"What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate" Log Date: 2/5/02 Log Cast: Vardeus, Flashfire, Maerro, Raven Log Intro: The human sailor Vardeus and his cabin boy Maerro, thrown into the waves during the great battle with a sea monster that has practically destroyed their ship, have been found by the most unlikely of benefactors: the Wolfrider Raven who dwells among the Raft Elves, and the visiting be-furred Wolfrider Flashfire. Astonished by the appearance of these two strange Tall Ones -- as well as concerned for their battered state and the evident mind-sickness of the older of them -- the elves have taken them to Raven's tent. They have not been successful in finding the tribe's healer to come and tend to the strangers, but Raven _has_ quite reluctantly gone in search of her chieftain Redtide, certain he will not be at all pleased to discover that there are _humans_ in his Holt. In the meantime, however, later on that same morning, Vardeus awakens again with a few of his wits having returned to his aching head.... ---------- Raven's Tent(#6222J) A simple tent of supple leathers that can easily be set up on land or on a raft. It is large enough for three elves to sleep comfortably under it's protective cover. Contents: Flashfire Something... is desperately wrong. Vardeus does not know how long he lies there beneath the fur that small hands have pulled over him -- a fur almost too small for his sizeable frame, it might be added. Unthinkingly, a visceral memory of being quite cold still heavy in his awareness, he's pulled the soft warmth up closer around his chest, but-- His chest. It hurts to breathe. The tight, hot pain in his chest is echoed by the pulsing of his head, and most of him wants nothing more but to drop down into darkness. But something is still wrong, and so he forces himself to open his eyes, to try to focus his wavering vision on the tiny slits of morning light slanting in through the seams of the... where _is_ he, anyway? Inside a tent, it would seem. A tent that may be small for he and his companion, too. In any case, Flashfire won't be sharing it for the time being. In fact, he's come back without finding much in the way of help for the large man and that slit marking the opening of the tent shifts just a bit, a pair of eyes peering in momentarily, as though cautious towards the tent's occupants. The human cub still sleeps... but the grown one, the wounded one who's seemed to mistake Raven for someone he knows, stirs sharply as Flashfire peeks within. A pair of dazed blue eyes lifts up at the sight of the face that peeks within -- and those eyes grow noticeably wider as it occurs to Vardeus that those eyes look like nothing he knows. Nothing _human_. He tries to sit up, to reach for the daggers at his belt, but his ribs protest his movement sharply and he winds up slumping onto one trembling elbow for support. _Something's broken,_ he thinks groggily, even as he croaks out, "((Who... who's there?))" Odd that the younger round-ear has yet to come around. As Vardeus begins to move, the eyes and head dart back away from the tent flap, the fabric shuffling lightly in place as the man's voice passes through it. Hesitant to reply at first due to being alone now, Flashfire takes a few moments before he offers his name in that distinctly different elfin tongue. A word he doesn't recognize, either. It is difficult -- normally -- to disturb Vardeus Alirreus, but he is hurt, he is lost, he is alone-- No. Not alone, he realizes, seeing Maerro's deeply slumbering form nearby. That gives him a tiny glimmer of relief, and with it comes a bit of hope. If the boy is here, maybe the others, at least some of them, might be alive as well--? _Think, man,_ he orders himself roughly. _Try to remember. Weren't you lying on the beach? And someone came... carried the boy... you followed. Someone's trying to help..._ But how much help can he get, if he can't understand what's being said to him? It makes his head hurt to try to pick out meaning in those odd light syllables on the other side of the tent flap, and so he barks out pleadingly, "((In the name of the Allmother, please... can you speak the Vraeyan tongue? C... can't understand you...))" The effort to speak, though, drains him. And the human captain falls hard upon his back, panting. A bit more shuffling outside the tent, but no reappearance of those eyes or that inhuman face just yet, the somewhat panicked words that exit the man's mouth at least revealing his current state although they do nothing for the wolfelf's ability to understand them. There's a long pause, a good half-minute in fact, before his own returns, quieter. "Can't understand you.." Maybe he'll remember the help he did get, though? _Move it, sailor. The boy depends on you. He might be sick, hurt. More of the crew might be out there somewhere -- wherever you are (if any of them are still alive -- NO don't think about that, don't think about the horror that rose up out of the waves to smash the _Windrider_ no no). You've got to move, you've got to get help..._ Sweating, struggling to force the pain down into the back of his mind where he can ignore it, Vardeus forces himself through a small eternity of toil until he at last manages to sit up. A tent. He's in a tent, and someone is just outside, trying to talk to him, but the words are strange... he's got to see. To get help. And so the Vraeyan captain fumbles at the tent flap, one big bronzed hand pushing it aside enough to let in more of the morning light, against which he blinks dizzily as his vision blurs out of focus. But he makes himself rasp as he does, "((My name is Vardeus... Vardeus Alirreus. Whoever you are, friend, the boy and I... we need help. Can... can you...))" Flashfire has grown used to being as tall as everyone else, if not taller. Usually the latter, in fact. He was in a bit of shock over the appearance of the five-fingers from the very start, but upon hearing the man moving about inside the tent, then seeing him poking his head out of it after moving the flap aside, he scoots back a couple lengths, sinking down into a wary, spring-like crouch as he eyes the man carefully. "You shouldn't be out..!" he tells him, voice a bit shaky with uncertainty. "..you need to rest!" The human's none too steady, it seems, and even as he pokes his tousled head out of the tent, he leans over hard on one hand. The other presses to his head; as he hears Flashfire speak, however, his gaze comes up. His ocean-blue eyes seem to have gained a measure of coherence -- but now, they focus on the figure of the wolfelf. Go round in the human's scraped and battered visage. And then blink rapidly while he scrubs the back of his hand across them, as if unable to believe what he's seeing before him. Flashfire At first glance, it is clear that Flashfire isn't at all like most elves. One can see a fine layer of fur over any skin that's exposed - even his face, but nothing shows on his palms or beneath his feet. Its color is a rusty reddish-brown. The Glider-tall elf's face is marked with larger-than-normal eyes of a golden yellow, surrounded by a mane of fire-red hair that darkens a bit as it trails down to partially frame the rest of his face. It is a bit darker at the roots and his hair rests somewhat wildly on his head, with no rhyme or reason as to where it falls. His pointed ears are upswept, and a thickening tuft of fur-like hair can be seen around his earlobes. His nose pokes out slightly, turning up very faintly at the tip, and when his lips part, you can notice his canines are sharp, definitely a telling sign that Flashfire is a 'throwback' of sorts, wolfen qualities stronger in him. Those attributes are clearly enhanced by his current appearance. Flashfire wears no clothing over his fur, though it is thick enough to allow him to look decent in the necessary areas. His weapons of choice are either a spear or a bow and arrows, a spear commonly found in his possession these days. Once smaller and somewhat lanky, he's undergone quite a...growth spurt, suddenly, even more lanky than before. It seems that, for the most part, he's able to get around pretty well in this new form. Yes, that is indeed a strange..well, creature before Vardeus there, looking to be part like the other elf that aided the pair of humans back to the tent, but also looking more like some sort of animal. "You..need to rest," he repeats, pointing a clawed finger towards the tent the man just exited. It shows how much he needs it just by the fact the man can't even stand properly, doesn't it? For now, yet, he keeps his distance. "((By the Skyfather...))" The disbelieving whisper is barely discernible in the human's low rough voice, but the expression on his face is unmistakable: surprise. Alarm, yes, but perhaps not the alarm of a Tall One about to take up a weapon and charge at a wolf-demon. For Vardeus, half-certain he must have hit his head rather harder than he'd thought, rubs at his brow and then braces his arm against his ribs as he struggles to rally his thoughts to speak to this stranger... and to rally his vision to focus and show him something other than... a talking wolf, on two feet? Surely not... "((You don't... understand a word I'm saying, do you?))" He squints blearily now at the befurred face, looking for some sign of comprehension, not sure he could recognize comprehension when he sees it -- if what he's seeing is actually _there_ and not the product of the blow to his head. "((You don't know Vraeyan, do you?))" _Gods! Where's Arnos when I need him?_ Flashfire leaves that crouch as the man stares at him the way he does, shaking his head back and forth slowly as more of the strange words are offered up for comprehension that is far from coming. He looks like he could be elfin, but that fur does indeed paint him in quite the different light than the one Vardeus was mistaking for Rilke before. Openly at a loss for words, his palms go up in that general helpless gesture, his own words equally unhelpful. "I don't know a thing you're saying.." He might as well just howl - that'd have as much a chance of being understood as anything else. No tail, mind. _Think, curse it, think! How would Arnos handle this?_ Vardeus scowls groggily at himself, frustration welling through him as he thinks he does indeed discern a total lack of comprehension in this wolf-creature's visage. And the creature is not going away, despite the resounding ache in his head. Ergo, at least for the time being, it seems safe to assume it is actually _there_. _Worry later about what it means,_ he orders himself, trying not to think about the way the pain in his head seems to grow hotter every time he breathes, _if we're stranded in a land where the animals walk and talk like men... it's not attacking... it might help...?_ With every ounce of strength he can muster, then, he straightens painfully where he sits, and slaps his palm against his own broad chest. "((Vardeus,))" he rasps, trying to speak up as clearly as he can. Who would Arnos be anyway, and how would he help with this language gap? Could he, even? Arms drop back to the creature's sides, tall and lanky unlike the other elf Vardeus met, not far from the man's height actually, just not as stocky or strong when it comes to looks. Watching with an intelligence that is not typically found in the eyes of a basic animal, he frowns at the difficulty the man has in just motioning to himself, saying...something. That elfin, fuzzy face cants to one side and he again looks lost, although an attempt is made to mimic the word. It's a rather poor one. Arnos is -- well, Vardeus tries not to think too hard about his missing crew's scholar and expert in the dialects of Vrae, past determinedly hoping that he and some of the rest of the crew of the _Windrider_ may still be alive somewhere. Nor does he think too closely about how useful it would be to have Salmakis here, either -- Salmakis, who knows the hand-signs of giant, mute Aeolus, and who might be better able to offer signs to communicate with this strange creature than Vardeus himself, whose skills lie in leadership and music and the sailing of his precious ship. And whose head and chest pound all the harder, with every passing moment he stays sitting up. But now that he has this strange creature's attention, he is determined to keep it. "((Vardeus,))" he stubbornly repeats. His chest hurts where he'd slapped it, and this time he thinks better of it... and just jerks a thumb at himself instead. "((Vardeus.))" Then his five-fingered hand comes out, palm up... gesturing at Flashfire, perhaps? And is that a look of query in the human's exhausted face? It would /seem/ that with Vardeus motioning to himself more than once as he repeats the same-sounding word, he might just be trying to share his name. Maybe. That's Flashfire's initial suspicion in any event, recalling the time before when he said a certain word multiple times around Raven. It's repeated a few more times, sort of like a parrot might do when repeating something taught to it. "((Var..Var...dus..?))" Brows knit together in concentration, frustration as well. Let's work on that before he tries giving his own name. Skyfather be praised! It's a fractional bit of progress, but it's progress nonetheless, and the human seizes upon it gratefully -- because he's not exactly sure how much longer he can stay sitting up. His big frame is beginning to quiver again, and there's a distinct pallor underneath the bronzing of the Daystar that's darkened his skin. But he manages a small crooked grin, all the same. "((Var-dee-us,))" he affirms, drawling it out, hoping this bizarre be-furred being is getting the idea. The most Flashfire can probably do for now is simply copy what the strange man is trying to say to him, but the look on the human's face, pained though it is, seems to speak of some form of joy at the same time. It causes the wolfelf to offer a slightly uneasy half-smile in return, still not quite sure what to even make of the man. His tunic, in a sense, seems like something he'd expect to see on a Go-Back or Wolfrider, and it's definitely not a garment he's caught sight of on any human he's seen before. A few more attempts are made to repeat the name, more progress coming along as he tries it again while pointing to the man. "((Aye, aye, that's it, Var--))" the human rasps, nodding swiftly -- and then thinking better of _that_, too, as it sets off a new explosion of pain behind his eyes. "((--de... uhhh...))" And with that, the Tall One sways heavily, just barely catching himself again on his right arm to keep himself from falling down hard on his side. No, indeed. This man has no business sitting up. Forgetting for a moment the fact the man /is/ a strange hoo-man, Flashfire only hesitates briefly before darting ever so quickly to Vardeus' side to help catch him around the arm and upper body in case he, indeed, is about to topple all the way. "You shouldn't be sitting up..!" he exclaims, of course forgetting the language barrier is still up. Seems strong enough for what he is, just lanky as may have been noted before. He's left his spear behind somewhere else, by the by. A short groan emits from the smaller round ear. Maerro remain still for a moment, trying to get his scrambled head back in order. He dimly hears the odd language of the wolf-elf, but is unable to yet fully comprehend the implications of the foriegn language. Strange though he might appear, surely the human shouldn't be shaking so violently? His shoulders, each of them broader across than a Wolfrider's hand, are trembling with strain and weakness, and he sags against his own hand on the ground as well as the ones that catch him. But something within the tent -- that one small groan -- shoots through Vardeus' scattered senses and jerks his head back up. "((Maerro?))" is the next word that he blurts out, his gaze turning within, as anxiety floods his expression. Flashfire nibbles the edge of a lip as he stares briefly at the man's shoulder, yellowed eyes darting afterwards towards the groan from the tent. After trying to ease Vardeus down into less of an upright position, he retreats a couple lengths again, a new variable seemingly about to come into play as the one he carried over seems to be coming around. Could be dangerous. Vardeus is lain down easily enough; despite his big muscled frame, the older human seems to have little strength to resist as the wolf-creature tries to help him back down to the furs upon which he'd been lying. He winds up with one foot still stuck out of the front of the tent... but even as Flashfire tries to help him to lie down, Vardeus' attention is past him and upon the figure of his cabin boy. And the moment Flashfire has retreated, the captain's trying to sit up again, all senses straining for a repeat of that sign of life out of young Maerro. "((M-Maerro? Lad? You alive? C... c'mon then, lad...))" he mumbles, his voice breathless, thick. The sound of the captain's voice awakens Maerro's conciousness like little else would. He sits up quickly, the word, "((Captain?))" leaving his words even as he opens his eyes. Seeing his beloved captain laying, obviously weak, he starts to push the fur covering him down. In doing so he catches sight of Flashfire and is stunned motionless. "((Captain! The..there's..what?!))" Flashfire was going to see if he could fulfill his end of the name exchange, but Maerro coming to may just throw a wrench in that matter for the time being. As it is, now that they begin to talk quickly in their own tongue, he takes a couple more steps back. Perhaps he should slip out and leave them. Or maybe..there's food, might look for something there. The relief that courses through Vardeus' system at Maerro sitting up, seemingly more or less all right, catches him so off guard that he falls back again, barely able to do more than breathe and wait for his vision to refocus and show him just one Maerro instead of three. The look on the lad's face, though... His own voice sounding thin and distant to him, Vardeus croaks, "((You... see the wolf-creature too, lad? I... I-I thought I'd hit my head...))" Though weaker then usual Maerro has youth and the advantage of several previous good nights sleep behind him. Not too mention not having been clocked by a seamonster. He edges slowly out of the furs towards Vardeus, keeping an eye on Flashfire. "((What is it? How did we end up here?))" Quickly darting a look back at Vardeus the boy seems to forget the wolf-creature and rushes to his captain's side. "((Are you alright? What happened?))" Flashfire eyes the man-cub as well, appearing to still be roughly the size of a full-grown elf to him, closer to that of a Glider than a Wolfrider by his estimate. While having come to more or less accept that Vardeus probably won't try anything dangerous or harmful, he can't yet be assured of the same where Maerro is concerned. Cautiously, he keeps a safe distance, confident in his ability to avoid any sudden moves as needed. The sight of Maerro leaning so worriedly over him rouses the older human a little -- but at the same time, it gives the boy a good look at his captain, who _has_ hit his head if the dark, swollen bruise along his brow is any sign. There's something scattered about Vardeus' attention as well, as if he's having to struggle to keep his attention upon the here and now, and he can't seem to speak above a rasping, breathless whisper. One arm's curled tight about his chest, as well. Aware mostly only of _pain_, the Captain peers groggily up at the youngster, then tries to lift his head again to glance towards their unbelievable host... without much success. "((I... don't... know what that creature is, Maerro... it... walks, though. Like a man. Talks, too, but... doesn't know our language. Was trying to tell him my name, but...))" While Maerro doesn't turn his back to Flashfire, he's more concerned with his captain then the wolf-creature at the moment. The creature could have easily done him harm when he was passed out. Besides that, the well being of Vardeus, especially after getting a good look at him is just more important. He moves to touch the bruise, but stops just short. A look of frustration passes over his face as he realizes he simply doesn't really know what to do. "((Maybe you shouldn't talk captain.))" Then, just as quickly, "((Is your arm hurt? Would you like some water?))" Flashfire's only able to send to other elves, so maybe it's coincidence when he disappears for a few moments and returns with an elf-sized waterskin, holding it in both hands before he clears his throat after stopping closer to the tent again. After all, if they haven't had anything to eat or drink yet, they'll probably be hungry. No doubt they can put away a lot of food, too - but he's not on the menu. What would be better? Assuring the boy of his well-being -- or admitting the damage he thinks he can sense in his body? Vardeus blinks up glassily at Maerro, torn, and finally mumbles, "((Think... think I cracked a rib or two, lad.. gonna need ye t' help me...))" His voice starts to slur, a stronger hint of the accents of the docks of Shalros sliding into his pronunciation. "((The wolf-creature... doesn't... seem hostile, but...))" Wait. Did the lad say _water_? He trails off, abruptly unable to think of anything else except how blissful it would be to have water to soothe his throat. Vardeus' gaze unfocuses, and like a man in a dream, he mumbles, "((Water? Aye...))" Maerro barely notices the departure and re-arrival of the creature as he listens carefully to Vardeus. He nods ferverently at Vard's request for help. "((Just let me know what I can do Captain. I'll get the water for you.))" He scans the tent as he looks towards the wolf-creature. Spying the object in its ...hands?? he looks at it a moment, then up at the creature's face. It's obvious that he'd like it, but equally obvious he's at a loss for how to ask for it. Finally he just points to it, "((Water? Can I have it..er..please.))" Rare to hear a please or thankyou from his lips, but it couldn't hurt under the circumstances. Maerro catches the waterskin neatly as the creature tosses it. "((Thank you.))" He takes a small drink of the skin himself, to assure that it is water. Once assured he moves to help Vardeus sit up to help him drink, "((Whatever it is, he's gotten us some water.))" _C'mon, man, pull yourself together, the lad expects you to handle this, doesn't he? You've got to get up, you've got to find out where the others are... find the ship. Got to find the ship._ That last is what Vardeus _means_ to say, as he starts to stir fretfully where he's lying, but what comes out in a vaguely distressed rumble is, "((Never let me hear th' end o' this... she'll be flamin'... mad...))" The Captain's eyes have half-closed, though, and only when Maerro slips an arm under his head does he seem to realize... Water. Blessed Seamother. _Water_. And for a few moments, as he drinks, Vardeus forgets all else. It's sweet, it's cool against the heat of the pain in his head and in his chest, and... Heat. The Captain _shouldn't_ be hot to the touch, should he? After tossing the 'skin with a somewhat light touch, Flashfire again steps back as the human cub seeks to tend to the older man, their language still quite foreign to his own ears, try as he might to single out certain sounds to see if he can recognize them due to repetition. Back into a crouch he goes, a hand to the ground for better balance. Maerro gives Vardeus all the water he'll take. He's noticed the heat radiating off of his captain and the concern it brings him is obvious to anyone with two eyes. Assuming ofcourse they're able to actually see clearly, which Maerro isn't even sure his captain can do. He turns his attention back to the wolf-creature, a wave of frustration crossing over his face as he tries to figure out how to ask for a healer. "((Do you have a healer? Hee-ah-lerr.))" He searches for any sign of comprehension on the creatures face. The fact that Vardeus has enough strength to drain the waterskin, even if he drinks too swiftly and coughs on a swallow or two, might perhaps offer a bit of assurance. He does not appear to mind or even notice that he's splashed himself; if anything, the wetness against his jaw and his neck gives him a few blessed spots of coolness in the middle of the miasma of pain and heat that threatens to engulf his thoughts. Thoroughly enervated, he sinks back down onto the furs, only barely aware of young Maerro's anxious plea to their otherworldly benefactor. Flashfire can only shrug and offer his palms up in the same helpless gesture he'd given Vardeus earlier. "We're looking for a healer.." he explains, certain Maerro will have no better luck understanding him than Vardeus has up to this point. Of course, his word for 'healer' is quite unlike that of the humans. To his eyes, it's not difficult at all to see the way the heat seems to radiate from his body, it causing him to frown again. Feverish, no doubt. A frown line develops on Maerro's brow as he looks between the creature and Vardeus. Finally, he holds the empty waterskin up and motions like he's taking a drink from it. Then holds it out to the creature, ready to toss it if he creature seems to understand. "((Gotta find th' others,))" the big human mumbles, though from the sound of his rumbling voice he is no longer entirely aware of the stilted attempts at communication going on around him. "((She'll be so mad... sorry, Tiana... so sorry...)) His voice has eased a little, though, thanks to the water. No longer entirely cracked, it's turned merely husky, for all that it's still thin and weak. Flashfire reaches out and catches the waterskin once Maerro's shown he expects it to be tossed back, turning to go off and grab another one lying nearby. More to fill up all at once is better than one after the other, isn't it? Upon returning again, he moves a little closer than last time, at least enough to hold out his hand with the waterskin in it, while trying that word again, that name. "((Va..Var-dee..uss..?))" It's all just sounds to him. Maerro looks back to Vardeus as he speaks and tries to hush him. ((We'll find the others later.)) He pauses briefly to ask the skyfather to make his words true. "((They've probably washed up farther up the beach. Franni and Torgan are probably already complaining hiking through the sand.))" Maerro looks back at Flashfire, hesitating a moment before reaching out to take the waterskin, carefully not to touch the creature. At the creature's attempt to speak he nods slowly, pointing to Vardeus and repeating his name slowly, "((Var-dee-uss.))" He then points to himself, "((May-er-ro.))" Raven returns a little while after Flashfire frowning just a bit. It seems that letting the chief of the Raft tribe know of their uninvited guests wasn't exactly a happy affair. She ducks as she enters the tent then sits down just inside the doorflap since that seems to be about the only place left that's not taken up by some part of a human. A considerable amount of the floor of the tent is claimed by the sprawled form of the bigger human, who has finally subsided beneath the fur that haphazardly covers him. Vardeus does not seem to register the return of the one he'd called 'Rilke', though, and indeed, his blue eyes have lost their focus again. Even Maerro's surprisingly authoritative words to him seem to barely penetrate his fog, though he does grow quieter in his slurred murmurings. Only a faint trace of distress crinkles his tanned features as he breathes guiltily, "((Tiana... sorry... so sorry, Tiana...))" Flashfire frowns, Vardeus apparently not recognizing the word he speaks even if Maerro does, though when he glances towards the cub, he blinks a couple times in confusion. Too many other human words going around for him to track just the one and pick out whatever sounds his name contain. "I don't know.." he answers, head swiveling towards Raven as she returns. "I got them some water," he shares. Maerro hesitates, torn between attempting the name game again and trying to see what else he can do to help Vardeus. He jumps a bit when Flashfire brings his attention to Raven, not even aware that another creature had joined them. And what a creature she is. He just looks a moment, more then a little stunned. Vardeus' words bring his attention back around to his real task though. He pulls his small iron dagger from his belt, pausing to thank the seamother for allowing him to somehow keep it. He then begins to cut a small strip from the bottom of his tunic. Raven turns her attention toward the muttering human so doesn't notice the look she's given as she moves over to lay cool fingers against Vardeus' forehead. She notes that there is a certain warmth there, though she's not entirely sure if its a normal warmth or not. She seems to consider something for a moment before she reaches up and tugs a scrap of softest leather from a cord at the top of the tent. This, she wets from one of the waterskins and presses it against the larger human's forehead hoping that it might ease his discomfort just a bit. She then turns to Flashfire and sighs, "I couldn't find Splash," she says looking slightly vexed about that. "((F'rgive me, Tiana-love, all me fault... I didnae mean... sorry... I'm sae sorry...))" The ailing human's murmurings continue, his accent thickened further, but as the she-elf comes to his side and smooths that dampened snippet of leather across his brow, cleansing away dried blood and sand and lessening the fire within his skull, Vardeus trails off into a throaty sigh. His eyes remain half-open, but that ocean-blue stare of his is fixed upon nothing; it would seem that the man is teetering upon the edge of dreaming once again. "I couldn't find her before, either." Flashfire answers after observing the way Maerro looks at Raven for the first few moments he's seen her. That's certainly understandable - he's not the first human to ever lay eyes on an elf and be in awe of what he sees. It'd be more amusing if the mood was lighter. As Raven applies the wet cloth to the head of Vardeus, he backs further out of the tent again, sending, ** I think he was trying to teach me his name. ** Maerro moves towards Vardeus protectively as the she-elf approaches. He almost looks as if he might swat her hand away as she moves to actually touch his captain, but something stops him. She doesn't seem particularly threatening, and while she definately not human, at least she's not furred. Watching her apply the wet leather strip he concedes she implemented the idea before him, and it did seem to help. Still, he watches her carefully as he talks to his captain in a quiet voice. "((It's okay Vardeus. It wasn't your fault. Tiana-))" Wait, did he say love? Great skyfather! Tiana! Just great. "((Tiana..er..knows it wasn't your fault.))" Raven does note the sudden tension of the younger human and turns to smile reassuringly at him, though if he happens to notice her slightly elongated canines, the smile might not look as reassuring as she's hoping it does. She settles back to where she was and reaches over to pick up what looks like a half finished fishing net which she quietly begins stitching on, trying to give the appearance of peacefulness. Apparently entirely oblivious to the import of what he's just mumbled, the bigger human moves his head restlessly back and forth, frowning vaguely in Maerro's direction as the boy's voice is the only one he can discern in the otherwise unintelligible babble just over him. His abused brow furrowed, he plaintively informs the youngster, "((She's always sae mad at me. Karked it right up this time, I did. A-all me fault... be after throwin' me right off the deck, she will... t... tell 'er I'm sorry, Maerro lad? Tell 'er...))" Maerro looks more then a little alarmed at his captain's words, he leans down closer to make sure Vardeus can hear him right well. "((She's mad cause she's got a spine fish up her toga cause yer captain and not her. If you want to say your sorry you'll tell her yerself or I'll tell her you did it on purpose just to serve her right.))" In love with her. Really! All she's done is harp on him. Now wanting to apologize. Hrmph. Well, if you're going to put it _that_ way, lad-- Vardeus' dazed eyes remain entirely dazed, but his brows wing low in over them as he frowns in evident deep, over-intense concentration. Tell Tiana he's sorry. He's got to tell Tiana he's sorry. So he has to find Tiana, doesn't he? "((Gotta find 'er,))" he rasps then, looking surprisingly determined for a man who has absolutely no business being in any position but horizontal. And even as he mutters this, he tries to roll over, to push himself upright again. "((Gotta tell 'er...))" Over a woman. Over .that. woman. He's gotta be sick. If his ribs weren't already broke Maerro would sit on him. But since he is sick, and he is wounded, fine. Maerro will play along. "((You'll fall as soon as you stand. How'd that look? And we don't know which way to go yet.))" Inspiration hits, "((And I've only just woken up from who knows how long of being asleep. I'm not strong enough to go hiking about. You wouldn't leave me here with that would you?))" That, according to a jerk of the head, is the wolf-creature. Flashfire's eyebrows dance upwards and his head tilts as Maerro seems to indicate him in some fashion. Raven's eyes go wide as she sees the bigger of the two humans start trying to sit up. She looks over at the younger one, hoping that he can do something to convince the larger one to lay back down. She notices him pointing at Flashfire and arches a curious brow as she wonders just what it is that he's saying. With a sigh, she sets her net aside again, preparing to help stop the bigger one from moving about so much, if the need arrises. Vardeus does not exactly make it entirely upright; at most, he levers himself up almost sideways onto his elbow. But Maerro's swift insistent words do seem to capture his wandering attention, and the older human squints muzzily at the younger one, seeming to have almost as much difficulty comprehending him as he is the strangers. His gaze is not one that belongs on the face of Vardeus Alirreus -- helpless, confused, struggling to focus on Maerro as if the lad has somehow become the only anchor on a ship at the mercy of the storm. "((Ye... need me 'ere?))" he whispers then, beginning to look uncertain. "((But... I gotta find 'er... gotta find Tiana...))" Maerro reaches out, putting just a small amount of pressure on Vardeus' upraised shoulder, certain it wouldn't take much to send him toppling backwards. "((Aye, I need you here.))" Better keep the T word out of this. "((Yeh need to stay here a bit with me.))" For the moment beauty and the beast are out of his mind, the captain is whats important. Flashfire glances to Raven with a bit of a confused expression on his visage, motioning back towards Maerro with a finger. "((Ti..Ti....naaa?))" It's difficult to mimic the word he's heard Var-dee-us say so many times, but it seems like another name. Raven tips her head as she looks between Flashfire and Maerro listening to her friend. She smiles as if a light goes on in her head and points at Maerro, "((Tee-AH-nah))," she says, mimicing the word. _Her_ name on the lips of the strangers makes Vardeus start anew, even as Maerro's entreaty somehow manages to strike home. The older human sags down again onto his side, one arm curled again about his chest, even as he blurts wide-eyedly to the boy, "((Tiana! Maerro... they said 'er name, d'they know, d-d'they know where she is? Ye gotta ask 'em, gotta find 'er...))" And now, though his strength seems feeble at best, he still does not lie quiet. His head tosses, and one hand fumbles along the tent's floor as if he might at any moment get up again. Maerro nearly looks ready to sit on Maerro for real. He scowls at the two point-ears, "((No Tiana. No.))" He shakes his head for emphasis. "((They don't know where she is Vardeus.))" Wow, he finally used the guys real name. "((Please, you've got to stay here. We both need to get better.))" Some of us more then others. Hint hint nudge nudge. Flashfire nods to Raven as Vardeus says the name again while staring at Maerro. "I think that's the cub's name." However, when the younger male scowls at them, he takes it as a bit of a challenge of sorts, his own nose wrinkling in defiance. "Don't trust him.." he murmurs. At least Vardeus seems to have earned a little of that. Raven blinks at the scowling youngling and tips her head to one side as she points to Maerro and says in a questioning tone, "((Tee-ah-na))?" She's not too sure about this young one either but, she does want to find out what's got him shaking his head so vehemently. The boy's plea finally seems to sink in, and Vardeus settles down again, his breath still rasping, his eyes still glazed... but at least he's lying down again. Maerro needs him. Needs him to stay here. He should do that, for Maerro, shouldn't he? "((I'll stay,))" he mumbles wearily. Maerro's shoulders slump as Vardeus finally gives. Thank the skyfather, seamother, and any and all of their children. He seems rather tired by the ordeal, but not enough to let beauty and the beast misname him. He looks at each of them, then points to his chest. "((May-er-ro.))" He pauses a moment then points to Vardeus. "((Var-dee-uss.))" Flashfire shakes his head at Maerro's general act, commenting out of one side of his mouth to Raven, "Don't think he likes me. Wonder if he knows I carried him up here." Probably not, it seems evident. As more of the apparent name game gets underway, he folds his arms across his chest, losing most of his interest in trying to learn the words any more for the time being. "Think the older one is mindsick.." he adds with a hint of lamentation. Raven glances over at Flashfire and nods in agreement, "I'm almost certain the older one is.. but, the young one.. I just don't know.." She gives a little shake of her head and looks back at Maerro mouthing, "Well, at least we'll know what that cloth thing is that he's wearing.." She points at the bits of clothing on her own body, grins and repeats, "((Maay- eh-rrrro.))" Strange but the 'r' sounds slightly similar to a growl. Exhausted again, shivering, Vardeus rolls onto his back and then stays there, eyes drifting shut. He is still murmuring, but now almost inaudibly, and the shaking of his head back and forth is growing less erratic. Maerro is very suddenly beginning to look the worse for wear. There is so much, after all, that a twelve year old can handle in a twenty-four hour period. He shakes his head, No, at Raven and points again to himself, "((May-er-ro.))" Flashfire gives Raven another nod in return, going quiet again as the verbal exchange continues while he watches Vardeus with a hint of concern lingering. ** He's going to need a healer, I think. ** he sends, shaking his head slowly. Not much else they can do, and he's not too keen on getting any closer to Maerro right now anyhow. Raven frowns a bit in puzzlement as she thought she had at least two things figured out, only to find that she doesn't after all. She casts a sidelong glance at Flashfire and nods in agreement with his send then turns back to Maerro reaching over to lightly tap the top of his head with a fingertip, "((May-eh-rrrro?))" she says, making the word into an uncertain inquiry. Maerro cocks his head to one side, wondering why she nodded to the wolf-creature. He must have missed a gesture or something. He looks up with his eyes to track Raven's finger as it touches his head. He smiles gratefully as she seems to finally understand and nods, pointing to himself again, "((May-er-ro.))" Maerro, happy to have his name figured out by these odd folk sits back, leaning up against the tent wall to remain closer to Vardeus. In theory, this position will also keep him awake, but only in theory. Within a few moments he's once again asleep, despite his assumption he will stay up to tend to Vardeus. Raven watches as the youngling falls asleep. She moves quietly over and checks the wet 'cloth' on Vardeus' forehead, rewetting it before laying it back against his head and moving back to work on that net some more.. at least until she gets tired enough to take a bit of a nap herself. Another deep sigh rolls up out of the older human, and something of the strain eases out of his features when the she-elf drapes the re-wetted leather over his brow. His eyes close completely... but even as they do, he breathes faintly, yearningly, "((Tiana...))" And with that, he drops into silent slumber. [End log.]