(LORE) HEALING

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:38 pm

Soran frowned slightly and pulled Mizuki back in to him. If he couldn't hold her and breathe, he could breathe later. "I'm so sorry," he said earnestly into her hair, fighting the urge to cough. "I'm sorry I went without telling you, that I was unkind to you when you tried to help me," he paused to regain control of his lungs, "I put you at risk again, and I was stubborn and everythign else you had the grace not to call me." He had to stop talking to let his itching lungs have their way with him. He wanted to say so much more, but he just stared at her eagerly while his lungs fought themselves out.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:48 pm

Mizuki rested her head against his heaving chest and listened with only half her attention on his words. "Yes," she said tiredly, "You were being a big... heartless... fool. But... I still love you. I wouldn't be... much of a lover if I couldn't... forgive you for it." She breathed heavily, and slowly, feeling herself begin to drift in and out of conscious state.

Finally the man watching them gave into his desire to get back and stood up.

"We should get moving. More medical attention when back with the others." he said in a brief sentence. The poor man was sick with worry over his wife. She was pregnant with their second child, and their daughter had a badly burned arm. He wanted to be with them.

Understanding his need, Mizuki nodded and pulled away the best she could from Soran, which wasn't much. She was barely an inch from him. She found her legs incapacitated and unwilling to make any effort of movement. She was done for the day. She cursed.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:00 pm

Soran's face glazed over with concern as Mizuki's speech gave way to passing faints. So she wasn't well...he wanted to ask what happened to her, but restrained himself. Supporting her weakening body in his arms, he called to her gently. "Everything's okay now," he reassured her. He didn't know where they were getting back to, but was willing to oblige for now. His muscles were regaining strength by the minute, and he was able to lift Mizuki in his arms. Normally the exercise would have taken nothing out of him, but he had to admit he felt her weight as he was now. It didn't mean he couldn't carry her, at least for a while. He didn't intend to let her out of his arms any time soon. He still coughed intermittently, but it was from the dry itch of soot in his throat, not from real blockage.

"How long do you plan to lounge," he chided Sid as he walked past the reclining human, following their two helpers. Sid muttered some grudging obscenities and scrambled to his feet to follow Soran, but a faint smile lingered on his face to be accepted by the elf.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:08 pm

Mizuki would've protested Soran exerting his already dampened strength, but it felt good to be in his arms and she lost any desire to talk more. She closed her eyes. Finally, she felt like she was whole again. The missing piece that made her feel completely detached from the world was returned to her. Soran was really important to her, more so than anyone could even fanthom. She rested against him, eyes closed, then feel limp into a deep sleep without protest.

Their two guides lead the way while occasionally looking back at their charges to make sure that they were still with them. Once or twice they had thought to offer to take Mizuki out of the rouge's arms, but one look at him and they knew that was a definant 'no.' So, they contented to know that the others could take care of themselves for a bit.

It was a relief for them to return to the make-shift encampment. After the people established that they had all returned as safely as possibly, the medical attention was provided.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:44 pm

Rai sat leaning against an old willow tree surrounded by some bushes and a few people. She was bored, and worried about her parents who had not returned yet.

She was quiet, while other children were talking amungst themselves she just poked her wound with a finger. It began to sting so she stopped and looked at the bloody mess on her pretty nightgown. "Not fair, they always get ruined...."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:14 pm

Soran watched Mizuki out of the corner of his eye while he barely tolerated the two people who were cautiously blotting at his wounds. Two nurses and one helpful bystander were encouraging her to stay lying down while they checked her vitals and tried in vain to figure out what was wrong with her. Not only were several people cooperating to treat her, but a small crowd of anxious onlookers, mostly female but some with their husbands formed around them. Others seemed to wish they could watch too, but kept a respectful distance. They treated her like their heroine...Soran decided he'd figure that part out later. Another group watched Soran curiously, though without real worry. They more or less considered him invincible. This contingent was mostly people he knew from the bars and darker areas of Hepian, and some parents from Rai's school. If Mizuki was their spiritual hope and leader, Soran seemed to be unofficial sherriff.

Soran didn't put up with the volunteer nurse's attentions for long. Once he was no longer preoccupied with making sure Mizuki was ok, he made them stop (though more nicely than usual) and broke away from the group. He doubted they had the supplies to treat his throbbing head, even if he wanted drugs. They'd all escaped with their lives and little else, and he doubted there was a cure-all for having a ceiling beam dropped on the back of your neck.

The rogue broke from their stares, standing up as steadily as he could and looking around the area. "My daughter..." he said loud enough for them to hear his intentions, and they complied quickly as some pointed and a rift opened in the crowd to allow someone through.

Soran stared darkly. Micah stepped forward, cradling Rai in one good arm. The other arm hung at his side, useless. "She's been asking for you," Micah said quietly as he surrendered the injured girl to her displeased father. His voice carried wariness, guilt, and a touch of astonishment that Soran had really been extracted in one piece. He expected Soran to snap at him, or strike him or even kill him, but instead the rogue spoke with a matter of fact, even voice. "Is this everyone?"

"N...no. More are waiting at encampments on the other side of the city for our signal to approach.

"Signal them. The guards will be preparing to search the city, and then they'll be looking for us. We should all be in one place."

"How can you be sure of their plan?"

"Do it." There was no threat; just glaring certainty.

Micah shook his head absently, but turned away to comply with the rogue's wish.

"Rai," Soran said warmly into Rai's ear, turning away from the group so he could hear her if she was able to speak to him. He cradled her carefully examining her bound wound.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:23 pm

Rai blinked her eyes open and looked up at her father. She smiled tiredly. "Daddy!" she said with as much excitement as she could muster, which was not much. "You are okay. I was scared. Is mommy okay?"

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:31 pm

We're both fine," he said, concern plain in his voice. "But you seem a bit worse for wear." He put his back to a tree, facing away from the other refugees, and allowed himself to sit down because his feet felt like lead. "Does it hurt to talk?"

Post by **Emora Deen** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:16 pm

Rai smiled softly. "Just a little," she said, snuggling her face up to her father. "It will get better though! It always does. Is everything okay? What happened? Why are all these people here..." Too much talking, she started coughing slightly, but finally came to a slow stop. "Ouch."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:25 pm

Soran frowned and stopped himself from clutching her tighter. "It will get better, it always does," she had told him, but she was basing her prediction on wounds she'd relieved from other people. This time the wound was her own, and to the best of Soran's knowledge, she had no way of healing herself. Unless they could find someone else whose magic he was willing to trust, she would need to recover the slow way, like normal people did. He didn't want to scare her, though.

"The other people..." he paused, trying to think of a way to explain it that wouldn't upset her. "We're going camping. And then we're all going to find a new place to live. Let your body rest for now; I won't leave you again," he swore.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:55 pm

People treated Mizuki has she slept. They were cautious and gentle, and whispered things amongst themselves. Most were rumors, after Mizuki's magic veil had dropped from them, they believed her to be some kind of sorceress, but one they should revere. Rumors started to fly around the survivors of how Mizuki saved Soran and helped get them all to safety.

The medical attention was sparse, barely any decent supplies were scraped. Most just came from torn linen and making do with plants and such. People began to scout out for other things like water, they were taking their own charge, mostly because they felt that they owed Mizuki. People comforted each other and took care of each other.

One teenage boy with russet hair came back saying he had found a river nearby.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:38 pm

Rai grew very sad. "Why do we have to move? I don't want to move, I like it here!" she said and started coughing again. "Can't we stay?"

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:40 am

Soran looked down and away, unsure what to say. He didn't want to move either. How could he have grown so attached to a mere place? Home had never meant anything to him until now. But he still had them; that was a lot. "No, Rai. We can't stay. If we do, who will help these people find new homes?" He managed a weak grin, trying to encourage her. "Who's going to cheer them up?" He tickled behind her ear.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:24 pm

Rai blinked. "I don't know... Fairies? Fairies could cheer them up. I always wanted to meet a fairy.... I don't think I ever have. Wouldn't it be cool to meet a fairy!"

OOC: If they get into trouble again, Toby will appear!

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:52 am

Soran gave a slight sigh, and he wasn't sure if it was relief or anxiety that fueled it. Rai seemed to be acting like her usual self, but the city was gone. Ighten was being invaded. He had a brief image of what the world would be like if Arken succeeded. There would be no single place in the world that wouldn't reek of the life he'd grown up in. He didn't want that for Rai and Mizuki. He didn't want it for himself either, but in a way, that was what he truly was.

He almost felt like a spy here, like he belonged on that side and wound up here. He knew the enemy's every move. He knew their motivation, and he was fairly sure he could predict what they would do next. Was he a secret weapon for Ighten, or was he one of the monsters? A tough question.

He looked to the side of the makeshift encampment, where a group of people was approaching from the forest to their west. After speaking with Micah, he recognized it as one of their groups of survivors. Had the footsteps been just a bit different, he would have drawn his weapons in suspicion of an Arkenian attack, but he was very familiar with the sound standard-issue military boots made on forest soil.

There were cries of relief and happiness as families that had been separated recognized each other in the two converging crowds. After a minute, there were the inevitable cries of frustration and loss by those who did not find the ones they were seeking. Soran pushed to his feet and walked as quickly as his spinning head dared toward the cheering survivors, carrying Rai with him.

"If you wish to see tomorrow without another battle, keep it down," he ordered coldly. He hadn't spoken very loudly, and his charred voice wasn't exactly menacing, but everyone seemed to hear him. They clung to each other and stared at him, a bit embarrassed, a bit alarmed. Frightened. Shit. "Look, greet your families, just don't make it any easier for them to find us than it already is," Soran said, feeling guilty for hurting their moment. THese people had just lost everything except what stood in front of their faces. He wanted to cut them some slack, but sometimes life wasn't fair. Survival came first.

He looked over their ranks. They needed a lot of things. They needed water. They needed food, bedding, weapons, bandages. All of that required sending teams out from the safety of the group. Until all the refugees were here, he didn't want to take that risk. If someone was caught or tortured, one of the groups might return with unwanted company with them. They would have to stay hungry for a little while; it was better than dead.

He looked up at the sky through the trees. The faint glow of dawn was still hours away. If this was to be forced downtime, they should get what energy they could out of it.

"There are several hours to dawn. Everyone lie down and get some rest. Those who can fight, form a ring around the rest. Pick ten or so among yourselves to keep watch." he called out.

"How can we sleep when our families might still be out there?" one woman asked, carefully.

"I can't fix that, but you'll save more energy lying than standing, and we're going to need every ounce of strength each of you has to get through this. Mourn if you must, but conserve what you can." Soran's voice sounded cold and practical, even to him. He was exhausted and out of patience. Oh well. If someone had to be the bad guy, it may as well be him.

Forlorn, hurt stares lingered on him, but activity began to take place. People sullenly found spots on the uncomfortable earth and lay there. Many embraced on the ground, some of whom didn't even know each other. Any comfort they could find.

Soran took a deep breath, trying not to hack his lungs out at the sensation, and turned back to the few who still lingered around Mizuki, treating her for exhaustion. With a thin groan, he half-collapsed at her side, drawing concerned glances from her nurses. "Is she awake?" he asked quickly before they could interrogate him on his health. He was in bad shape, but he knew his own body. It wasn't going to kill him.