“Time?”
The addressed hero looked up to see Wind standing in the doorway, fingers twisting about themselves. Time had thought that everyone else was downstairs already, either eating breakfast or getting ready for the morning. Wind had certainly been at breakfast earlier, and had claimed his bag entirely packed.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, heart already sinking.
Wind was not known to look anxious, not unless something was actually wrong.
“It’s the Captain,” Wind replied. “I thought he was just ignoring me, you know, after last night?”
Time did, indeed, know what had happened last night; he nodded, already getting up and directing Wind towards the room he and Warriors had been sharing for the night.
“Right!” Wind perked up a little, and then the anxiety was back. “So I thought he was ignoring me. But I wanted my Picto Box. When I came up he was still asleep, though. Didn’t even stir when I knocked his bag over.”
Suspicion about how on purpose the bag knocking over was cast aside, Time still frowned; it was very unlike the Captain to sleep late, and he was always a light sleeper too.
“I’ll check on him,” Time promised. “Could you go pay the innkeeper for another night? Then go back to the others. Money is on my dresser.”
Wind did as he was told, though the boy nervously glanced back at time after a few steps. Time gently shooed him off downstairs, then opened the door.
Curtains open, mid-morning light bright. And, sure enough, Warriors was still laid out on his bed.
“Captain?” he called. “It’s just me.”
No response. Warriors simply remained huddled under the blankets, ear heavily pressed against the pillows. The way he curled implied pain, which only worried more.
Frown deepening - not just an especially bad grudge, but Time had doubted that from the moment he realised that Wind was genuinely scared - he stepped closer.
And closer.
And closer.
And still no reply.
“Captain?” he called again, reaching out and touching three fingers to his brother. His forehead was warm, and unpleasantly damp with sweat. Up this close Time could see that he was trembling, too.
A fever.
Thankfully, the hand on his forehead seemed to finally rouse Warriors. Two bleary eyes blinked up at him. After a moment their owner shifted, moving a hand to rub at his eyes.
“S'rry,” he slurred. “Be wi'ya minit.”
“It’s alright,” Time made sure to speak slowly, recognising more Warriors' attempts to get up than his words. “Was just checking on you; go back to sleep.”
“’S mornin’,” the Captain continued to object.
“Wild thinks he needs another grocery run,” it was a poor excuse, but the first that came to mind. First that might work at any rate. “So we’re staying another night; get some rest.”
How easily Warriors agreed was just another mark of how sick he must be. Time pulled the blankets from Wind’s bed, tucking them about the Captain in the hopes of stopping the shivering.
Then he paused, checking him over. He could not see any obvious symptoms but for the fever and sleepiness, but… None of them were much trained in illnesses.
What Time did know, however, was that impromptu fully clothes dips in ice ponds could be a cause, and that for people with fevers you should put cold, damp towels on their face. Mentally he counted up their money again; accounting for a couple of days extra at the inn, they still had just enough for a doctor.
It would leave them very tight, however… If Warriors got worse, or did not improve by tomorrow, then. Otherwise, they would just look after him here.
As for what to do now... Move Wind into a room where nobody was sick, but not with any of those more prone to illness just in case he had already caught it. It might not even be infectious, but best to limit the potential spread and keep it from those most likely to suffer complications. Then, have a few words and make sure that Wind understood the dangers of swimming in strange ponds - like having a brother dragged in to join you by a lake monster. He should really make sure that everyone did, just to be safe. Let them know about Warriors' illness, too. Then get a cloth and water; Malon always swore by a cloth and cold water for a fever.
That was all easy enough; the innkeeper seemingly immediately working out why and wishing his brother to get well soon. Prizes is hand and everyone informed, he headed back upstairs.
Warriors had moved while he had been gone, but still looked desperately uncomfortable. With a sigh Time cleared off the bedside table, and sat himself on it. He placed the bowl on the bed that had been Wind’s, dipping the towel in it and squeezing the water out. Once he was sure it wouldn’t drip, he bought it over and placed it on Warriors’ forehead.
Realising the hair was trapped a moment later, Time leant over and brushed most of it up and out of the way. Damp, but the sweat had already done enough to it.
Fever-bright eyes were watching him again.
“Just me,” Time promised. “Go back to sleep.”
Warriors seemed less inclined to this time, twisting uncomfortably. Time let him find a new position, then adjusted the cloth to match.
“Better?”
He received no response; Warriors already asleep once more.
With a sigh, Time settled himself in for a long few days. So much for making it to the Ranch by evening.
Ah well. His boys’ safety were and always would come first. If Malon was with them, he was sure she would understand.