#earthrunes

She gently strokes the side of its neck. "I'm so sorry." She kens, probing for magic - she knows what she expects, but she doesn't assume.

Her kenning confirms it, this is the same hybrid curse/plague that has hit Samson. No doubt, that patient zero crow corrupted food supplies here too. It's not just horses and cows in danger it seems.

Zara's broken voice cannot hold a note, but her feathery whispers warble and crackle nonetheless.

"Love is a song that never ends
Life may be swift and fleeting
Hope may die yet love's beautiful music
Comes each day like the dawn

Love is a song that never ends
One simple theme repeating
Like the voice of a heavenly choir
Love's sweet music flows on"

She weaves a fuddle, an illusion of soft flowers and sweet grass and safety, of bedding down to sleep, where slumber can replace the pain.

And the doe's ragged breathing eases, just a bit. Oh, she is still dying. All things must, but the pain of that dying is eased.

Recognizing that the doe is past even magic's help, A'Dale only strums the softest of low notes in tune with Zara.

"May Death be a gift." She whispers to the deer before rising. "We must contain that crow."

"A moment." He checks that the doe has, indeed passed, before acting further...

It is only a matter of minutes, less perhaps.

And it passes... breathing stops. Entirely.

Once the last breath has passed, he gestures for the others to take a step back, then he plays a soft tune. It sounds like O Danny Boy, but the lyrics are "Oh, Bonny Doe".

As he plays, chimerical flames lick up in a pyre that leaves the grass and surrounding earth untouched, but consumes the doe - (hopefully) erasing any taint of illness on the fae half of things.

Apologetically, to Zara, "Someone will needs must cleanse the same of the mortal form, but at least, this much ill is gone."

And because he's a pooka, he adds, "I AM a medic after all, served in the Great War, what what."

The Dougal nods "Probably for the best. Miss Zara? You made its last moments peaceful. I'm not an animal lover, but I know the Baroness would agree with you." To Alan he says "You're the expert, lead on."

"Thank you, Chanticleer."

Oh Bonny Doe, the woods, the woods are calling,
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the leaves are falling,
For you must go, and yet we must abide.

Is he shedding a tear? Or just theatrics? One may never know. And on they go!

They move along, following the wisp. Alan never having touched the tainted creature, and perhaps that's for the best. THe flaems do their cleansing work

(Stamina roll for Zara)

/roll 2

Zara feels dizzy for... just a moment, and then...the dizziness passes fast, as if something caused it to recoil before it could truly take root.

And she is wise enough to realize crimson is king... at least today.

A momentarily staggered step,a feather-light touch to her temple.

He pulls up and reaches to steady her arm.

"Watch your step, m'lady."

A flash of a smile and a murmured thanks.

Hume looks worried, but nods. And they go on. The wisp has gotten a bit ahead but they catch up.

As they get closer, they find another fallen foe... but no hoofed animal this.

There is a ratty looking bluejay... a type of bird known for its bullying behavior, but in this case, one has to feel sorry. It's got the plague, and is spreading it... but it's not patient zero. Unlike the Doe, it seems ot be suriviving. Maybe birds are just carriers?

"Methinks we must hasten on to the source..." Apologetically

"Else we will forever be waylaid."

"We must, but we cannot allow it to spread the illness further..."

"And what of the dozen dozen afflicted we do not see?"

"Perhaps cutting the tap will stem all flow."

A grimace.

"I know...." The 'but' is unspoken, and perhaps it does not need to be.

"Should I. uhm.. put it out of its misery?" Hume is unsure

"Let's find the crow. And stop all of this."

And they head off, after the crow, the wisp scurrying forward...

and the jay flies over.... and... drops poop.

(Wits Plus Athletics/Dodge to avoid!)

/roll 6

/roll 5

/roll 6

All three avoid the undignified fall out, and move on.

"Gross" Hume observes.

"Que sera sera."

"But now we know it is spreading, and what is carrying it. We mustn't allow this to blossom into a plague."