|
Post by Brandwyn on Oct 2, 2012 17:50:11 GMT -5
They hadn’t gone far before Tory heard the faint sound of a wolf howl. It was the sound a scout wolf made to alert the pack that they had found something. Having grown up spending as much time in the wilds with the animals, Tory recognized the sound and figured she, Patrick and Ben were the subject of the howl since there supposedly wasn’t anything else around for miles. Besides the smell of blood from Ben’s poor dead ranger horse was bound to attract wolves, big cats and other creatures.
A moment later she heard an answering howl a bit farther away. Feeling rather mischievous, and wondering if she still had it in her to call the wolves like she’d been able to do as a child, Tory howled back. This one a high pitched query that she hoped the other wolves would take for a stray wolf asking to join the pack. She wasn’t sure if she’d gotten the call just right however, since she was going from memory. It had sounded like a wolf call to her, but was it the right call? She had watched from a tree one time several years ago when the local pack of wolves near Meric castle had met and then welcomed a lone wolf into their pack. It had been fascinating to watch and she’d tried to remember the sounds the lone wolf had made as he had approached the pack.
Chip laid his ears back, stamped his foot and shook his head as if telling her not to call a pack of wolves down on them. “Sorry Chip, but be careful, you’re jostling Ben.” Tory reached forward to steady the litter as it pitched slightly. Chip snorted that it served her right but then he suddenly focused his attention on the road ahead, his nostrils flaring to take in the smell.
‘That’s not his usual reaction to a wolf pack,’ Tory thought. She was carrying her bow in her left hand along with two arrows, ready to fire them in a split second if those bandits showed themselves. Perhaps those weren’t real wolves she’d heard after all. But his reaction was not one of the unknown either. It was almost like when he had greeted other ranger horses at the Gathering, like he’d known them all his life. As if to confirm her suspicion, Chip gave a short, soft whicker in greeting and then cocked his head to listen, pausing in the middle of the road for a moment before he resumed his vigorous walk behind Caliber.
‘Gee whiz, Chip, if we were trying to make people think we hadn’t noticed they were there, you sure blew it,’ Tory thought as she scanned the forest up in front of Patrick and Caliber. She glanced behind her too, trying to determine if that girl was following them, but she didn’t see any signs of her.
Ben moaned and Tory gently laid her right hand on his forehead with a quick glance at him. He was very, very pale and clammy to the touch. Beads of sweat dotted his upper lip and his breathing was shallow and fast. They were going to loose him if they had to go very far and they certainly didn’t have time to fight anyone right now.
She carefully scanned the woods along the trail, figuring Patrick was doing the same. If he and Caliber had sensed anything, they were being a lot more subtle about it than Chip had been. Chip tossed his head, pointing his nose to Tory’s left but a ways in front of Patrick. Tory studied the area without turning her head. There! That tree had a nose! She could just barely make out the partial form of a man standing there. His ranger cloak hid him so well, that if Chip hadn’t pointed him out, Tory would have never seen him. ‘Too bad we humans don’t have the sense of smell dogs and horses do,’ Tory thought as an arrow sprang to her string out of habit. Her first reaction was one of relief, they’d found a ranger to help Ben! Then she remembered she was most likely wanted for murder or at least attacking a nobleman in Meric and her heart clenched in apprehension. What’s more, Patrick was definitely a wanted man and they really didn’t want to run into any rangers that would recognize them just now. Did this ranger know Palisade?
Knowing she didn’t stand much of a chance in an archery match to the death against a seasoned ranger, Tory kept her bow down with the arrow knocked on the string. She wasn’t sure if Patrick had seen the man yet or not, but she couldn’t imagine that he hadn’t. She waited to see what he or the ranger would do, pretending that she was just nervously looking around due to the sound of wolves in the distance and trying to make it look like she hadn’t seen the man who looked to be lying in ambush for them. Fear formed a hard knot in her stomach and she kept telling herself she’d rather die by being shot full of arrows than hang on a gallows for stabbing a nobleman.
He was not going to take her back to Meric.
|
|
|
Post by canislupus on Oct 3, 2012 2:02:03 GMT -5
Ben moaned and Tory gently laid her right hand on his forehead with a quick glance at him Well, this bunch certainly doesn't look like and band of bandits that I have seen, Justin thought as the rather road weary and slow moving bunch approached his position. He noticed the apprentice's horse and it's incriminating nose and he took noted of the girl's reaction as well. These are not the average group of travelers either. Well, I might as well set out of the shadows and...wait is that.....Patrick Pallisade?!, Justin thought incredulously.
Justin had heard he had heard that he had been accused of murdering a nobleman and his wife and had subsequently been kicked out of the corps, but he simply didn't believe that for a second. The man could be brutal, when the situation and the mission called for it. Hell, so could Justin for that matter, but that was the way of battle. Those who tried to make it some pretty, neat thin usually ended up face down in the mud with a knife in their gut. That said there is a stark difference between that and what Patrick was accused of and no matter what the brass said, Justin didn't think the former Ranger was that kind of man.
Justin's eyes were drawn to the injured man in on the horse. The man was in a bad way with pale ashen skin and beads of sweat showing on his face. But what moved Justin to immediately set out in the middle of the trail,slow enough so that the wouldn't startle the horses and removed his hood to reveal his strikingly handsome features creased a bit in worry was the mans cloak obviously he was a fellow Ranger. " My name is Justin a Kings Ranger, also known as the wolf. I see you have injured may I be of some assistance?", Justin asked both the girl whose horse had picked up his scent and Palisade, who he acted as if he did not recognize as he said this he also moved his cloak to the side revealing his belt pouches and unique weapons both of which would further serve to identify him to Palisade.. There would be time for that conversation later. Perhaps, their will be some way for me to aid him, God knows he helped me enough in the past
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on Oct 14, 2012 12:59:30 GMT -5
Nissa who was still grumbling slightly under her breath her the how of a wolf and froze in her tracks. The last time she had seen a wolf it had not gone very well, cause in that case it had belonged to a ranger. And they hadn't of parted on the best of terms. She did not want to get caught by him she had no doubt in her mind that he would turn her in She placed her forehead in the palm of her head and there was no way she could disguise herself either because all her stuff was back at her camp which was a little beyond the party and a little ways to the left. If she tried to go there now she really would be caught. Muttering something about rangers being a pain she climbed into a tree and waited. She would wait for everyone to go to sleep then she would slip past unseen and un noticed. At least she hoped anyway. She sighed, why? Why her? Knowing her luck that darned wolf would scent her and rat her out to the ranger. Well she was in a high position she could just shoot him. She had no qualms about shooting him in fact it would even give her some satisfaction. But then there were the other people as well they might come to his aid, possibly she knew that the girl probably would shoot her right back. Well she would cross that bridge if she came to it. She could hear the murmurings of them talking but couldn't make out what they were saying which was fine with her. She was sure it was boring anyway. As long as everyone just left her alone she would be happy if they didn't? she was going to be mad and you never wanted to see Nissa incredibly angry it wasn't pretty. Mostly it involved a lot of cursing and punching.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Nov 3, 2012 9:38:59 GMT -5
"My name is Justin, a Kings Ranger, also known as the Wolf. I see you have injured. May I be of some assistance?"
Tory watched warily as the ranger step into the road and identified himself. She didn’t know him, but then she’d only made one Gathering so she really didn’t know most of the rangers in the Corps. He didn’t seem to have recognized either she or Patrick either so she relaxed slightly, though still kept her guard up. If he’d been out in the woods for the last two weeks out of contact then he shouldn’t know anything about her mess back in Meric.
Tory studied him and determined he was about he same age as Tandar who was just four or five years older than herself. That meant he was likely a relatively new ranger, not that it made any difference in his skill levels. He could most likely shoot circles around her, especially since archery was hardly her strongest asset.
She immediately noticed how handsome he was and blushed slightly at the thought and lowered her eyes self-consciously for a moment as she was assailed by guilt. During the Gathering she had been getting pretty cozy with Dustin, but they hadn’t really made any commitment to each other. She still found it surprising that any boy could be interested in her at all. Still, she felt a bit like she was betraying Dustin just by noticing how nice looking this ranger was.
She cleared her throat, seeing that Patrick was biding his time and assessing the threats this ranger may pose to them. She decided to take the lead for the moment since Justin had addressed the issue of Ben’s injury. “We found this ranger shot in the back on the road back there,” Tory answered. “They killed his horse,” she said angrily, “we think it may have been bandits but we didn’t see them. They were gone by the time we happened upon him.” She motioned back behind them, “There were some tracks leading off into the woods back there just beyond his horse.”
She wondered if she should mention the girl hiding up in a tree back there too. She was probably long gone by now if she wasn’t one of the bandits herself and was now on the way to warn her buddies that someone had rescued the ranger they’d shot. She decided to wait to mention the girl for now. If the ranger decided to go check out the tracks she would warn him, or maybe tell him later.
“Do you know him?” Tory asked Justin, pointing to Ben. If he knew Ben there was a chance he knew Patrick and was concealing that fact for some reason. “We are trying to get to a clearing where there is better light. I think I know how to get the arrow shaft out, but it is dangerously close to his heart and spine. If you have any medical training I could probably use your assistance in the operation.”
She suddenly remembered what he’d said about his nickname. “They call you Wolf? Was that you I heard howling a bit ago?” Tory asked with a timid smile on her face, half teasing and half curious. He couldn’t have made both howls for they were not coming from the same location. “Or do you have a pet wolf?” She glanced around behind him to his hiding spot next to the road, but didn’t see any signs of a wolf lurking in the shadows.
|
|
|
Post by canislupus on Nov 7, 2012 21:14:56 GMT -5
“We found this ranger shot in the back on the road back there,” Tory answered. “They killed his horse,” she said angrily, “we think it may have been bandits but we didn’t see them. They were gone by the time we happened upon him.” She motioned back behind them, “There were some tracks leading off into the woods back there just beyond his horse.”
Justin noticed the young girl’s shyness and smiled slightly until the mention of the killing of the Rangers horse when the smile vanished from his face. A Rangers horse after all was sometimes his only companion for long periods of time and Justin couldn’t imagine losing his. “They killed his horse? How pointless. And yes, I do know him. Well, I met him at a few Gatherings, but our paths seldom crossed elsewhere. I do have some decent skill in the medical field and I have a few herbs that should help with the pain and stop infection and if you want my help I will be glad to give it, miss”
Justin paused taking a breath and then continued with a small playful grin “ And yes, I do in fact have a half-wolf as a pet. Hopefully I don’t look to much like him after spending so much time in the wild” Justin ended with a playful tone in his voice as he whistled Lupe and Moon over from their nearby fall back position in the trees. Lupe soon joined them and gave the group and Troy , specifically a sniff and then seemed to give Justin a nod . “Well, it seems Lupe likes you. Now, let us see to your friend. Lead the way to the clearing, Pretty one. “ Justin said with a smile as he motioned to the girl to show him the way to the clearing.
|
|
|
Post by Tandar on Nov 27, 2012 16:58:38 GMT -5
"What about her?" Tory asked.
Patrick shrugged. After a moment of thought, he said, “Immobilize her if she tails us.” He pointed a finger at his upper leg and prodded it, simulating the shaft of an arrow entering his thigh. “Stay vigilant.”
While they were on the move, Palisade listened with interest to Tory’s wolf call. She certainly was at home with animals. Even now, she managed to surprise Palisade every now and then by demonstrating rare talents. The howls of the wolves were close. Living in the wilderness for extended periods had taught Palisade not to fear the pack. Caliber made a subtle but distinctive movement with his ears just as Chocolate Chip whickered in greeting.
The soldier scanned the edges of the path. Despite having a trained eye, or perhaps because he had only one, he didn’t spot the camouflaged Ranger until they were close. When he did, his heart rate increased noticeably. He almost wished it had been a group of bandits lying in wait instead of a highly trained King’s Ranger who would likely remember him, if not from the Gatherings, then from the posters. Palisade’s grip on the powerful longbow held across the saddle instinctively tightened. He already had an arrow nocked. His mind raced. Should he pretend he didn’t see the cloaked bowman to build up the element of surprise, or should he acknowledge the man’s presence and risk getting identified? I have wounded on my hands, he reminded himself. I could use the help.
The Ranger presented himself, offering aid. Patrick felt a sense of relief come over him, and he let out the pent up breath he didn’t realize he was holding. It seemed the man didn’t know him, but the name sounded familiar. Palisade got a good look at the Ranger’s face, and instantly, he knew that the Ranger had recognized him. He turned away and mumbled softly under his breath. “Mactíre.”
Palisade cleared his throat loudly, interrupting Justin's inane prattle about his pet canine. “We’re en route to Baxter’s Glade just over the ridge, and we're on a tight schedule,” he stated brusquely. "We need to keep moving."
Since Tory wasn’t actually familiar with the region, Palisade led the party to the glade, constantly on high alert, now that they knew murderous brigands were operating nearby. Upon their arrival, he stretched out a tarpaulin in a flat, spacious area and gently laid Ben on it.
|
|
|
Post by canislupus on Dec 6, 2012 3:13:03 GMT -5
Palisade cleared his throat loudly, interrupting Justin's inane prattle about his pet canine. “We’re en route to Baxter’s Glade just over the ridge, and we're on a tight schedule,” he stated brusquely. "We need to keep moving."
Well, something is obviously set his instincts afire. I wonder if he recognized me? Well, there will be time to deal with that later. , Justin thought as he followed the group to the near by clearing. As, they walked the birds chattered and fluttered quickly away and squawked in protest as the group approached their nesting areas. Funny how even when man is at his most dire hour and we think the world should stop for the sake of those we know getting hurt or killed that nature just keeps moving in the same old cycle, Justin thought as the Ranger being brought off of the horse and laid on the tarpaulin and he gathered up the herbs and tools he would need to cleanse himself and the wound path and some to put under the Rangers tongue to ensure he wouldn't wake up during the removal of the arrow shaft and he also grabbed an arrow spoon, to aid in the removal of the arrow head; he put all of these in to a satchel and moved into the clearing leaving both his half-wolf and horse in the tree line, but keeping his weapons. It never paid to be foolish, after all.
Looking toward Palisade Justin said" If I am going to tend to him I am going to need a fire. Would you mind taking care of that? Or getting one of your party to while I examine the wound and prepare my herbs." During, the short walk Justin's witty, friendly manner bread from long years of fighting in situations where the only humor was that which one made for himself, switched to a calm, cool and professional one. He was after all one of the main medical practitioners in the Rangers, thanks to his fathers training while he was young.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 8, 2012 12:01:23 GMT -5
"What about her?" Tory asked.
Patrick shrugged. After a moment of thought, he said, “Immobilize her if she tails us.” He pointed a finger at his upper leg and prodded it, simulating the shaft of an arrow entering his thigh. “Stay vigilant.”
Tory understood. She was to shoot the girl in the thigh if they were followed. Tory nodded and resisted the urge to rub her old arrow wound in her own thigh, momentarily going back to their flight from the Grizzly camp outside of La Rivage when she was shot in the thigh. The wound still caused her to limp sometimes and ached terribly in the cold damp weather even though that was three years ago. ‘I can hardly believe it has been so long ago,” she mused as she followed Palisade. Then her thoughts were interrupted by the howl of a wolf.
… Justin paused taking a breath and then continued with a small playful grin “And yes, I do in fact have a half-wolf as a pet. Hopefully I don’t look to much like him after spending so much time in the wild” Justin ended with a playful tone in his voice as he whistled Lupe and Moon over from their nearby fall back position in the trees. Lupe soon joined them and gave the group and Tory, specifically a sniff and then seemed to give Justin a nod. “Well, it seems Lupe likes you. Now, let us see to your friend. Lead the way to the clearing, Pretty one,“ Justin said with a smile as he motioned to the girl to show him the way to the clearing.
Tory whined softly as the half-wolf approached, greeting him as an equal and avoiding looking directly in his eyes. She made no move to pet him as he sniffed her but instead stood calmly, a slight smile of delight on her face at being so close to a wolf, even if it was a mixed breed. She wasn’t the least bit afraid of him and longed to reach out and rub the ruff on his neck, but now was not the time for that. She blushed again when Justin called her pretty and hid her face behind her arm, pretending to check on Ben again.
Palisade cleared his throat loudly… “We’re en route to Baxter’s Glade just over the ridge, and we're on a tight schedule,” he stated brusquely. "We need to keep moving."
Within a few minutes of meeting this new ranger, they were moving again and quickly came to a clearing.
Tory looked it over, making note of the nearby water source and nodded, “This’ll do,” as Patrick was already laying out the tarp. She deposited the bundle of wood on the ground next to the tarp. She had been gathering it as they had walked while keeping an eye out for that girl and the bandits. Everyone was tense and the horses picked up on it. She too went to her pack behind Chip’s saddle and pulled out her medkit and a clay jug with a waxed cork seal. She set them on the other side of Ben from where Justin had laid out his tools and herbs and unrolled the surgical tools she had managed to acquire over the past year.
“I have boiled water in this jug already, and this vial has some nettle extract that will help numb the immediate wound as we work on him.” Tory said as she cut away Ben’s tunic and undershirt. She felt his neck and knew his heartbeat was too fast and his breathing too shallow. It would not do to rush this however, so she took a deep calming breath as she watched Justin clean off the wound and immediate area around it while she washed her hands. She could tell he knew what he was doing and likely she could learn a lot from him. However, she wasn’t sure if his knowledge included actual surgery, so she wasn’t going to let him cut into Ben until she knew more about his skills.
“You must know Ranger Greenriver, then, judging by all these herbs you have. He knows a whole lot about herbs and healing and taught me a little while I was in Araluen City.” Tory said as she leaned over to the side to pull her pack of herbs closer. Her bronze oak leaf slipped out from under her tunic, unnoticed by Tory since she was so used to wearing it. “I have been studying with the physicians in Norgate and Marshwood this past year, learning combat surgery. I have taken out several arrow points from arms and legs, but never one in this deep or so close to his heart and spine.” She admitted, wanting Justin to know that she had acquired considerable skills but that she was by no means an expert. And an expert is exactly what Ben needed right now. Was Justin more skilled than she? They were going to have to work together either way to get this arrow out of the older ranger for one was going to have to carefully cut the wound open while the other extracted the arrow point and shaft. If they pushed it through, they would surely kill Ben.
She picked up her scalpel and looked up into Justin’s eyes with a question in her own blue ones. “Are you ready? Do you want me to do the cutting?” Her stomach was full of butterflies because she knew Ben’s life was in her hands now. One false move and she would kill him. She tried not to think about it and to kick her brain into technical mode. If she concentrated on technique she would be fine.
She took one quick glance to Patrick and knew he was going to keep watch with the horses, for this operation was going to take all of her concentration and an interruption by bandits in the middle of it would not be a good thing. She could tell he knew Justin and that he was a bit tense about it, but that was understandable. After they were finished with Ben things were probably going to get pretty interesting.
|
|
|
Post by Tandar on Apr 9, 2013 14:10:32 GMT -5
"I'm on it," he replied to Justin. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have allowed a fire because the smoke rising above the treetops would alert everyone nearby, namely the bandits. However, since a Ranger's life was at stake, he made an exception.
Palisade raked back the flammable organic material on a patch next to the tarpaulin until the bare earth was showing. The soldier kept his longbow always within reach as he worked. It never paid to be careless in dangerous territory. He scavenged the area and collected several large rocks with which he built a fire ring to keep the flame from spreading. Using the wood bundle Tory procured, he placed the logs in a conical arrangement with the ends of the wood leaning against each other at the top. Inside the cone, he positioned small pieces of kindling and tinder made from dead sticks that he had broken and dry moss. Lighting it with a few strikes from his knife and a chunk of flint, he breathed life into it. After the initial billow of gray smoke from the dried out cedar, a warm glow emanated from the center of the mass.
Once Palisade finished nurturing the fire, he took up watch at the edge of the clearing, listening intently for the sound of anyone approaching while he waited for Justin and Tory to complete the surgery.
|
|
|
Post by canislupus on Jul 25, 2013 20:12:50 GMT -5
“I have boiled water in this jug already, and this vial has some nettle extract that will help numb the immediate wound as we work on him.” Tory said as she cut away Ben’s tunic and undershirt. “You must know Ranger Greenriver, then, judging by all these herbs you have. He knows a whole lot about herbs and healing and taught me a little while I was in Araluen City.”
Good, that will help if he wakes during the surgery, Justin thought as the girl applied the extract to the young Ranger’s wound. “Good thinking, my supply of that extract is running a little low. The Ranger corps never could quite teach me to dodge arrows.” Justin grinned a little at the self-disparaging joke.
At the mention of Ranger Green River Justin’s curiosity was piqued though the year of training that he received in both the corps and during his youth kept it from showing on his face. Greenriver very rarely takes in pupils that are not in the corps. I wonder how this girl came to study under him?, Justin thought as he did a second check of his tools. Turning to face the girl he said “Aye, I studied under him for a while, but I received most of my training in herbs from my father. He was a former Ranger himself, actually. But the tool that I am going to use for this job was given to me by Greenriver.” Justin said pointing to a nearby instrument that looked something like an arrow head shaped spoon. Picking up the tool he continued “See the broadhead shape here? The head of the arrow will fit there and the shaft in the section behind it this way the arrow and broadhead can be removed without causing any more damage to the tissue and then all we can do is control the bleeding, for which I have some herbs prepared.”
As Justin finished and began to sterilize the instruments’ he was about to use with boiling water, which amounted to a small scalpel and the arrow spoon device and then after arranging them near to hand he washed his own hands in water that he had allowed to cool in a small pot of his own. Then turning to Tory and noticing her nervousness” I am glad to have someone else here that knows some of the healer’s art though. By the way since we are about to perform surgery together perhaps I could have something to call you by? I am afraid any polite term may be too full of words for in the middle of surgery.” Justin said with a smile. Although, he really did dimply want to know the young lady’s name for ease of use he was just as interested in learning who was traveling with Palisade.
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on Aug 5, 2013 6:07:42 GMT -5
Nissa watched them from her tree her body tight with tension. She recognized the latest comer to the party and she wasn't happy. It was a ranger named Justin and his stupid wolf. Some months back she had, had a run in with him and lets just say he didn't like her anymore. Of course he probably never did because she was a bandit but when you try to kill someone and it fails they tend to hold grudges. Especially rangers, what was she going to do? Now for sure she wouldn't be able to get to her camp without being noticed and she wouldn't be able to get out of this tree either. The wolf would probably sent her faster than she could plead guilty at a trial. Her grip tightened on her bow, there was no doubt in her mind she was going to get caught. It wouldn't be so bad she supposed if there had only been the girl and the injured man and the other man she could easily sneak by him. But with this added man now what was his name? she couldn't remember if he had told her or not, but now he was free to watch the woods like a hawk while the other two operated on the injured ranger. She wondered briefly if the ranger had been coming for her. Either way, she was a mouse in a trap and there were some very hungry cats waiting to pounce.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 31, 2013 13:31:12 GMT -5
Then turning to Tory and noticing her nervousness” I am glad to have someone else here that knows some of the healer’s art though. By the way since we are about to perform surgery together perhaps I could have something to call you by? I am afraid any polite term may be too full of words for in the middle of surgery.” Justin said with a smile.
Tory didn't answer right away. She hadn't really been prepared for an encounter with another ranger. She knew if she looked to Patrick for some silent communication on what she should tell the ranger, she would betray volumes of information to the man. Rangers were highly observant and could sense lies more easily than the average person. Her nervousness grew and she tried to concentrate on picking out herbs to stop the blood flow, pouring them into her motar and grinding them up with her pestol and a bit of the boiled water to make a paste.
'Keep it simple and honest,' she thought to herself. The best lies were those that contained the most truth. Having made up her mind she looked up at Justin and smiled back (he really did have a nice smile and friendly eyes, she noted). "Tory," she said simply, offering no further name or explaination. She didn't risk a glance at Patrick to verify if she had done right or not.
"It sounds like you have had some practice digging out arrows, so why don't you lead and I will try to stop the bleeding as you go," she suggested. She was so nervous she thought her hands would be shaking horribly, but they weren't. She had discovered in the past that she actually got very calm during a crisis. The nerves didn't hit her until afterwards, then she fell apart. She could feel the analytical side taking over as she watched Justin work, dabbing at the blood that welled up out of the deep wound so he could see what he was doing.
While Justing was concentrating on the wound, Tory briefly glanced at Palisade, asking him with her eyes if she had done okay in giving out her real name. She supposed only time would tell. Justin seemed like a very nice man, but would he feel the need to turn them in if he found out who they were and that they were both wanted criminals?
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Jun 27, 2014 20:17:41 GMT -5
An hour later Tory was keeping a close watch on Ben while she prepared a pan of sausage bread and asparagus. She knew Patrick was probably fretting about the delay, but moving Ben so soon after digging out the arrow could be fatal. If they had a wagon so they could give him a smoother ride, it might be okay, but even with that there was a chance he could get jostled enough to pull out his stitches.
She and Justin had worked together on the wound like they had done it a dozen times before. The arrow point was lodged so close to Ben's spine that they had quite the ordeal digging it out without doing more damage. She was fairly certain they had not paralyzed him, though. It had very nearly pierced his heart, it was in so deep, but luck was with them there too. It had nicked his lung, however and they had to work furiously for several minutes to stitch up the hole. Ben stopped breathing at one point, but his heart beat on, albiet feebly.
Once they got the arrow point out, they cleaned the wound and stitched him up. Then dressed it in freshly boiled bandages with an herb pack to combat infection. All-in-all Tory thought he had a decent chance at surviving - IF they weren't in the middle of the woods with hostile bandits all around them.
"Here you go," tory slipped a plate loaded with pan fried bread stuffed with mushrooms, greens, potatoes and a side of grilled asparagus to Justin and another one to Patrick. She took up the third plate and sat down on the ground next to Ben while she ate.
"I suppose we can't spend the night here, can we?" she asked looking at Ben and hearing his shallow, slow breaths. "I really don't think moving him is a good idea."
He looked like he was sleeping now, rather than before when he was just completely unconcious. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but she thought she detected a change in his breathing, as if he might be regaining consciousness. She watched him intently for several minutes.
"Ben? Are you awake?" she asked him.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Feb 20, 2015 5:12:57 GMT -5
Ben drifted through the velvet darkness as soft and gently as if he were a feather. Somewhere within the darkness, he could hear a warm, golden voice talking to him, calling him gently. Somehow, even though he didn't recognize the voice, he knew it was Heather. He felt himself drifting toward the sound of her voice, slowly, slowly, slowly.... He came awake without really realizing it at first, just slowly becoming aware of the fact that he was. Once he was aware of this development, he gradually began to notice other things as well. The firelight that caused the shadows to flicker and dance... He was still alive... He was in a LOT of pain... And then, sound. Someone close by, speaking, in a querying tone. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. He tried looking in the direction of the sound, but the slightest movement of his head caused the pain to spike sharply. He struggled to breath through the pain for a moment before it subsided, leaving sharp, tingling needles of pain throughout his body. The owner of the voice shifted into his range of vision - a girl, with what was akin to a look of worry mixed with hope. "I-know..you from- some-where...don't-I?" His voice was rough and broken and wracked with the pain that quickened and ebbed at sporadic will. (OOC : this post is brought to you by the good folks at at&t. Enjoy! )
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on Mar 7, 2015 8:53:12 GMT -5
They were cooking?! Nissa licked her lips a little wishfully. Thinking about all that glorious food, her stomach rumbled, reminding her of how empty it was. She looked down at it and glared. "Oh shut up." She sighed and shifted her position in the tree to be more comfortable. The food smelled so good! She was hungry so very hungry like most people like her she barely got three meals a day, lately she'd barely gotten one decent meal a day. She was a smart bandit if she robbed a traveler on the road chances were she'd take his money, weapons, AND his food. But there hadn't been people, what little food she had at her camp was an apple stale bread and a wedge of cheese also on the verge of going moldy. Her ribs stuck out farther than they had in a long time. Before she escaped her father, she shuddered as memories of him crowded her mind, no she wouldn't think of him. He was gone and couldn't hurt her anymore. She looked at her arm and took off the archery bracer, there on the back of her arm was a long scar still pink though it had been some years since her father had made it. She roughly put her bracer back on covering most of the scar, she bet the fire was warm, she was cold she'd forgotten her cloak, and the day had been pleasant so she just wore her leather vest exposing her arms. She settled down in her tree getting ready for a hungry cold night.
|
|