Moonspear In your sword still beats a heart

AW but hoping for @Opalia

The pain persisted, and was no longer localized. It ached in each if his bones, thrummed throughout his skull, roused an uncomfortable heat in him despite the bitter Springtime temperatures. Dacio had hidden himself away almost entirely since his encounter with Raleska, not wishing to bother Hydra's sister while she carefully tended to the boy he'd saved.

Besdies, he didn't feel much like moving. Each tiny shift felt searing, and a seemingly never-ending desire for sleep. That was all the body desired as of late, and the young soldier stubbornly decided that it was all he would need. He was too strong for anything sinister to have plagued him.

Dacio lay sprawled on the bare floor of his cave, eager to cool flesh that felt like it might combust. The rock soothed his skin only temporarily, however, and in reluctance to move again he closed his eyes to will the discomfort away.

He was a fool. A damn fool.

Although there was always plenty else for her to stay busy with, from Praimfaya's return to them to the increase of patrols even past the mountain after the attack, it was far too easy to worry about him.

She certainly had made it a point to check in with him often lately, make sure he was taking it somewhat easy. But she didn't set out to hover; Dacio was strong, and a healer had been their mother's job, after all, not hers--though in times like these, she tried to grip firmly to any knowledge she might've observed back then but it did not come back easy. Medicine, and its nuance, was not her forte, never would be, so all she could do was watch out for her brother in her own way.

And even while he had been wounded, she still pinned it unusual to not see him around in this long.. so she tracked his freshest trail back to the cave, wiggling her nose carefully before concern could outrun her. Closing the last bit of distance with a new swiftness, she soon loomed in his doorway with a low query of ..Dacio? as she squinted into his darkness, waiting if he'd reply--not even sure if he was awake or not yet, but it didn't bode too well based on what of him she could make out.

Another moved beyond the threshold of his hollow, and Dacio pricked a charcoal lobe to listen for the sound of approaching paws. Pastel eyes cracked open to peer out into the open, fixed his sister with a fond stare and flopped his dark tail in lazy welcome as she mustered his name.

"Hei," he responded, and carefully lifted his head to better acknowledge Opalia's approach. Dacio tried to pull himself up onto his belly, but the pressure in his head made him grimace and sway. After a low groan, he managed, and exhaled shakily as he set about licking at his elbow's worsening wounds. 

She was treading lightly, worrying that she didn't know how to do enough.. that he might not know, or that she might not--who knew? And no part of her wished to entirely convey these concerns to him--not when his focus must be on healing. Opalia's ears twitched, though, and he greeted her back which made her tail wag immediately. At least she had that much from him to start. It was a small enough relief, but she stepped in a bit further with that, lowering her head, and proceeding delicately.

The yearling sighed, curling herself into a quick sit, and tried not to dwell. How are you feeling? she asked, motioning to what he worked at with his licking, though it applied in an entire general sense too. She tried not to seem to tense about it, not here, not while she wanted her brother to be able to relax and mend. Need anything...? she added, lighter, and determined not to let it bother her, but here face to face with his ailing, none of it made it too easy to just overlook. So she tried to focus on the rest--what he would need to get past this.

The taste was vile, bitter on his tongue, and Dacio withdrew. He did his best to feign comfort in the face of his sister, who moved in to settle alongside him, by shooting her a toothy grin to accompany his attempt at making light of the situation: "like shit."

That much was true, but the last thing he wanted was to appear weak before his companions - especially Opalia. They'd shared a womb together, grew together, fought together. If anyone could ever see through his mask to unearth the deep-rooted concern beneath, it would be her.

"Just you," he answered with a lazy sweep of his tail as his mischief seeped away and his expression softened. He was thankful of her company, as always, and the shine to his pastel eyes was sure to communicate his appreciation. "Stay a while, if you don't mind?" 

If nothing else, it appeared his humor remained intact enough. She did not have to worry about that. It was an answer she could've seen coming judging by what she had come into, but it was her aching concern over him that didn't have her bite back with a matching remark--perhaps something about how he looked the part right now and that it worried her of course, but she wouldn't swing with such low blows. To her, he looked tired still.

Well that's easy enough, she replied when it was only her company he wanted, although a persistent thought warned that he maybe needed more than just that, or anything that she knew how to bring him. Something maybe wasn't quite alright? Then again, a part of her was annoyed for thinking this about her sterling brother, even seeing him now suffering here in the dark. They had nursed other wounds together before, it was a part of their lifestyle as warriors and protectors. This wasn't the first or the last time this could happen. I'll stay. You tell me if there's more I can do, alright? She couldn't tell how to navigate that uncertainty yet.. but supposed, being here for him might give her a better answer.

Opalia scooted a bit closer, leaning her nose into his space. Can I see it? she motioned to his elbow with a light nod, curious, but understanding if he'd rather not let her get a better look for today. It probably wouldn't mean a whole lot to her, anyway, but further affirmation that the one who had done it would pay severely--and Opalia was far from alone in this.

But, stoking the flames in her heart for later, she soon could settle into a comfortable space with him and hopefully help get his mind off his pain--for it didn't matter where the conversation went, she went willingly with him.