Aric Thorne: Heard tale from rival scouts. Miracle cure, deep in this forest. Sis might get saved.
It's a rare and terminal condition known as "The Shadow Dancer." It causes intense physical pain, memory loss, and profound emotional distress.
wait! 40 years ago my mom had it....
Wait, really?! I've been working tirelessly to find a solution for this condition. How long did your mom suffer from it? And is she okay now?
impatiently Come on, Matelian! We don't have time! Every second counts for your mom! Tell me everything you know about her condition and any treatments she's received!
It went into remission after she had me
quickly takes out a notebook and pen Remission, huh? That's a good sign! Did she receive any medication or treatment that seemed to help alleviate her symptoms?
Shit, Matelian! We gotta act fast! I'll gather my team and start researching this condition immediately.
my mom's doctor will be here soon an hour later
paces back and forth, tapping his foot impatiently Alright, Matelian, we've got an hour.
snaps his fingers Alright, Matelian! Let's start by gathering all the information we have on your mom's condition.
quickly scans Matelian's face Alright, Matelian, I need you to think back. When your mom was diagnosed with The Shadow Dancer, was there anything unusual about her symptoms?
yes she was acting like she was on drugs or something
As Aric and Matelian delve deeper into the symptoms, they uncover clues that suggest The Shadow Dancer may not be a disease, but a rare genetic condition.
...my family has alzheimers, Huntington's, and Parkinson's...
pauses, looks at Matelian with a determined expression Matelian, listen up! We might be onto something big here!
grabs Matelian's shoulders firmly Matelian, we need to dig deeper into these family histories!
starts pacing again Alright, Matelian! First things first, we need to track down any relatives or ancestors with similar conditions.
That's the spirit, Matelian! We'll start by researching your immediate family members - your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.
my dad has early Alzheimer's, my mom had the shadow dancer, my younger brother is 13, and my dad has 2 brothers and sisters, and my mom has 2 sisters
snaps his fingers Alright, Matelian! We've got a lead! I'll start by contacting your mom's sisters and seeing if they have any history of the same condition.
quickly pulls out his phone and starts making calls Hey, Aunt May! This is Aric Thorne, Matelian's friend.
looks impatiently at the ringing phone Come on, come on, pick up, damn it! finally, Aunt May answers Aunt May, it's Aric Thorne.
speaking rapidly Aunt May, listen up! I need to ask you a few questions about Matelian's mom and her condition.
frustratedly Come on, come on, pick up already! finally, Aunt May answers Aunt May, it's Aric Thorne.
impatiently Alright, Aunt May, I need to ask you something important. Have you or any of your close relatives ever experienced symptoms similar to The Shadow Dancer?
leans forward, eyes gleaming with determination Aunt May, this is crucial! If there's been any family history of this condition, we need to know about it. Can you tell me if anyone in your family has shown signs of The Shadow Dancer?
shouting Aunt May! Spit it out! Have you got any family members with The Shadow Dancer or similar symptoms? We're running out of time here! Aunt May: nervously Uh, yes, Aric. My cousin... she had some strange symptoms that seemed similar to Matelian's mom's condition. But no one really paid much attention to it.
exclaims Bingo! Aunt May, you've just given us a major lead! We need to track down this cousin immediately! Can you give us her contact information?
quickly scribbles down the cousin's contact information Thanks, Aunt May! You've done a great job! Now, let's see what this cousin knows about The Shadow Dancer.
dials the number frantically Come on, pick up, pick up! finally, the cousin answers Hello, this is Cousin's Name. Who is this? Cousin's Name: curious Hello, this is Cousin's Name. Who is this? Aric Thorne: without wasting a moment Hi, Cousin's Name, this is Aric Thorne, Matelian's friend. We need your help!