Kirin huddled under the shield, curling into himself in an attempt to be as small as possible.

"Thank you," he rasped, his voice hoarse from dehydration and long disuse. He didn't protest as the other man steered them through the forest, grateful for the support and shelter from the falling ash. For once, his racing thoughts had calmed, leaving Kirin feeling a sense of...peace, almost. There was no need to be wary of his savior.

Before long, they had made it to the castle, and Kirin leaned heavily on the other as they ascended the steps into the vast entry hall. There, Kirin sank gratefully to the ground, leaning his spinning head back against the cool stone of the wall. The short trip had taken more out of him than he'd expected, and he found himself panting and exhausted. When he could, he tilted his head to look at his companion out of the corner of his eye.

"What's... your name?"