Her Name is Lilly

"What the hell, man?!" Jackal snarls as he keeps a grip on Hex's wrists to the wall. "This freak's hoarding one of those things in here!"

Hex merely tells him, "She is not a thing; her name is Lilly."

You're still looking at the feral as the Typhlosion and Toxicroak have their feud. She growls angrily with arms reaching out towards you, but there was still a safe distance between the both of you; the chain at her neck ensures of that. Still, from here, you gaze at her vivid eyes staring at you with a deep yearning. She wasn't so much as mad, but ****. The frog's abdomen groans loudly for any food that she could hopefully intake soon, and you know if it was up to her, it'd be you even if you're taller and larger than her.

The Croagunk girl was more than half your height, but appeared younger and nowhere near is built. Despite this, a cloak is draped around her shoulders and neck, granting you a notion that Hex takes care of her. Based on her species and Hex's inclinations of her name and well-being, it was obvious that she was related to him.

You end up just closing the door and looking to Jackal, "Let him go, Jack."

The fire-type's ears perk as his fury then exchanges over to leering right at you instead, "I told you not to call me that."

"And I told you to let him go." You reaffirm your demand. Your eyes actually ignore Jackal for the time being. Instead, you wanted to talk to Hex, who looked more or less internally defeated at the moment. He wasn't even resisting Jackal's grip. "...Is she family to you?"

Hex blink solemnly and sighs, "...Younger sister. She turned eighteen several months ago."

"Wha?" Jackal grunts, loosening his grip partially. With a hand gripping his shoulder, you pry him free from Hex to allow the frog some freedom.

The Toxicroak simply rubs his wrists and mutters, "It's why I am certain of the infection's transition." The frog quietly sits himself down with a look of regret; his mindset reflecting back on the past. "I was hoping to tell you, but...explaining the situation weighs on my heart. Nonetheless, the truth. Lilly and I were holed up here enjoying breakfast until we heard screams outside. Normally when we think danger is about, I have her stay in the cellar while I inspect the situation. However, the noise was very closeby our home, so she thought it best to see what was happening."

Hex thumbs at his leg some, the one where he had the bitemarks leftover. "A Numel fellow was running from an infected Toxtricity. He looked wounded or pained considering his stumble, and he was barely fighting off the feral that clearly wanted to, erhm..."

"Infect him." You answer for him. Despite not wanting to think about it, an image of the Numel getting an amphibious cock rammed into his rear flashed in your head.

Hex nods, "...Yes, that. Lilly pleaded that we should help him, but I was too cautious. I did not know if the Numel could have already been used by the infected before, or if it would lead the infected to our home and put Lilly in danger. I was inclined to help, but...I hesitated. So instead...Lilly went out there herself in frustration." The Toxicroak leans over his table. "I gave chase, but...my haste was to get Lilly away from it, that it nearly cost me my life. The Toxtricity got the better of me in the fight, and I blacked out. When I came to...the infected had Lilly in his arms, she..." Hex's voice breaks up a bit, and trembling, he cannot continue his recounting of the events, but you gathered enough insight to understand what occurred next. It definitely explained his anger when Jackal questioned his basis of the infection corrupting another person through sex.

You walk over to the Toxicroak and kneel down, putting a hand to his back, helping him to skip the part. "So you brought Lilly back. I presume you've been especially trying to figure out a cure ever since?"

"Yes...but nothing I've tried to concoct has worked on her." The Toxicroak answers with a worried sigh. "It's why I wish to visit the psychic-mutual of mind, in hopes that he has some insight on this that we may come up with a breakthrough. However, I have been...conflicted about going."

Jackal mutters to pitch in the conversation finally, "Why's that?"

"I can't just..." Hex begins with and looks to the door containing her. "...leave her."

That was certainly a predicament for him. You couldn't imagine him trying to keep her on that leash when traveling out in the wilds without her trying to overpower him, let alone eat him. He definitely didn't want her to starve either. He's probably been feeding her regular food since she became infected, but judging by her stomach growls, it was never enough to sustain her. Hex wouldn't be able to just abandoned her while left chained. You didn't want to think about the act of him trying to end things out of mercy for her either. He really only had one other option.

"Hex." You state as you sit right next to him. "You've been kind to help save my life and Jackal's life. Let us do what we can for you. We can talk to this friend of yours, maybe even bring him back here for you. And together we can help cure Lilly, and everyone."

The Toxicroak actually smiles again, but more in a pained grin. He shakes his head and finally looks to you. You can sense the appreciation in his eyes, but worryment exudes the strongest from his expression. "...You're very sweet Lace~" He answers with a bit of a broken voice, all before he tries to breathe and gather his senses once more. "No, I'm afraid I can't let you two just do that. It would be a dangerous trek, and I would prefer to be a part of it with you. Draxius is...a unique individual."

"Well I'd appreciate to make the journey with you, but...I don't think we can do so with Lilly." You explain to Hex, seeing no easy option out of this.

Jackal merely huffs when crossing his arms, "Yeah, no way am I walking with that-" He corrects himself before making that sound worse, "-with _her _trying to **** or eat any of us. You do know she'd try to just do the same to you, right?"

"Believe me of this, Jackal..." The Toxicroak mutters, "I'm completely aware of that."

You glance to the door and merely look at him, "Why not just...let her go then? Obviously you know there's no easy solution to this, but if you want to hold out hope that we can cure or stop the infection, it would give her the best chances of staying alive, even if that means she's out there roaming." You try to drill the point in. "You won't help her here like this."

Hex remains silent, to the point where the idly inflation and deflation of his throat sac stills to a point. He just stares at the candle on the table and ponders on it. "...Allow me to offer this then." The frog begins to utter finally. "I will release Lilly tomorrow with your help, and afterwards, we travel to Draxius' tent, the psychic mutual of mine."

Jackal's ear flicks up, "Eh? Wait, you want us to spend the night here?"

Hex finally takes his attention away to look at the grumpy Typhlosion directly. The frog's golden eyes making the fire-type regret his tone. He asks, "Is there an issue?"

"O-Of course there is." The Typhlosion grunts when pointing to Lilly's door. "You have a feral in there. I don't care if she's on a leash, I ain't gonna sleep tonight in here knowing she could, I dunno, escape or somethin'!"

Hex rubs his temple, "I have stayed here night after night with her here. I assure you, if she could have broken from the chain, it would be broken already. Would you perhaps enjoy your rest outside of my home in the bog then? I'm sure the Leafeon girl that was fond of you is still searching for her next snoozing snack, yes?"

"Why you-" Jackal grits his fangs and was ready to fight again. Again, you had to play mediator.

Standing up between the two, you sigh and suggest, "Would we be able to do so tonight?"

Hex clearly dislikes the idea as his face partially drains, the chipper mood still gone, "...I would...need time for goodbyes. Along with packing for the trip. I would prefer tomorrow at the earliest for me to leave."

Jackal leans into you and mentions, "How about we just leave tonight and find somewhere else to sleep or rest? That or we just say 'screw it' and head to this 'Drackseaus' guy's place with a day's headstart?"

Hex now fully rises with a finger readied to your injured leg. "I completely advise against that. If I were Lace's doctor, I would recommend that he doesn't walk anywhere on that leg for at least several days. He needs week or more to heal. Not only that, travelling the bog at night is incredibly dangerous-"

"So is sleeping next to an infected." Jackal retorts right back, eager to butt heads.

Hex falls for the bait however, "She has a name." The Toxicroak even gets closer, with you still trapped in the middle. "Just stay the night, we will be safe going together."

"Lace." Jackal grunts when glancing at you, as does Hex.

What should you do...?

1. Head out early.

2. Spend the night.