#earthrunes

The tension is palpable. The tauntauns are snorting and pawing along with the horses. August can hear Coradel's voice as she talks to somebody (presumably Emma), her tone clipped and hard: "Anything yet?"

August enter quietly, unobtrusively.

The Vetnarian says "We haven't narrowed down the strain, but I advise we keep him from other horses"

August can hear a steady wheezing coming from Samson.

Coradel says, "Yes, of course, I'm not an idiot. But he needs treatment now, for the symptoms regardless of the strain."

"Well, yes, yes. " the vet says a bit cowed, "I'll give him a shot for the fever"

August stays out of the way, of course.

"Good," Coradel says brusquely. Then she spots August at the periphery and moves to him, her entire posture tense and angry (though not at him).

At this point, Emma has probably been more useful, the Vet seeming a bit flummoxed, but he gives the shot and miserable but good natured Samson takes it with a matyred expression

"I just heard." he murmurs softly.

She whispers, "Nothing's working, not cantrips, nothing. And this man can't even tell me what it is."

"Have you asked Samson?" just as softly.

"No, I haven't. Do you always know what's wrong with you when you're ill?" Her tone is a bit snippish for a moment, but then she pauses and takes a deep breath.

He takes her hand, if she'll let him "No. I thought it might help."

She does let him, and it seems to steady her a bit. "I'll ask him. When the vet leaves."

"Best to get all the input possible." he agrees.

She nods, then looks towards Samson's stall again, making a noise of frustration.

"The shot is given, I'll... call head to the office and get lab work on that blood sample" the vet assures

"Thank you, doctor."

"Do it quickly," Coradel says sharply.

"You're wel... of course" He says, and beats a hasty retreat. Unsure why this horse owner alarms him so in her ire.

Coradel's Fiona is definitely showing.

"Let's ask Samson how he's doing." August suggests gently.

She squeezes August's hand, then moves towards the stall, bringing him with her.

He walks with her. "Hello, Samson...."

The horse looks miserable, normally chummy, he is feverish, sweaty, and raspy... but for Coradel's sake, at August's question he tries to straighten up and look strong. He fails.

"Steady." August encourages him gently "We'll figure this out."

"Shhhh..." She reaches to pull his head down to a more relaxed position. "You don't have to do that," she murmurs as she rests her head against Samson's cheek.

((OOC: I don't have access to Coradel's stats for the same reason I don't have Sylvi's, so I don't recall what cantrips she has. Can we assume she has WillowWhisper? I don't recall if she does.))

OOC I'm -sure- she does....

(Sure)

Samson's answers to the questions are answered in a whisper of his own.... he feels terrible, weak at the joints and cold inside. He worries he'll infect the other horses but doesn't remember going near any other sick horses... though there was this mangy crow that was messing with his feed. When asked when this was, it was about three days before he got sick.

Coradel listens and passes along the information to August. A scowl at the mention of the crow. She looks to August. "We need to find it."

and with that cantrip spent, Samson just ..endures

"Assuming it is still a crow." he frowns "Still, it's something to start with."

Coradel refills Samson's water. "Drink, more than you want to. We'll figure this out." She moves away from the stall, and turns her attention to the stablehands. "Have any of you noticed a crow taking an interest in Samson's stall or feed recently?"

August strokes Samson gently, then goes to the building doorway and looks around.

((Oh, crap, I forgot that Mr. D needs to be here for that conversation. Ha!))

As the stablehands look blankly at each other, Coradel frowns. "Talk to the others who are not here, and find out. I want a report from one of you by sundown."

Her fingers tense on August's hand, she moves to depart the stables.

August hesitates "Are you sure you want to leave?" he asks; it would not be the first time she's slept in the stables.

"I plan to come back. I want to settle some things and make sure to talk to Delores first. But...." A slight softening of her expression. "Thank you for understanding."

"Of course. Shall I join you?" he offers.

That actually earns a hint of a grin. "You're welcome to, if you wish it."

"Happy to." he assures her "How else can I help?"

"I suppose...." A pause. "Could you speak with Lord Hume, let him know what's happening? Perhaps he can get a group together to follow up on the crow lead."

"Yes, of course. I'll ask the available members of the bannerhouse to look as well, if you wish."

"I do wish, yes. They might not find much on the notion of a mangy crow, at first, but we'll give them more information as we get it."

"I cannot recall to mind.... are any of our pooka friends of the avian sort?"

She frowns slightly. "Let me think."