Sunai

"This Lunar Finch's song is so loud, vibrant, and clear, you can visibly see the sound vibrating in the air by its glowing essence trail. Suddenly, you hear a horrible break in the song. Then another one. The bird seems to be sick."

You've seen this illness before. It sets in quick, steals the breath from tiny lungs. It leaves behind a path of destruction: the heartbroken wails of mothers and the unmoving bodies of little pups. Every pack has made its terrible acquaintance. Most just called it 'the sickness', for there's no other quite like it. Most would hesitate to even approach an animal with the telltale bark-cough. But that's not what stops you in your tracks. It's the song.

Sunai had always seemed a bit... ethereal. She moved from one paw to the next as if it were a dance and the world was her partner; all too happy but to let her lead. She spoke softly, in a sing-song voice that was made to hum lullabies to little ones. And often she would be humming- one tune in particular.

It was so often in the background of your daily life that when it stopped, the whole world seemed to pause. Nothing seemed quite right- not the way the light shone through the trees, nor the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet. When you sought out Sunai, you faltered at the sight of her.

She was curled into a ball, body shaking with every hoarse gasp of air she took. Her ears flicked towards you, but that was the only sign of acknowledgement given. Sunai had had the sickness when she was younger, and sometimes it came back. It was crippling, for sure. It'd last a week, maybe two, but with the pack all pitching in, she would be back on her feet in no time. But this? This was unlike anything you had seen before.

You crouched down, inched your way towards her. She was hot to the touch. Her eyes flicked to you, and she blinked rapidly before seemingly looking past you.
"Sunai- Sunai!"