"Food, alimentation, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, victuals, nutrition."

While unconscious, Cedric was finally rescued by the intervention of Wildfire on 3rd December. A log of the rescue may be found at http://blackriverwolf.livejournal.com/2821.html.

Shortly after which...

Infirmary
The soft glow of autumn sunlight fills the room with golden warmth. Thin white curtains keep the glare out while allowing enough light in to dispel shadows. A small ceramic heater sits on the floor near the bed, available for use when needed. A wide bed stands in the center of the south wall, white linens carefully tucked in around its mattress. A low table stands beside the bed, a small basin and pitcher perched atop it. Two large chairs sit facing the bed, and a small wooden chair sits against the south wall opposite the table. A tall cabinet occupies the northeast corner of the room, its glass door revealing a well-stocked medicine cabinet, various medical implements and supplies carefully arranged within.
The only exit from the room is a single door on the eastern wall.

Off to the side and slightly dozing himself, Dillen sits watching Cedric. His head bobs one more time before he gets to his feet and walks over to the sink to get a drink of water, drinking down a whole glass quickly.

Cedric has been lying like this, flat and unresponsive, since his rescue. Breathing fine, no apparent injury, just in a deep sleep... or a coma. But as Dillen drinks, he hears what sounds like a murmur coming from Cedric behind him.

Dillen spins around to look at Cedric. "Hey. Wake up. Wake up." As he moves over to Cedric's side. "Dude. Wake up!"

Cedric's eyes are still closed, but he's definitely speaking in a low even voice. Once Dillen is at his side he can make out words. "Eight hundred sixty, eight hundred sixty one, eight hundred sixty two, eight hundred sixty three. Checksum. Debug. Eight hundred sixty four. Add item. Eight hundred sixty five."

"What the..." Dillen leans in and listens close for another moment. "Cedric. Stop counting and wake up, dude." Dillen reaches and gives Cedric's hand a shake. "C'mon!"

"Eight hundred sixty six. Recalculate. Eight hundred sixty seven. Eight hundred sixty eight. Transfer unit. Debug." And Cedric's eyes snap open suddenly. "Mathias...?"

Dillen puts his hands on Cedric's shoulders to keep him down. "Whoa, big guy..." He says quietly. "What about that little shit?"

Cedric stirs. His eyes seem a little unfocused, but it seems he can at least tell that Dillen is not Mathias. "Whoa," he says with a trace of his usual drawl returning. "My head. I'm starvin'. Osric...? Where's this? Where am I? Debug."

Dillen keeps his hands on Cedric in case the guy tries to sit up. "You have been out for a while. Got trapped in some kind of spider cocoon. Mathias is in some kind of trance... You know anything? Talk and then I will get you some food."

Cedric struggles for a moment under Dillen, but lack of food has made him weak as a kitten and the Get can easily keep him down. "Unit failure," he says in a flat voice and slumps. "Reset to zero. Recalculate." His eyes close and reopen. "Mathias," he says, again in his drawl. "Stupid little kid. Got in too deep. Spiders. All over the house."

"Over the Fang house?" Dillen says, "What is wrong with him... He just keeps watching TV." Dillen tries to make sense over Cedric.

Cedric focuses in on Dillen with an effort. "You got him free? Free of the webs?"

Dillen shakes his head. "All we made it out was with you. I threw you over my shoulder after cutting you out of a cocoon. There was another one and Mathias staring into a TV."

Cedric has lost focus again. "Unit is low on power," he informs Dillen mechanically. "Second unit is also low on power. Third unit held in readiness. Recalculating. Eighteen. Nineteen."

"Fuck." Dillen mutters out... Then something strikes him and he bolts downstairs. In as quick a time as possible he returns with a bottle of milk and whatever leftovers he could find in the fridge. He pops open a bag and starts trying to feed Cedric. "Eat, man... Eat." Looks to be turkey. "C'mon."

By the time Dillen makes it back upstairs Cedric is out flat again. The scent of the turkey revives him, though. "Food," he murmurs as he manages to swallow a mouthful. "Food, alimentation, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, victuals, nutrition." He breaks off and pulls one arm out to grab more. "Golly," he says, weaker but more like himself, "I'm so starving."
Dillen starts feeding Cedric anything he can get his hands on. The bottle of milk is thrust into the Fang's hand. "Drink. Milk will help too."

Cedric eats, and drinks, in silence now. Which is probably a relief.

Dillen blows out a low breath and sighs. "Get you full and then we will talk."