/+/nursing wounds\+\

[Anonymous]

The great black dragon known as Raistlin contrasted starkly with the azure sky as he glided over the ocean, Sirena Island just on the horizon. The sun glinted off his scales, warming the faces of the two figures on his back: his lady, Mina, and her man, Nakaris. [where would you like me to land?] he asked Mina telepathically, gnashing his teeth in concentration as he altered his wingspan enough to turn them slightly to the right.

"In any of the inland coves will be fine," she called aloud over the rushing wind. The archmage reached a hand slightly back to touch Nakaris's bare leg, "I'll see you in a moment."

Without giving an explanation, Mina neatly tumbled over the Dragon's side. Her body whipped through the air before she turned it into a neat swan dive and plummeted into the ocean below, a mile from the coast.

Raistlin said nothing about it, just flew on. A few moments later he began his descent, careful not to jar the wounded man on his back. He circled a quarter of the island before he descended to a few feet above the ocean. [hold on..]

In a spray of seafoam, the dragon neatly landed in the water, skirting along a few feet on his own momentum before his belly scraped the sand. [You can get off here...the water is only a few feet deep. You should be able to stand easily.]

The two were in a cove shaped like a half-moon, the beach on one side bare and soaked in sun, the other bordered by pom trees which created a good amount of shade.

Raistlin left Nakaris in the water and trundled over to the sunny beach, laying down with a sigh so as to sun himself.

[Mina will be back in a bit.] Was all he said before he closed his eyes. Apparently, that meant conversation was over.

[Anonymous]

A young elven man of about twenty-something years cautiously approached the dragon, making sure that he appeared as non-threatening as possible.  His golden hair was tied back with a simple band that kept the shoulder-length locks out of his face.  As for his clothing, it was simple: knee-length tunic, plain pants, and boots.  He carried an oaken staff and had a satchel slung over his left shoulder, hanging at his right side.  "Hello," he said, looking directly at the dragon's face for any response.  "Good day to you."   His accent sounded a bit odd, as if he were deliberately shaping every single word.  "I saw that there were two passengers with you when you arrived.  Are they both well, or might they be in need of a healer?  And are you in need of medical attention in any way, even minor?"  

He didn't seem alarmed at all to be so near a dragon, but that was because in his days he had seen all manner of creatures and had seen to the medical needs of many, even after the unfortunate shipwreck that caused an abrupt shift in his vocation.  The whole time he spoke and awaited a response, he never took his eyes off the dragon's face, as if it were absolutely necessary for him to be looking directly at whomever he was speaking to.  Actually, it was, for he was completely deaf (a good thing for someone who attends Sirens, but of course he wasn't able to do much to stop the unfortunately hearing crew who heard the Siren song and whose shipwreck caused him to end up on this island in the first place).  He was also telepathic, too, but he saw it as an intrusion of one's privacy if he did not seek to communicate first to a new person in the other available forms such as speaking.

[Rhindeer]

Mina's rather abruptâ€"but smoothâ€"exit momentarily took Nakaris aback, his heart jumping up into his throat, before that battered, rational part of his mind took over and reminded him that she was a Siren, and this was her element. It was easy to forget that detail; aside from her ethereal beauty and the song he'd heard her sing once or twice in the heat of battle, she seemed nothing like a Siren to him. At least, not like the stereotypical ones in the old stories. He knew there was some truth to thoseâ€"there was a little truth to everything, reallyâ€"but it was undoubtedly biased. And besides...he'd never before seen her in her element, never been to the sea with her, to her home.

So, needless to say...it was easy to forget that the waters would not treat her the same way as they would a human. The waves probably welcomed her as a daughter, rather than as an invader.

That had been...sudden. And he couldn't help but wonder where she'd gone. Or if there were others here. But he wasn't worried. This was her backyard. Still, Siren or not, it was a wonder she'd been able to do that with broken ribs.

The landing brought him back to the present, and he cringed as they began to descend. He didn't much care for landings or take-offs, at least not as he was now, and as soon as they had landed, he gladly rolled off the dragon's back and into the clear water, welcoming the feel of both solid land beneath him and warm, cleansing water that would have reached to mid-thigh had he been standing. For now, though, he just crouched where he'd landed and collected himself, waited for his vision to settle and strength to build up just enough for him to move. It felt like every movement was a struggle, the smallest few steps horribly exhausting. He hated that. But all he could do was be patient; he hadn't the energy to be anything but patient.

A few moments of rest, and then Nakaris was forcing himself to his feet and staggering slowly into deeper water, until it was up to his stomach. The salt-water stung his pierced stomach and wounded wrists, but it felt good, like he could finally get clean, and it was easier to stand in this deep of water. Another small rest, and then he stooped carefully to gather sand and begin the lengthy task of scrubbing his bruised bare skin, of washing away dried blood and pain. Might as well get it out of the way while Mina was gone to...wherever she'd gone to.

He was sure he'd find out about it later.

The scrubbing began to hurt after a while, sand rubbing his skin raw in places that he'd already scrubbed, but he paid it no mind; it was a distant pain. He just focused on getting all that shit off himâ€"the demon's blood and lingering sensations of the whipping, the touching, the shameâ€"and never once really realized how roughly, even aggressively, he was treating his own body. He probably wouldn't have cared even had he known, though. He just wanted to be clean. And if he hurt himself in the process, so what? He could stop it if he wanted to.

He held his breath and wet his hair, ignored the stinging in his torn ears and chest, and undid the leather thong that held his hair back so that his hair fell freely down to his shoulders. Then he went to work on raking all the clotted gunk out until the red of the blood was washed out and the red-gold of his natural hair color shone through wetly. It was then back to scrubbing his body, though by then he was perfectly clean. But he still felt like he was covered in slime, like there were places he'd missed, even though he'd already scoured every inch at least twice.

Nakaris wasn't aware that they weren't alone.

[Anonymous]

One massive eyelid snapped open as the great ebon dragon sensed someone near him; someone who did not smell like someone he knew. A glistening scarlet iris and jagged pupil leered at the elven man, the man who smelled like the ocean. Raistlin knew that smell well, for that was the smell his mistress gave off. She smelled of battle, she smelled of blood and earth, but she always smelled like the ocean. Always. This man smelled of the ocean too, but his form was not Siren-ish. He looked all the world like an elf, and this Raistlin did not understand. He said nothing for a long time, merely stared back at the man. Then, he opened the other eye. Two massive eyes stared down the elvish man, and then both blinked. He sensed no malice eminating from this man, only saw within him a compassion to help. This man did not look the kind to follow Venorik and Darlig, he seemed like a man to side with the line of good. Raistlin did not side with the side of good, no, but he understood that sometimes the good could be persuaded to aid the evil. And was the good man offering help? Yes, yes he was. Raist raised his head on its long slender neck, and looked down upon the elf. ¦You offer healing?¦
That seemingly  fragile head turned on its long muscled neck ¦M'lord? Nakaris? We've got company.¦

Suddenly, a soft singing eminated from the ocean waters. The seafoam frothed, and three heads pushed up from the surface. One blond, one brown, and one red and black. Three faces appeared next, and three pairs of shoulders. Mina was in the lead, flanked by two other siren women whom carried bundles. They were all naked, as everyone is in the Siren colonies within the waves. The three walked up the slope of sand, their whole forms slowly being revealed before they stepped out of the water. The two women set down their burdens and looked about, tittering as they looked at Nakaris, whom was naked in the water. Mina spoke softly to them in their own language and then gestured at the elf. The women knew him. He could not hear them. He had been there for some time, the Siren women knew nothing of him except that he causes them no harm. Mina nodded and kissed the two goodbye. The two other women smiled wanly and slipped back into the water, both passing desperatly close to Nakaris without touching him. They would not touch him. No, Mina claimed him Her's.

Mina watched them until they disapeared from sight, then walked over to the elf and her dragon. She touched the elven man on the forehead and inclined her chin slightly. She spoke slowly, so he could understand her. "Greetings, Elf. My People proclaim you a Healer. My Man needs healing. Will you help? I'll offer you gifts.."

[Rhindeer]

Company?

That word was enough to freeze him in his harsh, compulsive cleansing, which was good, because his skin had taken quite an extra beating by then and was even bleeding lightly from a few very shallow scrapes on his arms and belly. He hardly noticed that, though, and wouldn't have cared if he did. Already, he felt a little better, just knowing there was nothing from that dark place still clinging to him. Just a little better in that, at least, he didn't feel...feel...

Owned. Was that the right word? Yeah...the bastard had claimed him as his. Well, fuck that. Any connections were severed, now. He wasn't still attached to him or that place. The only reason now that he would have anything to do with him in the future was because he chose to and he had to. The bastard had his daughter. And he would kill him. Things would be different next time...next time, there would be no restraints, and the fucker would not enjoy any of it.

Nakaris had kept that thought in his mind as he cleaned himself. It was easier to feel angry and bold than to deal with the horror and hurt that threatened to overwhelm him.

It would have also been easier to maintain that emotion without having a reminder so soon.

He instantly knew that Raistlin was not talking about Mina. He spoke to and about her respectfully and familiarly, not in ambiguous terms as he just used. A quick flash of annoyance worked through him briefly at the title Raistlin bestowed on himâ€"'M'Lord?â€"but it was only a momentary thought before everything else truly registered. Shit! He thought no one else came here! Turning quickly toward the shore, he quickly regretted the sharp movement and nearly toppled over when the dizziness returned in a wave of sensation that made his stomach churn. For a moment he clenched his eyes shut against the unnatural movement, waiting for his stomach to settle, then cracked them open.

And paled slightly when he saw a man.

SHIT! He was not ready to deal with another fucking strange man seeing him bloody naked! Raistlin didn't seem too concerned about his presence, but Nakaris didn't care. Goddammit...he didn't mind Mina at bit for obvious reasons, or even Raistlinâ€"he was a dragon, anyway, and somewhat familiarâ€"but another damned man seeing him in the buff so soon after...after...argh, why the hell was it even bothering him?! Any other time in the past and he hadn't cared who saw what. But...then...damn, wasn't a little wariness after everything allowed? And it wasn't like he went around in nothing around everyone anyway before, just that he didn't care. Well, now he did.

It was really tempting to back up into deeper water and conceal his battered body, but he bit the inside of his lip and held his ground. All he really wanted was clothes. He did not</I> like feeling this vulnerable, without even a weapon.

And then came the singing.

Which was followed shortly by three naked women, Mina among them.

Aw man...

Well, needless to say, he forgot all about the other man.

He didn't think any man could honestly say that, if put in the same situation as he, they wouldn't look. And, yeah, it was true, he looked at the other women, but it was more out of passing curiosity rather than lust. And certainly no love. Sirens...or, other sirens, more like; it was easy to forget what Mina was, not that it mattered either way to him, but now as he watched, it was hard not to see what she was. And Nakaris would be a liar to say the women with her weren't beautiful, because they were undeniably so...but it was more the type of beauty you'd experience if you looked at an artist's rendition of a nude woman. The same wasn't true for Mina, for it was she that his eyes stayed on and followed as she moved up to the beach, she who was truly real. He simply wasn't interested in other women...he'd chosen Mina.

And he could watch her forever.

Except...Nakaris soon became very aware of the other women looking over at him and tittering, which kind of destroyed the whole "painting" thing, since paintings neither tittered nor induced blushes. It was nice when they hadn't actively noticed him and he could quietly observe and forget his whole uncomfortable situation, but now that the same was being returned to him, and right in front of Mina...crap...

Just a little</I> awkward.

So, from that point on he made an effort to look everywhere but there. Damn...he hoped one of those bundles was clothes. He was not getting out of the water to walk in front of everyone in a cove that was supposed to be secret! Too bad the water was clear. Ugh.

He continued to hold his ground as the women finally turned to return to the waves and, of course, made a point to get as close to him as possible without actually making contact...and then he breathed in relief when they passed and sank beneath the waves. Damn...if that was some sort of fidelity test, he hoped he passed it.

Fidelity test? Oh jeez, his mind really was veering off into weird places right now.

[Anonymous]

"I will be happy to help," the elf replied.  Thinking that the man was yet another victim of the Siren song, he said, "Where is the shipwreck; are there others in greater mortal danger?"  He began glancing about, always looking back at her so that he might understand her reply.  He hoped that the others were still alive, if they had survived the shipwreck at all.  He mentally sighed--would these Sirens never learn what price men often paid for one or few of them to be admired by the enchanting creatures?  Did they not realize how their physician had reached that island in the first place?  "I can sense human life," he said.  "But only one--what has happened to the others?"  He was still looking about for a sign of a ship run against the rocks, and he had started to walk around in search of it, growing anxious with old memories and new fears.  How many times would it be his fate to witness the watery or rocky graves of unfortunate sailors?

[Anonymous]

"Shipwreck?" Mina momentarily looked confused, and then smiled. "No, Elf, no shipwreck. I did not draw this man from the sea, nor am I like the Siren women who know you. Hold..stand here with the dragon."

Without another word, Mina turned and walked down the beach to the bundles, drawing from them a length of cloth. She walked through the water to where Nakaris cleansed, and gave him a wan smile. "I'm sorry I left you. I got some clothing from the Sirenfolk." She showed him the cloth, which indeed were a pair of long breeks that came to the knee. "I've brought food too, and some other supplies we will need to make camp. The Sirens say the elven man is a physician, and do not say he is dangerous. Things should be fine." She handed him the pants and stood in front of him, standing between him and the line of sight of the elf. Damn, sometimes the woman could rjust about read her man's mind! Or was it merely she knew how men thought? She had lived wihin the company of many men during the days of the Dread Army, hadn't she?

As he dressed, Mina merely watched him. It was always hard to look away from that physique. There was no man on this earth she could find more attractive, no man she loved more then this one. This was the man she had a child with, this was the man she would die with..

"I love you, Naka." She said it softly, not really paying attention to the words - but to the feeling behind them. She felt this incredible warmth, a stirring in her belly. How was it she was so lucky? How was it she felt like this - had this?- when the rest of her world was crumbling around her?

She'd lost her daughter, her army, her livelihood, her honor..

But she still had Nakaris by her side. She could still go on.

The ruby that emblazoned her chest glistened in the sunlight, painting scarlet shadows across her breasts, looking all the world like blood. Ah, a reminder of what Palin did to her. And yet, it wasen't the only reminder. Her beautful body was scarred: both from battle in war, and from the battles she fought with her brother and former friend, the battles that took away her honor. Her body was a map of horrors: those she commited against other's, and those friend's commited against her body..

And her daughter's body...

Oh gods, Vai...

But no, no..don't think about that now. No. They would get Vai back, they would. She would be fine. Mina still held the horrible memory of Palin's death to herself....she couldn't tell Nakaris. She couldn't even believe it herself.

It couldn't have happened.

[Rhindeer]

Either he really did wear his emotions on his sleeveâ€"he'd been told before that he did; he never was good at hiding what he feltâ€"or Mina was simply amazingly in tuned to him and all his quirks, just as he liked to think he was in tuned to her. Whatever the case, Mina read him expertly, an amazing feat with his emotions fluctuating wildly, but the meat of it was easy enough to see: he was relieved when she finally came back to him...he hadn't wanted to be alone, not yet, and there had been some repressed anxiety gnawing away at him all the while she was gone.

It was stupid...Mina would be fine, and it was safe here, too. But the stress was still there, coiled up in a tight, controlled knot, throbbing still beneath the surface like a dull ache that wouldn't let up even as he tried to ignore it. Everything was still there, still achingly fresh...but as long as he kept his mind occupied, kept distracted, kept his mind on the here and now and took it a step a a time, he could put off facing those memories just a little longer.

Just a little longer...until the night came and his mind was left unguarded. Or until the next trigger brought it all crashing back down on him. He knew he'd have to confront the reality of what had happened eventually, but he just wasn't ready...confronting an opponent was one thing, but grappling with an enemy that preyed upon his very spirit, where wounds cut deeper than flesh...he just wanted to deny anything had ever happened and leave it at that. Gods, but he didn't think he could even tell Mina about...about everything, about...he'd...he'd held out, hadn't he? He hadn't given anything away had he? Shit, he couldn't remember what he'd said, all he could remember was...no, he had to stop thinking. They'd get Vai back before...before anything happened and end it, and then everything would be fine again. Vai...Gods...and Mina...no! Don't think about it. Just don't think about it.

One step at a time.

Nakaris drew a deep breath and, slowly, offered a tired smile. It was a small one, just the slightest curving of lips, but it was his first in, truly, a long time. Even if it was tinged with loss, it was genuine and...and grateful, grateful on so many levels, and that sense of gratitude, and of fulfillment even in the face of great pain, could only grow.

He watched in amazement as, when he took the offered breeches thankfully and begin to change, she moved without his saying anything to block him from view. He wouldn't have said a word either, for what little remained of his broken pride demanded that he hide his discomfort, that he was acting stupidly, that none of this was a big deal at all and he shouldn't care, especially not when there was worse brewing; what had happened to him shouldn't matter, for he bore no real injuries...he was just being weak...it was nothing...absolutely nothing. But no matter what his pride demanded of him, Mina understood him, and she thought no less of him for it. She understood...and that little gesture seemed to speak volumes to him.

And quite despite himself, he found himself dressing a bit slower than he might have normally. That he was still exhausted and felt ill might be one reason, or that it was just hard to pull cloth over wet skin, but, truly, he didn't mind her watching, and he watched her about as much as she did him. Whereas before he had felt awkward, even nervous and vulnerable in nothing but his skin so soon after everything, with Mina just as bare as he, it was easy to forget. It wasn't quite a sexual feeling, just a feeling of...calm, and warmth, that they were there together, finally after so long, with no boundaries between them. That everything would turn out all right, even now when things seemed so dark that he could no longer see the way, if there even had been a path to follow to begin with. He couldn't quite explain it, but he wouldn't need to.

"I love you, too..." he returned softly, meeting her eyes and bringing one hand tentatively, but gently, to the side of her face. The sight of so many new scars etched into her body and that bloody jewel embedded within her pained him, because he knew all too well what they signified, but he said not a word about them. There would be a time for talk and conquering inner demons later, though, and just as he was far from ready to face his own, he didn't want to tread on sensitive ground with her.

His own body was decorated with scars that were usually hidden beneath his clothes, old cuts and gashes from old fights and wars, and some that were self inflicted. There were no scars from the tortures applied to him, though, for he had been healed between each session. He had no evidence for what he'd endured, but...none of that mattered.

All he wanted now was to just be with her. Scars, pain, and all, there wasn't a woman he loved more, a woman any more beautiful than the one before him now.

Unfortunately he was still very much in pain and weak from blood loss, and they were also not alone. Fortunately, though, the man was a doctor, even though Nakaris couldn't help but feel wary of him...

But, that was just how he was...it was difficult to trust anymore. Though there was at least one person he trusted enough to lay his very life in her hands.

With Mina's back still blocking them from the man's sight, he allowed himself to be bold, to lean forward and press his lips lightly against hers with his fingers still softly brushing her face. It was a gentle kiss, light and chaste but no less affectionate for it, and his lips did linger a little after. Everything was going to be okay...they were together now, and everything was going to turn out fine. They'd get Vai back...they' all be together again...

As long as he had that, he knew he could pull though. They could pull through...

[Anonymous]

The healer waited patiently for Mina to return with her companion.  While he stood there, he smiled warmly at the dragon and said, "My name is Zaren.  Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"  As an afterthought, he added, "Can you speak with your thoughts, sir?  Unfortunately, I am deaf, but I can hear what is communicated by telepathy quite clearly.  I do not mean to assume, sir, but many dragons that I have encountered in my day possess this ability, and it would make conversation so much easier."  Trying to be as polite as possible, he thought, I will not speak to you in this manner if you wish me not to, sir, and made a half-bow, hoping he would be understood.  Perhaps he could get to know this dragon as well as the comrades he carried.

[Anonymous]

Mina's hand drifted over the one Nakaris had against her cheek. She smiled very softly, softly took his hand from her cheek, and led him up the slight incline of the bank to the beach. She paused again at the bundles, and drew out a simple white gown. The Commander of the forgotten Dread Army drew the sheath of cloth over her head, and allowed it to settled around her. It was form-fitting, to her knees, and had no sleeves. It made her look even more pale, made her hair look even more brilliantly red and black. The ruby in her chest seemed to bleed through the fabric, it did not hide it. Mina was never one to hide her scars, after all.

Raistlin looked at the elf, his nostrils flaring. Then, suprisingly instead of being his usual snide self, he switched to telepathy. +Aye, elf. I can speak many ways. They call me Raistlin. M'lady is Mina, Commander of the Dread Army, the Lady Dread, Archmagus of the Sirenkind. M'lord is Nakaris, Sub-Commander of the Dread Army.+

The Sireness took Naka's hand, and led him toward the two who stood on the bank. She smiled as she approached, acting the part of an experienced diplomat. She would not threaten this man, no, this was not the sort of place where the sword ruled..

[Rhindeer]

Nakaris tried not to lean too heavily on Mina and to walk firmly on his own, but as they left the support of the water, his muscles, in turn, decided to turn to water. He wobbled, his head reeling, but he tensed his muscles and clenched his jaw against that familiar wave of nausea. He was still horribly out of it, blood-loss and thirst wreaking hell on his body and its dwindling limits; if he hadn't managed to get in a few hours of sleep earlier, there was no doubt in his mind that he would have otherwise passed out right here and now. As it was, the way the world danced made him a bit uncertain as to whether that had changed too much...thank Gods he was as stubborn as a mule, otherwise his body would have given out a long time ago.

Though...in some cases, he still wasn't so sure how good of a thing that trait was. And he couldn't remember enoughâ€"didn't want to remember enoughâ€"to know if that trait had helped at all during those long hours of...of...what had happened.

For a few moments, he'd been able to get his mind off of things a bit, with Mina before him. Now it was back to reality as they turned back toward the shore.

Finally clothed, even if only partially, even if it did little to hide the shameful wounds, he felt a little better for it, less vulnerable, less degraded, and less wary of the other man. He still watched his blurred shape warily, though, his guard still raised, and...and...

The world tilted oddly for a second, and the next thing he knew, he felt warm sand against his back and saw a great expanse of blue before his eyes. Nakaris blinked tiredly, and it took him a few seconds to realize he'd toppled over, not yet strong enough to support himself for very long. After all, the most he'd been able to do had been to climb up, aided and awkward, onto Raistlin and to stand with the aid of the water's bouyancy. Walking...he was far too screwed up to be up to par for that, yet, though he'd tried. The sand stung the scrapes he'd created on his skin, and he was vaguely aware of it, but he made no effort to move. As uncomfortable as it was, laying down felt oddly good and...stabilizing.

[Anonymous]

THUMP! Mina's head swiveled around to look at the air next to her. Wait - Nakaris was supposed to be there. Her eyes cast downward and looked down at him. She knelt in the sand, the grains rubbing against her knees. She rested a hand on his chest, "The healer is coming." She turned her head toward the physician and beckoned. Nakaris needed healed, and he needed it now..

[Anonymous]

Zaren hurried over to the injured man and knelt down beside him, laying down his staff and examining him quickly to ascertain his injuries.  "Please, try to hold as still as possible, my lord Nakaris," he said, pronouncing the name correctly even though he had never heard anyone say it (out loud).  His hand hovered over the places on the man's body where the skin was broken, sensing mentally if there were any coming infection; then he took the satchel from his shoulder and set it on the sand beside him, opening it up and taking out a jar of what turned out to be quite a foul-smelling ointment.  "I do apologize, my lord, for the smell, but it is the best I have found to prevent infection in a wound."  He applied the ointment to Nakaris' wrists and to the scrapes and broken skin on his upper body, leaving what remained for Nakaris to apply to himself later when he undressed again.  

As for the bruises and blood loss, that would take a bit more work.  Again he placed his hands hovering over Nakaris, willing the painful bruises to heal more quickly, concentrating with all his mind.  He had learned to act quickly in such situations, for the shipwreck victims he had attended in his day had needed emergency attention, if they had survived at all.  But even he had his limits, and this man had lost quite a considerable amount of blood.  Only time could ultimately restore what he had lost, time and rest.

The bruises, every last one of them, disappeared beneath his hand, and as for the lost blood, it began to increase by the second, to the point where there was much less likelihood of fainting by any means other than dehydration--and for that, a most common symptom he had encountered in many patients, he could take care of if the man were taken back to his home, where there was a decent bed on which he might rest while Zaren gathered the fruits which would help restore the lost fluid and keep Nakaris from fainting.  He closed the jars and put them back into his satchel, and that back in place across his shoulder, he took up his staff and promptly nearly fainted himself.  Perhaps that took a bit more out of me than I thought it would, he thought to Raistlin.  He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself together, and then looked at Raistlin.  I think there will be room enough for you to come almost to the door of where I live, sir.  Would you carry him and follow me there?  I have fruits growing in a garden that will help restore his lost fluids.  He waited for an answer, trying to contain the absolute joy he felt at finally being able to communicate with someone else again, to understand clearly what was relayed.

[Anonymous]

Raistlin tilted his head as he was addressed, and replied back in kind: [Mina finds you safe, I find the idea satisfactory, I will do it]. The big dragon looked to Mina and spoke aloud what Zaren said -merely for benefit of Nakaris then anything else- and she tilted her chin slightly in response. She strokes Nakaris' hair, ignoring the other two completly. Her man was all she cared about. Raist lumbered forward and knelt so that Mina could lift Nakaris over his shoulders, which she did only after placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

(meh,. crappy post..)

[Rhindeer]

Nakaris stared up at the hazy form of the healer blearily, and grimaced slightly. "Notta lord..." he muttered, his words slurring together in his exhaustion and his mind skipping over the fact that he had no idea how this man knew his name. Lord...where did that come from? Why did people keep calling him that? He didn't want to be called a lord...he hated the title. When he was young and naive, growing up in his little village with no real knowledge of the world, he'd always admired the stories about royalty, even envied the nobles. All that had faded, hadn't it? Heh...in the course of only four years now, he'd somehow managed to get himself involved in two seiges, and the second time wound up in a torture chamber for it. His fault, his rational side told him. All his fault...

But it made him hate the nobles no less. The bastards were no better than he was...and that they'd hired that bald psycho for a dungeon-keeper...that made them even worse...far worse...

He laid there calmly, his body rebelling against his mind and refusing to move, and closed his eyes against the sun as the man examined his wounds. And part of it was, well, he didn't want to see the man so bloody close to him, hovering over him like...no, not thinking about that right now.

His mind and body recoiled when the man started smoothing the ointment onto his upper body, a quick jolt of panic surging through him, but either because he knew the man was helping or he ws just to tired to do otherwise, he stayed relatively still, save for some tensing. And besides, Mina was right there. It was safe, and the ointment did feel good, soothing against the broken and bruised parts of his skin. So, he just kept his eyes closed and breathed slowly through his nose, trying to ease his frayed nerves.

Somewhere during it all, he gradually came to realize that some of the light-headedness  and nausea had faded, and that his body had become less and less sore, until the only parts that still ached were the few remainin areas where his skin had been split, as on his wrists and face. He cracked open an eye and Mina was the first thing he saw, though he knew she'd been there the whole whileâ€"he could feel herâ€"and her face was drastically less blurred and hazy. His vision wasn't completely lucid yet, but it was an improvement, and he no longer felt like he'd sick up if he moved too quickly in one direction.

That was...odd. Hadn't the man just applied an ointment...? How did...?

Well, it still didn't fix his exhaustion and dehydration, but that was something only time and rest could cure. As it was, it was enough, and he was thankful for the reprieve, even if he was too tired to show it.

He closed his eyes again as Raistlin spoke, but had no time or strength to voice his consent, not that that mattered as he was soon helped onto the great dragon, but only after offering Mina a weak, somewhat embarrassed smile. Despite it all, this whole situation was rather embarrassing...he wasn't used to being taken care of like this.

But, then, he also wasn't used to getting himself into a predicament that he couldn't get out of, of being completely vulnerable like that. And like now, even.

[Anonymous]

Zaren leaned on his staff quite heavily as he led the way to his dwelling, gradually easing off until he was walking as steadily as before.  Eventually he came to the base of a cliff, where the caves formed a natural set of rooms that the elf had made into a comfortable home without disturbing the natural lay of the land.  Not far from there, where the foliage began and the beach ended, he had planted a garden, part of which was covered in the fruits he had spoken of, which grew over several trellises he had skillfully constructed.  He stopped and opened the front door, which was hinged into the rock facing.  Then he went to help Mina bring Nakaris into the house.  "My bed is just through this first room.  I am sorry that there is not room enough for all of us," he said mostly to Raistlin.  "But perhaps I may bring something for you to eat, sir.  Is there anything that you like in particular?"

[Anonymous]

Mina walked with Zaren, the great dragon lumbering behind her with Nakaris. She had her own staff resting upon her shoulder, the amber bauble on the end glinting in the tropical light as she walked. The white gown looked somewhat odd on her, for anything looked odd on her that was not battle regalia. Her wet hair clung to her neck and forehead, a few dry pieces sticking up at awkward angles on the crown of her head. Her amber hourglass eyes drifted about the garden as they walked through it, but she did not comment. She was being quite quiet, despite the elf's chatter as he opened up the house for their entry. The woman helped Nakaris down and rested a slender hand under his elbow to aid him, but she said nothing to him - or even look at him. Her brow furrowed suddenly: something didn't feel right. No. Her head turned-

FWAP!

Something quite solid slammed into her and knocked her to the ground. Shit! A spell rose to her lips and she snarled the worlds at whatever was struggling on top of her. She didn't think about what it was doing. Who it was. All she wanted was it off of her. She did NOT like people to touch her! The spell poured from her mouth like honey and the figure upon her let out a yowling snarl- screaming something as his hand encircled her throat, shaking her. She caught one word out of ten: Vai.

Vai? Wait - Vai?!

The weight on her back suddenly dissipated, and she found herself on the ground. Alone. Her face was covered in sand, and it chafed her skin uncomftarbly. She slowly began to rise, her amber eyes flashing around for whoever or whatever had jumped her.

She didn't have to look far.

Standing some twenty feet from her was a badly disfigured elven man, currently trying to extinguish the fire that threatened to engulf his robes. Well, at least her spell had worked. The creature continued to babble as he pummeled the hem of his robes with his left hand. His right hand wasen't a right hand at all: but a bunch of razors. Razor fingers. The thing had a weapon for a limb.

Mina waved a hand and the flames died, "Who are you?" she snarled, snapping her fingers and producing a bout of flame in her palm. Apparently the little shit wasen't a fan of fire. And who could blame him? He looked like his skin had been incinerated.

The creature stopped flailing about and stood stock still, giving the group the uncanny deer in the headlights look. "I was told...'go' he said.,.'find them' he said.." He looked uncomftarbly at his robes, as if they would light up again.

"Who?" Mina snapped, taking on her usual commander tone.

"Dunno..he said, 'bring them.'"

"Bring us where?"

Riever (for that was whom he was, though not to anyone present) chewed on his bottom lip. "To her, to the angel girl."

Something sitrred up Mina's spine - an emotion she wasen't too keen to explore. "Explain," she snapped.

"He said-."

"I don't care what he said, who the hell are you supposed to take us to?'

"Angel...she's such an angel. I love her."

There was that eerie stirring feeling again; she didn't like it. "What's her name?"

"Vai, she told me once her name was Vai."

"Gods," Mina breathed, "Where is she?"

"Trees. Lotsa trees. A big house. There's a man there." Unbenowst to them, he was not describing Darlig.

"Is Vai...is she alive? Is she hurt?"

"I dinna see her, he wouldn't let me see her."

Mina grabbed Nakaris' arm tightly in her's. "She's alive. She's alive.." She sounded relieved. Oh, she'd doubted it! She doubted the little girl could keep herself alive..but she had. Oh Gods..

[Anonymous]

Although he could hear nothing of what was going on, Zaren reacted quickly to what he saw and came immediately to Nakaris to support him so that he would not fall.  It all happened so quickly that he did not have the chance to do much else.  When he saw the other elven man become visible, he looked about, trying in vain to see what was being said, but they did not enunciate enough, and he couldn't see their faces well the whole time.  What is happening? he asked Raistlin, taking a firmer grip on his staff.  I do not understand.  If the stranger did not intend to harm them anymore, then he needed looking after as well.

[Rhindeer]

It all happened so quickly.

One second, he was being helped down off the great dragon, body protesting as it begged for rest. The next, and the elven man was gripping him to keep him from toppling over as something set upon Mina.

For a few long moments, everything fell to chaos.

Mina and the creature were on the ground grappling and snarling at one another, and Nakaris could hear the curses running through his mind that he was too drained to vocalize. His vision was still somewhat blurry, but he could make out the figures well enough, make out the glint of sunlight reflecting off sharp metallic points. Knives. Fuck! He lurched instinctively against Zaren's hold, but it was a weak and futile struggle, one his body wasn't yet ready to endure, and one that ended before it had hardly begun. He had no weapons and his body was taxed beyond its limits; even that small attempt left him breathless and dizzy, his heart working harder than it should under the strain. Despite himself, he slumped back against Zaren as though his body had a will of its own...a fact which only continued to mortify him.

Yet his own brief attempt at action wasn't the only thing that ended before it began. Seconds later and the attacker was off of Mina beating frantically at his clothes, which a fire was eating at. And when the fire died down, the strange, deformed creature that had jumped Mina made no further attempt to continue the attack. If anything, he looked skittish and uncomfortable, and his speech, when questioned, reflected the emotion.

The conversation that Mina initiated seemed to come to Nakaris through a haze. Or, at least, he heard the words but they made absolutely no sense to him. Someone was looking for them...? "He"? "Angel girl"...?

Nakaris could feel something in his gut tighten sickeningly, but that could have easily been the result of stress and fatigue, and he waved the feeling away and let it pass for that. This man was just crazy...that was all. He looked like he'd been burned up, he had blades where a hand should be, he'd randomly jumped Mina...he was just speaking jibberish. Jargon. Crazy talk. No reason to get--

And then the man said it: Vai.

He tightened his grip involuntarily on Zaren to help steady himself, his already weak legs wanting to give out completely with relief. Vai. Gods...he knew where Vai was. This man knew where Vai was...he said he hadn't seen her, but...but the man...he said a man had sent him...

There was only one man Nakaris could think of that would have been around Vai now...

Mina's hand gripped his arm, but he hardly felt the pressure of her fingertips. He hardly felt anything at all just then save an odd mixture of deepest relief and impending dread. She was alive...his little girl...their perfect little daughter...she was alive...

He didn't even realize it but he was shaking, muscles taut and quivering. "We hafta get 'er..." he said quietly, voice weary yet oddly firm. "We hafta get 'er now..."

She was alive...

And Gods, but she had better be unharmed...if anything had happened to her...anything at all...Darlig would be sorry for the crimes his earliest ancestors had committed.

[Anonymous]

Zaren's countenance appeared even more concerned, anxiety clear upon his face, threatening to outrun the deliberate correctness with which he pronounced every word.  How badly was this elf injured?  He was still standing--was it from the shock, his body not realizing how badly it had been burned, or was it because he was a different type of creature?  He looked as though his hand were made of razors.  Was this really part of himself or a skillfully made weapon--or was it a prosthesis?  If that were so, who would have made such a false hand?

The fire looked as though it had burned deep, doing serious damage to the point of endangering the elf's life.  Could his skin really be that thick, that resistant?  Zaren couldn't just let go of Nakaris, but if this man needed help, then he had to do something; he could not allow a living creature to suffer when it was in his power to help.  "I must help him," he managed to say coherently, trying to show in his expression that he wanted Mina to help support Nakaris or lower the man to the ground while he went to see to the injured elven stranger.  He didn't try to communicate with her by thought; he only knew about Raistlin's ability in telepathy.  "What is happening?" he asked aloud.  "Please, tell me; I will help how I can."  He wished he knew if he should help--but this was a suffering person; he had to do what he was able, and he knew that for the moment Nakaris was not in danger of death but only dehydrated.