Once he finishes healing Henry, Josh moves to pick Henry up and carry him on his back. He senses Ava's injuries and hears the FearTail. He's trying not to panic or anything but it's hard. Once he's sure Henry is going to be safe and secure, Josh takes off for where he senses Avalon as fast as he can.

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As far as Avalon goes, he stays put in his precarious position in the tree. Thanks to the leaves and branches, the Feartail can no see him, and so after circling a time or two, she starts to fly away. Thankfully, the creature is disoriented and goes the wrong way, away from the kill and where Josh and Henry might be.

Avalon lays in the branches breathing hard, his head spinning. He's far too amped up on adrenaline to feel pain right now, thankfully. He looks down at himself, idly watching lavender blood well and pool on his chest and belly and thanks his lucky stars that he wasn't gutted.. or worse!

Josh though is incoming fast - Avalon can sense him from what seems like a mile away. This far out in the brush both Josh and Henry's emotions echo loudly for him. He pops his head out of the trees to make sure it's safe, and then extracts himself from the branches and glides down to the forest floor with only minimal problems.

"Josh.. I'm right here." he says softly. There's already been enough drama and noise - he knows predators could be coming, attracted by blood and sound. It's crunch time for them, they need to get out of the area.

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Josh skids to a halt near Ava. He sets Henry down gently and then immediately starts healing Avalon. He's trying to keep his face serious but his eyes betray him, revealing pain and sadness.

"Hold still...I've got you," he says softly, keeping watch for anything coming their way as he heals Ava.

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Ava just shrugs Josh's hands off, trying to keep him from using too much energy on him. He knows that Henry is hurt far worse and may still need more of Josh's help. As it is, he doesn't think he's nearly as bad as the other teen worries. "Don't." he says simply, "We'll have time later, I've had far worse than this. You need to keep your strength in case Henry still needs your help. Where is he?"

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Josh is rather shocked, standing and staring. Being told not to heal someone...especially Ava or Henry...that hurts Josh and he's not quite sure how to react right now. "Ava..." he trails off. When asked about Henry, Josh points behind him to where he set the Lantern down against a tree near them.

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Ava forces himself to smile - he's in business mode but he can sense that Josh is shocked and teetering very close to an edge. He knows that his friend is stressed, and he knows that Josh probably can't take much more. This whole rite has been very hard on Josh most of all out of the three of them, and that is why he smiles now, reaching out a hand to press to the center of Josh's chest.

"I do not deny you out of stubbornness, Josh. I do it out of necessity. Henry is far more hurt than I, and I don't even feel the pain right now; he may need more of your healing touch and he will need it more than I do. We must to keep moving - things are very dangerous, and I know that when you use your powers too much you become weak yourself. I am not strong enough to carry both you and Henry. That is why I deny you. Once we are in a safer place and things are not so dire, then you may fix my wounds. For now, please.. try to understand."

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Josh continues to stare a few moments. He wants to protest and argue. He wants to heal Ava. But eventually he just nods sadly. "Okay..." he trails off. "If you carry Henry I can carry the Feartail..." he trails off, closing his eyes a moment to hold back on the tears.

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Ava gives Josh an encouraging smile, then leans up on his toes to press a kiss to the other teen's cheek. "Leave the Feartail. I will go take proof that it is dead and we will move back towards the village. Henry is too heavy for me to carry, that is why I need you as strong as you can be. Not only in the fleash but in the mind as well." he explains gently. "Have strength, mai'iubit.. We are almost done, I promise." He gives Josh's hand a squeeze then, and moves to lead Josh back towards Henry, still holding his hand.

Poor Josh.. Avalon's heart breaks for him - he knows Josh teeters even closer now to whatever edge he is facing and there isn't really much that Avalon can do right now to help him other than offer words of encouragement.

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The fact that they're not taking the whole beast back gets another little stab of hurt out Josh but he still nods. When kissed, he leans closer in a needy manner but stops himself. The moment his hand is taken, he squeezes Ava's though. "Okay..." he trails off again and lets himself be led to Henry.

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Looking over his shoulder to Josh, Avalon explains "When we show them that it is dead, others will come for the Feartail, I promise. Usually the rite is done alone, and one person can not fly it back.." Unable to really help himself, Avalon stops in the middle of the trail and carefully presses himself up to Josh, careful to keep from smearing his blood all over the taller teen and upsetting him further. He takes a moment, trying to send comfort through his touch to Josh, and then draws away and goes back to hunting for Henry.

Henry is easily found however, and Avalon makes sure that Josh will be alright alone, and then heads off to remove the stinger form the Feartail's tail - proof that they have slain it.

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That helps Josh a little. The comfort touch even more. He doesn't want to let Ava go but the healer still does. When Ava goes off, Josh picks up Henry and holds him more gently. Keeping him close to his chest, Josh applies some healing light to Henry and slowly starts towards where Ava went.

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By the time Avalon has gotten the stinger off the creature, he's a bloody mess. Not that he cares too much - it doesn't bother him. He does however worry that it might upset Josh more. Truth be told all three of them are a mess, and Avalon has to stop and think about what he wants to do. As Josh comes along, carry Henry oh so carefully, he finally makes a decision.

Coming up to Josh, Avalon takes a moment to press a hand to Henry's chest, his expression taking on one of deep concern. He can't sense anything from Henry, but then again he's unconscious so, he wouldn't be feeling anything at the moment. He then looks up to Josh, his expression bare and worn as he says softly "We need to find some place safe for you and Henry to wait and I will go and fetch our rings. I think that once I have my ring, and Henry's back on his finger, that we will be able to get ourselves all back."

He draws in a deep breath, and tries to explain "We are three days out on foot, but by air it is not much more than a few hours flight. I should be back soon, if you are alright with waiting?"

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Josh stops when he reaches the area where Ava and the corpse are. Looking up slowly as the winged Lantern approaches, Josh nods. He listens to what Ava says, eyes going a little wide at the mention of being left alone out there. Eventually he nods though.

"Okay, Ava," he says softly. "We'll be okay. I'll keep Henry safe."

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Looking to the corpse of the Feartail, Ava draws in a big breath and nods his head. "We should find somewhere for the two of you a short ways away from the Feartail in case anything finds him while I'm gone."

He offers Josh a bare smile and then gently draws the tall teen away from the creature and back along the line of the forest. There is a shallow cave not far away from where they had camped the night before, and while it wouldn't have been good for staying in all night, it would hopefully prove to be a good place to hide until Avalon can return.

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Josh is easily led along but can only manage a weak smile. When they reach the cave, he finds a little place to sit down where they won't be plainly visible from the outside. "Don't be gone long?" he requests of Ava.

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Shaking his head, Ava says simply "I won't. I can't be. As soon as I have my ring I'll be back almost instantly." He finds himself kneeling next to Josh and Henry both, reluctant to leave. He knows he must.. but.. that doesn't make it any easier.

For a moment, his resolve wavers and he wonders if he can at least wait until Henry wakes.. but then he quickly shakes the urge off and forces himself to stand as his face takes on a rather set and grim expression.

He draws in a deep breath and then leans down, his least bloody hand threading through Josh's hair, drawing the teen's face up to his own and swoops down with his face, pressing his lips to Josh's in a fierce kiss that leaves Avalon shaky on his feet and his breath huffing in his chest.

"Okay. Gonna go." he says softly, and then forces himself to turn and head out. With a snap of feathers he is gone, pushing himself to fly faster than he ever has before.

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Josh's gaze turns to Henry, still holding him close. He doesn't look back up until he feels Ava's hand in his hair. The kiss is pressed to eagerly, Josh not wanting it to go.

"Okay..." he trails off again. He watches Ava go and then settles back. Adjusting Henry in his lap, Josh presses his face against Henry and cries silently. He can't help it, unable to hold back anymore.

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