She's... gone!?

After an hour's worth of a seriously jarring ride, Mai found the place from her dream; a modest slope with many flowers, scattered up on the sunny hillside, fairly easy to obtain with a little climbing.

Being the easiest to get to, Mai scooped the first three totally out with the soil they grew in, making sure to get all the roots as well, before placing them in the basket gently, but as that was taking too much time, she just aggressively yanked the next ten or so out of the dirt, stuffing them all in the basket beside the other three, before getting back on her speedy ride again.

She rode the animal hard, not stopping till she was right back to her door.

"I'm back, I'm back... What parts do you need?

She burst back into her bedroom, to find at least Nullawhy was still conscious to get a reply from.

"I'm... not sure, I've never needed it before, so... the whole thing... maybe?

"Here!"

She handed two whole plants she had in one hand over to the redder red dragon, who started to chomp them down, starting with the flowers first. But turning to Lygawa, Mai guessed she probably couldn't even chew for herself in her even worsened state.

"Okay girl, up you go..."

Mai plucked the hot and clammy little dragon-girls body up, to have her in a sitting position, but she had gone totally limp, completely drooping to her side the moment she let go.

"Lygawa, Lygawa!"

Mai then panicked; as she didn't even hear her breathing.

Oh, no, no, no...! Don't you do this to me! I've gotten these painstakingly difficult to get flowers for you ...so don't you die on me now!

Mai gently backhanded her cheek to get a response, any response.

"Lygawa!"

The frail little thing made the softest of groans, but was still as floppy as a doll.

Tugging her up to the bed head, and propping her upright with her two pillows, Mai flew back downstairs, and got straight to grinding down three of the other small steamed plants. Adding a little water and sugar, she carefully brought the small bowl full of it to her patient, and quickly, but as gently as possible, spooned it into her open mouth for her.

After she'd jammed the whole lot of soup down, one spoonful at a time, she made the silvery girl comfortable again and waited, as that was all she could do now.

Come on, keep fighting... You're a strong and mighty dragon - so a little virus is never going to be victorious over you...

Mai silently sat by her beside and willed the creature back to becoming healthy again.

At some point Mai had fallen asleep, still leaning against the bed frame, with her head on the sheeted mattress, though the moment she realized she was awake again, she jarred her head up.

Lygawa was still and peaceful, not moving a muscle, and after reaching for her thin arm, Mai felt it had gone cold.

Her heart stopped, as her own hand went cold too.

"Lygawa?"

There was no movement at all.

"Lygawa... come on... wake up you dummy...

She said quietly, jostling the dragon-girl's body - to no effect.

"Hey..."

Mai put her head on her little chest and listened, but with her cold body against Mai's warm cheek, Mai started to sob and sniffle, and her own noise overpowered her ears.

"Oh Lygawa..."

She said softly, grabbing both her small arms and holding them tightly.

"Hum... I'm awake... yes?"

She finally replied weakly, looking down to Mai quite sleepily.

"Lygawa!"

Mai shouted, before lunging over her again to give a big embracing hug.

"Hi Mai, yes?"

Someone clambered up the stairs and burst into the bedroom.

"Ah, she lives..."

Nullawhy sighed with relief.

Mai didn't let go of her, till she was sure her tears had mostly gone from her face, but pushed herself up over Lygawa to smile happily at her.

"You got me so worried there... and you were so cold just now..."

"I am... cold-blooded after all..."

Mai had totally forgotten that that was normal for her.

"Ha, you had me very worried there..."

Lygawa shuffled underneath her sheets a little, while Mai wiped another tear away.

"I'm sorry..."

"Oh no, it's not your fault."

Mai reassured her, happy about her improvement, as the silver-haired girl seemed stable now.

"I did have to fetch some flowers for you..."

She leaned back, but did her best to avoid straining her still aching butt.

"Thank-you for helping me get better..."

Mai kept smiling, but stood up.

"I couldn't have done it without someone else here..."

Lygawa looked over to the silently standing reptile, still near the door.

"Thank-you very much too, Nullawhy."

"I... I... You're welcome..."

Nullawhy turned her head away, after dropping her jaw from receiving the thankful words from the other dragon, probably for the first time ever.

With both recovering well, Mai made lunch for everyone, with a side of more flowered plants for them, seeing that they ate all of it down, she was very relieved.

While Nullawhy eventually exited, Carla briefly entered, bringing with her an assortment of produce.

"I heard your friend was a little 'under the weather', so I brought you a good lot of fresh vegetables..."

Carla put the loaded box on the dining table, and briefly looked at the remaining flowers, still resting in the clumps of dirt within the basket already there.

"These are Gittlesfoot? What are you going to do with them?"

"The flowers... well I thought... I'd plant a couple in my yard..."

Mai hurriedly improvised.

"You needn't bother, these weeds spring up everywhere... and then you can't get rid of the things."

"Everywhere?"

Mai was fairly sure she'd not seen them about the village before.

I had to ride for hours to find some...

"Yeah, they sprout in the barley fields all the time... and around the homestead too."

"Oh you don't say..."

I rode halfway across the land, got the mother of all sore backsides - and they're weeds growing in the neighbour's yard!

Mai sighed.

"I guess they've got pretty flowers. They're quite hearty little things, grow just about anywhere the soil is loose. I think they'd take well on the more shady side of your house, here by the door."

The greens-keeper side of the farming woman appeared to give her opinion on the plants.

"Do you want a hand planting hem?"

"Yeah... Thanks again."

Then I can always have a couple on hand, if we ever need them again...

After setting the three plants neatly in her small garden, Mai let Carla go do whatever other tasks she needed to do, while she went back to relaxing in her room, supervising the sleeping dragon.

Then as night drew close, she made sure the silver dragon-girl was still alright and tucked in, and with that Mai soon collapsed into her own bed for a much needed sleep too.

Waking early the next morning, she got up quietly and went about her 'normal routine' again, letting the other peacefully rest some more.

Mai thought she'd treat the silver dragon to a nice breakfast in bed, as she was still recovering, so quietly went about making a little feast, before coming back to their bedroom, as the sun peeked into the windows.

"Okay Lygawa, here you... go... huh?"

Her bed was already empty.