* chapter i: darkness / abandoned & strained kit

[PEPPINO]

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Pip was not Junji, but he always kept a careful eye on the border, and he was out and about often enough that when there was even a slight commotion, he usually caught wind of it. At least nothing seemed to be on fire this time, but as the canine trotted closer, noticing the apparently abandoned kitten covered by Marcellus, the worry was back in full-force. He set the concern aside, though, because it wasn't conducive to anything except more apprehension, and Pip needed a clear head for this. "Excuse me," the young canine said, gently maneuvering Eris aside. "They seem overheated. Let's go farther into the shade." Ever so careful, Pip extended forward to retrieve the kitten from Marcellus, carrying them into greater shelter from the sun, where the sand was cooler. He set them down just as lightly as he had picked them up, and from his satchel, found a small bowl, with a canteen of water he poured into it.

"You can drink that, if you're thirsty," Pip murmured, glancing over the kitten for any external injuries, for signs of dehydration or prolonged heat exposure. Their movements had seemed a bit stiffer. Joint pain? Muscles? There weren't any protrusions from broken bones, and they could still bear weight. He dug around in his satchel again, this time a small container of diluted rosemary oil in his teeth. He set it down, pulling out the stopper, and carefully tipped it over onto his paw. "I'm going to rub this into your legs, okay? They should feel better." If there was a sprain, the oil could relieve the pain as well, so it seemed the best option.

Motions firm but gentle, Pip ran his oiled paw over one of the kitten's legs, searching for any signs of discomfort.
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