She’d expected her cough to be gone by now – the pups all seemed to be doing much better, as did most of her pack mates – but Flair still had a persistent tightness in her chest, making it hard to carry out her daily duties. Her evening patrol had been halted several times by persistent coughing fits, and as she stood now, on the snow-dusted rocks at the top of the Falls, gazing down at the valley, there was a distinct wheeze in her breath.

Cold had truly descended on Relic Lore, snow falling almost daily, but so far, the running water remained unfrozen. Eventually, she suspected, they would have to go to the lake for water; Luckily it’s a short trip… For now though, she was happy to keep within pack borders.

A heavy sigh escaped her, clouding the air like a ghost in front of her, before another coughing fit blew it apart. Rattling her shoulders, it took several moments to pass, leaving her exhausted, throat and lungs stinging from the cold air; It’s gonna be a long winter…