Over across the distant sands there was a tiny dot, a form that over time grew larger and larger. The individual's steps were staggered as they rushed across the sand though she was barely moving faster then a slow walk. Her breaths came in heavy heaves, sides aching, mouth parched. The sun glared down from above and the tiny ivory woman covered in dirt and grime fought to keep going. Buzzards circled above as if they were just waiting for her to collapse but she had always been a determined creature, even now as her body begged for rest she would not falter. She had to get back to him. She had failed as a mother and perhaps even worse as a wife but she had to at least see him one last time if this was going to be it. She continued to shuffle until she tripped over a small rock, body lurching forwards and landing with a sickening thud in the sand. But this sand was different. It was wet and slimy and goopy and stuck all over. Tessa attempted to lurch forwards only to find she was getting sucked deeper into the sand, as if it were intending to swallow her whole. "N- no!" Her voice was feeble as her left forepaw wrenched itself from the quicksand to try and drag her forwards. But she already had such little energy and the more she struggled the further she sank. Her claws extended outward, grasping for the dryer sand only a few paces from her. Orange eyes rolled backwards as her head fell back, eyes staring up at the blue blue sky. Staring up at the clouds thinking of her cowboy. Come back to me. Gasping for air she felt her body sinking, sinking. I love you darlin.

@Israel

^{code by wallflower | art by bunny}

not today, you don't.

it's by sheer luck that israel is close enough to see what's goin' on, and by brute force that he gets there in time. and sure, at first, he ain't even sure it's @Tessa -- he only sees someone in danger. that much is enough to get him goin': he might be marchin' towards bein old and decript with each passin' day, but there's nothin' like mortal panic to get yer engines runnin' again. 'course, when he gets close enough to see the tell-tale white fur and peach eyes, a gutted sound punches out from him. surging forward, israel pays little attention to the dangerous terrain -- intent on swoopin' in. not to be a hero, though 'course he'd never say no to a hero's welcome, but because... well. that was his girl, and he'd certainly rather die than let anythin happen to her.

fate had brought him here for a reason, it seemed, and that reason was to do this.

thick limbs anchor themselves in the soil that isn't quicksand, that isn't sinkin' beneath her weight, back legs grippin' the ground as tight as they can manage. he keeps his weight low and even as his arm reaches out -- intent on grabbin' her by the scruff or a flailin' limb. he weren't picky none; he just needed to get ahold of her before she sank far too down. he's got no experience with this type of shit so he has no wherewithal to tell her to stop fussin' so much, that fightin' it only made you sink worse. his hope was to grab her and yank as hard as he could, but if she could get a grip on him before that, well that'd be just fine.

as long as this ended with her gettin' out and stayin' safe, he weren't gonna complain another day in his life.

code by lars, art by tanzani

Panic grabs hold of her like a vice, gripping tight and refusing to let go as she sinks down further into the quicksand. Perhaps if she had been in a better physical state she would be able to properly pull herself out of the goop and grime but she wasn't and she was as weak as she had ever been. She tried, damn she tried, but again she had failed. Again she was leaving her beloved behind and damn it broke her heart into a million little pieces. But suddenly she felt something sharp against her forelimbs and before she could truly process she was being pulled up and out of the sand. She forces her back legs to move as she kicks out, hoping to lurch forwards towards the mystery individual that was saving her. And when her orange eyes happen to finally focus they land on him and her breath hitches in her throat. @Israel. He was here? But .. how? How had he managed to find her? Was this by grace alone that he had come across her fragile body being sucked into the earth?

She grabs hold of him as tight as she can manage and when he pulls backwards she falls against him onto the safety of dry ground. Tears flow freely down her face as she sobs against his chest, inhaling and exhaling as she clings to him. She thought she was a goner, she thought she would never see him or their children again. All she wanted was to go home and to never leave again. She would never leave again, at least not until her lungs stopped breathing. "I.. You.. Thank you." She gasps without really knowing what else to say. "I'm so sorry.. I'm so sorry I've been a terrible wife. I've been so terrible Israel. I just wanted to bring Toro home to us." This wasn't really about their relationship, this was about the reality of her having failed as a mother. She had lost her boy, and in the process had nearly lost her husband too. "I failed you again." She said weakly, because that was the very harsh reality to all of this.

^{code by wallflower | art by bunny}

he grabs ahold of @Tessa but it don't quite sink in yet. he's a strong man but he weren't no hulk, and hoistin' her outta the muck is harder than expected. it's not graceful or fluid, or anythin' outta a romance novel. it's desparate and churning, teeth grit tight as he pulls with all his strength. she clutches him tight, her claws diggin' into his flesh and rendin'; he don't care much for it, nor does he even realize it, backlegs already movin'. finally they manage to get to a safe® spot and his front legs quiver as he lets her down onto solid ground, tremblin' with the effort spent. she don't let go, though, hiccupin' cries as she presses against his chest.

a tired wheeze falls from his lips, chest heavin' as he tries to catch his breath, but he don't move her none no more. instead he presses closer, wrappin' a tired arm around her shoulders, muzzle sneakin' a kiss to the junction of her ear and head. shh, darlin', yer okay, she almost wasn't, but almost didn't count for shit. she was here now and she was okay -- that had to count for somethin'. her words come out in a terrible jumble, panic and upset clingin' to each word. hey, c'mon now -- none of that, he murmurs, tryin' to add a bite to his voice but it falls a little short. he's exhausted and relieved in equal measure; he's terrified of what almost happened. c'mon, easy.

code by lars, art by tanzani