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It wasn't common for Malodore's phone to ring, so when it did the plague doctor gave the device a suspicious look for a few seconds before picking it up. "Ah... Jericho. Si, of course. Is it, ah, assistance of a medical nature? Should I bring supplies?"

The dragon often got into scraps, after all. It had already stitched up its wings once.

We, Malodore noted. The odd speech patterns both Riley and Jericho tended to adopt when things became... erratic... had not escaped the plague doctor's notice. "Va bene. Give me a few moments and I will be at your door."

Once it had hung up the phone, it checked its pockets, making sure it had whatever might be needed, though since Jericho hadn't mentioned anything in particular that meant the dragon probably wasn't missing a limb. It patted Luce on the head, made sure Dolce was safely ensconced in his bed, then hurried out to the monster dormitories.

It wasn't long before it was knocking quietly on Jericho's door.

"It is no problem, my friend," Malodore assured the dragon as it entered, hurriedly slipping through the small gap between door and frame. Its feathers jangled as if in protest. "I was not... ah."

The ah was at the sight of Jericho's wings. "Si, the increase is most evident..." Its face was physically incapable of frowning, but it managed to get the point across in its tone. "I wish I had an answer for you - but if the infection is sourced in the mind, then merely removing the afflicted areas would not serve," it said, with a sigh. "How does the flesh feel? Itchy, still? Is there any decrease in other sensation? Reaction time?"

Malodore hesitated. It was most uncertain on matters of the mind - that was Riley's forte - but with her own mind affected by this same affliction, it felt it had nowhere else to turn.

It would have to grow to match the challenge set before it.

"So you will... remain here, within this chamber?" It turned its head and looked at the door for a moment before glancing back at the dragon. "I worry that isolation may compound the psychological effects, but... I do not want you to be taken anywhere," it said, firmly. And with a bit more force than it had intended. "You are my amico, not a thing to be experimented on against your will. With your will, perhaps, but against it? Never."

Which was about as profound a statement of platonic devotion as could come out of the plague doctor's beak, if you thought about it.

"So." It turned on one hoof and started to pace, folding its claws behind its back. "You cannot, perhaps - I know that some of those with a true form can alter that form, concealing more or less of their shape. If the wings are the issue, perhaps you can modify your shape to remove them in this form? You have no tail in this form, after all, while you surely do in your true shape."

"Ah well," Malodore sighed. "It was a thought." It paced around the dragon this time, examining Jericho from all angles. "I do not suppose there is any traditional draconic precedent towards covering ones flesh? If you were a plague doctor, it would come quite naturally to you." Never mind that plague doctors didn't cover their wings, as said wings were not fleshy and therefore not in need of concealment. "Some sort of cover or clothing? It would effectively ground you, though, unless it was engineered with particular ingenuity..."

"I presume amputation is out of the question," Malodore said, dryly, then shook its head. "That was a joke," it added, just in case. "Other than covering it up with something - cloth, cosmetics perhaps - I can think of nothing. The nature of this infection is entirely alien to me. I know nothing of its treatment, and I can only theorize its vectors. My current hypothesis is that the Hunter's attack on Riley contaminated her, and the infection spread to you through the bond you share."

... It did not mention that it had been checking its own body for any sign of gray, fastidiously. Every day.

"If my theory is correct, it could mean that the infection is communicated mentally, rather than physically... that it is memetic, if you will. Shehk has shown no sign of contamination, has she?"

"The one you captured - yes, indeed, the Hunter whose corpse was regrettably... destroyed." Malodore sighed wistfully. It had been so excited, and then... nothing. "What else did he have to say on the subject? I do not know if we can trust his words, but we have precious little to go on at this time."