He had not been expecting this at all, though maybe he should have.
It had just been Miles and Pebbles with him this free day, they were swimming in the river when Miles begin to complain of a head ache.
"I wonder what demons are really like," Pebbles said as they sat on rocks, drying themselves and watching Miles laying in the grass with his arm over his eyes.
"Have you ever seen one?"
"No, you?"
Kaidan shook his head, wet strands of black hair flying about, it was getting pretty long, waist length, though that seemed fairly normal.
"Are they really monsters, or. . . all the stories say," and Pebbles rested their chin on their knees.
"Stories are stories, so who knows, really?" Kaidan shrugged.
It's a nice day, though he can see ominous clouds building on the horizon. He really hopes this isn't a 'weather reflects the scene' type thing.
"I think I'm going to puke!" cries Miles, who follows through, throwing up beside himself.
Kaidan went over and helped him, cleaning him up and helping him drink.
Boiling the water cleans it, right? He was burning up. . .
Kids get sick, right? This won't be serious, right? A passing childhood illness.
But Kaidan knew he was just trying to fool himself, you were sick for narrative reasons and often not very good ones.
They stayed by him the whole day, Pebbles cuddling up to Kaidan, worried about Miles.
Kaidan talked about inane subjects and made sure Miles drank whenever possible.
As the sun begin setting they helped him back, Miles listless and tired. They limped along, Miles a heavy, hot weight between them.
Brother Gregory frowned heavily at the sight of Miles, picking him up and carrying him.
Kaidan and Pebbles followed him, deep in the monestary, to what Kaidan recognized as the healers room.
The healer looked worried, guiding Gregory to a cot where he placed Miles.
Gregory looked at the two and leaned down, "let the healer work, it's meal time."
They allowed him to lead them away, with many worried looks back.
It got worse from here.
Several children fell ill. Kaidan visited as often as possible, the fever and weakness horrible.
Twig and Izzy were next.
The healer was tending them, but everyone seemed so worried.
The orphans room was getting pretty empty. . .
And then Pebbles got sick, and Kaidan over heard Brother Gregory and the healer talking.
"There isn't enough!"
"Eldron. . . nothing?"
"I can keep treating them, but the cure. . . I don't know how long I can keep them. . ."
"How much?"
"Too much, we don't have enough."
"I understand, just. . . I understand. . ."
The healer started crying, Gregory comforting him as Kaidan slipped away.
He was going to lose them, for want of money.
Why? Was this just how this played out?
He didn't want to lose them.
Maybe if he snuck into town. . .
There must be a way!
The next morning as they were set to work, he found a way to slip away and into town.