There are a few tense moments as Ty is unsure if Argenti will attack or not. Then, Argenti drops the rock, and gets on her knees next to Kayera.
She feels her head with her own hand, then nods.
"There are some herbs to help deal with sun sickness that grow in this area," she says "If you stay with her, I can find them and brew them into a herbal tea that should help with the fever."
Ty nodded, still unused to her new hair as it bobbed along with the motion. As Argenti moved off, Ty called out to her.
"Argenti," she turned around "I'd like you to call me Kara from now on, if that's alright."
Argenti nodded, then moved off through the forest, looking for the correct herbs that she needed.
Checking on Kayera's condition periodically, Kara kept talking, both to get used to her new voice, and to keep Kayera from losing consciousness completely.
"I used to be a paladin," she said "Maybe I still am. I'm afraid to try to use the powers granted by the Steel Maiden in-case they are gone. I made a deal with a devil. It seemed like the only way I'd be able to get us away from the goblins. I'll pray to the Steel Maiden this evening. See if I still have her favour, and how I might regain it if it is lost. N'Karait, the devil I made a deal with, doesn't seem like a bad person. Maybe there's an arrangement we can come to to allow me to retain my abilities."
She heard the cracking of branches as Argenti comes back. She has a cup from her bag in one hand, and an assortment of leaves and berries in the other. She approaches the river to fill the cup, then begins mixing in the leaves and berries as she returns to Kara.
"We'll need to warm this up," Argenti said "I've dabbled in magic that could do it, but I don't have much control over it, so wanted to leave that for now. Can we make a fire?"
"Look after her," Kara said "I'll get it done."
She got up, as Argenti took her position. Kara gathered firewood, grateful that her new, smaller body had lost none of the strength of her previous one, and she was able to gather the firewood easily. She used her firemaking kit to strike the fire, and tended it till it was properly burning. She knew that there were wood elves living somewhere in these woods who would not take kindly to this if she caused the fire to go out of control, she wouldn't live to see the day end. So she was careful and cautious, while working as fast as she could. Once the fire was made, she switched again with Argenti, who began to brew the tea.
"How do you know how to do this?" Kara asked Argenti
"My mother was the local druid of our village," Argenti explained "I often helped with herbs, poultices and gathering them. That's how I knew that there were such things in this area. It's also how I got caught by the goblins. Finding what I need for the shop requires me to travel away from civilized areas. I know how to fight, but not against so many goblins, and with their Rods of Transformation, I stood no chance. I surrendered. I'm a coward."
"No you're not," Kara said, firmly "Anyone who fought in the situation you described would have died or worse. Not fighting impossible odds doesn't make you a coward. It shows you are aware of your limitations. What you need to grow beyond."
Argenti gave a small smile "It doesn't feel like that," she says "It feels like I failed."
"What is failure but a stepping stone to the next success?" Kara asks "You learn more from a failure than success in most cases. If we survive to get you home, I'll train you if you're willing."
Argenti was about to answer, when the tea came to a boil. Just the smell of it seemed to be having a positive effect on Kayera. Her breathing was more measured, and her eyelids fluttered, as if she was in the process of waking up.
"I think your concoction is already helping her," Kara says, looking at Kayera
"Mom knows her herbal remedies," Argenti said "Help her sit up so I can help her drink this."