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Draugr is by Kiri!
The noises of the slave were a relief to the woody-hued canid. Fire was the cleansing agent, the bringer of new life and the howling dirge for its end. Her smile was terse, but she nodded at Novak as he returned to speak the flame's readiness. Heat this, she said. The jar was carefully passed to the slave, and Draugr's tone suggested if it was broken or spilled, it would go rather badly for Novak. Though her authority over this slave was not ownership, the woody-hued wolfdog felt she needed to control the situation. Odessa was speechless, and this worried her.
Imhotep's shift was, perhaps, enough to bring Odessa into a comforted position, but Draugr was not certain. Surveying the room, she spied a particularly thick pelt -- perhaps winter elk or moose, perhaps just a peculiar deer pelt -- and folded it almost in half, rolling it the rest of the way so she might tuck it behind her friend's back. We will try this way, the wolfdog announced, when she thought Odessa in a suitable enough position. If not, you may have to sit up. Draugr left out the squatting for now: it would serve only to worry Odessa.
Yes, the wolfdog said, once Imhotep had spoken. Slowly, deeply. In and out, Draugr advised. In all likelihood, these were things Odessa was already well aware of -- but perhaps in the moment, it was not so easy to remember. Panic was a strange thing, and though Draugr had not experienced much of it in her lifetime, she understood it well enough to realize how it addled the thought process and scrubbed working memory clean. Draugr could do nothing save occasionally reach to stroke Odessa's hair or shoulders while she awaited Novak's return, and though it seemed an eternity, eventually the slave came back. The liquid had been replaced in the jar -- which made Dra grimace -- but as it was not hot enough to crack the glass, she supposed it was alright.
When she took the glass back, it was actually only lukewarm -- but it would have to do. Offering the glass to Odessa so she might drink, Dra prepared to hold the glass and tip it back as necessary. As much as you can, the wolfdog said, her voice impeccably calm and businesslike.
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