Injuries, Injuries, Injuries

The interior was a bright and harsh white, sterile and functional. The doctor carefully laid Grei on a table, the others standing by the side.
"Now then, you are Grei, yes? Just keep still and relax." He examined her eyes. "A bullet went through both of your eyes from the side." She shuddered slightly but otherwise kept quiet. He moved from her eyes to the rest of her body. After awhile, he went to talk to the group.
"Doctor, what's the situation? Can you restore her eyesight?"
"The only thing that saved her life was the fact that pseudodragons have their brains further back along the head, unlike us humanoids. The bullet went right through her eyes and all that can be done is to plug the wound. I'm afraid her eyes are permanently destroyed. The parts that we cannot grow back are destroyed. There is virtually nothing left of her eyes. Apart from that, she has no other injuries."
"Are you sure that there's nothing that can be done for her eyes?" Cocytus asked.
"Unless you want to graft a set of eyes for her, her original eyes are gone. And to the best of my knowledge, no artificial eyes that can be adapted for pseudodragons have been created. Now then, young man, your shoulder looks more immediate. Your friend's eyes are destroyed but she will not die. Consider her lucky." The doctor sat Cocytus onto a chair and went through the same full-body diagnosis.
"Hmm, I recognise those wounds. They are made from a katara, yes?"
"How did you know?"
"Those brigands have been growing bolder and bolder day by day. They used to be one of those small street gangs in the areas that people hardly ever frequent here in Darksun. The one who stabbed you with a katara, he had two, right? And it was very masterwork, obsidian blades?"
"Yes. That's the one."
"He's a monster, he is. I don't know what he is, but around these parts, he's known as the Twin." The doctor said, as he removed the crude bandages that they had put on his wound. "He's notorious for being in multiple places at a time, but if you ask me, he's the Twin because there are two of them. That's the most I've ever heard of at the same time. Good dressing you kids did, the bleeding was stopped effectively. Now, let's see what I can do for you."
The doctor cleaned, stitched up the wound and reapplied a bandaged over the shoulder, this one neater and tighter.
"Hold it up for me, will you?"
The doctor reached for several hooks to secure the bandage and saw Cocytus' hand holding up the end of the bandage. Specifically, he saw Cocytus' wrist.
"Archon. What is that?" The doctor quickly secured the bandage and took his hand.
"It's nothing, doctor."
"Is that.. that looks like your veins. Is it?"
"No, sir, just a little cosmetic accessory I wear." Cocytus pulled his hand away.
The doctor looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Ah, yes, of course, pardon me for my rudeness. Back to your injuries. You've got bruises on your shins and the hinds of your legs. Nothing too serious, but I'll prescribe some oinments for you. Use icepacks to lessen the swelling, simple stuff like that."
"Got it, doctor."
"Does anyone else have any injuries to declare?"
"Does emotional stress count?"
"Go see a psychiatrist for that. Any other physical injuries?"
"Nope."
"Then you kids go out to the waiting room. I've gotta clear up your friend's eyes."
They hesitated and then nodded.

The doctor came out of the room some time later with Grei perched on his shoulder. She had a white bandage over her head, obscuring her injury and seemed very unstable on the doctor's shoulder.
"Grei... Are you okay?"
"Better.." She croaked roughly. "I feel like I'm going to fall."
"Pseudodragons depend quite a lot on their sense of sight to stabilise themselves." The doctor explained. "Your friend's gonna need a lot of help from you guys."
"I'm so sorry, Grei, please forgive me." Styx said, exuding guilt with every word.
"Never mind that, Styx. I was your guide, I should have known we'd get mugged. I shouldn't have suggested it in the first place. I brought this on myself."
Before Styx could argue the point, Kestrel asked, "Was? Aren't you still our guide?"
Grei made an odd, repetitive sound. It dawned on them that she was chuckling.
"The blind leading those with sight? It'd be like a fool leading the wise. Though the wise wouldn't be all that wise if they wanted a fool to lead them."
Kestrel stared at her blankly, not comprehending her Draconic. "Acherus, what did she say?"
"She says we're fools for asking a blind person to lead us."
The doctor slowly lifted her off his shoulder and handed her over carefully. He moved away to tend to another patient.
"Right. Let's go pay and get the medicine." Raewyn said, prodding them to action.
Grei curled around Phlegyas as before, seeming to treat his warm body as a refuge.

They booked four rooms, two for each couple, Phlegyas and Acheron in one, the last for Lunare, Styx and Grei. Their rooms were right beside Raewyn's, who was determined to ensure that they were perfectly fine.
Who knew you had such potential to be a mother. Libys chuckled.
"Shut up." She mumbled in reply, too caught up in the examination of her own body. The taint had grown even further, completely encompassing the upper region of her right torso, spreading down her right arm, and her neck was almost totally covered. The growth on her back was faster and had already started to touch her left shoulder as well as covering at least half of her spine.
Raewyn. Calm down. Nova will contact us soon and you know it. She's bound to come up with something to stop this thing.
"It's already spread so far! What if it can only halt the growth? It's already covered up so much of my body, unless she can completely remove it, I'll forever be marked!" She was distressed, and rightly so.
Just keep calm. In the end, it'll all be okay. In her mind's eye, Raewyn could see Libys shaking his head ruefully. He was an optimist to the core, a major failing in a demon.
We'll just get back as soon as possible.
"But.."
You don't want to leave these kids.
"I never said that!"
No, but everything about you indicated that. I'm your skin, Raewyn, I should know very well what your intentions are. Generally anyway.
"I don't know.. I feel.."
You've grown attached to them. Funny.
She sighed. "I guess I just don't want to let them get hurt anymore. I've already caused Grei to lose her sight, I don't intend to make things worse for them."
I don't believe this. Raewyn Aesiflay is developing a conscience. Just great. What happened to the good old self-serving you? You may not want to make things worse for them, but what about yourself? If you don't return back and get Nova to hurry up, you're gonna die. As it stands, you're already sicker than a brothel full of prostitutes.
Despite her current circumstances, Raewyn could not help but smile at Libys' corrupt simile.