"Mhmm!" Rowan glanced down when he heard rustling and saw Tammy and Tommy. "Hi, babies, how are-" He turned his gaze a bit and saw a snake heading towards the chicks. "Watch out!" He quickly scooped them up and the snake bit his ankle, making him cry out in pain. "Matthew!"
Tammy let out her own cry, clinging to Rowan with one arm and Timmy in the other. Matthew's head shot up, and he ran to Rowan's side.
"Shit," he said. He scooped Rowan up in his arms, looking for the snake a moment but quickly backing away from the spoke.
"Did you see what it looked like?" he asked quickly.
Rowan trembled violently in Matthew's arms, his face pale as he held the chicks close to himself. "I-I dunno, it… it had some red, I think…? Nngh…"
"I–" Matthew held Rowan close to himself, taking off. He wasn't sure what kind of snake it had been, but it obviously wasn't good. He needed to get Rowan to a healer as soon a possible.
Rowan rested his head against Matthew's chest, whimpering softly. He was already feeling woozy. I don't… I don't want to die…
Matthew hurried away quickly, holding Rowan tighter to himself.
"W-we're gonna get you fixed up," Matthew said softly. "Y-you're gonna be okay…" Matthew was running through the streets to the nearest healer's shop.
"Mmm…" Rowan closed his eyes, growing weaker in Matthew's arms. He could hardly feel the bite itself anymore, but the venom was spreading up his legs with white hot pain.
"Hey, hey, k-keep your eyes open," Matthew said, panicking still. He couldn't- he couldn't lose Rowan. He almost burst into the shop, the healer watching it looking up quickly.
Rowan looked up at Matthew weakly, his eyes glazed over and hazy. "It hurts…" He mumbled, beginning to shiver a bit as the venom continued to travel.
The healer hurried to Matthew's side, looking at Rowan a moment.
"Snake," Matthew said. He was so worried… The healer nodded, moving to take Rowan from Matthew's arms.
Rowan whimpered quietly when he was taken from Matthew, closing his eyes again and shaking harder. He was beginning to sweat, and his face was growing steadily paler.
The healer quickly laid Rowan down, rooting through her bag. She held a vial up to the bite, the venom slowly pulling out of Rowan's blood. Matthew held Rowan's hand tightly, keeping close.
"I'm right here, I'm right here Rowan…"
Rowan whimpered shakily as he looked up at Matthew, still trembling where he lay on the cot. A bit of color was returning to his cheeks, but he still seemed very uneasy and uncomfortable.
Matthew rested his head against Rowan's, right there with him. The healer continued, looking grim.
"You're gonna be okay," Matthew said gently.
Rowan whimpered again as he closed his eyes, trying to keep still for the healer. Now that the venom was being taken, he could feel the bite wound even more.
Matthew held Rowan's hand securely in his own, his other hand going up to hold his head.
The healer finished, finally, dealing with the venom. She let out a sigh of relief, moving to clean the injury now.
"Mmmm… Matthew…" He whined shakily, holding tighter to the other's hand when the venom was gone. "It hurts…"
"I know," Matthew said softly. "But the healer is gonna help, okay?" Matthew tilted his head some, placing a gentle kiss to Rowan's forehead. It just seemed… right.
The healer worked quietly, cleaning away the blood and moving to ease the pain.
Rowan whimpered again and closed his eyes. "Can I… can I sleep now…? P-Please? Hurts…" He mumbled tiredly, seeming a bit delirious.
Matthew nodded.
"Yes, yes, you can sleep now," the man said softly. The healer finished with Rowan's leg, pulling back. Matthew pulled Rowan into his arms, cradling the man.
Rowan buried his face in Matthew's shoulder, still trembling. It took him a little bit, but he soon drifted off to sleep in the other's arms.
Matthew held Rowan against himself. He paid the healer, making sure the the chicks were tucked in the nest before heading back to the hotel. He rested his head on the man's, keeping a secure hold on him.
Rowan was still passed out when they returned to the hotel, where his mother came over and looked him over anxiously. "What happened? Is he okay?"
"He… he got bit by a snake," Matthew said softly. "He's been taken care of, and he's stable, but he's exhausted from it." Matthew looked down at Rowan, holding him close.
"A snake?! Oh, god… are you sure he's alright? Are your doctors good here??" She asked worriedly, running her fingers through Rowan's hair.