A cabin in the woods - what could go wrong?

[very_sharpe]

Now and then, Thomas liked to walk in the woods. He used to go walking on the moors, when the weather was decent. He tried to avoid them when it wasn't - unpleasant memories of trudging along after his father. One such memory of being left behind, of nearly dying.

But today was a good day, and the woods were filled with bird song. Thomas wondered if he could make a bird that was sort of like a music box. He'd have to ask Daine if the sounds seemed right; he wondered if Belle could help him with the smaller pieces.

He paused when he saw... a cabin? He frowned, trying to remember if it had ever been there before. He was positive it hadn't been, he came out here often enough. He felt drawn to move a bit closer, but he was slow, cautious.

Comments

[wildmage_daine]

Daine steps inside, setting down her bag so Kitten can clamber out. She can smell the tea, and grins in pleasant surprise when he mentions snacks. "That's fair perfect," she says. "Healing doesn't take too much out of me, normally, but I don't normally spend much time holding two shapes at once, either. I'll be fine," she hastens to add, not wanting him to think she's straining herself on his account. "But it'll be good to have something after."

It's a nice set-up that Thomas has rigged for his rats, and Daine sends them all a silent greeting, poking her fingers through the bars so they can sniff at her, and brace their little paws against her fingertips. She winces sympathetically when the last one makes his belated appearance. "Poor Cobweb," she says, unlatching the door at the top of the cage so she can carefully lift him out. "We'll get you all sorted out," she promises the little creature, speaking aloud for Thomas's benefit.

She settles herself on a chair, the rat cradled in her hands, then glances up at Thomas. "It'll be boring to watch," she says, figuring he ought to have fair warning. "And it'd be best if I wasn't interrupted. Kitten will be good company, though." The dragonet had been standing on her haunches to examine the interior of the rats' cage, but she looks over and nods in agreement when Daine speaks of her.

[very_sharpe]

"Well, Kitten can join me in the kitchen, then, and we'll get a little lunch together for all of us to have when you're finished."

Thomas ushered the young dragon into the kitchen and lifted her onto the counter so she could direct lunch-making as she wanted to.

In the other room, the Cobweb curled up in Daine's hand. I feel very tired, he told her. He wheezed quietly as he breathed and there was, indeed, a quiet grinding sound in his chest - congestion in his lungs. Like other animals, rats tended to hide their pain and discomfort; Cobweb had been hiding a respiratory infection until he was sick enough for it to show. Thomas has been very nice. He holds all of us, but he has been holding me extra.

[wildmage_daine]

She frowns a little as Cobweb settles in. He's worse off than she would have guessed. She supposes it's no great surprise that he tried to keep his illness hid, and getting exasperated about it wouldn't be fair. Just because he could've called her sooner doesn't mean he would've thought to do it. And, bad as it might be, it's still not so dire he can't come back from it. He's still young (at least in rat terms), and Thomas caught his symptoms not long after they would've started to show.

You can always call me if you're feeling poorly, Daine says, more of a gentle reminder than a chastisement. Or if any of your friends are. A rat probably wouldn't be any more keen to tattle on one of their fellows than they would be to call her in the first place, but at least the idea's out there, now. He can do what he wants with it. I should be able to sort you out. Just be patient.

Daine shuts her eyes and takes a breath, tuning out the sounds of Thomas and Kitten puttering around in the kitchen. It only takes a moment for her to sink all of her focus into Cobweb. It's a tricky business, mostly because he's so small. She has to be very careful to not use too much magic, calling up only the most delicate tendrils to burn the congestion out of his lungs and clear his airways. It would be an easy enough job if it was a dog or a cat, but with Cobweb, she takes the extra time to make sure she does things properly, and causes him as little discomfort as she can.

Once she's satisfied that all is well and opened her eyes, she sees that Cobweb is sitting up on his haunches and fastidiously grooming himself, as if to rid himself of the last telltale signs of his illness. Better? she asks him, probably without need.

[very_sharpe]

Yes, thank you. Nothing hurts anymore and I'm hungry. Will you check the others? We're together so much, I don't want them to be sick, too.

Cobweb stopped grooming himself long enough to fuss with Daine's fingers, grooming along her cuticles with gentle nibbles and a quick little tongue in a sort of rattish thank you.

When it was time to return to the cage he was content to do so - he was still rather tired and wanted to sleep, and he wanted to get food on the way. The other three came to the door when he returned, sniffing and touching and, for a moment, they were a pile of fur and naked tails.

"Everything alright?" Thomas asked as he peered out of the kitchen, uncertain if he should interrupt or not. "Would you like some tea?"