Huckleberry tried not to continue to scream for respect for the wolf's ears. As they got closer, she was feeling more and more relaxed with their presence, their screeching and thrashing having calmed completely. She was curled in on herself, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.

The Wolf's voice spoke softly in her ears, it asked a gentle question, She shivered as she tried to think. What hurt? Everything! Everything hurt! Her head, her heart, her skin, her bones, her nerves, everything everything everything! She sobbed a little louder as she tried to pinpoint exactly what she could say, try to voice her pain and how she could be helped. But she didn't know. What was going on with her?!

With a hic, she opened her mouth and cracked open her eyes, training her eyes on the golden canine. "Hurts...I hurt...everything..." She took a few pants as she tried to steady her voice. "Spell...hurt family...hurt me...hot...and hurts..." She gasped as the effort of speaking took away her energy.

Another wave of pain rolled through her and her mind went blank as sickness shivered through her stomach. Another jolt of magic shot from her gem and a loud clap of thunder rolled through the air. She couldn't help it. It just hurt too much.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: here

It seemed that she'd bitten off more than she could chew in this situation. "Yeesh. That bad, huh?" she asked slowly, mind picking over all the ways that she could help. True, Kin-Kin was a talented magician, but she was no healer.

Kin-Kin winced slightly as another thunderclap manifested from the stricken child, lightning striking her pyrite spire once more. The wolf tilted her ears back, deep in thought. She hummed thoughtfully. "Okay. Right, right... I'm no healer, but if ya lemme know what you need, I'll get it for ya. Got it? Okay. Lemme start with some water. That ought to help cool ya down. Maybe clean ya up a little."

Kin-Kin retreated from the kid, sucked in her breath, and transferred her magic into the ground at her paws. There was a creak and a groan. The rock at her paws reformed into a circular basin, crystal climbing and spreading into a loop she could grasp in her jaws. It was a crude-looking shape, but would be useful for carrying water. As it finished forming, Kin-Kin looked towards the stricken youngster. "I'll be back soon, Kid," she said quickly, before grasping the loop in her jaws and setting off towards the crystal river, pace a brisk trot.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry could not respond as a sudden wave of humiliation swept over his little body. He was weak, so weak, needing help from a stranger and he still did not know what he needed! If he was like Mama he would be stronger! He would be able to get up and help himself! But no, he simply cowered on the ground, tears leaking from his cheeks.

When the wolf turned away to get some water, Huckleberry felt the need to punish himself again. He had failed his family - he had run from them when they needed him the most. From his gem a spark appeared and ran through his body. He clenched from the pain and more tears fell down his face. He did it a few more times, unable to cope with this terrible situation. He just needed help. Help! Please, he needed the wolf back!

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin reached the water's edge, lowering her muzzle close to the water so that the basin dipped into the water. The crystalline flow washed off any traces of dirt and grime that remained from the crystal's glittering formation, revealing the sleek white surface of milky quartz.

Remaining until she was certain her creation was clean and wouldn't leak, Kin-Kin backed away from the water's edge and returned to Huckleberry. Even though she didn't have far to go, the weight caused her teeth to ache, and she welcomed the relief. She approached cautiously, peering closely at the kid. She caught sight of sparks rippling over their hide again- less this time, and so she dropped her gift just beyond the reach of the lightning's touch, nudging it closer with a cautious paw.

She sat back on her haunches with tail flicking, and patiently waited for the lightning to calm. She cleared her throat. "There- I brought some water," she said coolly, in case the young one hadn't heard above their sobbing. She hoped it'd help- that was about the limits of her healing capabilities.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry heard the wolf approach again and the small clack as something was set on the ground. Water. She needed to get to that. With all the strength she had, she turned and pushed herself towards the bowl and leaned over the crystal. It tipped for a moment, splashing water on her neck, but she didn't care. She thrust her face into the cool liquid and began to drink earnestly.

Once all the water had been drained from the bowl, Huckleberry collapsed on the ground again, feeling a little bit better with some water in her, but was still wracked with pain. She wanted her mama. She wanted her family. Where were they? She had betrayed them, hadn't she?

"Where's my mama," she moaned, her voice sounding very small as she shivered on the ground. "I don't know where she is." And Papa too. And Baneberry. And Jayberry. And Mulberry. And Elderberry. Where were they?!

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin watched as the kid drained the water that she'd brought; it seemed like they'd needed water. Kin-Kin hoped that having that need satisfied might make them feel better over all, and, when they finished, they gave no indication of wanting anything else.

Except...

"Your mama?" Kin-Kin looked the young hybrid over. Of course; this was a hybrid. It would have parents, somewhere. An odd lump closed in Kin-Kin's throat, but she shook her head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on what could be out there. "Well, where did you see her last? What does she look like? How about I help you find her, huh?"

---

When I speak.

When I think.

Huckleberry nodded their head erratically. "My mama, mama, my mama! Where? Where are you mama?" More tears rolled down their cheeks as another wave of hot pain rolled through their body. Huckleberry moaned and tried to adjust themselves, as if that would make the pain any better. But it didn't. Of course it didn't.

"Her name is Blackberry!" they cried, "She...she is a...a goose? Yes! A goose! But she has spikes and quills and a big thing on her stomach. She is mama! And papa is a moose! Where are they?" Huckleberry's voice rose to a wail. "I'm alone! I'm all alone! Where is my family?!" They had, for some reason, almost forgot that Kin-Kin was nearby, instead shrinking in on themselves, their brain still scrambled by the shock they had received earlier, made worse by the radiation poisoning.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: here

"Hmmm..." Kin-Kin murmured, as the young one cried out uselessly. Kin-Kin leaned in close, nostrils twitching as she sniffed their pained form. She didn't linger for too long out of fear that the lightning might return before stepping back, raising her nose and sniffing at the air for any scent that might be similar to the young one's. She moved, pacing in a wide circle around them, sniffing. But there was only her own scent, and a fading trail which must have been the way the child had come.

She padded back to her place next to the lightning rod, where the young one would be able to see her.

Unfortunately, the child's information didn't help too much. Kin-Kin had never met this 'Blackberry' before, or even heard of her. But at least she had an inkling of what to look for. A goose. A weird and spiky looking goose. Or... a moose. Kin-Kin nodded, urging the child to go on. "Alright. So... What's your name, kid?" But it seemed like that was her lot as the kid once more descended into tears. Kin-Kin heaved a sigh. "I don't know where your family is," she answered as gently as she could. Kin-Kin asked finally, in an effort to change the subject. Besides, she'd need to know if she did end up meeting the family later. "But we're gonna find them, okay?"

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry sniffled, trying to keep his pain to himself. He didn't want to end up attacking the wolf. He had to calm down. That would lessen the pain, at least that's what his head said. Lessen the pain and the chance of another break in his mind. A little shiver went through him as magic rolled from his gem into his own heart, trying to slow it so that he could breath easier.

Taking deep breaths as his heart slowed a little, he was able to uncurl himself and look up at the wolf. Hope flared in him at the sight of the glowing wolf. For a moment, his eyes sparkled with admiration. He wanted to look that beautiful, that amazing, instead of the strange creature that he was. But he couldn't - he was a hybrid, a child of a moose and a goose. He couldn't change that.

"I'm Huckleberry," he managed to choke out. "Who are you?" At the mention of helping him find his family, Huckleberry's eyes watered with happiness. "Th-thank you...so much...but how?"

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

emotion: Hopeful
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: here

The wolf paused, the tips of her ears twitching, to listen. "Well then, Huckleberry. Good to meet ya, however dire the circumstances," She raised her head to look around again, scouring the horizon for traces of a bird in flight, or the distant honk of a mother in distress. But none came. Finally, Kin-Kin turned back towards Huckleberry. "Name's Kin-Kin. Demigod and master of light, at your service," Kin-Kin spoke briskly, but not without a signature thrill of pride.

She offered the kid an encouraging smile at their question.

"It's simple enough. First, we'll find your trail... follow it back the way you came. We'll follow it, until your trail meets your mama's. And then we'll follow hers, instead. That's the theory, at least. Might be a bit harder in practice." She sat back down, hoping inwardly that the kid would hurry up a little. The scent trail wasn't gonna last forever. "Or we could just... Y'know.. wander around until we happen upon a sign. But I think it's better to have at least some plan of action..."

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Huckleberry