The sun hung high over Gaeron Pass, casting its scorching light onto the rocky canyon walls of Issiq. The heat shimmered off the golden-red stone, turning the canyon into an oven. Down below, nestled into the sides of the towering cliffs, the colony was built, its structures carved into the ancient rock. The passageways between buildings, both natural and artificial, zigzagged their way up and down the canyon, connected by precarious bridges and steep, winding paths.

Despite the heat, a warm, dry breeze drifted through the narrow canyon, carrying with it the scent of sun-baked stone and dry desert flora. Pitta, a black-furred Tsabhua, sat hunched beneath a small, shaded alcove carved into the rock, her green eyes narrowed against the searing pain in her side. She rested on a rough stone bench, leaning heavily against the rock behind her, her breathing shallow. The wound across her side—a jagged tear from a harpoon that had struck her during a recent skirmish—throbbed dully, a persistent reminder of her carelessness.

The wound had not healed as well as she'd hoped. Infection had set in despite her stubbornness to avoid treatment. Now, the pain was worse than ever, and every movement sent a searing shock through her body.

The sound of light footsteps echoed off the canyon walls, and Pitta glanced up as Kanene, a white and brown belemoid, approached. Her fluffy coat shimmered in the sunlight, her teal eyes glinting with focus. Kanene was sent from Nuryuhr, another colony settled nearby just as familiar to the heat and dust of Issiq. Despite the desert's harsh environment, her demeanor remained calm and collected, her gaze soft but commanding.

"Found you," Kanene said with a small smile as she reached Pitta's side. Her paws were deft, carrying a satchel filled with medical supplies, her fluffy tail swaying behind her as she knelt beside the injured Tsabhua.

"Yeah, yeah," Pitta grumbled, her green eyes flicking away. "I wasn't hiding."

Kanene chuckled softly, setting her bag down with practiced ease. "Well, it sure felt like it. You've been avoiding me all day." She tilted her head, inspecting the wound. Her fluffy ears twitched at the sight of the inflamed, ragged gash. "This should have been treated sooner. How long have you been dealing with this on your own?"

Pitta's jaw tightened. "I'm fine," she muttered, though the strained edge in her voice betrayed the truth. The pain was wearing her down more than she'd like to admit.

Kanene wasn't having it. "No, you're not," she said with a soft sigh, pulling out a clean cloth and some ointments from her satchel. She gave Pitta a look that was both kind and declaring that she would take no more nonsense. "If you don't take care of this, it's going to get worse. I'm not letting you limp around with an infection when you could be back to full strength in no time."

The belemoid's words were firm but gentle, a stark contrast to the harsh environment they found themselves in. Above them, the canyon walls towered, their jagged edges casting long shadows as the sun dipped lower. The shade provided some relief from the relentless desert heat, but Pitta still felt the weight of exhaustion pressing on her. The steep paths and narrow bridges that connected the colony's structures had become a challenge she could no longer ignore.

"I don't need a lecture," Pitta growled, though her voice lacked its usual bite. The black Tsabhua shifted uncomfortably, wincing as Kanene carefully began to clean the wound. The sting of the antiseptic solution burned, but she gritted her teeth and remained silent.

Kanene worked with careful precision, her paws moving swiftly as she applied the ointment and began to dress the wound with fresh bandages. Her teal eyes flicked up to meet Pitta's. "You don't need a lecture," she agreed softly, "but you do need to heal."

For a moment, the only sound was the wind whistling through the canyon and the distant echo of activity in the colony below. Workers were busy tending to the daily needs of Gaeron Pass, hauling supplies through the winding paths or digging deeper into the rock to expand the colony's tunnels.

Pitta closed her eyes briefly, her frustration tempered by the sudden coolness of the balm Kanene applied. "You're not bad at this," she muttered, half begrudgingly.

Kanene smiled softly. "I'd hope not. Otherwise I would be out of a job."

A dry laugh escaped Pitta's lips, though it quickly turned into a pained wince. "You're a funny one, aren't you?"

Kanene shrugged, her fluffy tail twitching behind her as she finished securing the bandages. "I try." She pulled back slightly, examining her work with a critical eye. "You should stay off your feet as much as possible for the next few days. You've aggravated it by moving around too much."

Pitta rolled her eyes, her usual defiance returning. "You know I don't like sitting still."

"I know," Kanene replied, her voice calm and steady. "But you'll like it even less if this gets worse. I'm not saying you have to stop entirely, but be smart. You don't have to push through everything just because you're tough."

The Tsabhua's green eyes flicked toward the sky, where the first hints of twilight were beginning to soften the harsh light of day. "Yeah, yeah," she muttered. But she didn't argue further, which Kanene took as a small victory.

The belemoid stood up, stretching her limbs and dusting off her fluffy fur. "Good. I'll come by tomorrow to check on you. Don't try to hide, because I'll find you again."

Pitta gave a dry chuckle, leaning back against the stone with a smirk. "You sure you don't want to stay and babysit?"

Kanene grinned, her teal eyes sparkling with amusement. "Tempting, but I've got other patients. Just don't make me come back to drag you to the infirmary."

As the belemoid turned to leave, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the canyon, Pitta watched her go, her smirk fading into something more thoughtful. The harsh environment of Issiq, with its unforgiving heat and jagged cliffs, wasn't an easy place to live. But sometimes, amidst the dust and stone, there was comfort in the knowledge that even in a place like this, there were those who cared enough to watch out for you.

With a sigh, Pitta shifted slightly, careful not to strain her side. Maybe Kanene was right. Maybe letting someone help wasn't a sign of weakness after all.