When he had been lying abed, Caleb did not fully appreciate the extent of his injuries. Only once he had started on the stairs, descending from the house’s second level did reality strike. The nausea hit first, churning his stomach worse than an ocean storm as his knees wobbled, and the world seemed to spin. Retching he collapsed against the bannister, saved only by Rainbow’s quick action, guiding him into a sitting position before his legs gave out completely. This effort took a serious toll upon the rablin as well, who reclined against the railing beside his young companion, his limbs trembling from the strain.

	“You ought to be in bed, resting.” Rainbow chided gently. He brushed his fingers against Caleb’s bruised face, wincing as his digits grazed over the more battered portions. “From the way Roger described things you’re most likely suffering from a rather severe concussion.”

	“I’ll be alright, I just need a few seconds to catch my breath.” Caleb waved Rainbow’s concerns away. Right now, he did not have time to sleep. John was hurt for certain; he’d seen the blood seeping through the man’s coat from a nasty gash in his shoulder. Caleb wrinkled his forehead, trying to recall just what had occurred after his intervention in the battle. But harder he tried to focus the more the memory slipped from his grasp, like smoke through his fingers.

	“Caleb…” Rainbow sighed in frustration. The stubborn kid would probably hurt himself even worse in his current condition trying to make sure everyone else was alright. “Look, it doesn’t take a professional doctor to see you’re not yourself right now. How about you stay here, and I’ll go get some help. I could even ask after… Jake and John was it?”

	“Yeah,” Caleb relented, his one eye that wasn’t swathed in bandages examining Rainbow in turn. The rablin didn’t look like he fared much better. His skin appeared flushed and burned, and more than one scratch or bump marred his emerald features. A sharp odor hung about him as well, smelling of sweet rot, faint but undeniable and strangely familiar, though Caleb could not quite place where he had smelt it before. “You don’t look so shipshape either.”

	Rainbow glanced down at his hands; they underwent the brunt of the magical curse. Blistered and raw, they smarted under even the slightest pressure. He bore the pain with a stiff upper lip however, knowing full well it could be worse, much worse. At least the agony just beneath his skin receded to a mere dull ache making it possible to think clearly once more. “You’re right enough, I’m not one hundred percent. I had my own tribulations to undergo once we separated. Touched something I definitely shouldn’t have.” He gave himself a little shake, remembering how his mind and body shattered under the force of the spell. It wasn’t a pleasant memory by any means, so Rainbow forced it to the back of his mind. “At least I can walk more than ten paces before falling over. If you insist on coming downstairs let me retrieve Roger to assist you. He is better suited to such physical labors than I currently am.”

	Caleb found this agreeable and promised to remain put until Rainbow returned. Giving the wounded boy one last stern look to ensure he kept true to his pledge, the rablin hopped down the remaining steps and vanished into the foyer in search of Roger. Even if Caleb had wanted to break his word and follow, his body would not have complied. It felt good to just sit and relax. A stray beam of early evening light pierced a small window above the staircase, wreathing him in its warming glow. It had been a long day, from first tying up their ship in that Forest District harbor, to fighting alongside John and waking up in the Nieve’s homestead. The desire to ensure his new friends were safe, and the need to sleep warred in his mind, the latter slowly gaining ground until Caleb could no longer resist the impulse to close his eye.

	“Tsk, tsk.”

	The sound of a clucking tongue woke him. Roger, being surprisingly strong for a being without any muscle had gathered him up and was slowly caring him back upstairs, Rainbow and Jake and Ribbon at his heels. “I understand your concern for your friends young sir, but I must insist as my patient you remain in bed until tomorrow, at the very least. There is no point in arguing. Clearly if you are falling asleep within five minutes and leaning against that rather uncomfortable piece of banister you desperately need some rest. Well deserved as I understand it too. All of you should rest.” He glanced back towards Rainbow and Jake who were following behind.

	“Huh, how did you do that?”

	“Do what?” Roger asked, not unkindly.

	“Cluck your tongue? You don’t have…” Caleb paused mid-sentence; would it be considered rude to point out the skeleton no longer possessed the amenities of a mortal man? He was rather unfamiliar with the etiquette of the reanimated.

	Although he was not offended, Roger was a little surprised by Caleb’s question and unfished statement. He considered it for a moment, then shrugged. “To be honest young sir, I haven’t the faintest idea. I’ve never really considered it. I suppose it is the same way I can speak without lungs or move without tendons and sinew. I just can. Perhaps its something to research… After the seventy thousand, two hundred, and thirty-one other subjects I’m currently investigating.”

	“Oh.” Was all Caleb could say to that. Roger pushed the door open to the room and laid Caleb upon the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin.

	“Lay still now, I will need to change those bandages. Hopefully, the bleeding will have stopped already, but its best to leave them on just in case, and let the poultices do their work. Head injuries do have tendency to seep and we wouldn’t want you ruining Junior’s old bed now would we.”

	“This is John’s room?” Caleb asked, and then before any of his three companions could answer he laid another question on them, turn his head to look towards Jake. “Is John alright? Rainbow said Edward was fine, but I don’t remember anything past killing… Helping John fight those lizards.”

	“I think so.” Jake said as Roger continued his work, replacing the herbal wrappings around the left side of Caleb’s face, where the lizard’s serrated claws had done their grisly work. The worst of the damage had fortunately just missed his eye, mostly scourging his neck, cheek, and temple. Jake winced and looked away, remembering how profusely it had bled all the way home, drenching Edward’s back in sticky red. “He told me and Edward to bring you back here to Grandma’s house, and to stay here no matter what. He wanted to find out if his friends were okay and help that man he saved.”

	“Was it Dustin?” Caleb asked, he’d taken a liking to their savior back at that tavern, and it would be good to know John and Dustin were together. They seemed very capable men.

	Jake shrugged. “I don’t know, I never thought to take a closer look.” [i]I was too worried you and Uncle John were going to die.[/i] He didn’t add.

	Finishing up his delicate work Roger wrapped the old soiled bandages and tucked them into his pouch for proper disposal later. Patting Jake on the shoulder he guided the younger boy towards the door. “John Junior is a very resourceful man, and more than able to take care of himself. I assure you, I taught him first aid myself, he should be able to handle any minor injuries he acquires. He will be back, as he always is. Now Caleb needs his rest, and you need yours Jake. Don’t try to hide that yawn from me young man, you’ve had a rather excitable day. Your mother and sister and you are staying here for the night, as we are having the John and your father’s service in the morning once Junior returns.” [i]Not that I imagine you will be able to sleep much after everything that’s happened,[/i] Roger thought, [i]but any rest you might get would be beneficial.[/i] “Rainbow, we have a spare room down the hall you my make use of.” He ushered them out and was about to call Ribbon away as well when the pointer hound jumped up on the bed and curled against the crook of Caleb’s knee. Seeing no reason to disturb them Roger closed the door softly, as Caleb had already fallen back into a dreamless sleep.