Death and Tide

[Mirach]

Death was trying to do his best in soothing the pain and healing Cernunnos, otherwise the miasma would be much thicker, but even so he was in pain from it himself.

[VisAnastasis]

It took but a moment for Tide to realize their state, glancing compassionately at all the bruises and hurts of them both, and Cernunnos's broken horn parts. He knelt beside them, and he addressed the demon first, as it was still oozing miasma and it was most urgent to deal with.
" Hey there... Hey, it's okay... Don't be scared... It's just me..." He whispered, and he put his palm on demon's forehead, checking his fever. Creature flinched and opened it's eyes widely, looking around frantically, but when it realized it is him, tears, so easyly brought forth in him in distress, welled in his eyes anew.
" So... S-ssorry... " He stuttered hoarsely, barely eligible in fever. " Sorry I... Acted my own. Gave... No sign... So... So... Rude... "

[Mirach]

Death lifted his head with effort. "It's okay... it's over now..." he whispered.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's... okay...? Okay... okay? " creature stuttered insecurely, and Tide chuckled heartily at the hesitance, miasma just slipping off him like it was nothing, and his laugh confident and safe in the scary place, felt reassuring.
" Of course it's okay... It's okay okay, my sweet little friend. It's better than okay. I'd have had to risk my life, faced with Death's sword, for real. But you have saved me that risk. You may have saved my life, and my companion's life - and I am so grateful. You did so, so so well. I am proud of you. You are a wonderful blob of life... Wonderful, wonderful host, with no match... " he spoke soothingly to him, as he was slowly leaning toward the creature, and he put arms under his neck, lulling him, and Death with him. He spoke so many compliments, gentle and soft, caring and kind, and they all felt so sincere, but so much, and despite fever, the creature couldn't help but get embarrassed from the praise, and chuckle a little bit - and it was hard to be scared when embarrassed and brightened up - and so, he slowly stopped oozing miasma, leaning on Tide and both holding onto Death, while demon slowly picked them up together, to get them out of the cloud of miasma already dissipated there, not nearly as grave as one that existed before that day over centuries, but still bad for their health.

[Mirach]

Death sighed with relief. "We could call Emil and Xia now, what do you think?" he asked. "There is no danger for them anymore..."

[VisAnastasis]

" They must be anxious, yes. "  Tide agreed absently while carrying the two fo them carefully, not to the kitchen this time, but probably to some room. " But they-d be all the more anxious if they sow you two like this, wouldn-t they? " he said gently, trying to keep calm soothing tone not to upset Cernunnos, who appeared on the border of consciousness. " Let's tidy you up first... "

[Mirach]

"What do you mean?"Death asked tiredly.

[VisAnastasis]

" I mean, I doubt Xia and Emil will feel any better than me at seeing you two like this. You look like death. " Tide whispered more quietly with a faint teasing smile, that seemed to come to him as a way to deal with the situation. " We'll see what we can do about your injuries and fevers, as much as we can, get you both to bed, and bring your meal. " he shook his head then, with simple, firm authority, despite his words very soft. " No hanging out with friends until then, okay? While I... bury the Spirit, I'll send Xia and Emil to take care of you and bring you more food and everything... "

[Mirach]

"I though seeing Emil could help Cernunnos in feeling better," Death explained how he meant it. "But it's fine either way..." he closed his eyes slowly, tiredly.

[VisAnastasis]

" That will come when you're both less of a dying mess. Don't sleep, please, okay? " Tide plead with him with little more urgency in his voice. " I had no idea snakes can even have fevers, being cold-blooded... It could be one of those that has the risk of not waking up from. We're heading to Cernunnos's room. He has a big bed, luckily, it was too heavy to be broken by me. You could both fit. That is... I think you should take on human form. " he pleaded. " We can be surer in how much danger you are in more fitting form... "

[Mirach]

"I like being a snake with Cernunnos..." Death murmured. "But I can be human, if you want..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I know you do." Tide whispered, while urgently pacing the hallway to a ground level, and a corner to it, searching for right room as he spoke." And you can be a snake all you desire later, okay? But right now, wouldn't it be wiser if you were human?" He bit his lip." Please, tell me what you think. I am not used to taking care of sick snakes, but I just have a really bad feeling about this... You both exerted far beyond your limit... "

[Mirach]

"Yeah, okay..." Death murmured. "I can turned when we get there and can lay down..."

[VisAnastasis]

" We will figure the best timing, important is that you both lie down. " Tide said, not without urgency.
They finally got to the room. It was in one corner of the mansion, not big, humble but peaceful. Things around were tossed and turned all across it, but the bed, too strong and firm, carved from stone, did not. It was a rather big bed, big enough for but for one person, but multiple - it appeared that even through he couldn't sleep demon liked the pretense, and probably in the old days used to have his family members sleep over. The place seemed to have used to have a balcony and many high windows, and be turned to face the rising sun - but by the crude work, it was visible that changes had been made and all openings had been bricked down tightly.

[Mirach]

Once they lied down, Death curled in his snake form, appwaring a bit hazy and not eager to change the form that felt comfortable to him.

[VisAnastasis]

It was all the harder for Tide to convince himself to do it, because by now Cernunnos also seemed rather comfortable and familiar with Death's form, too. As they lied down, in his feverish state he had fewer inhibitions, and he curled around Death and hugged him lightly and with pleasure, caressing him absently and sleepily, dazed from fever, but now that he was a little appeased, appearing rather contented to seek comfort in closeness.
Tide chuckled a little faintly and nervously at the image, knowing it is not the best idea, unfortunately, but not able to make himself separate them or stress them out. He tidied up the room a little and lit up the fire in the nearby fireplace first. Then he brought water, and first washed them to clean them from the dust and debris of their fall and dried them up. Then, he picked up the blanket from the floor, that appeared not to be made from any common material known to humans nowadays, but probably of some art long lost among them - it was soft and light like silk, but thick like made of wool. He covered them both while whistling a soothing lullaby, tucking them in, wanting to first make them feel safe before dealing with their raised body temperature.

[Mirach]

Death rested for a moment, but he was aware that he should change his form, like someone who has to get up early is aware that he needs to wake soon. He sighed and looked at Cernunnos, and then at Tide. "Treat him first," he whispered. "I will change when he is better..."

[VisAnastasis]

Cernunnos was too hazy to understand, lost in the fever, having few inhibitions and low perception of what was going on. Tide nodded, agreeing it is urgent matter indeed. He sat beside them, and he spoke soothingly to the ill demon, to get his attention. It took a moment, but he managed to lead him to relax, and he eased him into the treatment. He laid hand on his shoulder and sang to him, a gentle warm lullaby, while lowering his fever gradually. Creature was trembling at first, but then it sighed with relief and leaned trustfully into the touch, that both thanks to Tide's gentleness and comfort he felt in holding Death, didn't scare him.

[Mirach]

Death was not feeling that much better than Cernunnos, but he was used to not show any pain, and was also a bit relieved to be left in sbake form for a while longer. 

[VisAnastasis]

It took a while before creature seemed to have sweated out a lot of fever, and it dropped considerably, although not fully. By the time Tide has brought water and used his waterbending to wash off the sweat and then dried him, he sighed with ease, as it seemed he was more out of danger now, and he didn't appear to be on the verge of death, only exhausted. He seemed a little more aware of his environment and feeling more steady in his mind and soul, the first thing he noticed when he opened his eyes was Tide, and he smiled at him thankfully and lovingly, before he, now that he gathered his wits a little more hesitantly, he timidly looked down on the snake gathered up in his arms.

[Mirach]

Death sighed tiredly. "Would you mind if I changed form?" he murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

Cernunnos was watching him quietly, not replying for a moment. He whispered quietly, watching him a little sadly.
" We had a nice time... Didn't we? Short as it was... " He gulped." But... that was only because you were a snake, wasn't it?  Snakes always liked me... "

[Mirach]

"That doesn't work like that... It's more pleasant to be touched as snake, I guess, but it's still me in different form," Death said wearily. "I though *you* like me as a snake more..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I like snakes. And... yes. It is... Scarier than a snake, to imagine you with hands that can hold a sword. " Cernunnos whispered, a little stiffer, as he asked, seeming a little insecure with Death's reply, and struggling as he spoke, almost like a frightful bird that wished to make few steps forth but could be easily scared off. " But... I... I liked the kind snake that liked me, more than I would just like a snake. I thought we could stay like that... But it's selfish, isn't it? To not want to lose that... " he gulped, looking away in embarrassment. " When you become human, you'll no longer be a little snake that liked to be held by me... "

[Mirach]

"I will just becone human so Tide can treat me better. Then I'll turn back, okay?" Death smiled sadly.