Carrying humans was a challenge. He remembered the few times he'd allowed small children on his back, over a year ago in Cosmo Canyon. Unruly riders, always unpredictable with their movements, easily disturbing his balance and making him stumble if caught unprepared. An adult form, however small, compounded that feeling, particularly when unconscious. Aileth's ragdolling weight swayed at the mercy of gravity and harsh terrain.
That was why Red was at least a little thankful for the presence of that stranger, whom he learned was named Bryne, walking alongside him and keeping the girl steady with one hand whenever it looked like she might slip off the creature's back.
Their conversations never lasted longer than a couple of exchanges, both of them feeling the pressure of the situation at hand, eager to reach their destination. Red kept quiet when they reached the lone farmhouse hidden between the dry and grassy crags, allowing the human to perform the speech he'd rehearsed under his breath the whole way up the final hillside.
His mother, a dark-haired woman with a strong pair of shoulders underneath her light cardigan, would not wait to listen carefully. With a stern and calm voice she ordered her son around, carrying Aileth to the nearest bedroom to assist her.
The beast found himself awkwardly locked outside for a while... much like the dog he'd been mistaken for.
The sun was about to go down when the door finally opened again, and Bryne came out. In his hand was a bowl of food. The smell of freshly cooked meat was overwhelming.
"She's locked me out of the room, I think she's helping her get out of those rags, so she can wear some spare clothes." Bryne explained with a weary sigh.
Red rose a deadpan look, his voice laced with irritation. "Locked out? You poor thing."
"... Right. Sorry about that. She didn't really give me the time to introduce you. 'Ma is a bit like that."
"Then you should see to that, and fast." The creature said, flicking a side glance towards the house. "I need to be there when she awakens. She doesn't trust strangers, and her reactions can be... violent."
He chose to leave it at that, hoping it'd never get to a point where he'd have to say more. Even he wasn't sure about what he'd seen before, in fact.
~
Indoors, Aileth was still being looked over by Bryne's mother. Even without a full understanding of what kind of condition ailed the girl, the veterinarian knew when she was looking at a severely neglected living being.
Laid in bed and rid of the dark rags that had covered her, she had been covered under thick blankets, and a bag of ice sat on her forehead to relieve pain from blood pressure.
Now, gently and carefully, the woman had scooted nearby a bucket of warm water and soap to clean the skin of dirt and grime. She'd just started to work on Aileth's arms, looking for injuries or signs of infection, when Bryne came knocking at the door.
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