Lore: Behind Stone Walls

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:51 pm

Neko frowned. "Don't make me kick you in that shin." she said warningly. But she still looked down at it with concern. She kneeled next to his leg careful not to brush her legs with his and careful to avoid looking anywhere else BUT that leg. "You did that during the fall." she said as a matter-of-fact. She didn't like what was going to happen now. They would have to set it, and that made her squeamish.

"I have to... do something about that." she said mostly to herself. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew she owed him. And without him, she probably wouldn't survive like this, even if he was wounded. And it wasn't going to heal with her just staring at it.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:57 pm

"Just leave it," Adonis groaned in annoyance, not really thinking clearly. "I'll do it later." It was an excuse, and it sounded like one. At the moment, anything, even letting it heal wrong, seemed better than touching or moving it in any way.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:02 pm

"But we have to!" she protested even though she really wanted to listen to him. More than anything, she did not want to do that to him, and yet it was what should be done. "If we don't... you may end up losing it." She had witnessed that before. An old man refused to have his leg set because of the pain and it had healed terribly wrong. So much so that the way it had healed caused him even more pain, then eventually it became infected and he had to lose it.

Her father had done the amputation. And he always said that no matter what, get the leg set.

"Either I do it or you do it!" she said it like it was better that he do it.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:11 pm

Neko's nerves were getting into Adonis's head. He realized that she really didn't want to set his leg, and it made him wonder why she was offering. Her words did wake him up somewhat, though. He felt clearheaded enough to understand that he had to set his leg, but he was wary he might be reduced to an embarrassing state when it happened.

He sat up and pushed away from the boulder so he could look at her. His face was ashen and glowing with sweat. "Fine. I'll do it, you go over there," he said.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:17 pm

"Fine. I'll do it, you go over there," he said. Neko blinked. He would really do it? By himself? She took a moment to admire him for it, before going far enough and turning her back. She toyed with the idea of covering her ears. Technically, she should be the one doing this... she just couldn't stomach it. She also didn't like standing around useless. Remembering he would need a splint, she went outside cautiously, thinking also that he may be thankful for her retreat. She looked hard in the darkness for a suitable splint, and kept her ears open for anything in the forest.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:36 pm

Adonis watched her leave. He sighed, looking down at his leg. He finally gritted his teeth, reached down, and probed with his fingers to find the broken ends of the bone. Breathing rapidly now, he took his hands and gripped his leg tightly. With a swift jerk, he shifted the bone, not as far as it needed to go, but close. A hoarse cry tore from his throat, moisture bleeding into his eyes. He grunted with concentration and gave the bone a last shove into place. His groan was lower in volume this time, carefully restrained. Still, he sank back against the wall behind him, still holding his leg, and gave way to a few minutes of heavy, spasmic breathing, like he was sobbing and his voice didn't know it. Despair filled his mind like a bad dream, and he struggled to calm himself down so he wouldn't hyperventilate. He wiped his face off on his bare arm and took slow, deep breaths.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:52 pm

The yells from within the cave made Neko shudder. Never did she want to experience that. Taking the splint she had grabbed, she rushed into the cave stopping short at the sight of Adonis. Covered in sweat, clearly in pain. He was weak and completely vulnerable, something he seemed to not like showing. Gingerly, she came up besides him.

"I have the splint..." she said quietly. She also needed something to tie it tight to his leg. The best thing she had to offer for it was her sash... removing it would leave her completely open. She reddened at the thought, despising it immediately. Still, she had to do something. Face set in determination, she would not let her fears stop her from helping him, she sat beside his leg and untied her sash deftly, and swiftly tucking her kimono tighter about her so it wouldn't fall open so much. Here, she knew what to do and could do it.

"...Are you ready?" she asked him softly.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:58 pm

Adonis tensed as Neko re-entered the room. He hadn't completely calmed down yet, and wished she'd taken longer. At the same time, he was really glad not to be alone with his pain. He stared at the roof of the cave, unable to meet her eyes with his bloodshot ones, and gave a faint nod, balling his hands at his sides so he wouldn't accidentally strike at her.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:03 pm

Taking a breath, Neko placed the splint in place and then tightly bound it in place with her sash. She didn't want to imaging his pain and she grimaced as he growled. Soon, but what seemed agonizingly slow, she had him splinted, but could do nothing for his pain.

She took a breath again, trying to think of what to say. Or maybe she shouldn't speak...?

"I'm sorry... I just--It was a shock..." she said meekly, not looking at him.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:04 pm

Adonis held his tongue while Neko set his splint. He could tell by her gentle movements that she was trying hard not to hurt him, and it made him calmer despite himself.

"I'm sorry... I just--It was a shock..." she said meekly, not looking at him.

He turned and blinked at her. She was apologizing. He'd blamed her for all his disappointment with the human race, and here she was apologizing. It made him think more of her. "Thanks," he said, glancing at the leg she'd splinted. He wouldn't be able to transform for a while yet; the splint wouldn't last long on a horse's leg. "How are your injuries?" He hoped by bringing them up, she wouldn't ask if he could heal them. Healing was a power he'd sacrificed to the power of the stone on his forehead.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:17 pm

She automatically felt the gash on her forehead, the blood had dried.
"I'll be fine..." she said not bothering to even think about the many bruise and other cuts on her body. Those she could live with, it was what felt like a hole inside her that she feared may never heal. So instead, she covered it up. She tucked her kimono tighter around her and never looked Adonis in the eye.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:03 pm

Adonis glanced at her, about to say that she didn't look alright, but he held his tongue as he noticed she was avoiding eye contact. That caused him to drop his own gaze, which left him staring at the scarcely-closed front of her kimono. With a jolt of panic, he tore his eyes away from her exposed skin and stared with wide eyes at the floor beside her.

"I haven't seen your brother, but I'll take a look," he said, pleased with how calm his voice sounded. With some effort, he pushed up onto his feet and glanced back into the deeper part of the cave, which as far as he could guess, was collapsed also. There was a narrow ledge that gave passage around the hole they'd been trapped in, and he began moving with the wall as support toward the rear of the cave, looking for any sign of the man. Adonis had no particular interest in him, but it was obvious that the girl would be an emotional wreck until they found him. It occurred to him that he was being callous, but humans were humans. He owed them no kindness. They owed him for the existence that was lost to him forever.

He made his way past the hole they'd landed in and discovered that there was further collapse in the rear of the cave, though not quite as deep. He narrowed his eyes and peered into the dark, dusty rubble for a sign of life.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:22 pm

Neko made a noise to protest, but he was already up. Cautiously, she followed him until he was on the ledge. She waited there, terrified that he would lose balance and fall, but he was successful. She looked anxiously for any sign of Adonis making confirmation on her brother.

After a while, Neko got impatient for news of Kratos. "Anything?" she asked with hope.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:30 pm

"Nothing yet," Adonis snapped back. Humans were so impatient. He maneuvered a few yards further in, very cautious of any weak points in the ground below him. He didn't feel like falling again. The back of the cave so dark that he could hardly see. For all he knew, Kratos was sitting right next to him. He reached an uneven part of the ground where he feared his hopping might end up collapsing something. Someone with two legs was needed to explore any further, unless he found a cane to explore the ground with. "I'm having some trouble seeing," he called back.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:40 pm

Neko's hopes plummeted. What could've happened to him? In this darkness they'd never hope to find him, but she didn't want to give up. Outside, light was beginning to filter through the thick canopy of trees. Morning was coming, but it was not enough light to help them fully.

"A-Adonis," she said his name carefully, as if saying it too fast would make him angrier at her. "Should we... wait for morning? When the light's better?" She didn't want to, but they were poking through the dark blind. It was dangerous.