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Dasher had been fighting his weakness and trying to appear as though he was doing fine. Although he had migrated from his usual outpost as an Outrider and more towards the center of the herd lands to avoid predators. His wound didn't seem to be healing properly, and reeked of infection. It had gotten to the point where he could only painfully hobble upon that leg. His appetite diminished and his strength waning. His spirits were low, and his daily fight to survive was becoming little more than a flicker. With the harshness of winter and now Anlach upon them... he was not doing well.

Dasher trudged across the snow laiden ground, his breath coming out in heavy puffs. It was then that his strength seemed to finally give out, and the bull collapsed, falling upon his side with a loud thud and a grunt. Sides heaved as he struggled for breath, eyes half lidded and the light within them dulled.

Was this it? Was this how he was to die?

Lying there on the frost covered ground, his fur getting wet and cold, Dasher continued to pant... his eyes closed. However, some moments later, he heard a familiar voice. Eyes opening slowly to look up at Blitzen with slightly blurred vision.

"You should stay away" he told her brokenly, "The Lera.. they'll come for me." The smell of death would surely attract predators, and Blitzen could get hurt also if she were to stand in their way. His fate seemed to be sealed, for he did not know of any way to save himself.

It was nice.. to atleast see her one more time. It was a good thing none of his family were here also... he didn't want them to see him like this.

The bull wrenched his eyes closed again and had to bite back his desire to bellow in pain when she tried to clean his wound. It was a horrible pain... one he'd never known before. He could barely move that leg with the swelling and infection within it.

He seemed convinced that he was finished.. that Hoern would be taking him from his world soon enough. Although Blitzen's words didn't fall on deaf ears. Trembling legs tried to push himself back to his hooves, but the bull only fell once more.. his breath coming out in short gasps and face contorted with excrutiating pain. He was clearly worn out just from the effort, "I can't..." he told her weakly. Glazed eyes turning to look back up at the cow he'd had been wanting to impress for so long.

He grunted at her pushing and insistance, teeth gritting a bit as he struggled again to upright himself. Wobbly legs got up for a moment before they gave out again and he sunk back down again, although managing to not land on his side this time. The bells around his neck jingled merrily.. but this was far from a merry situation. Pulling his legs beneath him with the exception of his infected one, his nose was buried in the snow.

It all seemed to be a futile effort to him. Even if he could get up, surely the wolves would hunt him down soon enough... for it was amazing they hadn't already. Perhaps even this winter had been hard on the predators. "I'm sorry..." he said atlast, "I tried." He just didn't have enough strength... willpower alone wasn't enough to get him back on his feet, but he was quite lacking in both.

Dasher again grunted with pain when she tried to clean his wound again, however he remained still.. hoping that maybe it would help in some way.. despite the fact that he'd already tried to clean it up some himself.

Blitzen's question caused his ears to lay back as he closed his eyes.. remembering the day he'd recieved the wound and broken antler. "Fenna and Seren.. they.. were attacked by a monster" he muttered, remembering the beast that he had gone up again. "A herla.. but... a demon. I could see his bones... and his eyes... glowed red. I tried to protect them."

"I've been too weak to move much..." he confessed, "It was atleast a week ago... I think Dancer might have told Donner... but I'm not sure. Heh.. he'll probably be glad to see me gone anyway." It was no secret the two didn't get along after all. "I spoke to another outrider... but.." he didn't know what came of that. Where was Dancer anyway? Although he'd rather not have her see his sorry state... knowing she was around would atleast be of some comfort that atleast someone cared about him. How depressing.

"I think I injured it.. the monster... but he could have finished me off. I don't know why he didn't." Something had caused Gluttony to stall.. but if it hadn't been for that, he and his daughters might not have gotten away. But there was little reason to mull over it now.

Blitzen shot a short glare at him. "If you weren't injured right now, I'd n** you. Honestly, you two are so childish and ignorant about each other," she half-scolded, her view on his and her brother's feuding now voiced.

She began to lick his leg again, only giving a few nods towards his other words. She kept silent for some time, rolling questions and other information around in her skull until one question just sort of "fell out."

"Where has Dancer been through all of this?" Her tone wasn't accusing nor harsh; she spoke in an honest and simple fashion.