For Polyship Week Day 2, Angst. But it's... really not angsty at all bc I'm allergic to writing the stuff. (I may have to explore this universe more...)

The prompt: person A had wings and is in a world where flying people aren't normal to the average person, Person B sees them and shoots them down for whatever reason while the rest of the poly group has to help person B after they panic for shooting someone out of the sky.

Tohru pulled her goggles over her eyes, watching the sky until the winged silhouette became clear again. She breathed slow and deep, like how Kyo taught her, and when he handed her the rifle her heartbeat had steadied.

"Take your time. Study its flight pattern." His voice was warm in her ears, then he stepped away, letting her breathe in the space he left her.

She traced the creature's path, sighted down the barrel. With a clench of teeth

she pulled the trigger

(and everything froze as fire ripped through his left wing)

and again

(another crack from below, a blaze past his thigh)

and watched as her quarry plummeted.

Kyo's energy crackled next to her, against her shoulder from his hand squeezing it; a glance revealed his eyes glowing amber, fangs protruding. "Good job. Let's go get it."

As they traversed the tundra, moving closer to their prey, Tohru felt a frisson of uncertainty take root. It only built as she crested a ridge and caught a glimpse of silvery feathers, of a human limb. "Wait," she whispered. "Something isn't…"

She could see fully now. But surely her eyes were playing tricks. She shoved her goggles onto her forehead, yet the sight remained the same: a human. With wings. A pained exhale left her, her shaking hands barely able to lay the rifle down. "Oh, stars above, what have I done?"

She fumbled through her satchel as she came within steps of the human, pulling out a flask. A graze wound, somewhere, from the blood staining simple beige trousers, but it was the bloody tear in one of the stormcloud wings that most alarmed her. A quick glance at the person's bare chest and sides showed no other wounds.

She eased closer, heart hammering. "I'm so sorry. Please l-let me help you." She spoke softly, moved slowly. The boy, she guessed, was staring at her with wide violet eyes, his mouth parted. She showed the flask, said, "This will help." Unstopping it, she sidestepped to get closer to his wing.

His arms shot up to hold back her shoulders with unexpectedly strong pressure.

In the same instant Kyo snarled, tensed to lunge.

"Don't!" Her heart jolted at her sharp tone, how it made Kyo and the boy flinch. She laid gentle fingers on Kyo's arm. "Don't."

The boy didn't remove his hands. His whole body shook with his breaths. His gaze made her feel like glass.

"What is your name?" Slow, soft.

He blinked. Then his arms fell away, and he curled in on himself, wincing at the movement.

She sucked in a breath and reached for his wing. The feathers were impossibly soft. His wing wasn't at the right angle to pour the flask's contents over the wound; she didn't feel comfortable manipulating his wing, either.

"…Let me." Kyo held the wing steady. His fangs had disappeared, eyes back to garnet.

She nodded her thanks, emptied the flask over her palm. Shivering at the viscous liquid's sensation, she pressed her hand over the wound she'd caused.

"A-Ah…" The slightest of sounds, barely a breath. The boy's eyes fell shut.

She sighed in relief as she felt the magic working. When the tingling stopped, she looked at the result, wiping her hand on her breeches. The wound had closed, though there remained an angry mark.

Kyo released the boy's wing; it folded in to cover the boy's side. "What should we do?"

"Bring him back with us." Her voice felt small but sounded firm.

"Are you sure?" In a tone that meant he clearly wasn't.

"He's still hurt. We— I can't just leave him here." She turned to him, hands clasped. "Please, Kyo."

He sighed shortly. "Get the rifle."

When she turned back to him, he had the boy in his arms. His energy had changed, slightly. The boy's breaths were steadier.

They walked side by side, silent. Tohru couldn't think for the blood roaring in her ears.

"It'll be okay," Kyo said, tentative. "You… We're doing the right thing."

The boy shifted. Tohru gasped, Kyo started, and they halted.

"Y-Yu…"

She leaned closer.

"…Yuki."

Some kind of noise squiggled out of her.

"My name…" He opened his eyes, looked right at her clear and bright (she felt pinned). "My name is Yuki."

His eyes closed again. She let out a breath, felt Kyo do the same.

"My name is Tohru," she whispered, as they again began to walk.