Exhaustion crept upon the travelers like a snake, coiling around their limbs and turning them heavy and numb. The leader of the trio, tall and covered in soft mahogany fur, had his pointed ears pinned against his ruff, eyes glazed with the strain of hard exploration. His hand, which was rather pawlike, as per his wolfish nature, grasped weakly the strap of his warg's leather harness, the massive beast shaking as though he may collapse at any moment. Creases of worry formed between the wolf's brows. Grimacing at the sun overhead, Feraen fumbled for his canteen, halting the large creature in his steps to pour the last of it into it's maw, catching a splash in his palm to let the Phoenix on his shoulder sip from.
"
Healóc, boys," he rasped bolsteringly, stomach grumbling loudly. "We'll halt as soon as we encounter a stream."
In all honesty, he didn't know how many miles they had in them. It had been days...
But alas, a mercenary's charge gone awry was enough to keep them moving.
Gently, he gave the harness a halfhearted tug, urging the warg, Dugal, into reluctant motion.
He took no water for himself, instead placing his bets on the hope that said water source would not be far ahead. As usual, he wore only loose linen trousers that covered just as far as his digitrade knees, and no further. With all his fur, more clothing wasn't necessary. His well toned chest heaved with labored breaths, short tail twitching tiredly. Diaval, the blue and grey Phoenix, hung his elegant head in misery, his feathers looking rumpled and in need of cleaning, wings dangling listless at his sides. Not for the first time, Feraen felt sharp guilt at putting them through this ordeal. If only he hadn't taken that job... Unable to stomach it anymore, the werewolf stilled, swaying on his thick hind paws, eyes unfocused and far off. In seconds that felt like years, his overworked limbs gave out, and he collapsed. Lack of sleep atop non-stop travel- it was a wonder they had made it this far.
Dugal whimpered, sinking down beside his fallen master with foggy concern. He nosed at the burly wolf, tusks working against his lips worriedly. He made a sharp noise aimed towards the bird on his shoulders, and the Phoenix seemed to almost force himself to his feet, beak open as if hoping to get more air into his lungs. With a dry, hoarse shriek, the bird half-stumbled into the sky, unkempt plumage beating clumsily as at the breeze.
Get help. Get help for master... Urging himself onward, Diaval soared above the trees, every instinct propelling him to seek aide for his family.
@DragonSong OOC: hope this is okay! Fiala gets to be his knight in shining hooves ;)