ORIGIN

Giggle wheeled to stare at Kerberos, more out of shock than anything. For a brief moment she actually considered his words. Then she rapidly shook her head.

"Life comes from death. My fungus grow there, and I need them to help Bones. To close the wounds and to feed him. It's home and we'll be safe there, and warm in my den. Please, I need you to take him there--and then to protect him. To keep him warm. He needs you," she added, a hint of desperation in her tone.

She wasn't sure what the hound meant by life and death, but she'd ask him about it later. For now she needed to get Bones home and safe, and away from the dark, cold tunnel. With a huff she glanced back again, eyeing Kerberos.

"This cold isn't natural. It's this tunnel that is death. Come on, please."

With that final pleading in place, the hyena stood tensed, hoping beyond hope that Kerberos would go back to Canis. If he didn't... well, then she'd have to follow them to whatever Orion was, and make do without her fungus--and hope for the best.

________________

Roll the bones.

Bones wasn't particularly surprised when he found he couldn't sleep because of one of the heads licking his face. He opened one eye with a slight whine, peering at the head with a weary gaze. Though he could only make out pieces of the conversation at hand, there was something that stuck out and filled his mind.

'...death, he will die. Join the bones.'

No, no, no, no, no, the dog jerked on Kerberos' back. He didn't want to die, he couldn't think of anyone who would want to. He was too weak to move otherwise and he found that his eyes were settled on something glinting in the caves.

It was dark, and he could barely see it, but through the dark he could just make out the shape of a shattered stone, pieces of sickly yellow-green coloured shards strewn around it and for a second, but only a second Bones thought he saw not fluids that usually came out of a chrysalis, but dried pus. He could not find the energy to mention it, nor could he find the energy to keep his eyes open any longer.

Only briefly did he listen to his friend and his mother half-argue about where to go, but he failed to care much about where they went. For now he just wanted to sleep. With a sigh the pup allowed himself to relax a little, ears flat against his head.