With people finally settling back down after the fear that had claimed hold of the surrounding area, the temple was finally back on track to its daily activities. Life was returning to some sort of normality, at least for the temple.
There had been a noticeable decrease in travelers she had noticed and this morning was no different. Just returning from her duty of checking on the protection wards she noticed a family just within the temple walls. A woman who was standing near two men who were holding a younger third. The third looked wounded and of course she started to move to assist them.
Once close enough, however, she realized she recognized these people or rather it was the men that was familiar. She knew them as part of the group that had attacked her that night when she was returning to the temple. Part of the group that not only tore off part of her ear but beat her down to near death and gave her a rather heavy fear of people.
She was spotted by one of the men and he instantly alarmed the others to her presence. Her body screamed to flee and she was tempted to do just that when suddenly something landed on her shoulder. She yelped out only to find the small fox-squirrel had found her shoulder and started nuzzling up against her cheek, his fluffy tail curling around her shoulders as if he were comforting her. She smiled tenderly and cradled his cheek with her hand, momentarily forgetting the scene before her.
That is until one of the men had approached her. "Miss."
She felt the blood rush from her face as he moved to approach her, the man easily noting the panic on her face and his hands rose up in attempt to show he meant no harm.
"Please," he started, "My son! Please help my-" Then he seemed to realize exactly who she was and he stopped dead in his tracks.
She expected him to attack or shout something cold-hearted at her. And yet he gave her a pleading look, "He will die if you do not help him."
As much as she was afraid she couldn't toss her duties aside. Not even for personal reasons. Nodding her head she brushed past the man and over to the younger male. There was a pieces of metal protruding from his chest and lower abdomen. He looked a bloody mess.
Frowning she nodded to the two men. "Pick him up and carefully. Follow me." She hurried down the hall to one of the empty rooms and opened the door to the small quarters. A simple bed with clean linen, a humble dresser with a basin and jug of water, and a window to let in light.
"Put him down and get out." She ordered the men sternly and turned to the woman, "Go down the hall and find the woman Eudora. Tell her that Kai needs clean linen and more water. Be quick!"
Once they were all out she closed the door, Nin barely managing out the door before it was closed.
Less then a hour later she stepped back out of the room with the Elder Keeper on her heels, both hands working to wipe the blood off of her hands and onto the once white skirt of her dress. The father was pacing and the supposed wife and other son were waiting patiently. All three turned to her as she stepped out.
"He is weak and will need to rest. He can use the room for a few days while he is recovering."
The joyful cry from the mother nearly startled her and she started her way down the hall while Eudora finished speaking with the family. She was just too tired. Transferring wounds meant that now she carried the man's wounds on her now. Those linens were not for him but rather herself. It had been hard to just walk away after treating the son.
Not even half way down the hall she heard the father's voice, "Miss! Wait!"
She didn't wait but slowed her steps. She needed to go to her room and properly tend herself. "You should be with your son, sir."
"I know, Miss, but I just wanted to thank you." He took step at her side, looking down shamefully. "After what we did to you, you still saved his life. I cannot thank you enough."
Her personal feelings set aside she turned to offer the man a serene smile, something gentle and comforting, "You can thank me by being there for him when he wakes. Go be with your family."
Despite what pain this man put her through she couldn't turn him nor his family away. Her heart just didn't allow it. She watched as the man nodded and ran off to go join his family. Once he was out of sight she released the heavy breath she had been holding and continued on until she reached her own room.
Once the door was closed she nearly collapsed onto the floor in pain, managing out of her dress somehow and started into the task of binding her wounds. Nearby Nin kept chirping affectionately, nuzzling her here and there when he got the chance.
It took nearly another hour just to bind herself but when she was done she was better for it. Crawling into bed she winced and tried to settle in on her side with the blanket pulled up to her cheek. The fox-squirrel quickly scrambling across the bed to join her and she felt his soft paw touch his face. It startled her at first but when she opened her eyes she spied him reaching out, attempting to find some sort of space between her cheek and the blanket in order to sneak under the blanket with her.
It amused her and she giggled quietly, lifting the blanket enough for Nin to crawl in with her. The fox-squirrel nestled himself up against her chest and chirped at her. With the little heater at her side she found sleep much easier and faster than normal.
There had been a noticeable decrease in travelers she had noticed and this morning was no different. Just returning from her duty of checking on the protection wards she noticed a family just within the temple walls. A woman who was standing near two men who were holding a younger third. The third looked wounded and of course she started to move to assist them.
Once close enough, however, she realized she recognized these people or rather it was the men that was familiar. She knew them as part of the group that had attacked her that night when she was returning to the temple. Part of the group that not only tore off part of her ear but beat her down to near death and gave her a rather heavy fear of people.
She was spotted by one of the men and he instantly alarmed the others to her presence. Her body screamed to flee and she was tempted to do just that when suddenly something landed on her shoulder. She yelped out only to find the small fox-squirrel had found her shoulder and started nuzzling up against her cheek, his fluffy tail curling around her shoulders as if he were comforting her. She smiled tenderly and cradled his cheek with her hand, momentarily forgetting the scene before her.
That is until one of the men had approached her. "Miss."
She felt the blood rush from her face as he moved to approach her, the man easily noting the panic on her face and his hands rose up in attempt to show he meant no harm.
"Please," he started, "My son! Please help my-" Then he seemed to realize exactly who she was and he stopped dead in his tracks.
She expected him to attack or shout something cold-hearted at her. And yet he gave her a pleading look, "He will die if you do not help him."
As much as she was afraid she couldn't toss her duties aside. Not even for personal reasons. Nodding her head she brushed past the man and over to the younger male. There was a pieces of metal protruding from his chest and lower abdomen. He looked a bloody mess.
Frowning she nodded to the two men. "Pick him up and carefully. Follow me." She hurried down the hall to one of the empty rooms and opened the door to the small quarters. A simple bed with clean linen, a humble dresser with a basin and jug of water, and a window to let in light.
"Put him down and get out." She ordered the men sternly and turned to the woman, "Go down the hall and find the woman Eudora. Tell her that Kai needs clean linen and more water. Be quick!"
Once they were all out she closed the door, Nin barely managing out the door before it was closed.
Less then a hour later she stepped back out of the room with the Elder Keeper on her heels, both hands working to wipe the blood off of her hands and onto the once white skirt of her dress. The father was pacing and the supposed wife and other son were waiting patiently. All three turned to her as she stepped out.
"He is weak and will need to rest. He can use the room for a few days while he is recovering."
The joyful cry from the mother nearly startled her and she started her way down the hall while Eudora finished speaking with the family. She was just too tired. Transferring wounds meant that now she carried the man's wounds on her now. Those linens were not for him but rather herself. It had been hard to just walk away after treating the son.
Not even half way down the hall she heard the father's voice, "Miss! Wait!"
She didn't wait but slowed her steps. She needed to go to her room and properly tend herself. "You should be with your son, sir."
"I know, Miss, but I just wanted to thank you." He took step at her side, looking down shamefully. "After what we did to you, you still saved his life. I cannot thank you enough."
Her personal feelings set aside she turned to offer the man a serene smile, something gentle and comforting, "You can thank me by being there for him when he wakes. Go be with your family."
Despite what pain this man put her through she couldn't turn him nor his family away. Her heart just didn't allow it. She watched as the man nodded and ran off to go join his family. Once he was out of sight she released the heavy breath she had been holding and continued on until she reached her own room.
Once the door was closed she nearly collapsed onto the floor in pain, managing out of her dress somehow and started into the task of binding her wounds. Nearby Nin kept chirping affectionately, nuzzling her here and there when he got the chance.
It took nearly another hour just to bind herself but when she was done she was better for it. Crawling into bed she winced and tried to settle in on her side with the blanket pulled up to her cheek. The fox-squirrel quickly scrambling across the bed to join her and she felt his soft paw touch his face. It startled her at first but when she opened her eyes she spied him reaching out, attempting to find some sort of space between her cheek and the blanket in order to sneak under the blanket with her.
It amused her and she giggled quietly, lifting the blanket enough for Nin to crawl in with her. The fox-squirrel nestled himself up against her chest and chirped at her. With the little heater at her side she found sleep much easier and faster than normal.