Only when the door was closed behind all three of them Chas let out a breath he hadn’t even been properly aware he’d been holding. The door slammed shut behind them, nearly blocking all sound of screeching birds, scratching talons and wild flutter of wings, leaving behind only their panting and coughing, respectively.
They looked terrible, scratches and bloodied marks all over. Thanks to long sleeves and cap Chas could say the most damage had luckily gone to his clothes, and with the scratches that had gone beneath and the holes in the fabric he could deal. The fact that his attempts at shielding his eyes had left the birds mere room to attack everything above only explained the warm, wet stickiness above his eye. He blocked out that thought.
There was no denying, though, that he felt completely and utterly useless, he’d been helpless in the forest and no use when Rain had gone out on a one man mission to first save his sorry ass, then the half asphyxiated John. Futility, with a bitter twinge of guilt because he’d been unable to do much alike.
Nevertheless, there were other tasks at hand, and he forced himself to focus on that now, for they most certainly had priority. While Rain would have been better of on a bed or couch at least, for now he’d have to be content with getting her off the stairs and that he did. The mansion was ever as strange and unknown to him, and, the worry still etched across his face, he glanced at John; he had his cough syrup still, right? Chas hoped so, then headed for the next best door in hopes of finding a bathroom and first aid kit – and in a welcome change, he actually did and returned with said first-aid kit. Now, just where to start?