It burned from the inside out, his side throbbed and ached and the burn in his throat grew more intense each passing moment. He couldn't think of hunger because he was too preoccupied with pain. In the end it didn't seem to matter how hard he had tried, he couldn't force himself to stand and save himself. He thought of his scattered family, his pride, he gave a fierce growl and tried again to find the strength to stand. The large male managed to roll himself onto his stomach and with a groan of pain he pushed himself onto shaking legs. The pain threatened to send him back down but he lurched forward to the cave entrance where he could see the glimmer of sunlight. The pain won out and he collapsed back into the dirt with a grunt. His vision blurred for a moment as the pain raced through his body the wound that ripped down his side throbbed and poured tainted blood. He closed his eyes, he couldn't bear how close and yet how far the cave entrance seemed, the taunting hope.
Even if he could managed to get out of the cave and back down to the lake he needed more than water. He needed food, he needed to cleanse the wound, and he desperately needed herbs or someone who could help him handle the infection that seemed to be claiming his life.