Jerrar returned to the outskirts of the camp where Kiriei lay resting in her sleep, now transformed back into a reptile. He knew she would sleep for a while, and she slept heavily so few things could wake her. Deeming it easier in his human form, he sat cross-legged beside the night dragon and tugged the jar of ointment from his pocket. He reached forward and took Kiriei's wing in his hand, unraveling it slightly. Jerrar dipped his fingertips into the ointment with one hand and with the other searched for warm patches where sunburn would be present.

After working for a while in silence, listing to the wind rustling in the trees, and the heavy breathing of the dragon. He began to realize the greatness of being a dragon. The shimmering scales, the proud composure, the aura of power emanating from even a slumbering dragon. He was enjoying the moment until his gut wrenched forward causing him to double over to hold in what he had eaten the night before.

Once it settle to a bearable level he rolled away from Kiriei and crawled desperately as far away as he could before his stomach jumped forward again. As he stumbled away on all fours he transformed, his wings erupting from his back and his tail lashing wildly. He collapsed into a group of shrubs and began to vomit violently. His eyes watered and his legs shook. He hadn't even spent his maximum amount of time in his human form. He was terribly confused, but decided to figure it out after his stomach acid quit scalding his throat and tongue.

The fiery dragon lost track of time, though he knew it hadn't been too long, though it felt like forever. He lay on his side and took deep quick breaths. His eyes closed, focusing on relaxing. Suddenly he felt something warm on his head. He opened his eyes slowly, too exhausted to react quickly. He recognized the figure from earlier. It was the teenaged girl with the Dragon's Curse. She too was breathing heavily, but shortly. She must have heard his scoffing up his innards and made her way (to the best of her ability in her dilapidated state) to comfort him. Her hands pet his head slowly and softly. As he looked up at her, she smiled softly. She was leaning against his neck in her simple gown. Her cheeks flushed red and skin clammy and flaky. She continued to soothe his pain. As Jerrar began to doze off, his scales began to radiate gently a soft glow and became rather warm to the touch.

Kiriei couldn't say how long she'd been asleep, but the sun was up, and she didn't suppose she'd slept long enough for it not to be the same day. She gave a delicate stretch and was curious to feel no burning sensation. Curiously, she stretched her wings and tucked them back in, noting that her sunburn seemed to be cooled off considerably. It was a relief, and suddenly her thoughts turned to Jerrar and the medicine he'd mentioned. Had he applied some to her while she was sleeping?

The dark dragon looked around to see if he was still nearby. Her low-light vision easily caught his shining scales among the foliage... And there was a human petting him. It was the sickly teenager from earlier. And, inexplicably, Kiriei felt happy.

She could have done with more sleep, but that was always the case, and lives were on the line here. Kiriei transformed, somewhat lazily, back into her human visage. She moved quietly toward where the two were, and the girl started slightly at noticing her. "Hello, human," Kiri offered a smile. "I have rested. Would you like your turn?"

There was a hopefulness in here eyes, but she shook her head. "No, you should help the youngest first. I can wait."

"Very well. Would you fetch one for me, then?" She nodded and was gone.

"I wish they were all like that," she said quietly, unsure whether the petting had put Jerrar to sleep.

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