Troublesome Women (Vanator)

[Gianne Basete]

The atmosphere was starting to relax significantly. A teasing smile played across her lips, though her teeth clenched again when she pressed the scrap from his shirt against his ribs. "And I definitely wouldn't want to knock you out. Then where would I be? Lying here in the middle of nowhere with a horse I couldn't get on by myself, and the buzzards closing in. I'd be easy pickings." Not that she hadn't been already, even without being wounded. All teasing ended when the water trickled on her arm. Dirt and blood was loosened then wiped away by his gentle fingers, but tears pooled in her eyes and Dahlia had to quickly blink them away. She tried to focus on anything other than the burning under her skin that was only getting worse. Her body felt raw, like a piece of meat at the butcher's shop. Vanator's voice was the only thing that didn't hurt that she could cling to, to try and pacify the creeping pain. Perhaps she'd been in shock and it was wearing off, making her hyper away of each little scratch. It was like coals were buried under her skin, flaring with each slight touch and shift of weight. Vanator's smile was infectious and took years from his face; it suited him. Her own was now pinched and strained, but genuine. "Ironic that you two met for the same reason you're meeting me, huh? Though I don't seem to be that smart, do I? But I can promise I'm extra ornery, with plenty to spare." Dahlia's eyes twinkled, enjoying the joke at her own expense. After all, she'd made quite the stupid mistake of gallivanting off into the grasses after being warned several times not to. Sirocco was definitely a fine animal, and she watched him quietly as Vanator retrieved a container of apparent medicine and applied it to her arm. She winced and hissed quietly through her teeth, fighting the urge to snatch her arm away. It would only hurt her side more, and probably several other places. Her throat constricted with the threat of more tears, but she clamped down on it with all her might. "At this point I might welcome infection," Dahlia drawled dully, giving the Drykas a wry look, humor lacing the feigned boredom in her voice. She just wanted to curl up in a bed, wrapped in a warm quilt, and be able to fall into a deep coma-like sleep. Or just a real coma. And she wasn't sure if she had the courage to clean her own wounds, at least the bigger ones. Dahlia had barely ever even had to wash a scrap, let alone gouges in her own flesh. "You might as well do it." She'd seen his scan of her upper body and the hesitation on his face. "It's not like I can get much more naked . You've felt about every inch of my body at this point anyways, might as well see it now. Plus, with you cleaning, I don't have to look at...," her voice trailed off, but she used her good hand to motion to her cut up body. Dahlia was actually a bit squeamish, at least when it came to herself. That's why she had no medical skills. It made her uncomfortable and a little sick seeing injuries. This entire time, she'd tried to keep her eyes anywhere but herself. And in the end, Dahlia couldn't help making a lewd comment. "And if you're worried about me being uncomfortable, you could always undress too," she crooned, a smile in her voice and eyes. "You're not far off yourself."

[Vanator]

Dahlia put on a brave face, joking through clenched teeth. Vanator gave her credit, for he knew she was it pain, and probably afraid. The glistening tears that welled in her eyes garnered a gentle smile from the Drykas.

"Ornery huh? Well...I may have my hands full with the two of you." His eyes flashed and darted to the Strider hovering protectively over them. Vanator bound her arm in a salve soaked bandage. The bleeding was contained, but she still might have needed a stitch or two there. When the horseman's attention turned to the tears in her torso, his face took on a more sober cast. But the girl's frank statement brought a small smile back to his face. Yes, he could see much of her body through the shredded blouse, and had felt most of her torso already, though the gravity of the situation had barred any more sensual thoughts to crop up in the Drykas' mind.

When she suggested that he undress as well, to make things even, he raised an eyebrow. He laughed at her dare, and grabbing a fistful of his tunic in his hand, he ripped the garment from his body, leaving his tanned, muscled torso bared. "There, that's all you get lady!"

Vanator then set about the task of removing her tattered garb, using his dagger to cut her free of the bloodied rags. With the woman now equally bared before him, the Drykas could not help but appreciate the curves and contour of Dahlia's torso. He made no comment, though his pregnant pause surely indicated his moment of gawking. Then the grasslander set about washing the smaller wounds as the raven-haired woman held the rag to her gashed side. Taking a wineskin, Vanator unstopped it and lifted it to the woman.

"You may want to take this..." A bit of alcohol would not hurt if he had to stitch or deep clean the larger wound. His hands worked smoothly over her skin, washing away dirt and blood, smearing salve on the larger cuts. Once Vanator had finished, he gently took her good arm and pulled it away from the wound along her ribs, taking away the crimson rag. Vanator shot the woman a glance, but quickly looked away, not wanting her to see the concern in his eyes. He picked up the dagger he had used to cut away her blouse.

"Chug that wine, and put this between your teeth Dahlia...I am afraid this might hurt."

Vanator did not want to hurt the girl, but the wound needed cleaned of the dirt and grass that had gathered in it. Once she was ready, Vanator poured water over the gash, wiping away at it, scrubbing with his fingers. At one place, it was deep enough to see the tissue covering her ribs. He turned his gold-flecked hazel gaze back to Dahlia.

"Its going to need a few stitches, but I will make it as quick as I can. Don't worry. Keep biting the dagger handle." Van gave her a reassuring smile, his hand reaching to brush a stray strand of her black mane from her face, stuck to the sweat and tears coating her cheek.

Vanator opened the small kit, pulled out the needle, kept in a sterile cloth Kavala had prepared herself. He strung it with sterile thread, knotted it and took the wineskin from the poor girl. He poured some of the wine on the stretch of skin that needed stitched, and began to pierce her skin and thread up the wound, like Elem had taught him. It was not nearly as perfect as the Sanctuary healers would have made, but it drew closed the wound. Knotting and cutting the thread, Van then smeared salve over it as well.

"We're done dear. You are a brave girl! Now let me bandage it and we are done." Vanator fetched another shirt, tore it and made a bandage. He made strips and bound them around Dahlia's body, careful not to touch anything that would be awkward, and secured the bandage.

"There, finished." He smiled at the half-naked woman lying in the grass. "Now, I have only one shirt left that isn't torn to pieces. Since we can't have you walking around with..." He gestured vaguely at her breasts, "those all...out...I will let you wear it. You will just have to deal with me not having one." Now that she was out of immediate danger, Vanator indulged in a longer glimpse of the stranger. She was very attactive, and yes, her body was quite pleasing to look upon...which he decided he should probably stop staring at. His eyes shot up again to her eyes, smiling sheepishly.

"I suppose we should try to get you on the horse...before something else comes along and tries to eat you!"

[Limey]

Vanator Skill and Lore Rewards Skills Lore Observation 3 The Sea of Grass: A Land Of Predators Riding 1 Night Lions: Dangerous, But Not Fear(For)Some Horsemanship 1 Be Ready To Improvise Battle Ax 1 Dahlia: Wilful And Beautiful (If A Little Stupid) Tactics 1 Making A Tourniquet and Bandages From Clothes Medicine 2 The Importance Of Cleaning A Wound Additional Notes : Gianne, if you ever do come back, let me know and I'll get you a grade for this. Good work as always, Van. A shame Gianne vanished, but you did great work as usual. I liked how you were methodical with your cleaning and bandaging of Gianne - oops, Dahlia, sorry - and you didn't make the fight with the Night Lion too easy on yourself. Very nice, little desperation adds to the victory. Any questions or queries, please PM me.