Even as Edalene stooped to pick up the vials and Tarrow watched, he didn't feel relieved. If he were alive, all of this might have given him a sick feeling to his stomach. Seeing the anguish in the young girl was giving him no end of torment. Not just because he empathized with her, and felt helpless to comfort her. After all, if he so much as hugged her, he could kill her. What troubled him even more than that, however, was that he knew this wasn't over. Endrykas was in danger, and so was Edalene and everyone around her. Tarrow knew this was going to get worse before it got better. The ghost nodded as Edalene asked if he was coming. "Yes." He "stepped" forward again, just as his imaged suddenly vanished in a startling flicker. Without missing a beat, Tarrow's voice sounded again, but from another location. He had suddenly appeared on the other side of Edalene. "I will meet you back in Endrykas. Rush those vials to your father." Tarrow turned toward the meadow, staring out at the regiment rushing back to Endrykas. Three men were lagging behind to wait for Damie's daughter. "And, Edalene." The ghost turned back to her, his expression suddenly blank and unreadable. "Just remember… you're not alone. I'm watching you. I won't let anything happen to you." Tarrow added a smile before his image faded. Back in Endrykas, Thetch had pushed his Strider to her limit, riding the strands of the web and running as fast as she could manage. Though Damie had gone quiet, Thetch continued talking to the man, trying to keep him conscious. He tried to joke with him about how foolish he was, or something the horses had done. Anything not to mention Zeyba, who Damie hadn't asked about yet. Perhaps he already knew. Perhaps he didn't want to. Glancing down at Damie's face though, he didn't appear lethargic, or tired. He stared out blankly, looking almost bored. There was no feeling in his eyes. What had he gone through? The Watch regiment arrived at an Opal clan healer's pavilion, where Damie was rushed inside and onto a bed. As a healer approached him, his entire body seemed to tense up, and he sent a harsh glare at the medic. "Don't touch me," he growled, sounding more threatening than seemed natural. "But your bandage. We have to change it, and check for infection or festering or--" "No need," Damie cut him off, coughing weakly. "I just need rest. Please, keep your hands off of me. I don't want to be touched." Even though he had said "please," Damie's tone was anything but polite. It sounded menacing. "Where is Ed… Eda…" "Edalene?" Damie nodded. "My head is clouded. I can't remember any of your names. I barely remember mine." "Damie," Thetch responded slowly and plainly. He wondered why Damie wouldn't let the healer help him. There was clearly something more wrong with him beyond the wound was in his abdomen. "I'm Thetch. This is my brother, Falree, and this is--" "Not now. Just leave me. Leave this tent. Bring me my daughter." Thetch lingered for a few seconds longer, absolutely puzzled. Shaking his head in bewilderment, he knew he had no option but to acquiesce. "Come on, everyone. Let's give him some air." After Thetch herded everyone out of the small pavilion, even the healer, he briefly paused to look back at Damie. Damie did not return his gaze, only stared upward. Worried, he grimaced and finally left the tent himself. OOCFeel free to use some NPCs here to ease in your post, including Thetch if you like. |