((This is a continuing story of a developing group of individuals, to be called Ekatra'nantaba, which means "united diversity". Should you be interested in joining the group, contact me privately, as this is not an open concept.
You can read about the group's slow growth in the following rps.
Musings
Safety From the Storm
Urgent Summons
Livesaving))


Brolly's awareness flickered unpredictably in and out. Some of the time, he lived in a nightmarish world of impossible dangers he could not escape. Other times he simply was lost, floating and detached from any sort of reality, feeling a vague sense of loss and sorrow. But occasionally, reality seemed to hover into focus. At first, these flashes of lucidity were brief and confused. His mind tended to flinch away from reality, as it was filled with pain and distress that he couldn't quite pin down, nor could he manage to assuage. However, the deep discomfort seemed to be less each time he came somewhat awake, the world beginning to be more than heat and pain and agony. So his moments of awareness became clearer, and he began to take in specific details about his surroundings, sometimes even when he couldn't manage to pry open his eyelids.

He was aware of being tended, of water dribbling into his parched mouth, and of his searingly painful leg being moved somehow. That never was pleasant, and sometimes he protested audibly, almost without meaning to. But most pleasant was the voice. Sometimes she, for yes, he could tell it was a female of some sort, would murmur oddly worded nonsense, clearly meant to be soothing and calming. Other times, she hummed or sang, and he found that most restful and relaxing. She had a pure voice, though not high and lilting. It was deeper, resonating in a pleasingly soothing register. That voice often followed him down into his dreams again, smoothing out the wrinkles of distress and pain that lurked in his subconscious mind.

Eventually he managed to drag his eyes open briefly, catching brief glimpses of the world around him. He learned he was in a cave, and that it was steadily raining outside. The smell of the rain was everywhere, as if it had been doing so for quite a while. He wondered at that, but could never quite focus long enough to make much of it. He also got glimpses of the one who tended him. She was pale for the most part... with some sort of markings that were much darker, though for a long time he couldn't focus on those markings much at all. But what he could hold onto was her eyes. She had lovely, large teal eyes, which stood out brightly against her white face. Those eyes went with that voice, he knew, and the kindness in them flowed over him whenever he managed to catch sight of them. This was his angel, the one who chased the nightmares away and who tended his hurts. Those eyes always helped him slip back into a more restful slumber, and he always hoped to find them peering down at him again when he next opened his eyes.

Then came the day when he awoke from a dreamless sleep, and found his eyes easy to open. He laid quietly, listening and just existing, for an undefinable time. It was amazing to feel his mind clear and unclouded again finally. He let his mind run backwards, easing past the dark time and back into when he had been aware and healthy. What had happened, exactly? He didn't strain, but just let the memories come. Ah yes, he remembered now. He'd been bit! He licked his lips, finding his mouth a little dry, and moved his head to look about a bit without lifting it.

Almost immediately, dark paws appeared directly in front of him. His first reaction was one of disappointment... where was his pale angel? But then a distinctly canine face leaned down, and those wonderful teal eyes gazed deep into his own. His eyes widened a little in surprise and then he smiled in pleasure. "Hello," he rasped, going stock still for a moment in shock at how raspy and almost inaudible his voice was.

"A moment only," his tender said, trotting away towards the sound of gentle rain. She returned soon, but paused thoughtfully. "Not to be dribbling, I think, no." After a moment's consideration, she went and rummaged about beyond his range of vision, then came back with an odd disc of some sort of vegetable origin, perhaps a wide gourd? She placed it in front of his muzzle, the nosed the bridge of his nose in encouragement to raise his head. "Not far. Still stay," she instructed him, which he took to mean she didn't want him trying to roll up. Obligingly, he raised his head a bit, and let her slide the disc under his muzzle. She then tipped a gourd with water over a bit, so it splashed a small amount of water into the disc. The liquid pooled in the rough center of the disc, and he gratefully lapped at his sideways, wetting his mouth and throat.

"More?" he asked, feeling pitiful and helpless, but unable to do anything but beg for what he now suddenly felt he could not live without. Obligingly, she splashed more in, though not enough to fill the disc. He lapped it up eagerly, and she once more provided a puddle for him to drink from. In this way, he was able to get quite a bit down, albeit slowly, until she called a halt.

"No more," she told him firmly, sliding the disc out from beneath his face. "Enough it is." She pushed the water containers aside and then lowered herself in front of him, so that it was easier to look eye to eye. "Feeling better, are you?" Her gaze examined him intently, taking in the expression of his ears, eyes, muzzle, tail, and running her eyes down his injured leg. "Tell Neera, you feel how?"

Now that he was awake and listening attentively, her strange way of talking amused him. His tail twitched in an attempt to thump it on the floor of the cave. "A little," he answered her, shifting himself just slightly, but wincing as he moved the leg. "I remember what happened, though I don't know where I am," he added. "Is Ewo here?"

Her expression grew more intent and concerned when he winced, but cleared a little as he spoke. "Yes," she answered his last question first. "Here Ewo is. Worried, but safe." She glanced towards the cave entrance. "Here be Kalos' home. Safe from storms." She focused on him again, her gaze sharp and intelligent, despite her bizarre way of talking. "Sick you have been, for long. Half a moon cycle it has been."

He blinked at that, startled. So long?! He swallowed, suddenly concerned. "Will I... be okay?" he managed, almost afraid to raise his head and look towards his leg, which felt rather odd and stiff when it wasn't hurting actively. Relief washed over him as her expression brightened and she nodded.

"Oh yes, out of woods are you. No infection, venom bled out. Ewo good friend, get you help fast. Saved you." Her expression was sober but warm, and he found himself smiling up at her.

"You've been looking after me, haven't you?" he asked boldly, knowing it could have been no one else. "Ewo might have brought me here, but it was you who saved me." Her ears folded in embarrassment, but he managed to hold her gaze. "Thank you, my pale angel. You did more than tend my wound. You helped ease my mind as well." It might have seemed rather stilted or overly gallant from anyone else, but this was Brolly, through and through. Staight-forward, honest and sincere, speaking his heart openly even if it seemed a bit much. "Without you, I'd never have made it through, of this I have no doubt." To his delight, she blushed prettily and gave him a shy smile that showed her own heart, even if she hadn't spoken it.

"Tell me your name?" he asked, smiling up into her beautiful face. "You probably already know mine, but I'm Brolly, and I am forever in your debit."

Still clearly flustered but also just as clearly pleased, she who quailed at very little stumbled over her own name. "N-Neera am I," she managed, her tail swishing an arc behind her. "Welcome you are." This last bit was said softer, eyes searching his, a subtle double-meaning in her words.

"Well met then, my pale angel Neera," he replied. For some long moments, they just stared wordlessly into each other's eyes, communicating on a subliminal level that sometimes happens between two that were always meant for each other. His recovery was going to be long, no question, but it also was not going to be lonely. From here on out, things were going to be good... very, very good.