[For Sam] Healer & Dragon

[carrythetorch]

It had all gone wrong this time. In retrospect, Lio thinks maybe he'd been going too hard. He was on the brink of exhaustion, and his latest raid on livestock had been met with more resistance than it should have, almost as if someone had known he was coming.

He'd gotten away, thankfully, but not before he'd taken a number of blows -- arrows shot from crossbows with enough power that they'd pierced even through his scales. He'd ripped them out in flight and set the better part of a fallow field on fire before he'd flapped high enough to disappear into the cloud cover. That had been what saved him. It wasn't long before he couldn't keep himself aloft any longer, too much pain, too much blood lost.

Even maintaining his full draconic form is too much, and as he plunges to the Earth and tries to slow his descent with his wings, he fizzles back into his human shape, a lithe, slender man. His clothes are dark enough that the blood soaking them isn't obvious from a distance. He lands in a crumpled pile not far from a road through the woods, just off the trail in the underbrush. And that's the last thing he knows.

...

When he opens his eyes next, he's warmer than he expects to be. There's soft blankets beneath him and over him. He can smell something clean and earthy, herbal maybe, and light spills in setting the whole room in a comforting brightness and-- wait. He's in a room. The last thing he remembers is falling, and, oh.

He sits up all at once, hissing at the way his body protests the movement. Where is he? Has he been captured? Except no, if he'd been captured he'd be bound. Or dead. Maybe staked through to the ground. Not wrapped in soft blankets and tended to. "Where am I?" He asks the question mostly to himself as he blinks against his bleary vision willing it to clear, willing his eyes to focus.

Comments

[barenakedspirit]

There’s no missing the way Lio perks up at the mention of meat. Galo smiles to himself as he hauls up a bucket of water from the depths of the hole. He had went fishing earlier while Lio slept.

He sets the bucket by the hole and the slab slides back into place. “Then listen harder. I’m taking the steps to help you mend. You gotta trust that. Or you doubt a healer’s word?” He looks over his shoulder, his eyes sparking.

But the sparks fade as he sighs and reaches into the bucket. “Not that you’d be the first or wrong. Healers are people and they can be bias too.” Galo pulls the fish out and pins it to the stone slab. In seconds its fight is over. He slides a knife out of the side of the bucket and sets to work descaling the fish.

“We could compromise here. If you have problems with my suggestions, tell me. Tell me why. I’ll work with you and earn that trust.” He cuts the head off the fish and sets to making the cuts he wants to make. “That work for you?”

[carrythetorch]

Lio's eyes narrow at that, but he looks away. He's been called out. Yes, Galo is a healer, but he's still human. And humans lie. Humans hate and turn on what is different from them. Not that dragons are perfect; he knows there are those among his kind who are cruel and dishonest and terrible people. At least among dragons he doesn't have to worry about being hated simply for what he is.

Then Galo surprises by that next admission and Lio looks back to him, visibly startled. This human keeps on surprising him.

He considers the compromise and nods. "I don't like things that dull my senses. If I need to fight or run, I need to be able to fight and run. I can deal with pain. I'm used to it. I'm not used to being helpless."

[barenakedspirit]

There it is again, that surprise on Lio's face. It bothers him to see it. He's not surprised - the world can be a shitty place - but it reminds him of why his work is so important. And why he has to adapt to his patient's needs.

Galo nods, "I get it. That's pretty damn reasonable." He sets the knife aside and climbs to his feet. The pain draft won't work. He's knocked Kray out with it. It hadn't been his intent. He'd been a young apprentice and Kray had been curious about what he could do. Kray ignored him for weeks. He resolved from that day forward to be absolutely careful of everything he did.

He walks back to the center and reaches up to the plants hanging up over the hook. A pale blue flowering plant showers petals into his bandages hand as Galo cups his other hand. The heat of his own magic fills the space, drying out the petals. He up ends them into kettle.

He taps it once, tracing a sigil and it glows blue green. Galo shifts his feet and his staff is abruptly there in his hand, letting him lean on it. "Okay. So, higher order draft here. But it will only work on you when you're sleeping or trying to. Doesn't dull the senses but, does get rid of pain." He drops onto the bench and breathes out hard. "Give me...a minute."

He bows his head and breathes. "Needs a few minutes to brew anyway." He hadn't been at his best when he found Lio. He's still recovering from being hit with dragon fire. He pushes himself up and uses his staff as a counter point, walking slowly back to the fish. "Still don't recommend you fight or run. And don't worry, I nap on the earth today or in the river and I'll have more than enough to send people packing if they come sniffing around."

[carrythetorch]

Lio sits forward again, watching Galo in fascination now, like he's found himself a puzzle that he can't entirely figure out and it's starting to drive him crazy. He really wants to wander around this room and see all of it closer, sniff the various plants and herbs, get a better sense for the space. But instead he stays put.

"Okay," he ducks his head. "I can take that." It's a compromise, and one that he didn't expect. But he does see the way Galo needs to take a moment himself. The healer is going to all this trouble for him. It tugs at something in him, and he stands slowly to make his way closer.

"I'm hoping not to need to do either." But more importantly, "You're burned." And something about that burn feels familiar. Oh. Oh no.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo waves him off with a casual tone and flick of his fingers. "Week ago. Won't slow me down." It had seemed to be an ordinary rescue. Until the dragon no one knew was there struck out. It came from no where. He'd been hit badly and the fire felt like it bit into his soul. The first hours had been hell. Aina and the head of the circle, Ignis had worked on the damage until he could do the rest himself.

He shakes off the memories and sits by the stone slab, picking the knife back up. "You really shouldn't be moving." He says as he settles right back into preparing the fish. It's methodical work, he could do it in his sleep or drop over drunk.

"...but if you do it slowly and don't make sudden moves you won't pull anything open." Lio felt compelled to move for some reason. Concern? But that remark. You've been burned. It reminds him of dim memories of his father.

He tips his head back. No. He isn't sharing that with anyone. It doesn't hurt so much as they're the past. They stay in the past. "It's the kind of burn that will take a bit to heal. Don't worry about it."

[carrythetorch]

"Dragonfire," Lio murmurs, ignoring the won't slow me down bit. That isn't the point. This man, who has been so kind and understanding already, has been burned by dragons. It leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

His turn to wave off the comment. "I'm taking it easy. This isn't moving." Moving would be taking on his other form and testing his wings. This is nothing. Or maybe he's just being cocky and overconfident because he doesn't want to admit that he's still feeling weak and uncertain on his feet.

Galo is right of course. Burns from dragonfire do not heal easily nor quickly, and to see it as healed as it is is likely testament to the skill of this healer and others in the area. Interesting. But also not the point. "I could help. I'm no healer, but I know dragonfire. I've seen it before."

[barenakedspirit]

"Only if that help means you're not taxing yourself. I pulled you from the brink once." He'd pass out if he had to pull him back up again. Or worse. He doesn't tell Lio that as he glances at him through the sweep of his bangs.

Then he sighs, shaking his head. "There's only so much that can be done for dragonfire. Far as I know." It bothers him. "Almost like they're elementals." Elementals striking can be damaging. Deadly to more than the physical. "Anyway, lay it on me. So long as those conditions are met."

[carrythetorch]

A quick shake of his head. It won't be taxing. "It's fine. It's not taxing." Everything he is is fire. It's as natural as breathing in many ways. He wouldn't trust himself to try to breathe fire just now, but feeling it and calling the flame to him, if his heart is beating his flames are burning.

He moves to kneel beside Galo, hesitating before reaching out towards him, making sure Galo is aware that he's about to touch him.

"They are," he answers absentmindedly as he sets his hand on the bandaged arm. "Dragons are born in flames and die in ashes. And the fire they wield," at least he remembers to say they instead of we, "is a living thing. It burns even after the flames are gone, until it's spent. That's why it's difficult to treat dragonfire burns, the fire is still smoldering even when the visible flames are put out."

He goes silent then, shutting his eyes. This is not his dragonfire, but he can feel it, and he reaches out to soothe that relentless need to burn that even the remnants of the dragonfire always feel. Those vestiges of foreign flame reach for the fire in him, and Lio calls them to himself, pulls what remains from Galo's injured arm. The burn will still need to be healed, and he meant what he said; he's no healer. But now it should react like any burn from a kitchen accident or overly ambitious campfire.

Opening his eyes, he sits back on his heels, watching Galo. If anything, Lio's eyes look brighter, less pained, after that little trick, like he managed to get a bit of a recharge from the little surge of flame.

[barenakedspirit]

For a moment Galo doesn’t reply. He closes his eyes and reaches out to the elements, asking how true that is. He’s always heard that dragons are beasts.

Beasts bent on destruction. No one has ever told him differently. The elements whisper the truth to him. They are fire. They are special fire. Shock rings through him. Why...

Necessary is the answer as he withdraws back to the present where his pain is gone. He lifts his head and shifts his right arm. He can feel the burns and the pain but it’s less. It isn’t dragging up memories anymore.

He looks at Lio and notes how he looks a little better too. “Dragons are elementals.” He repeats and closes his eyes again, as he rips the bandages from his arm. He was ground zero when the dragon hit and he knows those scars will never go away.

Galo shakes his head slowly. “Elements agree. So, why are they rampaging? ...that has to mean something is out of balance. Out of true. No elemental just destroys. ...why are we always told...” He moves his left hand with the knife in it then sets it down when he realizes he is.

He shakes his head. He is a servant of balance as much as he is a life saver. Kray needs to know. He needs to know dragons shouldn’t be killed.

He can’t make that journey until his patient is better. Galo nods then looks back at Lio with a serious expression on his face. “Thanks, for the help and the truth. Got work ahead of me when you’re better. But don’t worry about that.”

He’ll put things right.

[carrythetorch]

Lio isn't expecting Galo to believe him. Humans have their own ideas, and from his experience they aren't exactly prone to changing their minds, especially about things they've been taught to fear and hate. It's why his people have been driven into hiding, are barely clinging on in the fringes of this land.

He scoffs quietly at what must be meant as a rhetorical question. "Rampaging? Is that what they say? They're surviving, the only way they can. They've been driven out of their homes and lands, hunted down. And even now, when dragons raid a farm, they only take what they need. They don't attack humans without reason. When is the last time someone died in a dragon raid? Dragons always leave an escape route for any people there. They don't kill unless they have no other choice." It takes him a moment to settle down and realize that Galo hadn't been dismissing what he said, that he'd believed what he said to begin with and that he probably should dial back a little before he gives himself away here.

Lio stares at him, still kneeling beside him, sitting back on his heels and, yeah, staring. "You're welcome." A pause and then, quieter, "Thank you for saving my life."

[barenakedspirit]

Galo flinches under the rebuke and looks down, soaking up the remarks and closing his eyes with regret at his choice of words. Lio is right. He hasn't heard of a death to a raid. "I'm sorry." He says at last then he looks up, subdued as he says. "You're right. They're surviving and I didn't see it." Now he listens to the earth he can hear it, a dull ache that's growing steadily worse.

He looks away while his mind races. Yes, Kray has to know. Galo stares at nothing then he sighs, "All stuff I'll deal with when you're better." He tucks his emotions away and motions to the plant now growing onto the slab. The leaves touching stone detach and he wraps the fish in it, folding the leaves up and over them then pulling on his magic again. The sizzle of cooking meat breaks the quiet.

"...when I get some sleep don't leave the house. The forest will keep you safe while I'm not awake to do it. It favors you alright so, it will move for you." Maybe if Lio has greatly improved in a few days he can make the journey to talk to Kray. This needs put right and soon.

[carrythetorch]

Galo trips him up again. The apology. This... who the hell is this human? Lio frowns faintly. Is he the one making assumptions now? Clearly Galo is willing to have an open mind; doesn't this man who's taken the risk to help a stranger in need deserve at least that much? A tension in Lio's shoulders ease. Maybe... maybe he can trust this man.

A little.

"What do you mean deal with?" There's a genuine curiosity in it, and a subtle softening of Lio's tone. He doesn't let his walls down often or easily, and they're still very much off, but maybe not quite so high. There is something disarming about this mage whose soul burns just as fiery as any dragon Lio has known.

"I won't go anywhere." He shifts from his knees to sitting instead, drawing one knee up to his chest and watching Galo still. He's going to figure this one out. Then his stomach growls its approval of the smell of sizzling meat, and Lio looks away sheepishly.

[barenakedspirit]

He starts to tell Lio that he doesn't need to concern himself with it then stops. He thumps his closed fist against his chest and his expression turns sharp, his eyes sparking with the flame of his spirit. An injustice is an injustice. It needs corrected. It wouldn't matter if he were a healer or not. "I serve the balance. Dragons are clearly part of that. I need to see what the scope of the problem is and put right what's going wrong. And stop people from killing them."

Galo sweeps his arm out gesturing to the whole house. His voice loud in the sudden quiet. He quiets as Lio looks away and says. "...anyway, we should eat, rest, and work on being fit enough to travel." He has a journey to plan.

He'll see Kray first, he thinks. He can get him to put out word dragons shouldn't be killed. Then he'll go to the circle.

[carrythetorch]

Lio stares at Galo like he's grown an extra head and maybe an odd number of horns. This... this idiot actually means it, does't he? His heart picks up its pace. Stop people from killing them. And that determination. And volume. He means it, and Lio finds himself feeling grateful for it, even if he's not sure what difference one man can make. It's still something.

"You're the weirdest hu--" nope, try again "--healer I've ever met."

His head tilts to the side, one corner of his lips twitching up into a small smile. "It's a good thing, I think."

Maybe Galo can't change the world, but it's nice to have someone not wanting all his kind dead simply for being what they are.

[barenakedspirit]

He stares right back at him. He's seen people react to him like this and usually he gets called an idiot. Galo blinks and raises an eyebrow. "Weird is a new one. Usually just get called an idiot." He grins, not bothered in the slightest.

He slips his knife under a leaf wrapped fish fillet and guides it to the edge nearest Lio. "Eat. It's finished." He parts the other package and chows down, saying, "We just got one small problem I got to take care of later."

Galo swallows down some fish and jerks his thumb towards Lio. "I'll need slip off to the village tomorrow and get you clothes. We're fine on pants." And underwear. "It's the upper wear. I need more bandages and some supplies anyway."

[carrythetorch]

"That seemed rude to say to someone feeding me," Lio answers as he reaches for the fish. Yes. He's going to devour this fish. Whole. ...wait no. Shaped like a human eat like a human. So he'll go about it more delicately. But he's realizing that he's starving from the first bite. It's delicious.

He perks up when Galo mentions a problem, not sure where he's going with that, tense for a moment before, well, relaxing again. Clothes, right? Looking at Galo, he doesn't look like the clothes type given what he is and isn't currently wearing. Lio looks down at himself, shirtless as well, though bandaged enough that he's more covered than the healer in front of him.

Now that it's been pointed out though, Lio flushes and realizes he's quite intently studying Galo's bare chest and looks instead down at his fish. Well.

"Can I come?" He'll walk slowly and everything, Galo. Though he realizes he has no idea how far away the village is. What he really wants is to listen for rumors of dragon activity, see if he can put together what his people are up to in his absence, if they're all right. He may even be able to sneakily send a message.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo slides the second fish packet towards Lio and considers that request. Lio had been so full of holes when he pulled him from the brink of death. If he needs to fight or run it could be his last. But he looks better after pulling that dragon fire from his arm.

Lio flushes and he has no idea why. Realizing his state of dress, maybe? Has to be it. He rubs the back of his neck and thinks a little harder. Lio has been pretty opinionated and speaks the truth with passion. He's not sure this is a good idea.

He taps his knife against the stone and gives him a searching look. "Alright, you can come. But under a cloak. You stand out a bit," He is never one to talk on this. "More than I do. They're used to me. Not to you."

[carrythetorch]

Lio is all too happy to take that second fish, still managing to refrain from just swallowing the entire thing whole. Points for Lio. He waits to see what Galo will say. He did, after all, agree to the healer's rules, and he's a dragon of his word. If Galo thinks he should stay here, then he'll stay here. He'll sulk about it, but he'll do it.

What Galo says though is not what Lio is expecting. "I stand out?" Because yeah, Galo, you are bright and loud and mostly naked and beautiful, how the hell does he stand out like this? ...in his other forms, yeah. He stands out. A lot. But this? He's aware he's small by human standards, and he's not setting anything on fire. He's basically invisible right. "How do I stand out?"

He huffs, but shakes his head. "Okay. I'll wear a cloak. I can do that."

[barenakedspirit]

"You don't hold your opinion back and that's gonna get you noticed and you just," He gestures to the tattoos he can see faintly on Lio. "Fire mages ain't popular around here or anywhere. People associate them with dragons and," He throws his hands up with a heavy sigh and a shake of his head.

"So cloak. I'll do the talking. If you start feeling sick or weak or whatever, we'll head right back here. Your health comes first." He swallows the last of his fish down and considers the last packet. He could eat it. But he's gonna nap later and the elements will refill his strength anyway.

He slides the last packet over to Lio and stretches his arms over his head. His right arm isn't hurting anymore. It stings and he can feel the usual damage he associates with burns but it doesn't feel like his soul is taking that hit.

Galo gets to his feet and retrieves the kettle along with two stone mugs. He pours the magical draft into them and offers one mug to Lio, as he downs the other one without a thought. It tastes like river water, cool and clean. It washes through him and he closes his eyes to really feel the water magic spreading through his system.

[carrythetorch]

"I--" Lio opens his mouth to argue, but no, okay, Galo is right about that. He isn't shy about sharing his opinion, and that has gotten him in trouble before. He purses his lips. "You've got a point. I'll keep my head down."

He will try to keep his head down. Try is the key word there, of course, but at least his intentions will be in the right place. And there is Galo being concerned about him again. It's a weird feeling in a lot of ways, having someone this concerned about him. But that's...

It's kind of nice. That's all.

He watches Galo move for the kettle and watches in further surprise as the healer takes one for himself. Seeing Galo swallow it without any sort of hesitation is reassuring somehow. It makes it feel safer somehow, and Lio reaches to take the offered mug with a murmured thanks. He sniffs at it once before drinking. The water magic floods through him with the drink, his fire surging to meet it in the moment. He finishes the cup.

And then he looks to the fish. "You're sure? You should eat. You've used a lot of magic." Lio won't take food that Galo needs.

[barenakedspirit]

“I ate. No sense stuffing myself when the way I’m going to recharge will fill me up anyway.” Galo says as he hangs the kettle back up and finishes off his mug. He sets it on the bench.

He drags out his pack and sets it out. Healers are rare and their secrets kept tucked up against their chests. But this isn’t that big of a secret. “So, I have a spot where I take my recharge naps. It’s along the side of the house is the space I’ll sleep. When I do the elements will move in around the house and guard it.”

Galo sweeps his finger around in a circle in the air. “I’ll recharge a bit then we’ll see about cleaning up your injuries again.”

[carrythetorch]

"I see," Lio answers and well, that's all he needs for permission to devour the last fish. His body has been through the ringer. The amount of blood that he's lost probably should have killed him, yet here he is, rescued by a handsome shirtless healer. Damn it, it's like the set up to a song that some cheesy romance story.

He looks up curiously at Galo. Huh. Recharging, is it? That is interesting. Lio wants to see what it looks like, but for now at least, he'll try not to be exceptionally nosy this time. Besides, the truth is, exhaustion still has its claws in him.

"And I'll stay inside. I should rest too." See, Galo? He's a good patient. Totally innocent. Nothing suspicious here.

[barenakedspirit]

“Nice to see you coming round to the rest up and get better route!” Galo says with a pleased tone. He checks his pack once then steps away from it. He walks to his staff and vaults up onto the windowsill beside it.

“Okay, so here’s the plan. I’m gonna go recharge and you’ll let that draft work on you. Once I get up I’ll see how much it’s helped and we go from there.” Galo rests his staff against his shoulder as he turns to Lio. “Remember. Stay inside. I’ll only be asleep until noon.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio shrugs. "Seems like the right thing to do. Fighting against someone trying to help me is counterproductive." He can see and understand logic. That doesn't always mean that he goes with that logic. Emotions run hot and deep in dragons, and though Lio does his best to remain in control, he has enough self awareness to know it sometimes gets the best of him.

For now though he nods. "Good plan." He moves to stand now, wobbling only a little. Okay, he actually may behave fully after all. His entire body aches, but he can feel Galo's potion starting to work.

Lio gets back to the bed he'd woken up in and climbs back into it, pulling the blankets up entirely over himself.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo watches him. The morning sun cuts through the window and warms him as he closes his eyes. He’s exhausted. The trees creak as their roots pour through the window and wrap around the edges, anchoring themselves in place.

Roots and vines reach for him as Galo turns to face the forest that has come to him at his request. “I know, I know.” He casts one last glance at Lio then slips from the window sill to the ground below. The forest curves around him, opening a path to a hole in the side of the building.

He walks and his mind flashes through what he needs to do when he gets up. Dragons need to be saved somehow. Kray would help. The forest whispers soothingly to him in the sigh of its branches and creak of its wood. He doesn’t hear their sorrow for the faith so misplaced.

——

At noon Galo pulls himself up into the house and runs a hand through his hair. There is a shadow falling over the house and he watches it from his spot by the window. He doesn’t seem that alarmed as it passes. “Aina.” He says at last, more to himself than anyone else. He turns to get a look at how Lio is doing.