Caspian half lifted, half dragged Ahren behind a tree. The curly haired boy was muttering about something, hands distractedly trying to yank his sword free from his belt despite his limp limbs and glazed eyes. "No no no", he was muttering in his concussed daze, tone panicked. "Not again. Not again. Tello, I'm scared". The name, slurred as it was, only made Caspian clasp him closer. 

"Ahren. Ahren!" He called, capturing the boy's face in his hands. Fingers brushing against blood and smearing it over golden skin. "Listen to me. Look at me". Dazed honey brown eyes seemed to focus slightly. A soft look returning to Ahren's face. 

"Caspian. My prince". Ahren smiled and then frowned, brain catching up as it fought against the dizzying effects of the concussion. "Did you blow the horn? Help will come". He sounded so sure of his words but Caspian did not have the heart to believe him when he could hear the footsteps of the soldiers coming ever closer. He glance up, shooting a wide eyed look at where Summer and Bree were sheltered. Summer had tied the makeshift bandages over the wound and Bree was still awake. His face lightly sheened with sweat and pain but still awake. 

Then something rustled in the bushes. Caspian almost missed it if it wasn't for Summer's head flicking around towards the noise. Another rustle, closer this time and Caspian surveyed the tall grass and ferns around them suspiciously. His grip on the body slumped half against him, half against the tree tightening as he reached with his other hand for his sword. Had one of the soldiers snuck up on them? Circled around to catch them by surprise? Were they about to die? He could not see anything other than the tall grasses surrounding them. 

A soldier cried out and he peered around the tree trunk to watch as the man fell into the grass. Form disappearing from sight and going silent. The other soldiers were glancing around with sudden fear, blades jabbing at the ferns and grass as if to prevent another attack. It was unsuccessful and there was another scream as a second soldier dropped. The only sound echoing back was a dying death rattle. 

Caspian glanced at Summer and watched as her shoulders fell in relief. Behind him another soldier went down. "Retreat!" One shouted and the men promptly fled back the way they had come. Caspian watching as their black armour disappeared into the forest. 

"Told you", Ahren muttered with a groan. "Urgh my head hurts". 

"That's what happens when you get knocked unconscious", Summer grumbled at him. Ahren merely leaned further into Caspian's hold and leant his head against his shoulder with another groan. 

A rustling broke the leaves and Caspian tensed as something rolled out from the bushes. It was a large mouse, the size of a cat but with a belt around it's waist and a very slim, small but very sharp rapier held in it's paw. The tip of which was pointed right at Caspian. "What be your final words telmarine scum?" The mouse, a he judging by the voice register, spoke with a surprisingly clear narnian accent. 

"You're a mouse", Caspian stated dumbly. Ahren sniggered. 

The sword lowered a bit as the mouse sighed. "That's original". 

"Reepicheep. This is Caspian. My one", Ahren giggled. "He is of no threat". 

Reepicheep stared at Caspian for a moment before sheathing his blade. "Why did you not say so? I might have speared him through". 

"I sincerely agree with you, noble mouse. But we must get aid", Caspian spoke smoothly. "My company is hurt". Now that the danger had fled, he turned to Ahren and cupped his face in his hands just has he had moments before. Dark eyes scanning golden toned skin as he took in the other's injuries again but without the pressure of advancing soldiers. The blood on Ahren's temple had dried, wound having stopped bleeding and his eyes looked less dazed. But still, Caspian was not liking the pale flush to his skin. 

"Do not worry. Aid is on it's way", Reepicheep twirled his tail. 

Caspian hummed in confirmation. "Let me see your hands", he muttered softly as he turned Ahren's hands over. They were sore and littered with little cuts but thankfully no splinters that he could see. 

Hoves alerted him to the return of Willowbranch. She came bounding through the trees with two more centaurs on her tail. One a man with skin and hair as dark as the earth and birch around them. His horse coat holding a warmer russet tinge under the sunlight. The second a woman with her long fair hair in braids down her back and a coat of white. Her breastplate was tan and her hair was paler than Summer's and Bree's. Two bags were strapped around her flank and they looked heavy. 

"What happened?" Willowbranch asked breathlessly as she came to a stop. "Bree! Ahren!" 

"Bree has been shot. We need to get him back to a healer quickly", Caspian commanded as he helped Ahren up into a standing position. The curly haired man leaning heavily into him. The press of his body warm even through their clothes.     

"We are not yours to command Telmarine Prince". The male centaur spoke up in a deep and impressive voice. 

Caspian met his stare and lifted his head as he adjusted his stance to further support Ahren. "You are not but there is a man down and wether telmarine or narnian, he needs help. So give it to him". 

"Ironhoof!" Summer shouted. Willowbranch and the blonde centaur were busy wrapping bandages around Bree's wound. The satyr pale but still wincing and breathing. "I swear I will hold you down and skin you. Stop your posturing and assist my brother". She looked mad. Her blonde hair frizzy and her green eyes sharp. The blood staining her hands only added to the  almost physical amount of anger pouring off her. She was like a trap waiting to be sprung. 

Ironhoof seemed to have caught on to it too. Still he opened his mouth to say something else. "Ironhoof!" Willowbranch interrupted whatever he was trying to say. "Leave the prince to the council and come aid us or I swear to Aslan"- 

Ironhoof stamped the ground with one hoof restlessly before he turned away from Caspian's gaze wordlessly and knelt down to help the other centaurs lift Bree onto Willowbranch's back. "Grumpy", Reepicheep commented. 

Ahren snorted into Caspian's shoulder. "Always had been. He never liked me much". 

"How's your head?" Caspian fretted. "Will you be okay to walk?" 

Ahren lifted himself out of the prince's hold with a groan and took a couple of steps. "I ache but the sun is no longer making me feel sick. I can walk". It was half a lie. The nausea had decreased but it still lingered. Ahren tried to hide his wince as his head throbbed. 

On their right, the centaurs had gotten Bree safely up onto Willowbranch's back. His wound covered in fresh bandages although blood still mattered his fur and his face was pale. Summer clambering up behind him to hold him steady. Her lips pursed as she made sure he didn't slide off. Satisfied that her patient was stable for the moment, the blonde centaur trotted over to them. "My name is Snowdrop", she greeted with a soothing voice. "May I take a look at your wounds?" Her packs had been moved to her shoulder and she held out a clean cloth.

"He hit his head and was unconscious for a moment", Caspian stated as her hands brushed back Ahren's curls. The dark strands now slightly sticky with blood. She hummed and pulled out a small bottle of something and dabbed the cloth before she began cleaning the wound. Ahren hissing and instinctively jerking away but Caspian was behind him and there was no where to go.

"That hurts", he complained with a slight vulnerability colouring his tone. The prince reaching out to support his shoulders. Ahren sunk into the hold but tried not to make it obvious. 

"It will". Her tone was still soft but firm. "It helps the healing". She dabbed at the wound again, cleaning off the dried blood. The white cloth slowly darkening with colour. 

Ahren whined and leaned closer into Caspian's hold as Snowdrop removed the cloth and began checking his eyes. "The sickness shall pass", she stated. "The injury is not severe. Just be careful and rest when able". With that, it seemed like she was done. She rose and clopped back to where Willowbranch and the siblings were waiting. 

"Ahren", Willowbranch called. "Are you alright?" 

"I am fine Willa", Ahren smiled. "Just a bump. It scared them but I am fine". She sighed and nodded. 

"Come", Ironhoof stated. "We must leave before the humans come back. The council is waiting". 

unedited