"Good morning, cub," she announced. "It's good to see you awake."

Allia's eyes snapped open so fast it nearly startled him, and Dolanna put down her book and smiled warmly at him. Triana turned around, her stony face softened by a gentle smile that made her beauty truly radiant.

"Triana," he said weakly. It was a challenge to talk, and the pain in his chest intensified when he tried to take in the breath to speak. Every inhale and exhale sent a ripple of pain through him. He felt weaker than a newborn baby. He found that he could barely move, and any attempt to do so sent fire through his chest and torso. The pain was severe, but it seemed somewhat dulled to him, almost as if he could register the pain, but it couldn't affect him as it should have. "Why?" He already knew, but he wanted to hear it from her lips. He knew she wouldn't lie to him.

"I told you, I haven't given up on you yet."

"You said-"

"I know. And at the time, I meant it. But it's our nature to be a bit impulsive. I'm sure you noticed that." He looked at her, his eyes agreeing. "I've been watching you, cub. You have some rough edges and a serious control problem, but I think we can salvage you."

"Triana has agreed to teach you what you need to know to make them stop attacking you, Tarrin," Dolanna said. "Right now, listening is about the only thing you can do, so it is not a bad agreement."

"That's right," she affirmed. "It won't take you long to learn. I don't have to teach you about being Were, because it looks like you've managed to get that part. It's the laws of our society you have to learn. And I intend to file off those rough edges," she said bluntly. "You're way too wild, cub. I'm going to reign that in, even if it kills you."

Tarrin didn't like the tone in her voice, so he covered it by looking to Allia. "Sister," he greeted with a weak smile.

"You must stop torturing me like this, deshida," she said with a wan smile, squeezing his paw gently. "I am too young to spend my life at your bedside."

"It's not exactly planned, deshaida," he said weakly. "You need to complain to the people who keep doing this to me."

Allia laughed nervously, then reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "Tarrin, Keritanima-"

"I know," he cut her off, squeezing her hand. "While I was asleep, the Goddess spoke to me. She told me that Kerri's going back to Wikuna."

"Is she alright?" Dolanna asked.

Tarrin nodded. "They're treating all of them well," he assured her. "She told Kerri that I'm alright, so she's not going crazy worrying about me."

"Thank the Goddess," Dolanna said in relief. "I was worried for them. Greatly worried."

"They're going to be alright."

"You speak to a Goddess?" Triana asked sharply.

"It's more like she speaks to me," he replied, leaning back in his pillow. Speaking so much was wearing him out. "She tasked me to find the Firestaff, so I guess she checks in from time to time to make sure things are going alright."

Triana gave him a penetrating look. "You? You're one of those fool Questers?"

"I do what my Goddess tells me to do," he said flintily, but the effort it required made him cough, and that sent a vicious rack of pain through him.

"Nothing wrong with that, cub, it's just not normal."

"Tarrin is not a normal person," Allia said in defense of her brother, giving Triana a direct look.

Triana stared at her, then she actually chuckled. "I'll give you that. Allia, go get some of that broth I had those cooks make. It's time to put some food in my cub. Then he can rest a while."

"Yes, Triana," Allia said obediently, then she leaned in and kissed Tarrin on the forehead before she scurried out.

"I'm sorry I missed that," he said with a wry smile.

"What?"

"You taming my sister," he told the Were-cat elder. "I didn't think it was possible."

"Allia isn't stupid enough to defy me, cub," she said with one of those blood-freezing stares. "Unlike some other people in this room."

"I guess it's just one of my rough edges," he retorted.

"One you're going to lose," she said, sitting down in the chair Allia vacated. "Although, I must admit, I found your defiance of me refreshing. Most people mewl at me like sheep. I'm not used to someone standing up to me." She reached down and took his paw, then put the pad of her palm on his forehead much like Allia had done. "I see you're recovering quickly. I hope to have you out of the bed by the end of the month. I think you'll be fully recovered in three."

"I hope I didn't scare anyone," he apologized.

"You scared all of us out of our wits," Dolanna told him with a smile. "But that you are getting better is all that matters."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Triana snorted. "Be happy I was close by. That reminds me. Faalken!" she called.

The door opened, and Faalken looked in. He gave Tarrin a quick look, then flashed him a grin that cried out his relief and elation that Tarrin was awake. "Tarrin!" he said happily. "Allia didn't tell me you were up. Feeling better?"

"Much," he replied with a weak smile.

"Faalken, go tell the innkeeper to check again."

"Yes, Triana," he said with a nod, then closed the door.

"Triana has usurped Faalken from me," Dolanna chuckled when Tarrin gave her a curious look.

"He's a good, solid man. And if you tell him I said that, I'll pull off your ears," Triana said with a strong warning look at Tarrin.

"Yes ma'am," he said in a tired voice.

"When the others get here, the Wikuni are going to be very sorry they hurt my cub," she said in a hot tone, her eyes flaring up a bit with that green radiance that marked his own when he was angry.

"Others?" Tarrin asked.

"Me and Jesmind aren't the only ones of our kind, cub," she chided. "I've called in some of the others. They're already on the way. And when they get here, there's going to be some payback."

Tarrin wasn't sure how to feel about that. He knew there were others, but he wasn't sure if he liked Were-cats running around and killing Wikuni. It was sure to start a war. It was a bit flattering to know that others would come at Triana's call and fight for him, though. It made him feel like he belonged. After all, he would do the same if Allia called him to come and help her clan against some enemy.

"Are you sure that's wise?" he asked. "Killing Wikuni won't make me better."

"But it'll make me feel better," she said fiercely. "Besides, there are other people here that have been trying to find where you are, men running around with silvered swords. When we're done, there won't be anyone left in either city that would dare lift a finger against you."

"Now those I don't mind," he sighed. "I've already had one run-in too many with them. Where is Dar?"

"Sleeping," Dolanna replied. "He stayed up most of the night to sit with you."

The door opened, and Allia entered carrying a bowl of steaming broth. The smell of it, the smell of chicken and herbs, made his mouth and stomach respond to it in a most urgent manner. His belly was completely empty, and he was starving.

Triana took it from her and set it in her lap, then picked up the wooden spoon that was sitting in the broth. "Alright. Dolanna, you and Allia go get some rest. Both of you are more like the walking dead. After my cub gets some broth, he's going to sleep some more. He can talk again later."

"We will see you later, Tarrin," Dolanna said gently, patting him on the forearm. "Be well."

"Sleep well, deshida," Allia added.

Triana paw-fed him. He felt a bit silly that she was doing so, but he was too weak to hold the spoon himself. The broth tasted heavenly, but had strange zingy tastes and aftertastes that he had never tasted before. He wondered if it was medicine put in the broth. The pain had subsided to a nagging throb that, with Allia's concentration technique, he could partially block out. But not all of it. It was just too much pain. Triana's eyes regarded him as she fed him, that same stony expression making whatever she was thinking or feeling a mystery. When the bowl was empty, she set it aside and took his paw, staring into his eyes. "How is the wound?" she asked gently.