Zeltzin would never know, as would Shem. Zeltzin is too pure for it, that much I know, and she would undoubtedly suffer more than any of us, beyond perhaps Moteuh's body itself, a twisted, gnarled thing. Abel's leg. It was like that. Twisted, gnarled, repulsive. Incompatible with life. Yes, Asriel was right. He burned it off, removed it, tore sickness away. It was simply...all-encompassing, that sickness. You could not purge a spine, a ribcage, lungs...not the same way. His way was the only way. Still, it is unsettling to feel it, to feel a strange empty part of yourself open up inside.

In the silence, I feel as if I am not wholly here. My mind drifts, empties itself, and for some time only echoes exist before Asriel's voice reminds me to be here. My eyes focus in on him once more and I nod immediately, my mind well and truly decided on the matter. "We will take her to the water. Home is too far for us to take her, but not too far for the river. We will travel with her, protect her, and then she will be home." I pause, giving another glance towards the body before I speak again. "If you wish to bury her, I will help you. Otherwise, the sea is beautiful. The sea is suitable too." My voice is confident but I think of Moteuh once more when I say those words, thinking of the fact that she had never been allowed the opportunity to view the ocean as she should have. I find myself staring at the body again and with a flick of my ear, I move towards it, preparing to grasp her scruff so that I might carry her.

She is not...stiff. Yet. When I grip her scruff, I finally feel how light she is; she was born small, Zeltzin's blood strong within her, but as I begin to move with her, I realize just how small she is...was. She must be even smaller than she was born to be, her twisted body unable to unfurl as it should have; awkward, clumsy, and yet some creature found it amusing enough to keep her in such a state. It is difficult not to think of it, and I do my best to retain composure as we begin our journey towards the surface.

It takes some time and I feel my lungs weary with effort as I finally find a path towards the river that flows to the south. The rocks are difficult to navigate and I am suspicious of any others nearby; at least for now, we seem to still be alone. By the time we find the river, I can feel my blood hot with exertion as I finally lay her down on the banks. I take a moment to catch my breath, eyes on her as she seems to be...resting. "What is right and what is wrong...it is not always the same for everybody, Asriel. I am sure you know this. But this is right. Nothing can save a wolf from a body like this and so, it is right to bring peace." I watch him closely as I speak, and perhaps for the first time since he was born, I am able to look at him as more than a son. He is his own wolf and to think that he made such a decision, such a choice, by himself? Ah, it feels wrong to think it makes me proud. "You helped her when she was beyond helping."