Days {61-70}
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Writing x 3, 40-50 Matches, Breed or Scroll a Dragon, 20-30 Matches, 30-40 Matches, 30-40 Matches, Art x 2
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Writing x 3, 40-50 Matches, Breed or Scroll a Dragon, 20-30 Matches, 30-40 Matches, 30-40 Matches, Art x 2
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Reace trotted through along the southern path, stopping to pick up the food he had gathered earlier. A pile of insects were buried beneath a large boulder. He had to set down his pearl in order to gather the insects, and he placed them in a small pouch which he had left beside the... He frowned, puzzled. Where were they? His gloves were missing.
Well, no time to worry about that, he thought. Quickly, he took his belongings and continued down the path until he came to a den beneath some ferns. “Slia,” he called. “I’m back.” “What took ssso long?” came a faint, disembodied voice from underground. There was some shuffling, but nobody emerged. “The bugs put up a fight?” “Ran into some dragons. I stopped to help them.” The being within the den sighed, loud enough to carry. “You cannot stop for every wayward soul.” Reace chuckled. “You say that, but you forget that you were once a so-called ‘wayward soul.’” There was no response, except for some more movement. Finally, Slia emerged from the den. The opheodrys Serthis stuck her tongue out at Reace, before turning to the sack of food. “Not bad pickings.” “Don’t get too comfortable,” Reace told her. “We are going back to the dragons.” “They need help still?” Slia did not look up at him as she spoke. “No,” Reace said with a shrug. “With what did they bribe you?” Slia gave him a sly look, knowing Reace’s ways. “Shelter.” “Do we not have shelter here?” “There is greater protection in larger numbers,” Reace pointed out. “There is something out here that we do not want to mess with. It was bad enough to spook the BeastClans - they attacked the dragons in their scramble to leave the area.” Slia spit at the mention of the BeastClans. “Those fools. They deserve what they get.” Reace did not say anything, but his tail flicked. He knew better than to get her started on a rant. “So I helped the dragons, and they offered me shelter in return.” “Oh, I bet they did.” Slia made a harsh noise, what sounded like a hiss caught in the back of a wheezing cough. Reace smiled to hear her laugh. “So let’s go then. Do they expect me?” “I said I was bringing a friend,” Reace said as he stood up, lifting his bag again. He allowed Slia to slither up his tail, and settle on his back. “A friend. Won’t they be surprised! Say - where are your gloves?” Slia asked, noting their absence as they headed out. “Dunno. I’ll get another pair myself.” She smacked his leg with her tail, light enough to leave no bruise. “Those gloves were a gift to you. Show some respect.” Reace shrugged. “I’ll do what I can.”
~
Luana sat anxiously outside the hut. She hoped Reace returned soon. She couldn’t quite reach Treble from where she was outside, and it was difficult to check on her. From what she could tell, Treble was okay - her breathing sounded difficult, though, so Luana wasn’t sure if she could do anything to help her friend. Finally, after what felt like too long, Reace’s voice could be heard from down the path. It sounded faint - weak. “Luana…!” The Guardian scrambled, her wings flaring. She kicked off the ground and took to the air quickly. She flew to the southern path and was soon landed by his side. There was blood on his flank, and a Serthis was by his side. The Guardian had been ready to attack the BeastClan creature at first but after a moment’s hesitation, she was confused to see the Serthis fussing over the Pearlcatcher. “What happened!” Luana exclaimed. “Cursed webwings,” the Serthis was hissing in frustration. Reace didn’t say anything, only nodding at Luana and then closing his eyes. He winced as the Serthis ran her palm along his flank. “You shall live, Reace, but it might not be pretty.” “I’ll always have my handsome face,” Reace said, trying to joke. But it came out flat, and his voice was tense with pain. The Serthis turned to her. “You are Luana?” Luana nodded. “Take us to the Clan. He will not make it there alone.” The Guardian obliged without a word. She knelt down, her shoulder at Reace’s head, and with the Serthis’ help, Reace managed to climb onto the back of the larger dragon. When the Serthis said so, Luana began to walk back towards the lair. Flying, she noted, would only dislodge her parcel. Together, they made it to the lair. “I’ll need your help to place him in the hut,” Luana told the Serthis. “I can’t fit.” “I see,” the Serthis said, not unkindly. She gave a slight hiss. “There is another already in there?” “My friend - she is injured, and asleep. I don’t want to disturb her, but I don’t know where else to place Reace.” “It will be crowded to tend both dragons in there.” The Serthis paused, and then pointed at a shallow dip in the ground where a nest seemed to have been built. “How about there?” Luana’s tail lashed. “Not there,” she said with a growl. That was Gabi’s nest. The Serthis blinked but made no other response, her face impassive. “Then how about just outside the hut,” she suggested fainally. “We can make a nest for Reace.” “Just put me down anywhere, Slia,” he grunted from where he was still strewn across Luana’s back. Slia shrugged. “As you wish.” She waved her hand, gesturing for Luana to do so. Bemused, Luana complied. She knelt again and let the Pearlcatcher slither down from her back. The bag was clutched close to his chest. As Luana shifted to allow him to get comfortable, Slia made her way over to him. She inspected his wound, which was a deep cut in his left hindleg, and then turned to Luana. “Do you have medicine?” Luana shook her head. The Serthis bit back a heavy sigh. “I have some, but not enough for all this. I will have to gather more, I suppose. Not today. But soon. For now, this will do.” She reached into the pouch hanging from her waist and began to sort out several vials of liquid, each different coloured. There were also some small, constructed tubs of paste which she began to smear over and around his wound. Luana wasn’t sure what was going on but she watched with intrigue - she had never seen anyone use medicine before. In the Plaguelands, medicine wasn’t really an option. An idea bubbled inside her, growing stronger until she could no longer ignore it, no matter how stubborn she might be. She hated to ask for more help, especially from strangers, but she knew she could not afford to hold her pride at the risk of a friend. “Can you…” she started, and then coughed. She felt awkward. “Could you please look at my friend, too? In the hut?” The Serthis glanced over, surprise in her eyes. “Of course,” she said graciously. “What kind of a medic would I be otherwise?” After ensuring Reace was all set, Slia moved to check on Treble. Hardly a moment passed before Slia’s angry hiss was heard. Luana was at the hut’s door, straining to see what was happening. “Did you hurt her?!” Luana growled, her claws glinting a threat. “She wouldn’t!” Reace’s voice came from behind. “Your friend is wounded badly,” Slia said after a moment’s silence. Her hiss was low and tense. “Not just wounded, but infected. The fever is high, and... This is not going to work.” A crash came, as Slia threw her bag of medicines down. “I don’t have what I need to…” Luana’s tail lashed, nearly hitting Reace. “Then get what you need!” “It’s not that simple!” Slia glared at Luana, who could only see the glint of the Serthis’ Wind-green eyes in the gloom of the hut. “There are items I need to gather from across the Labyrinth, and they need to brew… You don’t understand. I - I can’t promise…” “I’m not asking you to promise - I’m asking to you save her, deities be damned,” Luana said in a low, dangerous tone. Her teeth were bared. Her eyes were narrowed until she could hardly see. Her fins quivered in fury and in fear. Slia did not back down from the angry Guardian. “I’ll do what I can.”
~
Days passed. Slia came and went, gathering as much as she could find from the wilderness around her. There was not enough time to travel to a market to buy what they needed - Treble did not have the time, and regardless, Luana did not have the treasure. There was a constant fire in the camp, and Slia ordered Luana and Reace - who was injured, but not injured enough to get out of working - to mix and blend and brew and work all the ingredients. The help was a start, but it was not enough. When not gathering items or snapping orders over the fire, Slia was by Treble’s side. And when not at work following Slia’s orders, Luana stood vigil outside of Treble’s hut. Maple and Gabi were still missing, but thoughts of them were not as worrisome as thoughts of Treble, sick and shivering, inside, where Luana could not even reach her. When Treble’s infection spread, and her fever kept climbing, Slia’s muttered curses from within the hut were louder than Treble’s breathing. And when Treble stopped breathing altogether, the stunned silence in the camp was deafening.
~
“She was a great friend,” Luana said, her eyes shiny and hard. She could not make eye contact with Reace or Slia as they stood over the open grave in a clearing. There were no wildflowers filling the clearing, only thick, healthy grass - and a single, white-and-pink flower, waiting to be planted at the head of the grave. Luana stared into the blue sky, almost blinding herself as the sun beamed above - anything to avoid looking down, where the sight of Treble’s bright, beautiful feathers would break her. “So calm and patient. Always willing to lend a paw… And she knew so much. She was smart - and…” Luana trailed off. She couldn’t do this. With a clenched jaw, she turned away. Reace glanced at Luana, and then at Slia. He stepped forward and continued. “I did not know you, Treble,” he started. “But I wish you well in your travels. You are in the stars now and we will see you again soon - after work.” He added the common Lightning farewell with heartache. Slia just hung her head. She did not say anything aloud, but her sorrowful apology was clear. I wish I could have done more… Reace began to bury the dead Coatl, replacing the disturbed earth. Slia helped, and soon they were finished. He thought Luana had walked away, but when he turned around she was still there. Lying down, facing away from them. The Pearlcatcher walked over to Luana slowly, his eyes low. Slia left them alone, needing a moment for herself and her own grief. She disappeared into the undergrowthm “I am sorry for your loss,” Reace said after a moment. “The Gladekeeper and the Arcanist will protect her now,” Luana mumbled. She glanced at him. He just nodded. She took that as permission to continue. “But the Gladekeeper could have helped her before! When Slia needed the medicine to save her - the Gladekeeper did not provide for her.” Reace stared at Luana. “You speak so openly about the deities,” he said in shock. “And why should I not? They do not prove themselves to be shown any more respect than I give them.” Luana’s tail lashed. “The Gladekeeper - and all the others - work in their own ways. You can’t question them like this,” Reace said, shaking his head. “Don’t you see -” “The Gladekeeper has never given me a reason to care for her!” Before Reace could respond, there was a rumbling at their feet. They stared in astonishment as three seeds emerged from the earth, their hard bark covered in dirt, their sapling leaves shaking with the sudden movement. “Seeds?” Luana was confused. “Nature eggs,” Reace corrected, his breath caught in his throat. "Our eggs." |
I am traveling tomorrow (Friday) and will be without internet! I will try to get the coli grinding done today (Thursday). Reace is 1 day away from RTB so... maybe I'll breed him tomorrow with someone, depending on when I start to write, lol.
Update: Coli matches have been complete! We have our first coli-death... I was getting sleepy, and careless. I'm sorry everyone. :( I know exactly what I'm writing! I have a few scenes mapped out in my mind. I just need to do that when I have a chance.
@Crobbin @Fletcher @Spottedleaf125 @Zerohour @Silverhame @MoonlitLegacy @Petall @Tiirran @Violetah @BarbaraFett @sunnelion @ElectriWinter @Rusher
Here we go! Sad post... :(
News about Gabi and Maple will come in the next update lol.
I am traveling again all day tomorrow (Wednesday) and will be without internet.
