Ander gave himself over to the despair, two racking sobs escaping him before he could stop them. His eyes dripped tears onto Geld's shoulder as he held her to himself, tightly, but not crushingly so. He was very aware of her smallness, and the feel of her tiny wings under his arms.
She pulled away, and he realized Illilli had said something. He smiled back at Geld's suddenly cheery smile. He looked blankly up at Illilli, having not really heard what she had said.
Geld spoke then, and his eyes were drawn back to her. He listened, nodding when it seemed appropriate, and lending her his ear when she leaned in close.
Ander smiled again when she whispered, nodding his agreement. He didn't trust himself to speak just yet, not without making an embarrassing squeak. He was still young enough and self-concious enough to care about that kind of thing.
He stood, brushing half-heartedly at the knees of his pants, then offering Geld his hand to hold as he started off towards the main room for tea.
Haven in the Woods
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Illilli shook a little as she poured tea into the two small cups she kept in her pack. There were many pieces of crockery still stacked on shelves behind the bar, but she wouldn't serve a dog from them by the looks of the dust and possible droppings on them.
She never was very good at handling the emotions of others, particularly those who were going through a rough time. But she thought her mother had said the best thing for depression is some sort of routine.
"Here, drink these down. I'm going to see if I can get the whatever crud is in this sink to go away so I can get us some clean dishes. Then I'll see what I can do about that tub... We all could do with a nice bath at this point. These handles make water come out the spout... even hot water! Fancy that!"
Illilli stared at the large kitchen sink in its cubby in the hallway that led to the necessary...
It might have been her imagination but she could have sworn she saw something rise up out of the sludge and then sink back with a sickening "splork!"
"I think I'd better find a bucket."
She never was very good at handling the emotions of others, particularly those who were going through a rough time. But she thought her mother had said the best thing for depression is some sort of routine.
"Here, drink these down. I'm going to see if I can get the whatever crud is in this sink to go away so I can get us some clean dishes. Then I'll see what I can do about that tub... We all could do with a nice bath at this point. These handles make water come out the spout... even hot water! Fancy that!"
Illilli stared at the large kitchen sink in its cubby in the hallway that led to the necessary...
It might have been her imagination but she could have sworn she saw something rise up out of the sludge and then sink back with a sickening "splork!"
"I think I'd better find a bucket."
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden sparkly skin glittered even more with the added bonus of water covering both of her cheeks. She wiped her face again, using her arms for further aide, and then swiped her little thumbs across Ander's cheeks with a giggle.
"None of that now!"
She skipped back into the main room, the picture of childish joy, and took Illilli's tea with a grateful yip. She sipped at the mixture, and found herself surprised by how much she enjoyed the brew. It was good! Well, this called for compliments to the chef.
Geld thrust her tea in Illilli's direction and declared, in a loud, ringing blare:
"This is GOOD!"
She waved her cup at the dragon woman for further emphasis, then began a jaunty bounce around the weathered cavern, eyeing every nook and cranny she could. This place needed some serious Spring Cleaning, and by goodness she was just the sprite to do it.
She fought melancholy as she remember how it'd looked once. This place was a disaster. And she'd promised to take good care of it! Well, what better way to honor the memories...of her lost...family...than to spruce this place up and make it hoppin' again.
Eyes tear bright, she turned and declared, once again in her loudest, least delicate voice:
"I say we make this place shine!"
She beamed at her two partners in crime, waiting to see if they'd take up the cause. She suspected Illilli was already three steps ahead of her, which left their somewhat dour young male as the outsider. Now *that* she would definitely need to work on.
"None of that now!"
She skipped back into the main room, the picture of childish joy, and took Illilli's tea with a grateful yip. She sipped at the mixture, and found herself surprised by how much she enjoyed the brew. It was good! Well, this called for compliments to the chef.
Geld thrust her tea in Illilli's direction and declared, in a loud, ringing blare:
"This is GOOD!"
She waved her cup at the dragon woman for further emphasis, then began a jaunty bounce around the weathered cavern, eyeing every nook and cranny she could. This place needed some serious Spring Cleaning, and by goodness she was just the sprite to do it.
She fought melancholy as she remember how it'd looked once. This place was a disaster. And she'd promised to take good care of it! Well, what better way to honor the memories...of her lost...family...than to spruce this place up and make it hoppin' again.
Eyes tear bright, she turned and declared, once again in her loudest, least delicate voice:
"I say we make this place shine!"
She beamed at her two partners in crime, waiting to see if they'd take up the cause. She suspected Illilli was already three steps ahead of her, which left their somewhat dour young male as the outsider. Now *that* she would definitely need to work on.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Ander follow Geld back into the main room, accepting his cup of tea from Illilli with a shy smile. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly at Geld's enthusiasm for the tea, again offering a shy smile towards Illilli.
He began to wander the cavern again, soon returning to the shelf high above head height he had noticed in his earlier perusal. With the curiosity of youth, he immediately cast around for something to stand on, noticing an old stool forgotten in a corner. He half smiled to himself as he rid the stool of cobwebs and carried it over to just below the shelf.
Ander knelt on the stool with one knee, bouncing up and down a couple times to test the strength of the stool. After a couple groans and creaks, he decided it would be safe if he was quick.
He stepped back and placed one foot on the stool, lifting himself up. Grasping the edge of the shelf to help himself balance, Ander found he could just peer over the edge of the shelf.
A face peered back at him from the shelf. Ander started back, the stool emitting a loud groan before he managed to grab onto the edge of the shelf again and regain his balance. He took a deep breath and shook himself before peering over the ledge again.
His own reflection stared back at him from a dust covered mirror. Ander laughed at himself, stirring up a bit of dust from the movement of air. He reached up, feeling along the shelf to the very back where the mirror was. He grabbed it, parting a very big spider web as he did so. He shuddered once, hoping it was an empty web.
He remained on the stool, staring at the mirror for a moment, when he suddenly felt several pinpricks on his hand, stinging sensations that steadily worsened. He switched the mirror to the other hand and looked at the hand that he had grabbed it with originally.
Swarming over his hand were hundreds of tiny spiders! It hadn't been a spider web he had torn apart by grabbing the mirror, it had been a spider's egg sac!
With a shout, Ander began hitting his hand on his leg to kill the spiders, still holding the mirror close to his body. As he swing, he took one small step back before he remembered he was on a stool, and by that time it was too late.
Ander crashed backwards, upending the stool and landing hard on the ground, tiny baby spiders swarming up his arm as he lay stunned and winded on the floor.
He began to wander the cavern again, soon returning to the shelf high above head height he had noticed in his earlier perusal. With the curiosity of youth, he immediately cast around for something to stand on, noticing an old stool forgotten in a corner. He half smiled to himself as he rid the stool of cobwebs and carried it over to just below the shelf.
Ander knelt on the stool with one knee, bouncing up and down a couple times to test the strength of the stool. After a couple groans and creaks, he decided it would be safe if he was quick.
He stepped back and placed one foot on the stool, lifting himself up. Grasping the edge of the shelf to help himself balance, Ander found he could just peer over the edge of the shelf.
A face peered back at him from the shelf. Ander started back, the stool emitting a loud groan before he managed to grab onto the edge of the shelf again and regain his balance. He took a deep breath and shook himself before peering over the ledge again.
His own reflection stared back at him from a dust covered mirror. Ander laughed at himself, stirring up a bit of dust from the movement of air. He reached up, feeling along the shelf to the very back where the mirror was. He grabbed it, parting a very big spider web as he did so. He shuddered once, hoping it was an empty web.
He remained on the stool, staring at the mirror for a moment, when he suddenly felt several pinpricks on his hand, stinging sensations that steadily worsened. He switched the mirror to the other hand and looked at the hand that he had grabbed it with originally.
Swarming over his hand were hundreds of tiny spiders! It hadn't been a spider web he had torn apart by grabbing the mirror, it had been a spider's egg sac!
With a shout, Ander began hitting his hand on his leg to kill the spiders, still holding the mirror close to his body. As he swing, he took one small step back before he remembered he was on a stool, and by that time it was too late.
Ander crashed backwards, upending the stool and landing hard on the ground, tiny baby spiders swarming up his arm as he lay stunned and winded on the floor.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
Illilli had just filled a delapidated, yet somewhat sound bucket with the last of the ooze she had discovered clogging the sink when she heard the thumping sound of Ander hitting the floor.
The ooze wasn't really dangerous, it was just slimy and moved just a enough to be suitably creepy... and of course there was the smell. Her hands were still a bit gooey from the mess.
She ran from the hallway where the sink was located and into the room where Ander had fallen while liberating the old mirror. She was still clutching the bucket as she lurched to a stop next to Ander.
At first it looked to her that he was beating away something she couldn't see, but as she got closer she saw the spiderlings crawling up and down his arm, and spreading.
She did the onlything she could think of at that moment. She upended the nasty bucket of cave slime on his arm with a sickening "blurrrp!" The slime covered his arm thickly, trapping the spiders as it started to hang down in smelly, gooey strings.
"Oh Gross..."
The ooze was now speckled with trapped spiderlings. They weren't off of Ander, but neither were they spreading further down his body. The ooze would probably smother them.
"Can you walk? We better go scrape this ick and those little pests off outside as soon as we can..."
She sniffed as the odor of the slime reached her nostrils anew and shrugged.
"Looks like you are first when I get whats left of that badger's nest out of the tub..."
The ooze wasn't really dangerous, it was just slimy and moved just a enough to be suitably creepy... and of course there was the smell. Her hands were still a bit gooey from the mess.
She ran from the hallway where the sink was located and into the room where Ander had fallen while liberating the old mirror. She was still clutching the bucket as she lurched to a stop next to Ander.
At first it looked to her that he was beating away something she couldn't see, but as she got closer she saw the spiderlings crawling up and down his arm, and spreading.
She did the onlything she could think of at that moment. She upended the nasty bucket of cave slime on his arm with a sickening "blurrrp!" The slime covered his arm thickly, trapping the spiders as it started to hang down in smelly, gooey strings.
"Oh Gross..."
The ooze was now speckled with trapped spiderlings. They weren't off of Ander, but neither were they spreading further down his body. The ooze would probably smother them.
"Can you walk? We better go scrape this ick and those little pests off outside as soon as we can..."
She sniffed as the odor of the slime reached her nostrils anew and shrugged.
"Looks like you are first when I get whats left of that badger's nest out of the tub..."
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden settled by the pond, sipping her tea as she studied the water. She remembered the fish, and how pretty this pond had been once upon a time. She felt guilty toward the fish - she'd promised to take care of them, and instead they'd probably all died of hunger, or suffocated in the horrible water they'd been stuck in, while she just completely forgot about them and went about her little life.
The water rippled. And then again. And again.
What was that?
She knelt next to the murky pond, and was leaning over the water, watching odd shapes move underneath the algae. She wondered what could be down there that survived - the fish just had to be dead by now, without food or fresh water for...for...
A loud shout and THUNK made her turn just in time to see Illilli upend the most disgusting sludge imaginable onto Ander. She had no idea what had just happened, but it was never a good sign when someone poured sludge on someone else. That only led to problems.
"Hey!"
The slight faerie jumped to her feet and raced over to the two, skidding to a stop mere inches away from Ander. As if the sight of baby spiders wriggling about in cave sludge wasn't bad enough, the stench made her eyes water. Gelden fought not to gag. Her perky little nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Ew."
She looked at Illilli, then back to their poor teenaged friend.
"Illilli...that's just...ew."
The tiny woman shook her head, then offered a hand to Ander to help him stand.
"We need to get that stuff off now. It's probably poisonous! Not to mention the spiders..."
If he tried to offer the sludge-and-spider arm, he'd be helping himself up.
The water rippled. And then again. And again.
What was that?
She knelt next to the murky pond, and was leaning over the water, watching odd shapes move underneath the algae. She wondered what could be down there that survived - the fish just had to be dead by now, without food or fresh water for...for...
A loud shout and THUNK made her turn just in time to see Illilli upend the most disgusting sludge imaginable onto Ander. She had no idea what had just happened, but it was never a good sign when someone poured sludge on someone else. That only led to problems.
"Hey!"
The slight faerie jumped to her feet and raced over to the two, skidding to a stop mere inches away from Ander. As if the sight of baby spiders wriggling about in cave sludge wasn't bad enough, the stench made her eyes water. Gelden fought not to gag. Her perky little nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Ew."
She looked at Illilli, then back to their poor teenaged friend.
"Illilli...that's just...ew."
The tiny woman shook her head, then offered a hand to Ander to help him stand.
"We need to get that stuff off now. It's probably poisonous! Not to mention the spiders..."
If he tried to offer the sludge-and-spider arm, he'd be helping himself up.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Ander lay on the ground for a moment, stunned. The spiderlings continued to swarm up his arm and bite, and all he could think about was whether the mirror was broken, and how much his head hurt.
His faculties returned to him suddenly, and he began beating his arm against the ground and himself in order to kill the spiderlings. As he was thrashing, Illilli came running into the room and dumped something from a bucket on his arm. The sludge absolutely reeked, but the stinging instantly stopped.
Ander remained on his back for a few seconds, his arm throbbing in pain from the many spider bites. Then the ooze trembled slightly, seemingly of it's own accord, and Ander sat up. His wide eyes showed he knew nothing of what was going on as he stared at the ooze.
He looked up into Gelden's face as she offered her arm, then handed her the mirror. He pushed himself up of his own accord, then looked around for somewhere to get rid of the sludge on his arm.
"How do I get this off?!" he asked, a slightly wild, panicked look entering his eyes.
His faculties returned to him suddenly, and he began beating his arm against the ground and himself in order to kill the spiderlings. As he was thrashing, Illilli came running into the room and dumped something from a bucket on his arm. The sludge absolutely reeked, but the stinging instantly stopped.
Ander remained on his back for a few seconds, his arm throbbing in pain from the many spider bites. Then the ooze trembled slightly, seemingly of it's own accord, and Ander sat up. His wide eyes showed he knew nothing of what was going on as he stared at the ooze.
He looked up into Gelden's face as she offered her arm, then handed her the mirror. He pushed himself up of his own accord, then looked around for somewhere to get rid of the sludge on his arm.
"How do I get this off?!" he asked, a slightly wild, panicked look entering his eyes.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
"Come on, lets go outside. I need to get some of it off as well." Illilli grabbed the bucket containing the remaining slime and walked outside to the woods. There she took her knife and cut a long strip of green bark about an inch wide from a sapling tree. She placed notches into the ends of the strip and linked them together forming a teardrop shape. She grasped the end and used the bark strip to quickly squeegy the slime from her skin.
"I think whats left should come off with soap."
When she had finished she left the strip for Ander and went back inside to finish cleaning the tub.
The spacious sunken tub did not take very long to finish. It was dusty, but most of it was a dry mess. The badger obviously did not mess where it slept. She quickly removed the debris and rinsed the dust and dirt away. She discovered simple painted tilework around the rim of the tub. Simple representations of faeries and dragons alternated amongst stylized glowvines. Illilli was awed at the elegance and yet simplicity.
She finished clearing the tub and stopped to wash her hands at the sink in the hallway with some of her own lavender soap. The soap always made her think of home. She cut a decent sliver of it to keep at the sink and placed the rest at the tub.
The tub could be plugged with a simple plate of marble with a carved handle that fit into a recess around the drain. She started drawing water and the taps, though simple, showed none of the ravages of time. Hot water splashed into the tub with tendrils of steam curling invitingly. There was obviously some magic at work here heating and keeping the water crystal and pure. The room may have been dirty but there was an elegance to it that could easily be re-established. She resolved to sweep the room once she could get a broom made.
She hung the blanket from her bedroll over a simple bar that was once used to curtain the bathroom off for privacy in the past.
"Ander, the water should be almost ready. You should really go take a bath." For some reason she felt more comfortable and well... at home in this cavern. It would take some work but such a wonderful place deserved to be... home.
The sink was on the hall side of the curtain and Illilli grinned with a thought and began running hot water to fill the huge sink. The sink was almost a foot and a half deep and was quite large enough to fill an enormous kettle. If she could get back to her smallest form it would be like having an giant pool of hot water to soak in. This could be quite fun. She'd see about her clothing somehow later. She set the remains of her bedroll on the stone bar. She wouldn't need that much room if she slept as a dragon, and she only really needed her clothing if she was in her other forms.
She was getting hungry, but she would deal with that in the morning. For now, she wanted a bath. Giggling to herself she stepped behind the bar and focused on becoming small. After about five minutes she finally managed it and with a faint pop and a rustle her clothing fell to the ground and she flew up to dunk herself in the hot water of the sink.
"Hey Geldenwing! This is great!" Illilli stretched luxuriously in the hot water and splashed.
"I think whats left should come off with soap."
When she had finished she left the strip for Ander and went back inside to finish cleaning the tub.
The spacious sunken tub did not take very long to finish. It was dusty, but most of it was a dry mess. The badger obviously did not mess where it slept. She quickly removed the debris and rinsed the dust and dirt away. She discovered simple painted tilework around the rim of the tub. Simple representations of faeries and dragons alternated amongst stylized glowvines. Illilli was awed at the elegance and yet simplicity.
She finished clearing the tub and stopped to wash her hands at the sink in the hallway with some of her own lavender soap. The soap always made her think of home. She cut a decent sliver of it to keep at the sink and placed the rest at the tub.
The tub could be plugged with a simple plate of marble with a carved handle that fit into a recess around the drain. She started drawing water and the taps, though simple, showed none of the ravages of time. Hot water splashed into the tub with tendrils of steam curling invitingly. There was obviously some magic at work here heating and keeping the water crystal and pure. The room may have been dirty but there was an elegance to it that could easily be re-established. She resolved to sweep the room once she could get a broom made.
She hung the blanket from her bedroll over a simple bar that was once used to curtain the bathroom off for privacy in the past.
"Ander, the water should be almost ready. You should really go take a bath." For some reason she felt more comfortable and well... at home in this cavern. It would take some work but such a wonderful place deserved to be... home.
The sink was on the hall side of the curtain and Illilli grinned with a thought and began running hot water to fill the huge sink. The sink was almost a foot and a half deep and was quite large enough to fill an enormous kettle. If she could get back to her smallest form it would be like having an giant pool of hot water to soak in. This could be quite fun. She'd see about her clothing somehow later. She set the remains of her bedroll on the stone bar. She wouldn't need that much room if she slept as a dragon, and she only really needed her clothing if she was in her other forms.
She was getting hungry, but she would deal with that in the morning. For now, she wanted a bath. Giggling to herself she stepped behind the bar and focused on becoming small. After about five minutes she finally managed it and with a faint pop and a rustle her clothing fell to the ground and she flew up to dunk herself in the hot water of the sink.
"Hey Geldenwing! This is great!" Illilli stretched luxuriously in the hot water and splashed.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden took the mirror and watched the two leave, then held the mirror itself out at arm's length to study it. It was grimy and old, but had help up over the years. When she turned it, there were still remnants of the spider's eggsack, along with a few babies skittering along the back. Now that Ander was out of danger, she felt bad for the little critters. It wasn't their fault they were icky. And now hundreds of their brothers and sisters were drowned. It was tragic, really, when you thought...
She squealed when one started skittering up her arm, then let go of that side of the mirror and shook her hand until she didn't feel the sensation of crawling anymore. This took her until Illilli re-entered the cavern, at which point Gelden set the mirror against the side of the bar and shuddered. Tragic indeed!
She knelt in front of it and studied herself in the dirty surface. She hadn't seen herself in a very, very long time - years, in fact - and the creature looking back at her was foreign because of this. She turned her head left and right, then stuck her tongue out at herself and giggled. No one would ever accuse her of being too serious.
Illilli's comment floated over the counter to her, and she grinned at herself.
"You shoulda seen it when it was clean. I lived her for...for a long time, with the owner. You kinda look like her, you know"
Gelden didn't measure time the way humans did, and had no idea how to translate her length of stay here.
"Her name was Anna. Well...it was much longer than that, but I called her Anna for short. She turned feral and had to go away..."
The little fae sniffed a bit at that. She missed her old friends, more when she was here. But new friends could make up for that. Speaking of which...
"Ander! You ok?"
She squealed when one started skittering up her arm, then let go of that side of the mirror and shook her hand until she didn't feel the sensation of crawling anymore. This took her until Illilli re-entered the cavern, at which point Gelden set the mirror against the side of the bar and shuddered. Tragic indeed!
She knelt in front of it and studied herself in the dirty surface. She hadn't seen herself in a very, very long time - years, in fact - and the creature looking back at her was foreign because of this. She turned her head left and right, then stuck her tongue out at herself and giggled. No one would ever accuse her of being too serious.
Illilli's comment floated over the counter to her, and she grinned at herself.
"You shoulda seen it when it was clean. I lived her for...for a long time, with the owner. You kinda look like her, you know"
Gelden didn't measure time the way humans did, and had no idea how to translate her length of stay here.
"Her name was Anna. Well...it was much longer than that, but I called her Anna for short. She turned feral and had to go away..."
The little fae sniffed a bit at that. She missed her old friends, more when she was here. But new friends could make up for that. Speaking of which...
"Ander! You ok?"
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Ander followed Illilli out into the forest. Bruised, bitten and covered in live ooze, he watched as she cut a strip from a sapling and used it to clean the ooze from herself. When she finished and handed him the sapling, he began cleaning the ooze and spiderlings from his left arm.
Since he was right handed, it took Ander quite some time to get all the ooze from his arm. Finally, after several painstaking minutes, he was comfortable with the amount of ooze still left on him. Throwing the sapling into the woods, he headed back to the cave.
Ander decided it would be nice to take a bath, since it had been several weeks since his last bath. He entered the cave just as Gelden shouted, and he reassured her with a wan smile. His arm hurt something fierce, but there was really very little he could do about it.
Turning the corner into where the bath was, he heard the sound of splashing. He turned back around to look for Illilli, and when he didn't see her, he assumed the splashing must have been made by her. Deciding he could wait awhile, at least until she was done, he slipped back into the main portion of the cave.
Ander smiled again at Gelden as he watched her with the mirror. He took a seat on the stool he had used to climb up to the ledge and began to inspect his arm. There were dozens of little bite marks, many beginning to swell. His arm throbbed in pain, and he idly wondered if the spiderlings were poisonous. He found he didn't really care. Let the poison work itself into his system and take his life. Without his family around, life didn't seem worth living anymore.
Ander shook his head, a little dizzy. He frowned at the uncharacteristic thoughts, but shook that off as well. He continued to stare at his arm.
Since he was right handed, it took Ander quite some time to get all the ooze from his arm. Finally, after several painstaking minutes, he was comfortable with the amount of ooze still left on him. Throwing the sapling into the woods, he headed back to the cave.
Ander decided it would be nice to take a bath, since it had been several weeks since his last bath. He entered the cave just as Gelden shouted, and he reassured her with a wan smile. His arm hurt something fierce, but there was really very little he could do about it.
Turning the corner into where the bath was, he heard the sound of splashing. He turned back around to look for Illilli, and when he didn't see her, he assumed the splashing must have been made by her. Deciding he could wait awhile, at least until she was done, he slipped back into the main portion of the cave.
Ander smiled again at Gelden as he watched her with the mirror. He took a seat on the stool he had used to climb up to the ledge and began to inspect his arm. There were dozens of little bite marks, many beginning to swell. His arm throbbed in pain, and he idly wondered if the spiderlings were poisonous. He found he didn't really care. Let the poison work itself into his system and take his life. Without his family around, life didn't seem worth living anymore.
Ander shook his head, a little dizzy. He frowned at the uncharacteristic thoughts, but shook that off as well. He continued to stare at his arm.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
When Ander came far enough into the cavern to see and seemed to hesitate waiting the little dragoness waved from the sink that was in the hallway, outside the curtain to the bathroom. Illilli found her dragon form somewhat freeing as she didn't need to worry about things like modesty.
Cumbersomely, she crawled out of the water to stand on the kitchen sink counter and flapped her wings once or twice to shake most of the water off.
"You should prolly get in there before the water gets cool. The hot water might help draw any nasty stuff out of those bites."
She launched off the counter top and did her best to make circles around his head as if herding him to the bathroom curtain. She wobbled quite a bit and came close to bumping into him a couple times, but then she was new to flying... particularly in this form.
Something about this cavern gave Illilli a feeling of protectiveness about whomever was there. This place felt like... home, much more than the farm on the edge of the wilderness her parents and grandparents had built and where she had been born and raised. Even the glowvines seemed to radiate a happiness that Geldenwing and Illilli had arrived.
"C'mon! into the hot water with ya. You'll feel alot better once the slime, dirt and other junk is soaked out of your wounds. Feel free to use alot of the soap. Hope you don't mind lavender..."
She noticed him stagger a bit.
"Hey Geldenwing! Do you think he'll be ok taking a bath on his own like this? He does seem a bit woozy..."
Cumbersomely, she crawled out of the water to stand on the kitchen sink counter and flapped her wings once or twice to shake most of the water off.
"You should prolly get in there before the water gets cool. The hot water might help draw any nasty stuff out of those bites."
She launched off the counter top and did her best to make circles around his head as if herding him to the bathroom curtain. She wobbled quite a bit and came close to bumping into him a couple times, but then she was new to flying... particularly in this form.
Something about this cavern gave Illilli a feeling of protectiveness about whomever was there. This place felt like... home, much more than the farm on the edge of the wilderness her parents and grandparents had built and where she had been born and raised. Even the glowvines seemed to radiate a happiness that Geldenwing and Illilli had arrived.
"C'mon! into the hot water with ya. You'll feel alot better once the slime, dirt and other junk is soaked out of your wounds. Feel free to use alot of the soap. Hope you don't mind lavender..."
She noticed him stagger a bit.
"Hey Geldenwing! Do you think he'll be ok taking a bath on his own like this? He does seem a bit woozy..."
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden still hadn't removed her eyes from the mirror, caught up in the image of herself staring back at her. She was covered in dirt, up her arms and across her little cheeks, and she frowned at herself. All she needed were a few twigs in her hair and it'd be the perfect elven image. She snorted at that. Elves! What snobs!
She tilted her head when Illilli called out to her, then finally looked over to notice that Ander did seem a bit wobbly. It wouldn't do at all to let the boy try and bathe himself like that; he might very well just slip under the surface and drown. And Gelden wasn't about to let another friend slip away on her.
"Comin'."
She walked over to the bar, leaned the mirror against its side, and then gently laid a hand on Ander's shoulder, trying to make him focus on her face.
"Ander, old son, are you ok? You wanna soak yourself in the tub?"
She creased her brow, noting that something wasn't quite right about his eyes. He didn't seem to be able to focus like most people could. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea...
"Illilli, how deep is the tub? He's more bound to slide right down inside and drown himself like this. Lookit his eyes!"
She reached to turn his face toward the little dragon so she could properly see the boy's eyes. She widened her own for the full effect.
"Are you sure he's bathing-capable?!"
She looked down at his arm, which was inflamed with the spiderling poison. It wasn't the worst sight ever, but Geld was a dramatic sort, and the sight set her worry-o-meter to full red alert.
"Just lookit that arm! Shouldn't we...um...poultry it or...or something?"
She didn't know healing very well. It sounded like the right word, anyway. Sorta.
She tilted her head when Illilli called out to her, then finally looked over to notice that Ander did seem a bit wobbly. It wouldn't do at all to let the boy try and bathe himself like that; he might very well just slip under the surface and drown. And Gelden wasn't about to let another friend slip away on her.
"Comin'."
She walked over to the bar, leaned the mirror against its side, and then gently laid a hand on Ander's shoulder, trying to make him focus on her face.
"Ander, old son, are you ok? You wanna soak yourself in the tub?"
She creased her brow, noting that something wasn't quite right about his eyes. He didn't seem to be able to focus like most people could. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea...
"Illilli, how deep is the tub? He's more bound to slide right down inside and drown himself like this. Lookit his eyes!"
She reached to turn his face toward the little dragon so she could properly see the boy's eyes. She widened her own for the full effect.
"Are you sure he's bathing-capable?!"
She looked down at his arm, which was inflamed with the spiderling poison. It wasn't the worst sight ever, but Geld was a dramatic sort, and the sight set her worry-o-meter to full red alert.
"Just lookit that arm! Shouldn't we...um...poultry it or...or something?"
She didn't know healing very well. It sounded like the right word, anyway. Sorta.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Ander couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. He was only a little dizzy, and his arm didn't even hurt anymore. In fact, he could hardly feel it.
All he really wanted to do was sleep. He had been on his own in these woods for weeks now, by his estimation. All the walking and hiding, the constant need for paying attention to his surroundings, and the few hours of sleep a night he had been able to steal were catching up to him. Combined with not having food for the last couple days, and the tiny bit of poison from the spiderlings, and Ander was ready for one long sleep.
His eyes drooped as he looked into Gelden's own. He realized he couldn't hear the two of them talking. In fact, all he could hear was a loud rushing, as of a fierce wind rustling tree leaves. He looked around to see if the glowvine leaves were moving, but the sudden motion made him even more dizzy. If it weren't for Geld's steadying hands and the fact that he was sitting on a stool, he would have fallen over.
Ander knew he needed sleep, and he turned again, looking for his pack. He mumbled, "My blanket..."
Noticing it where he had lain it near the bar, he slurred, "I n-need shome shleep..." His eyes blinked lazily as he levered himself up from the chair, almost pushing Gelden aside.
Ander took one step towards his pack, and promptly fell over. He was out before he even hit the ground.
All he really wanted to do was sleep. He had been on his own in these woods for weeks now, by his estimation. All the walking and hiding, the constant need for paying attention to his surroundings, and the few hours of sleep a night he had been able to steal were catching up to him. Combined with not having food for the last couple days, and the tiny bit of poison from the spiderlings, and Ander was ready for one long sleep.
His eyes drooped as he looked into Gelden's own. He realized he couldn't hear the two of them talking. In fact, all he could hear was a loud rushing, as of a fierce wind rustling tree leaves. He looked around to see if the glowvine leaves were moving, but the sudden motion made him even more dizzy. If it weren't for Geld's steadying hands and the fact that he was sitting on a stool, he would have fallen over.
Ander knew he needed sleep, and he turned again, looking for his pack. He mumbled, "My blanket..."
Noticing it where he had lain it near the bar, he slurred, "I n-need shome shleep..." His eyes blinked lazily as he levered himself up from the chair, almost pushing Gelden aside.
Ander took one step towards his pack, and promptly fell over. He was out before he even hit the ground.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
"Oh heck, he's out..." Illilli piped up from where she was sitting. She glided over to see if Ander had suffered any damage when he collapsed. Luckily there appeared to be no bumps.
"We've got to get that dirt and guck out of those spider bites and a good bath would do him so much good. Do you think you could scrub him if I hold him? It might be better for him if he soaked some... but I guess we could sort of wipe him off and place his arm in the warm water to soak..."
The little dragoness tilted her head as if measuring up the prone young man.
"Kinda wish he could have stayed awake a bit longer... but we do need to get him clean" she mumbled.
"I hope this form changing gets easier with practice..." she sighed. "I still have a headache from the last change."
Illilli closed her eyes and focussed. This form changing business really took a lot of concentration when it wasn't a snap survival change. The now more familiar itchy stress feeling broke out over her markings as she changed slowly to her larger winged form. The change took around around two minutes to complete as changing seemed to get harder the more she did it in a day. She felt a little akward being nude as her scales didn't cover her more obvious features as the had in the tiny dragon form, but the only other conscious person around was Geldenwing.
"Might as well wash my clothing while he's out too." She snagged the bedraggled leather halter and pants from the place she left them on the floor. On her way back from the bar she went to grab Ander under his arms and began the process dragging him to the tub.
"We've got to get that dirt and guck out of those spider bites and a good bath would do him so much good. Do you think you could scrub him if I hold him? It might be better for him if he soaked some... but I guess we could sort of wipe him off and place his arm in the warm water to soak..."
The little dragoness tilted her head as if measuring up the prone young man.
"Kinda wish he could have stayed awake a bit longer... but we do need to get him clean" she mumbled.
"I hope this form changing gets easier with practice..." she sighed. "I still have a headache from the last change."
Illilli closed her eyes and focussed. This form changing business really took a lot of concentration when it wasn't a snap survival change. The now more familiar itchy stress feeling broke out over her markings as she changed slowly to her larger winged form. The change took around around two minutes to complete as changing seemed to get harder the more she did it in a day. She felt a little akward being nude as her scales didn't cover her more obvious features as the had in the tiny dragon form, but the only other conscious person around was Geldenwing.
"Might as well wash my clothing while he's out too." She snagged the bedraggled leather halter and pants from the place she left them on the floor. On her way back from the bar she went to grab Ander under his arms and began the process dragging him to the tub.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden positively lost it when the boy hit the floor in a dead faint. She shrieked and ran over, falling to her knees by his body and pulling him into her lap. She slapped his face gently, trying to rouse him, but Ander slept on, oblivious to her ministrations.
"Oh, Illilli, is he gonna be ok?"
The little fae looked up and up and up at her friend, fear in her little eyes. She was beside herself with worry now. As Illilli started to drag him toward the tub, Gelden gnawed on her thumbnail. The dragon woman's comment about shifting drew a speck of her attention while the rest of her fretted about Ander.
"You get tired shifting? That's weird. I can shift all I want, but I guess I only change size and you change everything."
She suddenly realized that Illilli might want some help, but she wasn't sure what she could possibly do to help. She wasn't strong enough to carry Ander, or even a part of him. Maybe she could...check the water!
She lept to her feet and raced to the tub ahead and Illilli, dunking her hand into the sudsy water up to her elbow. It was lukewarm, barely above room temperature, and she wasn't sure that was good enough. Every time she'd heard humans talk about bathing, they always liked hot water. She started running the water as Illilli approached, checking the temperature until she was satisfied with the steam. The hot water mingled with the cooler stuff to form a relatively warm temperature, but it still wasn't quite as steamy as she'd envisioned. It'd have to do.
She turned and considered the prone male. Then she looked at Illilli.
"Um...so do we need to, um...take his clothes off or something?"
She was blushing before she'd even finished the question. It wasn't as obvious through all the dirt on her face, but her sudden shiftiness would clue anyone in to her awkwardness. She wasn't used to being around naked humans. Although faerie men did go bare-chested rather often, they still wore something on their lower bodies, and the last naked man she'd seen...
She shuffled her feet and shifted her weight from side to side, not looking forward to this. She kept telling herself at least he was unconscious. She coughed and looked at Illilli again.
"D'ya think the bath will wake him up?"
"Oh, Illilli, is he gonna be ok?"
The little fae looked up and up and up at her friend, fear in her little eyes. She was beside herself with worry now. As Illilli started to drag him toward the tub, Gelden gnawed on her thumbnail. The dragon woman's comment about shifting drew a speck of her attention while the rest of her fretted about Ander.
"You get tired shifting? That's weird. I can shift all I want, but I guess I only change size and you change everything."
She suddenly realized that Illilli might want some help, but she wasn't sure what she could possibly do to help. She wasn't strong enough to carry Ander, or even a part of him. Maybe she could...check the water!
She lept to her feet and raced to the tub ahead and Illilli, dunking her hand into the sudsy water up to her elbow. It was lukewarm, barely above room temperature, and she wasn't sure that was good enough. Every time she'd heard humans talk about bathing, they always liked hot water. She started running the water as Illilli approached, checking the temperature until she was satisfied with the steam. The hot water mingled with the cooler stuff to form a relatively warm temperature, but it still wasn't quite as steamy as she'd envisioned. It'd have to do.
She turned and considered the prone male. Then she looked at Illilli.
"Um...so do we need to, um...take his clothes off or something?"
She was blushing before she'd even finished the question. It wasn't as obvious through all the dirt on her face, but her sudden shiftiness would clue anyone in to her awkwardness. She wasn't used to being around naked humans. Although faerie men did go bare-chested rather often, they still wore something on their lower bodies, and the last naked man she'd seen...
She shuffled her feet and shifted her weight from side to side, not looking forward to this. She kept telling herself at least he was unconscious. She coughed and looked at Illilli again.
"D'ya think the bath will wake him up?"