I am so tired Zyphia thought to herself, rubbing her eyes whilst doing so.
"You know in hindsight I think that could have gone much worse than what actually happened." Kassuq noted soothing some cool healing water on Zyphia's left shoulder which was severely bruised, eliciting a chuckle from the injured woman.
"Seriously? Last night was not a bad night? Your more optimistic than I give you credit for." She mused, yawning slightly due to the sheer exhaustion that has befallen her.
After the incident with the Equalists the party of five continued their pursuit for the captured brother for several hours, long into the night and into the early hours of morning, before the pair being forced to give up the search and rest up, per Larik's orders where he himself along with Korra and Mako continued the hunt.
It was now the evening of the day after their fight with the Equalists and there was still no sign of the three hunters, stirring a sense of worry between the two benders.
"I'm curious now, how was last night not a bad night? One of our friends got captured by these Equalist thugs, you're lucky your Satomobile isn't toast and us along with it, Korra and Larik got their butts kicked and now we have no idea of what's happened with Bolin and the rest of the guys! What's good about that?" She ranted towards him, frustration seeping into her words due to the fact that she wasn't able to help her friends.
"We're not dead so that's a plus." Kassuq quietly mused to himself, finishing up his healing of her arm, revealing a faint yellow smudge on her arm which was a difference from the near enormous black bruise that was there earlier.
"Good point. Nice job with that healing by the way, very nice." She complimented, looking at her shoulder in astonishment.
"Thanks. Now be careful with that shoulder, most of the bruising is gone but there's still enough of it to make you sore if you try anything strenuous." He ordered, his voice suddenly turning into that of a serious doctor, earning him a smile in the process.
"Got it Doctor K, How did you learn to do that anyway?" She asked, curiously looking up at the slouching yet still tall man beside her.
"It's something that all water benders pick up, nothing special to it." He replied with the attempt of dissuading her to continue with her questions, which she failed to pick up.
"Oh please not all of them do. Come on spill it how did you learn to be a healer?" She asked with a good natured chuckle, lightly punching him in his left arm, causing him to smile despite himself.
"I learnt it from my uncle. He was a retired medic for the Republic Navy and was hoping that I would follow his footsteps in the Navy, though he would never openly admit it the stubborn old man that he is." He chuckled to himself, reminiscing about a particular unknown memory that he seemed to be fond of.
"Why not, if you don't mind? Your good, that's for sure." She asked her smile still on her face as if she didn't have a care in the world.
"It wasn't what I wanted to do. It was that simple really. I never felt that I belonged on a battlefield. In all honesty I don't think I would last out there myself." He replied a hint of sadness still in his voice as he talked.
"I guess your uncle didn't like that?"
"No he didn't. He didn't try to stop me though, that was something that I'm always grateful for. He has the mentality that you have to ultimately make your own path in the world. He was disappointed but he was always happy for me, glad that I would stand up for what I want in my life." Kassuq concluded his eyes watery slightly from the memories.
Zyphia slowly put her arms around Kassuq in a comforting hug, her small frame even tinier compared to Kassuq's more muscular body frame.
"He sounds like a great guy." She told him quietly.
"He is." He replied.
A sudden noise went up, causing the pair to break their hug and shift awkwardly at the same time, revealing to be Larik racing up towards them with an urgent look on his face.
"Kassuq! Zyphia! I need to speak to you two." He shouted at them, finally reaching them, speaking whilst swallowing giant gulps of air into his lungs, Bipin sitting beside his friend with an almost happy expression, the wolf being able to run at his own pace in quite a long time.
Both Kassuq and Zyphia quickly noticed the red eyes and the seemingly obvious dark bags under his eyes, revealing how truly exhausted Larik was despite putting on a brave face.
The poor guy doesn't look like he's slept at all last night Kassuq thought to himself, furrowing his brow in concern for Larik's well being.
"Have you slept at all last night?" Zyphia asked, seemingly coming to the same conclusion.
"Doesn't feel like it if I'm honest." Larik replied with a tired smile and chuckle, his hands on his knees whilst speaking.
"How are you still standing?" Kassuq asks, his mind shifting to that of a healer.
"Determination." Larik replies, gulping in a large blast of air before continuing. "That and caffeine. Lots and lots of caffeine."
After a minute or so of silence, Larik spoke again.
"We've got an idea of where Bolin's been held. This event called the 'Revelation' from what we could gather. Korra and Mako are already getting ready for it."
"Wait when is it happening?" Zyphia asked, the sudden burst of information taking her tired mind by surprise.
Larik looks at them for a second, deadly seriousness in his eyes, before replying.
"Tonight."