"How is she doing, Gaia?"
The spirit "Hmm"ed vaguely, pressing her hand against Gi's forehead. "I'm not sure, Ma-Ti. Her fever is still very high, even worse than the others'. If the forest herbs don't break it soon, we will have to send her to the mainland for treatment."
"Is she that bad? Should we just do that now?"
"I would like to avoid it if possible. With the other Planeteers still sick you would have to take her alone, and as it is I'm not sure she's in any fit state to travel."
Gaia let her hand slide down Gi's face, stroking her cheek like a mother with her baby. Gi let out a low moan, face scrunching painfully in her sleep.
"Poor dear," Gaia whispered, standing up and looking sadly down at her student. She turned to Ma-Ti. "I should go check on the others. Will you stay with Gi?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you. I'll be back in a few moments; just call me with your Ring if there's trouble."
She glided out of the room. Ma-Ti slowly made his way to the chair by Gi's bed and sat down, leaning over to examine his sick friend. She looked awful, drenched in sweat and almost as pale as her pillowcase. Ma-Ti felt her head as Gaia had done, startled by how hot she was. She let out another moan, and Ma-Ti almost cried to hear how pained she sounded.
"Oh, Gi...I wish there was something I could do to help you," he whispered.
"Uuuggghhh..."
Like Gaia Ma-Ti let his hand slide down Gi's face, but he settled on her chin, lifting it slightly so that he could get a better look at her. It hurt him to see a face that was usually so happy, so intent, so—he might as well admit it—pretty now so pale and clammy and twisted up in obvious agony. He wondered if she was having a nightmare right now. He wondered if he should try waking her up, talking to her, something that could alleviate her suffering...
His gaze fell down from her pale face for a moment, settling on his own hand. Specifically, on one finger. He slowly raised it to his face, then glanced down at Gi again, before pointing that finger—or rather, its Ring—at her temple. He closed his eyes, imagining her expression when she was awake and smiling and lively.
"Heart."
He felt a sudden burst of warmth and light and laughter explode in the center of his chest, then flow through his arm and finger and into the body of his sleeping companion. Almost instantly Gi's face muscles loosened, an expression of calmness replacing her pain. The moans went quiet, and her breathing seemed to grow slower, steadier. Ma-Ti even thought her skin was regaining some color, which only made his reservoir of happiness grow and supply more fuel to pour into Gi.
Gaia glided over to the doorway, sensing the Heart Ring even when Ma-Ti had no intention to summon her with it. He saw her youngest Planeteer from behind, bent over his companion's bed, and could sense the river of warmth and light and laughter flowing from one heart to another. She quirked her eyebrows, smiling, then glided away again. For the moment, Gi was probably getting treatment better than anything else that she could provide.