Taryn shivered and fought the snakes that darted at her, biting, leaving her pierced and burning. She struggled against the hands that bound her, pressing her shoulder into the sand. Feebly striking out, hitting on air. Murmuring voices and even the earth shuddered with her pain. Merciful silence settled over her.<br/><br/>Time passed or it didn't, Taryn was in a place of limbo where only darkness and pain were the trading currency. She knew it was not a place she wished to stay and blissful peace was waiting for her. A single tear, green from the venom that had overtaken her, slid down her cheek. There used to be a reason to live but right now she didn't know what it was. Nothing was left. The world might be lost but Taryn had done her best.<br/><br/>Warmth began to seep into her and Taryn rolled a bit toward it. She felt thorns catching in her hair and her head began to clear. Opening her eyes, she looked into Raschen's emerald ones. He was battered, nearly destroyed but as Taryn could hear clearly now, could hear Jax cheering that it was over!<br/><br/>Healing and wellness stole into her and Taryn realized that Raschen had cleansed her. She sat up to see his flesh visible beneath his thinned fur, long cracks spread over muscles as if he were a ruined terracotta statue.<br/><br/>"Raschen!," she called, carefully draping herself over his chest, mindful to  not put her full weight on him. "You did it!. I know you did or you would not be here with us." She caught her lip between her teeth, "But at what cost to you? I can't lose you. We can't lose you." She pleaded. "You must survive. Our children will need a father."