The poor rabbit was resting on my lap. It's hind leg had been chopped clean off. Alder used his magic to heal it until the bleeding had stopped. He now stood at the table with all the vials and flasks. Gloves protected his hands as he studied the rabbit's leg and the black gloop. I've never seen him like this. He wasn't panicking, but he was focused. His hands moved nimbly as he used a mortar and pestle to grind up some plants.

"It's alright, Ms. Rabbit." I spoke softly, my hand running through its fur. "You'll be just fine."

"Maybe if I add some of the feverfew… no, that will not work."

This was so odd. I knew Alder, and normally he'd be comforting the rabbit. He wouldn't dare to leave a hurt animal without some comfort. It was weird to see him acting like he doesn't really care. A green glow came from Alder's hands as he continued to concoct whatever it was he needed.

"Uhm… why don't you take a break, Alder? Come check on the rabbit."

"No, it is fine." He said, not even turning to look at me.

"Just a small break. Didn't you say that breaks are important?"

He sighed. "I meant for you. I do not have time to care for the rabbit. I need to figure this out."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you in such a rush? You didn't even take a proper look at this poor thing before amputating its leg."

"That is how life is. I cannot waste time tending to it."

I flinched. I never seen him act this cold before. It was a whole entirely different side to him. It began to set in that I knew Alder, but only what he wanted me to see. This side of him… I didn't like it. I stayed silent and continued to pet the rabbit. It opened its eyes and looked up at me. It had been crying. The poor thing. And Alder didn't care one bit. I looked up at him, my face twisted in a glare.

"The rabbit is sad."

"Little blossom…"

"Is this how you act with all animals when I'm not around?"

Alder slammed his hands on the table. The green glow dulled until it disappeared. "You know that is not true."

"Do I?" I looked down at the rabbit. "Was it truly necessary to amputate her leg? To put her through so much pain?"

"Do not mistake me as someone with a cold heart, Cahira. I wanted to help the rabbit, but pain was necessary. This sickness does not allow healing."

Frustration filled my voice. "But what is the sickness? You're not telling me anything!"

"Alder." Stolas was at the entryway of the conservatory. His arms were crossed. "Three cervidae, two rabbits, four owls, and about a dozen mushroom pygmies."

Alder's eyes widened. "That many?"

"One of the cervidae, both of the rabbits, all but two of the mushroom pygmies, and two of the owls survived. The others…"

"We will examine the others. Come, Cahira."

I nodded. All those animals… they were infected as well. I looked down at the rabbit and gently picked her up. I couldn't leave her all alone. Not after what she just went through. I followed the two of them above ground. In front of the tree lay all the animals. Some of them were infected to various degrees. I set down the rabbit.

"Stay here. Don't go around the others, okay?"

I watched as both Stolas and Alder began to examine each animal. I could feel the tension in the air. I tried to keep my breathing calm as I walked over to the pair. Alder was detailing how infected each animal was, Stolas writing it down. Alder held one of the owls in his hands. Its eye had been eaten away by the black sludge.

Stolas sighed. "That should be all of them. But it's spreading quickly."

Alder nodded, setting the owl down. "I have been working on an antidote. I do not know how effective it is, but we have to try."

"Have you tested it?" Stolas asked.

"I have not had the time."

I've never seen these two stressed like this. It was as if that bubble of comfort and happiness had popped. It was foolish of me to think that the only thing they had to worry about was me. I had been worried that I was taking up their time, acting nothing like a nuisance. And yet, they've been hiding this. Hiding everything. 

"I must go get some plants."

"Don't you have them here?" I asked, looking up at Alder.

"I did not have a big stock of them. I did not expect…" Alder sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I have to get these plants."

My voice was almost frantic as I tugged on his sleeve. "D-Don't leave me… don't leave us here! We don't know how to care for them."

"You will be okay, little blossom. You do not need to do anything except provide comfort. Stolas will help you. Just do not touch the infected area. I will be back soon."

Alder ruffled my hair before running off into the forest. A whimper left my lips as I looked over at Stolas. He seemed to calm down, but he always seemed calm. I went up to one of the animals. It was the cervidae. The infection was on the top part of its head, climbing up its antlers. I sighed and sat in front of it. I reached out and scratched its chin, making sure to carefully avoid the goop.

"Stop worrying, Cahira. It'll be fine."

"But… there's no cure. So all these animals-"

"Alder will find a cure. Have faith in him. He's the Fairy King."

I wanted to have faith, but there was something in me that was holding me back. Something wasn't right. I swallowed thickly and stared at the cervidae. Its eyes were dark. Black. There was no life in them. It looked like the disease had already gotten to its brain. 

"Can you tell me more about the disease?" I asked, taking my hand away from the cervidae. 

Stolas was inspecting both of the mushroom pygmies. They were crying and clinging onto each other. "The Atrophy. That's what it's called. We don't know where it came from. It just… appeared. It takes over everything it touches, painfully sucking out the life until there's nothing left."

"And Alder's healing magic?"

"It doesn't work. Another mystery."

"Ahh, right. He mentioned that."

I could feel my face grow pale. That isn't good. None of it was good. I felt so stupid and useless. I was taking up their time. They were training me when they should've been focused on the Atrophy. I sighed, frustration bubbling up within me. Stolas seemed to notice my distress. His hand waved. But instead of Aeternum appearing, it was two daggers. My eyes widened.

He walked over to me, sitting on the ground. He then handed me the daggers. "I was going to give you these later down the line… but I think you need them now."

"These are mine?"

"No more wooden daggers, little elf."

I took them in my hands. They were slightly weighted, but felt almost natural in my hands. The hilts were detailed with vines. Simple, not too ornate. On the blades themselves, there were music notes etched into the metal. They were perfect. Absolutely perfect. I couldn't help but grow emotional at the sight of them.

Stolas groaned. "Don't cry on me, little elf."

"Why?" I sniffled and grinned. "Because I'll make you cry too, Snappy?"

"No, you'll just make me uncomfortable."

"Thank you, Stolas. These are amazing."

"Don't thank just me. Alder had a hand in it as well."

"Oh, I'm so terrible." Guilt filled my voice. I clutched the daggers tightly in my hands. "I got angry at him for cutting that rabbit's foot off. For not having more empathy."

"Cahira…"

I shook my head. "I know. He's probably torn up. I just… I forget he's the Fairy King. He's so kind and caring. But he has responsibilities. He can't just…"

"It's alright. You didn't know about the Atrophy."

My gaze went over to the animals. "They won't make it, will they?"

Stolas paused before answering. "I don't think so."

It was so cruel and unfair. Diseases like this could threaten whole species. I remember when I was just a child and a sickness spread, almost wiping out all of the Northern War elves. If it wasn't for the tireless work of the healers, it would've destroyed us. Alder was working alone. He would have to watch the inhabitants of his forest die while he worked for a cure. I couldn't imagine how he must feel seeing the creatures of his forest suffer like this.

One of the cervidae slowly stood up. Stolas sighed and went to calm it. But… there was something off. It had started to twitch. The Atrophy spread from the top of its head to its antlers. It was bubbling more rapidly. I could only watch in horror. Was this what the final moments of the disease were like? 

"Cahira, get back."

My ears immediately perked up. Stolas's eyes were trained on the creature as the twitching became convulsions. The other infected animals began to twitch as well. Dread filled my eyes as the Atrophy covered the cervidae's whole face. It rapidly traveled down its body. It was now a creature that seemed directly out of a nightmare. A terrifying cry echoed through the forest. It didn't take long until the others were in the same state.

I looked over at Stolas. He had taken out Aeternum, his stance battle ready. I took several steps behind him. My hands were shaking. I could feel my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. I was praying that Alder would be back soon.

"I'm guessing this is new." I said, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

Stolas nodded, his own voice grim. "It's evolved."

I looked back. The mushroom pygmies were now unrecognizable. Their tiny bodies couldn't handle the transformation. They were now a puddle of black goop on the ground. The owls were hissing at us. My eyes widened. The rabbit. It was by the entrance of the tree, cowering in fear. It couldn't escape, not with a missing leg. I quickly lunged toward it. I needed to protect it. It had already been through so much. But I shouldn't have taken my eyes off of the Atrophied cervidae. When I looked back up, it was staring me down. It let out another roar.

And then it attacked.