Armin shifted back once he reached the bottom of the slope. Artie was having difficulty keeping his balance. As he reached the bottom, he stumbled slightly. Armin had to veer away to avoid the dragon's venomous spines, and in doing so, smacked his head on a low outcrop of rock.

'Oww! F**k,' he muttered, gripping his head with both hands.

{Dianne stifled a laugh as she approached him.}

Dianne: "Are you ok? Hit yourself pretty hard there."

'Sorry, sorry...' Artie apologised, putting himself at the front of the group so he wouldn't hit anyone again.

'That's not funny...' said Armin through gritted teeth, gingerly feeling the top of his head. He found a graze along his scalp, and a small amount of blood. 'That really hurt.'

Dianne: "Yeah, it looked painful...Are you ok? Feeling dizzy or anything?"

{She asked, stopping momentarily to look him over.}

'A little... It mostly just hurts.'

He lifted a hand in front of his face, saw a smear of blood on it, and squinted slightly.

'Let's just keep going...'

Dianne: "Alright, but I'm keeping an eye on you. I don't want you tumbling off the rock bridge."

{Staying close to Armin, Dianne walks along with him.}

Armin stayed alongside Dianne, his expression slightly pained. Artie stayed at the front, looking rather guilty.

When they reached the rock bridge, Artie eyed it, then swiftly bounded across in three long leaps. The ceiling was too low for him to fly over. He made it, but his crossing caused the already thin bridge to become even more unstable, with several loose rocks tumbling into the pit below.

Dianne: "Armin, can you fly across?"

{She asks, eyeing the thin bridge mistrustfully.}

Armin gazed at the bridge for a moment.

'...Yeah, I think so... Might be safer.'

He shifted into his hawk form and flew low, bypassing the rock bridge, though nearly collapsing from dizziness when he reached the other side. Shifting back, he rubbed his head and waited. Owel followed him, by transforming into an owl again.

{Dianne made it across by using the same spell as before. Once she got to the other side, she gently grabs Armin.}

Dianne: "Hey, easy. Come on, let's get out of here."

Armin leaned into Dianne a little, squinting.

'Yeah, let's get out of this freakin' cave...'

Artie and Owel took the lead, moving on ahead to the light at the end of the tunnel.

{Dianne walks out of the tunnel with Armin, keeping one hand on him.}

Dianne: "Are you ok? Do you need to sit down for a minute?"

'No, I'm good...'

As they neared the end of the tunnel, he abruptly swayed.

'Actually, I don't feel so good.'

Ahead, Artie and Owel were already outside. Owel was texting Fred to tell him that the dragon had been found, while Artie was happily greeting Lichen.

{Looking very concerned, Dianne leads him out of the tunnel and sits him down right outside. Taking off her helmet, she looks at his head wound.}

Dianne: "Here, sit for a minute. Barnabas, catch a rabbit and bring it here."

Armin let himself be sat down, hunching over slightly. He felt lightheaded and sick, and had a stabbing headache.

'Dam.n rocks...'

Artie tossed them a concerned glance, but he was in the midst of a conversation with Lichen and didn't come over.

Dianne: "...The head wound doesn't seem severe. I don't think you should be driving though. Hey, Owel, can you drive? Armin's not feeling well."

Owel glanced over. 'I can, yes. I'll drive you back as soon as you're both ready to go.'

Armin continued to sit still, waiting for the lightheadedness to pass. 'You'd better not break my truck...' he muttered, in response to Owel, though too quietly for her to hear.

{Dianne sat with Armin, watching his behavior. Barnabas reappears with the rabbit.}

Dianne: "Here, drink the rabbit blood."

Armin lifted his head, squinting, and reluctantly took the rabbit. After making sure it was dead, he sunk his fangs into its neck, drinking slowly. Once he'd taken as much as he could, he dropped the corpse on the ground.

'Alright... I can probably stand up without falling over now...'

Artie and Lichen had flown away together, leaving just Owen waiting next to the truck.

{Dianne helps Armin to his feet and starts to walk him to the truck. Reaching into his pocket, she grabs his keys and tosses them to Owel.}

Dianne: "How are you feeling now? Any better?"

Owel unlocked the truck and let herself into the driver's side, adjusting the seat to fit her better.

'A little bit,' said Armin. 'The lightheadedness and nausea is better. Head still hurts, but I think that'll be healed by tomorrow...'

Dianne: "Hmmm...I think we're going to see Pythia..."

{Dianne sits him into the passenger's seat, buckling him in. She then crawls into the back.}

Dianne: "Owel, take us to Frederick's house, please."

'We don't need to bother Pythia over something that'll be healed so soon,' Armin protested. 'She's got much worse patients to deal with.'

{With a long suffering sigh, she relents.}

Dianne: "Alright. Home it is, then."

Armin leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and conserving his energy. When he felt Owel stopping outside his house, he opened his eyes.

'If you two will be alright from here, I'd better be off,' said Owel, handing Dianne the car keys. 'Thanks for all your help. I'm sure Artie appreciates you.'

Dianne: "Of course. Thank you for the ride, and give Frederick my best."

{Putting the keys in her pocket, she gets out and walks to Armin's door, helping him out of the truck and into the house.}

Dianne: "Ok, here we go. Easy does it."

Leaving them to go inside, Owel shifted into her owl form and took off above the buildings on the street.

Armin was walking a bit more steadily by then, though was grateful for the support. Once they got into the living room, he sunk down onto the couch.

'What happened?' said Rex when he spotted Armin. 'Got yourselves into trouble again, did you?'

Dianne: "Oh, no. Armin just wasn't watching where he was going and smacked his head a good one on a rock wall."

'Hey, it was Artie's fault,' grumbled Armin. 'The clumsy idiot nearly ran into me. After we saved him from that pit, as well.'

Rex leaned over Armin to get a look at his head. Seeing that it wasn't serious, he relaxed a bit. 'Just rest; you'll be fine by tomorrow. Considering you were in a dangerous cave, I suppose I should be glad nothing worse happened.'

Dianne: "Yeah, he was a total klutz. He clawed up my tail climbing it out of the pit. And then, he doesn't even say bye when he leaves. He was just a dumb kid."

'He really was,' said Armin, eyes still closed. 'I mean, kids are like that sometimes. But it was still annoying.'

Rex looked mildly amused by their complaints. 'Well, you got him out, at least. If you want, I can make dinner in a bit. I haven't cooked in a while.'

Dianne: "I'd appreciate that, Rex. Thank you."

{Getting up, Dianne heads upstairs to take off her armor and tend to her wounds.}

Rex glanced after her as she left, then quietly ambled into the kitchen to see what food they had. Armin didn't move from his spot on the couch. Though the rabbit blood was helping him heal faster, he still had a throbbing headache, and wanted to conserve his energy for now.

{After a few minutes, Dianne came back down in a dress, holding a blanket. Sitting gingerly on the couch, she huddled under the blanket, eyeing Armin.}

Armin opened one eye when she sat down, taking a moment to observe her with her blanket.

'...You all right? You said you were fine in the cave, so I wasn't too worried, but...'

Dianne: "Oh, I'm quite alright. Just some minor cuts on my lower back. The blanket is just because I'm cold."

'Alright.' Armin yawned. 'As long as it's nothing serious.'

He shifted a bit closer, not quite leaning on her, but pressing his side against hers. He then closed his eyes again.

{Kissing his cheek, Dianne settles in, closing her eyes as well.}

(Skip to nightfall/evening?)

(Yes, I'll go.)

{Later that evening, Dianne was dozing next to Armin, waiting for dinner. She was comfortably resting after the events of the day.}

Armin was also dozing, but woke up when Rex came in with the dinner. His headache was a little better than earlier. He sat up straighter, yawning and accepting his share of food. Rex had decided to make pan-fried fish, possibly because he knew Armin wasn't feeling his best.

{Waking up to the scent of fish, Dianne stirs.}

Dianne: "Hmmm? Is it dinner time already?"

'Already? I think you must have fallen asleep. It's been a while,' said Rex, passing her a plate, and another to Esme on the floor. The dragonet started eating enthusiastically.

Armin quietly started digging into his food, still looking drowsy.

{Dianne accepts her food with a mutter of thanks. She starts eating, enjoying the flavor.}

Dianne: "Thank you, Rex, it's very good."

'You're welcome.' Done with his task, Rex headed upstairs. Moments later the sound of the shower running came on.

Armin continued cutting up his fish with slow, careful movements. 'I'm gonna have to go and crash right after this. I'm really tired.'

{Dianne eyes him with slight concern.}

Dianne: "Alright. I'll go up with you. If Esme wants to stay up, Rex can watch her."

'Yeah, I'll wait till he's out of the shower...'

When he was nearly done eating, he remembered something. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the two shards of black rock and dropped them next to Esme.

'Here, kid...'

Esme looked at the rocks with surprise, then extended a paw and pulled them under her chest protectively. She then resumed eating.

{Dianne chuckles at this display.}

Dianne: "I think she likes them."

'Apparently, she does.'

Having finished, Armin set his plate aside and leaned his head back, yawning.

{With everyone finished, Dianne takes the plates to the kitchen. She then sits back on the couch with Armin, snuggling into him.}

Armin smiled faintly, eyes closed. He was drowsy; healing injuries with magic took up a lot of energy.

'She really does like her pebbles... What's /your/ favourite kind of treasure? You never know, I might want to get you something one day.'

{Dianne smiles at this.}

Dianne: "Oh, if I had to pick a favorite....I like the jewel encrusted pieces. The shiny gold and the glittering jewels are so pretty."

'Jewel-encrusted gold... Hmmm... I'll remember that...'

Without opening his eyes, he slowly dropped his head to rest on her shoulder.

{Dianne pulls him close, letting him rest against her.}

Dianne: //Heheheh...Just wait until he sees his christmas present this year.//

Armin would have badgered her for information if he knew what she was thinking. However, he didn't, so he just settled against her, letting her take his weight.

'I should probably go upstairs...' he murmured a few minutes later. 'Before I fall asleep on you here.'

Dianne: "Ok, do you want to walk, or shall I carry you?"

{She asks, kissing his cheek.}

Armin gave a low chuckle. 'Well, if you're offering, I won't say no.'

He cracked his eyes open to glance at Esme. She was watching the TV, which had a movie playing, on a low volume. She probably wouldn't leave until it finished.

{Smiling, Dianne picks him up with ease and heads up the stairs.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, stay with Esme."

{Getting to the bedroom, she lays him on the bed.}

Armin remained lying there for a moment, then grunted and pushed himself up so that he could take off his jeans and sweater. He then flopped under the blankets in just his shorts, not wanting to get up to put anything else on.

/Mmm... the colder it gets, the more comfortable this bed seems to be...//

{Dianne changes into her sleepwear, then climbs into bed with Armin.}

Dianne: "Too tired to change?"

Armin drowsily mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an affirmative.

'This is fine. It's not that cold.'

He then rolled over and cuddled up to her, draping one of his arms across her.

{Pulling him close, she rests her head between his neck and shoulder.}

Dianne: "Goodnight..."

(Skip?)

----

Armin awoke early the next day, and briefly regretted not changing into anything warmer last night. It was a rather cold morning. However, his headache was gone, so he felt a lot better. Pulling the blankets up comfortably, he burrowed into Dianne and started to doze off again.

{Dianne stirred a bit, feeling Armin burrowing into her. She opens her eyes slightly to look at him.}

Dianne: "Mmmm....Good morning....Feeling better."

Armin shifted slightly in surprise, having not expected her to wake up at this hour.

'Yes, very much,' he replied. 'Head seems to be fixed.'

Dianne: "Good...."

{Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezes him tightly and settles in.}

Dianne: "...Now help me ward off the cold....It's too frigid and early to get up..."

Armin wrapped his arms around her in return, nuzzling into her neck as he sought out warmth as well.

'Yes, it's cold this morning. Best just stay here with me.'

{Letting out a pleased growl, she starts to fall asleep again, feeling very warm and comfortable.}

Armin smirked and started to doze off as well, though not before he heard a telepathic message from Rex.

//I'm going out. Job interview this morning. I'll be back around eleven, so don't expect me before then.//

//Good luck...// Armin muttered sleepily. //You'll do great.//

With that, Rex left, and Armin returned to sleep.

{Unaware of Rex's departure, Dianne slept through the morning, and into the afternoon. She was so comfortable that, if allowed to, she would sleep well past 2 pm.}

As they slept, Rex came back, and Esme trotted downstairs to see him.

When it was around 12PM, Armin stirred and inspected Dianne, smirking. She seemed perfectly comfortable, but he was concerned that she might want to eat at some point. So, he slipped a hand under her shirt to rub her back, while murmuring softly.

'You wanna keep sleeping...?'

{Dianne stirred a bit at Armin's voice. She cracked open her eyes when he spoke.}

Dianne: "Mmmm.....What?....Wa'sshappenin'?..."

'Well, it's pretty late. Just wanted to make sure you want to sleep this late. But. you can stay here if you like.'

He absently ran his fingers along her back as he spoke.

{She groggily looks at the clock, then snuggles into Armin, enjoying his back rub.}

Dianne: "Half an hour more....Keep rubbing my back..."

Armin chuckled, but obliged. 'Alright, you lazy giant lizard. I wouldn't say no to something this adorable.'

He continued slowly massaging her back with one hand, nuzzling her affectionately.

{Chuckling, she tensed slightly and snuggled into Armin.}

Dianne: "Heheheh.....I love that you spoil me...Amateotl..."

'I shouldn't, considering how many times you've literally dragged me out of bed against my will,' Armin remarked. 'But I guess I'm just a nicer person than you.' He smirked mischievously.

{Dianne opens an eye, smiling.}

Dianne: "Perhaps...Or perhaps I'm just too adorable..."

'Maybe. But I'm adorable too; you ought to let me sleep in whenever I want.' He continued rubbing her back, enjoying the warmth and closeness.

Dianne: "Yeah?....that is true...but I get hungry, and you don't...I need to eat, but you need me to sleep...If not for that inconvenient reality, I would stay with you as long as possible."

'Mhm, I suppose so. Though, in that case, I'm surprised you haven't gotten up to eat this morning yet. It's pretty late.'

Dianne: "I was really tired. So, I stayed asleep longer. I am hungry, I just need to wake up a bit..."

{Despite her words, she snuggles up to Armin and closes her eyes.}

'Well, you seem to be doing the /opposite/ of trying to wake up,' he said, clearly amused. Adjusting position, he nipped at the side of her neck, not hard enough to hurt.

{She jolts slightly when he nips her, looking at him amused.}

Dianne: "Well, I was going to wake up slowly, staying with you, but since you seem to be in such a hurry to get me up..."

{She starts to pick herself up, getting out of the bed.}

Armin rolled onto his back and looked up at her.

'I would've happily stayed here longer. But, as you said, you need to eat. So go and eat something.' He yawned. 'I'm just being a nice person and looking out for you.'

{Dianne chuckles, getting out of bed and getting dressed.}

Dianne: "Well, aren't you sweet? I'll see you downstairs."

{Once dressed, she heads downstairs to make breakfast.}

Armin dragged himself out of bed a moment later, got dressed, and went downstairs.

Rex was leaning in the kitchen doorway, looking at his phone. 'I fed Esme,' he said without preamble when Dianne came in. 'Since it didn't appear that you or Armin were ever getting up.'

Dianne: "Thank you, Rex. I appreciate that."

{She then starts cooking a meal for herself.}

Armin slunk into the living room, then spotted Rex.

'Hey. How did the interview go? Didn't make everyone in the building run screaming from the scary bloodsucking monster, did you?'

'No,' said Rex, without glancing up from his phone. 'I daresay it went well, though I'm far too pessimistic to assume anything good. Nobody seemed to care about the vampire thing, at least.'

{Dianne listened in to their conversation from the other room, but added nothing herself.}

Dianne: //Hmm, I hope it went well. That guy needs something else in his life...//

'Well, I wouldn't recommend telling them about Sargon's racist cult,' Armin observed. 'Might put off potential employers.'

'Of course I'm not going to mention that. I had to lie about almost everything. Invented a whole new backstory for myself that didn't involve murdering anyone. I suppose I'm lucky that nobody really knows who I am.'