Sol watched every rise of Tobias' chest, syncing his breaths to the human. Tobias did look calm, and he did look peaceful. He wouldn't die. He couldn't die. Sol couldn't remember the last time he had felt so frightened. The thought made him shiver, because then he could suddenly think of a time he had felt so alone and victimized and scared, and it made him sick. Tobias had saved him then, and Tobias would save him now if he just- woke... up...
The dragon swallowed, hating to second guess himself. He was so useless. Tobias owned his undying loyalty. Oh, how Sol wished he could do something with it. What he could do was find help. Harper hadn't come back. Maybe she would.
Sol took a sharp breath, chasing back the stressful mindset. He wished to think rationally, but a time for well reasoned thoughts had long since passed, drowned in tension.
Sol took a deep breath, effectively calming his wandering mind. His eyes glanced lazily over black lines of the damask rose stained into the man's torso. He could remember when Tobias had gotten the tattoo. When Tobias loved it, then regretted it, then loved it again. Sol's expression flickered fondly.
He reached a wing towards Tobias and gently prodded at the man's bandaged arm. It was cold, and Sol recoiled.
Someone appeared in the doorway to his left and Sol glanced over. It was Gen, and Sol didn't know whether to feel excepting or protective. The black hybrid neared, his black eyes glistening.
Sol straightened and stared the dragon dead in the eye. "Where have you been,"
Gen's head cocked. "Your father took to the sky, and so I followed him." His voice wasn't unkind.
"Helios?"
Gen didn't reply.
Sol dropped his gaze, and Gen padded softly to the SolarWing's side. They both watched Tobias.
"Was he shot?" Gen said.
Sol swallowed. "I-... I don't know."
Gen reached towards Tobias with a talon, and Sol stiffened. Gen slowed, but he did not stop.
The hybrid rubbed away dried blood, and he surveyed with a critical eye.
Sol cleared his throat. "Have you-... Have you been in The Den all this time, then?"
The black SandWing didn't reply, and he repositioned himself near Tobias' head and ran his talons slowly across the man's ribs. He repeated the motion a few times, then rolled Tobias over, and the man began to stir, yet he did not wake.
"I've been in The Den." Gen said in answer. He scraped away more dried blood.
Sol gave a quick nod, watching the SandWing's talons poke and push meticulously. Gen rolled Tobias onto his back, reaching for the man's arm.
"He broke three ribs." Gen said.
Sol frowned. "
He did not break a thing."
Gen peeled back bandages, revealing the wound. It stretched to the shoulder, blisters and welts, and pockets of blood trapped beneath the skin. His wrist was pale gray. Gen ran his talon lightly across Tobias' forearm, his expression darkening. He pushed against the grey skin again, then pulled away sharply.
"It burns." He muttered. "The cold burns."
"What does it mean?" Sol whispered.
Gen lifted Tobias' arm and pushed back his fingers, extending each one.
"He needs human assistance."
Sol gave a weary nod. "I know."
Gen glanced at the SolarWing, then gently laid Tobias' arm back down against the cot.
They were silent for a while.
"He will not die." Gen said, and Sol looked at him. "His ribs are bent, but they did not puncture inwardly. The bullet missed his lungs. If there was internal bleeding he would have died already." The SandWing continued to look down at the man. "His arm is ruined, and he won't use it again."
Sol nodded. "He won't die."
"No." Gen agreed.
(and this is how I procrastinate Heart and Sol, thank you, thank you all very much, yah, hubba hubba baby-)
but I really do have to STOP PROCRASTINATINGGGGG 
