Three agonizing days of cooling patches and medicinal teas later, and the symptoms were yet to leave Ahri's body. She was out of options in her small escape bag, and her mind was exhausted from thinking while sick. Waking up was hard, and she could feel her body shutting down when the fever was too high. Voices in the living room were the only thing keeping her from falling back into slumber.
"You have to take her with you. She won't survive like that, she needs the heat." Lana's voice was urgent, like it had been whenever Ahri's fever returned.
"I can just take her back," replied a deep voice she didn't recognize.
"Jesus Christ, Skye! Do you really think she'd survive a trip that long? You almost killed her on the way here."
Her mind was blurry from the tiredness, but the voices in the living room kept her awaken. She wanted to get up and take part in the conversation, but she was also curious to know what would be said when they thought she wasn't listening.
"And what do you suggest? I take her to the rocks? I'm sure a town girl would love the facilities." Rude.
"She is sick! It's just until she gets better, alright?" There was no answer for a while, and Ahri thought it was time for her to intervene. But then, Lana spoke again. "Do you know whose daughter she is?"
There were hushed sounds on the living room, and the whispers were too low for her to understand. Why the hell were they whispering about Eleanor? And why did it matter that she was her daughter?
"What does your husband have to say about that?" Skye asked in an acid tone that made her shiver. Caleb was still out on his work trip, but left with the promise to find more supplies to keep her healthy.
"Caleb is not here right now."
At that moment, Leah sprinted into the room, keeping her from hearing any more of the conversation.
"Hi, Ahri!" The kid had learnt to say her name the day before, after Lana's persistent encouragement. If she liked to call her before, now she was even more eager to show off her new skill.
"Good morning, Leah."
"Dragon snuggle or no snuggle?" She asked with her big green eyes.
During her sick days, Leah learned that her dragon heat was good when Ahri was not feverish, because it helped keep her warm. But when the fever came back, that same heat was dangerous, and it was best to bring her a cool towel patch instead.
"Tiny snuggle," Ahri replied. The fever was there, but she couldn't refuse that morning hug. It was interesting to see how attached she grew to the girl in so little time.
"Ahri, you are awake." Lana called from the doorstep, sending a loving stare to the hugging scene on the bed. "I have someone here I want you to talk to."
"Just give me a second."
She tried to draw a deep breath before getting up, but her lungs couldn't fill up properly, so she ended up coughing rather than breathing. She got out of the sheets and changed into the warm clothes Lana had set aside for her. Her hair was a mess, and still held a faded brown from the tincture she couldn't properly wash away. Having a wet hair would only worsen her condition, so she didn't have the luxury to go back to her original color yet.
Ahri wondered what the immense black dragon that took her away from Lightbridge would look like as a human. As she stepped into the living room, the first thing she saw was his back. He was turned to the lit firepit, and his large shoulders almost concealed the small flame that creaked before him.
As he turned around, she noticed his body was dark black, just a few shades lighter than his hair. His eyes were the same onyx orbs that looked at her in menace when they first met, and they were just as compelling now. She knew that man was dangerous regardless of the beast he held inside, and yet she didn't have it in her to divert her gaze from the threat.
"You must be Skye," Ahri broke the silence, worrying they'd just keep staring at each other if she didn't say something. Her voice was hoarse and weak, but he heard her and nodded.
"And you are sick," he said in a deep voice.
"Jesus, Skye!" Lana intervened and the man rolled his eyes.
"Nice to meet you. Are you ready to go?"
Ahri arched a brow, and turned to look at Lana. The woman seemed confused for a moment, but then her grey eyes shone with understanding.
"Oh, thank God!"
"What is going on?" Ahri questioned, but she had a pretty good idea of the answer, considering what she had heard.
"Ahri, my dear, you are not getting any better here. You need to go somewhere warm, and Skye can help you with that."
The idea of leaving with a stranger was not compelling at all, but the promised warmth was not something she could easily deny. She was tired of being sick, and sick of feeling cold. Even so, she couldn't simply agree to go with him.
"I don't know you," she stated, hoping to gather information before deciding.
"And I don't know you," he replied in challenge.
"Ahri, Skye is a friend. I know it's not ideal, but it's just until you get better. As soon as your fever breaks we can figure something else out."
"Where is it?"
"Close," he replied.
"Why is it warm, then?" If they were as far south as she imagined, there was no way they'd find heat without at least a couple days trip. Maybe less in a dragon ride, but she was with Lana on that. The wind on her face would do nothing but clog her lungs even further.
Skye just chuckled, but Lana was kind enough to explain.
"It's a volcano, Ahri. And the rocks keep the warmth in. Or so I've been told, since I was never invited over." There was a clear complaint in her voice, but the man didn't seem affected by it.
"Nobody was, Lana. Now let's go."
Ahri almost refused the offer. The man was clearly not fond of the idea of hosting her, and from their little interaction, she knew he wouldn't comply to basic conviviality rules. But Lana's expression made her swallow her complaints and pack her bag.
The woman had been worried about her for days, waking up in the middle of the night to check on her temperature and offer her a honeyed tea. She couldn't ask for more. Lana had been so kind to her, she felt her initial distrust was almost insulting. Caleb had been out for most of her short stay, but she was leaving with nothing but gratitude to them.