The rain poured down over them, drenching every inch of Aok's small body, washing away the dryness. His scales began to shimmer faintly, the luster returning as the moisture soaked into his skin.
Kui let out a sigh of relief, gently running his fingers over Aok's gills. They had started to flap again, drawing in the life-giving water, and the boy's breathing had steadied, slow and even now.
He smiled, his shoulders sagging in exhaustion but with a hint of triumph. "The brush works… it actually works…" he whispered, almost disbelieving.
He looked up at the sky, opening his mouth to catch the cold, fresh water, letting it fill his dry mouth, savoring every drop. The coolness was a balm against his parched throat, and he closed his eyes, letting himself revel in the sensation.
But as the rain soaked into his clothes, the cold began to settle in his bones.
His muscles started to shiver, a deep, bone-chilling tremble he couldn't shake.
He looked down at Aok, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "Can mers… get sick from the cold?" he wondered aloud, a faint, wry smile on his lips. "That's stupid… they live in water…"
Still, he couldn't ignore the creeping cold seeping through him.
Aok was only a child, after all, and he had no idea how fragile the little one's body might be.
Kui's spine trembled from the cold, leaving him feeling weak and dizzy. He knew they couldn't stay exposed out here.
With no other option, he braced himself and stumbled up, searching for shelter.
The rain kept pouring, soaking him through, but he pushed forward, forcing his legs to move.
After what felt like an eternity, he spotted a small cave, its entrance shielded by two massive trees. It was small, but it looked safe enough.
Kui ducked inside, glancing around to make sure there weren't any signs of danger.
Satisfied, he hurried back out, scooping up Aok and placing him at the entrance, so the rain could still reach the boy's gills. The little mer needed the water more than he did.
Kui shivered violently, clenching his jaw against the cold as he gathered a few large, cup like curved leaves to catch the rainwater outside.
Finally, he dragged himself into the cave, collapsing against the wall as he watched the downpour. The rain seemed endless, and he lost track of time as he sat there, his body slowly succumbing to the relentless chill.
His skin prickled, and his teeth chattered as he huddled in the shadows, struggling to stay awake.
A wave of dizziness hit him, and he pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling the heat radiate from his skin. His breath came out in shaky gasps, fogging up in the cold air. "Damn… I'm sick…" he muttered, his voice barely a rasp.
"It'll be fine… just need to sleep a bit," Kui mumbled, voice cracking. He dragged himself to the mouth of the cave, his vision blurring, and pulled Aok inside, wrapping an arm around him. With a final shaky breath, he let sleep overtake him, holding Aok close against the chill.
Aok jolted awake, a sharp sting shooting up his spine. He gasped, glancing down—and froze.
His tail was gone, replaced by a pair of pale, human legs, stretched out awkwardly on the cold floor.
Carefully, he poked one. The sensation was real, solid.
His spell's hold was breaking. It wouldn't be long before he'd be back to his full form.
The thought filled him with relief, and maybe a bit of excitement.
Then he glanced over, spotting Kui sprawled out beside him, asleep, face peaceful for once.
"he would probably giggle and smile in glee if he saw me like this…"
A small, unbidden smile tugged at Aok's lips, but he smothered it with a quick cough, forcing himself to focus.
"Why… why do I care about that?" he muttered, trying to shake off the fluttery feeling.
Aok braced himself, steadying on his new legs, feeling a bit wobbly, but it was a start. He'd manage on his own now, didn't need to cling to Kui's back anymore. Still, a weird ache twisted inside at that thought.
"Tsk." He cast another look at Kui, frowning.
His fingers drifted to his neck, brushing over his gills. Even while he'd been out, drifting in that strange dream-like place, he'd been aware of Kui—of the desperate way he'd searched for water, the edge of panic in his voice. And then…
Aok felt his cheeks heat up as his fingers traced the gills. He'd felt Kui's touch—soft, unsure, his tongue brushing so gently against his gills, trying to keep him alive.
The memory stirred something deep inside him, and he jerked his head away, scowling. "Shameless…" he muttered under his breath, feeling the warmth in his face grow. "Doesn't he know gills are… private?"
If anyone else had tried that, Aok would've made sure they regretted it. Gills were sensitive, off-limits—no one got to touch them. Yet, the idea of hurting Kui… somehow, he just couldn't. Instead, his heart was thumping a little harder, that strange warmth sinking into his chest.
"Damn it… I'm going weird…"