Closed Horse's and a Viper (Viper)

[Ginchoeri]

Gin was still huffing and acting wild when when Viper spoke about him being glad she was a Kelvic. She finally calmed down after a little convincing of her own that it was over with, the scene was over and done. She was okay. She huffed a bit more and turned to Viper as he said something about blood being all over her. But she barely heard him for she saw the marks he had all over his arm.

Instantly, worry washed over her. He bent over and picked up her dress laying it across Aeyon's back. She trotted up to Viper, a low and slow whinie came from her as she nudged his shoulder with her muzzle. Her worry over him, she was trying to make it clear, for as a horse she could not speak words.

She did not really care at the moment about her pelt, sullied by the blood of her foe. No, rather, she felt that Viper needed seeing to. He was not looking so good. Though he spoke in straight sentances, that was a good sign, something that relieve her worry. But only just a bit.

She nudged him again, this time her muzzle pressing against the side of his head. Her breath warm on his skin. Then she turned and headed in the opposite direction of the river. She had to get him to the city, though she knew they would be a sight to behold, she could get there fast as a horse, and Aeyon could be faster with only one rider. She would have to hold back on her speed, but she would set a challenging pace for the other horse if she had to.

She turned, so that she was in profile to Viper. She tossed her head to the side, in the direction of the camp, trying to convince him to go this way. Instead of going to the river, where many more accidents could happen.
She huffed and stamped her hooves impatiently.

[Viper]

He winced slightly while smiling at her nudges. "I'm ok...really. I just need to clean up down at the river too. Honestly it's not....that..." Looking down to see the extent of his wounds, he let out an annoyed sigh. As long as he kept a hand covering the gashes, he didn't really lose much blood. But the simple fact of the matter was these slices in his arm were a bit beyond him. Turning back to Gin, he frowned but said, "Fine we can go back. We'll have to see the Opal clan. They'll have the best healers for this...type of wound. But first..."

He walked back over to Aeyan and grabbed the rope from his pack. He then quickly marched over to where he was goin to build a fire. Nearby lay a few long pieces of driftwood branches he had scavanged by the river on previous excursions. Grabbing two appropriately sized pieces, and using the rope, he quickly built a makeshift sled of sorts to be dragged behind Aeyan. After tieing one end of the branches to the saddle, he walked over and dragged the two dead wolves over onto the sled. As he stood up, he swayed a bit, beginning to get dizzy from the blood loss. Turning toward Gin he smirks, and said, "Waste not!"

He didn't bother trying to explain. But the kill represented food, a prize, tools, and honor to his people. Besides, the simple fact of the matter was every exertion of his arm was rather painful. So he wouldn't be able to ride overly fast on the way back anyway. He wondered if he his arm had become infected. Hopefully those pests weren't carrying anything. Using the remaining bit of rope, he tied himself to the saddle after mounting up. With a pained grin he said, "Alrighty, off to the Opal clan to take care of this annoying flesh wound."

[Ginchoeri]

Gin huffed, annoyed that he absolutely had to do this. She noticed his face slip and show pain every once and a while as he mad the makeshift sled and dragged the dead wolves onto it. She stomped her hooves impatiently as he tied himself to Aeyan. They had wasted time and blood, and Gin was starting to worry more as she watched him grin painfully.

With those two wolves behind Aeyan, she knew she would not be able to push him to far, they would not be able to go much faster then a canter, but she realized that this might be for the best. She did not know the extent of his wounds, and she can see that he was already pained just by the simple task of moving around. If horses could sigh, that would be what she would be doing at this very moment. But since she could not, she turned and waited for Aeyan to set his pace.

Aeyan set a smooth trot, which was not as jerky as a normal trot thankfully. She thought Viper would not last a rough ride for all the pain he could be feeling. Gin kept close, so close in fact that her flank was brushing against his left leg. She wanted him to know that she was not going to leave him out here defenceless. Not that on normal circumstances she was any help.

Her hit was perfectly by chance, and even then, she had know it had not been dead, so that was why she did the extra messure of smashing it's throat and head in. She did not want it to turn around and one day have it come back at her. So that was what she did. She had let instinct kick in. That was what tended to happen when she was in her horse form. She tended not to think and just do. Sometimes, that was not a good thing.

She huffed and thought, and then decided she should talk to Aeyan. She thought it would maybe calm the nerves she was sensing off of him. She was a bit to close for comfort but she refused to move. She pressed her muzzle into his for a moment, just to make sure she had his attention.
"Aeyan, I am sure you have every clue what is going on. I know my being close is a little nerve breaking, but if I do not stay this close, I fear for what might happen. Would you be so kind as to endure me through this trip, I would like to assure your master in any way I can."

To Viper, it just sounds like a bunch of whinies and neighs, of which he could not comprehend, but Aeyan understood, and in his own time he would respond to her. She waited patciently for his response as they trotted along.

[Viper]

Aeyan was indeed a little uneasy with her being so close. Generally, it was just he and Viper riding together, so to have another horse with him and so close was definitely out of his comfort zone. More concerned about his friend though than his own comfort Aeyan replied, "It's fine." They kept moving along and Aeyan remained quit for a while. He remembered noticing her impatience though about the wolves, and decided to explain.

"Also...I know you don't understand why Viper was so keen an bringing the wolves back with us despite his injury. You have to understand, he is a hunter. His clan are the primary food suppliers of the Drykas people. And the wolves make for a good prize. It doesn't mean a whole lot in the way of food…but furs for clothing, bones for tools and such, not to mention just the honor earned by bringing in these predators."

Aeyan was generally friendly to everyone, but it took him a while to actually trust anyone outside of Viper. But seeing her come to his aid so quickly had earned her his respect. "Thanks by the way for saving Viper." He didn't know what else to say, but he hoped she would realize how grateful he really was.

Meanwhile, Viper simply looked back and forth at the two occasionally as the sound of neighs and whinnies went back and forth. He pondered what was going on, but decided not to say anything. As drops of blood continued to escape his body, he grew increasingly lethargic. He found himself shaking his head periodically in an attempt to stay awake. It wasn't too long before the migrating city of Endrykas eventually appeared in the distance. A small smile appeared on his face. Never had the city looked so good. The expression soon faded as he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to make it there. Every minute that past saw him having a harder time remaining conscious.

"Gin…I’m not sure I'm going to be able to make it that far. If I pass out, the Opal clan is on the left side of town. If you could just make sure Aeyan gets that far, the people there will handle the rest…"

[Ginchoeri]

If Gin could smile she would have, Aeyan's calm presence, gave her a slight assurance, and when he explained to her about Viper's way of thinking and how things worked in the clans, she realized that she was the one who had not been thinking. Of course Viper would bring back home the kills they so luckily got. It ment supplies, even if it was little. Though it still aggrivated her that he did the dragging all by himself when he was injured.

"You are welcome, though I must admit, I have never done anything like that before, and .. it kind of scares me that I can."

Not to long later, the moving city of Endrykas entered her sights. Her heart leaped for joy, she could see it, and that meant they could get Viper help. But the words Viper said moments later scared her. Could not make it? Pass out. Just how much blood had he lost? Left side, okay, she could do that. She huffed and plodded along, keeping close. She did not want to leave his side at all now. She knew how scary it was to feel like you were going to lose yourself.

Gin was focused on Viper's presence beside her now. She was not looking at him persay, but letting her other senses figure out how he was doing. She could smell the blood and sweat coming off of him. Her mind racing, trying to figure out what to do. She could tell she was loosing him fast. But by this time they had already reached the left side of the Encampment. All she had to do was find the Opal Clan's healing tent.

[Viper]

As they approached, there were a couple bystanders from the Opal clan who had turned to look at the new arrivals to their area of the city. Viper had managed to maintain consciousness to about the point the Drykas people noticed their approach. He raised a hand in a friendly gesture any Drykas would recognize before slumping forward in the saddle. The people were a bit bewildered at first. The sight of this group wasn't exactly out of the ordinary for the famed healers of Endrykas, but it wasn't commonplace either. Their eyes shifted back and forth between the bloodstained white horse that was Gin, and Viper with the somewhat mangled and bleeding arm. As he fell into unconsciousness, a couple people closest to the group ran up to them, grabbing Aeyan's reigns.

Aeyan was startled at first by the strangers grabbing at him and let out an angry neigh as he reared up slightly to "defend" his master. He wasn't used to anyone so abruptly grabbing at him or the reigns he had only known Viper to hold. "Easy boy!" Came the quick reply of one of the Drykas. "We're trying to help him." More people joined the effort to force Aeyan to either comply or become pacified. As Aeyan began to calm slightly after hearing the words, one of the people drew a knife and sliced the rope holding Viper in place. Thus allowing him to slide off and be carried away to the healers tent.

The sight of him being hauled off however, again spooked Aeyan began to struggle against those keeping holding of him…

[Ginchoeri]

Gin was happy to let the Drykas people take Viper, they took care of their own well, they had even taken great care of her. Though it slightly confused her as to why they had not unhooked the wolves from Aeyan, she understood that they took their job seriously and that Viper's life was more important. She was thinking of changing back into human form right then, but she thought better of it, not wanting to suddenly appear as a naked bloody woman instead of a horse covered in blood and confuse them more.

When Aeyan started to get to be to much for his handler to handle she thought she ought to help them, it was not like she was incapable, no, rather she was maybe overly capable. She clopped over to him, whinying to make her presence noted by the humans around her. They kind of back off, letting Gin make her was to Aeyan. She brayed calmly and brushed the side of his muzzle with the side of hers. Braying softly, to try to calm him down though it did not seem that it really was. She knew that the Drykas were confused to the fullest and probably getting the wrong idea, but at the moment it did not matter. She would help this important friend of her newfound friend.

"Aeyan, please calm down. It will be okay I promise, these people took him to heal him, make him better. They could not do that with you going wild about him being out of your sight. Please think of Viper and calm down for me and these lovely people. Now. Let them lead you to where they want you."

She could not tell if this did the trick, but at least he was not struggling anymore. She stepped back a few steps to give Aeyan some space. That was when she noticed that people were bringing buckets of oats and water for her and Aeyan. She scraped her front right hoof across the ground a few times, deciding to just wait it out in this form, for she was hungry and it could just be added to her expences, she would have to eat more grasses and such, which would not be hard, seeing that they were in a sea of the stuff.

Gin padded over on her own, no need for them to waste any breath trying to tell her what to do. She had every clue what what going on, and at the moment she was happy to let them do as they wished. The Drykas, obviously astonished froze and just looked at her. They tried to understand what all her actions ment, but it was like it was to much to comprehend. They unhooked the wolves from Aeyan and lead him so he was next to Gin, as they started to wash her down. Releasing her from the spell the blood seemed to cast on her. She nibbled on the oats greatfully, trying not to eat to much at once for all the hunger she felt.

[Viper]

Aeyan was most indignant at the request at first. But as he calmed down and thought it through, he reluctantly allowed them to lead him off with Gin, though he didn't respond to her. Frustrated, more so about not knowing how his friend was, he nibbled on the oats sparingly, but for the most part, wasn't hungry. Aeyan's eyes drifted toward Gin as they began to wash the blood away from her beautiful white fur. He cracked a half hearted happy neigh when he thought of what they would think of their actions if they ever found out they had there hands all over a naked Kelvic and not just another horse. Although, the momentary lighthearted thought was a welcome pleasure, Aeyan would remain nervous and slightly on edge till Viper returned.....

Meanwhile back in the healers tent, the Opal clansmen had gotten to work. Their expert hands quickly cleaning, sanitizing, stitching, and bandaging the wound on Viper's forearm. He went in and out of consciousness several times while they were working on him. The whole event taking on a sort of surreal feel. At one point he thought he had overheard them say a few minutes and, he would have lost to much blood to be saved. It would appear the gods had smiled on him at least somewhat after all. His thoughts soon became fuzzy. However, an image of a woman flashed before him. Or was it a gleaming white horse? He was having trouble putting the pieces together. Was it concern he was feeling? Why did this image of this person...or horse seem important? He could not be sure before sleep overcame him once more.

It wasn't for another 3-4 hours that he once again opened his eyes. "Whaaa...? Where am I?" He said softly, more to himself than anyone in particular as he began to take in the sight of the tent he was resting in. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment and shook his head lightly. Slowly but surely the recent events of the day began to return to him. He glanced down at his once mangled arm to see it properly sewn up and bandaged. A small smile graced his expression. "Well I guess we made it..." His eyes suddenly widened. Images of himself, Aeyan, and Gin flashed before his eyes instantly.

A healer was just walking into the room when Viper sat straight up in his bed unexpectedly. "You there! ...I'm sorry, but I came here with...two horses...Have you seen them? Do you know if they are ok!?" The smile the healer wore vanished as his action and sudden outburst startled her. It took a moment for her to compose herself, but finally she said, "Uh...yes. I believe they are being held just outside the tent. If I'm not mistaken, they were washing down the white one, and giving them both feed last I heard." A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he collapsed back into his bed. He wasn't certain if he did so out of the assurance she gave, or if it was because he was still a little dizzy.

Either way, after a moments pause he turned back to her and said, "Uh... thanks by the way. Ya know, for taking care of my arm." He held up his newly repaired arm before gently laying it back down. The woman once again smiled and gave a small bow. "You're very welcome. And how are you feeling?"

Viper gave a small shrug. "A little dizzy still, but I'm feeling ok." He said in a way as if he was trying to almost convince himself as much as the healer. "So when can I leave?" The healer gave an almost astonished look, quickly followed by a giggle. "Honestly I'd recommend you stay in bed at least for the day. Get some rest, and we'll see how you are tomorrow." Viper scrunched up his face at the thought of being stuck in the healer tent for a whole day over a cut to his arm. It was his own fault he thought to himself. Should of bandaged it up better before leaving. "Ugg." Was all he managed to say before just sitting there. The healer once again giggled as well as rolled her eyes before setting a plate of food next to Viper. "For when you're feeling up to it." She said pleasantly with a friendly smile before departing.

He continued to lay there in silence as he once again reflected on the day. Although he first thought of his best friend Aeyan, he found his mind continually drifting back to Gin. How was she doing, he pondered. Did she take off? Was she waiting outside? He soon could feel a headache coming on, and closed his eyes trying to will it away. Still feeling weak, he simply began to stare up at the top of the ceiling wondering how much time he would be able to pass sleeping rather than lieing awake growing increasingly antsy, and bored....

[Ginchoeri]

Gin had been clean for a while now, and was completely full. She was starting to get uncomfortable, standing in one spot. The Drykas had not tethered her, finding that such a "well trained" horse should not have to be. Drykas were milling about now, it was still morning, but deffinately a little bit more of a practical time for Drykas to be up and about and working by light of day.

As she had been standing there, she had heard the healer's talking and she would have cursed herself out if she could, but yet again, horse form made that difficult. Especially when she did not want to say it in horse language for all the Drykas to get confussed about, what was going on with that beautiful horse. Though she knew whispers were already being spread about her. Speculations as to how Victor came upon such a glorious horse, as said from the mouth of one of the Drykas who had been cleaning her. They had had to refill the bucket four times to get her pelt as good as new.

When she heard Viper making a fuss about where she was she whinnied in relief. She should make her presence here known to him. She was so happy that he was awake, she ignored the fact that she was right out in the open, and that the people who had been taking care of her were right there, that she changed forms right then and there. She vanish in a swirl of light, her horse form gone in seconds, and through the light appeared her human form. If the Drykas that had taken care of them had been confused as to why Viper had a dress with him, well, they were not anymore.

To show a little modesty though, when she realized what she had done, she turned herself completely away from the star struck faces of those who had witnessed what had happened. It was kind of a late reaction, but yells of surprise arrose from some people who had whitnessed the spectical. Many of them did not know what she was, but some knew instantly that she was a kelvic, and they started explaining to their friends without a clue about it. Gin had by then, flinched only once and grabbed her dress, slipping it on quickly as she had taken it off.

She dusted off her skirts and with a flushing face walked into the tent without further ado, though some wolf whistles could be heard. She made sure the flap was closed when she realized that the woman who was treating Viper was looking at her with suspision, and Viper was just... looking at her. She looked very clean if not a little dishevled. The Drykas before herm looking at her with such intensity, both of them, that she blushed a little more.

She finally got herself together though, and walked over to the side of his good arm and smiled down at his lying body. Putting a hand on his chest and shakeing her head as if to tell him not to sit up. He did not need to strain himself more than needed. "Thank goodness you are alright Viper, I was afraid.. afraid that I had accidentally made it worse, trying to help you... but it was all I could do to change forms and make a target out of that wolf for my hooves." She covered her mouth looking at the Healer, who was now staring at her in disbelief. Gin sighed and uncovered her mouth, no helping it now, she had done to many things wrong, she had not been as carefull as she should have been.

She turned her attention back to Viper, a small smile still on her face. She was greatful that he was still alive, she did not know if she could handle watching yet another death only a year or so after watching her parents do exactly the same thing. She waited patciently as he seemed to get his thoughts together, the loss of blood affecting him quite a bit it seemed.

[Viper]

Viper smiled warmly as Gin entered into the room, and chuckled at her comments along with the reactions from both. Looking to the confused looking healer, he said, "She's a Kelvic. And quite the brave one. She saved my hide out there." The healer didn't say anything. Her mouth opened as if to say oooh, but now sound actually came out. Finally recovering, she bowed her head slightly to excuse herself and then walked out of the tent. Viper's gaze then turned back to Gin.

"So how are you Gin? I see you managed to change back alright. Did anyone give you a hard time after we got here?" He finished in a pleasant tone, while gesturing for her to sit in a nearby seat.