Archer

Breathing was hard. Walking was hard. Hell, everything was hard and he couldn't stand it anymore... but he forced himself to stumble on. Here they were, finally at the great roots of the mountain, and the path up seemed insurmountable. Archer knew couldn't be {I}that[/I> hard since Fools Gold Chasm had brought young pups up, but... each step was a challenge already.

He'd barely spoken the last three days. The burning in his leg had faded, and now that the skin had turned black and flakey the pain was barely there. He knew that was a bad thing. Archer drooled constantly, he could barely eat without throwing up... he was getting sicker.

Nori had been a rock, of course. She'd stayed with him, talked to him in his silence. They both knew the same thing, but neither had said it.

Well, now he was going to say it.

As night fell, Archer stumbled one last time and turned the motion to a controlled sink to his belly. He sighed. "I can't make it," he said softly, voice cracking. Whether from misuse, or grief, or the toll of the venom on his body he did not know.

Archer looked up at Nori. "Stay with me?"

Archer

He'd almost expected more empty words of encouragement, trying to get him up the mountain. They were less than a day away, now, but Archer didn't think he could stand even if he wanted to now. His muscles trembled and spasmed, his paws twitching of their own accord, and Archer no longer had the will to force them to obey.

He'd given up.

Nori laid beside him and he leaned into her warmth, glad that he was not alone.

Colors lit the sky, drawing a surprised breath from the man. His eyes watered as he looked up. It was almost like the night was bidding him farewell - or perhaps welcome? Archer didn't know what he believed about the afterlife, or if there was one. He hoped he could see Sephrina again, and grandma Katna. That someday he would see Ally, and Eros, and his da-

His breath caught. "Nori," he murmured. "I need to ask you for something important." he looked at her.

Archer

Nori was quick to offer him anything and Archer grimaced. There was still that tinge of panic in the back of his mind, growing louder as he felt the burning cold creeping up on him, but he was just so tired. Everything ached and he.... he was ready for a nap.

But not quite yet.

"You have to find her," he said. "Her and my brother - Ally and Eros. Eros and my dad lead Dead Empress Backwater... please get Ally to them. I want..." he didn't want to insult her, now Knowing she was an Eastfall, but... "They're going to need her," he added quietly.

His mouth suddenly felt dry, even though the could feel drool dripping from his chin. "They can't be left wondering," he said, even quieter now, almost talking to his paws. He remembered what it was like, not knowing what happened to his mom for all that time - not knowing what happened to Kateri. "I know it's a lot to ask, but... please. They have to know."

Archer

Archer sighed with relief when she agreed. He knew it would be hard for her; he could see her own grief even as she tried to hide it, and now she would have to tell his family... he wondered who would take it the hardest. Ally would miss him of course, but Eros... Archer had only just gotten his brother back.

He couldn't help letting out a dry laugh. "I haven't done anything good since my sister died," he said. "I've failed everyone I love over and over again, even now, I can't go home to them like I promised." he let out a heavy breath. It was getting harder and harder to inhale, his heart thumping irregularly in his chest. He felt woozy.

"Tell my da it wasn't anybody's fault. Nobody's fault but my own. And tell Eros I said he better take care of my kid. I know he'll do a great job." His brother was good, unlike him. A better role-model, a better provider. Eros could take care of Ally. He should have been the one taking care of Ally from the beginning.

Thinking of his daughter he managed a small smile. "I love her so much," he hummed, looking back up to the bright lights and wondering if she was watching them too. "I'm only sorry I won't get to see her again."

Archer

Her words were thick in his ears and he tried to smile, tried to make her believe that she had convinced him. What she said helped a little anyway, reminding him that he had done a few things worth remembering. He hoped Nori remembered him... "I'm glad we met too," he said, and the words were harder to make come.

She kept talking, but her voice slowly faded into the fog of his ears. His limbs twitched worse than ever, his heart throbbed with no discernable rhythm. A sudden panic overtook him and for a moment he tried to surge to his feet, tried to push himself further up the mountain, closer to his daughter, I have to get there, I have to make it, I have to get to her, Ally, my beloved girl, I have to get there, I have to do it, I have to, I have...

But his legs were too weak and he could barely do more than a pathetic lurch on the ground.

The panic left him just as quickly as it had arrived, his gaze landing once again on the dancing lights even as his chin sank to his paws. I'm not ready, he thought desperately, as if that last plea might save him. He knew it wouldn't.

"Thank you," he said thickly, wondering if Nori could even understand him now, "for staying with me." He blinked up at the sky. "The night is so beautiful."

His eyes drifted closed, the lights flickering through his eyelids, and then with a final spasm Archer slumped and went to join his forebears.