A worried look was plastered on Element’s features as he padded along, weaving through the foliage and keeping a sharp look out for anything that caught his eye… or for anyone that came along. Now a day he needed to keep an eye out anywhere he went. A cure for this spreading illness could be around any corner, but so could one of the sick that needed help. A sigh escaped him as he moved on, the dark Zeta shaking his head as he went along. It seemed like the sickness was all there was now, latching its claws onto anyone it could grasp and dragging them down. And wherever the cure lay –if there even was a cure here somewhere – it hadn’t yet come out from hiding and presented itself.

Element had done as much searching as he could manage, being stuck between caring for Kiriana in her illness and taking watch over Akeboshi, who thank the heavens was not ill but confused with the matter nonetheless. That was tough work in itself, being with the two and helping them in any way he could. Part of him felt like though even though he was caring for his mate… he had to do something more. If he wasn’t one of the ones out there looking for a solution how could he be helping her to the most of his ability? He couldn’t, and that was the answer plain and simple.

So it came down to this. On her better days where the two could establish a clean connection and easy conversation, he’d leave her a meal and explain what he was going off to do, and take a few hours out of the day to scour the valley and see what he could find. Anything unusual was worth a closer look. Even the simple things had to be inspected too. He was no medic, and he was no herbal expert, but he had convinced himself was this at least helping the best he could do. Looking for the cure wasn’t the only reason for his romping – finding anyone that needed help played in just as much. He’d run across a few wolves who had needed aid and who he’d tried to help. Today was just another day for whatever he came across.

He found his feet taking himself into Miracle Valley, somewhere he wasn’t quite sure if he’d ventured far into or not. Shrugging, the male continued, deciding he’d cut through the land and make his way over to Strawberry Fields. Paying Dathan a visit while he searched would be a wise idea – last time he’d seen him he hadn’t been feeling the greatest. Hopefully that had been something unrelated to the illness sweeping the Valley, and Element could only hope that Dathan hadn’t been one of those affected.

Boy would he be in for a treat…

Met halfway on his trot through Miracle Valley came Dathan… wandering a bit far off across the land. Element knew it was him, there was no mistaking someone he knew so closely. There was a decent bit of land separating the two, not to mention some brush near Element. Squinting at the approaching figure, Element stopped. What was different here? The first thing he noticed was his walk. Dathan was actually using the bad paw… putting pressure on it and walking smoothly and everything. His eyes widened slightly, a smile coming to his lips and his tail starting to wag. He was better! That damn paw had finally gotten some good treatment and had healed.

But then there was the next thing Element noticed… Dathan’s eyes. The smile disappeared in a flash and the wags of his tail halted in a snap. Something was wrong. There was something fiery in Dathan’s eyes that was more than spirit and colder than ice. Something else that made the younger male uneasy. He couldn’t place the look right now, but he’d come to realize soon enough that it was a look of someone who was crazed.

He noticed this before Dathan noticed him, and as the last bit of distance was cleared there came recognition. But something was wrong… there was no care at all in those eyes. Only a mad anger. A sick anger. Before Element could ask what was wrong Dathan lunged himself at him, hitting the younger male shoulder to shoulder, gray to gray, and knocking him back. In blunt surprise Element stumbled, but thanks to his good footing he maintained his balance and didn’t go over. All of it probably would have ended right there had he fallen then.

“Dathan!” He cried, ears standing erect and eyes wide. What the bloody hell had that been! No response. The only thing that came next was a piercing glare and words so filled with hate and malice Element recoiled. What was he talking about? What was going on? What was happening? No time to ask, because right then Dathan lunged at him with deadly intentions burning in his eyes. The Zeta read the look, and drew back, whirling on his hind legs and leaping out of the way. “Dathan!” He called again, his tone hurt and confused. “Dath… please. What’s going on?” Cautiously, he stepped back, continuously moving. “What’re you doing, Dathan? What’s wrong?”

The tone of Dathan’s voice brought a cringe coursing through Element’s body. The sickly laughter that followed only added to the affect. The dark fur along his spine tingled and began to rise and spike as if jolted with electricity. The first words and the laughter had been a blow, and at this point in Element’s mind the possibility (small, but still faintly lingering) was that maybe this was all a joke. Maybe. But with the next additions to Dathan’s words the idea slipped away entirely, and fear began to creep in. Dathan was ill. Very very ill. And Element had entered his line of sight and now was just a toy to his sickness.

Element flinched again as Dathan sprang out, jerking his head away and throwing out his shoulder to block the attack. He felt claws hit him, and the normally blunt nails hit him hard enough to draw blood. A whine escaped him, long and drawn out. Not only from the pain, but from the sudden situation that had arisen. This was bad. This was awful. He didn’t want to be here and he didn’t want this to happen… but he had no choice. If Element left, Dathan would be alone here in his crazed state. Anyone else that came across would turn into his next target. What if it was a pup? Someone who couldn’t defend themselves? Or what if Dathan turned on himself?

Drawing back, the ebony male pulled his head down in front of him to chest level, instinctively protecting his neck. “Stop it, Dathan.” He growled firmly. No matter how he tried he couldn’t keep the worry out of his voice. Or the fear, for that matter. “Your sick… don’t do this. Just stop. Please. Stop.” What was he going to do if Dathan didn’t stop?

He didn’t know what to do. Each word stung more than a wound and sent him cringing like a scolded pup. His mouth hung partially open, and the Zeta stood there lost for words. Last time he’d been with Dathan the older male had asked Element if he could take him in like his own son, and he had agreed. Now here they stood again, but this time there was no compassion to be seen. Not even the slightest trace.

With pleading eyes he looked to the silvery male, shaking his head at each of the suggested phrases. “No… I’m not going to fight you. I can’t.” Whether Dathan heard the words or not Element didn’t know, because before he could do a thing he had lunged again, going for the same area. It was a split second decision Element had to make whether to throw up his defense again and risk his shoulder being torn, or bolt away and maybe accidentally make it look like he was trying to fight. He delayed too long, because just as he was making up his mind to spring away there were canines trying to go for a hold in his flesh. With a yelp, Element tore away and whirled again, scattering to the left and backwards, trying to put as much distance between him and Dathan as possible.

His shoulder stung, and he spared a second glance to inspect the damage. The teeth had done more than grace his flesh, the two larger canines leaving a slash. It wasn’t too bad, but it was enough to hurt. A lot. Immediately he brought his attention back to the matter at hand instead of his shoulder. “I mean it Dathan. Stop.” His voice had lost some of its plead, and had gained more of a stern understanding. “You’re sick. It’s okay… I can help you. Really. Just stop… I’m not going to hurt you, I want to help.”

Element had never been a fighter. He had never needed to be. Here and now was the first true fight the young wolf had ever been in, and now was coming the slowing realization that Dathan wasn’t going to stop and consider his words, sit down and apologize and be nice again. Yeah, right. He was going to need to defend himself here, because the illness had taken such a powerful grasp on his friend’s mental stability it had thrown him temporarily off the deep end.

If Dathan kept on attacking he couldn’t just stand here and hold him off until someone else showed up to help or he managed to get away. Or maybe, (just maybe) until Dathan came back to his senses. That was too dangerous. Dathan was an experienced fighter… he’d told Element so a while back. He’d just wear the younger wolf down until he couldn’t move so fast anymore… until he could no longer dodge and then he’d try to bring him down for good.

Swallowing a painful lump in his throat, he watched with all his attention as the silvery crazed wolf started to prance around, mocking him and from the looks of it: taking extreme joy in the matter. “Dathan…” he whined, unable to keep the pitiful tone out of his words. A growl was bubbling in his throat, the Zeta soon realizing that he probably would have to fight back very soon. Or at least lead Dathan on some wild chase. But that… that could lead them into someone else’s path. He didn’t want that either. Opening his mouth to speak again – ready to try and reason for the last time before he took to another plan – he was unable to even begin.

Horribly unprepared for another move so soon the large paw hit him directly, expelling a snarl that took the place of the words as his dark head whipped to the side from the force of the blow. Pain followed, and he could feel the trickle of blood down his muzzle. Stunned but knowing he couldn’t stay that way for long, the snarl continued to roll from him as he turned back to his attacker. His attacker… the words that formed in his mind struck him just as hard as that blow.

But then… what was this? As Dathan pulled back with a maniacal grin, the look soon faded and were replaced with the whites of his eyes. Element’s newfound glare diminished, his own eyes widening as he watched Dathan sink to the ground. “Dathan.” He whispered, locked in place and unable to move either forward or back. What if he went to his side and was attacked again? What if he stayed right here and something worse happened? The decision was gaining a quality worse than any of the blows.

His eyes widened and his fear grew as Dathan began to writhe on the floor – and that’s when Element realized it was no act. Even if he got hurt in the process he didn’t care anymore. Dathan was in trouble and he needed help. Releasing a strangled bark he fled to the silvery male’s side, lowering his head and pushing his muzzle softly against his neck in hopes of somehow stopping his shaking and also stopping Dathan from rising to his feet. For all he knew this was still the horrible illness taking hold, but this was the worst case Element had laid eyes on. He’d seen the hallucinating before – in his own mate, Kiriana. He’d seen pain in some of those ill too… headaches or particular soreness. He’d had a headache for a little while in fact. But he hadn’t seen this before. And he didn’t want to see it now but had no choice.

Draping a leg over Dathan’s shoulder Element further tried to restrain him when he attempted to rise. His eyes slowly wavered then met Dathan’s with caution as he heard his words, and the lump in his throat returned with a painful vengeance. This sounded like something from a horror movie. “ Shhh, Dath.” Element whispered, trying anything in his power that would help to keep him back here with himself instead of slipping again. “It’ll be okay… I’m fine. You’re fine too, just lie down and close your eyes. I’m going to talk you through everything and you need to just listen to my voice. Don’t stop listening, okay? Don’t.” He was scared, no doubt, but his voice had taken on a stern quality he didn’t think he would have been able to muster. “Just take deep breaths, slowly and calmly. I’m going to be here for you, okay? Just please listen to me.” The last statement held a distant whining quality, and he strived to erase it from his words before he spoke again.

The worst part now was Dathan’s words, the pleading quality to his voice Element had never heard from him before. “You’ll be better soon…” he promised. The Zeta didn’t know if it was a lie or not, but it was all he could say. “You’ll be okay soon… really. Just try to relax. Think slowly. I know it hurts but you know you’re stronger than that Dathan. A whole lot stronger. So just close your eyes and breathe and I’ll be right here.” For a moment he thought it would be okay again as his shakes settled and he quieted, but then suddenly it stopped altogether with an escalating whine – Dathan had fallen unconscious again. Lifting his head, a snarl ripped from the ebony Shadower in annoyance. What was he supposed to do here? He was lost.

In the half an hour time where daylight had begun to wane and night had began to rise, Element stayed at Dathan’s side, his mind racing and tugging at all its extreme angles. How long was he going to stay here? How long could he? Kiriana needed him too, and so did Akeboshi. But yet… so did Dathan. Kiriana had the other wolves at Mount Shadow, but still, he felt leaving her side for to long was a crime. He was her mate; it felt like he was abandoning her. But Dathan was so ill too; here he lay out like a light and already switching through personas. He’d attacked him one minute, ready to rip flesh from bone, and the other he’d been reduced to a whimpering shell of his usual self. Element wasn’t sure what he should do next. Strawberry Fields was close by… maybe he could try to carry Dathan there? His pack mates would take care of him. Or maybe he should call for someone now… Even with that, there was always the possibility that when Dathan awoke he may attack again. Element didn’t want to put anyone else in unnecessary danger.

His dark head was held low, his coral colored tongue sneaking out of his mouth and trying to reach the slash on his muzzle. The small wound was extremely sensitive on the fine layers of skin, and he tried to work at it slowly and carefully. He had good tolerance for pain, but that didn’t mean he liked it. Anything but. He was yet to examine further the bite on his shoulder. Dutifully keeping watch and examining Dathan as he tried to plan his next move, when the silvery male awoke. Element froze, watching carefully for the time being with cautious eyes. Then Dathan spoke and his hopes sank again. This had happened before when he had been hurt – Dathan had spoken to him like he was his father, like he was stuck in some far off memory. The hallucinating was back again, not violence this time but memory.

Blinking in confusion and apprehension of what he should do, Element inched forward slowly. “It’s okay,” he said quietly. How did he work around this? Would Dathan lurch back into another fit if he was denied this ‘papa’ he considered Element to be right now? “You’re just not feeling good today… it’s alright. Just a little sick.” A little sick… he wanted to growl at the lies coming out of his mouth. “Yeah…” Element continued, biting his lip now. “The stars… their nice. And no… I guess, I guess you can’t describe them in words.”

Element couldn’t help but flinch a bit as Dathan shifted, but then the Shadower mentally scolded himself as he realized the action wasn’t one of coming attack but just a move to get him closer. Ears lowering, he looked down at the silvery male that was nestled right nearby. “Dath…” Element whined, his voice sounding more of a plead than anything. He wanted him to be okay, to feel better and be back to normal. Hell, he wanted everyone to feel better and be back to normal. This sickness had ripped away a good portion of the normality of life, and not to mention trying to tear away those closest to him.

He did nothing as Dathan spoke to him except clench his jaw and grit his teeth. He didn’t know anything about Dathan’s family, so even if he had wanted to be able to tell him something comforting that he wanted to hear, he wouldn’t have been able to. Instead the Zeta kept quiet, watching as his friend slowly drifted back into the comforting arms of sleep. Or at least, he hoped it would be comforting for him.

He listened to Dathan’s breathing, making sure he was finally in a deep enough sleep before turning and preparing to take care of himself a bit. Craning his neck, he eyed his injured shoulder with a frown. It wasn’t too bad of a wound, but it hurt, that was for sure. His tongue slipped out of his mouth and he ran it across the exposed flesh, wincing slightly but continuing nonetheless. He had to clean it a bit so it wouldn’t get infected. Plus, even through the pain of the procedure it still held a bit of a soothing quality. The bleeding had stopped, which was good too. Sighing, he glanced quickly back to Dathan before continuing what he was doing.