Eridanus was quiet today; if one had listened closely, they would have heard the sound of insects chirping, the distant gurgling of tiny streams. Maybe the rustling of cave deer foraging in the undergrowth or the flutter of a bird in the trees. The scene was peaceful. Quiet.

Deathly quiet.

Beneath a homey blanket of large fern leaves, a tiny creature lay, curled up into a ball. At a glance, it seemed almost as though it were sleeping, but if one looked closer they would have seen the deathly tremors that racked its fragile form. A gemstone that danced in thousands of rainbow flickers emerged from its skull in a headdress of sharp, piercing spires. The fur around each spire was stained dark and betrayed the weight carried by the little life lying here, alone.

For the first time of her life, Destiny had become its pawn. She'd lost hope, there was no optimism to be found in this state. There was no one here to see her struggle, to comfort her. She couldn't move. Pains shot through her skull with every spasm, twitch and tremor. For the first time in her life, the little one feared that this would be the end; but it just kept on going. Never easing or waning. She just kept on breathing harsh and trembling breaths. Every so often she'd try to open her eyes, but even when she did, she saw nothing. What anyone else would have seen, an agonizing truth, were the dark, sticky tracks down her face and a small puddle of red forming beneath her bill. Occasional coughs racked her form as she breathed in streams of her own clotted blood.

Gazing listlessly out at the peaceful world, Destiny's eyes were bulging out of their sockets, rainbow colours paled and bloodied. The peaceful world of today was the last thing she'd see with her own two eyes. Even with her boundless optimism, even Destiny could see the truth. Denial would not bring back her sight.

This was the beginning of her end.

Rimese walked along the cave, breathing in the scents of the lively room. Plants gave way as he stepped on them, walking with long and confident strides. He didn't really have a destination in mind, deciding to just walk until he found something. Or someone.

Rimese saw a body, curled up, under some leaves. He casually strolled over toward it until he realized the body was shivering. Tilting his head, he looked down and recognized someone he had met before, cycles ago. It was Destiny. At least, he thinks it is. She looked a lot different, with her gem dotting around her head.

She seemed to be shivering, wracked with pain with every twitch. Immediately the look in his gaze went from one of curiosity to one of sympathy. There was a puddle of blood, a sight that made Rimese want to run away, to forget he ever saw this. But he stayed. He didn't want to leave her, she obviously needed someone nearby.

He crouched down beside the platypus, and began to mutter words of encouragement. "Hey, Destiny, right? It's going to be okay. You got this! You're strong, you can get through this, I know you can!" Could she even hear him? She looked to be in an awful lot of pain, and he didn't know if she could even focus on what he was saying. But he had to do something! You certainly couldn't just leave her here.

@Destiny

Destiny could hardly move, and even less breathe. There wasn't much she could notice and so, until there was a voice there, right in her ear, she didn't even know that she wasn't alone any more. In response, she uncurled slightly, her tremors growing more violent. Her breaths rasped, fresh waves of blood oozed from her eye sockets. She twitched her large flippers, but as she slowly rolled onto her belly, the motion seemed too much and she flailed for balance. When she was on her front, she shook. Her eyes trembled in their sockets as she struggled to look around, only releasing yet another dribble of blood.

"Y-y...Yeah," she whispered, her voice pained and every syllable a struggle. "It... It's... It's me... You... You d-d-don't need to... s-see me like this..." She didn't even seem to know who it was standing over her. The deadly spires of crystal protruding from her skull were as beautiful as ever, like swords held high by fallen warriors.

Still, the little thing's confused mind struggled to find a light, even here. She just wished that she could find one. She'd never felt so utterly broken. The stranger's words were kind, but she struggled to find the truth in them. Destiny had never seen herself as strong. Or beautiful. Or kind. Or even likeable... All these things which she'd alaways hated about herself came crashing in, and for the first time of her life, Destiny gave in.

Sticky fluid bubbled up in her eye sockets, and lying motionless beneath Rimese, she began to weep.

"I... I... I don't... I don't know any more..."

And for once, she truly didn't.

@Rimese