[Bronze Wood] The Trouble with Bears (Aiken)

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Aiken's dive took Sam somewhat by surprise. He hoped the kelvic would return, because if this was a dangerous bit of woods, it would help to have an ally, especially with Horse injured. Sam was going to have to walk alongside the stallion to prevent undue stress on the injury anyway. But Aiken did return and his swim gave Sam the opportunity to focus on Horse. By the time the kelvic returned, having enjoyed the swim almost as much as a dog, by the looks of things, Sam was applying the poultice to Horse. It was most certainly not fancy, but it would help prevent infection until he could get him home. "There," he murmured in Pavi to the animal. "All better." He turned to smile at Aiken. "That's awful clean. Did the swimming hurt?" It must not have if he wasn't doubled over in agony, which was a good sign that the muscle underneath was relatively unscathed. "I can put the poultice on you, but it'll work best if you stay in human shape because... you know, no fur. But that means we should probably camp out for the night so it can work on you for a bit, and we can guard each other's back. If you want to come back to Syliras with us, the offer stands, but after a night's rest, you should have a better idea about how bad those wounds are and if you think you need to come."

[Aiken]

"It was nice. The water is warm and slow," Aiken replied, happy with the offer for healing. But when Sam said he would have to stay human for a time, his smile left for a second. He didn't like not having a choice to change back and forth, not being able to be his feral, instinctual side. It was almost a curse, not being able to be just one or the other, but both. And on top of that, either society looked on him like an outcast, or so he felt.

But those feelings weren't the issue, all he needed was some healing, and the requisite for that was to stay human. That's all, nothing more. "Sure. I can do that. But I don't know if I'll be going on to Syliras. I don't blend well."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

He thought he caught a flicker of negativity at his prognosis, so he temporized. "I mean, if the other bear comes back, you'll have to change... and we'll just work on another poultice if we have to. But... it'll just be easier to heal if you stay put for the night. Do you want to sit down and I'll put this on?" He was going to have to buy some new bits of cloth when he went back into town. Horse and Aiken were going to use up his rags for poultices and it wasn't a good idea to reuse things with blood on them, or so he had been told.

[Aiken]

"It's alright, I think I get it. I just don't like to not have the choice." Being so close to a dangerous situation, staying human could prove to be death in the wild. But underneath even that, Aiken was afraid. He was vulnerable, hurt. Even as he healed, the longer he stayed in this form with its slightly above-average human senses, faster metabolism, slower legs, dull teeth, and foreign, sweaty scent, the bigger the chance he had to come under the predation of some dog, another wolf, or any of the other beasts that would normally leave him alone.

This feeling made him anxious, but he would never show that or his fear. Physically, he looked twenty by any human standards, but his mind was still only three years old. Even by Kelvic standards he was young, and the way his mind worked was barely above instinctual yet. Human contact wasn't something he was used to, and it was never on his mind as an issue.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Well... If you prefer your other form, I'll do the best I can around your fur. I don't know, perhaps you heal better that way?" He was dubious, not knowing much more than common knowledge about kelvics, which he imagined was mostly incorrect anyway. But deep down, he hoped Aiken would remain in this form, because it would be nice to have someone to talk to around the campfire. Then he smiled and shrugged. "Either way, pick a form so I can get this poultice on you. If you have to change, I have to make another one. No worries. I could use the practice, probably. I only get to practice on Horse and myself, normally."

[Aiken]

"This form is fine, for now. Let's get it on and over with; I heal quick anyway." He could feel the drying blood start to itch, and it was all he could do not to scratch it. It bothered him nearly to tears, and picking at it would get more dirt into it than Aiken cared to imagine.

"If anything, the other bear will smell the one we beat on me and stay away. That's how animals work."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Well, I hope all the animals stay away. I could make some money on that bear pelt, and even if I don't eat the meat, there are people in the City who will. I'm saving up for a journey." The last was an admission of sorts. There was that journey looming on the horizon -- he could feel it. He just wasn't sure where he was going or with whom. But he spoke as he carefully applied the poultice of propolis and other herbs that would keep the wounds clean and quicken the healing. With luck they would also ease the itching. He was careful with Aiken, laying the makeshift bandage on his wounds as delicately as he would a newborn foal. The kelvic seemed nice enough, but he had seen how wild and violent he could be. He didn't know if a sharp pain might not make him turn on Sam, who was only trying to help. "Hey, if... I sort of owe you one, so if you ever do need help in the City... When I'm there, I work at the Windmount Stables just outside Stormhold Castle. I'm not trying to pry... I don't know if you have people out here or if you're alone. I don't need to know. That's fine. I'm just saying, if you need my help and you can't pick up my scent anywhere, that's where I'd be."

[Aiken]

"Take the pelt at least. They make good enough coats, I hear. Besides, I only eat the livers, if anything of them. If you see a rabbit or a deer though, I'd love one right about now."

Aiken started to feel the cooling sensation of the healing herbs. It was soothing, and his locked muscles were beginning to loosen again. He closed his eyes and leaned more forward, thankful that this was working. Maybe there wouldn't be a scar when all was said and done.

"I'll stop by some time. There's a small orchard of apple trees nearby, and I guess horses like those. Something I heard somewhere."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam nodded thoughtfully, double-checking the wrap job he had done. It wasn't pretty, but it looked like the poultice would stay on by itself, at least until morning if Aiken didn't go rolling around in the grass or something. "I could put out a trap for a rabbit," he offered, "but bear liver I could get you faster. I have some salt pork and some venison jerky in my bags, and some other stuff, but it's not meat. I'm saving up for a new hunting bow, then I can help you with a deer, though I imagine you don't need too much help. Especially if you have a pack." He wondered then if it was rude to ask about such things as that. Though Aiken was not the first kelvic he had ever seen, he couldn't remember ever having a one-on-one conversation with one. Those in Sunberth had mostly been pets to the wealthy and the dangerous, or bred to fight in the bloodsports. "Oh, and Horse definitely enjoys an apple." He grinned, and looked at his equine brother, who was still treating his injured side gingerly, but was not so in pain that he couldn't work on some foliage.

[Aiken]

"That would be great. I'd hunt for one, but I don't think I'd get very far right now." Aiken stretched his shoulders, rolling them to make sure he still had full movement. His right was a little slow, but that seemed normal. It would be a few days until he was 100 percent again, but he would be able to deal for now.

"I left my pack. I didn't fit in there, not the way I saw it. It was the same thing everyday, it seemed. Its only recently that I've come this close to people again. I almost forgot I was half human..." He trailed off, staring at the river. The memories of times past weren't overwhelming in that they were painful. No, in fact, Aiken quite enjoyed his time as a wild beast. But the memory of why he became one, of why he renounced his human side was numbing and consumed all attention.