The cool, humid air of the rainforest greeted Tsunami as she stepped out of the tunnel, as did the buzzing of insects and the faint croaks of frogs. She scanned the clearing outside the tunnel before motioning the others to follow her through. Slowly everyone else piled through, followed by the Nightwings and Rainwings that Glory had brought as back up.
"Is that everyone?" asked Sunny. Tsunami did a quick head count. She saw Starflight and Fatespeaker stumble through after Glory and Deathbringer, followed shortly by Riptide, who immediately sat by Tsunami, his tail twining with hers reassuringly. She spied Thorn and a couple Rainwings limp through, bleeding from injuries sustained in the escape from Blister's guards. More Rainwings piled through after them, all of them shaken and wide-eyed at what just happened.
Someone was missing.
"Where's Clay?" asked Tsunami, panic edging into her commanding tone.
"Right here," gasped a voice. To her immense relief, Tsunami saw Peril bring up the rear of the group, panting heavily from the escape with Clay's limp body still gripped tightly in her claws. Tsunami's eyes drifted to Clay's leg. Despite the lack of venom, the wound still looked terrible—the flesh raw and bleeding, the scales mangled and caked in blood.
"We need to get Clay to the healers now," said Tsunami. "Everyone get back to the village."
She bounded over to Peril. "I've got him from here, Peril."
The Skywing adamantly shook her head. "I'm not leaving him until I know he's alright."
"You've done enough, Peril." She had saved Clay's life already. Tsunami didn't want her to burn herself out fretting over Clay. "You're exhausted. Go get some rest. Glory, lend me a wing here."
Relcutantly, Peril released her grip on Clay and took off. Together Tsunami and Glory lifted Clay into the air, with Deathbringer and Riptide following close for support. With heavy wingbeats they followed the others through the dense trees back to the Rainwing village.
They made a beeline straight for the healers' hut, where Peril was already waiting despite Tsunami's orders. She sighed internally, though truthfully she admired Peril for her unwavering loyalty to Clay.
The healers took one look at Clay's wound and blanched, having never seen a burn as bad as it before. Even the terrible disfigurement caused by Rainwing venom seemed tame compared to the giant hole in Clay's leg.
"What happened?" said one healer, his scales turning green.
"Dragonbite viper," said Tsunami. "Blister brought two to the peace meeting and one of them bit Clay. He would've died right there if Peril hadn't flown in and burned the venom out."
The other healer whistled. "We'll, uh, treat this right away."
They dragged Clay onto a bedding of large tree leaves and proceeded to treat his injury. Tsunami watched them, anxious. Clay's chest rose and fell, his breathing shallow and weak.
"Sunny and the rest have met up with Grandeur by the audience treehouse," said Riptide, who'd returned after leaving to check on the others.
Glory nodded. "We should go meet with them, Tsunami." She wrinkled her snout, her scales a light tinge of blue. "We have a lot of things to talk about."
"What about Clay—"
"I'll stay with him," said Peril, hovering next to the healers, who cast nervous glances at her burning hot scales.
Tsunami nodded. "Thank you. For everything, really. If you hadn't been there..."
Peril shook her head. Tsunami spotted a single tear glisten against her coppery snout.
