A matter of failures (solo)

[Lyam]

Spring 16th, 512 av “You’re lucky, it could have been far worse” “I know” Nadya was over my arms, curing the little burnings the fool wizard had done to me the day before. “You could have been killed” “I know” She sighed with despair. “I guess you had a good reason” I remained silent, unable to nod or shake my head. “Lyam, you have nothing to prove, you know.” “What…” I gazed at her with surprise but she turned around me to take care of my back. A long silence followed. “So, have you continued to write in your journal?” I was glad she sidestepped the topic. But I though about my notebook under my bed, covered with dirt. “Er… I’m working in.” I was lying and she knew it. Still, she just nodded. She then remained pokerfaced on a stony silence. After long minutes, she finally announced “It’s done young man. Go and work now.” “Thank you, Nadya” She did not replied, what made me understand she was really deceived. My head hung with shame, I went and work silently. *** The morning went slowly as Nadya remained on a stony silence, opening her mouth only to tell me what remedy I should do next. I tried to work hard to forget everything that had turned bad since I arrived in Zeltiva, but my hand could now do many stupid things alone. Cutting the roses spikes was long but not difficult, so I had all my time to think about my precedent failures. All my time to tell me I was not a good Kelvic. I was not a good protector. I had failed to protect the girl. Nai'shee. I'd failed. And after that I had done something even more stupid. Nadya was right, I had been very lucky not to be killed. My memories left me in peace while I was burning carefuly three plants together to take the ambers back. I was hyperconcentrate, trying neither to burn the flowers entirely, nor my fingers. But soon the flammes reminded me even more awful memories. It was a long time before, I'd just left my parents. I'd tried to make my own fire on the forest to warm myself. The fire was not expected to burn the whole forest... I shivered and had a look at the clock on the wall. Time to lunch. I brought the medicines I had just finished into the store and put them on Nadya's desk for her to check. Then, I did not wait her as I was used to. I was too ashamed to share her meal. So I walked down Zeltiva's street a moment, letting the hasard guiding my steps. When I finaly rose my head, I was at the end of the town, before the feet of the huge mountains. I frowned, suddenly determined: I'll find Nadya's flowers. The two rare flowers she needed to cure all aches. I won't come back until I would have found them. I hesitated two second to decide whether I should run back to the university to have my sword. But in the mountain, I would be far better as a wolf. Lucky me, I had already my bag on my back, pretty empty with just a full waterskin and a knife. Did I need anything else? Well, let us see.

[Cascade]

It was a cloudy day, and in the horizon, there were storm clouds that threatened to bring rain. However, for the time being, the mountains seemed peaceful. The mountains were thick with greenery, the trees casting great shadows to the ground. It would be quite difficult for someone who was not familiar with the mountains to find the right path, but there were dry patches of grass which had been crushed under the weight of the feet of hunters regularly went that way. These makeshift paths served as a guide to even those who had never been there before, although where each path led, one wouldn’t know. In front of where Lyam stood, the paths led to two directions. The path to the east was a winding one, circling the mountain, and seemed to be the safer choice. The path was wider and since it circled the mountain, its slope was not as harsh as one that would be going straight for the top. On the other hand, the other path was much steeper and narrower, and many fallen trees hindered an easy journey. However, it was a much faster path for one who wanted to climb the mountain. The leaves rustled with a noise as a gust of wind blew through the mountains. Somewhere in the distance, another person looked startled as he looked towards the direction from where the wind blew. The man scrunched his nose as he recognized the scent of another living being. Yes, the mountain was rampant with animals, but this one was different. This one was just like him. 'Perhaps we are after the same thing?' hissed the man in his mind. In that case, he had to hurry to get what he had come for.

[Lyam]

I had barely made two steps that a first crucial choice was on my way. Two path, two directions, three choices. I could go my own way indeed. I hesitated a second. The largest way – well, it was hardly a real way but anyway – was still out of the question: I was looking for something rare, so it would be very weird if I could find it on the main path. The other seemed to be abandoned, hard to go through, what looked like a better choice for my journey. But I was used to go my own way. I let my bag fall to the ground and gazed around to check if nobody was there. Then I undressed entirely and put my clothes on the bag to not loose them as I was about to shift. After a blink, my four paws tasted the stony ground of the mountains. I grabbed my bag on my jaws, happy that it was not full and pretty light, and smelled the environment. I had the wind behind me, so that I could not smell what was in front of me, but rather what was behind: the city. I grunted and put my nose on the dirt to find something interesting and was not deceived. It was quite impossible to trace its way on this vegetation, of that I was quite sure. I could only smell little rabbits on the grass, and no bigger animals. The wild grass seemed nice though, but I would not take the risk to be trapped or worse. So, I had no choice. Now I knew my way, I began to trot gently on the hardest path. The fact that it was narrow could have been a problem for a man, but it was not for a wolf. Lucky me. The dead trees that had felt were bigger threat though. I was a good jumper, and most of them were no impossible problem to solve, but sometimes I had to find another way, unable to climb it or to jump above. Imagine that you are on an already big slope, finally what you have to go through looks like a thick wall. It was certainly the fastest way, but I had the impression to go at a snail pace and soon I turned really tired. The slope was harder than I had expected and I had to stop for a minute. Well, indeed I had to stop for an hour. Ok, in fact I found a big rock to hide under, and I stopped for the night. I had not noticed that my last fight against the fool wizards and glassbeaks, plus the fact that I had almost drowned, had in fact completely drained my strength. Only one night of agitated sleep to rest seemed not to be enough. Aha, what a funny joke. What if I would think a bit more the next time I would want to do something completely fool?

[Cascade]

It was the dead of the night when the wolves decided that it was time to investigate the trespasser. They had been following the scent for hours. Their eyes reflected the wild nature within them, and when they stepped out from the shadows of the trees and into the moonlight, it was apparent that something had changed in them. They seemed more monstrous, more viscious, and the fact that the Kelvic was a wolf like them was nothing to them. What was left of their instincts had been contaminated by djed. There were three of them, and they stalked to the sleeping Kelvic, smelling the air and baring their fangs. He smelled like one of theirs, but he wasn't, that much they knew. What was clear to them was that he was trespassing. The Kelvic was sleeping under a big rock, and all they needed to do was to jump on him. The contaminated wolves slowly stalked forward, ready to pounce. Their growls were low but furious as they moved. Their intent was obvious: to kill the trespasser. Suddenly, one of the three wolves stepped on a branch, causing it to snap loudly in the silence of the forest. The noise was loud enough to awaken the sleeping Kelvic.

[Lyam]

The noise of a cracking branch woke Lyam up. It was the middle of the night but the moonlight was pretty dark, so that even his wolfs eyes did not see that much. But no darkness could hide the smell of the danger. Suddenly perfectly awake, Lyam scrutinized the surrounding with all his senses and what he felt sent shivers down his spine. His sense of smell said wolf. His hearing said big beast with loud breathes. His eyes said both. Indeed, three awfully big and dangerous contaminated wolves were encircling him and the rock on his back prevented him from running away. He was just like a terrified rabbit trapped deep on its hole. And as he was already in his wolf form, Lyam understood that being a Kelvic would not be helpful to gain those wild animals’s trust or to be left in piece. Shifting was out of the question too; it was obvious he would be toothless as a naked human without any blade against three ugly wolves. During a second, Lyam missed his two-bladed sword very much, before remembering he was not good enough to fight three wild beasts alone with it. After all, having it would not have been so helpful. Fighting with teeth and claws was finally the only way to survive. He made few steps out of his rock, enough to feel free to move, but not that much to be far enough from the enormous wolves. His brain thought the fastest it could to find a way to get out of this mess but, well, his chances to be alive in the sunset were really near the nil. He still had no plan when the first monster jumped toward him. His paws reacted faster than his mind and bent to avoid the huge mortal jaws. Then he just had the time to step to the right and ducked before a pair of claws tore the skin of his back. Groaning, he turned on his heel and closed his jaws on something hairy and disgusting, hardly felt the blood running out the wound before being shot by a mass much bigger than he was. The shock was terrible and little stars were shining in his eyes, but he had no time to recover; the first wolf was just above him. Lyam did no longer think. He shifted while rolling on the grass to avoid the fatal bite and caught his open bag. With expert gests that had become perfect with the time and repetitions, he caught his knife and opened it before throwing it into the nearest wolf. It took a stand perfectly well in the beast’s throat, and Lyam could have been proud if two other monsters were not remaining. Too vulnerable as a human, he shifted again but the energy it needed plus the wound on his back caused him a real headache. He would not stand much more.

[Cascade]

Suddenly, a blur of gray ran through the darkness. Another wolf appeared, pouncing on one of the contaminated creatures. It pierced its teeth down on the creature's neck and ripping it. Blood sprayed over thr ground and on the gray wolf's fur. The second contaminated creature was dead, and the new arrival let its body drop to the floor in a cold thud. The gray wolf growled at the third and last wild wolf. Both of the wolves bared fangs at eachother, and soon enough, they were enveloped in a fight. Both wolves lashed at eachother, intent on winning. However, the new arrival was much faster in movement and in thinking. Soon enough, the contaminated wolf lay in his own pooling blood. There was a huge gash on his throat, just like the one his companion had suffered. Growling, the gray wolf faced Lyam. He was wary in his movement as he circled around the Kelvic. The gray wolf seemed to sniff the air, realizing that Lyam was wounded. He was contemplating his options. Then he dashed off to the woods. However, after only a minute, he returned as a man wearing only pants and nothing on his feet. "Do you not know the dangers of these woods? You trespassed into their territory, and you are alone, a Kelvic wolf against a horde of infested animals!" The man took a pause. This Kelvic in front of him was the one he had sensed earlier that day. "I suggest you go home now. This is no place for you. What good reason would you have to be here? You did not even bother to find a better shelter to rest in." He snapped his head to the darkness behind him when he heard the howls of more wolves. The rest of them were coming, he knew that, and he knew the other Kelvic knew that as well. The wolves seemed much larger in number. They both had to get out of there fast.

[Lyam]

The horrible muted wolf was about to jump on Lyam when another creature joined the battle. Lyam soon understood that the new wolf was a Kelvic too and that he was helping. He killed indeed the two monsters almost with ease then he just ran toward the forest. Completely lost, Lyam did not move an inch while trying to understand what had just happened. Fortunately, the other Kelvic came back in his human form to say he would have better to go back home. But at this very moment, two infested wolves began to howl not so far away. The human and the wolf gazed at each others and ran away without another word. Lyam had taken his bag on his jaws after having carefully taken back his knife, and was now following the stranger. The hard pathway was hurting his wounded back, but he did not complain. They finally left the way Lyam was following to run toward the high grass. Soon, they arrived in front of a huge rock face. “We have to climb… only way…” said the out of breath stranger. Lyam nodded and shifted, forgetting his wound and weakness. As the muted wolf’s growling came nearer, he took five second to slip on his pan and gave his bag to the man before following him on the rock face. To climb here was very difficult and Lyam had barely climbed from ten feet that the horde of disgusting wolves was under them. Over his shoulder, he saw the bigger of them trying to climb the rock and jumped to bite him. Pulling on his arms with precipitation, Lyam moved just in time to avoid the mortal jaws that clapped on the air, but felt a horrible burning pain on his back because of the effort. His vision turned blurred as he tried to find again a good balance against the rock, and only the holding hand of the stranger enabled him to climb five feet higher. There was a little recess where the two Kelvic could rest. Lyam immediately lied down to stop the pain on his back and groaned. He knew the wound was not so bad, that he had been lucky no muscles or bones were really touched, but still he had lost some blood and his skin burned terribly. He turned his head to look at the guy who had come to save him from a certain death. “Well, I guess you came just in time… thank you.” He tried to smile, but finally just made a wry face. Lyam wondered why the man had come. Why he had risked dying for a perfect stranger. But he did not ask. Those kinds of questions were made to never find an answer.

[Cascade]

"Yeah, save your energy--" the man stopped mid-sentence. He didn't know what this person's name was. He had just rescued him, out of impulse, and he didn't even know the name of the person he had helped in what he could only interpret as a foolish decision. But they were safe now, out of the reach of the wolves, and that was enough. "My name's Gilmore. My master sent me here to seek for a certain kind of flower. And you, why are you here?" He peered over the ledge of where they were staying. The wolves were still below, gnashing and scratching at the rock that they couldn't climb. Their howls were menacing and rang through the night. It was good that they had been able to escape, even better that this man wasn't dead weight -- even with a wound on his back, he knew how to climb, and he did it quickly. Gilmore reverted his attention to Lyam as he looked at the wound on his back. It wasn't deep, but he had lost much blood. "I know you don't want to hear this, but we really can't stay put. The wolves aren't the only contaminated ones... there are snakes too, birds, and maybe even creatures that can climb this rock. The trick is to keep moving. So I'm going to have to leave you here. My conscience got the better of me which was why I helped you, but I'm not actually going to die for you. Do you understand?" Gilmore paused for a while. He seemed to be thinking about something. "Or perhaps you can help me? I've been searching for the whole day, but I cannot find the flower. Would you know where to search? In return, I'll try to help you get there."

[Lyam]

OOCCascade, it’s a real pleasure to play with you! The man seemed as astonished as Lyam was from his reaction. But the strangest was about to come; if Lyam already knew the man – Gilmore he said – was a wolf Kelvic, he was also an apprentice, and apparently in something that looked like more or less herbalism. Hazard… or destiny? It was a bit too much for Lyam not to think about it. This was certainly why he remained prudent:“I’m Lyam.” he first answered without telling why he was alone on the dangerous mountains. Under them, Lyam could still hear frightening wolf’s growling. Climbing down was obviously out of the question. Gilmore thought the same obviously, even a bit worse; he was about to move again to avoid a new attack of invested animals. And it was not a problem for him to let Lyam there. Except if… “I’m in.” Lyam nodded while hardly standing up. “Just tell me what flower you’re looking for and I’ll find it. But first you have to help me to climb the rest… Or at least to find an easy way, I can’t feel my back anymore and I don’t know how much strength left in my arms.” He had only thought about it few seconds, but the choice was indeed easy; refusing and dying alone on that rock by invested creatures, or accepting and having a bigger chance to survive. Gilmore did not know the exact name of the flower, but the description was easily recognizable and Lyam soon understood they were looking for the same rare flower. But obviously, he was the only one to know exactly what and where to search. What if there was only one flower? Lyam suddenly wondered. Then I’d cheat, he thought. He would not recognize the flower, I would just have to take it for me and to give him a similar flower. He wouldn’t see anything. He was not very determined and secretly hopped that he would not have to betray the one who saved him. “We have to find a high place where only conifer can grow. We will then find the flower under a rock, protected from the sun and very near of the water.” he explained to Gilmore, so that he could lead them to a proper place. We will find your flower under the rock, and mine over it. Pity for you that yours is only against headaches… “So, I’m following.” he added. Gilmore took the bag and began to climb again, trying to search the better way. Lyam followed with pain but his mental did what his body seemed not to be capable of. They did many pauses so that Lyam’s back could take some rest and finally arrived in an appropriate place. The sun was rising on the horizon and offered a beautiful picture. Lyam gazed at the rocks near the water. Here it was; the flower. He sighed when he saw there was only one; the flower was not called rare for an unknown reason. “Oye… here it is.” he just said “I’ll take it.” Lyam did few more steps toward the rock and knelt before it so that Gilmore could not see what he was doing. He took indeed two flowers: one over the rock, the other one under. Without a proper inspection, they seemed very similar. While standing up, Lyam’s determination breached. Gilmore had saved his life without knowing him. He had helped him to climb until this place. He could not do that to him. But what about Nadya? “Here you are man.” Lyam smiled while giving him one of the two flowers. “Lucky of us, there were two flowers,” he added while showing the one reminding on his palm. “Er… yes,” he smiled while seeing Gilmore astonished face “I was there for it too.” Lyam was praying all the gods that Gilmore could ignore it was impossible for two of those rare flowers to grow over the same rock. Otherwise, he would be in big troubles. Then he put the flower against any kind of headaches on the little pocket of his bag. He had been unable to betray Gilmore, but now he felt like an idiot. He had risked his life, he had been wounded… for nothing. And Nadya would remain furious. He had lost on every point. "So, let's just go back home!"

[Cascade]

"You sure about these are it? Well, that just seems uncanny..." said Gilmore with an evident frown on his face. He felt sceptical at the fact that there would be two specimens of the rare flower simply there. Suddenly, there was a thud. Surprised, Gilmore turned around. Lyam had fallen to the ground. On closer inspection, it could be seen that Lyam had a raging fever. Gilmore peered at the wound on his back and saw that the skin around it was turning into an unhealthy color of greenish gray. It didn't take a doctor to know that the wound was heavily infected. "Astonishing, how'd you even make it this far?" muttered Gilmore. His first thought was to leave Lyam there. He already had what he came for, and he didn't need Lyam for anything else. However, there was just something very wrong with leaving a fellow Kelvic behind in such a dire position. Plus, this man had a lot of potential -- he was strong, and it would be a waste to let him die. Sighing, Gilmore hoisted Lyam up over his shoulder. The trip back was going to be a long one. *** "What do you mean this isn't the right one?" asked Gilmore's voice. Lyam was on a bed, slowly regaining consciousness, and he could probably hear the irritated tone that Gilmore had. He was talking to a woman -- Nadya. "It isn't. That one is for curing headaches," explained Nadya. She was referring to the flower that Gilmore had taken out of Lyam's bag. Gilmore had brought it out to show Nadya what Lyam had worked hard to get, and had asked if she was going to use it for his infection. She had curtly told him it wouldn’t be possible with that certain specimen. Then she pointed to the other one, the one in Gilmore's other hand, that Lyam had given him. "That is the right flower." Gilmore cursed under his breath. He wondered if Lyam had made a mistake or had done it on purpose. All that trouble to get himself a flower that could cure headaches? It was foolish. What he didn't know was that Lyam had done it to purpose because of the fact that he couldn't betray the other Kelvic. "Well, whatever, I got what I came for... I’m not wasting the real thing for some infected wound. He’ll live. Thanks for the flower, man," he muttered under his breath and made his way out. He tossed the flower for headaches on a nearby table and was gone, leaving Lyam in the care of Nadya.