Looking for home

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:45 pm

Quinasa, Athian and Maeve set out for home soon after meeting in Trolls Bane. It was a long walk for the pregnant elfess who was tired, already having had to walk back into town from the southern woods. Maeve said something about Quin being moody. "I'm not moody!" she replied. I just want to go home, she thought. Maeve split off to scout around the river and Quinasa looked in disbelief at Athian who had let her go alone. "I can't believe you let her go alone" she said to him. "You're right" he replied and walked off to find the young girl. Quinasa waited. And she waited. Finally she walked in the direction she saw the other two go and shouted for them. She got no reply so she started heading in the direction of Varshikar. Before she knew what had happened she was surrounded by flies that were biting her and these men of the woods were running after her, slapping her and grabbing at her. "Get away from me you pigs!" Hugging her stomach she pushed through the forest, running all the while as fast as she could with the flies and robbers quick on her heels. The woods ended and she found scorpions along the edges of her vision. She paused a moment to collect herself and she scooted away from the scorpions as best she could. But to no avail. Everywhere she stepped they threatened to sting her. How she escaped unscathed was beyond her. "Athian!" she shouted over and over. "Where are you!?" Upon reaching the streets of Varshikar Quinasa ran to the castle gates and saw Maeve standing there. Bloody and angry from being left to fend for herself she ran past the girl. "I hate you!" she said. She didn't really mean it, she was just upset. Quin ran upstairs and looked around for Athian so she could give him a good slap. She leaned over the front of the building to see if he was with Maeve when she lost her footing and fell off the side of the second story wall. "Ouch!" Maeve's voice disappeared outside and Quinasa was left alone with no way to get help. She cried and cried laying on her side where she fell. After a few moments she sat up and touched her leg near her hip. "Ow!" Looking down at her fingers she saw blood and looked back up the castle wall helplessly. "Aristeaus..." she whispered. She didn't want to be alone anymore.

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:21 pm

Upon waking Quinasa finds herself lying in a pool of her own blood. Her limbs are heavy and the world spins around her as she rolls onto her back with agonizing slowness. Pain shoots from her thigh to her waist and her entire right leg from the knee down is numb. "Ah!" She cries out with no reply but her voice is weak and must not be carrying far. Quin touches her leg where the pain flows from and feels that the wound is not large but there is still blood flowing from it. She stares up the castle wall searching for someone. Anyone. She calls out again and then fades out of consciousness.

Irania · Post by **Irania** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:07 am

After Quinasa did not meet Irania for their lunch picnic Irania made her way to Varshikar. She walked along the castle ramparts twirling a flamegoblet blossom between her fingers when a soft moaning in the wind caught her attention. Upon realizing the origin of the sounds location, Irania scutters (Irania doesn't Scutters!!!) over to the balcone and looks down. There in the darkness by the water was a crumpled mass of a person. She shrugs, "Poor thing." then turns to leave but long white hair catches her attention.

"It couldn't be..." She looks closer and gasps in horror. "Quinnie! Quinnie!? Hey don't you worry i'm going to get you out of there!" Irania ran as fast as she could down the castle stairs, dropping her belongings as she went. Outside the gate she threw down her bag and dove into the water and swa, the short distance around the corner to the side of the castle and pulled herself onto the grass. Her hands were dark and muddy with blood.

"Oh, Quin what happened!?" The elfess moaned in her unconcious state. Irania quickly checked Quinasa's body and stomach, She found the bleeding on her upper thigh. Cutting her coaking wet cloak into a few strips Irania tried her best to stop the bleeding...

Aristeaus · Post by **Aristeaus** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:07 pm

Ripped cloak billowing in the wind Aristeaus walks slowly across the rocky wastes, arm strapped to his side in a makeshift splint and with his armour long disgarded many would not recognise the lord of Varshikar. The man thinks back the few days past when a messanger had come before him.

' Lord there is a tribe of ogres in the northeast, they seem to be Nomads and they are heading this way...'

With his wife and blood brother Athian in the south attending a meeting with trollsbanes town council, Aristeaus gathered what men he could and marched them north to confront the ogres.

It had been a massacre,,, the messanger had been wrong with his numbers. Ogres covered the plains, where they had come from the man could not guess. But still they had to be slowed or they would overrun the town of Varshikar. Damn trollsbane for destroying the castle...

Calling his men about him they discussed a plan in which was they could best slow the ogres...

Axe's slash. Screams.. Ogres advancing from all sides. A trap.. Breaking free. his arm getting crushed..

With the few remaining men about him Aristeaus can see the castle looming ahead, ' Not long now men '. Wipeing the sand from his eyes, he and the mens about him pace quickens and they eventually reach the town before sundown.

Entering the castle Aristeaus looks around and frowns before shouting out.

' Quin! Athian where are you '

Jeremy Gems Willowbrook · Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:08 pm

Jeremy knew he had to get back out to Varshikar. He had not been there for so many days. Aristeaus would be mad at him for neglecting his duties. The trees took a lot of looking after. In places the soil was very thin and poor. He had to get to Varshikar.
He readied his mace, testing its weight. It felt odd and awkward in his hand. He remembered he used to use a staff..... .
Mentally he shook himself. He took a deep breath and headed out of Trollsbane. His eyes scanned his surroundings, he took note of every movement and sound, was aware of every strange scent. He had heard there were many bandits and other dangers on this route now. He remembered it being dangerous, but not as bad as people were saying now.
Carefully he worked his way past Silverbrand and the desert. Soon he was approaching the town. His heart sank with every step. The trees were all gone. Even the small strip of farmland had grown over. He didnt dare venture too far from the town. Until his memory returned and he could use his magic again he didnt want to run into any ogres.
He hung around the town for a short time. But with no tools he couldnt do anything to replant the tress.
After an hour of wandering around he decided to head back to trollsbane. He didnt feel safe in his own home town without more people about. Sadly he headed back out towards Trollsbane.
As he trudged away he thought he heard a voice shouting a long way off. He dismissed it as the wind around the ruined castle and continued on his way.

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:01 pm

In and out of consciousness Quinasa is dimly aware that her sister is with her, caring for her. Irania's gentle hands tending to her wounds and checking her fever, taking her pulse and feeding her in the few moments of half-consciousness. Quin moans for her husband, for Irania, reaching out in her mind for something to hold onto as blackness takes her again and she falls back into sad dreams.

--

As Quinasa's eyes shut Irania sits back and rests. A voice in the distance wakes her from a momentary sleep.

"Quin! Athian where are you?"

"Hm." Irania gets up and looks at Quin laying on the floor inside the castle before going outside. Catching sight of Aristeaus she waves to him. "Arist come quick! Quinasa needs you!"

Aristeaus · Post by **Aristeaus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:27 am

Irania starts to speak to Aristeaus, many words all stumbled together.

Quin hurt,, battlement

' Ira goto trollsbane, get help ' The man shouts out the words as he runs within the castle and up the old staircase.

Looking over the battlements he sees the lady laying below, a pool of blood about her and her eyes closed. Without a thought Aristeaus leaps from the second story and lands nimbly upon his feet. A curse of pain leaves his lips and he knocks his arm. He kneels beside the lady and examines her wound for a moment and then puts his hand to her brow.

' Quin,, im here,, quin '..

.............

With no other choices in mind Arist takes a script of paper and hastly scribbles a note which he attatches to Quins doves foot ' Fly swift '.

He shakes his hand the the bird flys into the night

Fooser · Post by **Fooser** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:58 am

A loud thump comes from the small building inside of town. A lizard jumps from the second floor down to the first, then walks out slowly. "It was my fault." He walks down the street, head turning from side to side aimlessly, as if not knowing where he is or what to do "My fault..."

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:10 am

After the long journey on a stretcher Pendar and Aristeaus brought the injured Quinasa to the hospital. Quinasa's right leg was numb and the trickle of blood had not stopped when the labour pains began. After a short but agonizing hour in labour with only Fooser and her husband at her side Quinasa gave birth to a boy three weeks early. Immediately following the birth the elfess passed out from the exhaustion and bloodloss; Aristeaus and Fooser tried hard as they could to get the child breathing but to no avail.

The child was still-born.
Fooser left the building in a hurry and Aristeaus collapsed to the floor, his own injury, his wife's pain and the loss of his child all at once too much for him to take. He, too, passed into unconsciousness. On the top floor where the sound of joy and a child's first cries should have echoed... there was only silence.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:29 am

Moathia rushes into the hospital as soon as she hears what is happening, finding everyone unconcious she kicks Aristeaus to wake him up.

"Aristeaus wake up now!! Do you want to save the child or not?!"

Aristeaus · Post by **Aristeaus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:01 pm

A voice peirces the pain and the world awakens around him..

Opening his eyes he see's the priestess and chokes back before speaking.

' Moathia! '

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:05 pm

How long ago was the baby born! There is a chance to revive it, but it needs to be soon after birth. If it's been less than an hour go and get me a bucket of hot and cold water!

Caitlin Fergus · Post by **Caitlin Fergus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:06 pm

Caitlin, who has reached a letter runs all the way from the druid house to the town. ((and that's quite a way, lol))
She can hear her own heart thumping and her lungs are hurting like hell. She stumbles several times in her hurry, but never really falls.

Finally she reaches the town and enters the hospital. She nearly jumps over Aristeaus which lays on the ground, passes by Moathia without a word and runs to Quinasa and her child.

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:17 pm

Quinasa lay on the bed, her leg half bandaged in a pool of a number of her own bodily fluids. She was beyond waking, three days worth of bloodloss and going through a child birth all having wreaked havok on her body and her energy, needing medical attention more than anything at the moment. Dreams would not come to her, only blackness.

Caitlin Fergus · Post by **Caitlin Fergus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:51 pm

Caitlin takes a quick look over Quinasa and turns again to Aristeaus who is holding the baby. Fearing the worse she moves towards and him and takes the baby in her arms.

'Please don't...', she thinks and feels the babys pulse, looking into it's little face. 'By the gods... no'.
Caitlin feels the pulse again. The face of the little baby is unusual pale and doesn't make the tiniest move.
'Why can't you just breath...'. Slowly she takes her dark cloak off and wrapes the baby carefully inside it. Gently she hands it to Moathia, saying silently:
"It's dead, Moathia. Even before it was born. There is no...way to bring it back."

Caitlin avoids Moathias look and doesn't even turn to Aristeaus. Her voice sounded so cold as she said it. Like it would be something ordinary... but deep inside her heart is bursting.
This is her job. Aiding the wounded, healing the invalids...
Often, very often with success. But she isn't a magician,... she doesn't do miracles. She has no godsgiven powers...
just her hands, and her know-how... and her love for every living creature.
This baby isn't the first she can't help... and though... everyone else had been a grown up person. Persons who lived their life for many years know... but this baby didn't.
It has never seen into it's mothers eyes, it has never embraced it's father... it will never sing a song, never play with toys, never make a walk through the forest and be pleased be the wonderful nature.
The sun, the stars, the moon, the sea, the mountains, and everything else ... this child will never see.
It went back into Chergas arms, where it just came from.
And only the gods know why.

Caitlin looks up from her thought, holding back her tears and immediately turns to Quinasa.
Carefully she cuts off the bandage and examines the wound. Knowing, that Quinasa is passed out, she opens a bottle with a certain liquid to disinfect and clean the wound most precise.
She pulls out the little already well-known casket from her bag and reveals a thread and a needle.
Skillfully Caitlin stitches the wound at her leg. 'Quite a deep wound', Caitlin thinks, 'It will take some time 'til she can walk again'.

That is one of Caitlins good attributes... as soon as she is aiding a wound, her full concentrate is on her doing, and even if himself Moshran would stand next to her, she wouldn't be deflected.

It takes a while til Caitlin finishes the stitching and bandages the leg with a fresh cloths.
After she is done she slowly sits at the edge of the bed and feels Quinasas forehead and her pulse, while examing the rest of her body.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:59 pm

Caitlin, move aside, I can strengthen her. There was a chance to save the baby, but if it had died in the womb, I couldn't do anything, but please let me help Quinasa.

Caitlin Fergus · Post by **Caitlin Fergus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:02 pm

"Indeed", Caitlin replies and stands from the bed and takes the dead baby which she is holding. Her look gazes over to Aristeaus, examining him and not able to say something.

Aristeaus · Post by **Aristeaus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:05 pm

The man sits on the floor just watching..
A dream..
A nightmare...
Figures move before him...
Some one takes the small bundle from his arms ..
Noises...
The man sits on the floor just watching..

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:07 pm

Moathia walks over to Quinasa, and places a hand on her forehead and stomach, and closes her eyes, murmering a soft prayer in Elven, her hands slowly start to glow, and the light enters into Quinasa's body for a little while, before Moathia staggers back and leans against the wall panting heavily.

"I gave her some of my life force, it should help heal her faster, though she may not thank me for it later when she finds.....out"

Caitlin, go clean the child, and make it ready, it's the least we can do."

Caitlin Fergus · Post by **Caitlin Fergus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:18 pm

Caitlin nods slowly, looking first down to the wrapped baby in her arms, then over to Aristeaus again.

"Can you care for him meanwhile.. Moathia?", she asks silently and without waiting for a response she goes downstairs to prepare the baby for it's funeral.......

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:20 pm

Moathia leads Arist to the bed beside Quin and sets him down, and looks at him sadly.

"Aristeaus, you need to snap out of it, when she wakes up Quinasa will need you, and to do that you need to be sharp. I know this is hard, I can't imagine what I would be like if Nailah died, but you need to be strong, for Quinasa, she has been through so much recently, so so much."

Aristeaus · Post by **Aristeaus** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:29 pm

Moving..
Words..

Must be strong..
Quin needs you..

Oh my god...
Arist he isnt breathing..
Oh my god...

Quin needs you..
You must be sharp..
Quin needs you..

The man breathes heavily, a stream of tears course down his face and he hides his face beneath the palm of his hand.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:34 pm

Moathia sighs as he doesn't react and whispers "Forgive me for this"

"Snap out of you idiot! Quinasa has been like this for days, and you have done nothing! At least be here for her now! You were not there when she needed you, but I'll be damned if I'll let you get away with not being for her now!"

Moirear Sian · Post by **Moirear Sian** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:47 pm

Only when someone audibly clears his throat, it becomes clear that the youth named Alavan is standing in the doorstep to the hospital; clad in beaten-up black clothing that is full of holes created by cruel cuts; these cuts dealt by vicious blades. Despite a good deal of blood having crusted dry, numerous wounds visible on his body and still bleeding, as well as others that broke open again in the last battle he stood in, and this last fight only lying no more than an hour back, he seems rather unimpressed and sizes up the situation with an air of complete disinterest. Furrowing his brows in annoyance at the sobbing man and the loud elfess.

Minding his own business, and apparently careless about no nurse or medico being around to tend to himself, he mutters "I thought this was a hospital, not some tavern", and proceeds to help himself to some bandages, needles, and thread—searching and rummaging through the hospital's inventory as if he was at home there.

And, one might add, rather ignorant of the going-ons in the same room.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:49 pm

Moathia turns to him angrily.

"Any reason why I should treat you after that insult?"

Quinasa · Post by **Quinasa** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:51 pm

As she lay there in the bed dreams over-took Quin's subconscious.

A little elf girl with long black hair was sitting in a wicker chair at a matching table, hey that's me, Quin thought to herself. On the other side of the room was her mother, at the kitchen counter preparing something. In her hand little Quin held a doll of fine make and impressive quality.
Mama, do you love me? she asked.
I suppose I have to, the woman replied smiling as she turned around. Her long dark hair fell in a single braid down her back, her deep black eyes looking at her daughter.
Do you wish you had more children like me mama?
Do you wish you had a brother or a sister, Quinnie?
The little girl looked at the baby doll in her arms. If you didn't get to keep me would you be sad?
Her mother searched her daughter's face. I guess I would be sad if I had no children, but I'm not sure I'd know what I was missing.
Fira's my baby, I love her.
And can you imagine not having her? The woman knelt before Quin.
No! She's my favourite present!
Well then lets pretend you're Fira and I am you. I love you that much and more.
Can I go play outside mama?
Just you watch the puddles in the road, I don't want to have to clean your boots again so soon! She called after the child.

Quinasa watched the scene unfold and her mother go back to preparing dinner. I remember this day! I'm a mother, mama. You'd be so proud of me, she whispered.

Moirear Sian · Post by **Moirear Sian** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:55 pm

Alavan looks back at the elfess in a side-glance, mustering her from the corners of his hazel eyes. In the meanwhile, packing away some of the items he collected to haphazardly mend his wounds once; yes, once he got back out of there. Something about him was too obvious that the situation he had stumbled upon was making him uncomfortable

"Oi, oi; I don't need some woman to help me. And if I did I'd ask for your help. Take care of that man, he's looking quite pathetic."

He shoots another stern glance to Moathia, as his shoes thump over the floorboards and he's already making his way out to exit the hospital; just after having bagged the utmost-necessary components he'd need to get himself somewhat back into shape.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:05 pm

"Oh ok you don't need me to help me, so you will give me back all the medicial supplies you just stole."

Moirear Sian · Post by **Moirear Sian** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:15 pm

He pauses in the doorway and narrows his eyes angrily as he looks back at her.

"I am not stealing. I..." his voice trembled in a waivering anger, almost bordering to madness. "I am not a thief!" he shouts at her, swiveling around and making way for the table in the room, closing his eyes and avoiding eye contact with a highly displeased frown about his face.

"Would you get that man or what-not to stop sobbing already?!" he snaps and growls furiously, audibly gritting his teeth as he dumps the needle, thread, and bandages back onto the table, recklessly not returning them to the places from whence he took them. And finally swivelling around to make way back to the entrance and exit.

Moathia · Post by **Moathia** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:17 pm

"Try yourself, his baby was born dead, perhaps a warrior like himself can snap him out of it."