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[sub][color=8E939E]✧     Location: Snakeburrow Woods     ✧     Purse: 12 copper     ✧      [@McMolly]  [@Hero]  ✧[/color][/sub][/center]
Kyreth nodded mutely to Lilann, struggling through another bout of coughing before his lungs finally felt (mostly) clear. He accepted Eila’s healing readily, although not without a little squirming. He’d never been the subject of healing magic before; the pain subsided quickly, for a mercy, but it was accompanied by a tingling warmth and a queer crawling feeling as his flesh readily knit itself back together. His eyes widened at the process, and a sigh of relief escaped him; just like that, good as new. He could only imagine how handy it would have been to have someone like her around on his travels before now. 

Once healed, he reached to replace his hood, only to grab thin air. Right, damn - what was left of his cloak was stuck in a stinking, smoldering heap on the roadside. He opened his mouth to apologize to Eila, feeling horrible about having ruined her gift to him so recklessly, but she was already gone, jogging back toward the cart. 

[color=8E939E]“It seems I’ve put myself in a predicament…”[/color] Kyreth took a go at levity, smirking halfheartedly at Lilann as he gestured to his missing hood. His voice was still gravely from the smoke, but that was the least of his problems. He really had just made things a whole lot harder for himself. He stood out enough [i]with[/i] the benefit of a hood to cover his horns; now, not only had he destroyed a very expensive gift, he’d also made sure he’d be openly advertising his Tainted nature everywhere they went. 

Damn. He allowed himself a groan as he pulled himself to his feet, hands healed but still feeling all the aches and pains that came with a violent roll with a savage beast. Cerric told him to stop apologizing for himself, but he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Lilann hid her nature well - better than he did even before losing his cloak - but with him among their number, he wouldn’t just be drawing negative attention to himself, but to the group as a whole. Dammit, he [i]knew[/i] he’d be a burden on this trip, he just hadn’t predicted how creatively he’d manage to do it. 

[color=8E939E]“Well, we’re alive, that’s the main thing,”[/color] Kyreth muttered, half to Lilann as he dusted himself off, but mostly to himself. He really should have counted himself lucky, all things considered. Feeling badly, sure, but he endured a fiery accident and got away with only some minor injuries, and nobody else hurt to boot. Importantly, Lilann was okay. 

Kyreth raised his eyebrows at that, the thought surprising him a bit. It occurred to him that he’d only known Lilann barely two days, yet there he was, keeping her at the forefront of his mind, throwing caution to the wind to help her. It was so unlike him, so utterly unlike his [i]kind[/i] to put someone else before himself, it surprised him that he didn’t realize the oddness of it all until now. Hells, the last time he kept anyone’s interests in mind was with Berta… 

He shook his head, putting the images of fire and smoke out of his mind. Similar incident, sure, but this time ended a lot better than that time did. He should be thankful for that. 

Instead of stewing further, Kyreth reached between the buttons of his tunic to grasp his pendant and bowed his head, offering a silent prayer of thanks to Selene for her mercy. Once done, he made his way back to the cart - or where the cart [i]had[/i] been, before that mad beast took off with it and left Cerric in the muck - and stooped to pick up the cloak pin he’d dropped, putting it safely in his pocket. Cloak or no cloak, he would be loath to let such a thoughtful gift rust in the dirt. 

[color=8E939E]“I’m glad you’re okay,”[/color] he said warmly to Lilann, hoisting his (thankfully undamaged) pack back over his shoulder. He tried to fasten his hood again, failing again, and instead sheepishly combed through his hair, utterly unused to the feeling of wind in his hair. [color=8E939E]“Let’s hope the rest of the road isn’t nearly so interesting.”[/color]