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Lost....
I'm not lost.

You're lost, dying... you're dying now...
No... I'm at home, wtih my mother.

You never had a mother, this is a lie... wake up...
Of course I had a mother.

Wake up....
Wake up....

Shh, mother is reading....

He sat on the side of the couch watching the woman read a thin novel out loud to the circle of children. He smiled, leaning back, and watching her.

She is so beautiful.
An illusion... please come back... wake up....

Jo'han picks up his cup, and looks around the royal palace, takeing a sip of his tea, and watching the birds play with one another in the court yard. The suns rays danceing across the bright green leaves. Children are heard laughing as they ran along the little cobble stone paths through the rose garden, and ever more, the silky voice of his mother reading the tale to the small group at her feet.

Pain?
Yes, you are dying...

No, I'm just hungry... I haven't eaten, that's all.
You are dying, wake up....

The woman continues to read, and Jo'han smiles as he stands and waves for a servent, who quickely walks over with a smile, handing him a platter of grapes. Jo'han smiles, and sits back down, takeing a grape nd popping it into his mouth, letting the grapes juices flow over his tounge...

Dry?
You're lost...

Why are they dry?...
Water....

I crave water...
Yes... yes... wake up.... find water....

I am awake.
Please wake up....

Jo'han leans back on the couch, still watching his mother read, then rubs his eyes.

Dry... why am I so dry?
Water... get water... wake up....

A bath, I shall have a nice hot bath...
No... wake up....

He stands and walks away from his mother, looking back one last time with a smile, as her voice continues to softly echo out thorugh the great hall.

Down, down, around the corner, up the stairs, down... into the bathrooms. A hot bath, moist warm steam fills the room.

Naked. Into the hot water, steam, hot moist steam fills his lungs.

Dry?
You sleep... wake....

Why am I still dry?
Wake up... get water....

He reaches from the water and picks up a glass, filled with fresh cold water, he drinks, it's moist essense covering his lips. Peeling, dry lips crach and peel...

Sleep. I tire. Maybe I should sleep.
No... no please.... wake up... don't sleep...

His body aches, every inch. Burns, burning and dry.

Pain?
You are lost....

The water is too hot.
No, please wake up....

Jo'han looks around at the sand that covers the bathroom's floor in patches.

Sand?
You're lost... water.... wake up and find water...

I tire.
Don't sleep... wake up...

Jo'han's eyes slowly start to shut as he sits in the bath.

So dry.
Wake up....

Sleep, I crave sleep.
Wake up....

Water.
You crave water... need water... wake up...

Sleep.
Wake... do not sleep...

Just a few miniutes.
No... please no.... wake up...

Jo'han's body lays in the sands of the Northern deserts, the sun beatind down around him. His lips dry and cracking. The poision rushing slowly thorugh his veins.

He lays motionless in the sands; slipping closer and closer to death.

His body is covered slightly in a dune, the soft winds haveing blown the sands over him. His leather pants torn in places, and his bare chest and upper body covered in scrapes and cuts. His soft white hair filled with sand. Only one things does he cary, held softly in one outstreched hand.

A lute.

Motion?
Someone is here...

Who? I am in the bathroom, no one would come.
You are lost....

It is no matter. I must sleep.
No, wake up... water.... you need water....

So much pain.
Yes, wake up... get rid of the pain....

I should sleep. I am tired.
Don't sleep...

But I must.
No... wake up....

Jo'han ever more slips closer to death.

Walks up to the dune, and kneels beside the young man, a small smile forming on his face.

"Alive..."

He takes one of the flasks, and puts it to the man's lips, first flowing it over his dehrydrated, burst lips. Then opens the mouth a little, to let it glide over the leathery tongue.

"Wake up fine human...wake up...."

Water.
Yes, water... get the water... wake up...

Sweet water.
Wake up... go to it...

So much pain.
Wake up, stop the pain...

Sleep.
No, wake up... don't die....

Just a little while.
No... please wake up...

Jo'han's heart is only a mummer in his chest, and his breaths few. He is still.

Go to the voice...
Sweet words.

Wake up...
Sweet water.

The poison continued to rush through Jo'han's veins from the scorpion's sting. His body trembled.

Wake up...
Wake up...

Light.
Go to the light...

Jo'han coughed as his eyes started to open, dry and red eyes opening to the light. He could hardly see. He coughed again, feeling the water on his lips, in his mouth.

Takes a piece of cloth from his bag, and drenches it with the flask. He begins to dab the man's forehead, still whistling through his teeth as he sees the seriousness of the situation. He begins to murmur to himself.

"I wonder if I can carry him out of here....hmm..I doubt it...I guess I will just have to tend him a little first...."

Whistles through his teeth once more, and continues to dap the man's forehead, thinking about the way out...

Life...
I am alive.

You will live... only if you wake... speak... breath...
Speak.

Come back to the liveing...
Alive.

Jo'han's dry breaths flow from his mouth as his eyes seem to flutter slowly open and he looks up, the light blinding him. All he sees is white, bright white light, then a dark blur, a face, a body... an expression. His eyes fade shut again, then open slowly, again with more strength, more life. His weak lips move, as if to speak words, but nothing comes out, and he tries again, untill he finaly makes a word. Only one word.

"P-...pain." His body trembles as the poison continues to seep it's way thorugh his body.