#baronyofthesilverwolf

The dogs bark as it is dropped off, but do not attack

And someone might see a troll in a mask driving out with the drop off

Those who are still on their feet wave them off thankfully.

***

Madern shakes his head. Did he almost nod off at the table? He's got work to do

Julius notices. "You'll get sick if you run yourself down too much. Take a break." Also drinking a big cup of coffee, eyes shadowed.

"Look whos talking. " he says then blinks "Sorry, Julius I just..." A sigh "They need me"

"I know that if you burn yourself out, you won't have the strength to fight off the flu if you catch the bug. Then where will we be? The only broth I know how to make is cup noodle..."

"How long do you think I have before they get hungry again?" He fed marigold the broth. She didn't look good but hee did make her take some

"I'll listen for the bells. You. Rest." He insists.

"I'll set an alarm anyway. Two hours will recharge me. I'm young, Dumb, full of.. something" He moves set the alarm and collapse

Julius checks the alarm, and turns it to 4 hours instead. A sigh, and he tops off his coffee, drops a throw blanket over Madern, and heads to check on the Thanes.

Unaware of this treachery, Madern sleeps HARD

Dolph pounds on the door. "Julius!" He yells.

The boggan grump has thusfar remained well himself, largely by staying out with the horses.

"Blossom?"

Finally Julius makes it to the door from upstairs - "Oh, no. Okay, get her inside and into a bed. I'll get some of that thera-flu and microwave Madern's broth."

Soon Dee is tucked away, feverish and coughing, but in good hands. As long as Bluebell doesn't catch him caring for her...

"mmm fiiine" Dee whines "Don'twaannmisspennons.. " Hack cough..

"Hush, or I'll put you in with the horses to stay warm." Julius says.

"And I know you're hot, keep the blankets on. You have to sweat that fever out."

"I hate you" oh dear she turns into a 7 year old

but she keeps the blankets on

Meanwhile...

Nadeen is dreaming. She is not in the cool forests of Siberia from her Deep Dreams, larch and spruce leaping around her for the sky, with the sun sparkling through off the snow on their branches.

Nor is she in the woods of Silverwolf, just starting to color with the touch of Lady Autumn.

She is in a desert. Alone. The sky is bright, but empty - a blank canvas. The sands burn her feet. She tries to swallow, but her throat is filled with dust.

Aiden is not by her side. She is alone. Though... something bright flickers, in her mind's eye. Reaching for her. A warm heat, not a burning sear.

It is a flame, a cool and silver flame, a bright and golden flame.

All she has to do is reach it. The flame lengthens, stretching, trying to get to her, to break through the fever. A fever dream is still a dream, though, and as she reaches for it, that's all it takes for it to reach her.

The Lady Dancingsnow is bathed in sweet, blessed coolness that washes away the ache and fades the burn. The cool, sweet familiar burn of her balefire runs through her, searing the traces of the illness.

She is still ill, yes, but when Blossom next checks on her Lady, the worst of the fever is broken, and she rests, in true sleep.

For a day, it seemed all over the local area, the temperature had gotten unnaturally HOT for this time of year. Those not plagued probably wanted to stay inside. Yet it is now returning to more..standard temps

Jasper Hobb, weasel pooka, finds himself sweating, "Oh, no! Must be the fever!" He flees from the shop he was considering visiting despite the closed sign, and holes up in his apartment instead.

---

"TWO Hours! I thought i set it for TWO" Scrambling with restored energy, the Piskie curses himself for his mistake

Julius meant to take care of some things while Madden slept… But he didn’t get around to it. The dishes are still piled, and he’s heating broth in the microwave. Why do they even Have a microwave?

"Julius... I'm sorry, I set the timer wrong. What's the situation and... oh are we reduced the microwave??"

“Dee’s sick, and Nadeen’s fever was back, and worse.” He says shortly.

"Worse??"

“She was delirious, I think.” He says in a worried tone. “I’m trying to get more flu meds into her. Damn. I’ve only started studying Spring. I can’t do anything Ty o really help.”

"Okay, okay. Baron Aiden is out right? He's probably getting help right now. How are you holding up? I slept. Have you?"

“I’m holding up. You rant to check in on the Baroness or Dee? And have you seen Blossom?”

"I just woke up. I'll check them now, "

And he races off to check on the Baroness

"Found her and Blossom, Blossom says the Baroness fever has broke.." Madern says

"Hey, I was gonna say that" Blossom fusses

“Good work, Blossom.” Julius says, tiredly.

“That’s a relief, she’d have murdered me if she woke up in a hospital while her people were still sick.”

"well, yes, she would have" the girl nods

"Dee looks WIPED but I gave her more theraflu" Madern answers "And fever reducer"

“She overdid it. You look better now, by the way.” To Maddern.