Welcome to Gaia! ::

The light was still strong enough in the sky to work by without risking adding more, but the shadows of the trees were lengthening. The fire Quenton had built, and was tending in spite of the summer's heat, was not smoking or providing much light. It was for 'cooking'.

The scavenged metal round that was used for a kettle was dutifully heating the mixture of water, Orvus paste and washing soda. He kept it hot, but not bubbling in a boil. It should be below 185'F.

The process of degumming cocoons could take as little as fifteen minutes, or as much as an hour. As it was, he pushed the golden pods down to waterlog with a slotted wooden spoon. He had time. He'd checked over the supply of the medical cache that he kept with Iphigenia and others at emergency- its contents spread nearby on a blanket for the purpose. The thread for stitching was low, so it was fortuitous and necessary to get the work of silk-making underway to restock.

Without a Mauvian to accompany him, he'd opted to do the necessary in plain clothes. It meant he could not sense the approach of aura, but the sound of someone coming, the cadence of human motion, was clear to the ear and drew his attention up from the work. Friend or Foe, I wonder? Most likely friend- their approach sounds mostly direct with knowledge of the keeping of a cache here. They may need help.

"Who goes?" the words came soft and even, projected to the canopy beneath the flickering afternoon light and leaves.

Silver, white, eyes like river tumbled topaz- "Iphigenia"
The name was spoken like a welcome, and he motioned with a hand to draw near. "No need, you're wounded and healing is faster in uniform. You can feel if there's anything near, as well. What is the damage and has it been seen to once already? "

If it has, you're doing it damage and disservice being up...bleeding even to your fuku.

One 'alone' draws less attention without a Mauvian than two auras out in the forest. Two is a meeting.

He pulled the spoon from liquid and then removed the concoction and silks from the heat to rest. The bandage they did have, antiseptic, needles and small woven thread were retrieved in a moment. "I'm glad I'm here, self-stitch is never so tight, nor bandage, as an extra pair of hands can manage. "

Quenton nodded, taking in the information. "It's bled through, so the chance is that you'd stressed or pulled out some of the stitching. The question will be inside or outside. You'll need a full bandage change anyway- I'll have a look while they're off, and we'll pressure pack the wound in rewrapping. " He accepted the two tubes, turning them over in hand a moment, "You'll need some of it. But its a good take, "

"Who did you tangle with? A body blow like this, I'd suggest laying up for at least three days to let the deepest part of the wound stabilize. Otherwise you'll risk tearing it and bleeding out just bending over." How we must all push ourselves.

"I can carry you back to the main camp once we've got this controlled?" It was toned as a question deliberately. Iphigenia did good work, and he respected her choices and control over herself for that. It would be better if she allowed it, but if she'd rather try walking again, he'd adjust the new bandaging accordingly. As it was, he wasn't wasting time- Quenton set to using his canteen and a small packet of soap to wash his hands and then his knife. One pack of sterile bandage was used to set the knife on to keep it clean when not in use.

Most of their uniforms involved dancers' bottoms, so there was no reason to be shy of unwinding the ribbons and pushing up the stola-like implement. Shyness and modesty were always the first things to go in war and in the medical field. Down to raw body, he remembered the lines of her build and structure from wounds of years passed. Iphigenia was trim, her muscles taut with compensation around the wound and not helping the pulling. The knife was retrieved and the securing cut to the wrapping- it had to come off first.