It was an uncomfortable position, the pain and illness she felt doing nothing to help. Despite this, the hard lectures and words of her kind replayed in her mind, and her body just had to be accustomed to it and deal with it. Complaining or whining about it was not going to make it any better, so Karma laid in the best position she could and endured it.
A sudden small warmth coming over her fur alerted her of someone else's presence, and her eyes opened to see who it was. The voice that came to her ears told her it was the little feline, and Karma relaxed again at the realization. "I suppose it has," she spoke to Thirteen, glad for a distraction from her wound. "At least it's over and done with. Though I probably shouldn't get my hopes up for the future, especially if that pack is still chasing after us."
A silence hung between them for a moment. Karma's eyes became distant as she thought about something, lowered brows showing she was trying to come to a decision but having a hard time of it. Finally, she spoke. "I was wondering," she began, keeping her gaze ahead and tone of voice unchanging, though a bit slow and uncertain. "Why do you call me... Lost Child?"
It was an innocent enough question, at least Karma hoped it was, and she hoped it only seemed like a simple act of curiosity. But it was something that had been bothering her for awhile, now, since she first heard it from Kali.
~*~*~*~*~
The silence and stillness of the forest was a great agitation, it wouldn't be surprising if it ended up making everyone go mad. Thankfully Dusk was growing accustomed (at least making him self) to the change, though deep down he craved for the active life that used to roam the world; flight of birds, a passing breeze, skittering of smaller life seeking shelter. Most of all the thrill of a chase when hunting prey, and the satisfaction that came after catching it. But enough for such thoughts, thinking about it only made it worse, and he had other things to worry about.
Changing course, he made his way to a base of a tree, raising a paw to push aside long grasses and other plants as his eyes searched. As usual his demeanor was relaxed and laid back looking, visage calm and neutral despite what had happened and the condition everyone was in. Dusk's mind was more mysterious, maybe even haunting, than Karma's own.
"Did you find food yet?" he called back to Cross. Not finding what he was looking for, he went to another tree a few paces ahead, and repeated the process. "We should head back as soon as possible."
