“How?” Caleb asked. “Sedation,” Ethan said. “Tonight, after hours. It’s the only way to check properly.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze never leaving the enclosure. “If it’s an infection, or an obstruction, and we don’t treat it… she won’t make it.” Caleb frowned. “You think it’s that bad?”
Ethan nodded once. “If she’s not eating and she’s in pain, it’s only a matter of time. She’s too proud to show weakness, most big cats are. By the time they do, it’s serious.” Lily looked from one man to the other, her voice small. “Can we stay? When you help her?” Ethan studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “You can be here. We’ll start once it’s dark.”