Kaito's groans and wheezing echoed throughout the room. Talon knelt by his side, comforting him as best as she could. Kaeline sat in the corner, her hand beneath her chin as she thought furiously of a plan. Enaros paced near the window, scanning the horizon for any signs of pursuers.
"It won't be long before they find us. We need to move—soon." He said nervously.
Talon shot him a sharp glare.
"No. Kaito can't be moved, not with these injuries. He's barely hanging on as is." She said.
"If we stay we'll all die. Is that what you want? Do you think that's what he would want?"
Talon's eyes began to glow faintly.
"Are you suggesting we leave him behind? After he saved you? After he risked his life for your son?"
"I'm saying let's not let his efforts go in vain. If we stay here, they'll find us. None of us will make it out alive."
"You don't get to decide that! You don't get to throw away someone's life just because it's inconvenient for you!"
"He saved us, yes! But what good will it do if we all die here?"
Kaeline, who had been silently watching, tried to step between them.
"Enough. Fighting each other won't solve anything. We need to—"
But her words didn't reach either one of them. They continued to grill each other back and forth.
Behind them, Nix clutched his knees as he stared at Kaito's face. Even though their interactions with each other were brief, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and sadness overtake him, especially after witnessing him throw himself at danger mindlessly to save the same people who held him hostage. Tears welled in his eyes and his small horns glowed gold faintly, sounding as if they began to hum subtly. Kaeline immediately sensed this strange power and looked over to Nix. Her eyes almost jumped from her head as she caught a glimpse of something she didn't expect to see this many light years away from that place.
"His essence… It's like Elysia's…" She began to question in her mind before the glow and energy intensified.
Talon and Enaros froze mid-argument as the sudden surge of power filled the room.
Nix reached down, his hands hovering over Kaito's wound. A gold essence flowed from his palms, enveloping Kaito's chest in a soft glow. All three watched in stunned silence as Kaito's wound began to close, the edges knitting together.
Enaros's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"That's like his mother… Nix, how did you…." Enaros stuttered out in shock.
The gold essence around Nix's hands flickered, then faded away. His nose began to bleed and his legs gave out beneath him. Enaros rushed forward, catching his son just before he hit the ground.
"Nix!" He called out.
Nix's eyes fluttered as he slumped into his father's arms.
"Did… did I help him?" He asked weakly, fighting to stay conscious.
Talon knelt beside him and smiled.
"Yeah, kid. You helped him. You were amazing." She said softly with a big warm smile, gently wiping the blood from his nose.
"Now rest. We'll take it from here."
She turned her attention back to Kaito and began to examine his wound more closely. It was as if years of natural healing took place in mere seconds, his wound now covered in scarred skin.
"It's not completely closed, but the worst of it is gone. His breathing seems to have steadied and his heart seems to be okay… He's stable for now."
She exhaled in relief, brushing his hair out of his face.
"Good. We've bought him some time."
Enaros, holding Nix tightly, looked at Talon.
"Your friend… he saved us. And now my son… saved him. I think we are even now… Please forgive me… about my anger earlier." He said.
Kaeline stood up and adjusted her clothing and gear.
"Hold your apologies for now. We still have questions."
Talon nodded before speaking up.
"We'll figure that out afterwards. But first, we need to keep moving. Kaito's injuries are good enough to where I can carry him. But where do we go…"
On cue, the bird-like creature from earlier swooped into the room. Enaros's face lit up with relief as he hurried toward the creature.
"Good girl. You've done well." He said as he gently fed it a treat, some sort of glowing fruit slice, which it devoured eagerly.
He untied a small scroll strapped to its leg. Kaeline tilted her head curiously.
"What kind of creature is that?" She asked.
"This is a Draelinber. They've been bonded with our people for countless cycles. Our people use them to carry messages across vast distances."
Kaeline crossed her arms.
"That's impressive. But how do you know the starborne troupe didn't intercept her and plant a false message?"
"Impossible. The bond between the Draelinber and us is unbreakable. No outsider could manipulate her or interpret the code."
Kaeline nodded and stepped back as Enaros unrolled the scroll. His eyes darted across the paper before he let out a slight sigh of relief.
"The Kallar village is still safe. That's where we should head next." He said with a small smile on his face.
"How far is it?" Talon asked.
"If we leave now, we can reach it by sundown. The forest canopy will give us cover, but we'll need to move fast."
Talon looked at Nix, still unconscious from overexerting himself with that mysterious power.
"We should go. If it's safe, we can regroup and figure out our next steps."
Kaeline nodded in agreement.
"It's the best option we have right now."
Enaros gestured toward a hidden exit at the back of the tree hollow.
"Follow me youngsters, try not to get left in this old man's dust."
Talon's brow twitched and muttered under her breath.
"Youngsters? Get left? You sure that overgrown clown didn't hit that head of yours earlier old man??"
Enaros leapt out of the room with a surprising burst of speed, onto the massive tree branches above.
Talon's jaw dropped slightly.
"What the—?"
Kaeline smirked.
"Youngster, huh? I'm twice his age." She said with a smile before she disappeared as she took off after Enaros.
Viro did a cart-wheel into Talon's view, startling her for a moment.
"Well, guess I'll bring up the rear. Someone has to keep these old-timers in check!" He said before he launched a zipline from his arm and zipped upward.
Talon stood there for a moment with Kaito floating beside her in silence. She looked at his unconscious body before frowning slightly.
"You owe me big time for this rookie. Leaving me to deal with these geezers and the damn robot…"
She sighed and adjusted her stance, sending Kaito forward with a gentle push of her powers before leaping after the others.