"Breathe"

Elpida muttered to Orion in a low voice, squeezing the leaves which she had returned with, and letting its juice sink into the open cut.

Bellona stood by, watching Orion with tears dropping out her eyes, while Pavlos pulled her into his embrace, consoling her, as she sobbed lightly.

"Come on, Orion!" Aiden yelled at the top of his voice, pacing around while raging.

The anger in him erupting, as he moved around, kicking at every rock he came across.

"We were all supposed to protect him!" He roared.

"He wouldn't hesitate to fall for each one of us, yet, we couldn't do the same" He added.

"Relax, Okay? We were each fighting for our lives" Pavlos spoke up.

Aiden paused to stare at him, and then turned away, huffing.

Sima and Sonora stood afar, staring on with fallen faces. If Orion were to die, it would mean bad for the both of them. They had sworn to protect him with their lives, and now, staring at the man, who was desperately fighting to be spared another minute on earth, it seemed like they had failed to keep to their words and protect him.

Zulther, trotted on one spot, bending its neck in remorse, and nudging Orion to get up, by neighing and breathing on him.

"Nothing's happening?" Elpida muttered in a low voice, getting up to look at Bellona.

"His breath's slowing down, i'm afraid he's gonna die" She revealed.

"Nuts!" Aiden raged from afar, moving away, unable to bear the news.

"Elpida, please!" Bellona begged.

"You have to do something"

She stepped forward, grabbing the hands of Elpida, and warming it in hers.

"You can heal him, yes you can" She uttered in a low voice.

"Bellona, I- I don't even know how to use my powers" Elpida responded.

"One minute, I can feel them, and the next, I feel empty"

"You can't force her to use her magic" Pavlos interrupted.

"It seems he's gonna die after all" He added.

"How can you say such?!" Bellona cried

"In as much as you both don't get along, it isn't enough reason to wish death upon him" She uttered

"I don't pray for any ill to befall him, Bellona. But take a look at him, Every one of us know he isn't gonna survive that wound. It's deep"

"He'll be dead by the dawn of day" Pavlos spoke.

Bellona took a couple steps, further away from him, disbelief and tears in her eyes as she heard him ramble.

"Zephyra!!!!!" She called at the sky, turning her head around, while waiting for her to appear.

"How DARE you abandon him?!"

"YOU forced him on this journey, you pushed him to take on all dangers, just so he could retrieve that staff"

"Yet, you turn back on him. On every one of us"

"Look at him, he's slowly passing on. We need your help. Please!" She begged.

Silence followed, the whisper of the wind filling their ears while nothing happened.

Staring at the body of Orion, close to the point of death, a voice in Elpida's head wailed.

"Unleash the powers in you, for you won't know what you're capable of, unless you try" it said.

She spun around immediately, trying to locate where the voice came from, and the bearer of it.

"Go forth" Sayeth the voice, once again, urging and pushing continuously.

Silence fell, and then the voice uttered once more in Elpida's head.

Slowly, she made her way towards Orion, Reaching forward, and placing her hands above his head, while shutting her eyes tightly.

"What are you doing?" She heard Pavlos say.

"I do not know myself" She responded in a whisper, her eyes still shut.

She felt something in her channeling forth, feeling the powers and light radiating from her body, joining forces together, towards the one person her attention was focused on, Orion.

She heard a thousand voices in her head, speaking in some strange language as she rested her hands on the head of Orion.

His pants echoed in her ears, while he twisted his head side to side.

She held onto him tightly, closing her eyes yet again, and feeling her powers rushing to the surface.

In her head, she could see a bright light coming towards Orion, filling him with much energy and light.

Memories of Orion suddenly came flashing in her head.

Mainly memories of the previous encounter they had with the bandits, and how Orion got struck by a blade, bringing him in this state.

She could hear his heart racing in her ears, while her eyes were shut tightly.

A wild gust of wind came sailing her way, and in a moment, she froze.

Her eyes tore open immediately, while her hands still rested above Orion's head.

She gasped lightly, not wanting to believe the thoughts she perceived. His body had gone so cold, which made her gasp for breath, trying to get herself together.

Her lips quavered in fear as she brought her hands down to his chest, and her thoughts were clarified.

She couldn't hear his heart beat.

Her lips thinned, surge of emotions rushing in her, while pain filled her heart. She gasped staring on at the still figure laid in front of her.

No! It can't be.

She thought to herself.

"What's going on?" She heard Aiden demand from behind.

Her eyes watered with tears immediately, and at that moment, a burning heat bubbled from her body, passing through to Orion, rising his temperature instantly, his chest heaving, and suddenly everything came to a calm.

His temperature back to normal, his face filled with much life, and the deep cut sealed.

If a voice was to whisper metres away, it would be heard loud and clear, due to the silence which filled the air.

"Why does it have to be a girl who saves me every single time I get wounded in battle" Orion muttered in a low breath, while slowly fluttering his eyes open.

Elpida gasped, staring at him with delight in her eyes, not believing it.

Aiden rushed forward to peer at Orion, and then sighed in relief, after seeing his state.

"Don't ever do that again!" He yelled and chuckled immediately, throwing his sword to the ground.

Sima and Sonora, dropped their bow and arrows, with hands stretched forward looking up at the sky, muttering some words under their breaths.

"What are you doing?" Orion asked in confusion.

No response came from them, not until they were done with their prayers and were up their feet.

"We were thanking the spirits of Sedona for bringing you back" Sima responded.

"Welcome" She added.

Meanwhile, Pavlos stared from afar feeling the happiness which erupted in everyone. His hands twitched by his side, with voices echoing around him.

A smile appeared on his lips at that moment. A very weak smile.

Through all the chatters and joy of everyone, Orion's eyes fell on one person, from where he rested.

He watched as the wind threw her hair back, while she placed her palms together, bending her head low and wiping the tears which filled her eyes.

She sighed as she brought her eyes up, and their gazes locked. Staring at each other, not one refusing to look away.

He could still feel the effect of the kiss in him, the joy of it, warming him.

Quickly, he turned his face away, realization striking him like a blow, on how much he cared about her.

Not wanting to believe it.