|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:36 pm
The retreat to Neued was harrowing. With his patient skirting consciousness, Uquin was left to his thoughts and gradually tiring muscles. Never a good combination. The tents, with all the supplies so painstakingly gathered and donated, had been left behind - what hadn't been grabbed up, at least. The bodies of the fallen were left behind as well, and the question of whether or not the Oban forces would respectfully bury them was unclear.
Some of them had been captured, Uquin learned, overhearing it from warriors who caught up with loved ones or friends, explaining the horror that had occurred on the battlefield. Others were simply missing in action, having disappeared into the forests of the battleground, perhaps injured with no one to help. Others whispered that there were traitors - those who threw down their spears and prostrated themselves at the feet of the Oban warriors.
Morale was incredibly low, and Uquin didn't know what to think. For once he was utterly lost - and without the older sage, Biroki, to be found for some guidance, all he really had to cling to was caring for this 'Nuawahn' until he recovered. Then he'd be left to himself, and the thought was terrifying - he'd never thought he'd regret leaving home. But even home, with how terrible it had been, was somehow a sunnier option than a prentice all alone during wartime.
Releasing a shaking breath, Uquin looked up sharply and felt a swell of relief - the traveling hoard had slowed, and begun to fall into the grass, some exhausted from battle. Runners had moved ahead and set up a few hasty tents, which would no doubt be used by the elders to plan the next move. For now, Uquin prevailed upon the generosity of one of the older Shifters who had come out from the village with supplies, who kindly offered him water and a rag for the...mess. Then Uquin found the cleanest patch of grass he could, since there were more seriously injured parties in the healing tents when he tried to get in, and wet the rag, setting to cleaning Nuawahn.
"How are you feeling? Is your arm alright?" He asked softly, cleaning the mess from Nuawahn's chin.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 2:21 pm
Nuawahn had only distantly been aware of his ride, though he knew he was on a shoulder and that it was a very comfortable shoulder. He liked shoulders. Had he ever told anybody that? He liked shoulders. Shoulders were nice.
He must have dozed or something like it, because he wasn't sure when he was set down on the soft grass. It smelled of Jahuar and rich earthy living things. He liked grass too. It woke him up a little to be on such different ground, not smelling of blood.
His mind was a little less addled after the rest - he was more tired than sick, and, though disoriented, found he could open his eyes and not have the world dance around him. Someone, he realized was asking him a question. And cleaning him up? He was a bit confused.
"My arm?" his arm. What about his arm? "It hurts? A bit..." he murmured, it kind of did, a nagging pain, the kind that was letting you know it was there, and that it could be far worse if it wanted to be. He blinked, things coming into focus. "Who're you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:45 pm
Hm. At least his fellow apprentice was lucid, to a point. Uquin's biggest concern was that his arm was jostled, or further broken in the journey - but if it was only hurting a bit, and not excruciating, then it should be fine. Uquin hummed softly under his breath, then sat comfortably next to him, sighing as he wrung the rag out in the water basin.
"Uquin." He reminded, patiently, watching the wind earthling speculatively. Uquin had told him before, his name, but it wasn't unusual that such a thing would slip his mind.
He was injured, after all. But, just in case... "Do you know your name? Do you remember how we got here?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:27 am
"Oh." he said, smiling at Uquin, "Hi Uquin." whether he knew his name or not was a strange question, but Nuawahn figured it was just a roundabout way of asking his name. Maybe Uquin was just shy. Sort of? He didn't seem that shy.
"I'm Nuawahn..." he said, thinking for a moment. The other question had to be a trick or something. Was it a test? A game? "Ummm..." he thought for a moment, his head hurting as he did. It didn't feel right to think so hard. "Ummm, I give up. How did we get here?" Nuawahn wasn't quite sure how he got there, or what had happened or why everything was still so foggy. He wasn't alarmed, though, this had happened before. He liked Uquin, though. He seemed like a nice guy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:51 pm
... Was the wind boy always so... out of it? Uquin was concerned that his head really HAD been smashed beyond repair, and so he leaned back on his haunches with a wince, running his hand lightly over the shaved prat of his head, thinking. "Let me try another question. Do you remember the battle, Nuawahn?" He asked, a bit quieter, tilting his had and lowering his hands into his lap.
Memory loss? Or was he simply dizzy and out of it, unsure what had happened? It could be so many things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 8:38 am
The battle...? Did he remember the... Hmm...
Nuawahn thought for a moment, trying to nudge the fog away a little bit to tell the nice man what he wanted to know. His thoughts cleared a little, sticky and thick like syrup, but not sweet. No. Not sweet at all.
He grimaced. "I don't wanna." he replied. It was blurry and foggy and uncertain, but he remembered enough to not want to remember more right now. "Do I have to?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 10:18 pm
...Uquin really couldn't blame him. He sighed and leaned back against his feet, rubbing his face with a wince. "No. No you don't - just knowing you can is enough." Uquin said. He was trying to be soothing, but his tone was clipped, tired. It wasn't Nuawahn's fault, but after carrying him to Neueud, and not resting after the chaos that was the camp during the battle - Uquin was feeling horribly exhausted.
"Are you thirsty?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:47 am
"Oh. Good. said Nuawahn, relieved. He wasn't sure he would like remembering the battle, though he would probably remember it later, just to know what it was.
Uquin seemed... strained? Strained was the word, and it puzzled Nua a little. "I'm a bit thirsty, Mr. Uquin, but..." he frowned in lighthearted concern, his brow creasing slightly with effort, "Are you okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:34 am
Hm? Uquin had nodded at the request, and already pushed himself to stand by the time he realized Nuawahn had continued speaking. He blinked, tilting his head at the other prentice, then grunted softly in ascent. "I wasn't injured in the battle, but ... thank you." He answered instead.
With a brief grip of Nuawahn's shoulder, Uquin stepped away from where the Wind earthling had been settled to lay, and returned with a full waterskin after only a short while (having acquainted himself with where water could be found when they first arrived at the village). This time, instead of kneeling by the other man again, Uquin sat heavily next to him, his legs crossed, holding the water skin out for Nuawahn's good arm. If he could reach out to drink it himself, then Uquin would know he was somewhat recovered.
If, however, he couldn't sit up, or responded by clumsily knocking it aside, then he'd know just how much care the boy still required. "There was a girl back there that said she knew you - I think we got seperated in the retreat." What had her name been again? She'd been the Wind girl who helped mixed salves in the tents... Mel? Mella?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:00 pm
Nuawahn was relieved that Uquin wasn't hurt, not that he was in a position to do much to help the man. When Uquin walked away, his eyelids began to droop, the fog of Nauwahn's mind trying to fill in the spaces he had chased it out of.
Uquin's heavy impact with the ground woke Nuawahn from his strange half-slumber, and, smelling water (which he wanted) he feebly reached for it, missing grabbing it a few times.
Strange he thought, Its right there yet, he just couldn't seem to grab it, his hand constantly falling short of where it clearly was. Finally, he touched it only to knock it aside. He frowned in frustration and tried to struggle upright, but his head began to whirl unpleasantly and he leaned back again, blinking, until the feeling went away.
He didn't like that feeling.
"Mella?" it was very difficult to think, "Oh. Yes. Mella." he knew a Mella. "Mella is an artist." he informed Uquin, slurring slightly "She draws pictures."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 2:03 am
Was it selfish of Uquin to hope that Nuawahn's recovery had been more than simply waking? He held his breath, despite himself, as the boy reached for the waterskin, but within moments it was clear that the blow to his head was still far from settled. Remembering things was a good sign - as was waking in the first place. However... Nuawahn seemed to have dozed off while he was gone (though him snapping awake again relaxed Uquin's concerns, at least partly), and missing the skin meant he lacked proper depth perception. That or his muscle control was shot, and spirits knew that wasn't a pleasant thing to go through.
Uquin furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what else he could do to help his patient. At this point, without magic, the best he could offer was food, water, and rest. So Uquin opened his satchel and searched for the clean, sterile cloth of a bandage, pouring water onto the absorbent material until it became swollen with it - then he shifted close to Nuawahn and held now soaked rag to his lips for him to drink. Even if Uquin helped him sit up, that could still make the wind boy dizzy anyway. "Pictures?" Uquin asked, but he didn't pay much mind - other than that Nuawahn remembered this fact, which was good, and slurred his words - which was dangerous.
"At this point - rest is the best thing for you. I'll stay here, with you." Lets just hope he doesn't somehow projectile vomit on him again, Uquin thought mutinously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:23 pm
"Mmhmm. She painted a picture of my capramel on a rock." The words felt so strange in his mouth, thick and syruppy like porridge. It was kinda funny, actually, how they swirled and swished. Of course, they did not imply good things about the state of his brain.
He held the swollen bandage to his thirsty lips - which was a lot easier than trying to grab the water skin. ]He hadn't been sure why Uquin was pouring water on a cloth, but he was thirsty and it was not hard to drink from it. The cool water, though it tasted of cloth, was refreshing on his parched throat and he drank it gratefully.
"Rest?" that was easy enough. Nuawahn wanted to rest. He felt so heavy and his eyelids just wanted to close of their own will. "Okay." he said, blinking foggily at Uquin.
"So you'll stay?" he managed. The words were thicker now, "You... won't go?" Someone had gone, he thought, and left him alone. When? Who? How? He didn't remember and his thoughts were all scrambled and confused.
But Uquin was staying. That was good. "Thank you." he said, smiling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:52 pm
Let's be completely honest. Uquin's words were... to the point, perfunctory, and he seriously lacked in his bedside manner. When he said he would stay, it was more an offer to remain here as his physician - to watch over him, make sure that he awoke. To see if he had recovered later. So when Nuawahn, who had been drinking greedily (a good sign that he didn't simply vomit up the water again) asked him to confirm ... Uquin tilted his head, looking at the blonde strangely.
And then he was thanked. He blinked, his mouth opening slightly to answer- but it was clear Nuawahn had drifted off, or... at the very least away. The auburn haired earthling sat still, by Nua's side, and made a soft sound of agreement, though more to himself. Many people would have found his 'to-the-point' delivery... bland, unhelpful, or simply careless as if he didn't care either way how his patient fared (which wasn't the truth, but he had a toneless, blase way of delivering his words that definitely dehumanized his patients sometimes).
Honestly? Sometimes he forgot, too, that this wasn't just some mystery to solve. And in this case, despite being a prentice, Uq couldn't hand Nuawahn off to someone if this went south. It was - a bit of a reality check, being told about capramel paintings, and being thanked. That his presence wasn't just to check his condition, but to keep him company when he was all alone and injured.
So Uq looked at Nua for a long moment, then sighed and settled i n the grass, peering at the said capramel, which had doggedly followed them all the way to Neued and had made herself comfortable behind the blonde.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
