For the Ones We Love -

Chapter 17: What Comes Next?-

Illidan's POV

He woke up to hear Kai whimpering in her sleep, he ignored the pain in his body and looked to Kai who was squirming in her sleep. Illidan got up and gently rested a hand on her forehead, she was burning up. He pulled up her shirt and saw the fel infected wound now covered with yellow puss and he felt worry surge in his heart. He tried to gently urge Kai out of her fever induced nightmare when she cried out.

"Illidan stop!" Kai said and Illidan dropped her hands and looked at her, he felt pain in his heart. She should know I would never ever hurt her. "Illidan~!" Kai said with a soft moan escaping her lips. OH- she um- I need to wake her up.

"Keyleth!" Illidan said shaking her gently and her eyes snapped open and she was immediately pink. "You were having a nightmare." He said smoothly ignoring the fact she was moaning his name.

"Yeah a nightmare." Kai said coughing into her arm. "Ill' i don't feel well."

"I know your running a fever, i don't have any idea except cleaning the wound and bringing you out to nature so you can heal." Illidan said and Kai nodded. "Plus actually stitching up the wound." Illidan said and he offered Kai his hand.

"That sounds good, Mer, Fel perch." Kai said tapping her shoulder and the two owls landed happily. Felysae nibbled on her ear and Illidan gently tapped her head. Illidan felt her head for what seemed like the fifteenth time.

"Let's hurry up, i fear your fever may be getting worse." Illidan said grabbing the med kit and holding her hands. He walked with her to the open fields of the forest and sat her down. He took out a flask of water and cleaned the wound with sterile towels. He wiped away the infection and grabbed a small bottle of alcohol they kept in there for the intent of cleaning. Kai whined and Illidan frowned.

"That hurts like a bitch!" Kai groaned out and Illidan held her hand.

"I'm sorry, deep breaths I'm going to bandage your side now." Illidan said grabbing the bandages and moving her into a sitting position. He wrapped the light fabric around her waist and she leaned back with a sigh. Merlin and Felysae were happily perched on a branch nearby. "All done." Illidan said tying off the bandage.

"Oh what would I ever do without you." Kai said leaning against a nearby tree and burying her hands into the dirt.

"Can you still feel the earth?" Illidan asked still curious after all these years. Kai instead of answering with words offered her hand to him. He took her hand and moved closer to her. She sat in between his legs and Illidan flexed his wings to keep his mind in the present rather than somewhere else. Their hands intertwined and she buried their hands in the dirt.

The emotions that were forced into Illidan's mind was painful. He buried his face into her neck and wrapped his wings around them so they were in a protective bubble. From the life force to the pain of everything Kai could feel. Illidan felt himself tear up and he hasn't cried since the Black Temple. Kai took him back from pain to growth to reality in slow stages. When she opened her eyes she turned her neck so she could look at Illidan.

"I still got it." Kai said with a breathtaking smile.

"Of course you do, i never doubted that." Illidan responded. Illidan looked into her green eyes and she looked into his fel colored eyes. She looked away and Illidan felt his heart drop.

"Have you seen Tyrande since you've returned." Kai asked and Illidan shook his head.

"I've come to realize she never wanted me, when your dead you have a lot of time to think. That time alone by myself reminded me to love those who i hold dear and not waste what little time we have on this planet chasing after someone who doesnt recognize my existence." Illidan said and Kai looked up to him and he gazed into her emerald eyes.