Not all scars are physical

Catching a contaminated kuku was not what Bush expected to do at the end of the matches with the coliseum fighters, nor did he expect to see the veterans infected with the zombifying fungal contamination. He no longer wanted to get into the arena, but neither did he want the infection to spread to the world beyond the coliseum doors. Fleur and Bush promised each other to do their best in their fights before they parted ways to prepare. After his win against Black Rose, Kunpit and Basil, Bush left the arena with pride. With no signs of infection, Bush was free to wander as he wished. The large prairie was taking a drink when he heard the terrified cries coming from the arena. Struck with panic at the horrified scream of Luna, the mysterious rabbit whom had earned the wild kuku’s trust, and the pained howl of Fleur, Bush sprinted back to the arena, arriving just in time to see a beaten Fleur staggering out of the arena.

Something was wrong with her and created a cold pit of dread in his belly. Contaminated goo filled with spores was oozing from Fleur’s wounds and dripping from her open, panting mouth. More glowing blue goo was spreading along her back and beginning to trickle from her flaring nose and pained eyes. The first shrooms were already budding upon her back, but before anyone could make a move to apprehend her, Fleur dashed through the closing gates and back into the arena with the contaminated Kukuri whom had infected her. All Bush and Luna could do was watch in horror as once again Fleur faced off with the same trio the rook himself had defeated. Whatever everyone was expecting, it was not that the spores would simply give up the attack after only Basil had struck and slunk away back into the shadows. Springing into action, the medical team was quick to try and corral Fleur out of the arena so that her wounds could be tended to.

With her contamination taking over her body and her mind, Fleur turned on the humans and kuku there to help her. She snapped and slashed at anything within reach, dashing to and fro like a kuku possessed. Several minutes passed before they finally got Fleur out of the arena but she was still loose and even more dangerous and uncontrollable than she was before. Unable to watch any longer, Bush joined the fray to the terror of all those watching from the side lines, Luna most of all. Struggling with her urge to help, she remained rooted to the spot. Taking the smaller chicken kuku by surprise, Bush finally pinned the thrashing, snarling dove to the ground. Working quickly, the medical team bound and muzzled Fleur with rope to prevent her from hurting herself or others.

Bush could only step back and watch as his beloved mother was dragged away by other kuku upon a thick mat until one of the medical team beckoned him to follow. Bush’s feet began to move of their own accord, catching up with then keeping pace with them. Gazing down at the still struggling amber dove, Bush could only wonder what was going on within her mind. He didn’t know how long they walked for, nor exactly where they ended up but there were tents covering almost every available space. He couldn’t see nor smell Luna anywhere nearby and began to worry about the short rabbit. The large rook had no time to look around properly as Fleur was dragged into one of the larger tents and carefully moved off of the mat. The team stepping aside for the prairie to go inside, Bush barely understood that this tent was chosen for them because of his own immense size.

Settling down beside the squirming Fleur, Bush tries to gently still and comfort her without touching too much of the glowing ooze and shrooms spreading upon her beautiful golden hide. A questioning coo made him glance towards the opening of the tent. Never before has Bush been so happy to see the little hazel mini rook standing in the doorway. Cookie tentatively moved to Bush’s side, eyeing Fleur with nervous shock. Seeing such a sweet loving dove turned into a mindless zombie was understandably upsetting. More noises announced the arrival of Luna and a crimson mini rook whom was carrying a vial of strange liquid. The unsettled bunbun looked over the scene before her with anxious eyes before she walked inside the tent, Chiron following after her with the antidote cradled carefully in his grasp. A passing hazel mini dove stopped in the doorway to satisfy her curiosity just as Fleur attempted to snap at Luna.

Even though the dove was still firmly muzzled and restrained, Luna couldn’t help but jump, her long ears slicked back. Bush kept a firm hold on Fleur as she struggled in earnest, white eyes wild and glowing blue saliva oozing from her jaws. The prairie felt Cookie draw close against him, one hand upon his tail. He couldn’t blame the little mini for not wanting to get too close. Bush flicks his gaze towards the door again as yet two more minis joined them. Hohka and Reav moved in to hold Fleur’s head still while Bush worried about the rest of her. Chiron moved in closer then looks at Luna for assistance. Seeing a chance to be helpful rather than an awkward observer when the rabbit hesitates, Arunima brushes past her and begins to loosen the rope binding Fleur’s jaws shut.

Aggravated by the attempts to help her, Fleur began to thrash her head like a rabid animal. Hohka held on tight to the larger dove’s head for dear life while Raev lost her grip and accidentally kicked the thrashing dove in the head with her metal prosthetic. Dazed by the impact, Fleur stilled as ringing filled her ears and her eyes lost their focus. Seeing this as their best chance Chiron chirped orders at the other Kukuri. Bush kept a firm grip on Fleur’s body as Cookie, Hohka and Raev held Fleur’s head still while Arunima held her jaws open just enough for Chiron to pour the antidote into her mouth. The sick short tail had swallowed a good mouthful by the time she came back to her senses and began to fight the restraining bodies and binds. Seeing the look returning to her eyes, Cookie risked life and limb to tighten the ropes around Fleur’s snout and muzzle her again.

Cookie would have lost his hand to Fleur’s infected jaws if Bush had not snatched the mini up by the tail with his mouth as his hands were sort of full at that moment. Placing the rescued mini on his back, Bush turns his attention back to Fleur. With the ropes holding those dangerous jaws closed working loose, Luna finally snapped into action and tied the rope back up properly. Stepping back from the short tail, Luna looks over the other kuku for any signs of injury or contamination from all the drama.

With everyone else OK, soon kuku began to leave until it was just Bush, Cookie, Luna and the unusually still Fleur left inside the tent. Anxious about the well being of the beloved dove, neither Bush, Cookie or Luna could bear to leave her side. Her chest rose and fell painfully slow, almost comatose in manner. Only time will tell how well the antidote will work. It has a perfect success rate with the physical affects… not so much with mental.