Heirot

Drakoe wasn't sure what to do for the poor girl. He felt a bead of sweat run down the back of his neck. Comforting someone was not really part of his nature. The trees outside whirled around softly in the cool breeze.

He held her tight and kissed her softly on the head. He didn't know why she wept so he words of comfort were limited. "You're safe now." he said softly,"Everything is alright."

Kat calmed down, coming back to reality and remembering how far in the past her pain was. She felt ashamed for crying on this man who must obviously be her superior.

"I'm sorry M'lord..." she said sheepishly, shying away from him. She knew her place as a servant, even if she hadn't been one for almost a year.

He let her go as she pulled away.He didn't know why she was crying or why she was sorry. He let her have her space though. "I think we will head out soon." he said trying to change her thought, "It doesn't seemed to have reached midday yet." He stood up and walked towards the cave opening.

KAt watched go towards the opening. She found herself wondering about Zeikiel and Lady Dan.

"I hope they're alright..."

"I'm sure they are," he said as he stepped outside and squinted slightly. The bright sun beamed down hard on the earth below. Drokoe didn't know where they would start to look for Dan and Zeikiel, but he didn't want to just keep sitting around.

He had know doubts about whether they were dead or not. They were both strong warriors and a few savage hunters weren't going to kill them off. Besides those were pathetic excuses for mercenaries. They were loud and clumsy.

Sighing discontedly, Kat stood up and walked over to the cave opening next to Drakoe. She stayed a respective distance away though, and hugged herself. She wondered what those men had come after them for. Her? or was there something else? Zeikiel mentioned breifly why he had to stay hidden in order to do his 'work' successfully. Whatever that was.

Maybe Drakoe or Dan...

Kat shot a nervous glance to Drakoe's profile. What if he was some kind of wanted murderer? No, now her imagination was running off with her. If he was, he would've killed her.

"Shall we look or them? Or is it still too unsafe, M'lord?"

He glanced down at her petite form. "Are you ready to go?" he said with a tentative expression. "I'm sure it is quite safe by now..." Drakoe had scanned the area and it seemed safe enough.

He grimaced slightly as a sharp pain shot into his side reminding him of his careless wound. If he had been more focused on the things ahead instead of this girl it might not have happened. "And stop calling me your lord..." he added through gritted teeth trying to hold back the pain.

Drakoe didn't really know how to tend to wounds that well. He usually went to a town doctor or found someone who could keep it from getting infected.

Kat blinked at him then jumped back from his grimace. That's right, he had been wounded. Oh Gods!

"M'lord," old habits die hard, "Your wound! I should've tended to that. I'm sorry. Here, lie down..." Kat coaxed him to lay, her medical skills taking over as she prodded the wound and examined it.

Drakoe was in lots of pain and didn't resist her trying to help. He laid down and looked at her a little worriedly. A sharp pain shot through him as he laid down on the hard stumpy ground.

"You know what you're doin, right?" he said not sure if she did.

"Yes, now please be still." she told him while inspecting the wound. It was inflamed from no treatment, she had to clean it but there was no water here.

"We need to get to water."

Drakoe knew where to find it and it was a likely place to run back into Zeikiel and Dan, or at least a good place to start looking for them. "I know a place." he said as he stood back up. He re-wrapped the bandage around him and tied it tight.

He really hoped they didn't run into any hunters on the way there because he wouldn't be able to fight to his full ability. "It's this way," he nodded as he walked swiftly back into the dark shadow of the forest.

The sun beamed through in places but the majority of sunlight was blocked by the canopy of treetops.

Kat walked behind him closely, occasionally grabbing whatever medicinal herbs she passed and could find. She watched him closely in case he felt ill again. Soon they came to the water and Kat had him lay down while she gently unbandaged him. There was crusted blood and the used bandage was all they had. She cleaned it as well as she could in the running water stream then dabbed at the wound gently.

"I'm sorry if this hurts."

The wound was now ringed with infection. It was very sore to the touch. Drakoe listened to her as she did what she needed to the cut.

"I'm sorry if this hurts," he heard as a retching bolt of fire seem to shoot through his body.

"Mmm..." he groaned behind clenched teeth. He wished now he had let her tend it earlier. The arrow must have had some kind of poison on its tip for it to get this way so quickly. He laid there and took the excruciating pain as she tended him. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Kat crinced at his pain but kept working with deft fingers. Once the crusted blood was cleaned off she cleaned the wound itself. It made her stomach churn, but she keep working. Next, with the herbs she gathered, she ground them between two stones on the partially clean, wet linen. Once the new bandage was prepared, Kat had Drakoe sit up.

"I need to wrap this around you. How are you doing?" she worried he'd fall unconscious from the pain before she could even wrap it around him.

"I'm fine," he said very lowly. He suddenly felt tired and out of energy. He really hoped the area was clear of the mercenaries. He was in know state to fight right now.

After she tied the fresh bandage, he stood up. The world spun rapidly around him. He stumbled to try and catch his balance. The nearest tree he could reach he grabbed and held himself up.

"I need to sit here and rest a moment." he found himself hoping that Zeikiel and Dan showed up soon. He couldn't protect himself right now, let alone Kat.

He gripped the tree firmly and lowered himself to the ground.