The elected leader of the Manabe colony was a man named Dala, and the the first of the creatures to take action in their battle. His Manabe form was part bear (in his face and torso build), part lion (his legs, bushy mane, and ears), and part skunk (whiskered with those distinctive stripes and the accompanying defense mechanism.) It made for lovely coloring, but quite a few of his people had something to say about accidental sprayings. Dala jovially told those who were awake for the return to their settlement— Brady, Phoena, and Sachi— that they were anything but accidental.
The man thought it was a shame that the others had to miss out on his stories, but there was nothing that could be done about the matter. Callan was still working that toxin out of his system, while Erzia and Sol suffered from overexerting themselves. Sol's rest was voluntary, however, while Erzia's was not. Both were much needed, all the same. It was hours of walking, with only a few minimal breaks in between, but no one complained. Dala was the bright light in an otherwise somber procession, but as a good leader should, he was trying to keep morale high. To distract from the loss that his people were feeling.
Adalin, he'd told them. Her name. The name of the fallen Manabe whose heart had been pierced by that frozen blade. By the time they would've been able to do anything about it, she was already gone. Manabe might've had miraculous healing qualities and regeneration, but dead was dead. They couldn't bring anyone back from that— only from the brink. She'd lost blood too quickly for her body to repair, and in the heat of the battle, there hadn't been the opportunity to heal her in another way.
There were four of them, who'd come to the Runeholders' rescue: Adalin, Dala, Kels, and Merritt. Of the three who remained, Dala spent most of the journey speaking with the Runeholders. Adalin had been one of their better healers, but with her death, Merritt had taken up the mantle, watching over the injured. Kels, the last of their group, was the only one who still remained in her Manabe form, using her size to transport the three— and Adalin's body, human again once she'd parted— back to their colony. Kels was, from what Brady could see, a massive tusked crocodile, perfectly equipped to stab him through if he made a wrong move. She was larger than any ordinary croc— long and flat and entirely threatening— and mixed with an elephant and a rhino. Her legs seemed more mammal than reptilian, though her physique was primarily the latter. She had two rhinoceros horns moving down the middle of her forehead, and a pair of elephant tusks attacked at her jaw.
She scared him— not just her form (for obvious reasons) but the anger that was radiating off her too. She blamed them for the death of her friend, but the telepath hoped she wouldn't take any drastic action because of that. He and his own couldn't handle a vengeful Manabe as banged up as they were, and he wasn't sure that either of the others would stand against her. Sachi would, but he was young by compassion and he'd never challenged one of this own kind before. Brady wouldn't want him to either.
"Are we close?" Braedyn glanced at Phoena, whose voice snagged his attention away from the unnerving Manabe woman behind them. Phoe walked along with Sachi next to Dala, and Brady quickened his pace to close the gap between himself and the rest of them.
Dala nodded. "Yes. I know it's been a long journey... we should be back before the sun goes down completely."
Long and grueling, given the terrain wasn't a forgiving one. Just as the Erzia's reports had said, the Manabe colony was tucked off in the swamps by the border. One careless step and they'd find themselves trapped by the black ooze. It made Darla's task a particularly cumbersome one in leading the way.
But true to his word, they were greeted by a pair of Manabe— the telepath's assumptions confirmed with a quick dip into their minds— outside the small settlement not long after the sun slipped below the horizon, leaving a crest of coral and rose hues painting the skies above. If you didn't already know the way, you never would've found the place as precarious and isolated as it was. For Sachi's sake, they were lucky that Dala and the others had found them, amongst other reasons that involved a whole lot less bloodied corpses rotting away in the forest.
Dala greeted his pair, one pulling him aside with a curt nod to the newcomers. They spoke in hushed tones about supplies running low and how they needed their leaders to discuss solutions, Dala included. That in mind, the man relegated tour duties. "I have an urgent matter to attend to," he told the Runeholders before turning to Merritt. "I leave them in your capable hands."
Merritt accepted with no more than a nod and a grunt of affirmation. He wasn't a man of many words, so Brady had noticed, but as Dala and the Manabe who'd met the returning party went on their way, he addressed them. "We'll start at the infirmary."
"But what about her?" Sachi asked softly, gazing back at Kels— more specifically, at Adalin, where she rested on her fellow Manabe's back.
"They'll assign someone to set up memorial before we bury her," Merritt explained. "Whoever that might be, they'll find us."
As somber as it was to consider, it made the most sense to take Adalin along with them to the infirmary, as it was the most logical spot to bring a body at the camp. The less attention they drew, the better. She was friend to these people. Family. And she was gone... parading her through the settlement was only bound to take a heavier toll than her death would cause on its own.
Merritt knew this too, as he suggested that they keep close to the camp borders. "They shouldn't have to see her like this."
Kels snapped her powerful jaws at that in unspoken harsh agreement. The sound made Braedyn flinch.
Merritt glanced Kels' way and sighed deeply, but other than that, he let her wallow. He simply waved for the group to follow as he changed his course towards the outskirts. The infirmary was at the far end of camp, and the walk was smothering in its silence. The only things to be heard were the scuffing of their feet and the protest of nature around them. Sachi positioned himself right in between Brady and Phoena, one Runeholder on each side like a wall of protection.
When they reached the tent, Merritt held his hand out for them to wait. "Just a moment. I should warn them."
About Adalin.
Brady shut out the thoughts that surrounded him. He didn't want to know their devastation that deeply; hearing it would be painful enough. That startled shriek and the sobbing that had only just begun to waver when Merritt stuck his head back out. "Come in. Kels first." They made room for the Manabe to sneak past, the remaining three entering just after her.
Merritt stood across the room, two healers at his side, with a few cots prepared. There was a mat on the floor as well, covered in a stark white sheet. Jutting his fingers at each, Merritt's introductions were half-assed at best. First: "Thisbe," and then: "Kairos."
"We'll do what we can to help your friends," Thisbe promised, her eyes still red-rimmed as she sniffed to keep her nose from running. She gave Kairos a nudge, the other healer seeming more disoriented than her, despite her tears. His head shot up, and the forced smile he wore had Brady frowning.
"Thank you," Phoe said. "If we can help at all, let us know."
Healing practices were something Brady was exceptionally familiar with, after all, given his time spent at the capital's infirmary, so he could be an asset. "I do know some tricks of my own."
"We appreciate it." Kairos' expression relaxed, softening up his features, but there was still a grit to his voice that betrayed his true emotions. "Could you—" He paused to take a steadying breathe as his eyes drifted over to Kels. "Could you help us move them?"
Of course, by that he meant with Adalin. They couldn't bear handling her lifeless corpse.
"I can do it," Phoena volunteered. She approached Kels, carefully lifting the dead Manabe. She looked so small in Phoena's arms; it was hard to believe she'd ever been one of these massive shapeshifting creatures. Merritt directed her over towards the mat, helping Kairos and Thisbe to grab the others himself. Callan, Erzia, and Soleil were each laid on one of the cots, so that the healers could examine them properly. Phoena relived Brady from the duty of watching Sachi, since he was more useful in such a situation than she could hope to be. She was better suited to keeping the boy's attention off his brother, despite being concerned about his state herself. It wouldn't do either of them any good, worrying about something they couldn't control, as aggravating as it was to sit back and wait. They could distract each other.
Sol woke up before Thisbe had even finished inspecting her, blinking up at the Manabe in confusion. "Oh, hello." Sol slowly sat up as Thisbe backed away from the table. "Don't worry about me. That dark magic just really took everything I had."
"I've got her," Brady insisted as he caught Thisbe's uncertain expression. Kairos was checking on Erzia, while Merritt oversaw the proceedings with Kels, who had shifted back into her human form. Callan still needed some attention, so that would fall to Thisbe. "I'm more than capable of making sure she's really okay."
"I said I am!" Sol protested, and Brady smiled back at her.
"Understood," Thisbe nodded, scampering off towards Callan as Brady did what he did best: using his powers to scope out the inner happenings of a friend's mind. She seemed okay— or she wasn't hiding any suffering from him— which lightened the suffocating pressure against his chest. Enough time had passed and they were far enough from the source that the rest of the dark energy had filtered off while she rested. The sorceress was back to her usual self.
As far as Callan and Erzia, the healers had to employ a much higher degree of concentration in examining them. They were in far worse states than Soleil, and their friends knew that. Sol sat on the edge of her cot, her legs swinging over as she watched the Manabe flit about the room. Brady stood next to her still and took the sorceress' hand in his. He squeezed it, deeply exhaling as if to make a point of it. "Breathe," he insisted, "you're just going to work yourself up more. They're doing everything they can."
Their scrupulous work promised the utmost care in nursing the two Runeholders back to health. Kairos hovered at her Erzia, tapping his lips with a small hum. He glanced Soleil's way after a moment and cleared his throat. "Could I ask for your help please?"
Sol slipped her hand from Brady's, her eyes rounding in surprise. "My help?"
Brady pouted in disappointment that he hadn't been the one asked when he'd so willingly offered his assistance, but his services just weren't needed.
Kairos nodded. "You're the only one who'd be able to do it, as a sorceress."
That softened the blow for Brady, knowing that it was out of his realm. He did worry, however, that Sol sound be expending her powers much after what had happened. But it was her decision and their friend who'd benefit, so the decision was hers. Nothing for Braedyn to argue the pros and cons of in this pivotal moment.
"What do you need from me?" she asked.
"Since she exhausted most of her power, regenerating her energy is going to be exceptionally slow. That said, if we were able to filter magical energy into her, we should be able to speed up the process," Kairos explained.
The plan utilized a manner of magic Soleil had only recently become familiar with— thanks to Erzia, in fact. She wasn't the most proficient in filtering magic through her body and transferring it elsewhere, but with a level head and uncorrupted magic, she could manage.
"What magic do you practice?"
"Earth."
Kairos peered at the dirt floor in the tent then back at Sol. "You should have plenty to draw from then." His smile only presented itself but the corners of his lips quirking up, but it was there.
Sol slipped off the cot and joined him, listening as he explained how she'd want to proceed to best bestow that energy to Erzia.
Meanwhile, Thisbe had begun her examination of Callan. It seemed routine at first, but once she'd grabbed a syringe, Phoena darted forward, catching the arm with the needle in motion. "What is that?" she demanded.
Sachi scampered up behind her, Thisbe staring at the two wide-eyed as she stammered. "He- he's been paralyzed. We need to get whatever's left of the toxin out of his system." She swallowed roughly as Phoe released her arm then continued the explanation. "Are you aware of Manabe blood's healing properties?" Her focus shifted to Sachi as she posed the question.
The young boy nodded. "We are..."
"The blood needs direct contact with whatever's ailing him. In this case, the toxin circulating through his blood." Thisbe presented the hand with the syringe. "An injection is the best way to administer if we're going to help and should get rid of any nasty lingering side effects."
Phoena folded her hands in front of her, lowering her head to stare at the ground. "I'm sorry."
Though nervous at first about the abrupt gesture, Thisbe was calmer then as she regarded the blonde. "It's okay. You're just worried about your friend. I only mean to help. You have my word, as I live and breathe."
The oath settled Phoena's hyper-vigilant instinct to intervene, but she kept that closer distance as Thisbe administered the shot. Once done, the Manabe smiled tenderly at the blonde after the stab wound started to seal itself up. The Manabe blood was flooding his system, fixing his injuries, visible or not. "Keep close. I'm sure he'd be happy for a familiar face once he comes to."
Phoena rubbed over her knuckles as a single worn laugh slipped out her lips at Thisbe's tone— at the insinuation. She placed a hand against her own cheek, like one might a sick child, then brushed back a few strands of loose hair. "Sachi, come here," she requested, positioning the boy in front of her at Cal's side. Phoe took a couple steps back, Sachi turning and cocking his head at her in confusion. "After everything that happened, he'll be happiest to see your face first when he wakes up," she insisted, "I'll stay right back here." Sachi needed assurance that Callan was okay more than her anyway— or at least that was what she told herself.
"He'd be happy to see you too," Sachi said.
Phoena would just be happy to see him wake up. The Manabe's regressive blood worked rapidly, but it was just like Callan to make them wait and worry. He'd be lucky if he didn't get a lecture from the blonde about reckless endangerment of his life. Omitting any mention of the stress making her feel like her heart was going to stop, of course.