No, this boy was most definitely not her brother. Pressing her chops together in a hard line, she watched him rolling his gaze and head away. A little unsure as to why the boy had turned away from her she continued to observe him, frowning as a shallow snort escaped his nostrils. The girl went to take a step closer but winced as pain shrieked it's way through her shoulder, tears threatened her eyes. Aelin trembled as she swallowed them back, refusing to allow any to fall. Right now he needed her to be strong, she might be his only solace through this storm.

The boy does not respond to her calls, concerned she thinks he must be too weak to respond. Or deaf. There was no way he was simply ignoring her, not when he clearly needed her help. As she inspects the wounds on his body she wonders what kind of horrible soul would inflict such damage. Who would willingly bring a boy into this state? There was no doubt that if this boy had been a Dragon's Throat member her father would hunt down the inflictor and make them beg for mercy. Only her father wasn't here...neither was a healer. It had (rather suddenly) become Aelin's responsibility to tend to this boy's injuries and look out for him.

Finally he responds to one of her questions, not verbally mind you. Instead he simply rolls back and scrutinises her, judging. She looks at him and he looks at her, after a moment her head tilts to the side. He's a strange fellow to be sure, his golden eyes also didn't appear friendly. Although if she were in his position she'd likely be terrified and not friendly either. Still, she'd not leave him until he was healed and able to head home - wherever that may be. His lack of an answer suggested to her that he was an outcast.

Tonight, the world had decided that he was her responsibility and she would not abandon someone in their time of need. Not even if they were unfriendly and grouchy.

Within moments the boy's persona changed and he panted out a half sob, half yelp of pain. She was taken aback for a moment, then waited for the sounds to quieten, hushing him with what she hoped was a soothing noise. Aelin didn't see the point in lying by telling him it would be alright, in truth she wasn't sure if he would be alright.

The girl tired not to look at the flaps of severed flesh along his hip which grotesquely twisted with his movements. Aelin had seen battles from afar but never remained to examine the consequences. Yet when she found a healer she'd have to be able to describe his injuries, they'd have to know what equipment to bring. Sucking in a breath the girl turned and looked. The pale white tissues underneath were revealed and she could further see a red vein, pulsing with what remained of the boy's blood. Trying not to display her disgust on her face she looks away and greedily sucked in breaths as her own world wobbled. After a moment she realised the boy was looking at her. Pain laced across each feature, the girl look back at him. There was no pity in her gaze or face, only fear mixed with sincerity.

'It’s just a dragon bite,' it's the girl's turn to snort, which she does loudly and derisively. "Uh-huh." the sandy princess mutters back, for the first time a flicker of affection towards the boy warms her. So he was pretending to be brave? It reminded her of Hawke, it was something he had done in the past. The knowledge that he acted similar to other boys was comforting. As he speaks of the weather outside she frowns and turns to look as well, he was right of course. Aelin had barely been able to land, there was no way she'd be able to leave during the storm. Besides, she couldn't leave him. "Alright, alright." Fustrated with herself for not seeing this flaw in her plan (how could she be so stupid?!), the girl turns back to the boy, it looks like they would have to share this cave tonight.

The boy grunts as he once looks towards the swirling, white raging clouds of snow, still visible through the overhang. Aelin watches him now, without a plan she is unsure about what to do. Not to mention now that she'd stopped flying the cold from the world around her had started to creep in. Moving into the cave so that she was more protected from the elements she sighed, "best get comfortable." It was said with a level of sarcasm, as if the boy could get comfortable in his situation! It looked like his body was falling apart. It was then fury burned it's way through her body. Fury at the boy's injuries, her lack of knowledge, her helplessness and...and...just the entire situation! Not wanting to worry the other but unable to look at their dire situation for a moment longer, the girl closed her eyes to the bleeding boy and turbulent snow for a while.

With her lids still firmly closed she instructs the boy further "try get some sleep." It was true she couldn't do anything for his wounds but she could keep him safe in other ways. With the ability to watch over and control his dreams she'd be able to keep the nightmares away. What he needed now was rest so he could get better. "I'll keep watch." While the girl had heard this expression quite a few times she wasn't actually quite saw what she should be watching for. Aelin felt it applied to this situation as she would be waiting for a break in the storm in order to get some help.

"Let me know if you get" the girl's words stumbled, "...if you need anything." Cold. If you get cold. Keeping her eyes closed to the snow outside still, she mentally hit herself over the head with a long, heavy, thick stick. Replaying the moment over and over in her mind, she felt as if she should just leave and battle the snow anyway. Embarrassment was going to kill her anyway. It wasn't like she was particularly keen to snuggle up next to a corpse. Or to get his blood all over her, she thought defensively. However, if she was in his position she'd like to be held and comforted. Unfortunately she didn't have any fire magic, so his only option was...her. Ew. Hoping instead he'd just fall asleep and she would be left alone to think she finally opened her eyes to the distance.

"That Basin is close by." Nervously she swallowed thinking about the warnings she had received. Perhaps she could help him there and then sound the alarm, hover high in the sky until someone found him then fly off? It was risky, what if someone saw them arriving assumed it was her who'd attacked and in retaliation attacked her? What if he wasn't friendly with those in The Basin? What if one of their own had attacked him? Then the closest herd would be the Hidden Falls or World's Edge...but they were weeks of travel, slower with the boy in his state. Grunting in frustration she glanced to the boy beside her, "who are you?" Aelin demanded.