Apologize.

Vaien had not heard Zhang Han reply to him yet, only seeing his limp body lying still against the wall. His breathing was a mess and both pupils were somewhat dim. There was only a faint shift in his expression that made it seem that Zhang Han was looking at him.

This kind of look...Vaien had seen it many times in the past.

Those last flickering embers of life where one's eyes gradually lost all focus and dimmed into a hypnotic state of nothingness. Losing cognizance. Death.

Vaien's eyes widened with fear, an emotion he hadn't felt in months. Why was it suddenly so hard to breath? Each beat of his heart seemed to be pumping this feeling of unease and panic even further through his body and into his mind.

Why was Zhang Han being so unresponsive? He lightly shook his shoulders.

"Hey Zhang Han! Why aren't you saying anything...you..." he babbled like a pestering puppy, his tone becoming more panicked and whiny, "you're not that hurt, are you? Just tell me what I need to do to fix it! Zhang Han…"

Zhang Han squeezed his eyes shut in pain as the light shakes Vaien gave him jolted his injuries.

...this fucker.

He coughed then managed to press out the words, "Stop...shaking...me!"

Vaien stopped immediately, then he smiled out of nowhere with a stupid and earnest expression.

"Zhang Han…"

Clearly, the fact that Zhang Han was able to speak meant that he would survive. After all, weak as he was, he wouldn't die to a single one of his sister's hits! That would be far too pathetic an end. He felt silly for worrying over it so much.

At this point in time Kalla's footsteps had crunched up right behind where Vaien was crouched down. She peered at the man her brother was cooing to so dearly with great disbelief, as though she was watching a tiger raise an antelope. Such a thing should be impossible, right?

Then again, it was her stubborn and weirdo brother. Maybe he'd gotten so crazy out here that he picked up the first person he saw to keep him company.

Of course she was not aware that the ripper lizard that lived outside of Vaien's cave (until it was thrown off the cliff) had previous eaten at least three random intruders. Zhang Han had been the exception who was spared from death.

"Go away Kalla!" Vaien hissed.

She was such a nuisance. He wanted to teach her a good lesson but was more interested in tending to Zhang Han first, to assure that he wouldn't suddenly cough up blood or something.

Kalla frowned, her long lashes lowered in annoyance.

"I already said I didn't know you two were together. Is that how you talk to your lil' sister who came all this way to check up on how you're doing…?"

Vaien stood up.

He took a step towards Kalla, baring his fangs and contracting his pupils. His figure was a few inches taller than hers, his expression of his cold, ruthless, and menacing, not unlike the one Kalla had shown to Zhang Han a few moments before she punted him into the wall.

"Kalla. You're going to shut your mouth and not move an inch until I say so, otherwise I'm gonna throw you off this cliff and make sure you can't climb back up it."

A few animals in the grasslands hopped out of the undergrowth, fleeing north towards the forest with chirring meeps and cries of alarm.

They were all afraid of Zhang Han's threatening aura.

Similar to a pheromone or scent, some kind of signal would be exuded when a creature was about to turn aggressive. It was liking puffing out one's chest to look bigger and scarily. The opponents could judge if the aura were stronger or weaker than their own aura, then make the decision on which enemy it was wise to fight with, or with who they should cower and fear. Smart choices were imperative to survival.

Kalla grit her teeth. One of her hands clenched as though about to start a fight, but in the end she decided not to, nodding curtly once.

Vaien immediately went back over to Zhang Han, all his menace melting away like an ice cube under the sun.

"Hm...Zhang Han, what do you want, huh?" he purred. "What do you need me to get for you so that you can get better?"

Zhang Han rubbed his shoulder and sat up a bit taller, cringing, but he'd recovered slightly from the initial pain at this point in time. With a sigh he replied, "My medical box is sitting inside the cave. It's blue with a red 'X' on it. Just bring that over."

"Yeah, okay! Medical box, got it."

Vaien sprinted off and was back with it in two seconds.

His tan fingers popped open the hinged lid and looked inside. Bandages, syringes, and ointments were mixed around. Although Vaien was familiar with bandaging a wound and using healing herbs, he didn't know nor understand any of the items inside Zhang Han's box.

He frowned and probed, "Now what? What should I do now?"

Zhang Han just shook his head with irritation. He lifted out his arm, grunting in pain, and brought the box close to his side.

"It's fine. I can do it."

Vaien scooted closer. "Don't move, I can help."

...it was kind of sickeningly sweet. Zhang Han felt his stomach churning and fluttering for no reason that he could comprehend. And he hurt. He was sick and unhappy, thus he avoided sorting out those feelings and just twisted his mouth into a serious grimace.

"It's fine. It's quicker if I do it. Just go talk with your sister before she attacks me again."

Vaien cut a sorry expression. "...but I..."

Fuck! He was worried. But he couldn't just say that outright, could he? Vaien was encumbered by a thin and boastful sense of masculinity. He'd never expressed himself in these ways such as showing genuine concern for another, let alone expected that he'd be the sort who did so. Shameful business it was, getting all on edge, brooding, and nervous just because Zhang Han got a bit scrapped up.

"..." Zhang Han also thought about it. The rocks here were pretty uncomfortable. He'd need to lie down for a while. "Fine. Carry me onto the bed. You have to do it gently, though."

Vaien gulped down nerves like a kid given his first chore.

Wait a second. But what Zhang Han just said...almost sounded like what it would be if he was allowed to top. 'Be gentle'. 'Carry me onto the bed.' A few juvenile thoughts crashed through his mind.

Zhang Han was just confused and annoyed. "...Vaien?"

Vaien snapped back to attention.

He needed to focus, Zhang Han was injured! No time for these wonderful and strange fantasies. He carefully placed his arms around the upper of Zhang Han's shoulders and under his knees, avoiding the chest area that contained fractured ribs. This was nothing less than the perfect princess carry.

Zhang Han felt his face turning colors and chewed his lower lip as Kalla silently watched him being carried into the cave. One of her eyebrows was raised.

Once Zhang Han was finally lying on soft furs he could exhale a breath.

Thank god…

Vaien naturally didn't forget to bring the medical kit along as well, and handed it off to Zhang Han carefully. Feeling that he'd done at least something for Zhang Han, he finally was a bit satisfied and paced outside to face Kalla.

Zhang Han was at long last given the peace to treat his own wounds...but of course he'd be listening in on their conversation as well!

Kalla flicked some loose hair behind her ear, narrowing her eyes at her brother.

"Vaien...seriously. You're partnering with such a wimpy guy?"

Vaien's expression shifted in an instant to 'I will murder you if you continue saying it like that', and Kalla pouted her lip before correcting, "A-Ahem. I'm just curious how you met this...stranger."

"His name is Zhang Han," said Vaien sulkily. "And couldn't you tell he was mine?! Why did you attack him?"

"Huh, 'Zhang Han'. Never heard of that name." Kalla didn't think on it too long, though, and crossed her arms. "I thought he had your scent cause' he was snooping around in your cave. But sorry. I won't ever touch what's yours if I know better."

Vaien snorted as his anger subsided. "You have to apologize to him, too."

Kalla pouted even more.

...if she didn't want to talk to Vaien about something else, she would never lower her head to someone weaker. But...she still wanted to talk with this deadbeat brother of hers and couldn't very well get driven off from his turf right away…that's what happened last time.

Her temper exploded and she left in a huff, never expecting that she wouldn't see Vaien again for another two years! They'd always been a pair of fighting siblings, the kind that felt as much hate as love for each other. But this time she wasn't going to mess things up!

Kalla stomped over to the cave entrance, the feathers on her dress fluffing up, and then bent her head downwards at Zhang Han lying there like a dead body.

"Zhang Han, sorry for injuring you! It was a misunderstanding!"