Oliver gave a slow nod, glancing at Ocelot--and then a thoughtful hum. "How long ago did she drink?" he asked quietly. "I can--make water, bring it, though there's so much ice here-... and her body being warm isn't a bad thing. We just have to be careful she doesn't get too hot. Can you maybe-... make sure her head's near ice? I'm gonna make it warmer for her."

The hybrid had no way of knowing the more scientific details of fever--like its purpose, or the danger a high fever posed to the brain. He did know, though, that too hot was bad for the head, but otherwise, hot was good. He knew that a high fever meant he felt better, sooner. And he knew that the snow leopard's body would be struggling, working too hard, to keep her warm in this ice--but that the ice could be good for her head.

And maybe good for drinking, too.

He focused, for a moment, and then began to work on raising the ambient temperature just around the three. Perhaps it'd make things easier for her, and maybe even melt some ice for her to drink.

"I can try to mend her wounds, a little--at least hold them together so they can heal, too, but... it isn't easy," Oliver explained as he worked. "And I'll need a little grass, or... vines. Can you hear me? Rast? You can just-... rest, if you can, but I'm Oliver and I'm trying to help." His tone was earnest and reassuring, his voice soft.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Rast @Ocelot

Ocelots voice was a major comfort to her in that moment. She closed her eyelid around her stone and rested her head once more. Now she listened to the two of them talk. The new one smelled different than Ocelot or Kallista. Perhaps it was a different type of gembound. She was too tired to think any further than that.

After a moment, things began to feel warmer. A stab of panic rose in Rast for a moment, was she starting to imagine things again? She remembered how this new gembound said something about warming her up. Had he done that? Was that one of his powers? She hoped so because having another fit did not seem like a good idea.

As the area around her heated up, some of the ice began to melt. Some cool water had gathered under the side of face. Her tongue seemed to find a mind of its own as it slid from her mouth, dragging along the ground to lap up what had melted. She had not realized how thirsty she was until the water ran down her parched throat.

She continued to listen. He was to mend her wounds, somehow. Rast, even in her fatigued state, found that a to be a wonderful talent. She learned that his name was Oliver and that he was there to help. Rast opened her mouth to push out two raspy words, just barely above a whisper.

"Thank you." She was thankful. Almost as soon as he appeared, he started to help her.

@ocelot

Ocelot listened to Oliver, and quickly moved Rast’s head as gently as he could, placing it on some of the unmelted ice after she had drank. He then looked back up to Oliver.

”She last drank yesterday, then we began traveling through here. She hasn’t drunk since. Where can I find the vines and grasses? There is none around here.”

Ocelot gave Rast a soft lick against the ears then looked up at Oliver again and continued to watch him carefully.

@Oliver @Rast

Speech Here
Thoughts Here

Oliver's ear-tufts lifted as Rast thanked him, and for a moment he felt somehow startled. He'd not realized she was quite conscious--and more than that, he'd sort of forgotten that he was helping. This was just what he did. She was sick, she needed help, so of course he helped! ...But all he said was, softly as ever, "It's okay-... You're welcome? Just try to rest."

When Ocelot spoke, his ear-tufts flattened back with worry. "Eridanus..? Uhh. Hold on, I can try to sprout some seeds but if it doesn't work we need to get some green from--somewhere."

He sort of huddled back, turning and picking a few burrs from his black fur. The burrs seemed very deliberately-placed, in small clusters, rather than merely stragglers hanging on to a passerby.

He then cradled these in his upturned clawed forepaws, and closed his pale blue eyes in focus.

A soft shimmer of magic shrouded his hands, and for a moment all was silent. His fingers closed over the seeds, hiding them from sight--and then suddenly there were a series of soft "pops." Green sprouts shot between his digits, extending up in long stems, leaves unfurling out of nowhere. The process was miraculously swift and strong, the resulting dozen or so sprouts healthy-looking and bright.

Oliver blinked. "...Oh," he said softly.

Then he looked to the others. "It might... hurt a little. Can you--talk to her?"

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Rast @Ocelot

Rast was awake enough to continue listening to the two of them talk. She felt her head get propped up and the feeling of the cold ice soothed her. It was a bit slick from the heat up and her own warmth on it but it was still comfortable. Well, maybe it wasn't. Either way she was too tired to care.

She heard Oliver exclaim quietly as something happened. The clean scent of plant life touched her nose. What did he do? Where did that plant smell come from? It smelled good either way. She wondered vaguely what his plan was for plants. The snow leopard just sighed, still quite out of it. Perhaps she would just doze off again. It seemed like a decent idea.

@ocelot @oliver

Ocelot watched Oliver closely, he was amazed to see him growing plants so rapidly. He smiled and watched him, then as he asked him if he could talk to her he nodded. He knew just the thing to do.

"Hey Rast, now that you are more awake, I'm going to tell you what Oliver looks like. Try to picture him in mind as hard as you can. He is pure black with soft fur and bluish grey eyes. This is where it get strange. He has a canine face but feathery ears, neck and chest. He has bird like forelegs too. Then his hind legs are more canine like. The feathers go to his elbow but then it turns into scales. He has wings on the back of his forelegs. The tips of the wings fold back against his spine. He has a very long bushy tail which fans out in a spread like long black tail feathers."

Ocelot gave the best description he could. This creature was certainly strange and he wasn't sure if Rast would picture him very well, but still a picture was better than none. He looked to Oliver slowly to see if he was done.

@Oliver @Rast

Speech Here
Thoughts Here

As Ocelot spoke, Oliver hurried over to start his work. He did so cautiously, and with a few sniffs at the wounds, too.

They smelled a bit infected, as his magic had shown, but it was his hope that his magic had also cleansed it enough that it would recede.

Cautious, one tufted ear toward the speaking Ocelot, he laid the grass sprouts down along the worst of Rast's wounds. He then focused, hoping she wouldn't panic, or stop him; concentrating as best he could on the grass, and on using it to mend the damage someone had dealt to her.

Come on. Work... save her life.

The magic did take hold, the grasses twitching and beginning to do as he bid: to try and weave the wounds shut. They twined into flesh--probably, unless Rast stopped them, giving pinpricks of pain as they punctured here and there... but closing at least the worst of it. It wasn't as effective as Oliver had hoped; likely, he thought, because they were mere sprouts and not proper vines and long grass.

I'll plant the rest of you, he mentally promised, tucking the sprouts under one wing. Then he glanced back up, to Ocelot, listening--and to Rast, with a gentle nod.

And then he felt a little foolish, since she couldn't see that nod. Oh, well.

"My mom is a crow," he explained. "And Dad's a black dog. So I'm--half and half, I guess. Dad said he wanted me to be a guardian. My sister's a guardian, too, and a helper. She's White," he added, though whether that was a color, or a name, wasn't quite clear.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Ocelot @Rast

If Rast will at some point protest/fight back/not allow the mending that's fine--I can incorporate it into the next post!

The young snow leopard listened closely to Ocelot. She started to form a mental image, though she couldn't help but tense her muscles in anticipation of what was about to happen. She could not see, so obviously she had no idea where which wound Oliver was examining or where she would be touched. There was something even more unsettling about knowing you are going to be touched but not knowing where and if it will cause pain.

Her mind began to draw the picture. It started off as a black blob with vibrant blue eyes. Next the long and narrow snout of a canine and feathers? That seems very- Rast gave a quiet cry of surprise as something poked into the tender skin around her wounds. Her eye was clenched shut and her brow furrowed. It wasn't exactly super painful, but it was an unpleasant feeling. Like a bee that kept stinging her over and over.

At least by the time the pain was over she had a good image of what Oliver could look like. She wished she could see him, Oliver would undoubtedly be a one of a kind both in body and in soul.

A crow and a black dog... It was an interesting mix no doubt! Rast remained lying down, as to not disturb whatever he had just done.

"Does she look like you too?" Rast asked quietly, her voice still hoarse.

@ocelot @oliver

Ocelot watched Oliver and he felt a sudden pang if guilt. He couldn’t do any of this. Could he really help her like Oliver could? He lowered his head slowly before giving out a sigh. Once Oliver spoke he listened and gave a soft nod. Finally, he asked Rast something.

”Rast, what do you think of Oliver? Do you like him? He......he can help you. More than I ever could. Rast..... what I am is trying to say is... do you want Oliver to look after you from now?”

There was sadness in his voice but also guilt, he stared at Rast, hoping she would say no but a part of him hoped she said yes. That way she was protected.

@Rast @Oliver

Speech Here
Thoughts Here

Oliver sat back, resting for the moment, and looking Rast over.

She looked-... well, more tended than she had. It'd still take her a great deal of time to recover, but maybe not so much--and maybe she'd not be in so much pain. Or--die. That woulda been bad, he thought.

Did White look like him..? "Uhh... Sorta? But she's prettier. And white. I think--she has four legs and wings but I only have two legs and wings. Or like-... my front legs are wings too?" he said uncertainly. How did I forget how many legs she has? "I haven't seen her in a long time," he admitted somewhat sadly.

When Ocelot spoke, Oliver glanced toward him with some confusion. "Why would only one of us be able to help..?" he asked a little blankly. Was this some unspoken rule of which he'd been unaware? "If you're friends you shouldn't leave. I can come back and check on her though or--if you're moving her I could help? And check wherever she is. The grass won't last too long, but I have to plant the other grass," he added, matter-of-factly.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Rast @Ocelot