Chapter Text
Chasca was just wandering around the tribe’s grounds as she saw Ifa drag out his travel medical bag from the clinic.
“Are you tending to a patient outside of the tribe today?” Chasca asked.
“In a way…” Ifa started, “I’m checking on Kinich today. You actually came at the perfect time since I might need you to help drag him back here if he’s going to be stubborn about it.”
“Kinich has been overworking himself again?” Chasca asked, she always knew Kinich was a hard worker, much like herself, but sometimes she can’t help but feel like even he pushes it too far.
“That’s my diagnosis.” Ifa said as he pulled out a horn. “He's been running around doing courier work ever since the invasion. Not to mention all the work he did during the battle, for both reports as well as fighting. His immune system is as stubborn as his mind, but it can still only handle so much.”
“I see, you're worried he's overworked himself to the point of severe harm?”
“Yup, though I figured you'd already know that too.” Ifa mused, “You've been worried about him a lot recently.”
“How can I not?” Chasca asked, “After Chuychu died… I… I realized how important my friends and family are. Kinich and I had always been close due to our work but… unlike our other friends, he shares Chuychu’s stubbornness and if I want to help him I need to be more vocal. I can't make the same mistakes again.”
“I understand.” Ifa said with a gentle smile, “Now then, want to come along and see how he is? He might be staying in the tribe for a bit depending on his condition.”
“Was he sick when you did your check up?” Chasca asked.
“Hmm… not yet.” Ifa said, “He had a slight one, but if he got proper rest, it should clear up. However, I have a feeling it wasn't quite as simple. So I sent Ororon to go with him to make sure he got home in one piece.”
“You suspect it might be something more serious?”
“Could be, but not sure, all fevers usually start off the same. A slight elevation in body temperature despite lack of activity.” Ifa said, “However, what comes after needs to be determined. If all is well, then it should be something Kinich can overcome with proper rest, if not… then we both know what to do.”
“Indeed, are we heading out then?” Chasca asked.
“Yup! Just a sec.” Ifa smiled before blowing into the horn. It's low rumble echoed across the tribe before a familiar caw sounded back. Before long, a large but vibrant qucusaur flew by and landed on the ground in front of them.
“Good morning Sora!” Ifa mused as he rubbed the qucusaur’s head. It let out a few clicks and cooes before lowering it's wings to allow access to its back. “We're heading to the Scions of the Canopy today. You remember where?”
Sora let out a positive click with a nod of its head.
“All set.”
Ororon was working on Kinich's garden again when he heard a familiar clicking sound. He stood up and saw Ifa fly by on Sora before landing on the ground. He also saw Chasca with him.
“Good morning Ororon!” Ifa called out as he hopped off Sora’s back.
“Ifa! You're here early.” Ororon said before shaking his head. “Kinich is sick, but he did rest as you told him too, he just-”
“No worries! I had a feeling. Come on, I may need your help here.” Ifa said before turning to Chasca. “Can you keep Ajaw out? You know he doesn't trust me.”
“I honestly think it's because you scared him, but sure.” Chasca said, crossing her arms.
Ororon only followed after Ifa who nodded his head. He was carrying his large medical bag with him. Was that all really necessary for a small fever?
Ororon followed him into the house and Ajaw immediately began to protest before getting dragged out by Chasca. Ifa went into Kinich's room and set the bag down on the small bench at the end of the bed.
“Morning, Kinich. How are you feeling?” Ifa asked as he walked over to feel his forehead.
“...Tired…” Kinich said with a small groan, “Been sleeping a lot…”
“Let's see… anything of note from when you first went to bed two nights ago?” Ifa asked as he checked over Kinich's form a little.
“...Just a small headache.” Kinich said, “...and lack of energy…”
“All very simple so far… but usually you don't fall sick easily.” Ifa said before turning to Ororon. “You've been taking care of him, right? Did you take note of any peculiar symptoms?”
Ororon blinked before trying to think back. “Uh… he has a fever, but he was completely fine on the walk back to his house. He woke up sick, but the Quenepa berry and frost flower juice he used to mitigate it doesn't seem to affect it very much. I made him soup, but it was only a temporary relief. I have noticed he would be restless when sleeping, and having a lack of energy more severe than just a fever. He… also seems to be recalling memories a lot…”
Ifa only nodded his head before pulling out some kind of phlogiston stone and pressed it against Kinich's forehead. His mouth turned grim for a moment.
“As I suspected…” Ifa sighed before going to his bag and pulling out a vial full of phlogiston colored liquid that was mixed with red and green particles of some sort. “Here, drink this.”
Kinich sat up in the bed and gulped down the vial, grimacing a bit at the taste if Ororon had to guess. Before shaking his head and looking at Ifa.
“What is it?” Kinich asked, his voice still a little raspy.
“It's a fever, but also some mild abyssal contamination.” Ifa said with a frown, “It's probably built up from how much miasma you likely inhaled during the invasion awhile ago, your body is pretty good at handling and processing that sort of stuff thanks to your vision and contract with Ajaw, but I believe even that has a limit. All the extra work you've been doing, especially going into those contaminated areas again for retrieval commissions, probably overwhelmed your system and now it finally hit you.”
“...So that's it?” Kinich asked, he sounded surprised and yet not somehow.
“Yup, and due to that, you'll have to stay at the clinic for the coming days to make sure all those abyssal particles are safely removed before they can cause permanent damage.” Ifa said, “Ororon, can you grab my bag?”
“O-Oh, sure.” Ororon said as he grabbed Ifa’s medical bag as the vet walked back over to Kinich.
“Upsy daisy.” Ifa said as he gently hoisted Kinich out of the bed. Making the hunter flush a bit more despite his fever.
“I… I can walk if I need to.” Kinich said.
“No can do, your body is as weak as it is.” Ifa said as the three left the room.
Ororon only looked at how easy Ifa managed to carry Kinich. He was small, sure… but he wasn't exactly light. All those muscles had weight despite his small build after all. Though perhaps he was just used to it considering all the saurians, adult or child, that he had to wrangle over the years.
“-annoying! Scheming! Little-!”
Ororon heard Ajaw's shouting as they left the house and saw him struggling as Chasca held him tight by his tail.
“How is he?” Chasca asked, not loosening her grip as the dragon continued to struggle in her hold.
“Mild case of abyssal infection plus a fever.” Ifa said, “He'll need to be taken back to the clinic to be looked over. Can I ask you to inform Chief Wayna of the situation?”
“Of course, I know him well.” Chasca said, “You take care of Kinich, and I'll see you back at the tribe.”
“We'll see you there then.” Ifa said as he gently hoisted Kinich onto Sora’s back. “And you can let Ajaw go now, he'll need to be present anyway.”
Chasca let go of Ajaw's tail and the dragon immediately flew into Ifa’s face.
“You slimy, tricky charlatan!” Ajaw shouted, “using a third party to keep me from my servant is devious you know! Outright devious!”
“I needed to do a thorough check up, that's all.” Ifa said as he kept a tight hold on Kinich, Ororon climbed onto the saurian's back as well. “Apologies for the heavy load, Sora.”
The qucusaur only hummed and clicked as it spread its wings.
“How can you see something this dire as just ‘weight training’?!” Ajaw exclaimed, only for the qucusaur to take off into the sky.
“I wasn't finished!!!” Ajaw shouted as he flew after them.
Chasca only chuckled before moving across the mountain to head to the main tribe of the Scions of the Canopy.
“Kinich is sick with abyssal infection? That sounds quite serious.” Wayna said as Chasca stood in front of him.
“Ifa said it's a very mild case, mostly from him overworking himself and inhaling all the miasma during and after the invasion.” Chasca explained, “he said he should be alright with the proper medicine and rest.”
“I see, thank you for telling me.” Wayna said before taking a small breath, “perhaps I should have Acylla monitor how many commissions Kinich takes on for a bit after he returns.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I haven't kept track, but it's obvious he's overworking himself.” Wayna said, “Even Trinidad is worried in his… own way. Saying that Kinich makes enough mora he should have more than enough to take a sick day or two, but doesn't. Considering he still doesn't have the highest opinion of Kinich, it's probably of concern if he of all people is worried.”
Chasca chuckled, “Perhaps, but he might also be finally taking in Huni’s words that Kinich isn't as strict and pinchy as he believes him to be.”
“One would hope, but Leik doesn't have much faith in that opinion.” Wayna said with a frown. “Anyway, thanks for telling me, I'll tell the elders and Acylla what's going on. They'll probably wonder why Kinich vanished all of a sudden.”
“Thank you.”
“With that concluded, have you been alright?” Wayna asked.
“I've been fine, why?” Chasca asked.
“Just… I know it's been awhile, but are you sure you're doing alright after Chuychu's death?” Wayna asked, his voice quieter and softer.
“I'm… fine, truly.” Chasca said, to be frank, she believed she managed to expel most of her grief and pain during the war with all the monsters she cut down.
Still, Chuychu was the best doctor in their tribe, and theirs suffered the most in terms of abyssal infection. Just as much as the Scions suffered in physical damage from the phylons and abyssal monsters. What grief she felt… was just a lingering loneliness. At least she'd like to think that. That same loneliness had been pushed away slightly from her relationships with the other Ancient Name bearers.
Despite all of that, she does miss Chuychu dearly, despite their arguments, she did love her so much and the rare tender moments they did share were ones she treasured dearly. Perhaps she hasn't gotten used to her absence, not yet, but it hasn't pushed her back. In fact, it only further motivated her to keep going, keep going until the threat was destroyed so people won't lose anyone like how she lost Chuychu.
“I just… still need to figure some things out, but otherwise, I'm alright. I have a lot of friends to help me. I'm thankful.” Chasca said.
Wayna smiled at her, “That's good to hear. I won't keep you then since you're probably worried about Kinich's condition. Head back to the tribe and see how he's doing. Just, ask him to write to Elder Leik to update him on his condition if he can. I'm sure he can overcome it, but it doesn't stop the worry.”
“I will.” Chasca said with a small smile, before turning to leave.
Kinich blinked as he woke up again, when did he fall asleep? He sat up and recalled that they were… they were flying from his home back to Ifa’s clinic because of his condition. Did he fall asleep during the flight?
“Ah, you’re awake, are you feeling okay?”
Kinich turned his head and saw Ororon walk in with a tray of medicine, juice, and food.
“Better today, I think. I’m not stuck lying down anyway.” Kinich said as Ororon set the tray down on the side table next to the bed. “How long was I asleep for?”
“A whole day. Ifa and Chasca were quite worried, I was too.” Ororon said.
“That explains why it's morning again…” Kinich mumbled to himself. Still, a whole day? He didn't think he was that tired. Though perhaps he needed it.
Kinich looked around for a moment, it's been awhile since he was last inside Ifa’s clinic and a patient like this. Back then it was just for injuries related to some of his saurian hunts.
“Here, drink this.” Ororon handed Kinich another vial filled with that phlogiston colored liquid mixed with other particles.
Kinich nodded and gulped down the liquid quickly. It was extremely bitter, no surprise given the phlogiston infusion, but still, it was even more bitter than unsweetened Xocoatl. It immediately made his body feel a wave of warm energy before quickly subsiding.
“So what brings you back here? Ifa and Chasca are more than capable of taking care of me.” Kinich said, “You don't need to worry yourself too much.”
Ororon only shook his head, “I already wrote to granny, I want to stay and help out. As a fellow warrior, I… I wanted to make sure you're okay. I don't doubt their skills, but I'm worried too.”
“Oh… alright.” Kinich said, unsure what to make of Ororon’s words exactly. He's never had a proper interaction with him before and the first time they do, he ended up playing caretaker for two days because he suddenly fell ill. “Ororon…”
“Yes?”
“What would you like as repayment?”
“Excuse me?”
“Repayment, for taking care of me these past few days.” Kinich said.
“I… I don't need repayment, really.” Ororon said, “I'm just happy to make sure you're okay.”
“But something like this shouldn't be overlooked. Especially not me. You've done a lot and you should get payment for it.” Kinich said before taking a breath. “Here, we can follow Ifa’s advice for now. I'll owe you something, so if you ever need anything, just let me know. Once I complete that task, then I'll consider it proper repayment. That sounds fair?”
“Um… may I ask why you focus on that?” Ororon asked, “I know your ancient name means price, but surely caring for a friend doesn't require any type of repayment.”
“A ‘friend’ huh…?” Kinich murmured, “Would you consider us friends then?”
“Uh… I… kind of hope so…” Ororon said in a quiet yet nervous voice.
The two sat in awkward silence for awhile before the doors opened again.
“How are you feeling today?” Ifa asked as he walked in with Chasca.
Ifa stopped to look at the two who were just sitting and standing awkwardly next to each other, their faces twisted in mildly confused expressions. Ifa looked at them before smiling brightly. He walked over and wrapped an arm around them both, dragging them close to him.
“You guys are getting along! That's wonderful!”
“H-Huh?”
“Where did you get that all of a sudden?!”
“Hey! Get away from Kinich you quack!”
Chasca only looked at the mild chaos in front of her. Perhaps she needn't worry about Kinich right now. Mualani and Kachina had always been good friends, but having a few more will be nice. She doesn't need to worry about Kinich too much, not at this point. Ifa was right, Ororon would get along with Kinich without too much trouble. Of course there's still a learning period since Kinich still doesn't fully understand the concept of ‘friends’ yet and still insists on repayments for everything. But he can learn, just as she did and what Chuychu and her family taught her.
She just hopes Ifa doesn't drag those two into too much trouble.