The sun shines brightly on a calm one calm summer evening. The birds are out chirping and the animals are scurrying about. Squirrels leave their homes to forage, while birds are fluttering about enjoying the warm summer breeze. Despite the tranquil serenity of the forest, there is a solemn feeling in the air.

Today is the first day of June, and Arjana is still unconscious since the day she collapsed.

**

Throughout the coming days since the incident, Arjana had not shown any promising signs in her recovery. Ever since Birger got her stable, she had been unconscious in the coming days. At first, he thought that she would awake after he gave her the medicine, but that was not the case. Days would turn into weeks, and Arjana had not woken up from her slumber. Birger would try everything in his pantry to try and rouse her, but nothing would work. Izzimar felt immensely horrible for his responsibility in causing this, and tried his best to rectify his actions by gathering components he thought would help. Sadly, this proves to be futile as Birger hasn't uttered a single word to him ever since the incident.

Thankfully, Arjana’s condition hasn't deteriorated, but she has lost a considerable amount of weight. Birger is at his wits end trying to save her, but right now… he doesn't know what to do. The stress of trying to save a young patient from this condition is too much for him, and finally his frustration boils over.

It is midnight, and Izzimar has fallen asleep next to Arjana  at her bedside. His slumber is interrupted when Birger gently shakes him awake.

“Get. Up. Izzimar.”, he says calmly.

Despite Birger's attempts to hide his anger, Izzimar knew what was coming, and sighs as he quietly gets to his feet. Birger lets him out of the room and they go outside to the back of the cabin. Once there, Birger grabs a thin birch branch and strikes Izzimar with twenty lashes on his backside. When Birger stays his hand off the birch, he calms his nerves, grabs Izzimar's shoulders, and looks him in the eyes.

“Izzimar…why don’t you listen to me…?! I taught you how to manage your blindness!  I gave you a warm bed, shared my food with you, and even gave you the clothes off my back!”, he yells, “Before you met me, you didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of !”, Birger added through gritted teeth. 

Birger calms himself before making the young elf meet his gaze. “After what you’ve been through, with your clan, and your condition... I try not to ask for much… I thought you understood that by now... ”, he says. Izzimar remains quiet before turning his head away, upset.

“Izzimar, I know I’m…not your father… I’m not trying to be. But you know better! I taught you, to know better, to do better, to be better!”, Birger reminds him. “Yet after all I taught you, you still choose to disappoint me. Why?” His last question, broke Izzimar, as he sadly faces Birger with tears streaming down his face.

“I…I’m sorry,...”, Izzimar whimpers before walking away, using his cane, to sit on the cutting stump to sulk. He whimpers and hides his face to stifle his cries. After having a moment to collect himself, he admits.

“...I…It’s just…I wanted…to…surprise you…with the food... And I wanted to make Arjana smile since…she's my new friend…” Izzimar says between sniffles. Birger looks on, surprised at Izzimar’s confession.

. “I …I thought if I took her outside and we…brought food back from Honeyloaf, you’d both be happy..”, he admits

“Izzimar, you don’t have to put her life in danger for all of that.”, Birger explains with a sigh

“I didn’t mean to! I thought we had enough time to come back!”, Izzimar whined as he resumed crying. “…I’m sorry I …I never wanted to disappoint you… I never wanted her to get worse...”, he admits before sniffling.

Birger wants to reassure Izzimar ,say something to ease his sadness, but he is struck by an abrupt dread that chills his heart. This doesn't go unnoticed by Izzimar who, after sensing him tense up, lifts his head up at him in confusion. Birger, looking into the forest, sees two piercing red eyes, and a tall shadowy figure staring back at them.