Boo-Boos and Band-Aids (Grath) <Open>

[Rocky]

(This was continued from the thread between me and Grath/Tampa)

Poison. The one thing Rocky hated the most. The weakness it gave him always bothered him, as it usually bothered any other beast. Sure, Rocky's been poisoned before, but then he got help fast, but now... It's been a longer time, and the poision that was left, though little amount, was circulating through his body, making him weaker then ever before, and much more pale.

The otters bore their Skipper through the whole abbey and up the stairs quickly to the infirmary as quick as they could. Meko dismissed all the otters save him and Tampa. He quickly called over an infirmary keeper, a small mouse around 30 seasons of age, curshing herbs with a mortar & pestle. She worked quickly, and Meko judged that she was very experienced in herbs and healing, not just because of her age, either.

Meko walked slowly over to Rocky and felt his forehead--it was warm. Meko made a dis-satisfied face and moved out of the way so the mouse could get to work.

The tall otter walked over to Tampa, a frown forming on his features, "It is good that we got him here, for that was beyond my skill in healing. Only, I fear we may have arrived too late, though if I know Skip, he'll fight it with all he's got." He gave a half-hearted smile then grabbed a chair and sat next to Rocky's bed. "You know... Me and Skip are life-long friends, and whenever we were together, we never left each other's sides. We used to get in the biggest of troubles, but he'd always find a way to get us out." A chuckled escaped his lips and he sat there, staring at his friend, not wanting to leave his side.

[Eastpaw]

Tampa had been following the otter crew’s swift pace, putting her long legs to work and proving the overall willpower needed to hold onto life and consciousness. She was grateful that Meko had dispersed the otter crew, she didn’t want to appear too weak before so many.

As the last rudder disappeared out the door, Tampa allowed her shaking knees to fold and lowered herself onto the nearest bed, which happened to be next to the Skipper’s. She was breathing hard from the long run, and, putting her paws on her knees, breathed in great gulps of air. Seeing Meko come over, she smiled and attempted a weak joke.

“I’m not as in shape as I thought.” She said between breaths.

"It is good that we got him here, for that was beyond my skill in healing. Only, I fear we may have arrived too late, though if I know Skip, he'll fight it with all he's got."

Tampa’s breath was coming easier, though she still breathed hard. “He’ll make it.” She said, smiling brightly, though there was a faded effect to the smile as it reached her eyes, a worry that would not erase.

"You know... Me and Skip are life-long friends, and whenever we were together, we never left each other's sides. We used to get in the biggest of troubles, but he'd always find a way to get us out."

The ottermaid subconsciously traced a wide scar on one of her wrists, remaining silent and watching Skipper, with Meko hovering over.

[Rocky]

"If you don't mind me saying, " Meko said, "you're in good shape for someone with your history. Being a former slave, I mean." He let a grin curl on his lips to try and cher up Tampa, though there was nothing really to cheer anyone up about.

Meko let out a sigh and said a silent prayer, though in all honesty, he felt he didn't need to, for Skip's been poisoned before and made it through but then again, you never know.

Meko then felt a silent grumble in his stomach and he realizedhe hadn't eaten for over 10 hours -- way before the otters met Tampa. He wanted to eat something but he didn't want to leave Skip. "What could go wrong?" He kept saying to himself and he finally walked to door to head to the kitchen, "Want something?" he asked Tampa, feeling that she was hungry.

[Grath]

"If you don't mind me saying, " Meko said, "you're in good shape for someone with your history. Being a former slave, I mean."

Tampa gave what might have been a smile and nodded, unconvinced. She swung her legs up on the bed and lay back on the pillow. She sighed, the bed was soft, as far as infirmary beds go, and she was just dozing off, in a haze between sleep and wakefulness.

"Want something?"

Tampa blinked, staring at Meko a little fuzzily before realizing what he had said. “I’d love something to eat, thanks.” She laid her head back down and closed her eyes, curled back up in sleep.

[Tirael]

Tirael opened the door to the infirmary hurriedly, and his face registered surprise as he saw Meko right on the other side. However, there was no time for surprise; he had been told Rocky was poisoned, and the thought of a friend of his being in that kind of danger overrode all other concerns. Nodding at Meko as he passed, the infirmary keeper strode hurriedly to the mouse who had been filling in for him. After a brief exchange, she nodded and walked to the cabinets, grabbing ingredients and mixing the physic Tirael had asked for. As she did, Tirael looked Rocky over, making sure nothing else was the matter.

Before long, the mouse came to the bed with the newly-mixed medicine. Tirael took it, and said briefly, "You've done well, I'll take it from here." She nodded, and after a brief glance around the infirmary, walked out. Tirael carefully force-fed the draught to Rocky, reassuring Meko as he did. "Well, the good news is that he should be alright, he's not quite out of the woods, but at least he's stable." Finishing, he set down the vessel and caught sight of Tampa. Nobody had told him about her. "Who, uh...who's this?"

[[Hrm...not my best, sorry.]]

[Rocky]

Meko had just walked out of the room after Tirael had explained his skipper and his friend would be alright. He breathed a sigh of relief then exited, not knowing Tirael had asked a question.

It was alright, though, for when Tirael had gave Rocky the medicine, the chieftan woke up and coughed a bit. He shook his head then quickly regretted it as he got a bad headache. It felt to him as if his brain knocked against his skull, though he highly doubted that happened.

Rocky slowly sat up into a sitting position, and placed a hand to his head, just to see Meko leave the room. He quickly looked around, his eyes checking for signs of any other besides Tirael. Then, his eyes settled on Tampa, and he let a grin cross his features.

"Who, uh...who's this?"

''Uh..'' Rocky wasn't sure she wanted Tirael to know she was a former slave, even though he'd felt Tirael would be trustyworth enough to keep that secret. ''She's a friend. I met her out when the crew and I were foragin.. Then... Then we ran into trouble.'' He trailed off, his words dieing down to a mutter as he stated his last sentence.

He looked at Tampa then up towards the door as Meko came in with two bowls.

The large otter walked over to Tampa and tapper her lightly on the shoulder, trying to awake her lightly from her sleep, ''Here, missie. Soup. Has carrots, leeks, potatoes, and celery in it. Should be good.'' Meko grinned then walked over to Rocky's bedside and sat down. He quickly realized he never asked Tirael if he wanted food, so he shut his eyes tight, as if he'd lock away the world, but wuickly opened them and looked up at the healer, ''Would you like some food?''

[Grath]

''Here, missie. Soup. Has carrots, leeks, potatoes, and celery in it. Should be good.''

A hand on her shoulder brought Tampa immediately out of sleep, she sat up so fast that she came in dire peril of spilling the hot soup. Her eyes wide, she stared around her frantically, finally relaxing as the knowledge of where she was seeped into her brain.

“Soup?” She said, looking at the thick concoction. Taking it from Meko, she smiled in thanks and tucked in, gulping it down, using the bowl as an oversized mug.

[Tirael]

''She's a friend. I met her out when the crew and I were foragin.. Then... Then we ran into trouble.''

"As you seem so apt at doing," the infirmary keeper said with a knowing look. There was something in the Skipper's tone that told Tirael he was holding something back, but he decided not to pry unless it became a necessity. "Do I get to know her name?" Unless that's a secret, too, he thought.

He watched as she woke up, looking about frantically. He kept back, knowing that introducing himself while she was in that state would only destabilize her more. He was relieved as she recovered after a few moments, gulping down soup hungrily. He smiled; she seemed to have recovered well. "Feeling alright? I'm Tirael, infirmary keeper. Nice to meet you, miss." He stuck out his paw for her to shake, proud of himself for having initiated an introduction for once, instead of having someone else do it.

[Grath]

"Feeling alright? I'm Tirael, infirmary keeper. Nice to meet you, miss."

Tampa finished her soup, with the lack of anything else and not wishing to stain the bedclothes, she wiped her mouth with the back of her paw. Hearing a new voice, she looked up, straight into the concerned eyes of the infirmary keeper.

“I’m full, safe and in the company of good friends. I guess you could say I feel alright.” Tampa reached out and shook Tirael’s paw, noting with dismay how dirty and matted her fur was. “Tampa Tiderunner, from the southwest coast. Do you have a bath?” Tampa’s face felt warm under her fur, embarrassed by the necessity of having to ask for something so simply normal.

[Rocky]

"As you seem so apt at doing,"

Rocky let a small smile show on his face, as Tirael spoke. He merely nodded his head, feeling there was nothing really to say. It was true. Rocky did have a tendency to get into trouble of all kinds. It was as if danger was attracted to him like metal to a magnet. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at Tampa again.

"Do you want to tell him the story? Or shall I?''

He asked, his voice trailing off at the end. He wasn't sure if Tampa wanted anyone else to know she was a slave, or not. He thought it would be best for her to decide.

OOC: Sorry.. Really bad. My apologies.

[Grath]

[[Ah, Cluny, not that you're not welcome in the thread, but the rules clearly state the required length of a post. I've deleted your one-liner, but you're welcome to post again within the requirements.

cometolora.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=redwallinfo&action=display&thread=217

Grath]]

[Cluny the Scurge]

A novice mouse, Brother Gealac, ran mischievously into infermary chased by a cook who saw him get a scone of the platter. "AAAAHH!!!!!! Save me missie!!! Tell this wreched beast ta' leave me lone!" he said pointing too Tirael. The scabbard that cling to his belt slipped and fell. Brother Gealac stooped down and picked it up, but the cook had lifted his ladle high obove his. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" he screamed awaiting his "death".

[Tirael]

“Tampa Tiderunner, from the southwest coast. Do you have a bath?”

Tirael relased her paw and nodded. "Aye, I can get one set up for you." He was about to head off to do that when Rocky spoke.

"Do you want to tell him the story? Or shall I?''

That certainly piqued Tirael's interest. He froze, then looked from Tampa to Rocky, back at Tampa, then Rocky again. Sitting on the edge of Tampa's chosen bed, he began to wonder what their reason for keeping the story from him was. Hoping that it wasn't something overly unpleasant, he waited for them to decide who would tell.

He turned in alarm as somebeast yelled from outside the infirmary door. Getting up, he walked over and opened it to find a kitchen helper, an ottermaid named Kreyna, standing over Gaelic with ladle ready to strike. Sighing, he put his face in one paw (the other was busy holding the door open) and said, "What'd he do this time?" worried that he would no longer be told Tampa's story.

[Grath]

Tirael relased her paw and nodded. "Aye, I can get one set up for you." He was about to head off to do that when Rocky spoke.

Tampa felt a surge of gratitude. A bath after two years in which her closest brush with a bath had been near drowning? It was going to be pure bliss.

"Do you want to tell him the story? Or shall I?''

Tampa shot Rocky a look, begging him not to. "You." She said, standing and dusting off her paws, looking for an area in which she might bathe in privacy, "Can tell him how you got th' wound. Nothing more." Of course that was easily interpreted different ways, Tampa hoped her new friend caught her meaning.

She was distracted by a commotion at the door.

[Rocky]

Rocky looked up, just in time to see Tampa respond to his question,

"You."

"Ok." He nodded, slowly, not wanting to attract too much pain to himself. He opened his mouth to speak when her words reached his ears, again,

"Can tell him how you got th' wound. Nothing more."

"Ok."

Rocky slowly and steadily pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing inwardly as a sharp pain shot through him. His eyes shut tight as more pain came, and he quicky dropped back. Not a smart move, as it only caused more pain. He sighed and just stared at the ceiling as he began the short story,

"Me and the crew were out checking the surrounding area for signs of vermin or anythin' suspicious, when Tampa came out of the trees, whistlin' a fin ole' tune.'' He looked up quickly and gave her a wink, ''We struck up a conversation, then one o'my crew wouldn't respond to my command all of a sudden. I walked over and he fell over dead, then sure enough, a hooded creature came out and tackled me into the river. We fought, I killed him, he stabbed me. The end.''

His words gradually increased as he came t the end of his little story. He let loose a sigh that was waiting to escape, when a commotion made him sit bolt upright again. He cursed to himself as the pain re-emerged and shot through him like metal through flesh, and he lay down, slowly, this time. He had to stop sitting upright.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

"Please... Stop shouting.'' Rocky said as he clutched his hands to his head. Poison always gave him a headache and this mous was making it worse.

[Tirael]

Tirael heard Rocky groan; as was his Infirmary Keeper-ish duty, he turned back to Gaelic and the vengeful kitchen worker. Taking on a stern tone, he said, "Look, the Skipper's not feeling too well. Could we please resolve this...thing...with a minimum of noise?" He didn't enjoy loud noise himself, being relatively quiet by nature, so Rocky wouldn't be the only one benefiting from peace.

Suddenly, curiosity took hold, and he gave the Tampa and Rocky a quizzical look. "Do you know who your attacker was? I mean, had you ever seen them before, or know why they attacked you?" If they attacked a Skipper whose crew was nearby, they must have had a pretty good reason... He set up the tub Tampa had requested in an adjoining room, leaving the door open in case anybeast still felt like talking to him.