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It was a few hours after her disastrous attempt at fighting a Gaili and Kadryn was hurt in both body and pride. The huge beast had sat on her! The sheer mass of the dragon had been hard to bear as she'd struggled to keep from being crushed, she was just glad it hadn't sat on her more than a few seconds. She'd broken her wings because she'd been to slow to unsummon them and was certain that she'd cracked a few more. She knew that she was covered in bruises and wasn't looking forward to the next few days.
She had staggered back to camp, her wings in quickly made splints, after seeing the little girl Rosetta off and been greeted by a worried Kirosh. His face had gone through several emotions real quick upon seeing her. Worry to shock, to anger, back to worry. Kadryn had given him a pain tinted smile as he dashed over to her. She noticed that his Hastar was saddled, had he been about to go looking for her? Kirosh's hands reached out to her but paused and instead he grabbed her mace and pack from her.

"What the hell? You were just supposed to go check out the surroundings! What happened to get you so hurt?" His voice had a strained note to it and Kadryn's heart twisted at the concerned set to his brow. She'd seen that expression on her parents face before, it'd been after her hands had been badly burned by the Kiandri and she'd been angrily sulking about. She hated making people worry.

"I was just flying about, but then I heard a scream and had to go help." She shrugged and then winced at the pain that shot through her shoulders at the movement.

"Sit down, I'll go make some lirten tea to dampen the pain then recheck the splinting and bandages." Kirosh dropped her stuff near the fire pit and headed for his pack. Kadryn sat down and wondered what lirten tea tasted like. She'd heard of it, a tea made from certain herbs with healing properties. Hopefully it'd ease the pain... She told him about what had happened as he prepared the tea.
After getting her set up with her healing tea and some food, Kirosh got out his healing kit and went to work unwrapping the field bandages Kadryn had on. His hands were gentle and warm on her wings and skin. Kadryn sat back and let him rub in the bruise balm, enjoying the sensations despite the pain that came with it.
She wasn't quite sure what to make of her feelings .... Her skin tingled where he touched and her heart sped up at his nearness. It was something that kept on happening... She got butterflies in her stomach too.. was this what love was? She hadn't really paid attention to the conversations that other girls had about love and boys. They bored her plus she didn't understand them.. maybe I should have paid more attention, she thought as Kirosh suddenly pulled wrapped an arm about her waist and pulled her into a gentle yet awkward hug.

"You idiot... Why did you have to engage the Gaili dragon? You could have just distracted it them flown away after giving the girl a chance to escape." He murmured into her hair before letting the flustered Kadryn go and standing up to put stuff away. Kadryn sat stunned for a bit, unsure of how to react to the hug. Blushing a deep purple she tried to gather her scattered thoughts.

"Ah.. guess I thought I could take it on? ... Um, Kirosh...?" Kadryn stopped herself. The fight and her wounds were quickly becoming things of the past as she struggled to understand her feelings and what they could mean. Just how did you go about asking a guy about your feelings and what they meant when he was the one causing them? She wished Smilira was here. Smil would know what the odd eager nervous feelings were about... Kirosh turned to look at her, a question on his face when he paused and looked out into the surroundings. His jaw clenched and he grabbed his bow and pulled the packs off his Hastars.
"You," he turned and pointed at Kadryn, "Stay here. Do not try to help me, you're already badly wounded and I don't want you hurt more. Plus the lirten should be taking effect soon. Guard." He spoke to one Hastar as he lead the other one away a bit. Kadryn watched in bemusement as Kirosh pulled out some arrows that hissed with power as they left the quiver.
Guess I'll sit this one out she thought as the Hastar took up a stance near her, it's ears perked, clawed hooves pawing eagerly at the ground. She could feel a calm and fuzzy feeling flowing from the warm tea. Ah, this is what he was talking about, kinda like alcohol.... Taking another sip, Kadryn settled in to watch.

Kirosh pulled back his bow and let fly an arrow into what looked like a large rock to Kadryn. Her eye's widened as the rock suddenly became a dragon, the earth shifting to reveal an angrily growling dragon who shrieked as the arrow, now fizzing with a sickly green light, pierced it's neck. Kirosh quickly let loose another arrow fly before the Hastar by his side suddenly let loose a shrill battle cry and charged at another dragon that was emerging from the ground. I didn't know they would fight like that, Kadryn thought. It was her first time watching Kirosh fight without her help. And she was impressed. His movements were smooth and fast, the arrows always hitting where he wanted them too. He worked as a team with his Hastar and they managed to quickly take out the two dragons with out any damage taken.

The guarding Hastar suddenly hissed and leaped over Kadryn, shrill cries alerting the others to the presence of a third dragon. Kirosh suddenly cursed and ran forward, dodging the rain of rocks thrown by the dragon. Kadryn sat on the ground, slightly tipsy and sleepy from the lirten and completely unable to dodge the huge rock coming at her. Kirosh grabbed her and dashed out of the hurtling rock's path just in time. He looked down at the much smaller Kadryn who sleepily smiled at him before snuggling into his arms and falling asleep.

"Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have given her such a large dose of lirten.. didn't think it'd affect her this much." He muttered as his Hastars attacked the dragon, driving it off and away from the camp. They had been with him a long time, and they were a team. I need to practice with Kadryn, teach her how to fight as a team. She's much to used to charging in and wailing away, Kirosh thought as he cradled the sleeping Kadryn.