Hello all my faithful readers! Here's Chapter 10! I've got a snow day today too, so I should have the epilogue up at some point.

Recovery

Piper led Starling deep into the dungeons. There were no guards in front of Mika's cell, so Piper was able to pick the lock without interruption. The cell door swung open without any resistance. The cell appeared empty, but Piper knew better. Softly, she called Mika's name. There was a rustling sound and the little girl scrambled out into the center of the cell, surprise and delight gracing her features.

"Piper!" Mika hurried over to her rescuers, her violet eyes laughing.

Piper looked over at Starling; the sky knight had her hand over her mouth in shock, yet rage and sorrow burned in her cypress eyes. Piper scooped up Mika and they hurried out of the dungeons to where Starling had hidden her Slip-Wing Fighter Ultra. Piper heaved Mika up in front of Starling and climbed in behind the Interceptor.

Piper was grateful for the skimmer's incredible speed. They reached the Condor within an hour. Piper carried Mika inside, holding the child close to keep her warm. The tattered outfit she had wasn't very thick. They strode onto the bridge to find the other Storm Hawks standing together silently. Only Aerrow and Weaverbird were missing from the scene. Tension hung thickly in the air, like an emotional smog. Piper looked around at them, a lump forming in her throat.

"Is Aerrow..?" Piper trailed off, glancing around at them all. They looked at her for a while.

"Weaverbird's still working on him." Stork finally answered. Piper slid down into a chair, trying to hold back her tears of despair and guilt. Mika pattered over and stood right in front of Piper, forcing the navigator to meet the girl's violet stare.

"It's gonna be okay." Mika said, sounding so certain that Piper almost believed for a second. That moment Weaverbird, in her human form, entered the bridge, wiping the sweat from her brow. Everyone turned to her, desperate to know if their leader would live or die.

"I've got him stabilized," She sighed, "But he's still got a ways to go before I can be certain he'll the survive. The wound in his chest is deep; it barely missed his lung and he's lost a lot of blood. The one in his back I healed myself, as it's the only one that I would be able to heal completely. The gash in his side will need some extensive treatment, but once I remove the flesh killed by the infection, a poultice of rosemary should fix him up just fine. I've already given him something to replenish the lost blood, but it needs a few hours to take effect." Piper swallowed uncomfortably. Weaverbird looked at her, and Piper felt a less threatening presence enter her mind.

'I suppose you want to see him?' Weaverbird asked; her thoughts were not nearly as frightening as Cyclonis' had been. Piper nodded numbly. 'Bring your new friend, I'll see what I can do for her.' Weaverbird led Piper and Mika out of the bridge, towards the Infirmary. The others meandered off to their quarters for the night; Starling headed to the room the Storm Hawks prepared for her if she should decide to join. Stork stayed at the helm of the ship, keeping the Condor on course.

The familiar aroma of Heartsure filled the air of the Infirmary. The room had a window design as generous as the bridge; for ventilation mostly, but there wasn't much for a bedridden patient to do in the Infirmary except stare out the windows. It also helped as Weaverbird was mildly claustrophobic. Dragons always had an outlet to the sky no matter where they were, so moving indoors on a carrier ship was a pretty big change for Weaverbird. The windows were all closed, and the thermostat turned up. Stars glimmered through the windows, like diamonds stitched into dark blue satin.

Piper rushed to Aerrow's side as Weaverbird hefted Mika up onto another bed. She started giving the child a complete check-over for injuries or illnesses. Piper examined Aerrow, trying to get an idea of his condition.

A cold wet towel rested on top of the wound in Aerrow's chest, and the gash in his side was covered by an anti-bacterial strip and bound with medical tape. He was pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He shivered, despite the increased warmth of the Infirmary, and his breathing was shallow and sounded painful. Piper brushed his hair away from his face and felt Aerrow's forehead. He was burning up.

"You'll be just fine," Weaverbird was saying to Mika, "You just need some rest, good food and clean water. And I wouldn't say no to a hot bubble bath either." Piper glanced over and smiled at Mika before turning back to Aerrow. Weaverbird filled a bowl with cold water and brought it over with two clean cloths. She placed the bowl on the bedside table, and handed one of the cloths to Piper. She took it gratefully and began trying to cool Aerrow's fever.

"Mika can stay in my room, I've got the space for her." Piper offered. Her amber eyes bored into Weaverbird's sapphire ones, and Weaverbird understood. She nodded, taking Mika by the hand and leading her to Piper's quarters for the night. Piper planned to stay in Infirmary with Aerrow.

Piper clasped one of Aerrow's hands and brushed the hair from his face again. She pressed the cold cloth to his forehead and cheeks, and also to his neck and shoulders, trying desperately to cool his fever. Aerrow gave a long strained sigh, shifting slightly in his sleep.

Weaverbird reentered the Infirmary and resumed her Dragon form. She started rummaging around and pulled out various tools and herbs.

"I've got to finish patching him up," Weaverbird told Piper, "I don't think you should stay; it tends to get to those with weak constitutions. Not to say you have one, but this can be a pretty brutal treatment. I'll let you back in when I'm finished." Piper stood grudgingly to leave.

"What do you have to do?" Piper asked. Weaverbird looked at Piper, her expression unreadable. The Dragoness knew that Piper wouldn't leave without an answer, so she decided to tell her the details.

"I have to cut out the worst of the dead flesh in this wound," Weaverbird indicated the one in Aerrow's side, "Then I have to cauterize the rest. Piper looked confused, "It means I have to burn the rest away with a hot iron." Weaverbird explained. Piper felt the bile rise in her throat. Weaverbird continued. "It's the only way to ensure that he doesn't get any sicker from the infection. I've done this several times before. Aerrow will be fine. He'll be unconscious for the next few hours; he won't feel a thing. Piper stood up, intending to return to the bridge.

"I'll call you when I've finished with this." Weaverbird promised. Piper nodded and took one last look at Aerrow before taking her leave.

Weaverbird's presence brushed Piper's consciousness. She leaped up, causing Stork to jump, and rushed back to the Infirmary. When she entered, she found Weaverbird rinsing soap off her paws under hot water. She shut the water off, and dried her paws with the towel hanging by the sink.

Piper settled herself at Aerrow's side and gave him a quick once-over. His breathing had eased up, and some of the colour had returned to his face. His upper body and shoulders were bound up tightly with linen bandages. Weaverbird padded over; she was looking better too. Some of the blue had returned to her scales, and the light in her crystal pulsed a little stronger.

"It's looking like he'll make a full recovery," Weaverbird purred. Then she frowned, "But what about you? You may not be physically hurt, but something is bothering you." Weaverbird scrutinized Piper, gazing into the girl's amber eyes. Piper shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms close to her.

"This is my fault," she whispered, reaching out and brushing her fingers lightly along Aerrow's chest, "I did this to him." Weaverbird waited for Piper to elaborate.

"Cyclonis tried to control me," Piper whispered, tears stinging her eyes, "Aerrow tried to help me. And I… I stabbed him." Piper sobbed, putting her face in her hands. Weaverbird put her wing around Piper's shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"I know you would never do something like that willingly," Weaverbird mmrred softly, "That wasn't you who was acting. That was Cyclonis. Aerrow knows that, and I'm sure he doesn't blame you. I don't blame you." Piper turned and put her arms around Weaverbird's long neck, crying quietly. Weaverbird returned the hug with her wings.

"That fact that you threw Cyclonis off before she could finish the job proves who the stronger one is doesn't it?" Weaverbird continued as Piper's sobs died down. Piper looked at the Dragoness, "If you're strong enough to resist a controlling crystal, I'm sure you're strong enough to forgive yourself and let go of your guilt." Piper took a few deep breaths to steady herself.

"Okay." Piper whispered. Weaverbird nodded approvingly, a small smile evident on her face. Piper rested her head lightly against Aerrow's chest and listened to his heartbeat. It was steady and strong. 'Just like him…' Piper thought, and her face flushed slightly.

Weaverbird headed to her quarters; a spacious adjoining room to the Infirmary. She looked back at the two Storm Hawks, and found Piper had fallen asleep. Aerrow's arm rested around her shoulders. Weaverbird gave a half amused half contented purr and settled down for the night.

Aaaw! I like that ending! You guys didn't really think I would kill him did you? XD I don't kill main characters unless they're my own, and even that's pretty rare for me.

Stay tuned for the epilogue, it should be up sometime today.

See y'all soon!