“To the medbay.”
“Why?”
“You’re injured.”
His face paled, and he said in a strained voice, “I don’t want to go.”
“You’re injured. I’m taking you to the medbay. End of discussion.”
Seth crossed his arms. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”
“Apparently, that’s not true. You’re out of my sight for a few moments and you return bruised. What actually happened?”
He faced the door, not speaking.
“Seth,” I snapped. “What happened?”
“Some people attacked me. I fought them off. I’m fine.”
I tried to take his hand, but he shifted away from me. Snarling, I said, “Doctor Qinlin is going to examine you.”
“It’s completely unnecessary.”
“I say it’s needed.”
His jaw clenched and his expression hardened.
“Seth,” I said, softening. “Please.”
He didn’t respond.
When the lift opened, he limped out. I tried to curl my tail around his uninjured ankle, but he shook me off, wincing. Silent, I led him toward the medbay.
Doctor Qinlin came out of her office. “Is everything alright?”
“My Seth was injured,” I said before he had a chance to speak. Seth glared at me.
“Sit down,” Doctor Qinlin said.
Seth sat, arms crossed. Doctor Qinlin ran the scanner over him, tutting. “What are these?” she asked, holding his wrist and turning his forearm to expose the deep cuts.
“A woman sliced me open with her claws,” Seth started. The more he spoke about what happened, the more my scales glowed.
“A vmpe,” Qinlin said, rushing to get another instrument. “They have venomous claws.”
“What?” I moved closer, crowding Seth’s space. “He’ll be fine, right?”
She did not answer, scanning, then paused and scanned again. “It doesn’t seem to be affecting you much.”
“They’re itchy,” Seth said.
“Odd. Of course, I don’t know much about your biology.”
“I thought you were researching?” I asked, my voice growing loud.
“There is a significant amount of data in multiple languages. Many doctors don’t agree on anything. In fact, some blatantly contradict each other. There are many different types of medicine. Modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine. I even read an article about healing with energy that I did not truly grasp,” she replied, palms lifting. “I am doing the best I can.”
“I’m fine, Kal,” Seth insisted.
