Bingo knew she should have gone to bed early, but the young pup couldn't resist playing just one last game with her cousin Muffin before she left for the night.
However, waking up the next morning, she knew she overdid it.
Joints aching, muscles exhausted - Bingo could barely turn over in bed.
The warm sunlight streaming through the window made the pain in her skull worse.
She felt like screaming, but could only manage a quiet whine.
However, it was enough to wake her older sister, Bluey.
"Bingo?" Bluey questioned, voice just a bit too loud for Bingo's delicate senses.
She whined again, and the young alphas eyes widened.
Lowering her voice to barely a whisper, Bluey carefully made her way out of her nest.
"Is it the symptoms again?"
Bingo nodded, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Okay. I'll get mum and dad."
Silence filled the room as Bluey quickly left to grab their parents.
Bingo didn't know how long she was laying there. It could have been minutes or hours before the door creaked and the scent of worried alphas and omega crept into the room.
Bingo whined again, unable to speak.
"It's okay, pup. Pack is here to help."
Warm paws felt her forehead, and Bingo couldn't help but to relax at the gentle touch.
While her mum checked her temperature, the room darkened as her dad put up the curtains.
Relief filled Bingo as the offensive light lessened.
The trio worked quickly, yet quietly, used to their chronically ill pup's needs.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis was one hell of a condition.
Bandit carefully bundled Bingo in blankets, knowing she had a harder time with temperature regulation when experiencing post-exertional malaise.
Bluey rummaged in their toy box, trying to find the other pink walkie-talkie, so that Bingo could get their parents' attention no matter where they were in the house.
Chilli mixed a protein shake and an electrolyte drink, so that her pup could get sustenance without having to chew and exhaust herself more.
The Heeler pack looked after one another.
Despite the occasional chaos, their home was filled with love.
