Gretel fluttered ungracefully onto her friend’s back, and the amount of energy drained from the action that would normally be effortless made her aware that he was right: she couldn't make it on her own given her condition. Her hot pink eyes narrowed scornfully at nothing visible: the unwanted feelings of helplessness fighting her to the surface.
“Are you ready?” Gadalik asked gently, looking at her over his shoulder with care not to make any sudden movements.
His voice snapped her out of it, and she was relieved by the distraction. The juvenile wind dragoness smiled reassuringly. “Yep! Now… giddy up!” she playfully ordered, lightly slapping his flank with her purple-striped paws.
The young green hybrid burst out laughing, and Gretel could feel the tension in his muscles relax. His calmness was contagious; she found herself settling down too. Gadalik set out as quickly as he could without risking his friend falling, while the latter cast her gaze to the skies, on the lookout for danger.
Gretel then winced due to how bright the morning sun was, and when she reactively jerked to face away from it, that lightheadedness from earlier came back. She unintentionally slumped forward against him.
He stopped. “You okay?”
“I'm tired,” she mumbled, suddenly struggling to keep her eyes open.
“What are you doing way out here?!” another female’s sharp voice startled her awake. Gretel didn't have the strength to peer around Gadalik's head, but she didn't have to; the striped wyvern recognized the new voice as Glacia’s.
Great, she thought, remembering how overprotective the water type was over him. She'll probably scold me for inviting her son to go with me last night…
“What happened to you guys?! Gretel looks half-dead! Are you hurt?” Glacia fussed, checking them over before Gadalik even had a chance to form a coherent answer to her first question.
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Do I really look that bad…? The young wind type once again fought back feelings of helplessness. She tried to stand up from her place on the hybrid’s back to jump down from it, but her sore and exhausted body didn't allow her to. Instead, she lifted her head and glared at Glacia. “I’m fine, and so is Gadalik!”
“Gretel, the wounds on your back have been dressed nicely, but I sense you are also concussed,” a second newcomer informed her. It was a voice she also recognized, and with her head up she could look to confirm it was Guinevere. The fairy type must have located them and brought Glacia along. The juveniles hadn't made it too far in the forest from Sebastion’s den.
“What?” Gadalik finally managed to say. “But she didn't hit her head–at least, not since I've been with her…”
“Did whoever chased you in your vision injure Gretel’s back?” Glacia asked him.
“N-No… Well, Sebastion did reopen those injuries, but that's all he did; she had those injuries before she even came by last night.”
“Sebastion?” Guinevere frowned.
The hybrid exchanged a curious look with his friend, then turned back to the pale blue adult. “Do you know him, Guinevere?”
“Guinevere?” Sebastion's voice sounded from behind Gretel, and the latter tensed.
The fairy dragoness frowned even more at his sudden reappearance, her wings’ default glow gaining a slightly reddish hue.
Gretel hadn't known that the corners of her small mouth were even capable of moving that far down. I've never seen her so angry! This oughta be good.
“What's with the scowl?” the younger fairy type asked somewhat indignantly.
“Never mind that. Thank you for helping Gretel, but I shall take over her care from here.” Guinevere looked to her companions. “Let us take our leave now.”
“But you only just arrived,” Sebastion pointed out. She visibly tensed but didn't answer him. He sighed. “Why do you hate me?”
“I don't. Gretel is in bad condition. The sooner we get her to my den, the sooner I can treat her. We must be on our way.”
“My den is closer, and I've already begun treating her…”
For the first time, Gretel saw Guinevere’s tufted tail lash–just once, and so quickly that the former almost thought she imagined it. Woah. I don't care what she says… she obviously does hate him!
“Wait, are you that ‘Sebastion’ who Gadalik said reopened Gretel's wounds?” Glacia pieced the situation together. “Why on earth would we trust you to treat her if you're the reason she's hurt in the first place?!”
Sebastion's default turquoise wings were instantly dimmed to purple at the sight of the water dragoness. His eyes darted between her and Guinevere. “I’m sorry… Go ahead and leave then.”
Before Gadalik could say anything–and his friend could tell he wanted to–the brown fairy dragon flew off.