From uptop, the five of them heard Ceru returning from her hunt. The teen jumped from the ledge with no fear to the horror of four dragons. Expecting her to splat, a gust of wind cushioned her fall. Getting her balance back she skipped over in joy of seeing her uncles.
"Hi guys! What are you guys all doing here?" Asked Ceru.
Trying to hide Paul, they failed miserably as Ceru caught a glimpse of golden scales.
"What's uncle Paul doing?" Asked Ceru as she worked her way past massive claws. Her reaction was immediate and one they never wanted to see. The happy smile fell as her mouth hung open in wordlessness, eyes full of worry and tears as she moved closer calling his name with apprehension.
When she received no reply, Ceru collapsed to her knees as she cried against his golden scales. As she cried against him Flake noticed white wisps of magic flickering towards Paul's dim golden core.
"Ceru, can you focus your magic on Paul?" Asked Flake as he pushed passed Till.
Ceru looked up with a tear and booger streaked confused face at the scrawny dragon with a sniffle. The others look towards the dragon of knowledge for more on his plan.
"If you can channel it to Paul's core it could help him heal." Explained Flake.
"But I don't know how?" Sniffed Ceru as new tears of her uselessness welled up.
"Breath Ceru. Take a deep breath in." Soothed Till.
The massive dragon placed a claw around her. Tight enough to feel her breathing but not tight enough to restrict it. Ceru followed his instructions and breathed deeply, forgetting the tears.
"Deeper." Rumbled Till.
And she did, until her chest felt like burning and ready to burst,
"Okay. Breath out." Instructed Till.
Ceru let it out and repeated until she was calm again.
"Put a hand on Paul and close your eyes." Said Till.
Ceru followed as instructed and felt her own magic starting to swirl with excitement.
"Just let it flow and let it go where it wants. Let your magic do all the work." Said Till calmly.
Behind closed eyes Ceru could see her magic. White and wild. Letting go, the magic moves by itself towards her fingers and into Paul where it seemed out his weak golden core. Ceru watched as her magic turned golden once it touched what was left of the gold. Adding and growing the core before it was sent out once more to heal the injured dragon. Seeing what she could do, Ceru pushes more of her energy in. Only to be ripped away from Paul by Till.
"Ceru stop! You're going to exhaust yourself! If you give all your magic to Paul your core will be exhausted and you'll die." Shouted Till in worry.
Of course in his panic he forgot he was in dragon form and his shout of worry sounded like a thunderous roar.
Covering her ears she tried to get up only to find her limbs had turned to jello. Collapsing Till caught her before she could injure herself.
"How's Paul?" Asked Ceru weakly.
Till gave a sigh but carried her over and tilted her up so she could see.
All the injuries that the golden one had no longer existed, not one scale was out of place. Paul was now sleeping peacefully as his core healed whatever internal damage was left.
"Oh... good." Mumbled Ceru weakly.
"Sleep. Get your energy back." Grumbled Till, voice much lower after his little mishap.
Ceru nodded and drifted off as Till gently slid her down on a patch of soft dense grass out of harm's way.
