Tazi worked as quickly as her trembling hands would allow her. The cloth she used was dirty. It was not ideal for dressing a wound, but it was all that they had for now. When they got back to the basin, she would have to find something more fitting. Maybe the clothes she had left behind would suit for bandage material. It would be a shame to cut it all up, but it would be for a worthy cause. Yes, if she made it back to the basin, that would be a decent plan as well. At least he had agreed to go to the Basin. With one worry out of the way, she would be able to concentrate drawing the Yukmen away. Even though they did not know each other, her clan believed that ones that stood and fought together shared a bond no one else could explain. Some part of her had always tried to believe that, even more so now than ever.
She took a deep breath, trying to take his suggestion to heart. Relaxing was still going to be very hard. Taking a breath, she took a moment to assess herself. Tazi had some deep puncture wounds in her shoulder and one or two in her abdomen. The shoulder wounds had bled into the shirt, and since stopped, but she knew fresh blood would flow when the shirt came off. The punctures on her abdomen trickled, but overall she was doing better then he was. "I'm alright." Even though it was an answer to his question, Tazi tried to say it as confidently as possible to make her own spirit relax.
He had already moved back in the direction that they had come. She grabbed her dagger, tucking it rather stupidly into the hem of her now very dirty underwear. She collected poppers before starting to walk in the other direction. "Go. I'll be there soon." Myrian women had to be strong. That is what her mother had been trying to teach her all along. Now she was trying to muster every ounce of courage she had. Without formalities, she turned and ran after the Yukmen. Her mind was screaming at her to turn and run back to the basin.
What the petch are you doing? You can't do this! He's stronger then you! One side argued, practically begging her to run. Tazi's reasoning took over, and eventually won. Yet he's injured. It is my duty as a medicine woman to protect and heal. Give him a chance to recover, and if you make it out of this alive, you can applaud yourself and your pride.
The jungle plants had been trampled by the careless Yukmen, making it fairly easy to follow them. They had moved a significant distance away from where her companion had been before splitting off. Pausing to catch her breath, she examined the tracks. Two veered strongly to one side, but they were smaller. The largest of the columns had kept moving straight. Taking one of the popper's from her make-shift bag, she threw it on the ground at her feet. The loud POP bounced off the nearby trees. Tazi barely stuck around the smell the sweet scent of honey rising up from the flower. She bounded down on of the smaller tracks, praying to Myri that there was only one Yukmen at the end of it.
It must have been one of the slower ones because it came out of the brush just ahead of her as fast as it could. It tackled her into the ground, making those awful yukking sounds. For good measure, and to continue drawing the Yukmen away from the basin, she let out a sound she never knew she had. From the darkest depths of her abdomen came this terrifying howl of rage and fear. The poppers had fallen, some of them snapping open with that same sharp sound. Her opponent was briefly smitten by the noises and smells, allowing Tazi a brief second to roll away. Sadly, she was not fast enough. It grabbed her long hair, rotting fingers entwining into the strands. The Yukman hauled them both to their feet before brutally bashing her face into a nearby trunk. Blood gushed from a freshly broken nose, tears welling up in her eyes. It yanked her head back allowing Tazi to feel it's breath on her neck. Reaching for her dagger, she was saddened to find it missing. Looking wildly from side to side, she noted it by the flowers. It must have cut through the hem when she had been tackled.
Her forehead connected with the tree next, making her world spin. Nausea lept up from her belly. Only sheer will kept her from vomiting. Digging her heels into the ground, she pushed backwards forcing the Yukman off balance. It fell on top of a few poppers, the sound causing it to hiss in disgust. Tazi had always fallen back, but she was closer to the dagger now. Waving her arms wildly, she managed to find the blade. Tightening her fingers around them until the metal bit into her palm, she dragged it close. With only moments to spare before the Yukman could settle it's gnarled teeth into her skin, she plunged it carelessly into the general vicinity of the creatures head. Only a brief tremor and then stillness allowed her to believe that it was dead.
Rolling over, Tazi crouched down. She wanted to puke, to relieve all the tension she was now feeling, but the noise was drawing them closer. Scrambling for her dagger and a handful of the poppers, she continued staggering straight. Dragging the hand across her face, she purposefully allowed her blood to drizzle on the plants that passed beneath her feet. Like and injured animal, she would draw them away. Dizziness overwhelmed her, the throbbing in her head making it hard for her to remember where she was going. A popper fell from her hand, snapping loudly. The scent of honey and blood mingled together as she dropped the rest. The loud noise and the sweetness that permeated the air was almost enough to make her fall to her knees. Instead, she veered in the direction of the basin. It was round, and they were still probably close enough for her to find her way back to the beach.
What she had not considered was the fact that their elevation may have gone up. The jungle cleared as Tazi continued to stumble forward, giving way to a cliff. She stopped, her heart racing. The basin was beneath her, not beside her. The Yukmen were at her back, and the only option was down into the water. This would probably work, if she knew how to swim.
The noises drew her back into reality. Dropping the dagger, she lowered herself to all fours. By Myri, and with any luck, she would have the strength to hold herself up long enough for them to go away. Gingerly, she lowered herself over the side until only the tips of her fingers could be seen. There, she waited, either for life or death via Yukmen or drowning.
She took a deep breath, trying to take his suggestion to heart. Relaxing was still going to be very hard. Taking a breath, she took a moment to assess herself. Tazi had some deep puncture wounds in her shoulder and one or two in her abdomen. The shoulder wounds had bled into the shirt, and since stopped, but she knew fresh blood would flow when the shirt came off. The punctures on her abdomen trickled, but overall she was doing better then he was. "I'm alright." Even though it was an answer to his question, Tazi tried to say it as confidently as possible to make her own spirit relax.
He had already moved back in the direction that they had come. She grabbed her dagger, tucking it rather stupidly into the hem of her now very dirty underwear. She collected poppers before starting to walk in the other direction. "Go. I'll be there soon." Myrian women had to be strong. That is what her mother had been trying to teach her all along. Now she was trying to muster every ounce of courage she had. Without formalities, she turned and ran after the Yukmen. Her mind was screaming at her to turn and run back to the basin.
What the petch are you doing? You can't do this! He's stronger then you! One side argued, practically begging her to run. Tazi's reasoning took over, and eventually won. Yet he's injured. It is my duty as a medicine woman to protect and heal. Give him a chance to recover, and if you make it out of this alive, you can applaud yourself and your pride.
The jungle plants had been trampled by the careless Yukmen, making it fairly easy to follow them. They had moved a significant distance away from where her companion had been before splitting off. Pausing to catch her breath, she examined the tracks. Two veered strongly to one side, but they were smaller. The largest of the columns had kept moving straight. Taking one of the popper's from her make-shift bag, she threw it on the ground at her feet. The loud POP bounced off the nearby trees. Tazi barely stuck around the smell the sweet scent of honey rising up from the flower. She bounded down on of the smaller tracks, praying to Myri that there was only one Yukmen at the end of it.
It must have been one of the slower ones because it came out of the brush just ahead of her as fast as it could. It tackled her into the ground, making those awful yukking sounds. For good measure, and to continue drawing the Yukmen away from the basin, she let out a sound she never knew she had. From the darkest depths of her abdomen came this terrifying howl of rage and fear. The poppers had fallen, some of them snapping open with that same sharp sound. Her opponent was briefly smitten by the noises and smells, allowing Tazi a brief second to roll away. Sadly, she was not fast enough. It grabbed her long hair, rotting fingers entwining into the strands. The Yukman hauled them both to their feet before brutally bashing her face into a nearby trunk. Blood gushed from a freshly broken nose, tears welling up in her eyes. It yanked her head back allowing Tazi to feel it's breath on her neck. Reaching for her dagger, she was saddened to find it missing. Looking wildly from side to side, she noted it by the flowers. It must have cut through the hem when she had been tackled.
Her forehead connected with the tree next, making her world spin. Nausea lept up from her belly. Only sheer will kept her from vomiting. Digging her heels into the ground, she pushed backwards forcing the Yukman off balance. It fell on top of a few poppers, the sound causing it to hiss in disgust. Tazi had always fallen back, but she was closer to the dagger now. Waving her arms wildly, she managed to find the blade. Tightening her fingers around them until the metal bit into her palm, she dragged it close. With only moments to spare before the Yukman could settle it's gnarled teeth into her skin, she plunged it carelessly into the general vicinity of the creatures head. Only a brief tremor and then stillness allowed her to believe that it was dead.
Rolling over, Tazi crouched down. She wanted to puke, to relieve all the tension she was now feeling, but the noise was drawing them closer. Scrambling for her dagger and a handful of the poppers, she continued staggering straight. Dragging the hand across her face, she purposefully allowed her blood to drizzle on the plants that passed beneath her feet. Like and injured animal, she would draw them away. Dizziness overwhelmed her, the throbbing in her head making it hard for her to remember where she was going. A popper fell from her hand, snapping loudly. The scent of honey and blood mingled together as she dropped the rest. The loud noise and the sweetness that permeated the air was almost enough to make her fall to her knees. Instead, she veered in the direction of the basin. It was round, and they were still probably close enough for her to find her way back to the beach.
What she had not considered was the fact that their elevation may have gone up. The jungle cleared as Tazi continued to stumble forward, giving way to a cliff. She stopped, her heart racing. The basin was beneath her, not beside her. The Yukmen were at her back, and the only option was down into the water. This would probably work, if she knew how to swim.
The noises drew her back into reality. Dropping the dagger, she lowered herself to all fours. By Myri, and with any luck, she would have the strength to hold herself up long enough for them to go away. Gingerly, she lowered herself over the side until only the tips of her fingers could be seen. There, she waited, either for life or death via Yukmen or drowning.