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 Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:17 pm
(8'D Fought with it.
Hopefully the posts will be correct now. )
He was tempted to lean closer to the door. All he could hear now were faint mumbles. Alek paused with a frown, maybe he should just leave them be...
Ah, how he despised not knowing what was going on.
"Dark." The single word was spoken softly, like just saying it would bring a curse. "It depends. Sometimes never, sometimes hours or months." The cattaur shrugged tiredly. "If ya be lucky the magic didn't seep underneath the wound, that's what's dangerous."
She scowled, "It can burn underneath there as long as the owner's inner fire is living. That is a rare event though." She tried to smile encouragingly, "I'm hoping that yours 'tis is not such a case."
The older cattaur started moving through older viles and began to stack an odd assortment on a table. "I'll need ta mix these." She muttered before pulling out a little bowl.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:15 am
*crosses fingers before posting*
Ashierra held up her hand, looking at it sadly, silently. She didn't notice the elder move off to her vials, lost in thought. Maybe she should just tell Alek the truth? She wouldn't have to hide her hand then... but what would he say? Briefly, she began to wonder why she cared so much about what the male thought and felt. Normally, she would have yelled at the taur who had caused the burn as soon as she got the chance. Yet, now, she was hiding it...
She started to feel shivers on her skin. The shack was still mysterious, but something new was bothering her now. Frowning, she let a small ball of fire crawl up and down her spine from neck to tail and back to warm herself. "Can you tell? If the magic got underneath?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:00 pm
"Not always." The old cattaur sighed as she attacked the bowl viciously with a wooden spoon. "But we can try." Soon the aroma of the bowl floated around the shack filling it with a hazy feeling that was scented of bitter herbs.
"Come here and we'll start." She motioned Ashierra towards the table. "What is your name child?" She asked before moving aside to make room for the other cattaur.
Alek sighed as he leaned against the wall. Something was tickling his senses now and the cattaur vaguely remembered it. That scent...once some time ago - where had he smelt it before?
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:39 pm
Brushing the haze out of her eyes to keep them from watering, she without another thought walked over to the table, peeking into the bowl. "It's-" She glanced down. She usually didn't give her name to someone she didn't think she'd meet again... "It's Ashierra." She said, glancing back at the door, wondering what Alek was doing out there as he waited. "May I know your name?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:30 pm
"Ashierra." The older cattaur motioned towards the bowl with a hand, "We need to place yer burned hand into this mix." The herbalist paused though as she looked back away from Ashierra, "My name's been mostly forgottan over the years. Herbalist will do, but Rosemary is also something I've been called."
Coughing the cattaur shook her head, "Now come here and we'll begin."
Fire...darkness...pain. Alek shook his head and looked up to the clouds. "Oh great." He laughed bitterly, "I'm looking for shapes now to pass the time."
Really he was worried. Was something wrong with Ashierra for this to be happening? The male shook his head, 'Such silly worries'.
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:48 pm
Ashierra slowly lowered her hand into the strange mixture, poking it once at first, and feeling nothing. She eased into it to fully immerse her hand. At first, she felt nothing.
"Rosemary. Sounds better than Herbalist." She found a small amusement in the name. An herbalist named after an herb. She grasped at that minimal amusement, using it as support. She looked at her hand, nervous. 'Please. Work.'
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:15 am
Rosemary concentrated on the bowl and as her eyes flashed white the liquid started swirling around Ashierra's hand. It went from a soft cool to a soothing warmth that became like fire.
Dark tendrils of smoke came out in thick swirls that darkened the bowl making it splash dangerously against the thick glass. "Hmm..." The herbalist snapped her fingers forcing the water to stay inside the bowl.
The fur on Alek's back rose. Something was going on! With a growl the cattaur pounded at the door, "Hey! Hey!" His ears swiveled forward and he strained for any sounds.
The herbalist sighed. "Seems he senses something." Her eyes now a calm gray looked at Ashierra, "Don't worry."
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:29 pm
As the water seemed to bubble between comfortingly warm and awfully hot, Ashierra couldn't help but feel her muscles stiffen. Two times now, in as many days, she was feeling heat when she should be absorbing it instead.
Her head snapped around when Alek made noise at the door, but the rest of her didn't move an inch. She seemed to be held in place. She opened her mouth to say it was okay, but nothing came out. The only reason she started breathing again was because Rosemary told her to not worry. "Wha- ...what is he sensing?" She asked softly. Maybe it was all the incense in the air, but she seemed unable to think clearly at the moment. She wasn't sensing anything... Or maybe she could, but only her body knew it, not her mind.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:15 am
"Residue of his own works, perhaps."
His hands were burning. Flesh rippled as black steam swirled up from the wounds created against the naga. Alek's eyes stared in amazement as it reignited. What the hell was going on?!
The old lady shouldn't be summoning - No! Two conflicting thoughts crashed in his mind. Either she was apart of something he had left behind or she was healing. Healing against one of those burns.
Ashierra? Was she hurt by that fire? When?! Alek swore.
"Don't leave the water, Ashierra! Close your eyes and ignore it!" The herbalist cried out suddenly as the smoke became more - far more than the older cattaur could remember. This magic had been not only cast, but in rage. That feeling allowed it to rekindle. But what had happened for Ashierra to be a victim?
She did the only thing she could do. With a strength unseen the cattaur swung open the door. "Stop it!"
"Stop it?"
"Yes! You can do it!" She pushed against Alek and led him to Ashierra. His hands were awfully hot and the herbalist watched as the male cattaur winced at the sight of Ashierra's hand in the water.
He remembered a sight similar to this one. But it had been far worse - a female cattaur burned all over. Both on the outside and inside. It was the first time he ever saw his father cry for help. The last as well.
He swallowed and looked to Rosemary. "What do I need to do?"
"You should know already." She watched as he approached Ashierra and placed his own hands into the water. His fingers reached for Ashierra's with a tender touch. Alek felt searing pain as he forced the fire inside to die down to embers. Faint embers that would drain from her wound and come back to him - the owner.
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:17 am
"Ignore it?!" Ashierra yelped, though followed the second direction and closed her eyes. "How do you expect me to-" Her words were cut off by a coughing fit, the thickening smoke getting in her face. She doubled over, trying to find cleaner air, somehow keeping her hand in the bowl. Thoughts going both sickeningly fast and thickly slow in her mind, she didn't notice the woman leave or Alek appear until the male touched her hand. Hot flames burst under the burnt skin of her hand, making her cry out and lean against Alek's side, as though trying to hide from their hands. Soon the fire was gone, her hand freezing compared to the heat it had just endured. She could feel where his hand was against hers. A cool breeze blew through the still open front door, the smoke billowing out through it, clearing the air Ashierra gasped for.
She remained leaning against Alek, blood pumping in her ears, unable to comprehend what had happened just yet. Her hand still lay in the water, raw and pink, healing. It would be normal again by nightfall, as though nothing had happened to it.
Like when the burn had first appeared, she felt the need to demand an explanation, like she would with anyone else. To push away and at least yell. She was still so confused though, unsure, drained by the new startling experience. She mustered everything she could to speak quietly. "What the hell." She fought to find her training, to straighten her back and stand by herself, to face what was going on, to see it on a logical level, instead of the emotional...
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:40 am
The older cattaur frowned, worry easily seen on her creased features. Would it work? Did they have enough will to push through? She sighed a soft breath of relief as she left the rest to Alek. It looked like it worked.
He had no time to swear - only enough time to fight against the surge of fire that threatened to over spill. The dying embers of a pushed back power finally rested in him as he felt the last of the magic leave Ashierra.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered as he supported Ashierra. No flicker of light flashed in his eyes, just concern and sorrow. "Ashierra...I- I."
But how could he explain something so painful? So damning? She surely would want nothing to do with him after hearing of his bloodline. The cattaur could only remain silent. Even his gaze flickered to the side, downcast.
"She'll need something." Whispered Rosemary as she patted Alek's shoulder, "As will you. Both of you may sit down...if you wish." She disappeared into a backroom - searching for an old, once forgotten medicine.
Alek closed his eyes. How was he to face Ashierra now?
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:00 am
Ashierra finally opened her eyes, taking deep breaths as she stared at the floor, listening to the two voices. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Sit? Could she move at all?
Her eyes flicked up to her hand, pulling it slowly out of the bowl. She flexed her fingers, frowning at the tenderness. As she pulled from her training reserves, she was able to stand up straighter. It was another time before she could look up at Alek's face. Pressing her lips together, firming her jaw against emotion, she held her pink hand in front of the male's face. "How?" She asked, waiting for Alek to open his eyes again, her eyes full of questions and concerns and... need. For answers. For Alek.
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:11 am
Alek blinked at her. "Magic." Figuring that she would protest at such a simple answer he just held up his hand. Later. Please. The herbalist was back in the room again.
"'Ere." Rosemary handed both vials of strange looking liquid. "Down it before ya sleep tonight. T'is all I can do." She added softly. But they'd both be fine, thank the gods.
"Thank you." Alek looked down at the herbalist and gave a small respectful smile. Any hint of the annoyance from before was gone. "What do we owe you?"
She grinned and nearly found herself forgetting the problem as she argued with Alek over how much pay. Rosemary huffed though. This male was outrageous! First of all she didn't want more than a coin and he was - he was!
But she finally gave in and took the small pouch that the cattaur offered her. "I'd get goin' ya two, seems like a rain may be on its way." She commented as she ushered both Alek and Ashierra outside.
Alek nodded his thanks again to Rosemary before looking down the path. The sky did seem grayer than usual. Maybe the herbalist was right. He shrugged, trying his best to avoid contact with Ashierra's gaze.
That look in Ashierra's eyes unnerved him - that was for sure. He walked slowly knowing that the questions would start coming soon.
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:01 pm
Except for when she took the vial from Rosemary, Ashierra's eyes didn't leave Alek. Magic. She wanted to smack him upside his head for such a silly answer. As if she couldn't figure out that part! She barely even registered being pulled outside before the fresh air kicked in. Shaking her head, she turned and grasped the elder female's arm. "Thank you for your help." She said, gazing at the elder with a small but appreciative smile. Then she turned and simply walked after Alek. The only expression on her face now given away by a slight tightening of her lips and the spark of aggravation in her eyes, which couldn't seem to find a place to settle on other than the back of the male's neck ahead.
The questions would come certainly, but she wanted Alek to think a bit, to simmer in what had happened. Something of her also hoped he would just spill it once the thick silence between them and the hut got too thick. 'Magic.' ...What kind of answer was that?!
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:10 pm
She was awfully quiet. Alek's neck felt itchy and he resisted the urge to rub at the feeling. Neither did he follow the slight urge to turn around - surely he would be scarred at the sight! She was probably fuming behind him and he was surprised that he didn't feel a wall of fire at his back.
They weren't approaching town, but they were out of sight of the hut by now. Really Alek didn't know where they were going. Probably the direction I'll head whenever I'm most likely on my own tomorrow. He sighed so softly that it was silent.
Not even a bird seemed to be making a noise anymore. Alek frowned at the thick silence. Why wasn't she ramming questions down his throat by now? He shrugged and made a faint attempt at a whistled melody before giving up.
The only thing to make him pause was a fork in the path. Should they turn back now or keep going? He stopped and with a sigh finally took a peek back towards Ashierra. "Well?"
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