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With each day that passed, the plague worsened. The once-clear waters of Fate's Respite were now a sickly purple, thick and slimy and acidic to the touch - and through whatever curse had transformed it now caused all within a few miles' radius to feel drawn to its poison, compelled by an unquenchable thirst to drink, drink, drink. It burned their throats and scarred their insides, but still they supped of its toxic gift.

It had to stop.

Valeska knew she was declining rapidly. All around her, the wolves of Elysium either worsened with her or left of their own volition - but she had stayed. Up to this point she had stubbornly refused to leave, her heart loath to relinquish the place she had called home for so many years.

So many memories...

And now it was killing them.

She was no better than her father. He had suffered the same - forced to choose between losing the home his family had laid claim to for generations, or death. Dimas had bitterly rebuked any who tried to leave, corralling them back into their territory; he was certain conditions would improve, prey would return, they had no reason to abandon it -

And so he watched them die, until he, too, succumbed to hunger.

While Valeska had not forced anyone to stay, many had out of loyalty or love - and now she saw how selfish she was to remain. Elysium was her responsibility, under her care, her protection, her love, and she was killing them.

She would make the announcement tomorrow.

Until then, she walked the edge of Fate's Respite, staying up well past her normal hours just to drink it in for one last time. Who knows if they would ever be able to return - if the lake would ever clear again, if the plague would lift and life return as it was before.

Her paws carried her a little ways beyond the border, and she recognized a shape through the darkness.

Cyrus, she rasped, her voice raw and ragged from too many sips of the lake. I am surprised you are still here.

Valeska sat next to him.

Tomorrow... we will be leaving this place, she said quietly, looking out toward the clouded sky overhead. Possibly to Frostfang Vale, Houtu willing Dawnbreak will be open to us.

She turned to look at him, but his expression was unreadable beneath the cover of night. He seemed unusually quiet.

Thank you for staying as long as you did, even if it was through my own foolish choices. You have always been so good to us.