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When Solar felt something crack in his chest after the dune monster threw him against one of Gempa's earth pillars, he knew he had broken a rib. Or ribs.
He couldn't actually really tell from all the pain.
He miraculously managed to fight through the battle as Ice caught SandBot (a powersphere they were tasked to retrieve) and forced the rampaging power sphere to temporarily shut down.
Everything was going great until they realized that they had no means of communicating with Fang and their friends (who were supposed to get them), due to the signals suddenly cutting off.
Now, everyone was stressed out (that even Gempa was snapping at anyone who was trying to be difficult) because they were currently stranded in a desert-like planet and the heat was definitely getting to them.
Seeing this, Solar decided to keep his possible rib fracture a secret until they head back to HQ because he couldn't handle all the fighting right now nor did he want to add more stress to the already stressful situation.
The heat was definitely not making things easier.
Ice tried to keep them cool as much as he can, but he was running low on reserves after the battle.
It took a lot of ice arrow to freeze most of the sand as they realized wet or frozen sand made it more difficult for the power sphere to control.
Of course, it was difficult for Ice's part too since they were practically surrounded by... well... sand, though his element definitely helped slow the powersphere down.
"I can't believe you lost the water flask!"
"Did you forget that we had to wrestle down dune monsters and escape the sand storm earlier?!"
"Alright, that's enough you two!" Gempa snapped at Hali and Blaze, "We're trying to find some signal right now so that we can head back to HQ and get some well needed rest. Fighting will get us nowhere!"
He then turned to the light manipulator while hefting the deactivated powersphere on his back, "Any luck, Solar?"
Solar almost zoned out with how hard he was trying not to show any pain, "Huh? Oh, uh yeah. I mean no- nope. No luck."
"You're not even trying!" Thorn whined as he took the tablet device from him and raised it above his head, "Try doing this instead!"
"Please, we'd already have that signal by now if that's all it took." Solar deadpanned, not making a move to try and steal the tablet back.
His chest ached just thinking about it.
Taufan took the tablet from Thorn's hold and flew above their heads.
"Oh!! I think I got a signal- aaand it's gone." Taufan pouted as he then landed next to them, hoverboard disappearing into a gust of hot air.
"Stop that! We don't need you blasting more heat!" Halilintar scowled.
"Geez, someone's cranky." Taufan handed the tablet back to Solar, "I guess you're gonna have to try getting the signal instead, since Mister Sourpuss here doesn't want me to."
"What did you call me?!"
"Anymore fighting and I swear I'm burying you guys in the ground!" Gempa snapped.
"Even the heat is getting to his head." Blaze snickered, causing the other to whip his head towards him with an angry scowl.
"Keep your mouth shut if you don't have any good ideas to give."
Ice whistled at the comeback while Blaze bristled in rage.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
A sudden cold breeze settled in the group, stopping the fight that was definitely going to break out.
Solar turned to see the sun had started setting in the horizon, "Well, we won't have to worry about the heat soon."
A collective sighs of relief was heard but Solar held up a hand, ignoring the twinge of pain at the small motion.
"Don't celebrate yet." The youngest septuplet warned, "According to my research, the temperatures here at night usually drop to a negative. We still need to have Fang and the others find us, ASAP."
Everyone was immediately on alert at hearing this and Gempa snapped his fingers to get their attention.
"Alright, moving around might be far more dangerous for us." The earth manipulator slammed a fist to the ground creating earth tents around them, "We stay put and keep ourselves warm. Thorn, throw some vines in the middle for Blaze to burn."
"Yessir!"
"Everyone, cuddle close while we continue finding a signal." Gempa eyed them all sternly.
"I am perfectly capable of keeping myself warm!" Blaze gloated but was ignored by Ice who placed his jacket over his shoulders.
"HEY!"
"Please, if anything, you're the one who'll get cold easily because of your high temperature." The other stated, unbothered by another cold breeze that passed by their group.
Solar winced when he couldn't contain the shiver that racked through his frame causing pain to shoot up his chest.
"Solar, over here!" Thorn waved at him as he settled in one of the shelter Gempa made.
The light manipulator really didn't feel like crouching down as his side throbbed, but when he noticed the others had started to find their cuddle buddies, he had no choice but to comply.
"Any luck yet?" Halilintar grumbled as he sat next to Gempa while Taufan sat at the latter's other side with a grumpy 'hmpf!'.
He sucked in a sharp breath when a stabbing pain shot up just as he settled next to Thorn, "Not yet."
"What was that?" Thorn spoke up, tone filled with concern.
"What was what?" He feigned ignorance.
"You'd probably get a signal faster if you try holding it up, nerd!" Blaze said, sounding cranky as he started burying himself in Ice's jacket and burrow closer to said brother.
A sign that the cold was definitely starting to get to him.
"Maybe Taufan could-"
"And have him blast more cold air?! You want us to have frostbites?!" Halilintar snapped at Solar, "Thought you were supposed to be smart."
"You make it sound like I can't control my powers!" Taufan retorted from Gempa's other side, the latter looked like he was close to snapping too.
"Do I have to remind you of the sandstorm earlier?!" Hali yelled.
"Atleast I could be useful if you weren't such a spoilsport over a bit of cold air!"
"Cold air that's going to freeze us all!"
"I have an idea! Instead of whining like a baby, why don't you go and kiss my-"
"Alright, that's enough!" Gempa yelled as he placed the power sphere on the ground and stood up, "You two shut up! Solar, give me that tablet!"
Solar wasn't prepared for his brother to suddenly walk over and yank the device from his grip.
So when he did, it jolted his broken ribs causing him to yelp in pain.
"Wha-"
Gempa's concern skyrocketed when the youngest septuplet suddenly bent forward, one arm wrapped over his ribs, the other clutching the sandy ground- and everyone was immediately on their feet in panic and worry.
"Solar? What's going on?! Talk to me!" Gempa was on his knees, hands hovering his shoulders while Thorn placed a tentative one over his trembling back.
He tried to respond but unfortunately, he couldn't focus when the pain intensified as he tried to take a deep breath.
Definitely a wrong move.
"I'm fine-" He tried saying through gritted teeth, and he wondered who managed to fall for that pathetic attempt of reassurance.
"You are definitely not fine, you idiot!" Came Halilintar's harsh yet worried exclamation.
The pain was now ten times worse and he could practically feel it spread over his shouder and stomach.
"He's turning pale!"
"Oi, somebody do something?!"
"I'll try to get that signal -"
A rush of cold wind that racked his body with more shivers made him wheeze at the sudden jolt of pain.
"-maybe we can make him lie down?"
It was like a cycle of never-ending agony and he screamed when they attempted to make him lie on the ground.
"Stop! STOP!" Came Gempa's panicked voice
"Gempa, make an earth pillar for Solar to lean on!" Thorn sounded uncharacteristically serious.
And Solar finds himself being maneuvered into a sitting position which made him whimper and whine.
"-thrown by the dune-"
"-clutching his chest-"
"Thorn! Check his ribs!"
Fortunately, they didn't try removing his jacket (he's in so much pain already, he might pass out soon-) as Thorn decided to be merciful and merely lifted his shirt to check.
There was a collective gasps and hisses and Solar could only imagine how bad it looked.
"Ice." Gempa turned to their brother who immediately conjured a block of ice the size of his hand.
Solar yelped when the freezing cold was suddenly pressed on his side and long leaves and vines grew around his torso to keep the ice in place and help stabilize the fracture.
"Why didn't you tell us you were injured?!" Blaze was the first to break the heavy silence that settled amongst them.
Solar winced when he tried to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"I'm sorry, okay?! Everyone was already having a hard time and I didn't-" He hiccuped, "I didn't want to add myself to the list."
"You are such an idiot." Halilintar scowled as he took off his own jacket and placed it over the youngest's torso, as if it were a blanket.
"I'm so sorry..." Gempa whispered looking horrified as he took Solar's trembling hand in his own, "If I somehow made your injury worse..."
"Gempa... you didn't know." Solar winced at the biting cold on his side, "I really should've told you guys."
"Yes, you definitely should have!" Surprisingly, it was Thorn who was the angriest out of all of them as he placed a glowing hand over the left side of his chest, "We've been walking for miles and you could've made your injury worse by not telling anyone!"
He wanted to shrink in on himself but decided against it when pain flared up once more.
"You could've pierced a lung and drown in your own blood." Ice unhelpfully pointed out.
These earned Solar horrified looks from his brothers.
"But I didn't. So... yay?" His false cheer was met with deadpanned stares.
"Solar, don't ever do this again." Gempa sighed, rubbing his face, "Even if we were already in each other's throats and stressed out of our minds, we would really appreciate you telling us about serious injuries like these. What if we had been too late?"
"I'm sorry..." He mumbled, feeling even more bad for worrying them, "I was eventually going to tell you guys when we get back to TAPOPS."
And now they were looking at him like he was an idiot.
Which would've been insulting if he didn't find himself thinking that the looks were definitely justified.
Fortunately, he was saved from further lecture by a sudden gust of cold wind before Taufan landed next to them, face filled with concern as soon as he got a good look of Solar.
"I managed to get a signal, they're on their way!" He said kneeling next to Halilintar, "How's our little sunshine?"
"Ugh! Don't call me that!"
"You don't really have a say on anything right now." Gempa said disapprovingly as he crossed his arms, "Speaking of, no experiments for a week."
"A WEEK?!"
"Okay, make that two weeks."
"Gempa! I'm in the brink of scientific breakthrough!!" He ignored how his chest burn as he leaned forward, "You can't do this to me!"
"Then maybe you should've thought twice before endangering yourself like this." He scolded as Blaze snickered in the background and whispered to Ice what sounded like "mom mode: activated".
"But..." He trailed off, feeling put out since he had been looking forward to completing his saline solution after their mission.
Now he had to wait for two weeks?! Would it still even be viable by then?
"Uh oh, he has that pouty look on his face." Taufan snickered as he looked over to Gempa, who eventually sighed.
"Okay, fine. You can finish your current experiment but after that it's two weeks of no lab work."
Solar tried not to look too excited at the bargain but the others' amused expressions told him otherwise.
He quickly composed himself by clearing his throat, (delighted to note that the pain had gone numb) "That's fair. Thanks, Gempa."
"Hey, how come when I get punished you don't compromise?!" Blaze demanded.
"Solar's the baby of the family. Of course there's always an exception." Ice pointed out and the light manipulator bristled.
"I am NOT- owww..." Okay, maybe the pain was not completely gone.
Thorn gave him a disapproving look and was about to lecture him when a bright portal flashed from above.
"Oh finally! I thought I was going to freeze to death!" Blaze exclaimed pulling Ice's jacket closer.
The other septuplets huddled further into the earth tent as the winds started picking up and Fang's ship descended through the portal.
"Careful now, do you want to ride on my back?" Gempa offered as Thorn carefully helped him sit straighter.
"Yes, please." Solar winced, feeling the pain intensify as soon as his brother stopped using his healing.
Halilintar was immediately on his side, and Taufan was just right behind him, carefully stabilizing him as he climbed on Gempa's back.
Ice refroze the ice on his ribs before picking up SandBot, while Blaze stood next to them as he huffed out and let the air around them turn warm.
"Time to go home." Thorn said softly as he reached out to hold Solar's hand.
Solar squeezed his fingers gratefully and nodded, silver eyes shutting in relief, "About time."
And with that, they all boarded Fang's ship, leaving behind all the fighting and sniping as if it never happened.
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End