forcing her eyes open through the cloud to have some grasp of where she was going. Her teeth might've been a bit too forceful with her urgency, but Izumi wouldn't allow the man to die in this way. Not after it had been so long.

  'So this is where you've been, Atreyu....'

  That sparkling blur of blue in the corner of her eye was just the stroke of luck she'd been looking for, and with one last tug, mustering all the strength she could manage from her lithe body, the crane bird would try to pull Atreyu into the water with her. Until the two of them had been submerged...

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He couldn't understand the words she said, but instead, he understood the urgency in the woman's tone. The tug on his collar that urged him to follow in a certain direction. Wherever she was guiding him it was his only chance at escaping. Hopefully someplace safe would come soon or the wasps would give up their chase as he was growing tired from all this frantic running, the venom being injected into his body was beginning to take its toll and his gangly legs were beginning to feel numb.

Soon enough some peace from the stings would come. Fresh cool spring water flooded his body as they were both submerged, and Atreyu happily let himself sink. Swaddled in the soothing cool waters that cradled his sore skin and no longer did he have to carry the burden of his own weight on fatigued legs. Wispy strands of flowing fur scattered from his body as it followed the flow of the body of water and there he'd wait for a little while longer... not wanting to risk the stings again so he waited...

Waited for the air to be used up from his lungs as he held onto the remaining oxygen he sucked in before submerging. Daring to open his eyes just enough to see the pale and black coat of the one who must have helped him. After a few minutes of hiding, that instinctual need to rise and take a breath forced him to move from the safety of the water and breach for air. “Izumi?! Is that you?!” Paddling he'd try to see if he can spot the individual again by swimming in circles.

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❁

  The angry buzzing of what could be hundreds were starting to make her ears ring, but the sound was to be quickly soothed when her body finally hit the surface of the water -- replacing the world in the sounds of streams and bubbles. The muscles that stung with venom could now relax knowing the battle was over even though the pain and discomfort still lingered, and just for a minute was the siamese was allowed a moment of peace from her escape from death. Izumi felt like a fish in the water to flow so freely, and would only begin to resurface when the biology of her being reminded her that she was of land.
  A gasp of air was released from strained lungs as Izumi's head shot out of the water, using her forelimbs and splayed toes to grip the earth beside it. With locs of her silken fur clinging to her slender frame, the she-wolf lifted herself out onto the surface and collapsed on her back with exasperated breaths and itchy, red welts from where wasp had stung her.
  With a throat too strained to actually confirm Atreyu's question, her head would turn towards the kitsune to look at him. To see if he would actually remember her face after so long, just like he remembered her name...

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As he paddled around, hair and water blinding his eyes but at least he didn't feel any new stings upon his head that would force him back down into the comforts of the depth. With a swift shake of his head to try and clear his vision and a little circle within the water, he'd eventually catch sight of the crane as she pulled herself out of the water and onto shore.

It was her! Oh how thrilled he was! But... also. The glimmering excitement in his eyes faded almost instantly as he let himself sink just lightly in the water. Only his head and nostrils out to breathe but nothing more. But... didn't she leave the North just to avoid him?

Paddling over to his own shore, leaving a good enough space between himself and the crane, he hoisted himself up and out while letting his head hang not only in shame, but in fatigue as well. “Did they get you lots?” The boy wasn't quite sure how to heal wasp stings but he would damn try if she'd let him, if she wasn't too creeped out by him. All the while he waited for her response, Atreyu couldn't help but itch the stings to try and relieve the stinging on his skin. The venom that left welts in their wake... leaving bumps not only on his body but face as well as a single eyelid began to swell as well as a side of his cheek.

“I fink wavender or garwick helps.” Through his swelling eye he tried to see if the bright purple flowers of lavender could be seen by swinging his head around.

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  Izumi had not seen the red wayfarer ever since their last meeting in the garden. The company of a new freind comforted and even filled her with mirth during a time she was agonized over Quicksilver's unrequited feelings -- thankful of his unfamiliar yet warm company. Disappointment was well and there after she'd never see him visit the garden again, but in assuming he'd left to start a life of his own the crane wished him well regardless. She knew their time together was only temporary, afterall. That he would not spend his time wandering close to a pack that wasn't his own...
  ....and yet the fox and crane meet again...
  Albeit under terrible circumstances, but after thinking that she'd never see Atreyu again, smelling like wet dog and being bitten 60 times felt worth it.
  A faint smile came when she'd look at him.....which quickly reverted to a frown when he'd hung his head and kept distance between the two of them -- as if he didn't want to be around the girl in the first place. Something bitter crept in the cranebird's throat just then; the fear of rejection from someone she thought she'd formed a bond with. Maybe it was foolish to think they'd still feel comfortable around each other after so much time had passed, and as Izumi averted her eyes, she stayed silent. Even contemplated on leaving....
  Then, Atreyu would break the silence between them once again -- asking the fae of her condition. Still in silence and turned away, she'd shake her head, a little reluctant to see that as a sign of him caring much. Then, her ears would prick when he began speaking another language she hadn't heard before. Her muzzle and eyes pinched in confusion.
  "What?-" She'd turn to him, in need for the kitsune to reiterate, and her eyes immediately rounded in horror. Without another word, Izumi shot up once again towards him with thundering footsteps. Her eyes were squinted, and her muzzle mere millimeters from the part of the boy's face that was beggining to look like a swollen balloon. "Atreyu--" , she said,
"Your face. It's swollen...."

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His body felt incredibly uncomfortable. Too warm, his skin crawled with the venom and painful pricks that left their reddish bump mark, and through his one eye things were a little blurry as it was hard to focus with just the one eye. At least the blurry pale individual sounded like Izumi, and her voice alone made his tail sway happily. “Ezhumeh, it is you!” He said softly as she asked for clarification.

“Gwarwick~” He was a little happier now despite the pain, even if it was just some delusion brought on by wasp stings, it was nice to hear someone familiar. Kind. That Izumi was here and she was doing well despite the probable shared stings on her own skin. When she approached to take a closer look, just the blurry sight of her face inches from his snout made his face warm. A different warmth than the stinging blush from wasps.

No this one felt fuzzy, not painful. Maybe she wasn't sick of him after all if she was coming this close on her own! If his tail was a motor he'd be flying back up to meet the clouds in an instant. “Hmmm I fink so too.” With her concerns he'd place a paw over his swollen eye, feeling just the odd lump that had formed while a lopsided smile to blossomed from his features. “I fought you vamished! Gwad to see Ezhumeh again.”

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  Izumi could not figure out what disturbed her more -- with how red and angry the swelling looked, or how drunkenly happy Atreyu looked despite it. The crane couldn't help thinking his behavior was being caused by the sting venom which was beggining to make her feel woozy as well, and only grew more concerned by the second because of it. She was no doctor -- and knew none that lied around who knew anything about medicine. It could also help if the fae even knew where the hell she was in the first place....
  Atreyu was practically dying in the most bizarre way a wolf with absolutely no medical knowledge knew how to comprehend. The crane was absolutely freaking the hell out right now -- which couldn't be seen on her face, but could be seen in the lashing of her tail. Why was he smiling like it was Christmas or something? Was he not in pain right now? Did Izumi give more of a shit about his swelling than he did!?
  He was glad to see her
  She was glad to see him too
  But she was not too thrilled about seeing him swell like a balloon.
  "Garwick...garwick-!" The crane recalled the foreign mention from earlier, frantically. Placing her paws on the man's shoulders and lightly shaking him. "What is it? What does it look like? Will it ease the insect bites? Swelling??"

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Really if being in some pain meant seeing Izumi again, it was all quite worth it in the lanky boy's opinion. Well, even if it was just temporary due to being in the right place, right time, before she went off on her own path again. At least this time they could part ways properly instead of just vanishing.

He nodded along as she questioned what he suggested, the way she repeated it sounded strange. Did he sound like that too? No matter, both of them needed it and they would find it. He was certain of it. “Biiiig shiny gween leafs, white fwowers.” It kind of hurt to talk really, so he just noded at the rest of her questions. It would help with swelling, help with some of the pain too and prevent infections from coming thanks to the stingers.

Their bodies can deal with the venom on their own, provided Izumi wasn't allergic... He'd have to keep a close eye on her in case the wasp venom took a sour turn with her. Then again, it would have been problematic sooner. So perhaps they were already out of the woods with that one.

He'd get up and start wandering, squinting to try and see the plants as best as he can all the while tossing an inviting glance over to Izumi to follow or help forage if she could find some herself. “Fought you vamished... Wha'happened?” The boy couldn't hold back the question from slipping through, hoping the answer wasn't because she was avoiding him in particular.

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  The kitsune's voice still wavered in the pronunciation department, but the crane could understand the gist of what he was trying to say. Garwick was a....rather strange sounding plant. If it were up to the crane bird, she would definitely assume the plant was poisonous or something. Yet Atreyu was the one to teach her of flora she didn't even know was edible and if that was poisonous, certainly, the crane would probably not be around right now. She trusted Atreyu's knowledge on these subjects, and looked to him for guidance in their search.

  With him, the crane bird searched frantically. Her eyes darted the clearing ground for any sign that might've led them to white flowers or green leaves. Izumi only hoped that she'd be able to find something in time before his swelling would get worse, yet in order to do that she would need Atreyu's help, for her knowledge of plant life was limited from sparse education. So her ears were poised and ready for any other advice he'd have to give during their search. Yet it seemed that her red-headed companion's curiosities lied somewhere beyond finding medicine...

  "Fought you vamished... Wha'happened?”

  She stayed silent for a moment, letting her muzzle and breath brush softly against some flower petals. As if to pretend she was still searching while looking for an answer to his question.....a lot happened, really. Yet there was a more simple answer that she hoped wouldn't make the sire worry too much -- "My pack, we moved locations." the she-wolf answered, half-lidded eyes fluttering underneath dark lashes in thought. "--the move caused a few disagreements...and I decided to leave as a result."

  The siamese wasn't new to the concept of lying in order to keep her business hush hush, but that didn't mean she liked doing it. She had no reason to lie to Atreyu -- he was a sweet boy who was always there to listen to her troubles. Yet he was also quite sensitive, and the last thing she'd want to do is cause him worry to mention anything about a fight. Her words to him were the truth, yet she'd left some things out on purpose...

  "What about you?" Her eyes would turn back to him in the midst of toying with a leaf that might've looked like their target, frosted lilacs tracing the outline of the swelling to see how bad it's become. "You stopped coming to the garden one day....did something bad happen?"

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Following his nose to find the herbs necessary, he could swear he had smelled them somewhere... that fragrant, pungent smell was hard to miss and even more so difficult to mistake for anything else. His sight got even worse as the skin around and on his lids swelled uncomfortably so, forcing out a couple of tears that were nothing emotionally driven, simply from discomfort in the face. The pain slowly got worse as well, the stinging nearly unbearable as he tried his best to not let it show too much - though even that would be hard as expressing anything but a bloated figure would be near impossible. He could at least keep his tone relatively light.

Auds kept trained on Izumi as she spoke, almost already regretting his question as he feared the answer... all the while his nose kept poking through the leaves and plants blindly guided by his nose. They moved? Why? Their home looked so nice when he wandered by their borders, did something happen or was it just a change of scenery? Well, at least it wasn't anything that had to do with a creepy boy wandering the gardens nearby and getting a little too friendly with one of their ladies. Even if in his mind, he didn't think anything nefarious when it came to Izumi. Though he figured, it could easily be seen as such from anyone looking outward in - or Izumi herself.

“I'm srry.” He slurred a bit, struggling to keep up and trying to remedy their wounds at the same time, all the while dealing with the stingers embedded in his face of all places. Then it was his turn to answer why he had been gone for so long, gone long enough to miss their big move. Why he couldn't be with Izumi as a friend when she probably needed it the most. “Food.” He had to keep his answers short and sweet, the skin on his face feeling uncomfortably hot. Not the same warmth that Izumi usually brought during their talks - no, it was burning. “Wimter has nofing for me to eat.” Not unless he felt forced to hunt, which if he could, would avoid it. But —

Before he could explain himself further, the boy collapsed.

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  She could tell how bad it was getting, simply by the way he spoke and slurred his words so illegibly.  Ink-stained ears splayed against her skull and her jaw tightening -- she felt so powerless in what to do right now that it was frustrating. If only she had picked up on Reiko's medical practices, or basic herbal remedies that anyone could use in terms of survival. For now, though, the crane had neither except the vague knowledge of the large-leafed plant she searched for. Izumi would use the knowledge she had, hopefully before it was too late;

  and perhaps it was.

  The eclipsed dame's eye widened in horror at the sight of Atreyu's loss of consciousness -- it was so subtle at first. His fluttering eyes, shifting weight and swaying; even if Izumi saw it coming, she wished it wouldn't happen.
“Atreyu!?” yelped, voice breaking in her panic -- “ATREYU!”
-- though he didn't answer her. Not at all! Not even after she'd try to shake his shoulders like before, not even when she yelled loud enough for all of the world to hear. "くそ！" — FUCK! Izumi finally cussed in frustration.

  Using her muzzle, she would push beneath the boy's neck to hoist his head up and rest it upon the softer flower beside them. The crane was not even sure if the leaves she'd found were really the ones she was supposed to be looking for, but the she-wolf couldn't waste another second trying to decide so. She lowered her mouth to the vegetation she had just found, and used her teeth to snatch a peice of leaf away from its stem. The bitter taste within her mouth made her wince, but she did not spit the paste out. Not yet.

  From there, she'd use a paw to smear it against her nose, and smudge the past around the boy's own nose, lips, muzzle -- everywhere she might've suspected he could ingest the plant.

  Hang in there-

  Please.

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White Izumi panicked, Atreyu was fast asleep. The venom of the stings doing their worse and forcing his body to shut down momentarily in a form of hard rebooting - after a short rest. He dreamt of the clouds and pastel-coloured skies, little fairies dancing in his vision like little fireflies twinkling in the twilight. There was something else comforting about this he couldn't put his foot on... Like someone was out there in the great blue and black beyond watching over him... closely. As though they were right above him and yet he couldn't catch a glimpse of them.

Whoever it was, it brought him peace in this moment... enough peace to sleep off the poison that was angrily injected into him for a simple mistake of wrong bush.

Something did however infiltrate into his dreams, something less pleasurable and more.... bitter. What the heck? Why was he tasting garlic? His tongue slipped with a grimace in and out of his mouth as he licked away the foul taste while slumbering, now smelling it even in his dreams. Oh how he hated it.

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Atreyu will be sleeping until nighttime

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