Page 129 of Upon Buried Embers
He’s laying down on his side, one wing hovering out at the side of him, curled under at the edges, his feet hidden.
“Are you hurt?” Is his wing broken? Fuck. “Let me see.” I take a step forward, and he growls again, ignoring another warning from Drogonah.
When he lifts his head back a little, it shifts his wing, and that’s when I see it.
Red hair peeking out from under it.
“Elf!” Escor spits fire out, landing just before my feet.
I have no axe, and he’s ignoring Drogonah’s warning.
But I still have my bare fucking hands.
“Escor,” I growl, standing to my full height. “Thank you for sheltering her, but Ineedto get to her.”
More fire, I step over it.
“I will not hesitate, Escor. She needs me.”
More fire. I walk through it.
“We need to take her back. Now!”
His head lowers, lips peeling back and I stare at him. I step closer and after an intense moment, he peels back his wing, slowly letting me have access, though he doesn’t stop that threatening growl.
He can burn me all he wants if it means I get to her.
I rush forward, moving her hair aside.
Fuck, she’s blue.
No, no, no.
“Elf,” I say softly, rolling her onto her back. “Elf, wake up.” I pat her cheek gently and hiss at the contact. Fuck, she’s freezing.
I lean down, listening and… there.
Her breathing is slow but it’s there. “Fuck,” I rasp. “Come on, open those eyes for me.”
She doesn’t.
“Talk to me, please.”
Nothing.
“It’s okay.” I run my fingers down the side of her face. “I have you now, let’s get you home.”
I grab her, holding her close to my chest and stand. I don’t know if she can even hear me, but I want to reassure her.
“It’s okay.” Her head lolls to the side, and I swallow roughly. “Just keep breathing for me.”
This is all my fault.
“Get us home, quickly, Drogonah.”
He lowers his wing and I climb on his back, Escor coming up behind me as I hold her as close to me as possible, trying to warm her up as Drogonah takes us home.
“Her wrist is broken,” Asseya tells me, and I grit my teeth, sitting next to my bed. “I have what I need to speed up the healing, but it will still take a little time. I will check over the rest of her tomorrow, but with her sleeping, I won’t know if she’s in pain anywhere, so best to keep her body still.”
