Closed Dog Days Are Over! [Sliver]

[Lixue]

Fall 77, 512 AV Lixue's eyes searched out Seiled. In the Critical Care Unit, he was working with a patient. His gentle hands, Lixue should know how gentle they could be, were coaxing the individual to bend her knee. A handful of days had passed since she had discovered how soft his hands could be. A handful of days had passed since Seiled had even glanced her way for longer than necessary. A handful of days where he had not taken lunch in her office and a handful of days where the only words passing between the pair was his barked instructions and her meek replies. A handful of days since Lixue had seen the man she had become used to. A handful of days since the incident. On the seventy fourth, a patient had accidentally taken a punch at Lixue. The man had been out of his mind with a raging fever and when Lixue had went to restrain him, one of his arms slipped away from the grasp of a nurse. The right side of Lixue's face was the unintended target. The force had caused her to react harshly and, while she attempted to recover, Seiled had taken her to his office. Through tender care, which was where Lixue had learned how gentle his hands could be, Seiled tended to her injury. Near the end of the unscheduled appointment, Seiled and Lixue had... interacted. Neither had sought out each other since. But boy did she want to. The meetings during their lunch breaks were the things she missed most. Lixue had not eaten lunch since the incident. Not on purpose, of course. She simply became busy with other things in her office, such as writing down herbalistic facts, and forgotten the time. Only when her break was nearly over would Lixue begin to wonder if Seiled would show up. He had not. Lixue had acted as though this did not upset her. Dammit, she missed those winter-snaps! The second thing that bothered Lixue most about their interactions was there was none. When they did speak, Seiled would meet her eyes and talk directly to her, but Lixue could not read the emotions hidden so carefully beneath the surface. It was as though Seiled had taken a step back and she was just another employee. Just another face he had control over. As if he had not shared part of his history with her, as if Seiled had not shared his lunch with her. As if... as if they had not even been friends. Then again, had they been friends? Did friends not share stories of the day to day schedule? Did friends not gossip and chat? Did friends not say things that were personal? Did friends not hang out in public, not just behind closed doors? Did friends not acknowledge each other when they seen the other? Lixue could argue they had been friends. Seiled had shared stories of his childhood with her, had laughed with her. She had seen him smile, a rare occurrence for certain. Seiled had shared his food with her and had seen to her injuries personally. Lixue could also argue they had not even been friends. Seiled had shared his food because he wanted his doctors to be healthy, including her, and she had not been eating properly. Lixue could disagree and say Seiled had tended to her wounds personally because no one else who was competent had been around. Lixue could point out that they had not acknowledged each other in public, had not given any extra attention to the rumors circulating. Lixue could say they had been more than friends, even if the claim was a long stretch. Lixue had seen him smile, had become part of his daily schedule, and had trusted no one else to tend to her. The incident would tie into this claim and represented it perfectly. Truthfully, Lixue had no idea where she and Seiled had stood. After the incident, the sturdy ledge Lixue had stood upon crumbled. She lost the person she had confided in and would have to keep everything bottled inside. Or find a new friend. A new person she could trust with her secrets and her stories and her emotions. Someone who had the chance to spill every word Lixue entrusted him or her with to others. Someone Lixue would have to trust like she had Seiled. She much preferred Seiled. With him, Lixue was confident he was not going to tell anybody what she said. Lixue trusted Seiled. With her life. Even when they were fighting, Lixue trusted him to have back in the case of an emergency. And he had trusted her enough to have her help him deliver his niece in the Makutsi Springs. That had to mean something. As though he felt someone watching him, Seiled's head moved from the downward angle it had held. His eyes scanned the room, occasionally stopping to watch someone before continuing their search. When their eyes connected, Seiled lifted an eyebrow. Lixue resisted the urge her lips had in response: to curve upwards. Instead, she kept a straight face and waited. The staring match went unnoticed by those surrounding except for one nurse, who simply smiled and kept working, keeping one eye trained on the pair. Eager ears were always ready to hear new gossip about the two and this could prove to be fruitful. The staring contest was several chimes long when Seiled broke contact and continued with his patient. Seiled folded the woman's leg before pulling it back toward his chest. Both of his hands gripped the sides of the patient's foot. Speaking with her, Seiled touched the woman's knee. His eyes flickered back toward Lixue, who was patiently waiting for him to look back. Seiled frowned and continued working with his patient. A few chimes later and his eyes found Lixue again. Lixue resisted the urge to smirk. Apparently, Seiled was not invincible to curiosity. Seiled's eyes narrowed and he continued working. The third time, Seiled's patient was practicing the movements on her own. Seiled mouthed, "What?" Lixue shrugged and mouthed back, slowly so he could recognize the words, "I need to talk with you." Seiled's eyebrows came together in concentration as he focused on her lips and once her statement was finished, Lixue consciously made the decision to run her tongue along the edge of her lips. Seiled's eyes followed the path, enraptured, before he glanced away. The nurse who was watching the pair did not notice Lixue's behavior. Lixue smirked. When Seiled mouthed back, "When?", the smirk was hidden and Lixue responded with "lunch". Seiled hesitated, Lixue noticed. His hands played with the tools nearby and he did not answer for several chimes. When he did, it was a sharp nod. Then he paid her no mind.

[Sliver]

A light grey morning met any Vantha stepping outside to start their long day. A thin fog skittered about slowly filling streets and for anyone accustomed to Avanthal’s wintery temperatures, it was a moderately warm out, which was commented on from neighbor to neighbor as people began their mornings. At the edges of the city where the herds of Talderan Woollies grazed over sparse grass, chewing tree bark and munching on cud and the remnants of hay from the previous evenings feed, a Frostfawn girl looked over the herds. They were just as always, though she noticed they had shifted over quite a ways from where she had seen them last night. She found the matriarchs, the females that enjoyed leading the herd. Lily, a massively round cow pressed her muzzle against the girls hand, sandpaper tongue greeting her warmly. The girl tittered at the uncomfortable feeling the tongue made across her skin, wiping the slime from the tongue on her pants before scratching the cow behind the ears, creating a lot of tail swishing and more licking. A few more cows wandered solemnly over for attention, and for a few chimes the girl fed them treats and spoiled the cows as they were all accustomed to. The Frostfawn was interrupted from her bonding session by a faint, but clearly discernible lowing coming from where the cows had pastured the previous evening. At first she thought she was hearing things, but when she focused her attention she heard it again and separated herself from the adoring woollies and began to trek through the snow. She didn’t have to walk far to see the fallen cows, five in all, and a singular matriarch standing over them lowing sadly in mourning. The girl was horrified, losing one or two cows was perfectly normal, the not so clever creatures would separate themselves from the herd and get caught by wolves or the occasional wraith, but this was a massacre and none of the cows had been eaten at all, just maimed and gored. Tears streamed down her face at the devastation, at the state of her poor cows, and she leaned against the matriarch for comfort, face burying in her furry coat. Suddenly the cow leapt back, knocking the girl to the side as the lows became more panicked. Through blurred vision the girl looked frantically around, trying to figure out what the cow was so worried about, and that was when she saw a group of creatures approaching at high speeds headed straight for her. Her screams echoed across the icy plains in a high crescendo of confusion and terror. Sliver spent the morning practicing with her axe. While Avanthal had no smithies to speak of, they knew how to repair and maintain the little steel they did have, and a few Icewatch showed her how to use the foot pedaled grinding stone in order to sharpen her dull weapon. Once it had been approved, by her eyes and a few others, Sliver took it proudly, as if it was the greatest hand crafted weapon ever made, into the Training Stadium. Eyrwen had nearly laughed her out of the place when she saw the weapon. “I know you’re having trouble, but a wood cutting axe? I didn’t know you had that much of a sense of humor, weasel.” So Sliver decided to show Eyrwen exactly how serious she was. Now to be sure, just because someone knows how to chop wood doesn’t mean they know how to chop up a person, but Sliver felt something, a sort of alignment with this weapon that she had felt with no other. The heft of it, the way all weight lay in the head of the axe, and one had to be aware of every part of the swing to get it right, this is what appealed to her. That and the fact that it was multi-purpose, as she showed her training partner, a bulky male Vantha, who like wielding a long double-bladed axe, which seemed oh so fitting to the wolverine. He too snickered at her weapon choice, Sliver, having had quite enough of all the poking of fun and laughter, was dead serious when she requested he attack her. So he came in swinging. The blade was covered of course, no serious injuries would be had, but some nasty bruising could result and Eyrwen never had any problem with her students paying for their follies with blacks and blues. Sliver swung the axe around, enjoying the feel of the weight. As the blade came down towards her head she held up the axe, both hands splayed on the handle, catching the axe blade on the haft of her weapon. She then kicked her opponent in the knee, driving him to ground, coming up and under the long shaft of his weapon and placing the haft of her own against his neck, pinning him to the ground. Both Eyrwen and the Vantha looked at the wolverine with the same look of surprised shock, and Sliver just stood calmly back up and requested he come at her again. Not taking her for granted this time her opponent was more cautious, he jabbed and swiped at her, but didn’t gave the same opportunities for her to take advantage of the length of his weapon. Sliver weighted him out, sidestepping and dodging his attacks, sometimes only by inches, but she refused to let him touch her. Her feet moved with practiced agility, and it was clear she was using her light build and quicker nature to combat his more heavy-handed approach. If she was unable to physically dodge his attacks, she knocked his axe away with her own weapon. Finally, his impatience building, the Vantha went for a vicious stab towards her gut. Sliver flipped backwards, axe split between both hands, landing several feet away. As he continued forward, determined to catch her off guard she somersaulted forward, beneath the blade and came up again, swinging the axe backwards into his side so the heavy blunt edge caught him hard, but not too hard in the ribs. He yowled and dragged the great axe backwards, pulling her forward and off of her feet, sprawling to the ground. As he moved in for the ‘fatal blow’, however, Sliver rolled over and leapt up, stomping on his toe and getting behind him, axe blade at his throat. A small round of applause issued from the assembled Icewatch, Eyrwen giving a singular nod of approval. Sliver smiled like the cat who just caught the mouse, and heft the axe over one shoulder as the group shifted to the other half of the Stadium in order to begin the mock battles. Before they could however a horn call signaling the need for the Icewatch to group up rang just outside of the arena. Everyone dropped what they were doing and ran swiftly to the call. They found Jaerith, a worried expression consuming his eyes and he swiftly debriefed them on a situation out by Frostfawn Hold. A call for aid had been answered by a small patrol, but they had been overrun by a herd of caribou. Back-up had been called and the animals killed or driven away, but there were some serious injuries. A message sent had revealed that the Icewatch healers required the aid of more doctors and he needed someone to- Sliver was already sprinting, axe holstered over one shoulder away from the group. She heard an indignant call behind her, the sound of barked laughter, and one whoop. She knew where Jaerith was going with his instruction and her pounding feet took her the quickest way she knew down the alleys and streets of Avanthal, aimed for the Whitevine Healing Center. People cleared a way before her, and she was content in the fact she needn’t even call her purpose or position. She barreled through the front doors, several attendants staring at her in shock as she caught her breath. Once slowed just enough to state her purpose without having to pause, Sliver straightened, gaze focusing on the nearest individual. “There’s an emergency outside of Frostfawn Hold, several Icewatch members and possibly civilians are seriously injured and the Icewatch healers have requested medical personnel, is there anyone you can spare?” While it was a question, nothing in her tone or serious glare of a gaze would suggest someone saying no to her. One leg twitched unconsciously, desiring nothing so much as to sprint to the scene and aid in any way she could. She took a deep breath, knowing she had none of the skills it took to aid anyone, and tried to wait as patiently as possible for them to get aid or for someone to come along that knew what they were doing.

[Lixue]

Lixue wasted the rest of the morning away, keeping an eye on the patients. She helped treat simple fevers by encouraging the fever to break with sweat cloths and rehydration. Those who were physically ill were separated from the others, given a bucket and a large bottle of water, and encouraged to empty their stomachs. The day had been relatively stable, with very few emergency situations popping up. The worst case was a young Vantha child who had accidentally sliced open his hand when playing with a spear. Four stitches were necessary and the child would suffer extreme bruising and tenderness for the next eight days. All through the day, Lixue looked forward to lunch. It really surprised her how much she anticipated the meal time. Was it because she was able to see Seiled? Did the anticipation stem from needing to socialize with someone without restrictions? Or was it needing to know their relationship had not changed? Or that it had? Did Lixue want their relationship to have changed? Maybe the prospect of the unknown kept Lixue from saying yes. How would their relationship have changed? What would be different? Would he treat her differently? Would the stories they shared be pulled tight with tension? Or would they slip back into the daily ritual with ease? Most likely not. Lixue could not help but feel they would have to hash things out, verbally. Talk the situation over and get everything out in the clear and decide where to go from there. Then again, given the incident, perhaps Seiled would want to hash things out physically. Lixue shivered, but not from disgust. However, given Seiled's personality, Lixue doubted he would attempt anything given how she had reacted. And how he had been acting. If there one thing Seiled was not, it was spontaneous. He, like Lixue, thought things through. And, although Lixue did not know for certain, she could only assume he did not overanalyze their situation like she had a thousand times since it had happened. Such as how hesitant he had seemed to pressure he into something she was not ready for. Or how Lixue had grabbed his wrist, only meaning to draw him closer at first, before pushing him away. Or wondering how long Seiled had been thinking of doing what he did and what had set him over the edge. Perhaps it was her compliment on his medical skills, or seeing her hurt so effectively. The questions drove Lixue wild and she worked with a determined trait; to knock the incessant questions out of her mind. This was a difficult task when the only patients in the Critical Care Unit were unconscious or puking. The day was boring. When her lunch break neared, Lixue's nerves got the better of her. She fled from the Critical Care Unit, determined to find something to keep her mind occupied until the meeting in her office. Unfortunately, she could find nothing. Everyone had patients and those who were waiting in the front of the center would take too much of Lixue's time and make her miss her lunch appointment. So, she did the next best thing... she turned to the secretary and began a conversation. "How long have you worked here?" Lixue questioned, leaning on the desk with one elbow. The assistant glanced up, eyes murky with color. A bored expression lay on his face, though if he was bored because of his task or because Lixue was bothering him, she did not know. The man set his charcoal down next to the piece of paper he had been writing on. Interlacing his fingers together, the assistant turned to face Lixue. "I have been working at the Whitevine Healing Center for nine seasons, Doctor Lixue." Lixue nodded. She had assumed the assistant was not new. The man did not seem incompetent at his career and held an air of professionalism. "Really? Wow! Are you interested in becoming a doctor one day or?" A loud sigh was exhaled from the man and Lixue had to fight the dropping of her jaw. Was she bothering him? It sure sounded like it! "I am interested in becoming a doctor one day if only so I will not have to deal with those who procrastinate from their jobs by speaking with attendants in front of the patients." Um, what? Lixue raised an eyebrow at the man, who coolly looked back. Lixue turned away from the desk. Well. That did not go as planned. At the same time, someone burst through the Whitevine Medical Center's doors. Cold air burst into the room with the person, who looked frantic. The man at the desk rolled back in his chair, obviously shocked. Lixue, on the other hand, stepped forward. If someone was burst into the center, there had to be a reason. “There’s an emergency outside of Frostfawn Hold, several Icewatch members and possibly civilians are seriously injured and the Icewatch healers have requested medical personnel, is there anyone you can spare?” Lixue nodded sharply, mind already working to find the objects in her office she would need. "Stay here." Without waiting for the Icewatch's reply, Lixue turned and moved quickly out of the room. Her cane tapped on the floor. Along the way, someone passed Lixue, who reached out and snatched their arm. "Fetch Giona. Now. Tell her to pack an emergency bag and equipment. She is to go on a wilderness call." That alone would inform Giona of all she had to pack, hopefully. Releasing the person, Lixue continued on to her office. For a fleeting moment as she grabbed the necessary tools and stuffed them in her bag, Lixue contemplated leaving a note for Seiled. He would be here soon for lunch and Lixue would be... gone. Without saying a word. Lixue cringed. Seiled would not be happy over that. On the other hand, Lixue had no doubt Seiled would quickly receive word of her being taken on a call. At least, she hoped he would receive word. Otherwise, this just made the situation ten times worse. Giona made it back to the waiting room at the same time Lixue did. Both wore heavy coats and carried thick bags. "Lead the way."

[Sliver]

Sliver was impressed with the response time. She realized immediatly the sad doctor from the other evening, who had lost her husband in the wolf attack. Sliver noticed that the woman looked much better now, perhaps not still entirely there, but there was color in her cheeks, and her eyes were alit with purpose unlike her visit. The Kelvic would have liked to extend a greetin, but there simply wasn't enough time. That was when she noticed the cane. That was going to be a problem. Sliver beckoned the two doctors to come outside, then stuck both fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill and piercing whistle. Only ticks later four forms came running around the bend, two she was familiar with a male Vantha and his female bear, the other two were Shylir...or perhaps Yilarra, and Kennen. The big burly bear gave Sliver a small smile, that disappeared when he noticed the doctors. Sliver looked to which ever twin had come with the bear. "Mind if I borrow him for a bit?" The dark haired girl with lava colored streaks in her hair gave a smile and nod. "As long as you don't bring him back covered in mud." Sliver nodded and both bears stripped down in unison transofrming in a flash of smoke and colors mimicking an aurora. Sliver helped Lixue on the back of Kennen while Giona mounted the female...Shale, was it? behind her rider. "To Frostfawn." It was all the bears needed and they were off, two riders apiece headed to the aftermath.

[Lixue]

Lixue had forgotten about her cane. When she was in the Spires, Lixue only took her cane on the first call out into the wild. Besides slowing her down, the cane had slowed down the team as well. They had had to wait while she bumbled along on the uneven ground. Matched with her heavy bag, Lixue was extremely slow. The cane barely helped with her limp and she was left carrying it. Lixue had vowed to never take her cane with her again. And she did not. The Jamoura had been very accommodating of her injury and offered an easy solution. They would carry her. Given Lixue's petite size and light weight, this was a simple task. They would curl her into one of their arms and, using their three other appendages, would move quickly over the ground. The solution had saved many a lives. Plus, it was downright fun to be carried by a Jamoura. Glancing around outside, Lixue noticed an assistant had trailed them out the doors. Lixue beckoned him over. "I need you to return my cane to my office. Thank you." The words, spoken politely, had the appropriate effect. The assistant nodded and, carefully, took the cane from Lixue before disappearing back into the Medical Center. Lixue turned back around in time to see the individuals throw down their clothes and disappear into a cloud resembling the Avanthal sky at night. Lixue had never seen a Kelvic change before and was amazed, but could not help but want to see the actual transformation behind the lights. Two Dire Polar Bear Kelvics were left in the place where the individuals had changed. The Icewatch member who had fetched them looked familiar, but Lixue could place where she knew the woman from. Ignoring this, Lixue stepped up when called. The Icewatch Member cupped one hand and Lixue, acting as she thought was fit, put the foot farthest from the side of the Dire Polar Bear Kelvic in the woman's hands. The next thing Lixue knew, she was flying through the air. Lixue scrambled, trying to make sense of everything. Especially where she was going to land. But Lixue barely had time to think before she landed on something warm and solid. The Dire Polar Bear Kelvic. Lixue winced. She had landed with one knee in the back of the member. Pushing both hands down on the bear's back , between the shoulder blades, Lixue slipped her leg out from under her and slid it down the side of the bear. "Sorry," she whispered apologetically. The bear was surprisingly comfortable. Its- Lixue was uncertain if the bear was a male or female- fur was coarse and moved in a constant pattern. The fur all pointed toward the behind of the bear. When Lixue ran a hand in the opposite direction of the hairs, she discovered some hairs bended easily and others were stiff. Interesting. The hide of the Dire Polar Bear Kelvic was pure white, but Lixue could not see the skin through the layers of hair. Lixue was sitting awkwardly. Her legs hung down behind the bear's legs and she was literally sitting on the bear's back, directly behind its shoulder blades. The palms of her hands rested on the bear's shoulder blades. Her bag lay on Lixue's back. When the woman mounted the bear behind her, Lixue shoved away the sliver of worry. What if the bear could not hold both of them? Sure, the Kelvic was humongous, but what if? Lixue was petite and barely weighed anything, but what did the woman weigh? Then again, the Dire Polar Bear Kelvics of the Icewatch were designed and bred to hold mounts. "To Frostfawn." The bears moved without warning. Lixue fell back against the woman and righted herself with some struggle. The Kelvic walked strangely. One front leg moved at a time and, judging from common sense, Lixue could only assume the opposite back leg moved at the same time. Lixue discovered that if she folded her legs up and clenched the bear's sides with her thighs, she could have a better sense of balance. Her fingers gripped short hair between the bear's shoulder blades. Wind blew in Lixue's face, drawing tears from her open eyes and blurring the world around her. A smile slowly grew on Lixue's pink lips at the sense of being free and as if riding an Icewatch Kelvic was completely natural. Slowly, her tight hold on the bear's fur loosened. Lixue's thighs still clenched the bear tightly, however, and she could only hope the member would not mind. Too soon, the journey was over. Lixue swung a leg over the front of the bear and tumbled off to the side. To her own surprise, she landed on her feet. It was time to return to work.

[Sliver]

Sliver leapt off Kennen in a hurry in order to aid Lixue off the massive bear, but realized too late the doctor had already managed to get herself upright. A wet muzzle rubbed her side affectionately, and Sliver scratched the bears rounded ears fondly. “Thanks Ken, you can go back to her now if you’d like.” Kennen snorted and padded toward the group of people assembled. Sliver was unsure exactly how a large bear could help, but she wasn’t going to try to make the large bear leave either. Before them was a sprawl of individuals. Four Icewatch healers had been called to aid and only two of them had any real knowledge of what they were doing. Perhaps Lixue might vaguely recall them from Whitevine some time ago, before they joined the watch, but now pleasentries and faded memories mattered little when there was a task at hand. The most pressing concern was the Frostfawn girl, perhaps only 10 years of age. She was unconscious, bones broken in several places from getting trampled, potential head trauma, as well as internal bleeding a stark possibility. The healers had feared moving her should her condition worsen, but she was elevated on a wooden palette covered with cloth to keep her body off of the heat leeching snow. There were about six other individuals, guards and members of Frostfawn interspersed in the wounded. Concussions, open wounds, it was clear the people had been kicked bitten and run over several times. Several bodies of young stags lay on the ground, revealing the culprits of the attack. Kennen shifted rapidly, revealing a large muscled body stark naked walking toward one of the healers. It was clear that this was an expected and calculated event that Icewatch medics took into account when going anywhere in the city, for a spare set of clothes was immediately proffered to the large man and he began to get dressed. Sliver followed Lixue over to the more senior healer and decided to wait to be instructed. She was of no real medicinal help, but was sure she could aid in getting necessary supplies if they were lacking, or perhaps organizing transport for people back to Whitevine Healing Center. Either way the Kelvic stood at attention, waiting for the doctor to become appraised of the situation and to help in any way she could.

[Lixue]

Lixue grimaced at the scene before her. Many were injured with wounds that ranged from simple cuts to bleeding heads to a girl that was so still Lixue feared she was dead. Thinking back to her time in the Spires, Lixue forced her body to calm. This mean focusing on her pulse and breathing until they slowed to normal and her brain could properly absorb what had happened here. The task took several chimes, until Lixue grew impatient and began counting back from one hundred. Soon enough, she was ready to face the accident. When the Kelvic led Lixue over to another person, Lixue could only assume this was the one in charge. However, the medic appeared to have his hands full and was overwhelmed with the situation. Perhaps it was because the members were those that he was comfortable with. Either way, Lixue held her tongue. It was not her place to make judgements about another person, especially someone who worked in the same field as her. As the man began to speak, Lixue nodded appropriately. Seven injured, one of which was critical. "Doctor Lixue, do you have any plans for this situation?" It was the question Lixue was waiting for. "Yes. If I may take temporary control?" It was a question directed to the man who had obviously been in charge. Slowly, he nodded. "Thank you." Turning to face the accident, Lixue raised her voice. "Attention!" When no one listened, she repeated the phrase, only louder. This time, several noticed and nudged their neighbors. "I need all those with head injuries over on my left side and those with other injuries to my right. If you suffer from any leg injuries, stay where you are. Medics, please gather around me." Ambling, limping, and moaning, the patients did as asked. And soon enough, all four of the medics were gathered around Lixue, who attempted to put the most assured tone in her voice. "Who has the most experience here?" "Navas and me, ma'am," a member informed her quietly. "Good. I need you two to handle those with head injuries." Anyone with a concussion or a bleeding skull would need to have more experienced workers handling them, as the injuries were more severe. "You two, you will deal with the minor wounds. Set any broken bones in splints and wrap carefully, as to keep the wound from moving. This is not a time to try and fix. Instead, our goal is to stabilize those that are injured so that they can be transported back to the medical center." As she spoke, Lixue met everyone's colorful eyes just to make sure they understood her commands and would listen. "And what are you going to do, Doctor Lixue?" This question came from Navas, or the more experienced healer here. "I am going to be working on that one over there." A tip of her head toward the elevated girl. "When you have finished one patient, alert one of the Icewatch Members. They will be in charge of transporting patients back to the medical center." Here, Lixue turned to the Icewatch Member who had fetched her. "Inform your members of this change. All uninjured Icewatch Members on scene will be transporting injured back to the Medical Center. If necessary, they will also fetch supplies while there as well." And, with a final nod of her head, the groups of medics split up. Lixue headed toward the elevated girl.

[Sliver]

"You heard her!" Sliver barked to nearby Icewatch. She knew a couple of bears who had bonded to healers that would be of some use assisting, but she, Kennen, and about four others were not among those. In an instant they had transformed. Sliver herself would be of no use carrying injured back to the hospital, but she could fetch supplies and make sure the patients were safe during transit, which is precisely what she planned on doing. It would take a few chimes at best before the first victims could be transported, so Sliver walked swiftly beside Lixue as she kneeled down beside the worst case among them: the girl. She could see bruising, and the pallid color of the poor child's skin that so obviously spoke of a bad condition. Sliver stood at attention, ears open. She imagined if specific supplies were needed, it would be Lixue who would be requiring them. Until further instruction she stood as a silent sentinel to the proceedings, dark gaze flicking to those at work until she could be of some use.

[Lullaby]

Lixue

Experience

♪ Leadership: +1

Lore

♫ The Ache of Missing Seiled
♫ Seiled: Not Invincible to Curiosity
♫ Keeping Oneself Busy Until Lunch
♫ Using the Secretary as a Distraction, Did Not Go as Planned
♫ Answering the Emergency of Frostfawn
♫ The Nuisance of a Cane
♫ Witnessing a Kelvic Transformation: What's Behind the Lights?
♫ Awkward Landing on a Dire Polar Bear
♫ The Freedom of Riding an Icewatch Bear
♫ How to Stay Balanced on an Icewatch Bear
♫ Counting Backwards to Calm the Mind
♫ Taking Control to Organize the Injured

Notes
This was a great thread, I really enjoyed reading it. Particularly, I liked how you managed to balance the perspective and actions of not only Lixue, but also the NPCs you had, that added depth and interesting interaction for Lixue's side of things. Her relationship with Seiled really caught my attention, and I might have to go a-hunting to find out the whole story! It's a sorry sight to see this cut short, and I apologize for not being able to award you many experience points.

Sliver

Experience

♪ Weapon: Axe: +2
♪ Acrobatics: +1
♪ Running: +1

Lore

♫ Choosing an Axe as Your Weapon
♫ Chopping Up Wood, Is Not the Same as A Person
♫ Using Agility Against a Heavy-Hand Approach
♫ Using the Range of Weapon Against the User
♫ Using the Haft of Axe to Block a Blade
♫ Answering the Emergency of Frostfawn

Notes
Awesome thread, this was a wonderful read. You incorporated description of the scene along with Sliver's side of things, which was great to read, and it was done very well. I loved the small portion you did at the very beginning from the little girl's point of view, since it added the context to the situation and was a heart-squeezing start. I'm sad to see this cut short, but I look forward to threads in the future!

A quiet song to soothe the heart

Great job, guys! If you have any questions or concerns about your grade, PM me and we'll figure it out!