When Yue stirred that morning, it was to the sound of dry leaves rustling beside her.

A flash of Suzu's broad bronze shoulders and the gleaming tip of her horns came and went from the periphery of Yue's vision.

Yue struggled to remember what happened the day before- why she was then being sheltered by the legendary god of the Hitori Mountains. It was all a haze...and sharp blades of pain pierced through her temples whenever she tried to fight it.

Suzu turned around. She noticed that Yue was awake.

"Oh. How are you doing?"

"..."

Yue felt the need to answer, but could force nothing out of her mouth.

"Right. You're probably thirsty, aren't you? Just wait here- I'll be right back."

Without giving Yue a moment to protest, Suzu was gone. She leapt out of the cavernous entrance, and scaled down the jagged cliff side with ease.

The fire which Suzu made earlier crackled. Yue curled her toes, feeling the warmth of the flames against her skin, and her tail, which was by and large bruised and immovable. She knew nothing of her past, her present- only that she must've been in some great peril, and that Suzu had saved her.

//

When Suzu returned, it was with a massive bronze pot strapped to her back.

The pot was filled with spring water- the sort Yue needed to thrive.

"You can't return to the sea just yet," Suzu said, hardly breaking a sweat. "This will have to do for now."

She helped Yue into the pot, which she gratefully submerged herself into. The wounds on her tail fizzled out, and the tightness of her throat eased.

When Yue resurfaced, Suzu was leaning by the side of the pot, something strange in her expression.

"Thank you," Yue murmured, her throat still a little dry. She found it difficult to look into Suzu's eyes.

"It's not a problem," Suzu responded. "I'm glad to be of help."