Closed Come, Young Grasshopper [Aunalee]

[Traverse]

Come, Young Grasshopper
The 11th of Winter, 512 A.V.

A Cool breeze swept over the smooth marble floors of the Opal Temple, ushering in a bright new day. Quiet feet roved back and forth as healers and students alike went from classes, to duties, to see patients. It was a vast space, but still bustling in its own way. Merida sat, as she always did, behind her desk at the entrance of the temple, reading one of the new books that had come into the library with the raised dots that she could feel. It was strange to her to feel something instead of smooth parchment, but welcome as well, to know others understood that those with a lack of sight could still see...just in unique ways.

Her head raised slightly from her book as she heard someone approaching, light steps causing the barest disturbance upon smooth floors that the observant receptionist was expert at picking up. All Konti had light footfalls and a smooth gait, and Merida did not trouble herself with attempting to discern precisely who it was. Patience was something the woman had in spades, and her deities taught her that all would be revealed in time. When the feet stopped before her desk, and a silence passed between them for a few ticks, Merida decided to speak first. "Welcome to the Opal Temple, I am Merida. How may I help you today?" She closed her book and began straightening the notes upon her desk, glancing in the general direction of the individual that had approached her desk, eyes strangely distant and unfocused.

[Aunalee]

Aunalee's heart raced as she nearly skipped down the corridor of the Opal Temple. Her black boots making light little tapping sounds on the marble floor every few seconds. She hummed as sweet summer tune that seemed to not disturb the students, healers, or patients of the temple that passed by her. Although most probably weren't looking at her since she was so tiny and hard to catch a glimpse at. Once her eyes caught on the receptionist she stopped humming and tried desperately to hide her smile by turning down the corners of her lips. They were just as contumacious as she was and so they stayed in their place. Her feet stopped near inches away from the desk and she looked down at her violet shirt. 'How do I even ask this?'

"Welcome to the Opal Temple, I am Merida. How may I help you today?" The receptionists words seemed to bring out a bit of courage from Aunalee. She looked up at her, still smiling widely and asked, "May I be a student here?" She didn't turn her eyes away from the receptionist because she had no reason to but the tiny konti could felt like her skin was alive with adrenaline. 'I hope that I will be accepted. I wonder if they have a test for this?' She bit on her lip and the grin finally evaporated.

[Traverse]

"Ahh, a prospective student, I see." A bit of a smile flashed to Merida's face at her own joke, but it disappeared swiftly, for with this new initiate there was business to attend to. She folded her hands in front of her and had a rather stern expression upon her face when she spoke. Merida was not unkind by any means, but she was not precisely what you would call friendly. "I cannot admit students myself, if that is what you are asking, but there will be many Opal Healers abound I am sure."

She paused a moment, listening intently to see if there was the tell tale sound of other approaching foot steps so she could direct the girl to one of her fellows, but after more than a few ticks of waiting, the receptionist straightened and cleared her throat. "I do not hear any of them about, so your best bet is to proceed to the clinic upon the West Lawn and ask them. Go straight down this hallway and when you feel a light sea breeze turn right down the corridor and you will emerge into an open area where more mild cases are treated, I'm sure someone there will be able to help you. Good luck."

With that the milky white eyes of Merida Zuval turned back down towards her book until the next person arrived and needed guidance. Aunalee had her path set out before her, and despite the rather bizarre instructions, as soon as she walked down the hall a ways the breeze that drifted in from the west was readily apparent to her. The lawn where she had been instructed to go was a vast green affair the color of a perfect emerald. White cloth tents were set up across the grounds, stretches and tables holding patients and equipment alike spread everywhere. One tent stood out from the others, for it was certainly larger and it seemed that a constant flux of Konti and other capable looking individuals kept streaming in and out of it.

[Aunalee]

"Thank you." Aunalee said to Merida and then turned on her heals. She began walking down the hallway until the salty smell of the sea wafted up her nose. She quickened her pace more as her boots crunched the green grass. The color was something of a jewel but as Aunalee was used to the beauty of Mura she didn't pay much attention to it anymore. The tents were more distracting to her for all the people that were going in and out of them. She noticed a large tent that had a constant stream of konti and various other healers from it. Smiling, she walked into the tent and looked around. Noticing that many of the people were there only to grab things she wondered who she could talk to. Not knowing who to talk to, she sort of stood there like dead weight in the midst of the crowd.

[Traverse]

"Greetings, sister!" A clear and excited voice rung out from the far end of the tent, and at first if Aunalee tried to search for its speaker she would not be able to find anyone to whom the voice belonged.

Then a pale head popped up behind a table of neatly folded bandages, nimble hands grabbing a few rolls before coming out and offering a free hand to Aunalee. "My name is Lim'ai, and you seem a bit lost, if you don't mind me saying." A warm smile hung below grey blue eyes, and after a solid hand shake Lim'ai tucked a stray follicle of hair behind her ears, the pale blonde locks strung up in a loose ponytail. She wore a loose cotton dress and her feet were bare as she strode to another table, grabbing a jar filled with some kind of gel substance.

When she returned she hooked her arm into Aunalee's and led her out onto the emerald grass once more, a warm smile upon her face as she led them across the pasture. "You look like just the person I was looking for. Now tell me all about yourself, sister. What brings you to our Order on this fine day?"

If Aunalee was nervous, it was clear that Lim'ai didn't notice or simply wasn't going to comment, and her bubbly attitude was near infectious, her feet almost skipping across the grounds as the two walked.

[Aunalee]

Aunalee heard a voice from the crowd but couldn't put a face to it. She waited until a blue-eyed konti emerged. She wore a cotton dress and had blonde curly hair which wasn't uncommon, the thing that struck Aunalee as odd was the fact that this konti wasn't wearing shoes in the winter. Aunalee watched Lim'ai as she grabbed a jar of gel but couldn't help her eyes as they wandered down to the woman's bare feet. 'I wonder if she's a little cold. It's not like it's snowing out but I don't particularly like walking on stones in the grass. She looked down at her black boots which contrasted greatly with her white pants and deep violet shirt. 'Maybe I'm just to sensitive to the cold?'

Aunalee let Lim'ai guide her to the refreshing grass, a glowing grin lit Lim'ai's
face that seemed to mirror the one on Aunalee's. Aunalee's eyes reached the Konti's as she felt that she could no longer go on without speaking. "I'm Aunalee, my mother died when I was young and the people of this temple raised me. I feel like I should give back to them by becoming one of the healers." She said in a very calm and steady voice because for once in her life, Aunalee was serious.

[Traverse]

Lim'ai still smiled at the Konti as she marched her upon the grass, but it wasn't the same excited expression from their intial meetings. This expression was filled with the warmth of understanding, and she nodded a bit. "That is certainly a good a reason as any, sister." She paused a moment, smile widening a moment. "If you were any other race I would tell you that you owe the Opal Order nothing, and should feel no obligations towards us..." She looked side long at Aunalee, glancing with amusement at the blatant mark upon her forehead. "But I think healing has been put into your soul by our resident Goddess, no?" She grinned and un-tucked her arm from Aunalee's. "And here we are!"

She stepped forward into a much smaller tent than the supply one they had exited such a short time prior, holding open the flap for her companion. Once Aunalee slipped in it was clear that these were set up for just a few patients. Currently there was only one cot occupied in this particular little area. The occupant had a shock of white hair, bright yellow eye and a hooked nose. He was a wiry individual, but his body had a pallor that even a Konti would find unnatural to it. Upon their entrance his eyes shut quickly and a groan emanated from his mouth.

Lim'ai walked briskly over, the smile disappearing to be replaced by a serious expression. She placed the back of her hand upon the male's forehead and clucked her tongue like a concerned mother, gesturing Aunalee over. The skinny male opened those bright yellow eyes and looked tiredly up at the new Konti in his presence, managing a weak smile. It was clear he was in a good amount of pain, his glazed expression said as much, but Lim'ai wasted no time getting down to the details. "This fellow here, is Micah. He's a Kelvic seagull and has a broken arm. On top of that he has caught fever for he thought it better not to get his injury tended to, and wasn't properly able to tend to himself" Her words were stern, but there was still warmth behind them, Micah grimaced and stuck his tongue out at Lim'ai. She chuckled. "This is a two person job, for I know little Micah here is going to put up a big fuss when we try to move his arm. Why don't I hold him while you set the arm and work our Goddesses healing upon it?"

The words were a question, but it was far from merely a suggestion. It the young Konti wished to be a part of the Order, Lim'ai needed proof of her skills. This was no complicated task, but for the personable Konti it was as important for her to see how an individual reacted with a patient as it was to see their skill in medicine. It was clear his left arm was the broken appendage, for every little shift of it caused him to wince, and the purple and blue bruising gave its condition away.

oocFeel free to role-play out Micah as well as take creative license with the nature and seriousness of his injury, have fun with it and show me what you got!

[Aunalee]

Aunalee listened to the Konti woman speak and felt an odd emptiness when the woman un-hooked her arm from Aunalee's. She quickly shook the feeling and followed Lim'ai into a small tent. She felt her eyes wander around the room noticing that every cot was empty expect for one. This cot seemed to be occupied by a man whose shock of white hair matched his skin tone. She heard him groan and couldn't help but shiver.

Aunalee watched with curiosity as the smile left the Konti's face and was exchanged for the look of a healers. Aunalee walked over to the caught after she was invited. The man smiled at her in obvious pain but Aunalee returned the smile with an understanding one. Aunalee looked up to Lim'ai as she gave the explanation of why the Kelvic was in such a bad shape. She nodded at the question and her eyes seemed to light up with excitement. She looked down at Micah again. "Please be patient. This will only take a few minutes." She said, her voice soothing and kind at the same time.

Aunalee didn't even glance at his arm but touched her right hand to his forehead. At first it burned to the touch but it was only a matter of seconds before the skin cooled beneath her fingers. And then, it hit her. She could feel certain spots on his body beckoning her to touch them. 'Behind the ears, the neck, the-' She quickly took her hand of the Kelvic's forehead and flashed a sweet smile to hide what she had just thought. 'Now's not the time to be thinking of such vulgar thoughts. This man is injured and needs your help. Focus.' She took a deep breathe in and let it out then began to size up Micah's left arm.

Aunalee gently touched his left hand with her right hand, at first he flinched but Aunalee concentrated and could see a bit of pain ease from Micah's face. A few of the less intimidating bruises began to fade. She turned to the side table and grabbed the splint from it. "I believe your bone is just buckled and you'll be fine after ten weeks. This is the best I can do for you." Aunalee said but she smiled at him reassuringly. She gently slipped on the splint but Micah flinched a little in pain. She quickly put her right hand back on his left hand and it hit her again. This time his skin seemed to be glowing in certain spots for her eyes only. 'Lips, back of the ears, the neck, the-' She let her hand fall to her side and she shook her head.

"How are you feeling?" Aunalee managed to ask with a sweet smile as she tucked one of her multi-blonde locks behind her left ear. 'I really do need more practice to get control of this stupid curse. I can't be healing someone and then accidentally hit one of their sweet spots. That's just to awkward.' Aunalee glanced up at Lim'ai who had been holding down the Kelvic this whole time. 'Does she know?'

[Traverse]

Lim'ai held Micah down, glaring at him when he flinched and watching how effortlessly Aunalee laid her hands upon him, easing the fever and some of the bruises around the site of his injured arm. She noticed a certain anxiousness that the Konti seemed to possess when coming into contact with the Kelvic, and wondered curiously if it had to do with his race or perhaps his gender. Living on an island filled with women didn't often prepare their sisters for interactions with the opposite sex, perhaps Aunalee was just unused to dealing with male patients. She reached towards the table and grabbed the jar of salve, passing it Aunalee. Micah shrugged in response to her question, watching her with large eyes. "I've been hurt worse, I spose, but I don't like not being able tah fly."

Lim'ai smirked. "Well you should think of that before you get yourself into more trouble next time." She gestured to the jar and bandages, and Micah's eyes widened as he seemed to figure out how long ten weeks were. "Astute prediction of his injury, Aunalee, but it won't take that long, Micah, so you can erase that look off your face like you just swallowed a bug." She addressed Aunalee now. "That salve there is made from Comfrey, a plant wonderful at healing breaks and fractures in bones. It will halve the time of his healing at least as long as he applies it daily and doesn't do anything to strain himself. Why don't you show him how to apply the salve and bandage his arm and I'll get some some more bandages to take with him when he goes."

Lim'ai rose and Micah gave a squawk of indignation. "Why don't you just heal me with your God powers?" Lim'ai turned back to him with an eyebrow raised. "When your injury is better healed one of our healers can finish the job off and remove your cast, but if we fully healed you every time you got injured, Micah, you wouldn't learn your lesson, now would you?" She smirked and left the tent, leaving the prospective student to deal with the pouting bird Kelvic until she returned. Micah sighed. "It aint fair, I should be able to fly now."

[Aunalee]

Aunalee nodded at Lim'ai's request and watched her leave. She turned to Micah and had to put a hand to her mouth to stifle a chuckle at his last comment. She let her hand fall to her side as she lifted up the jar of medicine. "I think this is pretty straight forward, just simply rub it where the broken bone is." Aunalee said and then set the jar down to pick up the bandages.

"Simple task, just wrap it around like this." Aunalee said and mimicked what she had done for him a few minutes ago in the air. Micah nodded at her seeming not to care, as if he already knew how to bandage his own wounds. "Well," Aunalee said and cleared her throat a little scared to say what she wanted to say. "Can I ask you something?" She asked and Micah looked at her with a mischievous grin."Sure, why not."

"How's it to fly? To feel the wind in your face, to see the world from that high, or just to see the world at all." Aunalee asked and looked at Micah earnestly. His yellow eyes seemed not to drift off into the past but stare up at the ceiling as if he was flying right then. "It's like nothing you eva seen before, tah morning breeze that greets ya when ya first spread yur wings, tah beautiful views, I mean, heck it aint nothing like Mura which is everyting beautiful but my, I just can't put it to words."

Aunalee could feel it though, imagine herself flying in the air letting the air lead her on an adventure. "Sounds fun to me, fun and unbelievable. I believe you are very lucky and hope you don't get hurt in the future." She said while placing his bandages back on the side table. She paused for a moment then gave him a suspicious stare. "How did you get hurt anyways?" She asked hoping that Lim'ai would take her time getting to the big tent and back.