Chapter Two

Zelgadis groaned as he started to come to. Searing pain tore at his throat as he breathed, and the heat from a fever burned away what strength he had left. His body also felt stiff and weighted down; almost as though an entire mountain had been dropped on him.

"Mother, I think he's waking up." a boyish voice said, from beside him.

"Wait just a moment, Triton. I'll be right there." a woman's voice responded, gently, before the woman herself came into view. Unfortunately, his vision was blurred, so he couldn't see the faces of his benefactors very well; but he could sense their kindness.

"And, since they aren't treating me like a freak, it means they accept what I am. They probably would have left me to die, if they hadn't...And I wouldn't have blamed them." Zelgadis thought, as he allowed the boy's mother to prop his head up slightly and spoon some warm broth into his mouth; closing his eyes and sighing in relief as the moisture hit the back of his throat, and eased the burning in it. After a few more sips of the liquid, the woman allowed him to lie back down; pulling a warm blanket up to his chin while she was at it.

"I wish...I had the strength to thank them...for their help so far. I can only hope...that I won't be too much of a burden." Zelgadis tiredly mused, as he allowed his exhausted mind to slip away once again; giving himself over to dreamless sleep.

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"How's he doing now, Mother?" Triton asked, worriedly, as he watched her gently lay the sick chimera back down and tuck him in again.

"His lungs seem to be a little clearer than what they had been earlier...but they still worry me. Are you sure you can handle watching over him when I go to Sairaag in the morning?" the woman questioned; more than a little concerned about leaving her only child alone and defenseless, and with a desperately ill man to boot. Triton smiled and gave her a reassuring nod.

"You can count on me, Mother!" Triton stated, confidently; getting a soft chuckle from his mother as a response to that.

"All right. Just remember to keep moistening the compresses." the woman reminded, smiling when she got a salute from the child before her.

"Will do, Mother!" the boy replied; somehow remembering to keep his voice soft, even through his childish exuberance.

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It was late in the night, when the chimera's condition seemed to worsen. Woken from uneasy sleep by raspy breathing, the woman rushed to his side and found that his fever had risen again.

"A...Amelia...Must get...to Seiruun...to Amelia..." the man whispered, in his delirium.

"Amelia? Seiruun? Is someone waiting for him in Seiruun?" the woman wondered, as she started bathing the man's face and neck with a cold, wet cloth in an effort to bring the fever back down; feeling some alarm when she found that it wasn't working as well as she had hoped.

"I may have to leave for Sairaag now...His fever's too high...he may not last till morning, at this rate..." the woman thought, grimly.

"Mother? What's wrong?" Triton asked, as he drowsily sat up and looked at her; becoming more aware that something was very wrong, when he heard the man's painful-sounding breathing.

"Triton, I want you to listen to what I'm about to tell you. I'm going to Sairaag now. Can you watch over him for me, till I return?" the woman in turn asked, her expression grave as she said that. Triton gave her a slight, hesitant nod.

"Will the doctor come, so late at night?" Triton questioned, uncertainly.

"I hope he will..." the woman softly replied, as she stood, donned her traveling cloak, and prepared to step outside, "If he doesn't, this man may not make it."

"Be careful, Mother." Triton urged, a bit fearful about being left alone at night, yet trying to bury it deep within him.

"I will. Be brave for me." the woman gently said, as she reached out and ran a hand through her son's wiry hair; even through her worry for the sick man and the boy she was about to leave alone to tend to him, reminded of their shared curse. This got another nod from the boy, and even a thumb's up. And it was with those assurances that she hurried off into the night; hoping against hope that she could get to the city in time.

Author's Note!

After so long, I've finally got a second chapter for you, minna! (It may not be much, but it's the best I can do, for now, since writer's block is being a bit of a pain, yet again). Sorry to have kept you waiting, and I hope, if you have some suggestions for this story, that you'll let me know about them! Thanks for reading (and waiting!)

Gemini14