Recovery

Rau-rau-raow, Arrow vocalized as he stretched. Another good shake and he was as good as new, looking at Fulcher with a wagging tail. Fulcher grabbed Arrow with his working arm, leaning into him and continuing his sobbing.

“You’re okay… you used the- the ring!” Fulcher exclaimed with a sniff. Arrow sat in front of him, resting his head on Fulcher’s shoulder and allowing him to have his moment. Before long Arrow raised his head high, letting out a long and low howl as red once again glowed from his mouth. Fulcher wiped his tears away in confusion as he felt a sudden burning in his shoulder. It felt as if an intense weight was being pressed against his shoulder blade, as his bone slid under the skin back into their correct positions, cracks sealing and marrow healing. Fulcher gripped his shoulder in pain as the bite mark went next, his skin sealing under his ripped clothing. Finally the wounds the raptor had left in his arm sealed up. It felt as if a thousand hot needles were stitching his skin back together, but Fulcher fought back the pain. Soon enough, his arms were back to normal. He reached forward and rubbed Arrow roughly, squeezing him.

“You used it! You can use Crimson Vigor!” Fulcher wheezed out, clutching the wolf closely. Arrow licked the side of his head before wriggling out of his grasp. Fulcher stood and retrieved his sword from the ground, gazing out at the field. The rest of the raptors had downed two of the younger styras, feasting on them while the adults noisily complained close by. It seemed none had noticed the scuffle with the black-feathered one. Fulcher’s fingers ran mindlessly along the new bite marks in his sword handle as he watched the hunting part, his attention shifting back to the frozen raptor. Arrow had since jogged over and started to chew on the ice around the raptor’s head, growling as he did so.

“Hey, stop that. Don’t weaken the ice,” Fulcher said as he strolled up. As he walked forward, he was surprised to see the raptor following him with his eye under the ice.

So it’s still alive, he thought. This guy is intense. Fulcher kicked the ice lightly, more out of frustration than anything. He closed his eyes and took a moment to breathe.

It’s an animal. He was just hunting. Don’t take it personally, he thought.

“Come on boy, let’s get this guy to the river,” he said. Arrow barked and began walking off towards the sound of the running water. Fulcher leaned down to press his fist against the raptor’s frozen head.

“Glacial Core,” he uttered. The ice around the creature’s maw shifted and began to melt. Fulcher watched it carefully, stopping the spell once the raptor’s nostrils were exposed. The beast huffed hot air out at Fulcher, as the prince pressed his eyes against the ice to stare down at the raptor’s own. He sat there for a moment while the raptor rumbled, finally looking away from Fulcher. He smirked and bent down with his hand against the bottom of the raptorcicle.

“Glacial Core,” he said. He dragged his hand along the bottom of the raptor’s body, creating two runners that he could use to push the raptor forward as if it were a giant sled.

“Alright, let’s get you to the river. I should be able to make a nice raft to use to bring is closer to Ubuk, at least…” Fulcher mumbled as he began to push the raptor across the forest floor.
The float was easy enough to make with Glacial Core. They traveled down the river using the makeshift raft, avoiding encounters with numerous other predators that watched from the shoreline. Once they had finally beached themselves at the first plain they had found, Fulcher pointed at the distant patch of jungle that held their destination.

“Go on boy, go get one of those guards,” he said. Arrow barked and darted off as Fulcher leaned against the frozen raptor, his only respite from the tropical heat. He stared up into the sky at the red star, which had grown slightly bigger since his arrival at this time.

I wonder what that is. It’s too far to be an asteroid, Fulcher thought. A supernova maybe? He raised his hand, looking down at the shadow cast from the sun. He squinted, and just barely noticed a second thin shadow beside it, cast from the glowing red star.

Whatever it is, it’s close. And it’s dangerous. Maybe the gods really did purge the world, he thought. A rumble behind him drew his attention to the frozen raptor, and he grinned down at it.

“It’s your lucky day, big guy. We’re saving you from the apocalypse,” he taunted. The raptor once again avoided eye contact, instead staring up at the bright red star.

It did not take long for Arrow to return with two of the styra guards, each soldier looking shocked at Fulcher leaning against the frozen raptor. Still, they got ropes from their packs and began to tie the frozen critter to their mounts.

“This’ll be perfect,” Fulcher said to Arrow. “I can’t wait to see the look on the King’s face.”