SO FAR SO GOOD + DEATH

[suvi.]

[align=center]— T͏O̴G͠ETH͏ER̕ ÁT̴ ̸T̕H̶E ST͏ART̶ O͏F̀ ̵TI̡M͏E —

The library.  The most common place to find the petite vixen, should she not be reorganizing her medkits or fussing over her feathered companion, Fiachra, who possessed unfortunate habits of pranking her or finding trouble.  The medic had gone inside, but only for a brief moment; with muted greetings to all she passed by, she found a book then returned to the outside.  Whenever the library bore one to many visitors, she read under the sun.

Until a great deal of voices interrupted as her paw began turning a page.  Brows creased sharply.  Panic and concern emitted from within the confines of her favorite place.  A voice even calling for Crow.  About... Leroy.  Leroy.  Leroy, who had been a face she’d known since the day she found herself in Tanglewood.  Leroy, gruff but truly caring.  Leroy, who she knew to be dying.  Knew.  Understood.  Comprehended.  Refused to believe.  Because how was she supposed to accept a Tanglewood without the gruff old proxy around?

So many new faces had surrounded her since she returned from her capture, but Leroy remained.  She didn’t want to lose him too.  Certainly not forever.  Not forever.  So, quietly, with trembling legs, the arctic fox rose to her feet.  Slowly, she popped her head into the library once more.  Without warning, her body moved.  Disappearing and reappearing closer to the side of her former team leader, Delilah.

Her unmatched hues flickered, flashed back between Leroy - on the ground, panicked, struggling, on the ground - and Selby, the new sawbone.  Accepting.  Trying to be a reassuring presence despite it.  No, no, no. Her stomach rolled.  Her chest felt fizzy, like something was vibrating inside her chest.  He’s not dying.  Stop.  Stop acting like he’s going away.  He can’t.  He can’t. Her tongue, like lead sat immobile in her mouth.  Useless.  She wanted to speak.  To tell the others they just needed to help Leroy stand back up.  He’d be fine.  This wasn’t where it ended.

She refused.  Numbly, the fox shuffled back some, unwilling to keep Crow from his proxy’s side.  The library felt constricting suddenly.  Her eyes fluttered shut, chest tight.  This was Leroy.  Leroy, who would make it through.  He’d make it through.  He will make it through.  I know he can.

✯ — suvi kiira ní faoláin. female. medic of tanglewood. beta of the typhoon. arctic fox.  ref. bio.