[Y/N's POV]
Howl quickly opened the door to his castle and I rushed inside, lowering my hood and ultimately trying to shake the rain from my hair.

"Y/n?" Someone asked, and I turned to see Calcifer peeking sleepily over a log.

"Hey Cal," I said, walking over. "How're you feeling?"

"Not great, but Markle needs your attention right now. He's gotten worse." Calcifer added, though I suspected it was equally said towards me and Howl.

"Where is he?" I asked, looking at Howl.

"The couch," Was all he said, staring into the embers surrounding Calcifer. I turned and saw Markle laying on the couch, his forehead sweaty as he shivered under 3 heavy blankets.

Kneeling in front of him, I opened my med bag. "You poor boy," I whispered, brushing some loose hair from his forehead.

"Y/n?" Markle asked, cracking his eyes open.

"I'm right here. I'm gonna help you feel better, okay?" I asked, looking through my kit.

Markle nodded. "When'd you get here?" He asked.

"I walked in the door not too long ago." I said, smiling. Markle always had questions and it was honesty the sweetest thing.

Markle nodded, his eyes drifting close. I grabbed a thermometer and held it over his forehead, watching as the temperature rose to 104.3. Alarm flashed over my face as I grabbed some medication from my med bag. "Markle," I whispered. "I need you to sit up for me. I have some medicine I need you to take."

Markel slowly blinked his eyes open and sat up, with my help. Taking the pills, he laid back down and quickly fell asleep. Putting the medicine back in my bag, I walked over to Howl's side, still watching Markle.

"How is he?" Howl eventually asked, his voice low.

"He's got a temperature of 104.3 which is high for a kid his age, so I gave him some medicine to hopefully bring it down." I said, my gaze meeting Howl's.

Howl nodded and looked back to the embers Calcifer left behind from the wood he's burnt. "How you feeling, Cal?" I asked, sitting in the chair before him.

"Tired and weak." Was all Calcifer said, his face barely peeking over the burning wood.

I looked up to Howl, who was lost in thought, before sighing and closing my eyes, reaching out to the magic that had long been dormant inside me. Reaching out, I could feel the magic Calcifer used to power the castle, the power emanating from Howl and Markle, than the magic of something sinister within Calcifer.

Opening my eyes, I stood and raised a hand over Calcifer, who looked wearily up at me. Taking a deep breath, I slowly blew out and reached with my magic to grasp whatever was making him sick. After a moment of pulling, I managed to remove what was in him, revealing it to be a Peeping Bug.

"Oh that was gross." Calcifer finally said, making spitting noises.

"I'm sure it was," I said, walking over to the window to throw it out. "How are you feeling now?"

"Much better, that's for sure." Calcifer said and I had to agree with him. It wasn't much, but he already looked much healthier.

"Howl," I said, turning to face him. "You need to go to bed. It's late."

""I'm not leaving-"

"I'm staying with Markle," I interrupted. "Go to bed and sleep before I force you too."

Howl immediately shut his mouth. He knew I made good with my threats. After giving quick goodnights, he walked up the stairs to his room as I settled on the couch, adjusting Makel's head so it was resting on my lap.

A/N:

Here's chapter 2 for you all! I hope you enjoy and have a blessed day/night!

Word count: 635

~GingerCat_05