"Hurt That's Meant to Heal" Log Date: 2/16/02 Log Cast: Vardeus, Flashfire, Shay'la, Splash, Tamaris Log Intro: Vardeus Alirreus has never been a man to patiently wait while his body recovers from illness or injury -- and the time he's had to spend among the Raft Elf tribe, waiting for his cracked ribs to recover enough for him to be able to travel in search of his missing crewmates, is no exception. In fact, it's all the worse, for on top of the frustration the stranded Captain is suffering at his own weakness, he must also wrestle with several other burdens as well. There's the guilt he's been suffering over his crew's being lost at sea in the first place, months away from their home shore of Vrae. There's his guilt about feeling drawn to his new second in command even as he is supposed to be betrothed to Tyra Yfantis back home. And now there is the added worry he is suffering over the distinct possibility that he has lost his ship and most of what was left of his crew. Caught between hampered physical ability and an all too restless mind, an extremely exhausted Vardeus has found himself breaking down in the presence of a couple of the elves who have been most friendly to him -- the strange wolf-elf Flashfire, and the she-elf Quietharm who has been so eager to learn his language and help him find his missing crewmates. Wearied by uncharacteristic emotional turmoil, the Captain's gone and collapsed in the tent he's come to be sharing with another elf-friend, Raven... and there, Flashfire has remained to watch over him as he gets his rest. But Vardeus is still suffering the pain of his cracked ribs, and on the day after his breakdown on the each, he is about to learn that the elves have yet another magic of which he could not have possibly conceived.... ---------- 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 Since quite literally falling into the tent during the night, Vardeus has slept almost as if dead, absolute exhaustion of body and soul flattening him far more effectively than any mere wound could have done. He does not dream, simply lying there in a sprawled heap and his face stripped of all his characteristic energy, left seeming barely older than the visage of young Maerro. For hours, the big human does not move, while the Daystar rises outside and light begins to creep in through the seams of the tent. Only as the temperature within begins to rise does he finally open his eyes, waking without fanfare, and realizing bemusedly where he is... and how he'd come to be there. It seems, whether Maerro's still there or not, Vardeus is not exactly alone, for there appears to be a larger-than-elf, fuzzy mass mostly curled up near the tent's flap, sleeping with head partially tucked beneath arm. Vardeus might finger it as the elf-wolf creature that howled the night before, the one that startled him so. What is he doing here then, asleep? Well, there's one possible train of thought that'd have Flashfire aware of it the moment Vardeus did anything like trying to leave, or perhaps he just curled up right there to..protect? No sign of the human boy-cub, no, though his scent lingers in the place with a strength that suggests he's been here and gone. Vardeus' nose is not so keen as that, but he does have eyes -- and they tell him the lad isn't here before they settle their attention on the furred shape between him and the outside. Slowly, cautiously, the man begins to sit up. Flashfire rrrrs gently in whatever dream he may be having, clutching a small portion of the furs with one hand before letting go a few seconds later, repeating a couple more times before his nose wrinkles, an eye fluttering. The hoo-man is awake. There's movement noticed, the wolfelf's head rising just enough to consider him over the edge of an arm. "Mmm..?" he 'greets' somewhat sleepily. He freezes, though it is immediately apparent that Vardeus' sleep has done him _some_ good, at least, for he does not freeze with anything remotely resembling the same tightly coiled tension that he'd displayed last night on the beach. Instead, the big human just simply... stops, gazing slightly sheepishly at the wolf-elf before he finally ventures tentatively, "Taydes...?" Flashfire lifts his head to enter into a nice big yawn, arms stretching out to his sides before he does one of those deeeeep stretches by uncurling, reaching ahead with both arms, and letting the thing roll all over from arms to back to legs, leaving him on all fours again before he sits up and rubs an eye. "Tides," he responds, head tilted to one side. It's a little easier, in the light of day (even if the light of day is still somewhat muted and shadowed here within the tent), to handle being presented with a creature shaped like both wolf and elf; it helps, too, that the human is no longer so desperately tired. Whatever inner demons he must have been battling last night have subsided for the time being, letting his more natural resilience of mind begin to reassert itself along with his natural curiosity. "You--" However, Vardeus hasn't managed to magically augment his vocabulary during his slumber, so he is stuck with trying to figure out what to say in a painfully limited set of elfin words. "You, uh, say. In night. Say hilp Maerro?" It's not the first time Vardeus has seen Flashfire, though at this point it may be the first time he's seen him when he's been in a halfway decent state of mind. Still watching with an openly curious expression, the fuzzy thing stays put while listening closely to the words asked in the elfin tongue, mouthing a couple of them a few times to make sure he's hearing what he thinks he's hearing. Then comes an answer along with a nod, "Aye..first time, with Raven. Helped you here. To tent. Helped him, too." Wonder how much of that will be understood, or maybe the nod will be enough. "Vardeus... see you. Think... head hurt, nae see good," the human admits then, roughly, though even as he says this his mouth quirks up on one end. Is that a smile? "Vardeus see good, see you. You... elf. You... ((wolf))?" Then, hoping to clarify that last word, he tries a halfhearted imitation of a howl. And his self-deprecating sheepish grin gets a little larger; like carving wood, imitating howls does not seem to be high among the human's skills. But at least he seems to know it. Flashfire lifts a hand to settle it against his chin a few moments, it coming off as making him look thoughtful as he listens, nodding slowly before his own mouth flashes the hint of a grin when the imitation howl is attempted. There's far too much to explain when it comes to how he came to be what he is, but it'd probably only confuse the man further if he tried to share. "Elf..aye. And wolf, too." Is that the word he was saying in Vrae-speak? At least the man knows what a howl is, and the attempt is worth a chuckle. "Not so good at that." "Wuilf," mutters the human, experimentally, frowning lightly as he adds this to his scant store of words in the tongue of the Little People. "You... wuilfelf?" He's sitting up all the way now, the furs fallen away from his sturdy form, the clothes he's slept in gone rumpled. "Vardeus... _I_--" Ah. He knows that word too, does he? Quietharm's apparently managed to share it. "See little elfs. See big elfs. Nae see wuilfelfs. See wuilfs, hear wuilfs... nae wuilfelfs..." Flashfire repeats "Wolf" again as if to help Vardeus with it a bit better, the sound he makes close but not quite correct. Not bad at all for just repeating it, and it seems the man understand what was being said, better than Flashfire understands his own tongue, anyhow. Claw-tipped hands find their way back to his lap, or at least one does as the other helps support him, leaning on it with his legs a bit to one side. "Wolfelf..aye. Me." he points to himself with the free hand as a way to confirm. It's a bit of a struggle to follow all the similar words, but the more he hears Vardeus using them, the easier it becomes to figure out the way they differ but are still enough to understand. "Not many like me.." he explains, holding up a hand to count off the ones he's aware of. "One, two, three..." All three fingers extended with his thumb still folded, he pauses and then shifts that one as well. "Four..first one like us. Timmorn." But he came to be what he was much differently than the way it was for Flashfire. "Woolf? Woolf." Vardeus blows out a breath. Close enough. "Four woolfelfs," he acknowledges then, though 'Timmorn' is beyond him, for the time being. Enough for him, right now, to try to bend his brain around three others that apparently look like this being here. Patting the sand, trying to indicate the island, he adds, "Woolfelfs _here_? I see?" Flashfire nods along to the repetition of the word 'wolf,' finding it good enough for now. Not precise, but adequate and definitely understandable. "Four," he confirms with another nod but he shakes his head at the question. "No more here..two far away, one..." Well, at that he looks a bit downcast, frowning. "Gone." he finishes. Would've liked to have met Timmorn at some point, yes. There was a dream, once..... Uncertainly, Vardeus nods -- 'far away' is beyond him, but he understands 'no more here'. It implies to him, too, that there are more of the Little People elsewhere. Perhaps on the mainland, where Kephissa and Valnek are? "I, out," he rumbles then, needing a bit of fresh air on his face and the smell of the sea on the wind. "You, come?" If Vardeus could send, or perhaps if he could see the Scroll of Colors, he might come to understand everything better. As it stands, the best that can be done is to go little by little. At the suggestion to go outside, Flashfire nods. "Aye." Standing up then, he slips out of the tent, moving on all fours initially before standing upright again. Flashfire has left. Raft Beach - Camp Area - Raft Holt(#10703RA) Beach and forest meets here, and the place is cleared for tents and other forms of shelter. Straight north, you have cliffs stooping down to sharp impassible reefs. Boulders dot the beach there, all the way back to the forest. The beach holds the same characteristic patterns here, as it does all over. White sand with trickles of black. Here, one can enjoy the shades of the palms and coconut trees, or play in the shallows of the water. The tide is in, covering the sand in blue-green. Midday brings the languid warmth of noon. The daystar is high overhead until it beings the slow fall into the west and sunset. The brightness of noon fills the cool autumn skies. The sun high overhead dancing attendance. Contents: Flashfire Coralfire's Tent(#1669AJe) Reef's Tent(#10557Je) Surfwind's Tent Firewater's Tent(#1737Je) Raft Travelling Camp (#9508JLe) Current and Silverthorn's Family tent (#8541AOUYes) Raven's Tent(#6222J) Lean To Obvious exits: South Vardeus clambers out of the tent in his bizarre companion's week, rubbing at his eyes and then trying to stretch a bit, now that he can stand up to his full height. There is a stiffness to his bound ribs, still, which makes him frown and then deliberately ignore it except as a thing to try to win past. He hauls a deep breath into his lungs, then peers consideringly at the wolf-elf. "I... walk," he says then, part statement, part question. "See little-land. Need walk. You come?" Flashfire's head bobs in a simple nod, choosing to let Vardeus do the majority of the exploring for now, deciding to keep an eye on him for his own safety. Should anything come up, he'll be there to deal with it. You head down the beach. Raft Beach - Shoreline - Raft Holt(#10028RJLS) Truly magnificent and unique in its beauty, Rafter's beach unfolds before you. The sand is soft yellow, verging on golden, patterns of black sand trickling through the monotone coloring. The soft rushes of the waves playing upon the beach is accompanied by the light breeze which stream through the palm trees further into the cove. There you have it, rising up on either side is majestic cliffs with reefs and rocks underneath. The cliffs rise further, forming a lush green ridge formed as a giant U, which surrounds this secluded area. At the mouth of the U, there is only blue-green ocean to be seen with exception of the tribal gathering raft dipping on the waves. The receeding tide opens up the sweep of the beach and shore, inviting your footsteps. Evening at last and the first moon rises setting the world aglo with the silver light. There is a soft breeze, warm and gentle over the ground. The starry outlines of the Human Hunter begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the cool autumn skies. The setting sun. dancing attendance. Obvious exits: Fire Camp area East Swim Flashfire arrives from up the beach. Flashfire has arrived. Exploring. Good idea, to the human. He feels a compelling need for activity, _something_, anything, to get his body moving and give him something to take his mind off the embarrasing fact that he'd actually cried in front of this strange wolf-elf and little Kyethaerm, last night. And so he sets off at a long-legged lope to head down the beach... though every so often, his gaze shifts reflexively out to sea, part in hope to see some sign of the raft that Quietharm has claimed Kephissa and Valnek are building, and part in shadow-eyed memory. Then, after each glance, he seems to catch himself and deliberately make himself stride a little faster towards the forested part of the island. Much more accustomed to other elves having to take extra, faster steps to keep up with him when he walks, now it's Flashfire's turn to do the same around Vardeus. Sort of a return to how it once was when he was smaller, but his larger frame makes it easier for him to take those same long, loping strides. A good tag-a-long, this wolfelf. You make your way further up the beach. Rafter's Beach - Forest Line - Raft Holt The golden brown beach stretches out before you, streaks of black sand zigzagging its way down towards the surf, patterning across the magnificent area which the Rafters call home. It reminds you of marble, but the soft cushioning underneath the feet witness it is not as hard though the beauty is there. The beach seem to incline down towards the waves, one can hear the soft rushes towards the sand. Small boulders are set out here and there, by nature or elfin hand, one cant really tell. They can only originate from the massive cliffs rising around the area though. The cliffs embrace the surroundings with a sense of security and peace, the tropical forest nicely tucked up against it with exception from the beach area. A variety of palm trees line up along the beach, the breeze catches the big leaves and creates music with the waves washing against the beach. Some of these majestic trees lean down towards the beach, as if wanting to run down the sand into the tempting surf. The wildlife of the tropical forest can be heard echoing within the green depths, there's a clear path running deeper in. The other way, one has a perfect view of the horizon and reefs out towards the vastdeep seas. Evening at last and the first moon rises setting the world aglo with the silver light. There is a soft breeze, warm and gentle over the ground. The starry outlines of the Human Hunter begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the cool autumn skies. The setting sun. dancing attendance. Contents: Cascade's Leanto (#7827AJOUYes) Leaf-Bough Lean-To (#8476AJLOUYes) Obvious exits: Forest Shaded Path West Flashfire arrives from shoreline of the beach. Flashfire has arrived. "Woolfelf, big elfs, little elfs, here. And... Koorelfaer. Huimin. More here?" Vardeus asks of his tagalong, his mind as hungry for information as his body is for activity. With no ship to sail, no horse to ride, and no lyre to play, the Vraeyan settles instead for taking a route into the trees and seeming to aim for higher ground. Maybe he could get an idea of how big the island is... maybe he could see the mainland, if he climbs high enough? When Vardeus reaches higher ground, he'll be able to see what's to be seen, whatever that may be. However, Flashfire stalls out initially when it comes to answering the man's question. "That's all.." he decides after thinking about it a few seconds, trotting a little faster to catch up after he'd slowed down. "I live somewhere else." [And soon, as the human and the elf keep walking...] You go towards the small beach. Small Strand of Beach - Shoreline - Raft Holt This small strand of beach is nowhere near as large as that of the tribal beach. Just a few feet deep, it could possibly be impassable if the tide were in. A stone cliff wall meets the sand towards the east, ascending upwards in a near unassailable rate. There is only one place where an elf might climb off the beach, a rocky, narrow trail that leads up towards the cliff top and the forest above. The water at this beach is a clear blue, one can even see the sandy bottom a good ways out. Further down the narrow strand of beach, a tumble of stones form a set of stairs that lead up into a cavern that has been over taken by elves. Clinging to a ledge a foot or so above the sandy beach, a row of bushes seems to have been planted and tended, all by hand. Evening at last and the first moon rises setting the world aglo with the silver light. There is a soft breeze, warm and gentle over the ground. The starry outlines of the Human Hunter begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the cool autumn skies. The setting sun. dancing attendance. Contents: Shay'la(#9063PJXce$0) Splash(#6809PJXc$0) Obvious exits: Rocky Trail Splash and Starlove's Cavern Flashfire comes from the forest. Flashfire has arrived. Vardeus is undaunted as the trees begin to close in further on the trail -- if anything, he takes the tighter growth as a specific, deliberate challenge to his ability to get up to the top of the cliff and look out over the island as a whole. But despite his determination, the walk does begin to wind him... and he winds up taking a downward trail instead. Though he nods to Flashfire's last words, more of his attention goes to just _exploring_... that is, until he breaks into view on a new beach, scowling down at himself and the twinge of annoyance in his still-mending ribs. He stops for breath, glancing back to see if the wolf-elf is still following. Shay'la sometimes comes here for a bit of solitude. It has everything... a view of the water and rocks galore. She sits off to one side, playing with a rock. The rock slowly shifts form and looks as if when done it will be an elf sculpture or some such thing. On the tumbled of stones that comes from the cliff faceing is... an elf. The wild mane of hair tumbling about her hips and shoulders does not hide the pointed tips of her ears, but it does do a good job of falling into her face each time she bends to the task she is at. Cross legged, she holds something in the cradle of her lap that looks much like a scrap of fur... with a little bit of body it. Now and then she glances towards Shya'la, but dosn't seem to wish to disturb the other elf. Flashfire makes it the rest of the way with Vardeus, moving on ahead a few paces as the scent of other elves reaches his nose on the breeze that blows. On seems faintly familiar, one he's scented around the place anyhow, but that'd been it. Openly, he sends. ** Splash? ** Hel-lo, what's this then? Vardeus blinks as he realizes the new place he and the wolf-elf have come upon is, in fact, inhabited. He slides a bemused blue glance sidelong at Flashfire as he moves ahead of him; does he know this other, this unfamiliar elf? For his own part, Vardeus blinks again as the identity of the other present is _not_ unfamiliar. Thus, the human calls out tentatively, "Taydes?" Shay'la turns her head, at the sound of Vardeus' voice. She blinks as she sees Splash, **Tides Splash.... I did not see you there.** She gives a nod to Flashfire as the Underworlder rises to her feet. She then turns her attention to Vardeus, "Tides Vardeus." Yeah, Shay is talking to the human and not attacking the human... maybe she's just mellowed over time. Splash's head comes up with a toss at the send of her name. A deep nod goes the way of Shay'la before she sends to the wolfelf. ** Flashfire. <> ** The laughter in her send fades when the movement from the other person on the beach draws her attention to Vardeus. The wide grin that had begun to form on her face fast fades to a darting look to both Shay'la and Flashfire. Neither of these two would bring trouble to her door step. Standing, she dumps the bit of fur out of her lap... and it scampres off towards the trees behind Flashfire and Vardeus. Splash ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Female-4'3"-80 lbs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Splash is a good name for this elf, as that is what she resembles most. A splash of color. Bright eyes of blue with deep flecks of violet and green sparkle out of a deeply tanned face. Her mane of hair is a sprinkled mix of platinum blondes, deep golds and a dark brown that has to have been her original color before being bleached by the daystar. Shining white teeth are shown most times in a vivid smile that sets off her small up turned nose. Sinewy and lithe at the same time, she is a born athlete. Long legs lead to slightly webbed toes at the end of small feet. Her arms are just as thin, and crowned with four fingers each that hold just a hint of webbing. Across the first two fingers of her right hand is a ring made of red coral, when the daystar hits it just right, it looks to be on fire. Her clothing is quite odd indeed. The skirt that hugs tight to her hips is made of the deep red skin of an octopus, each of the eight legs hanging down like fronds around her legs. The body of the animal covers from her hips to just about the top of her thighs, while the legs serve as the rest of her skirt. As for her upper body, it is covered in a simple bra made of shells and twined seaweed. Covering all that needs to be covered and leaveing the rest of her tanned body bare. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blonde-BlueSparkledEyes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flashfire returns the nod to Shay'la but doesn't have anything to say to her right now past a quick sent greeting, head tilting with a smile on his face at Splash's send, more the tone of it. However, when she glances quickly between he and Shay'la and lets the..furry thing go, his eyes seek to follow it a moment and figure out what it might be, standing up straighter. Then, he leaves Vardeus to approach Splash and see if she won't let him nuzzle quickly. ** Have you heard what happened? ** The look on the face of the unfamiliar elf doesn't escape Vardeus, and so he strives to look unthreatening as possible, speaking up a trifle sheepishly, "Uh... Vardeus nae think, uh, 'scare'?" He's not sure of that last word, but he thinks he remembers Flashfire using it, last night. And, for good measure, he keeps his hands away from the daggers that ride upon his belt, adding earnestly, "Vardeus nae hurt elf. Nae scare." He stays right where he is, content for the moment to let Flashfire approach the others -- since he seems to know this new elf. Besides, it means he can surreptitiously lean against the nearest tree some more, and try to finish reminding himself that his ribs don't hurt THAT much, honest! Shay'la turns to look at Splash, **He's a guest. He won't hurt anyone. Stormgrace has convinced Redtide to let him stay... Raven found him washed up on the beach or something. He's injured.** She then turns back to Vardeus and motions to the new elf, "Splash meet Vardeus.... Vardeus meet Splash." Splash takes to the nuzzle from Flashfire easily enough, even distractedly reaching to scritch him just below the ear as one would a beloved pet perhaps, or a close friend depending on where they are from. Her head tilts to the side at the words comeing out of the human. ** He is a little slow then? Is that why Stormgrace does not mind him being here? ** She dosn't take her eyes off of Vardeus, actually looking him over a might closer when it is mentioned that he is injured. Flashfire closes his eyes to enjoy the bit of scritching, lips breaking into a wider grin while it lasts, a rumble held in his throat. Yes indeed, wolf is very much a part of this one, as if the howl Vardeus heard last night along with his apperance wasn't enough already. Reopening his eyes, he tries to explain a bit. ** He's..from somewhere else. Used ships, like bigger rafts with sails. Was attacked, lost most of his tribe. He's their..chief. ** Much of this may already be known by Splash, but it may not be. Glancing back towards Vardeus as he crouches next to Splash, he points towards the man's midsection. "Still hurt." ** Seems nice, though. ** "Nae hurt big," the human protests swiftly, catching those two words of Flashfire's even as he looks back and forth between the elves. Silence, again. These Little People do that a lot. And then, he remembers something Quietharm had said: something about her people talking to one another in their heads, if he'd understood her correctly. The prospect makes him a trifle nervous, even on top of having his gods-cursed ribs pointed out to him again when he's doing everything in his power to forget them. Straightening up again as nonchalantly as he can manage, he gruffly appends, "Nae worry." Shay'la looks over at Splash and blinks, then she begins snickering, which turns into giggling, which then turns into laughter. The Underworlder hasn't truly smiled since her daughter died and now she is laughing. She has to sit back down again even. Normally this probably wouldn't have struck her as near as funny but with everything happening lately she's needed a good laugh for a long time. She takes a moment to regain her composure, though her eyes retain the merry twinkle. She looks much like she did before Leenar died... at least for the moment... for this one moment she looks almost happy, **No... he is not slow. He's rather intelligent actually. I don't know why Stormgrace said he could stay... she's very forgiving... But he has made no move to harm anyone yet and claims he wouldn't hurt us... so I don't think he is much of a danger right now.** As Flashfire crouches beside her, Splash leaves off the scritching just to lay her hand on his shoulder. A small smile starts on her face when she sees the laughter of the rock shaper. She may not be close to that one, but she has been able to see the quietness, everyone needs to laugh now and then. She starts to get to her feet, having againt to toss her hair out of her face; it moves almost on it's own sometimes. ** First the five finger who attacked /her/ (stormgrace) and now these two, before you know it we will be over run with the creatures. ** So what if that human was many many turns ago and there are pips here who have long since grown up. Three in one life time is a bad thing. Something said makes Splash flash her teeth in a smile. ** Are you sure of the slowness Shay'la, he moves like one that has his ribs pookeing nearly out of him. ** For the first time she speaks aloud. "Hurt more than he thinks he is I would say." "He was worse before. His head.." Flashfire explains, pointing to his own before grinning and nuzzling quickly at Splash's hand against his shoulder. Shay'la's laughter seems refreshing even if he doesn't quite follow what it's because of. ** He seems..smart. Learning some of our words. Misses his..tribe, but I've never seen any round-ears like him. ** The laughter from Shay'la, laughter without any apparent source, clinches it. They _are_ talking about him in their heads, aren't they? _Skyfather, this is worse than 'em talkin' their birdtalk around me, at least if they talk with their mouths I can hear 'em--_ But before he can think to try to state his discomfort with being discussed in a manner he can't hope to comprehend, he's distracted by what words are said out loud. 'Hurt'. 'Head'. He knows those words, and Vardeus' brows wing down grudgingly over his ocean-hued eyes. "Head nae hurt," he insists staunchly. And indeed, the crack he took to his head ceased to bother him several days ago. Even the bruise on his brow is near to a memory, just a faint discoloration of his tan remaining above one eye. "More hurt nae big. I walk, see little-land. Nae bad." Shay'la looks over at Splash and nods, **He doesn't hurt like Underworlders don't hurt. Pride can be an awful stumbling block. His ribs are injured. I've bound them and used an herbal salve to help with the bruising but he definitely broke a few.... There is another... a young one. But I do not believe he was hurt.** Yes, this means Shay has spent enough time with the human to learn some about him. She then turns to Vardeus, "Don't be so stubborn." Okay, yeah... Pot calling the kettle black big time here... but he probably can't understand what she said enough to actually tell her that she doesn't have room to talk. Splash's head cocks to the side, Vardeus' words seemingly confuseing her more than anything. She looks across to Shay'la then down to Flashfire. ** What did he say? <> ** She understands Shay'la just fine, her lips curling up into a smirkish smile. "Then he truly is hurting Shay'la?" ** He said.. ** Flashfire begins, having to focus more to pick up the majority of what Vardeus is saying when there are others here also talking now. ** Said his head's better now, but it wasn't before. I know. And..he's been looking around. Think he likes it. ** Not that the man would prefer to stay, surely. But yes, Vardeus is definitely being stubborn. Gently, the wolfelf touches Splash's fingers with his own, still at the shoulder. Those _are_ elf words Vardeus is uttering, though the way he speaks them renders them decidedly odd to the ear, sometimes broader and sometimes narrower of sound than any elf would say them, and all the while with a rolling cadence at odds with the gravelly rumble of his voice. To Shay'la, though, he casts a perturbed glance. The specific words she utters might not make sense to him, but something about the tone of voice and the way she says them is _entirely_ familiar. He's been chastised in just such a fashion countless times before on the _Windrider_ by his very own second in command. "Shayla say like Tia--" he begins, and then he cuts himself off forcefully, a blush beginning to tinge his cheeks. Tiana Pagonis is the last thing he wans to think about, right now. Growing uncomfortable with the prospect of hanging aroud in a conversation that mostly eludes him for reasons entirely aside from language, he begins to consider retreat. "I go," he announces, gesturing up the cliffs again. "Go up, see little-land, see Big Water." Shay'la looks over at Splash and nods, "Yes... he is hurting, even if he won't admit it." The Underworlder has reached some sort of understanding where the human is concerned... perhaps because she sees so many things in him that are similar to things in herself... like stubborn pride. Shay isn't one that is easily won over... She is suspicious by nature... but it seems she trusts the human. .. scary that. ** How bad was he hurt, you did bind him yes? ** Splash's send is more serious than before, directed to Shay'la. She glances down at Flashfire and shines a smile down to him, squeeseing his fingers back from the touch. ** I believe he is trying to run away, maybe going to hurt himself more up along the cliffs. ** The last send to all in general. Flashfire squeezes the fingers back while watching Vardeus act embarassed and then speak of heading elsewhere for a bit. ** Is that such a good idea? Should he be healed, maybe..? ** The latter part of the question is more for Splash, though he has no idea whether or not she'd help a human like that. Maybe he should speak up and warn Vardeus to remember to be careful..or maybe go with him, or..hrm. Nice to be around Splash, too. Impulsively, he tells Vardeus, "No go..yet." Okay, well. Hurt himself further, no. Not what he intends, at any rate; Vardeus is already frustrated enough by what injuries he does have, keeping him from going about the proper duties of finding out what by all the gods has befallen his crew, that he won't injure himself further if he can help it. Whether or not the human's definition of what he can pull off in his current state differs from others' definition of the same... well. We won't go there. Nor will we use such words as 'run away' when describing impending leavetaking. Bold stalwart captains of Vrae do not 'run away'. Of course, they also don't break down crying, but we won't go there, either. Where we _will_ go is for Vardeus to shoot Flashfire a look of consternation, as he points out with a bit of a smirk of his own, "Nae have good elf-say, nae hear head-say." Ergo, he can't exactly participate very well in this conversation. Ergo, he feels a little bit slow and clumsy... but we aren't going _there_, either. "Elfs head-say, Vardeus go." Shay'la looks over at Splash and nods, "Aye, I bound his ribs. Stormgrace bound them earlier. They probably need to be rebound.... but he is stubborn." It is odd to hear the Underworlder speak this much... especially directed at elves. She tends to only send... even when she was in such pain after the sea witch and every send was agony she still sent. Maybe she's just taking the first step towards rebelling against her Underworld upbringing... or maybe she's trying to make Vardeus a little more comfortable... either way it's still odd. She then turns to Vardeus, "Vardeus needs help... Vardeus no go. Vardeus is also stubborn. Vardeus know stubborn?" There is a challenging look to her... as if she is daring Vardeus to debate with her. She knows she'd win... besides she could stop him by rock shaping his feet to the ground... but he might object to that. Splash could make his feet grow into the rock for that matter... but that would hurt and take so long that he could run off before it was done, but it CAN be done. ** If he is hurt bad enough, he will be healed. ** Splash sends that with some determination. She squeeses Flashfire's hand one more time before pulling free and starting towards the human, determination on her face. "You're hurt, you will stay to have that looked at." As she walks the distance, she looks towards Shay'la, not giveing one whit of the human can hear the 'head-say'. ** His ribs and his head it is then? ** Having one's feet shaped into the earth or encased in rock..that'd be a little painful, yes. Now a tail...ahem. Nevermind that. As Shay'la and Splash begin to take more of the initiative, he more or less just lingers nearby, waiting to see what happens. ** His head seems better, now. ** he notes. Oh, aye, Vardeus knows 'stubborn'. He knows 'pigheaded', 'asinine', and half a dozen other words that have been oft used to describe his temperament, often by a certain person of the redheaded persuasion of whom he is struggling very hard not to think. Granted, he knows these words in _Vraeyan_, but well hey. "Vardeus _nae_ _hurt_ _big_," he repeats, aggravated, "Vardeus walk, Vardeus swim to Shayla cave! Shayla see. Vardeus nae swim to Big Land, nae go on raft!" See? He's staying put like the Little People told him and trusting, though with great restlessness and worry, that Quietharm's news will hold true and Kephissa and Valnek will make it here. What more do the Little People _want_ of him? Seeing Splash approach him, Vardeus frowns down at her. To inspect him, apparently, he decides. Jabbing a finger at his own brow, he grunts, "Head nae hurt." The finger then jabs at his ribs. "Hurt here, nae bad, Vardeus walk, Vardeus swim." See? He's a big strong human boy. He can take it. Shay'la nods to Splash, "Aye, mostly his ribs though." She then looks over at Vardeus, "Splash help Vardeus so Vardeus no hurt. Splash heal Vardeus." Of course somewhere in her head she is thinking that if Vardeus found her abilities fascinating then he will definitely find Splash's to be most interesting. She actually finds the reactions to be fascinating... magic holds little wonder for her since she grew up surrounded by it. "Don't." Splash's voice is stern, as if she were telling some little pip not to pick at a cut. As she speaks the command she smacks his hand, pushing it away from the ribs that are probebly knitting a little off anyways. Without asking, Splash presses both of her hands against the injured ribs. To the elves around, the working of magic is imediatly felt as she 'inspects' the injury. Vardeus most likely only feels a warmth through this his skin not associated with the heat of the tropics. Tamaris comes from the forest. Tamaris has arrived. This human's ribs _have_ been bound; the binding Shay'la'd given him before still encircles his torso and is visible under the vest she'd made for him to wear. Still, though, the cloth bandages have grown a little less tight over the last few days -- and no surprise, if Vardeus has been insisting on moving about. As for the ribs themselves, sturdy things heavier than an elf's would be, they have indeed begun to grudgingly knit back to an approximation of wholeness. But they aren't done yet by any stretch of the imagination, and they are unmistakably the cause of low-level, stoically suppressed pain resonating through the human's entire frame. Vardeus blinks and then just stares down at the little she-elf before him, taken entirely aback by the manner in which she's touched him... and, for that matter, the warmth of her contact. "((Whatever ye say,))" he sighs, then, crossly holding his five-fingered hands out of Splash's way. "((Do wi' me what ye will then, lass.))" If Shay could understand all of what Vardeus said she would likely warn him that he probably shouldn't give such leeway... considering what Splash could do if she wanted. She could definitely make Vardeus' life more interesting in the future. For the moment she simply stands on the beach and watches as Splash works on Vardeus. Those two are standing near the path in and Flashfire is up closer to the entrance to Splash's cave. Shay looks over at Vardeus and gives a nod, encouraging him for now, "Splash help Vardeus." She seems quite confident in those words too. Flashfire's head tilts at Splash's tone with Vardeus, watching quietly as the man gives in to her, letting her check him out. Splash could make Vardeus' life VERY interesting given enough time, but, as it is, she is only checking into his ribs. Her eyes narrow the more magic she uses, the rest of the area being 'tuned out' so to speak. She does mutter to herself though, "Simple enough to fix. Silly human to walk around with this. Could hurt himself even more just by walking." Without warning, she presses her hand more firmly against the layers of cloth that seperate her from the injured ribs, her features going just a bit slack. One might even call it a trance. The 'color' of the magic she uses would look a mix of a sickly purple and healthy gold to the elves, a shimmery nimbus that encompasses Vardeus to his armpits and waist and on up onto her own forearm. Splash is not exactly a kind healer to those she is not close to, useing part healing, part shapeing. The human can feel every move within his body, the pulling of bone into place and the slideing of muscle not dampened by the soothing that can come from the healing hands. Tamaris can be made out in the distance along the narrow strand of beach, the figure's white outfit covering his entire form, the growing white figure easily seeable. His entire body is concealed by the garment, protecting him against the accursed daystar. He's moving slowly in the direction of the rock face, the hood of his outfit sweeping the land in front of him. It stops at the gathering, although he keeps moving, headed towards them. A choked little groan slips out of the human, whose eyes go abruptly round within his lean bronzed visage as abused bone begins to shift within his flesh, setting off bonfires of pain within a torso already stiff with it. Vardeus flinches backwards, stumbling a step away on suddenly treacherously shaky legs. "((W-What're ye doin'?!))" he yelps hoarsely at Splash, his voice rising. One muscular arm shoots round to wrap protectively about his ribcage, as he does. Shay'la sighs and shakes her head... Humans lack understanding about the nature of magic. She is, of course, used to Underworld healers who seem to have never been introduced to the concept of pain killers... Surface healers are so bizarre about that typically. If you make it so there is no pain even in healing then how in the world will you ever learn not to do what got you hurt in the first place. She steps towards Vardeus, holding her hand up, "Vardeus.... Splash help. Trust Shay'la." It might hurt at first, but just wait until she is done. She takes a step back when she notices Tamaris, her posture going rigid again. Damn... just what she needs right now. Flashfire slips closer and shakes his head at the protest in Vardeus. "No..she's making it better. Might hurt first, but better after. Be still.." Indeed, he's just going to have to trust her, them. Splash wouldn't hurt him intentionally, would she? Splash stumbles a half step when Vardeus pulls from her. She gives a shake of her head to clear it from the trance she had slipped into. "Stop that." She sounds the offended one. If she had sleeves, she would push them up when she steps towards the human again. "It will help if you will stop being a big pip and give me time." She talks the same time as the other two trying to convince Vardeus to let her heal him. Tamaris closes to within fifteen paces of the small group, and then stops, watching what's happening. It's clear, to him, Splash is using some sort of magic on Vardeus. A gloved hand pulls out the metal sphere, his fingers sliding around it for the time being, the metal like soft clay in his fingers. ** Greetings, all. ** He doesn't bother with speaking - too many voices as it is. "Nae hilp," Vardeus growls, "_hurt_!" Skyfather, Seamother, and all their children, nine hells, YES, that hurt! The babble of three elf voices talking at once is just a bit too much for him to follow, and so the only words he manages to pick out are 'help' and 'hurt'. His reply is hurled out to the clearing at large as he backs away warily from Splash, not quite as rattled as a wounded bear might be, but now significantly unnerved. One arm remains clutched around his ribs, while his other hand has gone to one of his daggers. "Elf nae help! Make hurt big!" Shay'la frowns and moves towards Vardeus, watching his hands intently, "Vardeus... no hurt Splash. Shay protect Splash." Which means you try and hurt her and you have to deal with the lady who makes rock flow like water... think about it. "Splash help... Trust Shay. Hurt now but better later. Trust Shay. Splash help." Tamaris is totally ignored right now. She is ready to tackle Vardeus if need be... She will protect Splash. She just doesn't want it to come to that. **Everyone else stay back. I'll handle him if need be. He just doesn't understand.** Flashfire nearly springs forward to make an attempt at subduing Vardeus when he goes for a dagger, shaking his head in one of those 'don't!' gestures. Taking another step closer, he pauses in uncertainty when Shay'la claims she can take care of it. Can she? A glance around..the white figure noted. Blinkblink. Now it's starting to get stranger and stranger. What to do? Back up a few steps, for now... Splash's face darkens when Vardeus goes for the dagger, her brows going together. ** If he hurts any of you all, I can take care of him my ownself. ** Splash's 'take care of' might not be so fun for the human as Shay'la tackleing and subdueing him. She dosn't go any closer though, just standing where she is, wariness in stance and expression. Tamaris continues to play with the metal sphere in his hand, making a various of odd shapes and figures with it, one slowly flowing into the other. He remains where he is, simply watching the proceedings. ** Perhaps if the healer used a bit of gentleness in the healing so he doesn't think you're killing him you may be more productive. ** Of course he's guessing here. It should be noted that the human has not in fact drawn either of his weapons, though his five-fingered hand is clenched tightly around the pommel of the dagger at his left side. Trembling visibly, he takes another step backwards and sideways, only to collide with the trunk of the tree against which he'd leaned when he first arrived, trying to get his breath back. "V... Vardeus _say_ nae hurt elfs," he barks, rather more of his breath lost now than he'd lost by simply walking here. Jerking a tight nod at Splash, he goes on, "Elf _nae_ say nae hurt Vardeus!" Shay'la steps towards Vardeus, just scant inches from him. She uses her most calming tone, as if she were speaking to a scared pip. She reaches out a gloved hand to lay it on Vardeus' clenched one. Her other hand reaches up to touch the binding around his ribs, then makes a motion as if she is wraping his ribs, "Bind ribs hurt at first... then feel better. Splash heal... hurt at first... then feel better. Trust Shay... please. Shay no want Vardeus hurt. Shay, Splash help Vardeus... Trust Shay." Whether he understands all of that or not, there is sincerity in her words. Tamaris sighs and shakes his head at this. ** Does no one here speak his native language? ** Vardeus' gaze flashes to Shay'la as the she-elf comes near to him, evidently unafraid, and perhaps there is some truth to her assertion that she can handle him; just a hint of his apparent nervousness drains out of his tense expression. "Sh... Shayla say... elf... take hurt?" he rasps. Considering the night he'd had last night, this is not exactly easing his spirit much, even if he'd felt somewhat better when he'd gotten up. Shay'la nods to Vardeus, "Yes, Splash take hurt... make better. Trust Shay'la. Splash help Vardeus." She doesn't even look at Tamaris, but her send does flash with anger and frustration.... none of it shows on her face, she is too carefully schooled for that, **No... no one speaks his language. He's from somewhere across the Vast Deep... He's not from the mainland. He doesn't speak the human language from there. No one has ever heard his language before. I have learned some of it just as he has learned some of ours but the process is long. If you think that you can do better then by all means give it a shot. I'd love to see you fall flat on your face.** Flashfire's eyes are intent as they track the progress Splash and Shay'la attempt to make with Vardeus, the latter doing about as good a job as any could in trying to calm him down. Her send to Tamaris earns a grin, his nature to be wary around Underworlders in general kicking in as he gives Tamaris a bit of space. Splash blinks a moment before she glances towards Tamaris. Her send echos a touch of the frustration that Shay'la has, though perhaps not for the same reason. ** Who are you? And why are you on my beach for that matter? ** So maybe the beach isn't just her's, she and her lifemate are the only ones that live on it at this time and she isn't used to so many being on it at once as well. ** I can not just 'be gentle' with him after he is running from me now can I? You just let Shay'la talk with him. ** Strangers sneaking in everywhere anymore. Her attetion is away from the human, leaving him to Shay'la, Splash can't understand half of what he says in HER language. Tamaris shrugs. ** If you don't know the language then find some other way to convey the information. ** He ponders a moment. ** Perhaps give yourself a slight cut and have Splash heal it? ** He looks towards Splash, seems concerned, and bows slightly. ** I am Tamaris of House Goumando from the Underworld. I arrived here only a couple days ago. I am here because I was exploring. Forgive me - I did not know this was your personal area. I shall retreat immediately. ** Vardeus shoots Shay'la a pain-darkened, piercing stare -- and truth be told, he's reacting almost more to her tone of voice and body language and expression than to her actual words. Then he shoots Splash that same piercing stare, considering. His odd hosts haven't seemed to want to hurt him yet. Most of them have even said they want to help him -- at least, those who have actually bothered to talk to him. But then again, Shay'la _is_ one of these... His mouth draws together in a small stoic line. His jaw sets. And with a stance that suggests he expects he is about to be run through with a spear, through gritted teeth, he grunts out huskily, "Vardeus... tr... trust Shayla." For now. This had bloody well be what has been promised. With that, the big human drops the arm around his ribs. Then, a bit more slowly, loosens the grip of the hand the she-elf has taken, the one still at his dagger. Flashfire's eyes go slightly wider when Splash snaps at Tamaris, but there's a part of him that grins inside even if he keeps it masked on the outside. ** If you want to cut yourself and let her heal you, go for it. ** he retorts in a not so cordial tone, shaking his head at the cloaked Underworlder. No, he doesn't care much for the elf, that much is clear. A few hackles are even up. Shay'la flashes Vardeus a true smile... a rare sight for Shay'la, especially lately. She then motions to Splash, to come forward, "He won't hurt you Splash." She moves over a bit so Splash can come towards Vardeus, though she keeps her hand on his, giving it a slight, reassuring squeeze, "Shay here. Shay protect Vardeus.... no hurt Vardeus." She'll be right there if he needs her. **He won't hurt you Splash... or any of us. He just didn't understand. He got scared. Magic is all new to him.** She almost flashes a smile at Flashfire, but she refraims... keeping her focus on Vardeus. She could like the furry elf. He has spunk. She also almost volunteers to stab Tamaris and let Splash heal it... but she refraims there as well... too tempting. Splash starts to send something towards Tamaris, but is pulled away from the thought by Shay'la finally calming the human enough that she can help him. ** He is ready then? ** Her send is only echoed by her speaking aloud. "You are ready?" She raises a hand towards Vardeus as if unsure if he is going to lop it off even with his daggers in place. Tamaris turns, walking briskly away. ** I am not the one trying to heal him. In addition, I highly doubt the healer would heal me, given her apparently temperment, choosing either to do nothing or simply make things as bad as she could. I have no desire to explore either option. ** With that, he is gone from the immediate area, his long stride taking him to the rocky trail and upwards. Tamaris goes up the rocky trail. Tamaris has left. Vardeus is about as ready as he thinks he's going to get, shooting Tamaris one wary, unsettled glance as the Underworlder withdraws, then turning his attention back to Splash. He backs up against the tree, suddenly thinking he may need its support, and needing to struggle to keep his arms down even as he shakily nods his head. Shay'la nods to Splash, "He is ready." She keeps her hand on Vardeus' hoping her presence is of some comfort. She doesn't even turn to watch Tamaris walk away. His presence wasn't wanted by her anyway. Flashfire glares at Tamaris' back as he sends then exits, choosing not to dignify the words with a response, though those nearby might pick up a low growl in his throat before it passes after a few seconds. "Hmph." ** /I/ wouldn't heal him even if I could. ** That done, he moves a bit closer to watch with renewed interest. Splash pays no attention to Tamaris, there is more important business at hand... getting this stubborn human healed because ... well, she isn't exactly sure why she is doing it just now, but later she will justify it to herself somehow. "Relax." Splash says, a little less firmly than she spoke to the human the first time. Again she presses her hand up against the wounded ribs, moveing quickly into her trance and letting the magic encompass the wound and her hand. Relax, she says. Easy for her to say, when Vardeus feels his flesh begin to ripple and unnatural motion in the stuff of his very bones. His eyes slam shut, and only by dint of biting his own lip does he manage to -- more or less -- suppress the groan that threatens to escape him again at what Splash's power does to him. The five-fingered hand that Shay'la takes twitches involuntarily; his other slaps against the tree trunk, his nails digging into the bark. Flashfire's had this and that healed on a number of occasions, but..maybe it's not as nice for a human. Maybe Leetah's gentler with it, as well. "Will be much better after," he encourages Vardeus to stick it out, painful as it must be given the way he's reacting to it all. Still a bit tentative with the whole situation, he rubs the back of his neck slowly. Shay'la squeezes Vardeus' hand and leans forward, whispering in his ear. Her tone is meant to be soothing. She is telling him a story about Stormdrift, were anyone close enough to hear. Of course it's not like Vardeus will understand even half of what she is saying... it is the tone that is important. Splash is no where near as gentle as Leetah, like the Underworlders, she beleives in makeing the injured one be more careful in their actions by not soothing the pain away with her healing. As she nears the end of the meshing of bone, muscle and blood vessels all into place, she intensifies the healing magic to rush it just a touch. Finally, with a gasp, she takes a step back from the newly healed human, her breath short as if it were she that ran along the entire path from her beach to the forest clearing on the otherside of the cliffs. ** It is done. ** Well, Splash can believe what she likes; it's probably fortunate that Vardeus is unaware of her sentiments, as he was not exactly responsible for having a sea monster hit him with the body of his own crewmate. Nor does he seem exactly inclined to question her about her sentiments, for as she finally pulls away from him, he pulls back in the opposite direction, staring down at the healer with something that looks very close to fear still brimming through his eyes. "V... Vardeus... _go_," he mutters, profoundly rattled. Every muscle in his torso aches now as if it has been thrashed, as his system struggles to adjust to the sudden absence of hurt in his ribs. Perhaps later, he might find the presence of mind to realize what has happened, and thank the one who has done it. For now, though, remembering how he broke down on the beach, all that is in his mind is to flee and pride be damned. He turns. He whirls. And he stumbles into the forest. [End log.]