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Hunters Moon series Characters Pelnak and Cassiopeia are © Cederwyn Whitefurr used with permission written by Possum and Cederwyn Whitefurr

Chapter 5

Pelnak was shocked, horrified and terrified all at the same time, that a human could see through him, like he was made of glass.

"No...you're not a..." Whispered the lady, her eyes widening. "You are a Stag I mean, but you're...not a...a - "

Pelnak swallowed, desperately trying to take another step, but his body refused to listen. Against his will, he found himself nodding, then his voice spoke - but he never meant for it to happen. It was like something was controlling him, body and mind.

"I'm...not a normal Whitetail Stag, no..."

<Pelnak!> Cassiopeia screamed at him.

"Child of Cerunnos and Gaia, Guardian of the Wood - " Began the woman, as she placed her fingers on the pendant and closed her eyes. "I am but humbled to be blessed by your presence, I abase myself before you. I am Lady Fallowen of the East Glade Grove, I am at your service."

Pelnak blinked, not understanding a word.

<Grove? Glade? Cerunnos? Gaia?> Pelnak's mind shot these questions at Cassiopeia, who blinked as if struck across the snout. <White Witch, I told you, please my love - I need you, Ely needs you!>

"I - " Pelnak stammered, before he tried to move again, once more, finding himself immobilised. "A...friend, he's very sick, dying even and I - I need..."

<She can help us, please Pelnak, put aside your fear and hatred!> Cassiopeia pleaded.

<She is human...she will betray us and ->

<She is human, granted, but she is a White Witch, if I believe half of what I know of them, they'd never hurt anyone! Please my love, Ely's dying - I know that, and I do not know how to save him! I can't change back again - not yet...so I can't use those...medicines...>

"He needs us, he's dying!" Pelnak sobbed heart-brokenly. "Please, I - I need help, Ely needs help and - "

"I will serve the Lady and Lord, and you, child of the forest. I pledge this to you. Come, take me there, show me the one who causes your heart to grieve so!"

With a twitch of her hand, Pelnak gasped, feeling himself stagger backwards, before he shuddered and turned. Fear still gripped him, but maybe, just maybe - this human could do what the two Whitetail's could not...

*

Pelnak trotted, he wanted to run like the hounds of Hades were on his furred ankles, but he knew the human couldn't keep up. He thrashed at trees and branches, unmindful, as he struggled to clear a path through the thicket, before he led her to the cave.

<I know why you've brought her - but I pray - it is not for the wrong reasons ->

Pelnak shuddered. This was their most sacred and special of places, no human had, in their memories, stepped within the boundaries of their special grove.

Cassiopeia crept from the cave, standing protectively in front of it, as Pelnak walked over to her, then gently nuzzled her neck and slipped past her, to go lie beside Ely.

"Greetings - " Cassiopeia spoke, her voice quiet, but the mistrust in it plain as the late afternoon light that dappled the grove.

"Hail and well met Daughter of the Wood. I come in peace and love, I wish no harm for you or yours, may I enter?"

Cassiopeia's ears slicked back, but she reluctantly gave ground, stepping aside and nodding her head once.

"You may...but be aware, you are here only under strict orders. I know of your kind, Witch, I know what you profess to practice...you try anything against me like you did my mate...I promise - you'll not like the consequences. Prove yourself to me, you will be free to leave - fail - and I assure you, your death will be as quick and painless as I can make it..."

"You protect you and yours well, sister - I accept these rules, in perfect love and perfect trust."

"I'll hold you to that...now, please..."

*

Next day broke, the sun's light dappling through the trees. Pelnak had slept, fitfully and disturbed, beside Eli, whilst Cassiopeia and Lady Fallowen worked on Ely. Well, Lady Fallowen worked on him - Cassiopeia's teeth never more than a few inches away. Cassiopeia was tired, beyond tired, but she kept her vigil over this strange woman, who mixed potent herbs and water, forcing the concoctions down Ely's throat by rubbing it until he involuntarily swallowed.

"He needs to rest, I've done all I can for him presently - I need to go get some more herbs and refill my canteen..."

"I'll accompany you, I need to feed, and also - I still don't trust you - yet."

"I understand..."

*

A hyper-sonic whine was heard, as in his exhausted sleep, Pelnak's left ear flicked. Only when the mosquito bit into it and started sucking the rich blood, did Pelnak grunt and snort, his ear flicking before he snapped at the mosquito, squashing it.

"Ick..." He grunted sleepily, tasting the insect and his own blood.

Staggering to his hooves, he shook himself, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to him, but fading quickly. As his eyes focused and he looked down at Ely, before the vestiges of the nightmare suddenly flashed like summer lightning across his mind.

"I wasn't dreaming...it really did happen..." Pelnak moaned, then twisted his head between his forelegs, seeing the pale scar that ran from groin to chest. "No...."

Pelnak's mind is seized mercilessly, he screams, stumbling away, kicking the campfire which sends hot sparks up his shins, burning fur and flesh.

"No, no, no!" Pelnak screams, beginning to panic, unable to shake off the nightmare that sinks its fangs into his mind.

He stumbled and staggered, crashing into the cave wall, before recoiling and shaking his head, eyes wide and filled with fear and pain.

"No, please...stop...don't...don't hurt me!" Pelnak screamed - his eyes wide as he seen the hunter coming for him again, the knife clutched in his hand.

"I'm going to make you scream bucky...oh, how you'll scream when I'm done with you..."

"NO!" Pelnak shrieked, as he dropped his head and slashed with his antlers, trying to impale the imaginary spirit.

"Pelnak!" Come a piercing scream, as hooves skittered and then a body fell heavily, rolling.

"Get away!" Pelnak shrieked again, his antlers slashing and slicing through the air.

"Pelnak!" Come that cry again, before he screamed and felt sharp fangs bite into his neck and lock tight.

Blood gushed from the wound, as he heard crying sobs, but the teeth remained locked, as Pelnak gasped and squealed - but he was unable to break free. Quickly, he succumb, dropping to his knees and choking, his already greatly reduced blood levels leaving him cold and weak.

Holding him by the throat, Cassiopeia sniffled, until Pelnak gurgled and crumpled to the floor as consciousness fled him. Carefully, Cassiopeia released her jaws and shuddered, before she lowered her head and slashed at her foreleg with her teeth. As blood welled, she smeared it over Pelnak's throat, watching as the blood worked to heal the deep puncture wounds.

"What...happened?" Lady Fallowen asked, staying well back from the Therian's.

"I think I understand - " Cassiopeia sighed, as she swallowed the residual saliva and blood, then shivered. "I - turned him, I never meant too... He is - not a pure-blood like I am... I fear, he doesn't have the control that I have, I was born with it - its not - easily controlled. He is young - at being what we are, I'm trying to help him. It's...difficult, now, with Ely hurt, near death - "

Cassiopeia's voice trailed off, as she sniffled and shuddered. "I am afraid for him - we - we never usually turn someone, especially someone so...well, as old as he is..."

Cassiopeia sniffled and nuzzled her limp lover, then lay her head over his neck protectively.

"We...we used to just...well, hunt humans. My father would often - torture them for a week or more, if they pleased him - every way..."

Lady Fallowen shuddered, getting the veiled meaning. "Then..."

'When he grew bored with them - he would murder them. They would become our food, until his urges compelled him to hunt again..."

Ely began choking and coughing, before Lady Fallowen ran to his side and forced a stick between his jaws, as her fingers slid into his muzzle and gripped his tongue, pulling it out to the side. Ely's choking subsided as he drew shuddering breaths and eventually settled.

"Watch his - " Cassiopeia began, then shuddered.

"I know - hence the stick - he can't bite if...oh, its not just the bite, is it?"

Hurried, she washed her hands, then from her satchel she brought forth some strange scented liquid she smothered her hands in, rubbing them until the liquid dissipated.

"It's a powerful antibacterial hand sanitiser - " Lady Fallowen nodded. "I don't know if, well, if it'll work on whatever it is that...changes people, humans I mean."

"I don't know either, but...thank you...Ely means a lot to myself, and to Pelnak..."

Lady Fallowen sat, placing her fingers against Ely's furred throat, feeling the faint, thready pulse.

"Will he..." Cassiopeia began, as she lifted her head up off Pelnak's throat.

"I...Sister? I do not know... He is grievously wounded, he needs a veterinarian - someone specialised in - "

"No..." Come a weak, choking gurgle, before the stick rolled out and clattered to the floor. "I..."

His body convulsed, before he shuddered and went limp.

"Ely...is like you?" Lady Fallowen blinked.

"He is - a cousin - of sorts, to we, the Therian. He has knowledge we desperately need, so it is imperative that he live! I...forgive me, I mistrusted you, I believe now, you are what you claim and say. I beg your forgiveness for my rudeness and mistrust."

"I understand little one," Lady Fallowen smiled, holding out a hand to Cassiopeia, who timidly stretched out a cloven hoof foreleg and felt Lady Fallowen fingers close lightly around the ankle, before releasing her. "I understand, your fear and reluctance to trust - me - or any humans. That is a very good thing to have, it will keep you both safe and...well..."

Something strange passed over Lady Fallowen, but it was gone before Cassiopeia could grasp it.

"I will do what I can - mundane and magick, to try and help Ely heal, he is safe with me, I promise."

Cassiopeia shuddered, fighting the urges within her to stay alert and awake, but as Lady Fallowen smiled, then dipped her hand into her satchel, producing what appeared to be...

Cassiopeia blinked and frowned, watching as the white powdery sand trickled from the humans fingers, as she began whispering something beneath her breath. Cassiopeia frowned deeper, before she snorted and shook her head, eyes becoming glazed and unfocused, before her chin thumped down on Pelnak's neck - asleep before she hit.

"Sleep now little sister," Lady Fallowen whispered. "You will be alright, I promise..."

*

When she awoke, Ely was gone, and she found herself nestled in against Pelnak's chest and belly, his head resting on her neck, his light breathing ruffling her ears. Cassiopeia shuddered, then carefully slipped from Pelnak's grasp, before he sniffed and blinked, then nuzzled her ears.

"You're...awake?" Cassiopeia murmured.

"Just - " Pelnak gasped, before he shuddered.

Cassiopeia rolled over onto her knees, then staggered to her hooves. Her nostrils flared, as she looked around, then timidly crept to the edge of the cave, seeing Ely kneeling on the dew dampened grass, occasionally cropping at the grass, Lady Fallowen sitting beside him, her hand gently stroking the trembling neck.

Cassiopeia flinched, as Pelnak gently nudged her side, then walked up to stand beside her. Turning to look at him, Cassiopeia smelt the lingering fear and pain that clung like a blanket to Pelnak.

"Please tell me love, what troubles you so?"

Pelnak slumped ears lowering and answered "It... it... was your father Cassiopeia, I didn't see the hunter standing over me I saw him like he was back from hell just to hurt me to punish you all over again.."

Cassiopeia was dumbfounded her ears folded flat her mouth open in shock "F... Father?"

"Before you arrived the hunter said to me - "Well - got any last words" - but he said it with exactly the same tone full of contempt and hate as the words your father spoke to me all those years ago. From that moment all i I saw your father standing over me as I lay helpless... Un... Unable... to move... to fight... even to think.. all i could think of was that I would never see you again... that I would never know our fawn see it grow... I... I..."

Pelnak's faux composure shattered, then he turned away, retreating to the back of the cave, as he curled up into a tight, sobbing ball of fur.

Cassiopeia moved fast Crouching behind Pelnak cradling him close to her fur covered chest as he cried her own tears flowing, now she understood, why Pelnak hadn't fought back, why he had been frozen why she lost her link with him in the moments before she burst into the clearing...

It wasn't the damage of the initial gunshot that paralysed him...

It was fear.

*

It was late in the day when they had cried away their bottled distress, both Whitetails left shaking and heartbroken. Cassiopeia had struggled the most, remembering well her part in her fathers sins. Laying with Pelnak's head against her belly, Pelnak had cried himself to sleep some time ago but now he stirred ear flicking as he blinked awake looking up into his mates loving gaze.

Cassiopeia smiled down at him, trying to be brave, and only just suppressing the grief she felt for her mate. "Rise and shine sleepyhead!"

"Whu..." Pelnak blinked, then lifted his head and shuddered from nose to tail.

Cassiopeia smiled, then pressed her furred lips against his own, in that moment, reaffirming their mating bond, their love and their trust in each other, completely and utterly.

"I love you beyond words my dear sweet doe" Pelnak murmured. Cassiopeia licked up the cup of one ear, then gave a slow, sensual tail flicker. "I you my love... now and forever."

"Ely...is he..." Pelnak begins, as he struggles to his hooves, then wobbles, still not fully regained his strength.

Ely had been listening to them with one ear, his other swivelled towards Lady Fallowen He had heard the two Whitetail, and he smiled weakly. Even this, caused him pain, as he shuddered and that in itself, brought another sickening wave of nausea and pain to him.

Hearing their approach he flattens his ears back and closes his eyes tight feigning a pained rest.

Cassiopeia see him much as they left him this morning but decides to try and rouse him anyway.

"Ely?" she asks questionably

Ely slowly moves his ears forward and opens his eye painfully to acknowledge her

"How are you feeling?"

"Just...peachy - " Ely croaks, then tries to lift his head, before pain like a bullet tears through his mind, making him sob softly

Cassiopeia's instinct kick in, and she moves forwards, not unmindful of Lady Fallowen who sits on the other side, before Cassiopeia gently nuzzles at Ely's cheek. Even this, makes the Stag shudder and flinch. Suddenly, there's a crack, and Cassiopeia squeals, as one of Ely's antlers snaps off, striking her on the head before falling to the ground.

"Sorry..." Ely whimpers, as he frowns and tries to look up at the other one. "Their weight...hurts too much and I can't...it won't..."

Lady Fallowen grips his remaining antler gently in both hands, then she frowns and pulls. Ely screams - he can't help it - as it feels like she is pulling the top of his skull off, before another crack comes and the antler finally is removed.

"Oh..." Ely gasps, then shudders, as he rests his head on his forelegs and swallows. "That...feels so much better already - "

Pelnak explains "We need to get food and water will you be ok?"

Ely nods again, then looks sideways at Lady Fallowen, then she smiles and gently strokes his neck with her fingertips.

Both Whitetail's exchange looks, before Pelnak nuzzles Cassiopeia and they move out of the clearing quietly, Cassiopeia's frown deepening.

"Something wrong love?" Pelnak nuzzles her gently.

"I...I know I can trust her, she really is a White Witch and - " Cassiopeia begins, then trails off again.

"Mmmm - " Pelnak murmurs, reaching up with his neck and snapping a young branch off a birch, sharing the sweet, tender leaves with Cassiopeia.

"Now, about..." Cassiopeia murmurs, before swallowing and gazing sideways at Pelnak.

"Yes sweetie?"

"We....need to talk lover - " Cassiopeia begins, then kneels down and nuzzles at his chest. "Please?"

Pelnak frowns, then he knees as well, the two deer nose to nose, gazing into each others eyes.

"I...I'm sorry about earlier breaking down like that, I'm your buck, Your mate I'm supposed to be the stronger of us."

Cassiopeia frowns, then licks his forehead and rests her head against his. "No, Pelnak? We're equals my love - we can never love each other any more than what we currently do! I'd die to protect you, and you would do the same for me!"

"I...that hunter - " Pelnak began, but Cassiopeia's glance silenced him.

"You were caught off guard unprepared as was I."

"I..."

"Pelnak? Please...let it go love, I beg of you, it will only poison your heart and your mind. It...it happened, I'm sickened and horrified and...grieving - for what was taken from us...but it happened. Please, put it behind you, can you? For me?" For...us?"

Ely shuddered, as he stretched one foreleg out, then tried to put weight on it. He bit back his cry, as the muscles screamed in agony and he sighed in frustration.

"I'm better than this - " Ely murmured.

"Did you say something?" Lady Fallowen asked, as she placed a comforting hand lightly on his shoulder.

"I'm - I'm not alright, no... I shouldn't be like this! I should heal, faster than the Therian's - and Cassiopeia heals quickly..."

"I don't understand - " Lady Fallowen spoke quietly. "You're...like a - "

"A cousin, to the Therian's, yes." Grunted Ely, as he stretched his leg out again and managed to barely lift his chest off the ground, before the pain was too much for him.

He closed his eyes, reaching for that inner core of his magicks - only to find it almost depleted - a barely visible flicker of green energy, the others he used, even duller and lacklustre. It was he was drained of his magicks - it'd never happened before - ever - it was his, he was attuned to it, he could feel it in the air, the trees, even from the lady who lay beside him, her back resting against his belly. Even deep in the ground, he felt the flow and weft of magicks - yet when he reached for them - they fled from him like frightened fawns.

"It...its difficult to explain - " Ely shuddered. "I - I am a child of magicks, born to it, beholden to it and user of it - yet I feel...drained, and my connection to the Natural World and the Spirit World is - tenuous, almost like a strand that's a single heartbeat away from snapping!"

It serves you right you impetuous idiot! He thought to himself

Ely blinked, then flicked an ear. He was sure it had been mid-afternoon, just a moment ago...

Now, he saw the shadows lengthened and the cool of the early evening. In the distance clouds bubbled and rolled around a obscured mountain to the far south-east.

"What..." Ely blinked, and shook his head, before he gasped and whimpered.

"Here, please, drink..." Come a voice, as a bowl was pressed to his furred lips.

Ely's nose wrinkled at the potent smell of herbs his mind couldn't place - and he knew a lot of them...

"No, I don't...want it, thank you - " Ely murmured.

He felt his chin gripped in such a way, gently, but instantly, before the liquid was washed over his tongue and into his throat. Ely tried to gag and choke, but his throat was rubbed and massaged, until he swallowed the bitter liquid. A coldness rippled from his stomach, deadening nerves and muscles, as Ely blinked and shuddered, as he began to tremble.

'What...was that - " Ely panted.

"Something - special - to help you rest, nothing harmful - I promise."

Ely was barely aware as Lady Fallowen stood, then walked around and knelt next to his belly, then her fingers tenderly caressed his belly.

"No...don't - do that - please..." Ely murmured.

"Shhh - " Lady Fallowen smiled at him, stroking her fingers along his belly.

"No..." Ely grunted, then tried to move, but found his body refusing, as the sedatives she'd slipped into the drink took him quickly.

"You...don't under..." Ely murmured, before his head thumped onto the ground and he groggily shuddered.

"You're a buck...quite...a buck..." Lady Fallowen whispered, as a hand lightly caressed Ely's sheath, then squeezed it gently, feeling the object hidden within. "I bet you've never had a human woman before..."

Ely's mind swirled like water running down a drain. As he gasped and felt the human's fingers begin stroking and massaging his sheath - quickly bringing him to arousal, despite his drugged mind refusing his body's desires.

"Easy..." Lady Fallowen smiled, as she lifted her skirt and rolled him over onto his back, Ely's limp body helpless.

"Nnn - " Ely gurgled, his forelegs folded against his chest, back legs pulling down against his hips.

"Consider this..." Lady Fallowen gasped, as she slid him forwards, her folds parting under the large, bulbous head, before he leaned back and eased even further forwards, taking him almost half inside her.

"Nnn..." Eli gurgled, his tongue thick and mind lost, feelings of betrayal, shock and pleasure conflicting within him, but unable to grasp the thoughts.

'Quite...a...buck - " Lady Fallowen gasped, as she pushed herself back further, feeling Ely mount her. "Oh..."

"Urk - " Come the weak moan.

Ely's drugged mind was incapable of processing the mixed, conflicting feelings, as this strange woman took him and started breeding him, like he was some beast. He twitched and trembled - but that was all his body would let him do - whatever she had put into that drink - it overrode his control, his emotions and even his mind.

"Nnn...sto..." Ely struggled to speak.

"Shhh..." Lady Fallowen panted, as she lay her legs either side of his hind hips, taking him fully inside her and laying there, feeling the large, firm member of the stag inside her. "I never...imagined how it...with a deer, I thought...a... Whitetail ... never a..."

Ely fought with his very heart, struggling to summon the magicks to protect himself from this unnatural mating - but they flickered and died in his grasp - elusive, like eldritch spirits of malevolence, that taunted and danced away as he reached for them.

"May this...union be blessed in the...the...oh...oh....." Lady Fallowen gasped, then she reached up and grasped Ely's front legs by the ankles, before she began shaking helplessly.

Ely twitched - it was all he could do, as the woman's orgasm triggered his own, and his powerful, bestial spurts quickly flooded her body and sent some of it squelching from her folds, it instantly soaking Ely's groin and sheath.

"Urk!" Lady Fallowen gasped, her hips arching as her spine crackled at the incredible heat that felt like it'd surely burn her alive.

Help... Ely screamed into the ether, but no one answered him, as another powerful orgasm was wrenched from his scrotum and shot into the now crying woman, who gripped Ely's forelegs and whimpered.

No...please...no - Ely's mind reeled. Please, not like this - not - taken like some beast and bred....

At that moment he hears the clatter of hooves on stones as Cassiopeia and Pelnak return with their bountiful harvest, rough woven gags slung around their furred necks, filled with roots they had dug from beneath trees, delicious, sweet berries and other treats.

Pelnak slammed to a halt, his head shaking as he looked, before his muzzle fell open. Cassiopeia had her muzzle in the bag she wore, then she blindly walked into Pelnak's rump, before gasping and shaking her head, before she looked over his shoulder.

"No..." Cassiopeia moaned. "Is...she..."

Lost in the pleasures of this unnatural mating, Lady Fallowen didn't heard the return of the two Therian - who looked from the woman, to Ely, who rolled an eye to stare at them, a single tear trickling from the corner.

Cassiopeia's head dropped, and in a split second, she stepped back, freeing herself from the bag around her neck. Her savagery aroused, she streamed like a brown furred bolt of lightning across the clearing.

Too late, Lady Fallowen seen the movement - too late to try to dismount - too late to move - too - late to scream...

Cassiopeia leap, her forelegs tucked tight against her chest, her hind legs streaming out behind her, as she hit the human in the shoulder and tore her off Ely, both human and doe rolling across the clearing. Cassiopeia screamed in rage and hatred - before she felt the woman press her hand against Cassiopeia's chest and suddenly, agony blasted through Cassiopeia's body like she'd been struck by lightning.

Cassie screamed and dropped, shaking and convulsing, as Lady Fallowen stood and glared down at the screaming Doe who writhed on the ground.

"How dare you..." Lady Fallowen snarled...her last words...

There was another streak and a white blur - before Lady Fallowen words were silenced as Pelnak crashed into her, his teeth sinking into her throat and grinding against her spinal column. As they fell, the woman's body beneath Pelnak's, he tightened his grip even harder. All his hatred, his anger and his fear erupted, as his eyes blazed with a look of such un-imagined rage - before he slashed his head from side to side and a sickening wet snap was heard.

Lady Fallowen corpse began to buck and convulse - her neck snapped, but still Pelnak bit down, his jaws breaking bone, rending flesh and the hot, salty blood gushed down his throat like a torrent.

"Pel..." Come a weak gurgle. "No...stop..."

Pelnak couldn't stop - wouldn't - stop. He gripped tighter and tighter, forcing himself against the convulsing woman's body, his throat muscles rippling as he drank down her blood.

This woman - had hurt Ely - had nearly killed Cassiopeia - she...

Cassiopeia slammed into him, before she wrenched him away, Pelnak tearing a chunk out of the woman's throat as he was forcibly pushed away. He spat out the flesh and slay there, shaking and panting, before he tried to rise, and Cassiopeia's warning bite on his nape froze him in mid-rise.

"No..." Cassiopeia wept. "Pelnak, no...stop...my love, please, stop!"

Pelnak blinked and shuddered, before he turned his wide-eyed gaze on Cassiopeia, then snapped his head to the side, looking at the body that lay on the cold ground, blood pooling and soaking into the ground.

"What...did I do..." Pelnak moaned, before his eyes rolled back in his head and he crumbled to the ground.

*

Sometime later, Ely, weak and exhausted, managed to kindle a fire in the clearing near Pelnak, to help keep him warm. Cassiopeia had dragged some branches to cover the body of the murdered woman, her own disgust and self-loathing clawing at her mind.

"I...did things...like..." Cassiopeia began to whisper.

Ely stepped over, draping his neck over hers, then pulling her gently against him, as his thumb and hoof split apart, touching Cassiopeia gently under the chin. With what little magicks he could command, he sent her into a deep, dreamless sleep.

*

Ely dragged Cassiopeia to Pelnak, pushing them together near the fire as best he could, his own energy nearly expended. Weakly, he crawled on his knees over to the baskets that had spilled their contents, and he bean feasting - his stomach swirled and threatened to bring it all back up - but he was starving, and food was what he needed most of all, if he was to begin healing...

*

Cassiopeia awakened late the next morning, her stomach growling and her throat dry and aching. Carefully, she got to her knees, before her weakened body collapsed.

"Here - " Ely muttered, as he tried pushing a bowl towards her, from which come sells of berries, water and other things her nostrils couldn't decipher.

"Please...drink and eat - its...not much - " Ely gasped. "I'm still very weak and..."

"Ely!" Cassiopeia moans, then struggles to her hooves. "You're...too weak, you shouldn't be trying to make...whatever that is..."

"I had too - " Ely coughed and shuddered.

"No...you're weak and sick - you - you died Ely and..."

Ely growled, then his head snapped and Cassiopeia squealed, before she flinched away, feeling his teeth sink into her foreleg, drawing blood. His look on his muzzle, one of frustration and mild anger.

Cassiopeia yelped, before she whimpered and dropped to her knees, burying her muzzle in the bowl, tears trickling down her eyes.

"You...know why - " Ely choked and swallowed, then shuddered. "I have...a good idea - "

Cassiopeia lifted her head, the strange 'stew' dribbling from her muzzle, before she sniffled and began to cry.

"Don't...cry little one...please - " Ely begged piteously, before he let his head fall back onto his forelegs. "I will cry for both of us...at the loss of your unborn..."