1: The Place Where We Begin

[leigheasoiri]

When the dawn broke and her and the small group of others set out to hunt down some herbs and maybe some game large enough to feed the tribe Lyra did not add being eaten by something on that list. As we all know life rarely if ever goes to plan.

Usually she would be exempt from the rotation of people chosen to go on the hunt, she was one of only a hand full with the abilities needed to heal. Healers were notoriously 'squishy' in battle as their skill lay with giving life and recovering. However this time she had gone because they were short a person. It would get her off the grounds for a while and be something she could learn off of. They weren't heading to an area that was active with things to be aware of on the danger scale anyway.

It was a big shock to everyone in the party when they were ambushed by creatures, and an even bigger shock when one of them tore into party members like they were nothing but shreds of paper and made off with Lyra. It had already done her harm and had her in the clutches of it's jaw. She was certain she was done for and then she blacked out.

She didn't die though and no one was more shocked than she herself when she had actually came to. Pale blue eyes blinking rapidly trying to clear blood and dirt so she could see. There was pain, but she couldn't focus on it even though the injuries burned as though acid had been spilled on them and her muscles bruised and battered, whined and locked up in protest of movement.

It was desolate, the land around her it looked like someone had bombed the place and what was left was pretty bereft of anything even remotely livable. She had to get up, some way some how and make her way back to the grounds in which she and her tribe lived. First she would have to find some coverage, it couldn't all be gone. Could it?

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[desert_oasis]

Nothing grew on the lands that had once been Wind Mountain. Nothing. But the incident happened more than a millennia ago and yet the others continued to watch over this gravesite that had no markers and only the People remembered what happened. The Nimmerah kept watch over the place, changing out guards every turn of the seasons, supporting each other as needed.

He had felt that wind of magic shift and buffer against his cloak. And he was prepared for that considering it happened from time to time. What he hadn't been prepared for was the sight of a human in the center of the desolation, prone and unmoving. His partners were already heading to the area in streaking, swirling cloaks, ready to deal with whatever threat this could be. And so he also dropped down from the tree he was stationed at, hopping down smoothly and racing towards the prone form. Khor'vin was already at the ready with his weapon, determined to ensure this would never be a threat. Si'herra was chasing after him, her shorter stature being a disadvantage to the longer legs. Aves himself was pushing himself harder, ready to tackle Khor'vin so they could figure out what in the three moons was going on.

Right now, he didn't think of how alarming they might have looked like: large, billowing cloaks that looked more like emphermal wings with masks like giant and shared beaked birds of prey. Yes, their armor looked like monsters-it was for protection as well as intimidation. Chasing away your threat was safer than dealing with it head on.

Khor'vin got there first and Aves shouted, sprinting harder as the weapon was lifted high in the air, and then the giant sword was brought down abruptly, burying deeply into the earth just inches away from the human's body.

[leigheasoiri]

She could hear them before she could see them, still trying to clear her vision. She had been taught to listen to the Earth and the surroundings, because even though she was a healer and usually amongst the most protected bunch in the tribe, the world was changing and there could be threats at any time.

When she could finally see the trio, the sight was beyond frightening. She tried to force her self up only to let out a small noise of pain, the creature that had attacked her had gotten it's teeth into her side and thigh. If whatever it was coming after her now didn't kill her she was going to bleed out here in the open.

One was faster than the rest and she tried to pull her self away as much as she could. Bloodied fingers digging into the dry soil. When that was proving futile she did the only thing she could as that sword was risen above her, a terrified scream escaped her lips and she twisted as much as she could bringing her arm up to protect her head.

[desert_oasis]

Aves skid to a stop, vaguely horrified that Khor'vin would simply kill like that. But then he took a closer look and saw that the sword hadn't touched her even though something else clearly had. "She's injured," he stated as if it wasn't obvious, dropping down to one knee to peer at the wounds.

"Good," Khor'vin grumbled, looking like he really wanted to skewer the woman. "One less human to torment us."

"She's not a threat," stated the third as she finally caught up with her taller companions. "Not much of anything, right now."

It was Aves who dared come closer, the claws on his hands lifting tattered clothing to show the wounds. "We have to help."

"Ha! No we don't. Let nature take it's course."

"Khor'vin!" That was from the other two guards. Khor'vin's only response was a tail swish. With a growl, the one adamant on letting the human die turned his back, seemingly against to what the others were doing, but in actuality was keeping watch over the others, waiting for more humans or whatever predator had tried to eat the girl.

Aves took the response for what it was and then started looking at the wounds more clearly. "We will need bandages, the clotting herbs the Healer gave us..."

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra wasn't sure just how she should react. She was still scared out of her mind and hadn't moved from the position protecting her head and face. She tried not to make any more noise or move, not even when one of them had lifted the cloth which was sticking partly to the wounds.

As they discussed her fate she wondered what she should do. What could she really do with the injuries she had? This was some really bad luck. She couldn't run...even with out being injured there was no way she could out run these guys.

The words that were spoken finally set in and she lowered her hand turning to look to the three. " Your friend is right." she said her voice accented with the dialect from human tribes that often passed through near by areas.

" It would not be a good strategical choice for you to use resources on someone who will most likely die, if not from the wounds or venom then surely from infection. though it is true I pose no threat, I would be a waste of precious resources. I am a healer I have had to make this call for many other warriors. It is the one I would make given the situation here myself."

With out regard as to what the hand closest to hers looked like she placed her hand gently over it. " It's okay, the ancestors will not frown upon you for this." pale blue eyes looked to Aves. " If it is not too much to ask, might I be moved to a rock so that I might see the sky?"

[desert_oasis]

Aves stilled when his hand was touched and he turned to look at her. Right. Mask. Well. If she was already determined to die...

He lifted his mask, revealing a pattern of light blue and turquoise scales masking around his eyes, disappearing into his dark hairline. Horns that grew up and curved back towards his skull and a throat that was decorated in crystals with more scaling down the sides of his neck. Setting his jaw, he nodded slowly, shifting his fingers to curl around hers. They were so small compared to his hand.

Without another word, he carefully gathered her in his arms to carry her to a spot that had long, flat slate there and laid her upon it, then turned to Si'herra. "I need those herbs."

Everyone, including the girl, may be ready for her to die, but he wasn't. Already he was digging through the pouches on his belt, pulling out the field first aid he had. It wasn't much and it definitely wasn't adequate to deal with injuries of this magnitude, but it was a start. Si'herra came closer a few moments later, handing over packets of folded wax paper. "Even if she does, Aves, what will we do with her? We have one more moon cycle here."

"We help her, find some other humans close by, and give her to them." Aves' tone was quiet but determined.

"They won't accept that. You know how they are."

"I do." Aves was quiet for another moment as he started to carefully cut away at the ruined clothing. "They would leave us to die in a moment. And it is a good thing that I am not them." He glanced over to his friend and companion briefly. "You can just set the medicine down. You don't need to help."

A sigh came from the shorter shadowkin. "I'm going to get a bowl and the water skin and ask Khor'vin to heat the water up." She wasn't going to let him do it all on his own, after all. He looked back to Lyra. "Whether you die or not is up to you and the Ancestors. But you will not be alone and you have at least one person fighting beside you."

[leigheasoiri]

Sure, even the shorter of the three was bigger than she was, but that wasn't a bother to her. It was quite rare to be in the company of the others that were not of the human origins that roamed the realm, even less for that company to not be on the battle field. It was quite humbling to have this little blip in time.

When he removed his mask and she was able to see his face and the magnificent features that adored his body, she didn't shrink away in fear, in fact she was quite charmed by what she was able to see and in spite of her condition and hanging in the balance of life and death she smiled to him. A smile that faded to scrunched eye brows and a sharp sucking in of breath as she was gathered up and moved.

As her body rested on the flat, she looked to the sky, just watching. She could hear the conversation, and though she felt it was a waste of precious resourced, Aves seemed like it was important to him to at least try. So, in return she would try to fight a little harder.

" They might, but I would not leave anyone that I could save to die." she said interjecting into what she could hear. She was starting to kind of space out looking at the sky, a form of meditation that she knew to help.

As he spoke to her, her eyes shifted away from the sky and to him, another slow and soft smile. " In case I can't say so later, thank you, kind beautiful stranger."

[desert_oasis]

"I am called Aves," he responded softly, brushing her hair away from her face with the backs of his knuckles. "Don't thank me yet--I am no healer."

But after saying that, he set to work, at least cleaning and binding the wounds, determining which ones needed sewing. He wasn't terribly good at stitches (compared to the High Healer) but he was probably better than a human's stitchwork. Maybe. He simply wanted to make certain she wouldn't bleed anymore. When everything was ... at least not horrible, he removed his cloak and carefully wrapped it around her. "This will keep you warm," he murmured, glancing back to his companions. Khor'vin was still keeping watch until Si'herra returned with game from the forest proper to cook. There was also a pot with heating water to boil down the bones and other meats for a broth. Aves, set in his duty, remained with the woman, his tail close enough for her to touch as it wasn't armored with hardened leather hide.

[leigheasoiri]

" You're at least trying...Aves" she said before drifting into the meditative state she had been in before. If she was to survive she would need to be as still as possible while he worked less she will just make him mess up the stitches.

The warmth of the cloak was nice, she seemed to relax more into the warmth. As he kept watch over her and his tail was so close, she looked to the tail and even if she wouldn't have dreamed of it had she not been injured like she was, she reached her hand out slowly running her finger tips along a length of the tail. It was surprisingly soft. Huh, how interesting.

[desert_oasis]

The scales on Aves' tail were smooth and warm as if it had been a serpent that had been sunbathing on rocks during the summer. A tuft of long auburn hair sprouted from the last half foot, adding to the appearance of length. As if he never noticed her looking, he still adjusted the lay of his tail so it was flush against her side so she wouldn't have to strain reaching it. Aves still kept watch, his things never really far away and smiling softly when Si'herra came to offer him some stew and broth.

"You should try and drink some of this. There's no meat in it, and the moisture should help." She had lost so much blood. He knew at the very least fluids needed to be replenished. It was just a matter of getting them into her.

[leigheasoiri]

From the time he had her settled she had been drifting in and out of awake and sleep, however everyone knows someone with severe injuries would never quite enjoy a restful slumber. She had made notes in her mind about his tail, how it was nearly sensual in the way her hand moved along the scales. Quite interesting, and that cute length of hair that reminded her a little of the tufts on a lion's tail. Of course she'd never seen a lion just what was drawn in books.

She was quite weak, and that made it hard to know if it was just the injuries or if the creature that had gotten her had venom. Her quiet thoughts were interrupted as he had spoken to her about the bone broth. She knew he was right and the nutrients that were in the broth would help boost her strength. Carefully she pushed her self up to sit up a bit more to take a few swallows from the broth. She looked to him. " What will happen to me when your time to return to your tribe comes?" it was a question on her mind, " I am also not sure what it was that got a hold of me, thus the question of venom is still unclear to me."

[desert_oasis]

Aves did his best to support her without aggravating the injuries and giving her all the time she needed to consume the bowl. He listened, ears shifting from concern to confusion. He knew there generally weren't venomous creatures here-at least not predator-sized that would be a threat. "If you are not gone now, I think it is a promising sign," he said softly, not knowing if he said that to comfort her or himself. As for the other questions, he didn't know how to answer them, other than truthfully.

"I hope in that time, we can find where you are supposed to be. But it is not in our nature to leave others alone with no way to fend for themselves." He knew, of course, that it was best that she be with her people. Considering there had been no sightings of humans anywhere close by, he was at a loss as to how to find them. "But that is something to consider for another day. Healing is more important."

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra knew that her tribe would be long gone by now, more so when something had attacked and as far as they knew eaten one of their healers and who knows who else may have been lost in that encounter. Though she thought Aves was quite lovely, there was no question that she and his tribe were very different. A thought for later as he said, he was right healing and getting back on her feet was first check.

It was strange that she could so easily pick up that he was expressing worry for her, almost...fear? Maybe she was reading it all wrong though. She was pretty certain half her blood still painted the spot where she had been found. " My name is Lyra, I was a healer in a tribe of human nomads. One of only five with the abilities to heal the injured." she began keeping her eyes on him. She was curious about him, about his people and how they lived in such a harsh place.

It wasn't clear to her why she felt such a fast connection with Aves. Even amongst her people she couldn't say she felt a draw quite like this. Was it because he had shown her mercy? Protected her when his friends said otherwise? No. It was something else. Something new and beckoning to be explored and more learned. " My father was killed when I was young on the battle field, my mother was lost to disease when I was in my teens. I have an older brother who lives in the tribe and looked after me when he could he is called Vangor." she paused " He is quite a large man, he worked the fields until he was old enough to fight then joined the warriors."

[desert_oasis]

Aves listened, keeping his attention on her. She had a challenging life which is not surprising. What was optimistic was that she was willing to speak. Could it be like those last moment confessions? He had no idea. But he listened.

"My name is Aves. I am a guardian of the mountain myself and my companions reside. We guard this place because it used to be a mountain community a very long time ago. I do not have siblings from my mother. And I do now know what a 'father' is. But loss because of fighting is never an easy thing. I am sorry for your loss, no matter how long ago it happened. As well as your mother."

He knew how hard loss could be and he sighed softly, looking at the other two companions as they moved camp closer to them. "Do not take their manners too harshly. Khor'vin had been captured by humans once, a long time ago." He let that statement fall away, knowing it wasn't his story to tell, even if it happened a very long time ago-for them.

[leigheasoiri]

She never got to speak with outsiders, so when the chance was given to her even if it was due to really bad circumstances she would not squander it. Learning about other cultures while sharing her own culture was a little exciting if she were being quite honest about things.

" In my culture usually there is a mother which is the female party in our creation and a father, which is the male part of our creation. They both work together to rear children." tilting her head curiously " It must be different in your culture." she said, she wasn't able to move very much but she was still pretty intent on learning and sharing.

Her eyes moved in the direction of his companions as he spoke regarding them, shaking her head slowly. " Don't worry, I know my people are not always as open to new things and what they can do in their fear is quite frankly appalling. I wish that he hadn't had t see that side of my people. It is not the face of the many, but it is the most ugly." Her pale blue eyes lifting to him again, quiet for a moment before speaking again. " Do you believe in fate, Aves?"

[desert_oasis]

Aves listened intently, finally nodding his understanding along with an ear flick. "A sire. We do not know our sires, but we do our mothers. There are very few women within our mountains, so it is encouraged to take as many lovers as possible."

A soft purr started in his chest when she assured him they were safe. Here she was, half dead and who knew what would come at sun's rise, but she was trying to assure their safety. At the next question, he smiled warmly. "The way the Ancestors direct us is always a mystery, but we are always at the place we are meant to be. Do you feel that it is fate that brought you here?"

[leigheasoiri]

It made sense what he said about the females in his tribe. They had to keep their people going and thriving some way or another. " Mm that is part of the reason healers are never allowed to go on hunts with my tribe. There are so few of us. Most are warriors not born with the hands to heal and make whole again."

" I believe that we are shown paths and given choices on which paths to choose, but it is up to us to decide where our feet fall. In a way I think I was shown a path like that. It led me here for a reason, as I said healers are never out on hunts in normal situations. I went to be sure my skills didn't dull. And...here I am learning about a different way of life." the purr was so adorable, and though she didn't say so it did warm her a little to hear it.

[desert_oasis]

Did Aves feel the same? He wasn't so sure. Yes, there had been similar incidences in the past and there was one fleeting thought that this could be Ileanna again but...

"People have a way of returning back to where they belong, even if it doesn't seem so," he agreed. "I am glad we were able to help and hope we will be able to continue to do so. Our High Healer had a woman who found us in a similar fashion, but that was many many cycles ago." He paused a moment, thinking about the situation. "Perhaps--"

"Aves," called a voice close to him. Si'herra. He shifted his attention, looking up to his companion. "Khor'vin said he would take first watch and I will take the second. I would not mind staying here while you take the third." She carried on scales that were so black they looked almost blue, much like her skin tone. She didn't have the horns that Aves carried-now that her mask was down and hanging by her shoulder blades with her cloak hood.

Aves nodded, more than aware they had a job to complete here. "That sounds good. Thank you. This is Lyra. She is a healer for her people. Lyra, this is my friend and companion, Si'herra." A small smiled played on his face. "Even though I said our women usually remain within the mountain, we do have strong guards and hunters like Si'herra."

There was a shift in the shadowkin's stance; their version of embarrassment even though a flush wouldn't show on her scales or dark skin. "Flirting again, Aves?"

"Never."

A small smile peeked through the woman's face. "Get some rest. I will come when it is your turn."

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra listened intently curious about the other who had found their tribe. " And what became of her?" she asked tilting her head, though when Si`herra called Aves' name she quieted to allow the two to speak. Now that she wasn't looking like a death keeper coming to take her life Lyra was noting that Si`herra was actually quite lovely. Seeing a female of their kind seemed to be special as he had said there was not many.

Though she couldn't move a whole lot she did dip her head in a greeting. The relationship between Aves and Si`herra seemed more than just battle partners, maybe she was mated with Aves? Interesting thought. " You are helping, I am learning so much too. It's...nice." she said leaning her head back. Her presence had upturned their job here as guardians.

" And if you do not want to, you don't have to stay with me. I am aware I am an interloper, and I have already disturbed your duties enough."

[desert_oasis]

Once Si'herra had left, he turned back to Lyra. "She died. We don't know how, exactly. She was with us for several years, then left and one day, our Shaman said that she had died. Our healer was not himself--honestly, I don't think he has ever been himself since then. We learned a short time later that Windmountain was destroyed." He paused a moment. "This stone was the welcoming stone to the entrance."

At her mention of Aves leaving, his ears shot forward as he shook his head. "No. As much as we are guarding the dead, if there is life, then I will guard it as well." To solidify his resolve, Aves' tail shifted to rest solidly on her legs, away from her injuries. He couldn't just leave her to die just to protect what wasn't here anymore. The place was a tomb and with nothing growing here, there was no reason to be here, he thought. The dead didn't need to be guarded-they couldn't be harmed any more, right?

But she could, and Aves wasn't going to allow Lyra to be harmed any more. Offering another comforting smile, he started removing the more uncomfortable parts of his armor for rest. "I will get you some tea and then it is time to rest."

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra wouldn't pry further into the lost love of their healer. It couldn't have been easy to go through. Even if it had happened long ago. Though she had to wonder if this was once the Windmountain. Then her thought was answered, she brought her hand down splaying her fingers across the surface of the stone.

" It is still a place of great sadness. I can sense it quite strongly." she said softly, perhaps there was more to the reason that she was left at a place of destruction and death mostly dead herself. She had to survive. Perhaps that alone could remove the curse of death from the land? Maybe but probably not.

She blinked almost startled from her thoughts at his deceleration. He was so kind. He had no reason or obligation to her what so ever yet he still... " Aves..." she said with a warm smile. It meant a lot to her, to not be abandoned. She watched as he removed the heaver armor and shook her head. " No need. I am still trying to figure out how I will make it to a place to water the sands from the broth." she said with a little smile.

[desert_oasis]

He nodded solemnly. "The few Wind who survived have all visited here. They don't speak of it and when they return, we don't hear their voices for a long time." Grief, obviously, hit them all but of the few Windmountain people he knew, Aves was certain that the grief he felt paled in comparison.

At the mention of needing relief, Aves snorted softly. "I can carry you, if you wish. There is an area where we have staked out for latrines some time ago." And he would keep guard, too, as needed.

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra was no stranger to the tribe mourning as one. If something tragic happened to their camp or people on the battle field it was often how they would react. " She must have been a good person to have that sort of impact, and I can imagine the loss of their home was just as heavy." she said moving her hand up off of the stone slab.

At Aves' suggestion Lyra made a noise of embarrassment, something between a tut and a squeak. " I can't do that in front of you!" she said her alabaster cheeks flushing with pink. " That's far too embarrassing!" even people of this time and place could suffer from a nervous bladder.

[desert_oasis]

For a moment, Aves thought he had insulted her. When she elaborated, his alert ears settled and a small smile crept on his face. "I can always step out of sight and watch in another direction. Or I can ask Si'herra..."

Humans were so strange! Of course, Aves was no stranger to privacy, but even back when the Healer's Pet was around them, she was much like this. She wouldn't bathe with the others, only during the sleeping hours with the Healer. She preferred her cloths and robes and at first Aves thought it was because she was a different species. After a time, he had learned it was because she was not comfortable. Was that because she was around a different people? She wasn't comfortable in her own skin? He didn't know.

"What is your preference?" The last thing he wanted to do was cause more discomfort.

[leigheasoiri]

!!! Her hand shot out to his " No! I mean you can stay out of sight." last things she wanted was to make a PSA regarding her need for the bathroom. To Lyra telling Si`herra at all would be a PSA. She was quite shy, about most things that weren't day to day just normal things. No, squatting in the desert ass out was not considered normal business you ask for help with.

Different people and taught a different way of living. Privacy and keeping certain parts covered were just a rule of thumb. Women in particular were held to a higher regard with that.

" Before we go...tell me a secret of yours? I might feel better if I knew something about you too."

[desert_oasis]

He had no idea why her shyness and over-the-top reactions were cute, but they were. When it came to secrets, he was a little confused by that. Faunlyn didn't keep secrets. They couldn't lie, either. Or, the closest thing they had to lying was the omission of answers.

"When I was young, I fell into a weaving loom. Back first, luckily. But I was still badly injured. I still bear the scars of that and I can't help but feel the other looms know about this and try to avenge their broken brother."

[leigheasoiri]

Lyra listened to Aves speak smiling to him as he did. There was some kind of pull there, her to him and though she didn't know what it was just yet, none the less she really liked him. She didn't know much about Faunllyn culture or the ins and outs of their lives.

Her lower lip curled between her teeth as she tried not to laugh at the silly fear. One that seemed to her to be quite...human like. Maybe there wasn't so far between her people and his after all.

" I will make sure to warn you if I see any looking at you funny." she said though her smile was gone as soon as she tried to stand. Evne turning just a bit was quite painful. What she wouldn't give for some wizard craft to just fast forward though this part of healing.

[desert_oasis]

Aves made a clicking sound which could be translated to a chiding 'tch' as he swiftly rose to his feet to assist her. "You must not move the damaged muscle too much. You will reinjure them and it will take longer to heal." He paused a moment, side-eying her even though it was unlikely she would catch it. "As you should know already. The Healer is right-healers are the worst patients."

He would have been more than happy to carry her, if she asked. But for now he would be patient and wait until she was tired or too sore with trying to do it on her own. Were all humans this stubborn? It seemed that way. Endearing though.

[leigheasoiri]

He was right, she did know better being a healer but she was quite impatient with herself. She might have caught the side eye if she didn't have her eyes clenched shut because it hurt like hell. She would hold out until tears were in her eyes before finally asking him to carry her the rest of the way. Most humans were stubborn, but she was extra in that regard. She had to be to be taken even remotely seriously.

" Sorry, I wanted to try and make it on my own but it would seem my leg has a different plan."

[desert_oasis]

"Your leg is saying that someone else can carry you when you are unable to crawl," he said softly, trying not to berate her too harshly. After all, he was a different species, much less a stranger and he couldn't fault her for trying to do things on her own. "Please remember more often that I am a friend, and I am willing to help." For her sake. He knew full well what a leg injury could mean in a small community. From what he heard, humans were not much better than animals, sometimes.

Bringing her to the designated area, he gently set her down on her feet and then took a step back. "I will turn around for privacy," he stated before doing just that, his tail elevated but close by for something to steady her with even though he acted as if he wasn't doing just that.

[leigheasoiri]

The words seemed to strum a chord with in her, even though the chances of her finding a partner, a mate of her own were slim, she would often fantasize about finding that person that was the one who could carry her when she couldn't even crawl. It was pretty amazing that he had used that phrasing.

Lyra bowed her her in thanks, and hobbled over to take care of bodily functions. Once finished she moved over taking the offered tail, even though he was trying to look like that wasn't at all what he was doing. Once they were settled back at camp and the spot they chose to rest in she laid in the quiet, just listening to the fire and the sounds of the land. She was in quite a bit of pain, but said nothing not wishing to bother anyone any further. The big guy might change his mind about being civil if she were too big a pain in the hind end.

[desert_oasis]

Aves was not naive. He knew these types of injuries hurt and ... well, there wasn't anything here, not in this part of the land where it all lay barren. They didn't have any of the pain powder left and it was too dark to go foraging away from camp for any of the herbs that could be used. And if one hurts too much, they can't get the rest the body needs to heal.

Knowing all these things, the best he could do was snuggle in close and provide some body warmth, hoping that exhaustion would eventually take over for her. Eventually that low purr started in his throat, more unconscious than something he willfully did. It was to sooth both of them so that some rest could be found before sun up.

While he lay there, Aves had the chance to think about this girl. She couldn't be Illeana, could it? Not likely, it hadn't been too long since she had disappeared. But then again, he didn't know how human souls worked. This was a question for the shaman, and she would know the answers, he was certain of it! But for now, they needed to tend to their post and hope that Lyra could handle it until they could get home.

[leigheasoiri]

She would force herself through this. As far as humans went Lyra was one of the more tough of her kind, even if she didn't think of herself as such. When she was unable to sleep due to the pain she would just lay in the quiet letting her body drink the warmth offered from Aves. The soft purr seemed to drown out at least in part the sounds of night time on the desert.

She wasn't unaware that her survival was not really expected by most in the group. Her injuries were far too brutal. She as a healer couldn't even be sure that she wouldn't be taken by infection or some other wash as a result of nearly being eaten.

She was awake as the suns cracked to dawn over the horizon. She didn't feel much like eating or really moving a whole lot. Her cheeks were reddened and skin clammy, she had a fever but didn't complain about her discomfort at all. They had all been such a help to her, how could she? She laid quietly trying to will away the things keeping her down.

[desert_oasis]

He didn't like the way the morning started. At least in Lyra's case. She seemed more tired, warm and clammy. The fatigue, he could understand, but the warm and clammy was something he didn't think was good. As much as he had understood that sometimes things didn't work out the way one wanted, he didn't want her to die. And he was going to do his best to ensure that.

Which meant a council of the Elite.

Khor'vin didn't like it. Neither did Si'herra, but she carried more concern over the plan. Aves was determined, his words quiet, but still intense on his resolve. And eventually, before the sun rose to its apex overhead, he gathered his supplies and some extra hunting equipment and then turned to Lyra. He tried to keep as upbeat as he could, smiling softly as he proceeded to craft something akin to a large body sling. "We are going to Earth Mountain," he said softly. "It's the closest of the three mountains from here, and their healer is somewhat versed in humans, as the High Healer of Fire."

He didn't say it would be just him and Lyra going. He also didn't say that this was his last chance to help her, either.