Sho'ta watched worriedly as the kit settled into the chair. Other than a small startle when he'd wrapped his tail around her wrist, she hadn't even seemed to truly register his presence. No, her eyes were too busy darting around at all the activity happening in the corridor to even fully register what he was up to.

Trying to block out the other scents, there was a lot of relief, hate, fear, worry, and joy swirling in the hallway, he took a deep breath to try and get a fix on the kit's emotions. Although it was hard to tell, her main emotion seemed to be shock. Hadn't she realized that this was a rescue mission? Or maybe she had thought that the others had just come to rescue him and Z'shi, not to liberate the others. Which would make sense why she'd tried to remain behind if she thought there were only there to get two sentients out. Three would've been a strain on any infiltration mission not prepared for that number and there was a good chance she would've been abandoned from sheer necessity.

He let out a stressed purr, uncertain who he was trying to soothe, himself or the kit. To his surprise, she looked over at him inquiringly, finally seeming to be aware of him again. However, her pupils had become huge, leaving only a thin ring of color around the edges. He hadn't seen them do that before and didn't know if that was a bad thing or a totally normal thing.

He suddenly remembered that they could find out now and called firmly, trying to keep his voice calm and devoid of the emotions undoubtedly filling his scent. "T'hir, please scan them now. I'm assuming from where there were other Terran captives that you have baseline Terran?"

T'hir glided forward, serenity practically rolling off of them as they used their natural calming abilities. "Yes, I have baseline Terran in the scanner along with several of what appeared to be the most common injuries inflicted on them by their captors. As stressful as this is for you who have shared a cell with the Terran, let it be known that Terrans are hardier than many sentient species."

Sho'ta bit back a growl, even if she was sturdier, it didn't make it right that she had to suffer pain. Instead, he grudgingly forced out, "Z'shi and I imprinted on the kit. We will need to remain by her side through whatever treatment she receives."

T'hir paused for a long moment, before letting out a thoughtful hum and tapping something quickly on their tablet. "The stars have brought you a great gift in the midst of your trials. Your strength and protection of others has granted you a great boon in return. It is most joyous news."

They started to take another step forward before hesitating. "It is, joyous news, is it not?"

Z'shi let out an amused chirr from where he was standing to the side, using his wings to block out more of the bustling corridor. "Welcome news indeed. Maybe not the most convenient timing and we do not know how things stand with the kit's kin. But to be granted such a glorious gift and feeling is indeed most joyous."

T'hir laughed. "I have to agree, the timing is not the best. But still, this is where fate chose for your paths to intersect. Who knows? If you had never taken this mission, then you might've spent the rest of your journey missing each other. And some people are so stubborn that they never take the time to properly sit and rest."

Feeling chastened, Sho'ta muttered, "The kit is more stubborn than I am."

T'hir nodded. "They would have to be, in order to survive alone until they reached their true kin. Now tell me, what are the odds of the youngling lashing out in pain or fear? The other Terrans did not but they also spoke Common."

Sho'ta moved so he was standing right next to the chair, wrapping his tail around the kit's wrist again, to both give and receive comfort. "Little to none. We have touched and tended the wounds best we could in the cell and she offered us no harm. We have also groomed her and communicated as best we can. The first thing she did when we were placed in the cell was to negotiate a non-aggression truce. She does not seem to be violently inclined and I think she'll understand that you're trying to help her, as long as you take it slow."

T'hir hummed noncommittally, moving slowly until they stood right in front of the kit. In a truly unexpected move, they slowly held out the scanner until it was right in front of the kit where she could take it easily. The kit darted uneasy glances at Z'shi and him, so he let out an encouraging rumble. It was a very smart move on T'hir's part. By letting the kit examine it for herself, she would know that it contained no threat.

With trembling fingers, although she tried to look calm and confident, the kit reached out and took the scanner. She just held it for a few moments before her curiosity grew stronger than her fear and she examined it carefully. She checked out the screen and buttons, although she didn't push them. Then, ever so carefully, she prodded and ran her fingertips over every inch of the scanner, as if looking for hidden compartments or sharp edges. Finally, seeming satisfied with her examination, she carefully handed the scanner back to T'hir.

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T'hir murmured, "Do you think that was enough to erase her fear or should I give her a little bit longer?"

Sho'ta's ears flattened, he hated this whole situation, but simply shrugged. "Do what you must. The kit has been suffering for cycles upon cycles and the sooner she can get treated, the better. If she startles, I shall contain her, you have my word."

Amusement laced T'hir's voice as they pressed a few buttons and the scanner whirred to life. "When I took my oath as a healer, I knew that there was high personal risk. You should not feel guilt for bringing me a potentially dangerous patient. I swore my oaths just as you swore yours. Besides, the youngling is in true need of care and she has been through a terrible ordeal. She needs all the help and care she can possibly get."

As they moved forward and started running the scanner over the kit, she seemed to brace herself, a small sigh escaping her when there was no pain. Had she experienced scanners before then in some capacity? However, right at that moment, she glanced over at him searchingly before turning her attention back to T'hir and the scanner. No, it wasn't the scanner, it was that she trusted him, trusted them to keep her safe, at least a little. And since he wasn't freaking out, she seemed to believe that everything was okay.

Which it was and it wasn't, because she was still hurt. But that small sign of trust warmed him all the way to the depths of his being. His purr started up again, this time a soft and deep sound instead of the near whine it had been earlier.

They stayed like that while T'hir carefully ran the scanner over every inch of the kit, moving at a slow yet steady pace. Finally, T'hir stood to their full height and pulled back a few steps as so not to crowd the kit. After what seemed like an agonizingly long time but was a click at most, the scanner beeped three times, indicating that it had compiled all the data.

Z'shi asked harshly, his feathers rustling loudly, "Well?"

T'hir answered calmly, "One moment. I must still read the results."

Z'shi drooped for a second before rallying and inching closer to the kit. She looked at him, studying him for a long moment before raising her hand and cautiously beckoning him closer. It was a small signal but clear as to what she wanted. Z'shi gave a happy chirr and moved closer, draping a wing gently over her for a moment before pulling back and returning his attention to the healer.

T'hir finally gave a thoughtful hum, tucking the scanner away and starting to dig through their medical bag. "There is no nice way to say this, so I shall just share the facts. The youngling is in poor shape. The most concerning is her mass and malnutrition. She has obviously been hungry for a long time now and we shall have to be careful with her diet until she regains all that she has lost."

That was only to be expected if she had been in the cell for as long as they believed she had been. But if that was the worst, then "She isn't dying?"

The words fell out before he had even fully thought them, but Sho'ta refused to take them back. He needed to know the truth, the unvarnished truth, and T'hir wouldn't be cruel and try to lie to him out of kindness."

T'hir shook their head, pulling out a jar of ointment with a satisfied hum. Dipping a clean cloth into the ointment, they spoke as they worked, "No, with proper care, they shall most likely live a full and rewarding life. Their foundation is good, it just needs some care."

Z'shi slumped to his knees, his head bowed in relief at the news. Sho'ta wished that he could do the same, but he needed to know what was wrong with the kit first. "So, what is wrong besides the swelling of her face and throat? Will she have lost the ability to speak?"

"There are small tears to the vocal chord along with bruising and swelling, but nothing that won't be repaired by the nanites in this cream. There are also slight cracks in their ribs, which should also be added in healing by the nanites, although they appear to have begun the healing process already."

Z'shi slowly climbed to his feet, looking brighter than he had since he'd first seen the kit's face. "Terrans seem to be fast healers. With just the application of a wet cloth, the swelling on her face seemed to reduce substantially."

T'hir froze. "This is better?"

Z'shi gave a quiet hum. "Yes. The first day, she could hardly open her mouth a fraction to accept food or water and swallowing was quite painful. But the last meal we had, she was able to open her mouth nearly three times as wide as initially and swallowing wasn't nearly as much of a struggle."

"Remarkable. Such healing wasn't observed amongst the other Terrans, but then again, none of them were anywhere near as injured as she is. Now, which of you will put this ointment on her? It will sting a bit, so best to be done by one of you instead of me. But the sooner we get it on her, the sooner her injuries will heal."

Sho'ta reached out and took the cloth. "I will do it. I am the one that she permitted to tend her wounds while Z'shi fed her. Best to not upset the status quo at this point."

He moved over and knelt in front of the kit, nudging her chin up ever so slightly so their eyes met, before holding up the cloth so she could see it plainly. She stared at it for a long moment before the uninjured corner of her mouth quirked up in amusement. Rolling her eyes, she gave a tiny nod and lifted her chin to give him better access.

What a brave kit, even as she was being sassy. Using the utmost care, he delicately started wiping the ointment over the bruising, being extremely careful not to put any pressure on the wounds. It was bad enough that it was going to sting, if he could spare her even the tiniest bit of discomfort, he would.

Her brow furrowed a little bit after the first swipe and he hesitated for a moment, but she just gave him a small nod to continue. Relief filled him as the bruises started to visibly heal before his eyes as he worked on making sure that he covered every bit of her injuries.

Their kit was going to be okay.