A play on the artwork from Forsaken where the Guardian carries Cayde's body back home. Except this is Crow carrying the Guardian. -- They were halfway up the steps to the exit portal when Crow realized that Jayesh wasn't following. His friend still sat in the pike, slumped forward, his forehead resting against the dashboard. His Ghost hovered over him anxiously.
Crow's heart seized. He escorted the Techeun through the portal, glimpsed her being surrounded by Corsairs with hot drinks and blankets, and dashed back for Jayesh.
The warlock hadn't moved. His arms were clutched against his chest, as if he had a pain there, and his eyes were closed.
"I can't stop it," Phoenix said as Crow arrived. "Please do something!"
Crow expected to see more blood. Instead, to his horror, liquid sky-blue Light was everywhere. It dripped off the seat, pooling on the ground beneath the pike. The back of Jayesh's robes were soaked with it.
"He's bleeding essence!" Crow exclaimed. "Quick, I've got to get him inside. Jay! Can you hear me?"
Jayesh opened his eyes and nodded. The blue fire in his eyes had faded, draining out of him with his essence. He struggled off the pike at Crow's urging, but more essence splattered the ground, leaking from under his robes. He staggered and nearly went down, but Crow caught him.
"That thing hit me," he said as Crow carried him up the stairs. "In the head. In the back. It ripped me open."
Crow recalled the cactus spines on the monster's limbs and shuddered. "You'll be all right in a minute. We're safe, now."
From my fanfic Empty Coronation:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/36898783/chapters/92057248
