Runaways

-----Leon's POV

We've been travelling west for quite some time now, making sure to stay deep in the forest, and thankfully it doesn't seem like they're following us any longer. I'm aware that monsters can see in the dark, but we really should rest now. I'm not exactly sure how long Fabian can hold out for, but we've sure made some distance.

Leon: "We'll stop here for now."

Fabian: "Okay..."

I gently lower Fabian down against a tree before looking over his legs once more. I did rush the healing magic before, and it seems as though it didn't really do much. At least the exposed flesh from his ankles is still scarred up, but his leg's still aren't in good shape.

Leon: "Just how much power did you use to burn your legs this badly?"

Fabian: "I didn't want to take any chances."

Leon: "Reckless..."

Fabian: "I must get it from my sister, haha."

Leon: "Heh, Maybe so."

I haven't fought with Ellen all that much, but I still remember when she charged forward to take on the golem all by herself. She was so cool back then, and even watching her compete in the tournament was such a treat. I hope to see her again sometime.

Leon: "Wait... Fabian."

Fabian: "Hmm?"

Leon: "You didn't burn this far up, did you?"

I had to do a second look to be sure, but it definitely seems like the black, scorched skin in spreading a bit further up his legs. Although where it seems to be spreading, the skin doesn't have that cracked, scaly looking skin, but still, seeing that black color spread further up his legs, definitely doesn't look good.

Fabian: "N-no."

Leon: "Stay still. I'll do my best."

I immediately begin to use my magic, focusing on his thighs as that's where it appears to be spreading. Thankfully, it appears to be working as the black looking skin slowly turns to normal, however it stops halfway down his thigh as I get back to the cracked, scaly looking skin. That said, I don't stop as I try my best to heal it as much as possible.

Fabian: "Ghh! Stop."

Leon: "I have to heal it, Fabian."

I ignore his grunts of pain and continue to heal him, even it I'm being somewhat forceful. I don't dare look at the sight that is his ankles as the last time I looked down there, the metal shackles were melded with his skin. I'm not sure how I'll deal with that, but at least we should be okay for now.

With more grunts of pain coming from Fabian, I continue healing for 10 more minutes until finally, I feel like all my energy has been spent as I let out a heavy sigh.

Leon: "I did what I can. How does it feel?"

Fabian: "S-still throbbing."

Leon: "Hey, at least that means your legs have blood flow, right?"

Fabian: "I guess."

Leon: "What about your feet? Can you move your toes?"

I watch as he attempts to do so, but I can see the struggle as I can barely make out that a couple of his toes were moving, with the rest of them remaining still.

Fabian: "I, can't."

Leon: "Huh? I saw movement though. You'll be fine. Let's take it easy now."

Fabian: "Thanks."

Almost immediately after hearing me say that, Fabian passes out against the tree. I doubt he just died, but I check to make sure he's still breathing. I can only imagine how much energy he must've used to endure all this for so long, but still... Being out here at night when it's winter now. He's likely to get sick...

...

Leon: "Screw it."

I end up gently lifting Fabian onto my back, wearing him like some sort of backpack as he remains asleep. He's a fair bit taller than me, and it's only dawning on me now just how heavy he is as my legs already begin to shake with every step I make. But I push forward, steadying my resolve as I push on through the night.

Leon: "You owe me one, Fabian."

.....

...

To be honest, walking out here in the dark is quite hard. Even more so since I'm somewhat lost where to go now, but I like to think we're still heading west, hopefully towards Oakvale. Maemont is too close to the city, so Oakvale will be the safest option for us.

And after about a couple hours of walking, with some breaks here and there, I finally stumbled upon something. It wasn't much of a cave, but more like a hollowed out den inside a hill. I pick up the pace ever so slightly before finally, I gently lower Fabian off my back and into the den. At least with this the wind won't make matters worse. But this just leaves a whole new issue... What made this den?

It's because of my worries that I choose to stay up for the night, or at least until Fabian wakes up. If something were to come home to this den, I'd like to make sure I'm awake and prepared for any fight that may come. Looking at the size of the den, it does seem big enough to house many wolves, but I can also see a bear making something like this as well. Monsters such a goblins or kobolds will tend to build tunnels with many branching paths and rooms, rather than having a basic den like this. I would erect a barrier up to block the entrance, but with all my energy having been spent on healing Fabian, it'd be pointless. Even if I do try, the barrier would be so weak that even a single wolf will break it. I may as well just stay awake and try and gather my energy back.

Might be risky, but I choose to lay down next to Fabian in hopes to keep both of us warm, and almost immediately, I can feel my eyes growing heavier as I rest my head up against the inside of the den

...

Leon: "You win."

I end up erecting a barrier up regardless, blocking off the entrance as I let the sleep slowly consume me. I pray that whoever is the owner of this den, please do not come back so soon...

.....

-----Fabian's POV

Opening my eyes, instead of seeing trees or the sky, I find myself seeing nothing but dirt. I really didn't mean to pass out on Leon back there, but I was so exhausted that even if we did continue to walk some more, I don't think I could've even stood up. But in turn, it seems as though I made Leon drag me along to this, cave?

Looking out to my left, I notice that it's still a fair bit dark out, and looking further down, I notice Leon who was laying down next to me, seeming to be asleep. Did he put himself in front of me to maybe block off the coldness from outside? If it was me, I'd do the same for him since he is more important than someone like me, but for him to do this...

Fabian: "Thank you."

I stop thinking about it and just accept what he did for me.

It's still dark, so I can't really see clearly, but from what I can tell and feel, my legs are still burnt to a crisp, although the pain isn't as bad as before, but that only makes me worry as that throbbing pain was one of the few tells that my leg is still alive. Now it just feels incredibly itchy and hot. I gently lower my hands down, starting from the top as I begin to scratch my thigh, avoiding the burnt flesh for now, but that only makes the itchy feeling all over my legs even more apparent.

I quickly move my hands just a bit lower than my knees as I begin to gently scratch. My fingernails catch onto hard plates of skin, forcing me to restart. Although this effort seems to be futile as the itchiness doesn't seem to be subsiding at all. Maybe if I-

I try to attempt to sit up in hopes to maybe stretch my legs, but after bending my knees to get up, I feel the skin around my knees begin to crack, causing some blood to start dripping out. It's painful, but at least I know that I still have some function left in my legs. With that little bit of positivity, I force myself to stand, ignoring the pain as much as I can until I finally get to my feet. 

Leon: "Hmm? H-hey! You should be resting."

Fabian: "I've rested enough."

Leon: "Your leg! Stay still."

He quickly notices my knees dripping with blood as he proceeds to heal me once more. And just like the other times, my legs begin burning up with pain as he does so, however I'm getting a bit more used to this pain, especially now that I know it's coming.

Fabian: "Thanks for looking after me."

Leon: "I wasn't about to leave you in the woods."

Fabian: "How far are we?"

Leon: "I have no idea. You think you can walk like this?"

He finishes healing my knees as the blood seizes up. I attempt to make one step, and although it was incredible awkward, almost even losing my balance, I successfully managed to take a step.

Fabian: "I think so."

Leon: "We'll leave now then. It's fortunate enough that the owner of this den didn't come back."

Ah, right. Yeah I didn't really think about it, but this should be the home of something.

Fabian: "Okay. Let's go. Don't think neither of us are in fighting condition, haha."

Leon: "Oh? You noticed?"

Fabian: "You've been healing me a lot. So of course you'd be running low."

Leon: "Heh. Let's just hope we don't run into anything."

Fabian: "Mm."

And so, with Leon giving me a helping hand, we leave the den before sunrise. Lucien, with all the shit I put myself though, you better be alive...