Wild Rye Fields soon enough

She's at the borders of the Fields calling for @Drestig @Jessie hoping to find @Ice If you want to pop in please pm me

I think there's a flaw in my code

It was with the little hope she had she headed to the Fields. Why her heart wanted to succumb to grief she wouldn't let it. Not yet... She had not done all she could to see if her mentor was alive, and until she did she would not think him dead. But, the closer she came to the fields it was hard to keep her anxiety in check. She'd heard about Jessie and Drestig from her mother and she wasn't looking forward to meeting them. Not to mention there grumpy ass subordinate who had visited them. This was all part of a scout's job. She could handle it. Surely if she was respectful and polite they would be, and maybe she'd get another clue.

Arriving at there borders she steeled herself, silently repeating all was well. A little more relaxed she raised her head, asking for the leaders of Wild Rye Fields for an audience. Now to wait. Holding a slight submissive stance, she sat down, not liking her thoughts for company.

In case Jessie or Drestig still wants to join, I'm fine with it. Ice is making his way towards the border but he's not there yet.

you do not know who is your friend

and who is your enemy

This, a ghost: sturdy bones creating a tall, gaunt creature, messy white fur draped over the skeleton. Shoulders and hips jutting beneath a flimsy cover of skin and thin muscle; only the thickness of his fur served to mask his ribs, but nothing—nothing—about him seemed healthy. Despite the hair, his sides were obviously sunken, and what should've been a mostly silver coat in the process of being shed was matted and dirtied in spite of the best efforts of Jessie, Adelayde, and himself.

A sick wolf just wasn't easy to keep clean, and sick was exactly what Ice was—or had been, he tentatively thought as he peered at his own reflection in the stream meandering by near the medicinal den. Even his eyes, usually so lively and bright, were tired, as they rippled in the water beneath him. It was hard for him to understand how he had fallen, so fast and so low, and frustrating to accept that his aging body was slow in recovering. All of winter was lost in a haze in his mind, hidden behind a curtain of fever and delirium.

While most of his symptoms had abated, he was still lethargic and weak—in no fit state to journey for days on end. Merely walking for five minutes left him desperately short of breath, but the combination of slowly lengthening days and his own clarity renewed the itch in his soul. He was fairly sure he had asked someone to send a runner to Oak Tree Bend, but he wasn't sure if it had happened; possibly, he'd only dreamed of making the request.

Restlessness drove him out of the den more and more often, but almost every time he found himself defeated by his wheezing breathing or a lingering cough. Angrily, he stared at the creek.

Every day he lost up here was another day Serach would be hard-pressed to forgive him for.

Would he even listen to Ice's explanations?

A howl sang through the crisp northern air, a voice so painfully familiar his head snapped up, ears forward, heart hammering. Lila! How? Why? She called for Jessie and Drestig, and in the silence after her voice faded he struggled against himself; had it even been real, or just a figment of his imagination? A desire so strong that his failing mind created it..?

He had to try. The border was far, further than he had managed, but if she was real, and if she was here... Ice licked his lips, tipped his head back, and answered her call; sad and tired and joyous all at once, crying out her name, out of breath before he had even begun. Suspecting his body would give him hell to pay later he set off towards the border, slow and halting, stumbling and staggering.

He wasn't going to give up. He was going to get back.

until the ice breaks.

let the stars above shine in your soul

Note: Set before Drestig's death, but he is missing. Sorry, I didn't get this tag.

Drestig was gone. Usually, this would not have bothered Jessie. He would give word to the pack that he would be gone for a few days before returning, but this was so unlike him, especially taking into consideration his injury. It made her sick to her stomach knowing that something might have happened to him. Every waking moment she did her best to keep a vigil just in case he returned. On top of all her other duties, it was taking a toll on her. The exhaustion she felt was obvious in the deep lines on her face and the way her shoulders sagged whenever she thought anyone wasn't looking. She only slept when her exhaustion finally took her into the world of unconsciousness. It wasn't long until that sleep was interrupted. A call from the borders stirred her from the rest she was receiving. The Rye Queen jolted, emerald eyes wide before dimming with the realization that it was not Drestig calling from the borders. Indeed, he would not have even had to callm just waltz right back in and announce that he was home. Her heart ached. Just as she stretched, another call echoed through her lands. Ice.. alert once more, the Rye Queen set out in the direction of her friend's call, letting out a resounding call of her own to let their guest know that they would be on their way. The Rye Queen set out at a quick trot in the direction that Ice's call came from, her paws taking her further from the medical den than she would expect. The monochrome woman slowed as the white man's thin form came into view, a frown pulling on her mouth. She slowed into step beside him, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She would not offer her support unless he asked for it, he had already been through too much without her putting his pride into the equation. Had it been a complete stranger, she might have insisted that he return to the medical den for rest, but this was clearly not that and Jessie had no right to deprive him of this visitation. As they neared, she offered him a small smile before her lips thinned and eyebrows drew together, emerald eyes searching for whom the call had originated from. She stuck out like a sore thumb, black against so much white. Jessie's tail waved slightly above her back as they stepped forward, nodding her head in greeting to the other woman. When her jaws parted, her voice was rough when she spoke, "Jessie Tainn, Leader of Wild Rye Fields. This is Ice." Though I think you already know that, Jessie's eyes narrowed before she continued, "What can we do for you?"

foxstox @DA & Dawnthieves.de